Cultural adaptation and validation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the PROactive Physical Activity in COPD-clinical visit instrument for individuals with COPD.

Objective: To adapt the PROactive Physical Activity in COPD-clinical visit (C-PPAC) instrument to the cultural setting in Brazil and to determine the criterion validity, test-retest reliability agreement, and internal consistency of this version.

Methods: A protocol for cultural adaptation and validation was provided by the authors of the original instrument and, together with another guideline, was applied in a Portuguese-language version developed by a partner research group from Portugal. The adapted Brazilian Portuguese version was then cross-sectionally administered twice within a seven-day interval to 30 individuals with COPD (57% were men; mean age was 69 ± 6 years; and mean FEV1 was 53 ± 18% of predicted) to evaluate internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

Direct oral anticoagulants vs vitamin K antagonist on dementia risk in atrial fibrillation: systematic review with meta-analysis.

Oral anticoagulation significantly reduces the incidence of dementia in atrial fibrillation patients. However, this protective effect has not been compared between Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOAC) and Vitamin K antagonists' anticoagulants (VKA). We conducted an electronic search for potentially eligible studies through the bibliographic databases MEDLINE, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.

Atrial fibrillation risk on Parkinson's disease - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The association of Parkinson's Disease (PD) with atrial fibrillation (AF) is not well established and previous studies' results were heterogeneous. This review aimed to evaluate if patients with PD are at increased risk of having AF. MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science, were searched from inception May 2021.

Night-Time Noise and Sleep Quality in an Internal Medicine Ward in Portugal: An Observational Study.

Introduction: Hospitals should provide a quiet environment to promote patient healing and well-being. However, published data indicates that World Health Organization's guidelines are frequently not met. The aim of the present study was to quantify night-time noise levels in an internal medicine ward and evaluate sleep quality, as well as the use of sedative drugs.

Blood pressure variability in Parkinson's Disease patients - Case control study.

Introduction: The cardiovascular risk of Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients is uncertain. Blood pressure variability (BPV) has been associated with cardiovascular and mortality outcomes. We aimed to evaluate blood pressure variability, as a marker of cardiovascular risk, in patients with PD and matched community controls.

Unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer: Insights from a Portuguese expert panel.

Introduction: The management of unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is clinically challenging and there is no current consensus on optimal strategies. Herein, a panel of Portuguese experts aims to present practical recommendations for the global management of unresectable stage III NSCLC patients.

Methods: A group of Portuguese lung cancer experts debated aspects related to the diagnosis, staging and treatment of unresectable stage III NSCLC in light of current evidence.

Aspirin in diabetic patients at primary prevention: insights of the VITAL cohort.

Purpose: Aspirin use among patients with diabetes in primary prevention is still a matter of debate. We aimed to evaluate the potential cardiovascular risk benefit of aspirin in primary prevention, using data from a contemporary cohort.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the VITAL cohort with > 20,000 individuals at primary prevention who were followed for a median of 5.

Extralobar Pulmonary Sequestration.

Male, 71 year-old, asymptomatic, former smoker and previous history of lung tuberculosis. Referred to outpatient clinic due to left lower lobe consolidation diagnosed on non-contrasted CT scan, with increased uptake on PET-CT. Then, a contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed extralobar pulmonary sequestration with venous drainage to the left azygos vein (Blue arrow) and a double branch arterial supply from the thoracic aorta (Red arrow).

Test-retest reliability, agreement and construct validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short-form (IPAQ-sf) in people with COPD.

Introduction: This study assessed the test-retest reliability/agreement and construct validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short-form (IPAQ-sf) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It also explored differences in its validity according to age, sex and GOLD airflow obstruction levels.

Methods: 62 participants (68 ± 8 years, 53 males, FEV 51 ± 23%pred) completed the Portuguese IPAQ-sf, wore an accelerometer for 7 days and completed a second IPAQ-sf.

From Inception to Implementation: Strategies for Setting Up Pulmonary Telerehabilitation.

Background: The emergence of innovative technology-enabled models of care is an opportunity to support more efficient ways of organizing and delivering healthcare services and improve the patient experience. Pulmonary telerehabilitation started as a promising area of research and became a strategic pandemic response to patients' decreased accessibility to rehabilitation care. Still, in the pre-COVID-19 era, we conducted a participatory study aiming to develop strategies for setting up pulmonary telerehabilitation as a person-centered digitally-enabled model of care.

Potential vascular damage by posterior dislocation of sternoclavicular joint.

A 34-year-old man was admitted for surgical treatment following traumatic posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation and anterior mediastinum hematoma with compression of brachiocephalic vein (A, B). Intra-operative positioning consid- ered access for possible sternotomy and control of upper vena cava territory in case of bleeding from venous confluent (C). Patient was submitted to open reduction of sternoclavicular joint through an oblique supraclavicular incision (D), fixation with high strength orthopedic suture (E), mediastinal drainage and closure with absorbable suture (F).

Prognostic value of hyperlactatemia in infected patients admitted to intensive care units: a multicenter study.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of patient characteristics on hyperlactatemia in an infected population admitted to intensive care units and the influence of hyperlactatemia severity on hospital mortality.

Methods: A post hoc analysis of hyperlactatemia in the INFAUCI study, a national prospective, observational, multicenter study, was conducted in 14 Portuguese intensive care units. Infected patients admitted to intensive care units with a lactate measurement in the first 12 hours of admission were selected.

Teleconsultation in respiratory medicine - A position paper of the Portuguese Pulmonology Society.

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis, among so many social, economic and health problems, also brought new opportunities. The potential of telemedicine to improve health outcomes had already been recognised in the last decades, but the pandemic crisis has accelerated the digital revolution. In 2020, a rapid increase in the use of remote consultations occurred due to the need to reduce attendance and overcrowding in outpatient clinics.