Heterogeneity of pollen food allergy syndrome in seven Southern European countries: The @IT.2020 multicenter study.

Background: Pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is a frequently underdiagnosed disease due to diverse triggers, clinical presentations, and test results. This is especially relevant in geographic areas with a broad spectrum of pollen sensitization, such as Southern Europe.

Objectives: To elucidate similarities and differences of PFAS in nine Southern European centers and identify associated characteristics and unique markers of PFAS.

Prescribing patterns of medication for respiratory diseases: cluster analysis of the Portuguese electronic prescription database.

We aimed to describe, for the first time, the prescribing patterns among patients on persistent respiratory treatment, from the Portuguese electronic prescription and dispensing database. This was a one-year retrospective population-based analysis of prescriptions (n = 39810) for medication for respiratory disease and exacerbations. Cluster analysis was applied based on medication and prescribers' specialty.

Active Middle Ear Implant Patient Outcomes With Adaptive Feedback Canceller.

Objective: Evaluation of the audiological patient performance with an upgrade of the firmware from the fixed feedback canceller (FFC) to the adaptive feedback canceller (AFC) on an active middle ear implant.

Study Design: Retrospective observational nonrandomized group study.

Setting: Private hospital.

[ARIA 2019: An Integrated Care Pathway for Allergic Rhinitis in Portugal].

The Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative started more than 20 years ago and has developed and disseminated evidence-based guidelines and projects in the field of allergic rhinitis. This initiative is currently focused on providing patient-centred guidelines that contribute to an integrated care pathway between the various levels of care and take advantage of digital solutions, and the introduction of integrated care pathways in clinical practice has been recommended. In this article we describe the adaptation for Portugal of the ARIA Integrated Care Pathways document.

Use and Cost of Orthosis in Conservative Treatment of Acute Thoracolumbar Fractures: A Survey of European and North American Experts.

Study Design: Survey study.

Objective: Assess practices and opinions of spine specialists from Europe and North America on orthosis use in adult patients with acute thoracolumbar (TL) fractures. Evaluate cost of the devices.

Correlation between clinical outcomes and spinopelvic parameters in patients with lumbar stenosis undergoing decompression surgery.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine if there is a relation between preoperative sagittal alignment, based on radiographic parameters, and clinical outcomes, after lumbar decompressive procedures, in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Methods: This study enrolled patients with LSS who underwent lumbar decompressive procedures, between January 2016 and December 2017. Preoperative spinopelvic parameters were measured, and patients were divided into radiological groups according to the median of the following variables: relative lumbar lordosis (measured minus ideal lumbar lordosis), relative pelvic tilt (measured minus ideal pelvic tilt) and sagittal vertical axis (SVA).

Management and Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Diseases: A Multidisciplinary Approach.

In patients with physical chronic diseases, the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is approximately 2- to 3-fold higher than in the general population, and it can reach up to 20-40%. The comorbidity of MDD with chronic medical diseases is associated with poorer quality of life, increased medical symptom burden, poor adherence to self-care regimens, increased risk of functional impairment, morbidity, and mortality, and also higher medical costs. Despite this evidence, in routine practice, psychological issues and concerns are frequently inadequately managed.

European Respiratory Society statement on sleep apnoea, sleepiness and driving risk.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is highly prevalent and is a recognised risk factor for motor vehicle accidents (MVA). Effective treatment with continuous positive airway pressure has been associated with a normalisation of this increased accident risk. Thus, many jurisdictions have introduced regulations restricting the ability of OSA patients from driving until effectively treated.

Orthosis in Thoracolumbar Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate radiological and clinical outcomes of acute traumatic thoracolumbar fractures in skeletally mature patients treated with orthosis, versus no immobilization.

Summary Of Background Data: Orthosis is traditionally used in conservative treatment of thoracolumbar fractures.

Anaphylaxis: A Decade of a Nationwide Allergy Society Registry.

Background And Objectives: Anaphylaxis is an acute, life-threatening, multiorgan hypersensitivity reaction. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the causes of anaphylaxis in Portugal in order to improve our knowledge of epidemiology and management.

Methods: We implemented a nationwide notification system for anaphylaxis over a 10-year period, with voluntary reporting by allergists.

Surgical and audiological outcomes of a fully implantable middle ear implant: early results from a retrospective multicentre study.

Purpose: This paper reports the surgical and audiological outcomes of a large series of patients who received a fully implantable middle ear implant (MEI): carina (Cochlear, Australia).

Methods: This is a multicentre retrospective study involving three tertiary referral centres. Patient data were collected for the first 42 consecutive patients who were fitted with the MEI between 2014 and 2019 (Sheffield from February 2017 to January 2019; São Paulo from April 2015 to September 2017; Porto from December 2014 to May 2017).

Sodium-Glucose Co-transporter 2 Inhibitors in the Failing Heart: a Growing Potential.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a new drug class designed to treat patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, cardiovascular outcome trials showed that SGLT2i also offer protection against heart failure (HF)-related events and cardiovascular mortality. These benefits appear to be independent of glycaemic control and have recently been demonstrated in the HF population with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), with or without T2D.

Endovascular versus open repair for popliteal aneurysm: a review on limb salvage and reintervention rates.

Introduction: Open repair remains the gold standard technique for popliteal aneurysm repair. However, the endovascular approach has gained increased popularity. Comparison between these techniques remain crucial to aid the physician choice, yet, data on mid-term outcomes lack in the literature.

The Value of Oxygen Desaturation Index for Diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Intermittent hypoxemia is a risk factor for developing complications in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. The objective of this systematic review was to identify articles evaluating the accuracy of the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) as compared with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and then provide possible values to use as a cutoff for diagnosing adult OSA.

Study Design: Systematic Review of Literature.

Handling of allergen immunotherapy in the COVID-19 pandemic: An ARIA-EAACI statement.

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Age-related oxidative modifications to uterine albumin impair extravillous trophoblast cells function.

Advanced maternal age is associated not only with a significant reduction in fertility but also with an additional risk of developing pregnancy-related disorders. Most of these disorders are now believed to be the clinical manifestation of an incorrect placentation, namely deficient transformation of maternal spiral arteries and ineffective trophoblast invasion through uterine stroma. In the present study it was hypothesized that an age-related loss in uterine redox homeostasis interferes with the function of extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) and placentation.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Freiberg Disease - Case Report.

Freiberg disease is a rare condition whose diagnosis requires a high clinical suspicion. Avascular necrosis of the metatarsal head progresses with articular collapse, leading to forefoot pain and limitation of the daily activities. Several surgical techniques have been described to address the disease, and since it is usually diagnosed in later-stages, most of them include joint-destructive procedures.

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.

"Whole" vs. "fragmented" approach to EAACI pollen season definitions: A multicenter study in six Southern European cities.

Background: The adequate definition of pollen seasons is essential to facilitate a correct diagnosis, treatment choice, and outcome assessment in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. A position paper by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) proposed season definitions for Northern and Middle Europe.

Objective: To test the pollen season definitions proposed by EAACI in six Mediterranean cities for seven pollen taxa.

Apocynin Dietary Supplementation Delays Mouse Ovarian Ageing.

Advanced maternal age is associated with higher infertility rates, pregnancy-associated complications, and progeny health issues. The ovary is considered the main responsible for these consequences due to a continuous decay in follicle number and oocyte quality. Intracellular imbalance between oxidant molecules and antioxidant mechanisms, in favour of the former, results in oxidative stress (OS) that is believed to contribute to ovarian ageing.