Potassium Intake and Blood Pressure: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background Epidemiologic studies, including trials, suggest an association between potassium intake and blood pressure (BP). However, the strength and shape of this relationship is uncertain. Methods and Results We performed a meta-analysis to explore the dose-response relationship between potassium supplementation and BP in randomized-controlled trials with a duration ≥4 weeks using the recently developed 1-stage cubic spline regression model.

MicroRNA-30a-5p: a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for clear cell renal cell carcinoma in tissue and urine samples.

Background: The rising incidence of renal cell carcinomas (RCC) constitutes a significant challenge owing to risk of overtreatment. Because aberrant microRNA (miR) promoter methylation contributes to cancer development, we investigated whether altered miR-30a-5p expression associates with DNA promoter methylation and evaluated the usefulness as clear cell RCC (ccRCC) diagnostic and prognostic markers.

Methods: Genome-wide methylome and RNA sequencing data from a set of ccRCC and normal tissue samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were integrated to identify candidate CpG loci involved in cancer onset.

Early Gestational Diagnosis of Lethal Skeletal Dysplasias: A 15 Year Retrospective Cohort Reviewing Concordance between Ultrasonographic, Genetic and Morphological Features.

We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, postmortem and genetic studies in classifying skeletal dysplasias in the first vs second trimester of pregnancy. We retrospectively gathered data from a 15 year period of all the prenatal ultrasounds, autopsies, and available genetic studies on fetuses with skeletal dysplasias from our institution. Five (23%) and 17 (77%) fetuses were diagnosed during the first and second trimester of pregnancy respectively.

Imaging Evidence of Nigrostriatal Degeneration in DYT-PRKRA.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/23301619/homepage/mdc312941-sup-v001.

Translation, Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Current Opioid Misuse Measure for European Portuguese.

Introduction: Current practice guidelines recommend using Current Opioid Misuse Measure to screen aberrant opioid-related behaviors in chronic pain patients. Our aims were to translate, adapt and validate it to be used in Portuguese chronic pain patients.

Material And Methods: Translation and cultural adaptation process followed guidelines and a model of principles for good practice.

PCSK9 Protein and rs562556 Polymorphism Are Associated With Arterial Plaques in Healthy Middle-Aged Population: The STANISLAS Cohort.

Background PCSK9 (Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) binds low-density lipoprotein receptor, preventing its recycling. PCSK9 is a risk predictor and a biotarget in atherosclerosis. The PCSK9-rs562556 variant has been reported as a gain-of-function mutation.

Acute Ischemic Stroke Outcome and Preceding Anticoagulation: Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Vitamin K Antagonists.

Background And Purpose: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) severity and clinical course are less known in direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) users. We aimed to explore the outcome of AIS in patients pretreated with vitamin-K-antagonists (VKA) and DOAC.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed.

iHandU: A Novel Quantitative Wrist Rigidity Evaluation Device for Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery is the gold standard therapeutic intervention in Parkinson's disease (PD) with motor complications, notwithstanding drug therapy. In the intraoperative evaluation of DBS's efficacy, neurologists impose a passive wrist flexion movement and qualitatively describe the perceived decrease in rigidity under different stimulation parameters and electrode positions. To tackle this subjectivity, we designed a wearable device to quantitatively evaluate the wrist rigidity changes during the neurosurgery procedure, supporting physicians in decision-making when setting the stimulation parameters and reducing surgery time.

Integrated Analysis of Structural Variation and RNA Expression of FGFR2 and Its Splicing Modulator ESRP1 Highlight the -- Axis in Diffuse Gastric Cancer.

Gastric Cancer (GC) is one of the most common and deadliest types of cancer in the world. To improve GC prognosis, increasing efforts are being made to develop new targeted therapies. Although genetic amplification and protein overexpression in GC have been targeted in clinical trials, so far no improvement in patient overall survival has been found.

Usefulness of Early C-Reactive Protein Kinetics in Response and Prognostic Assessment in Infected Critically Ill Patients: An Observational Retrospective Study.

Introduction: The ideal biomarker to assess response and prognostic assessment in the infected critically ill patient is still not available. The aims of our study were to analyze the association between early C-reactive protein kinetics and duration and appropriateness of antibiotic therapy and its usefulness in predicting mortality in infected critically ill patients.

Material And Methods: We have carried out an observational retrospective study in a cohort of 60 patients with community-acquired pneumonia, aspiration pneumonia and bacteremia at an intensive care unit.

Systolic function recovery in Heart Failure: Frequency, prognostic impact and predictors.

Background: Systolic function recovery in patients with Heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF) is well recognized but not completely understood. We aimed to characterize HF patients with systolic function recovery, its prognostic impact and predictors.

Methods: We analysed patients followed in a HF clinic (2006-2015) with 2 echocardiograms performed.

Probiotics and prebiotics: focus on psychiatric disorders - a systematic review.

Context: The gut-brain axis and microbial dysbiosis may play a role in psychiatric diseases. In this view, the gut microbiota has been considered a potential therapeutic target using probiotics and prebiotics.

