Early detection of interstitial lung disease in rheumatic diseases: A joint statement from the Portuguese Pulmonology Society, the Portuguese Rheumatology Society, and the Portuguese Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Society.

Introduction: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in connective tissue disease (CTD). Early detection and accurate diagnosis are essential for informing treatment decisions and prognosis in this setting. Clear guidance on CTD-ILD screening, however, is lacking.

A neurophysiological approach to mirror movements in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: To investigate mirror activity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, using a simple paradigm of signal quantification.

Methods: Patients were asked to perform a brief isometric maximum contraction of the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) or tibialis anterior (TA) on one side, while relaxing the contralateral side of the body. Both sides were investigated.

Effect of Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID-19 on Acute Ischemic Stroke Revascularization Outcomes.

Background: The association of COVID-19 with higher bleeding risk and worse outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) undergoing revascularization may be related to the presence of infection symptoms. We aimed to assess the safety and outcomes of revascularization treatments in patients with AIS with asymptomatic COVID-19 (AS-COVID) or symptomatic COVID-19 (S-COVID).

Methods: We conducted an international multicenter retrospective cohort study of consecutive AIS tested for SARS-CoV-2, receiving intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment between 2020 and 2021.

Influenza vaccination in older adults and patients with chronic disorders: A position paper from the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology, the Portuguese Society of Cardiology, the Portuguese Society of Diabetology, the Portuguese Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, the Portuguese Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, and the Study Group of Geriatrics of the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine.

Influenza affects millions of people worldwide each year and can lead to severe complications, hospitalizations, and even death, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions. Annual vaccination is considered the most effective measure for preventing influenza and its complications. Despite the widespread availability of influenza vaccines, however, vaccination coverage rates remain suboptimal in several countries.

European Glaucoma Society - A guide on surgical innovation for glaucoma.

PROLOGUE:

Delineation of the adult phenotype of Coffin-Siris syndrome in 35 individuals.

Coffin-Siris syndrome (CSS) is a rare multisystemic autosomal dominant disorder. Since 2012, alterations in genes of the SWI/SNF complex were identified as the molecular basis of CSS, studying largely pediatric cohorts. Therefore, there is a lack of information on the phenotype in adulthood, particularly on the clinical outcome in adulthood and associated risks.

Atopy and Response to Omalizumab Treatment in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

Introduction: The possible influence of sensitization to aeroallergens on omalizumab response in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) has been insufficiently investigated. This study's aim was to investigate atopy's influence on omalizumab response in CSU patients.

Method: Retrospective study of CSU patients followed at a Portuguese Urticaria Center of Reference and Excellence (UCARE), treated with omalizumab for at least 6 months, between 2015 and 2022.

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cell lines from two unrelated individuals with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy carrying the MYBPC3 missense c.1484G>A mutation.

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited heart condition. HCM patients show left ventricle hypertrophy without any associated loading conditions, being at risk for heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Two induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from two unrelated individuals, a 54-year-old male (F81) and a 44-year-old female (F93), both carrying the MYBPC3 c.

Clinical and molecular characterisation of metastatic papillary thyroid cancer according to radioiodine therapy outcomes.

Purpose: Radioiodine (RAI) therapy remains the gold-standard approach for distant metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (TC). The main objective of our work was to identify the clinical and molecular markers that may help to predict RAI avidity and RAI therapy response of metastatic lesions in a cohort of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 122 PTC patients submitted to RAI therapy due to distant metastatic disease.

Current challenges in primary lateral sclerosis diagnosis.

Introduction: Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare, adult-onset and slowly progressive motor neuron disorder whose clinical core is characterized by upper motor neuron (UMN) dysfunction. Its formal diagnosis is clinically based and disease duration-dependent. Differentiating PLS from other disorders involving UMN can be challenging, particularly in the early stages.

Tight control using fecal calprotectin and early disease intervention increase the rates of transmural remission in Crohn's disease.

Background: Increasing evidence supports the use of transmural remission as a treatment target in Crohn's disease (CD), but it is seldom achieved in clinical practice. Tight monitoring of inflammation using fecal calprotectin with reactive treatment escalation may potentially improve these results.

Aims: To evaluate if treatment escalation based on fecal calprotectin can improve the rates of transmural remission in CD.

Follow-up of Patients with Hereditary Metabolic Diseases during the 3 Years of the Pandemic in the Reference Center for Hereditary Metabolism Diseases of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte.

Introduction: The adult unit of the Reference Center for Hereditary Metabolism Diseases of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte was created in 2002. The team that supports this unit is made up of several specialists, including 2 Internal Medicine Doctors and 2 Nutritionists. The unit carries out its activity mainly in an outpatient clinic on Fridays.

Computed tomography measured epicardial adipose tissue and psoas muscle attenuation: new biomarkers to predict major adverse cardiac events and mortality in patients with heart disease and critically ill patients. Part II: Psoas muscle area and density.

Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterised by loss of skeletal muscle mass, loss of muscle quality, and reduced muscle strength, resulting in low performance. Sarcopenia has been associated with increased mortality and complications after medical interventions. In daily clinical practice, sarcopenia is assessed by clinical assessment of muscle strength and performance tests and muscle mass quantification by dual-energy X-ray absorptio-metry (DXA) or bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).

Stroke and Recent Myocardial Infarction, Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, Left Ventricular Thrombus, and Wall Motion Abnormalities.

Purpose Of Review: To review the evidence regarding stroke and recent myocardial infarction (MI), reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular thrombus (LVT), and wall motion abnormalities (WMA).

Recent Findings: The risk of ischemic stroke associated with acute MI has been greatly reduced with reperfusion treatments that improved myocardium salvage. Acute ischemic stroke is an uncommon complication of diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.

The management and clinical outcomes of pregnancies in women with urea cycle disorders: A review of the literature and results of an international survey.

An increasing number of women with urea cycle disorders (UCDs) are reaching child-bearing age and becoming pregnant. Improved diagnostics and increased awareness of inherited metabolic diseases has also led to more previously undetected women being diagnosed with a UCD during or shortly after pregnancy. Pregnancy increases the risk of acute metabolic decompensation with hyperammonemia-which can occur in any trimester, and/or the postpartum period, and may lead to encephalopathy, psychosis, coma, and even death, if not diagnosed promptly and treated appropriately.

Predictors of Interstitial Lung Disease in Mixed Connective Tissue Disease.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) frequently complicates mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and contributes to increased mortality. We aimed to identify predictors of ILD in MCTD patients. This is a nationwide, multicentre, retrospective study including patients with an adult-onset MCTD clinical diagnosis who met Sharp's, Kasukawa, Alarcón-Segovia, or Kahn's diagnostic criteria and had available chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) data.

Hepatitis B vaccination associated with low response in patients with rheumatic diseases treated with biologics.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination is recommended for non-immunised patients with rheumatic diseases starting biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). There is some evidence that HBV vaccination is effective in patients under conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), but it is currently unclear whether this also applies to bDMARDs.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of HBV vaccination in patients with inflammatory arthritides treated with bDMARDs.