Treatment patterns and preferences of people living with HIV starting or switching antiretroviral therapy: Real-world evidence from Portugal.

Background: There is a lack of up-to-date real-life evidence on antiretroviral therapy (ART) strategies among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Portugal. This study aimed to describe the treatment strategy used in PLWH either initiating or switching ART.

Methods: Non-interventional, cross-sectional, multicenter study carried out between December 2019 and October 2021 in Portugal.

World Heart Federation Cholesterol Roadmap: The Portuguese case.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the major cause of premature death and disability; effective cardiovascular (CV) risk prevention is fundamental. The World Heart Federation (WHF) Cholesterol Roadmap provides a framework for national policy development and aims to achieve ASCVD prevention. At the invitation of the WHF, a group of experts from the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC), addressed the cholesterol burden at nationally and discussed possible strategies to include in a Portuguese cholesterol roadmap.

A challenging case of bradykinin-mediated angioedema with airway obstruction: management and therapeutic strategies.

Angioedema is a potentially life-threatening condition that can have an allergic origin, usually mediated by histamine or a non-allergic origin, mediated by bradykinin. The distinction between these origins may present a clinical challenge at first approach, especially in cases that appear as an emergency and the outcome is time dependent. The authors describe a rare case of bradykinin angioedema associated with airway obstruction and discuss the right approach and therapeutic options.

In vitro activity of imipenem/relebactam against Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates recovered from ICU patients in Spain and Portugal (SUPERIOR and STEP studies).

Objectives: To study the in vitro activity of imipenem/relebactam and comparators and the imipenem/relebactam resistance mechanisms in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa collection from Portugal (STEP, 2017-18) and Spain (SUPERIOR, 2016-17) surveillance studies.

Methods: P. aeruginosa isolates (n = 474) were prospectively recovered from complicated urinary tract (cUTI), complicated intra-abdominal (cIAI) and lower respiratory tract (LRTI) infections in 11 Portuguese and 8 Spanish ICUs.

Real-World Characterization of the Portuguese Population Living with HIV who Initiated Raltegravir Based-Regimens: The REALITY Study.

Introduction: Although raltegravir has been available since 2007, data are lacking on the Portuguese population living with HIV who initiated this antiretroviral therapy. Hence, this study aimed to characterize the patients who initiated raltegravir-based regimens between January 2015 and December 2017, on sociodemographics, clinical features, and treatment satisfaction.

Material And Methods: Observational, retrospective, multicentre study conducted at 11 reference sites.

Thrombotic microangiopathy triggered by podocytopathy.

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a rare group of diseases characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and target organ damage. It can be divided into primary and secondary TMA. Herein we report a case of TMA associated to a primary glomerular disease.

A Mechanistic-Based and Non-invasive Approach to Quantify the Capability of Kidney to Detoxify Cysteine-Disulfides.

Our general goal was to non-invasively evaluate kidney tubular dysfunction. We developed a strategy based on cysteine (Cys) disulfide stress mechanism that underlies kidney dysfunction. There is scarce information regarding the fate of Cys-disulfides (CysSSX), but evidence shows they might be detoxified in proximal tubular cells by the action of N-acetyltransferase 8 (NAT8).

Shortness of breath in children at the emergency department: Variability in management in Europe.

Objective: Our aim was to describe variability in resource use and hospitalization in children presenting with shortness of breath to different European Emergency Departments (EDs) and to explore possible explanations for variability.

Design: The TrIAGE project, a prospective observational study based on electronic health record data.

Patients And Setting: Consecutive paediatric emergency department visits for shortness of breath in five European hospitals in four countries (Austria, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom) during a study period of 9-36 months (2012-2014).

Unexpected success in early post-transplantation renal vein thrombosis: A case report and literature review.

Background: Allograft renal vein thrombosis can cause graft loss during the early postoperative period. This diagnosis is sometimes elusive, requiring a strong suspicion. On the other hand, several authors have recognized risk factors for allograft renal vein thrombosis, but neither a preventive approach nor a treatment have been recommended for this complication.

Improving the prioritization of children at the emergency department: Updating the Manchester Triage System using vital signs.

Background: Vital signs are used in emergency care settings in the first assessment of children to identify those that need immediate attention. We aimed to develop and validate vital sign based Manchester Triage System (MTS) discriminators to improve triage of children at the emergency department.

