Molecular Survey of Protist Enteroparasites in Bats (Order Chiroptera) from Portugal.

Purpose: Bats constitute 20% of all mammal species, playing a vital role in ecosystem health as pollinators, seed dispersers, and regulators of insect populations. However, these animals can also be reservoirs for infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and enteroparasites such as Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Balantioides coli, raising questions about their role in the epidemiology of these agents.

Immunobridging Trials: An Important Tool to Protect Vulnerable and Immunocompromised Patients Against Evolving Pathogens.

Safeguarding patients from emerging infectious diseases demands strategies that prioritise patient well-being and protection. Immunobridging is an established trial methodology which has been increasingly employed to ensure patient protection and provide clinicians with swift access to vaccines. It uses immunological markers to infer the effectiveness of a new drug through a surrogate measure of efficacy.

Intervention Programmes for First-Episode Psychosis: A Scoping Review.

The aim of this scoping review was to map intervention programmes for first-episode psychosis by identifying their characteristics, participants, and specific contexts of implementation. It seems reasonable to suggest that early intervention may be beneficial in improving recovery outcomes and reducing the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). Despite the expansion of these programmes, there are still some significant variations and barriers to access that need to be addressed.

Modulation of Stemness and Differentiation Regulators by Valproic Acid in Medulloblastoma Neurospheres.

Changes in epigenetic processes such as histone acetylation are proposed as key events influencing cancer cell function and the initiation and progression of pediatric brain tumors. Valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug that acts partially by inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs) and could be repurposed as an epigenetic anticancer therapy. Here, we show that VPA reduced medulloblastoma (MB) cell viability and led to cell cycle arrest.

Optimizing Neurobehavioral Assessment for Patients with Disorders of Consciousness: Proposal of a Comprehensive Pre-Assessment Checklist for Clinicians.

Background: Clinicians are challenged by the ambiguity and uncertainty in assessing level of consciousness in individuals with disorder of consciousness (DoC). There are numerous challenges to valid and reliable neurobehavioral assessment and classification of DoC due to multiple environmental and patient-related biases including behavioral fluctuation and confounding or co-occurring medical conditions. Addressing these biases could impact accuracy of assessment and is an important aspect of the DoC assessment process.

Playing a serious game to increase fertility awareness: perceptions of adolescents, parents and teachers.

Infertility is increasing globally, affecting one in six adults due to factors like delayed childbearing and lifestyle changes. Despite the recognition of the importance of increasing fertility awareness, levels remain low. This study evaluated the perceptions of 'FActs!', a serious game aimed at improving adolescents' fertility awareness.

Insights in biomarkers complexity and routine clinical practice for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules and cancer.

Background: The differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid nodules continues to be a major challenge in clinical practice. The rising incidence of thyroid neoplasm and the low incidence of aggressive thyroid carcinoma, urges the exploration of strategies to improve the diagnostic accuracy in a pre-surgical phase, particularly for indeterminate nodules, and to prevent unnecessary surgeries. Only in 2022, the 5th WHO Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors, and in 2023, the 3rd Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology and the European Thyroid Association included biomarkers in their guidelines.

Definition of a European pre-vasectomy scoring system to identify patients at risk of vasectomy regret.

Introduction: Vasectomy is a widely used, safe, effective method of permanent contraception and contributes to healthy sexuality.

Aims: We have conducted a 3-step observational clinical study to develop a vasectomy regret risk score and guide patients and clinicians when discussing a vasectomy.

Methods: A 3-step approach has been followed.

Metal stents versus plastic stents for drainage of pancreatic fluid collections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials with trial sequential analysis.

Background And Aims: Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs), including walled-off necrosis (WON), are significant complications of acute pancreatitis, and their management often involves drainage, although the optimal type of stent for this purpose remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aimed to compare metal versus plastic stents for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage of PFCs.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing metal with plastic stents for drainage of PFCs.

Validation of the Portuguese version of the Movement Disorder Society non-motor rating scale (MDS-NMS) in Parkinson's disease.

Background: The Movement Disorder Society Non-Motor Rating Scale (MDS-NMS) serves as a comprehensive clinical assessment tool for non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) OBJECTIVES: This study aims to validate the Portuguese version of the MDS-NMS, addressing the critical need for culturally adapted rating scales in Portuguese-speaking populations.

Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study engaged native Portuguese-speaking PD patients from 16 Movement Disorders Centers across Portugal and Brazil. We conducted a meticulous translation process into Portuguese, including forward-backward translation and cognitive pretesting.

The relevance of endoplasmic reticulum lumen and Anoctamin-8 for major depression: Results from a systems biology study.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent and debilitating disorder, yet its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study is to identify novel potential proteins and biological processes associated with MDD through a systems biology approach. Original articles involving the measurement of proteins in the blood of patients diagnosed with MDD were selected.

Premature thelarche and pesticide exposure: A case-control study in an intensive agricultural area.

The extensive use of pesticides in agriculture significantly enhances crop yields and pest control. However, it also raises concerns regarding environmental and human health impacts. Children are particularly vulnerable to health effects of pesticide exposure, especially for neurological development and reproductive health.

