ERS International Congress 2022: highlights from the Thoracic Oncology Assembly.

Thoracic malignancies are associated with a substantial public health burden. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with significant impact on patients' quality of life. Following 2 years of virtual European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congresses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 hybrid ERS Congress in Barcelona, Spain allowed peers from all over the world to meet again and present their work.

Alternative Postoperative Analgesia Technique for Peripheral Vascular Revascularization: A Case Report.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients often require surgical peripheral vascular revascularization (PVR), in which postoperative pain management can be challenging. This case report details a 43-year-old female patient with PAD who underwent urgent femoral popliteal bypass with an inverted ipsilateral great saphenous vein and left femoral endarterectomy. Due to contraindications for neuraxial anesthesia and the necessity for continuous anticoagulation, the procedure was performed under general anesthesia (GA) and an unconventional technique with intraoperative perineural catheter (PC) placement to guarantee adequate postoperative analgesia.

Association between HPV infection and penile cancer and penile intraepithelial neoplasia: A retrospective observational study.

Background: Penile cancer is rising in most European countries. Several risk factors have been identified, namely human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, the exact role of HPV in penile cancer carcinogenesis is still unknown.

Rehabilitation after cervical and lumbar spine surgery.

The total number of spine surgeries is increasing, with a variable percentage of patients remaining symptomatic and functionally impaired after surgery. Rehabilitation has been widely recommended, although its effects remain unclear due to lack of research on this matter. The aim of this comprehensive review is to resume the most recent evidence regarding postoperative rehabilitation after spine surgery and make recommendations.

Determinants of Poor Mental Health of Medical Students in Portugal-A Nationwide Study.

Medical students are a population that is vulnerable to the development of anxiety, depression, and burnout. This observational cross-sectional study sought to assess the levels of distress and identify precipitating factors in all students enrolled in a Portuguese medical school during the academic year of 2022/23. Students (n = 768) were surveyed via validated instruments to measure anxiety, depression, and burnout.

HIV and HCV screening by non-infectious diseases physicians: can we improve testing and hidden infection rates?

Background: Missed opportunities for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) testing remain high. We aimed to ascertain the knowledge of screening guidelines and attitudes of non-infectious disease (ID) hospital physicians and assess the impact of a 1-h session on screening rates and diagnoses.

Methods: This interventional study consisted of a 1-h training session on HIV and HCV epidemiology and testing guidelines for non-ID physicians.

Hypokalemic paralysis due to renal tubular acidosis: uncommon initial manifestation of primary Sjögren´s syndrome.

Primary Sjögren´s Syndrome is an immune-mediated disease characterized by exocrine glands dysfunction due to lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with sicca symptoms being one of its main features. The disease may, however, present as distal renal tubular acidosis due to renal involvement, which can range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. We describe the case of a 33-year-old woman with hypokalemic paralysis and metabolic acidosis secondary to distal renal tubular acidosis, leading to the diagnosis of primary Sjögren´s Syndrome.

Emergent Endovascular Repair For Primary Aortoenteric Fistula.

We report the case of a 64-year-old male with significant cardiac comorbidities who reported three episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding. In the third episode, he presented massive hematemesis, anaemia and hypotension. Despite a standard upper endoscopy, a computed tomography (CT) showed an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and densification of the aortic fat cover.

Institutional Experience With Venous Aneurysms - Insights On The Natural History And Outcomes Of Surgical Treatment.

Introduction: Venous aneurysms are rare, so their natural history is not fully understood. Indications for treatment are often determined by the location and size of the aneurysm; however, considering the scarcity of data, there are no specific recommendations. Surgery is the mainstay for venous aneurysm treatment, but some authors reported successful endovascular treatment.

The Radiotherapy: Basic Concepts And Recent Techniques Advances For Thoracic Malignancies.

Radiation therapy (RT) is a clinical modality treatment that uses ionizing radiation in the approach of malignant tumors, (and occasionally benign diseases). Since its inception, the goal of RT has been to cure cancer without excessive side effects. The most important factors affecting the results of RT are the tumor histology, its location and regional extent, the anatomic area of involvement and the geometric accuracy with which a calculated radiation dose is delivered.

Methotrexate-Induced Stroke-Like Syndrome: A Typical Presentation of a Rare Complication.

Methotrexate (MTX) is one of the mainstay drugs used in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) management; however, it can cause damage to the central nervous system (CNS), typically to the subcortical white matter. Stroke-like syndrome is one particular form of MTX-related neurotoxicity that occurs within 21 days of methotrexate administration (intrathecal or high-dose intravenous treatment). The clinical picture comprehends fluctuating neurological symptoms evoking acute cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage (paresis or paralysis, speech disorders - aphasia and/or dysarthria, altered mental status, and occasionally seizures), with spontaneous resolution in the majority of cases, without other identifiable cause.

An Unexpected Catastrophe-Renal Artery Thrombosis in a Living Donor: A Case Report.

Renal artery thrombosis is a devastating complication if not detected early. Cardioembolic disease or surgical and technical complications are frequent causes of renal artery thrombosis. There are some reports of renal artery thrombosis in a renal allograft, but to our knowledge, this is the first case of renal artery thrombosis reported in a kidney donor.

Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS Syndrome).

DRESS syndrome is an idiosyncratic drug reaction and potentially life-threatening. The authors report a case of this syndrome presenting with fever, rash, mucosal involvement, liver and muscle involvement associated with moxifloxacin treatment.

Intrastromal corneal ring segments: effect of depth of implantation in visual, refractive, and topographic outcomes in patients with keratoconus.

Purpose: To evaluate visual, refractive, and topographic outcomes of intracorneal ring segment implantation in relation to the achieved segment depth, using the manual technique.

Setting: Ophthalmology Department, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Is elevated blood glucose at admission associated with poor outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients?

Objective: Hyperglycemia has been suggested as a risk factor for poor outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of our work was to evaluate the association between blood glucose levels at admission (BGA) and disease outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Subjects And Methods: Retrospective study including all adult COVID-19 patients admitted to a Portuguese hospital from March to August 2020 with BGA measurement.

Stress Cardiomyopathy as a Complication of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

The worldwide spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in early 2020 led to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Acute lung diseases, such as COVID-19 pneumonia, can trigger stress cardiomyopathy, raising concerns about potential cardiovascular complications related to these diseases. The current case involved a 72-year-old man with SARS-CoV-2 infection who was experiencing dyspnea, desaturation, and oppressive retrosternal chest pain.

Hyperglycemic Hemichorea: A Case Report.

Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder characterized by a continuous flow of rapid, random, and involuntary bodily contractions, usually affecting the distal limbs. When these movements are more proximal or assume a larger amplitude with a flinging or kicking character, they're referred to as ballism. These disorders can be associated with several causes, ranging from genetic and neurovascular to toxic, autoimmune, and metabolic.

Antimicrobial Stewardship on Patients with Neutropenia: A Narrative Review Commissioned by Microorganisms.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance poses a global health threat. High-risk patients such as those with neutropenia are particularly vulnerable to opportunistic infections, sepsis, and multidrug-resistant infections, and clinical outcomes remain the primary concern. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs should mainly focus on optimizing antibiotic use, decreasing adverse effects, and improving patient outcomes.