Methods And Findings: The TrIAGE project is a prospective observational study based on electronic health record data from five European EDs (Netherlands (n = 2), United Kingdom, Austria, and Portugal).

Confronting Ceftolozane-Tazobactam Susceptibility in Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacterales Isolates and Whole-Genome Sequencing Results (STEP Study).

Ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T) is frequently used for infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR)-Enterobacterales isolates. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS, Illumina-Hiseq 4000/NovaSeq 6000, OGC, UK) was used to study the population structure, the resistome and the virulome of C/T-susceptible and -resistant MDR Escherichia spp. (n=30) and Klebsiella spp.

Distinct epidemiology and resistance mechanisms affecting ceftolozane/tazobactam in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates recovered from ICU patients in Spain and Portugal depicted by WGS.

Objectives: To analyse the epidemiology, the resistome and the virulome of ceftolozane/tazobactam-susceptible or -resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates recovered from surveillance studies in Portugal (STEP, 2017-18) and Spain (SUPERIOR, 2016-17).

Methods: P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered from intra-abdominal, urinary tract and lower respiratory tract infections in ICU patients admitted to 11 Portuguese and 8 Spanish hospitals.

Understanding a woman's heart: Lessons from 14 177 women with acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction: Coronary artery disease is becoming the leading cause of death in women in Western society. However, the available data shows that women are still underdiagnosed and undertreated with guideline-recommended secondary prevention therapy, leading to a significantly higher rate of in-hospital complications and in-hospital mortality.

Objective: The main objective of this work is to assess the approach to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Portugal, including form of presentation, in-hospital treatment and in-hospital complications, according to gender and in three different periods.

In vitro activity of ceftolozane-tazobactam against Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa causing urinary, intra-abdominal and lower respiratory tract infections in intensive care units in Portugal: The STEP multicenter study.

The STEP surveillance study was designed to increase knowledge about distribution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Portugal, focusing on the intensive care unit (ICU). Antimicrobial susceptibility of common agents was also evaluated and compared with that of one of the latest therapeutic introductions, ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T). Clinical isolates of Enterobacterales (n=426) and P.

Olanzapine-Induced Hyperprolactinemia: Two Case Reports.

Hyperprolactinemia is a common consequence of treatment with antipsychotics. It is usually defined by a sustained prolactin level above the laboratory upper level of normal in conditions other than that where physiologic hyperprolactinemia is expected. Normal prolactin levels vary significantly among different laboratories and studies.

Behind Recurrent Thromboembolic Events.

Unlabelled: We describe the case of a 68-year-old man, who presented with an ischemic stroke due to cardiac embolization related to mitral valve endocarditis. Blood cultures were always negative and post-operative valve histology did not show microorganisms. The patient also presented further recurrent peripheral embolic events.

Multiple sclerosis and motherhood choice: an observational study in Portuguese women patients.

INTRODUCTION. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling disease occurring mainly in women of childbearing age. MS may interfere with family planning and motherhood decision.

Ocular Toxicity Secondary to Asclepias physocarpa: The Balloon Plant.

We report a case of a 65-year-old woman with symptoms of blurred vision and ocular irritation a few hours after accidental contact of the right eye with Asclepias physocarpa milky latex. Observation showed a diffuse conjunctival hyperemia and stromal corneal edema with Descemet's membrane folds. Recovery was fast and apparently complete in less than one month.

[The development of the cerebral venous system--from the embryo to the adult definitive structure].

Introduction: The human development consists of a continuous process where an uninterrupted pattern of extremely complex repetitive cycles of growth, modulation and modification take place. Despite this extreme complexity, the normal development is ordered by an impressive regularity, namely, in chronological, anatomical, topographic and physiological trends. In some organic systems, this development will not be totally ended by the time of birth.

[Anatomy and variants of the cerebral venous system--fact or defect?].

Unlabelled: The anatomy of the cerebral venous system (CVS) is based on a known variable three-dimensional structure. For a correct recognition and characterization of its elements, a detailed knowledge of its anatomy and potential variants is essential. However, this structural changes, commonly named as variants, may appear in asymptomatic situations as well as associated to certain pathological syndromes with diagnostic and therapeutic consequences.