Metformin reverses infertility in a mouse model of endometriosis: unveiling disease pathways and implications for future clinical approaches.

Research Question: Does metformin reverse endometriosis-associated infertility?

Design: Endometriosis was induced by transplanting uterus fragments from B6CBAF1 mice into recipients of the same strain. The mice were divided into groups: endometriosis (End, n = 24), sham-operated (Sham, n = 12), endometriosis with metformin (0.5mg/ml) orally administered for 3 months (EndMet, n = 21) and sham-operated metformin-treated (ShamMet, n = 16).

Sign Language Recognition System for Deaf Patients: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Background: Individuals with hearing impairments may face hindrances in health care assistance, which may significantly impact the prognosis and the incidence of complications and iatrogenic events. Therefore, the development of automatic communication systems to assist the interaction between this population and health care workers is paramount.

Objective: This study aims to systematically review the evidence on communication systems using human-computer interaction techniques developed for deaf people who communicate through sign language that are already in use or proposed for use in health care contexts and have been tested with human users or videos of human users.

Short-term outcomes of low anterior resection with and without ileostomy for low, mid and upper rectal cancers.

Although the addition of an ileostomy to low anterior resection (LAR) may often be considered preventative of anastomotic leakage (AL), evidence that clearly demonstrates such benefit is lacking. This study aimed to identify the impact of adding an ileostomy upon AL and organ-space surgical site infection (SSI) rates in patients with lower, middle, or upper rectal cancer. This case-control study included rectal cancer patients who had undergone elective LAR in the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset between 2016 and 2022.

Survey of legislative frameworks and national recommendations governing paediatric maintenance haemodialysis in Europe.

Background: The application of international recommendations for paediatric maintenance haemodialysis (HD) could be strengthened by national laws or written recommendations. Our aim was therefore to describe the national rules governing paediatric maintenance HD in European countries.

Methods: A national representative, approved by the president of each paediatric nephrology society, was contacted in all 42 European countries to complete two online questionnaires.

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Classes in MASK-air Users.

Background And Objectives: The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines classify rhinitis as "intermittent" or "persistent" and "mild" or "moderate-severe". To assess ARIA classes in a real-world study in terms of phenotypic differences and their association with asthma.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional real-world study based on users of the MASK-air® app who reported data for at least 3 different months.

Totally implantable venous access devices: A restrospective analysis of morbidity and risk factors in a hospital with multi-technique approaches.

Background: Totally implantable venous central access devices (TIVADs) can be implanted by open surgery or by direct puncture in the subclavian (ScV), internal jugular (IJV) or cephalic (CephV) veins.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 201 patients. Thirty-day follow-up data was analyzed to compare the outcomes of different techniques and evaluation of risk factors.

COVID-19 on patients with immune-mediated rheumatic disease: a comparative study of disease activity, fatigue, and psychological distress over six months.

Objectives: To compare the impact of COVID-19 on the clinical status and psychological distress of patients with immune-mediated rheumatic disease (IMRD) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection with that of noninfected IMRD controls during a 6-month follow-up period.

Methods: The ReumaCoV Brazil is a longitudinal study designed to follow IMRD patients for 6 months after COVID-19 (patients) compared with IMRD patients without COVID-19 (controls). Clinical data, disease activity measurements and current treatments regarding IMRD and COVID-19 outcomes were evaluated in all patients.

Semaglutide, type 2 diabetes, and the risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

In the last months, conflicting evidence on a possible association between the use of semaglutide and incident nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) has emerged. A recently published study, which evaluated all patients with type 2 diabetes in Denmark, has shown with robustness that once-weekly semaglutide doubles the five-year risk of NAION. In this comment, the new evidence is discussed, along with practical implications for type 2 diabetes patients.

Factors Associated with HIV Risk Perception Among Cisgender Female Sex Workers in Brazil.

This study evaluated the association between HIV risk perception and sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics among cisgender female sex workers in the five regions of Brazil. A cross-sectional, multicenter study using respondent-driven sampling was used. Sex workers over 18 years of age and who reported commercial sex in the past four months were included.

New spirometry recommendations from the Brazilian Thoracic Association - 2024 update.

The latest pulmonary function guideline from the Brazilian Thoracic Association was published in 2002, since which there have been updates to international guidelines (mainly those from the European Respiratory Society and the American Thoracic Society), as well as new national and international publications on various aspects of the performance, interpretation, and clinical implications of spirometry. Despite those updates, a careful analysis of what applies to the reality in Brazil is essential, because there have been studies that evaluated individuals who are representative of our population and who could show responses different from those of individuals in other regions of the world. This document is the result of the work of a group of specialists in pulmonary function who evaluated relevant scientific articles that could be applicable to the population of Brazil.

Influence of Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism of the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene on Adiposity and Cardiac Function in Patients with Heart Failure.

Background: The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism (rs4340) is associated with the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). This polymorphism may contribute to a greater propensity for severe HF and excess weight.

Objective: To evaluate adiposity, cardiac function, and their association with ACE I/D polymorphism in HF patients.