Objective: This systematic review aims to find the existing clinical evidence that may justify the use of probiotics or prebiotics in psychiatric patients.

Cancer incidence after childhood irradiation for tinea capitis in a Portuguese cohort.

Objectives: Our aim was to compare cancer incidence in a cohort exposed in childhood (1950-63) to a therapeutic dose of radiation in the North of Portugal and followed-up until the end of 2012, with the incidence rates for the same age and sex in the general population.

Methods: A population-based North Region cancer registry (RORENO) was used to assess which members of the cohort developed cancer. The association between radiation exposure and overall and specific cancer sites was evaluated using standardised incidence ratios (SIR).

Update in antibiotic therapy in intensive care unit: report from the 2019 Nîmes International Symposium.

The 2019 Nîmes International Symposium in Antibiotic Therapy Optimisation aimed at determining the best approaches of a number of the antibiotic management strategies for critically ill patients. Experts reviewed the latest literature relating to requirements for an optimal antibiotic stewardship program, risks of sub-therapeutic dosing of antibiotics in critically ill patients, persisting issues about efficiency of combination therapy and the value of de-escalation, new perspectives of pharmacokinetics, drug toxicities including collateral damages-associated with antibiotics, the place of nebulisation of antibiotics, management of patients receiving extracorporeal therapies and the place of new antibiotics. In this paper, each of these issues is discussed with key messages presented after a brief review of evidence.

Predictors of Acute Kidney Injury Associated with Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Objectives: To study the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery in patients without preoperative renal insufficiency who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and to explore the association between the incidence of AKI and predictors related to CPB.

Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study. Participants were divided in two groups, those who developed AKI in the postoperative period and those who did not develop AKI.

Intraoperative microelectrode recording in Parkinson's disease subthalamic deep brain stimulation: Analysis of clinical utility.

This retrospective study aims to explore the clinical utility of microelectrode recording (MER) during subthalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We analyzed the data from 103 PD patients, who consecutively received bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS at an experienced academic medical center. We collected demographic, clinical, and DBS related data, including intraoperative microelectrode recording data, electrode positioning, and clinical effects provided by intraoperative microstimulation.

External Validation of the ELAN-HF Score, Predicting 6-Month All-Cause Mortality in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background Our aim was to calibrate and externally revalidate the ELAN-HF (European Collaboration on Acute Decompensated Heart Failure) score, to confirm and improve on a previous external validation of the risk score. Methods and Results The ELAN-HF score predicts 6-month all-cause mortality in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure using absolute and percentage change of NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) levels in addition to clinical variables. For the external validation, we used the PRIMA II (Can NT-proBNP-Guided Therapy During Hospital Admission for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Reduce Mortality and Readmissions?) trial.

Tympanic Membrane Haematoma in a RivaroxabanTreated Patient: A Case Report.

New generation oral anticoagulants - rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban - represent an important medical achievement. Their therapeutic effectiveness and ease of use make them essential in the management of thromboembolic conditions. However, as warfarin, they have known haemorrhagic risks.

Gait stride-to-stride variability and foot clearance pattern analysis in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease and Vascular Parkinsonism.

The literature on gait analysis in Vascular Parkinsonism (VaP), addressing issues such as variability, foot clearance patterns, and the effect of levodopa, is scarce. This study investigates whether spatiotemporal, foot clearance and stride-to-stride variability analysis can discriminate VaP, and responsiveness to levodopa. Fifteen healthy subjects, 15 Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (IPD) patients and 15 VaP patients, were assessed in two phases: before (Off-state), and one hour after (On-state) the acute administration of a suprathreshold (1.

[Opioids for Cancer Pain and its Use under Particular Conditions: A Narrative Review].

Introduction: All health professionals should be aware of the importance of evaluating pain - fifth vital sign- in cancer patients. Peripheral and central acting analgesics are widely used to treat moderate to severe pain, particularly cancer pain. Many guidelines have addressed this issue.

Lipoprotein(a) in the Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk in the Portuguese Population.

Introduction: High values of lipoprotein(a), related to atherosclerosis progression, are often considered a marker of thrombosis. We assessed the lipoprotein(a) profile in a group of patients with high vascular risk and no cardiovascular events, established its correlation with other cardiovascular risk factors and inferred the results for patients with metabolic disorders and, at least, two risk factors.

Material And Methods: This longitudinal observational study included 516 patients, who had at least two cardiovascular risk factors and regularly attended, for at least two years, the outpatient consultations at a clinic of metabolism and vascular risk for primary prevention.

General Public's Knowledge Regarding Basic Life Support: A Pilot Study with a Portuguese Sample.

Introduction: Basic life support is a key manoeuvre in a cardiac arrest situation that can often save a victim's life. This study investigates the general public's knowledge about the fundamentals of basic life support, and its association with previous training/education on basic life support and self-perception of knowledge. A secondary goal is to assess the opinion on training needs.