Peritoneal Dialysis Exit-Site Care Protocols in Portugal and Its Association with Catheter-Related Infections.

Introduction: Exit-site infection (ESi) prevention is a key factor in lowering the risk of peritonitis. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between exit-site (ES) care protocols and the annual incidence rates of ESi and peritonitis in Portugal.

Methods: We performed a national survey using two questionnaires: one about the incidence of catheter-related infections and the other characterizing patients' education and ES care protocols.

Sleep Disturbance in Musculoskeletal Conditions: Impact of a Digital Care Program.

Background: Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is highly prevalent worldwide, resulting in significant disability, and comorbid sleep disturbances. Digital therapy for MSK pain can provide significant improvements in care access, alongside pain and disability reductions. However, studies on the effect of such programs on sleep are lacking.

Mycobacterium marinum Cutaneous Infection: A Series of Three Cases and Literature Review.

 is a non-tuberculous mycobacteria present in natural and non-chlorinated bodies of water. It is a known fish pathogen but can also cause human disease. It usually causes cutaneous lesions but in rare cases may originate more invasive diseases with the involvement of deep structures.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of a Remote Digital Musculoskeletal Program: An Ad Hoc Analysis from a Longitudinal Study with a Non-Participant Comparison Group.

Digital solutions have emerged as an alternative to conventional physiotherapy, particularly for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) management; however, its long-term effects remain largely unexplored. This study focuses on patients reporting CMP, assessing 1-year clinical outcomes after a multimodal digital care program (DCP) versus non-participants, who enrolled in the program but never engaged in a single exercise session or partook of the educational content made available to them. In this longitudinal study ad-hoc analysis, pain and functionality outcomes at 1-year reassessment were studied, focusing on the odds of reaching minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and, overall average reduction in both outcomes.

Progressive proximal muscle weakness with subacute onset in an elderly patient: a case report.

Introduction: Statins are some of the most widely prescribed medications. Although statins are generally well tolerated, they can lead to musculoskeletal side effects. Statin-induced necrotizing autoimmune myositis (SINAM) is a rare condition and the prevalence is only 1 per 100,000 people.

Impact on productivity impairment of a digital care program for chronic low back pain: A prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability in the United States and the main reason for absenteeism. Successful management of chronic LBP (CLBP) is dependent on multimodal evidence-based interventions. Digital interventions (DI) may ease accessibility to such treatments, increasing adherence, while reducing healthcare-related costs.

A hint for the obesity paradox and the link between obesity, perirenal adipose tissue and Renal Cell Carcinoma progression.

Increasing evidence supports a role for local fat depots in cancer outcomes. Despite the robust positive association of obesity with renal cell carcinoma (RCCa) diagnosis, increased adiposity is inversely related to RCCa oncological outcomes. Here, we sought to ascertain whether imagiologically assessed local fat depots associate with RCCa progression and survival and account for this apparent paradox.

Young People Awareness of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Contraception: A Portuguese Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Adolescents and young adults are an important target concerning reducing health-risk behavior adoption, including sexual health. Studying their knowledge concerning sexuality and their main counsellors, can be an important step in targeting an updated health promotion approach. This study characterized adolescents and young adults' knowledge and attitudes about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and contraception, prospecting for their main trusted counseling sources.

Magnetic resonance imaging is able to detect patellofemoral focal cartilage injuries: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect and grade the severity of patellofemoral (PF) cartilage injuries.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases (up to July 1st 2022) to search for studies that reported the diagnostic accuracy of MRI to detect and grade PF cartilage injuries as compared to diagnostic arthroscopy. Risk of bias was judged using the QUADAS-2 tool.

Fear Avoidance Beliefs in Upper-Extremity Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions: Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Clinical Study on Digital Care Programs.

Background: Fear-avoidance beliefs (FAB) have been associated with poorer prognosis and decreased adherence to exercise-based treatments in musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. However, the impact of high FAB on adherence and outcomes in upper extremity MSK (UEMSK) pain is poorly explored, particularly through exercise-based digital care programs (DCP).

Objective: Assess the adherence levels, clinical outcomes and satisfaction in patients with UEMSK pain and elevated FAB after a fully remote multimodal DCP.

Asymptomatic Hypogastric Arteriovenous Fistula Detected 40 Years After Shotgun Injury.

84-year-old male, with a history of firearm incident with accidental gunshot shooting, and multiple projectile injuries, 40 years prior. No advanced medical treatment was required at the time. A CT was recently performed for unrelated reasons, and the scout view shows multiple projectiles, a total of 50, scattered in the thoracoabdominopelvic region as well as the lower limbs.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Outcomes of a 12-Week Digital Rehabilitation Program for Musculoskeletal Pain: Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Background: Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain disproportionately affects people from different ethnic backgrounds through higher burden and less access to care. Digital care programs (DCPs) can improve access and help reduce inequities. However, the outcomes of such programs based on race and ethnicity have yet to be studied.

Pituitary adenomas in the elderly: Retrospective comparative analysis of clinical/tumor features and surgical data by age group.

The increase in life expectancy along with technological advances has translated into a higher number of pituitary adenomas (PA) diagnosed from the age of 65. In the elderly, symptoms related to comorbidities might overlap with endocrine dysfunction, in addition to increasing anesthetic and surgical risks. This study aimed to compare baseline clinical and tumor features between patients with PA from different age groups: younger adults (YA), 18 to 64 years, and older adults (OA), ≥65 years.

Adoptive Transfer and Bone Marrow Chimera Models to Analyze Treg Function and Differentiation.

Cellular adoptive transfer and mixed bone marrow chimera are cornerstone experimental tools for immuno-biology. Here we describe protocols for adoptive transfer and bone marrow chimera to address the effect of a specific mutation on T regulatory cell (Treg) function and differentiation, respectively. Treg function can be quantitatively measured by analyzing the expansion of conventional CD4 T cells and their differentiation into helper cells.

Physicians' responsibility toward environmental degradation and climate change: A position paper of the European Federation of Internal Medicine.

The current data on climate change and environmental degradation are dramatic. The consequences of these changes are already having a significant impact on people's health. Physicians - as advocates of the patients, but also as citizens - have an ethical obligation to be involved in efforts to stop these changes.

Digital Care Programs for Chronic Hip Pain: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Chronic hip pain is a cause of disability worldwide. Digital interventions (DI) may promote access while providing proper management. This single-arm interventional study assesses the clinical outcomes and engagement of a completely remote multimodal DI in patients with chronic hip pain.

Digital rehabilitation for hand and wrist pain: a single-arm prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Introduction: Wrist and hand represent the third most common body part in work-related injuries, being associated with long-term absenteeism. Telerehabilitation can promote access to treatment, patient adherence, and engagement, while reducing health care-related costs.

Objective: Report the results of a fully remote digital care program (DCP) for wrist and hand pain (WP).