Remote ischemic conditioning in ST-elevation myocardial infarction as adjuvant to primary angioplasty (RIC-STEMI): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) accounts for nearly one third of acute coronary syndromes. Despite improved STEMI patient care, mortality remains high, contributing significantly to the ischemic heart disease burden. This may partly be related to ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI).

Interobserver agreement of contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography in the evaluation of solid pancreatic lesions.

Background And Study Aims: Previous reports assessing the reproducibility of contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography (CH-EUS) in the evaluation of solid pancreatic lesions (SPLs) involved mainly experienced endosonographers. We aimed to assess the interobserver agreement (IOA) of CH-EUS in the evaluation of SPLs by endoscopists with different levels of experience in EUS and CH-EUS.

Participants And Methods: A cross-sectional observational multicenter study was designed and included 11 endoscopists who were divided into four groups according to their experience in EUS and CH-EUS: group A (long experience in EUS and CH-EUS); group B (short experience in EUS and CH-EUS); group C (long experience in EUS and no experience in CH-EUS); and group D (no experience in EUS or CH-EUS).

Autoimmune diseases and pregnancy: analysis of a series of cases.

Background: An autoimmune disease is characterized by tissue damage, caused by self-reactivity of different effector mechanisms of the immune system, namely antibodies and T cells. All autoimmune diseases, to some extent, have implications for fertility and obstetrics. Currently, due to available treatments and specialised care for pregnant women with autoimmune disease, the prognosis for both mother and child has improved significantly.

Assessing overall patient satisfaction in inflammatory bowel disease using structural equation modeling.

Background/aims: Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a very popular data-analytic technique for the evaluation of customer satisfaction. We aimed to measure the overall satisfaction of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with healthcare in Portugal and to define its main determinants using SEM.

Patients And Methods: The study included three steps: (i) specification of a patient satisfaction model that included the following dimensions: Image, Expectations, Facilities, Admission process, Assistant staff, Nursing staff, Medical staff, Treatment, Inpatient care, Outpatient care, Overall quality, Overall satisfaction, and Loyalty; (ii) sample survey from 2000 patients, members of the Portuguese Association of the IBD; and (iii) estimation of the satisfaction model using partial least squares (XLSTAT-PLSPM).

Omental whirl associated with bilateral inguinal hernia: a case report.

Introduction: Torsion of the omentum is a rare cause of abdominal pain. It is clinically similar to common causes of acute surgical abdomen and is often diagnosed during surgery. Inguinal hernia is a common condition but not frequently related with torsion of the omentum.

Early precut fistulotomy for biliary access: time to change the paradigm of "the later, the better"?

Background: The precut timing during the biliary cannulation algorithm is a subject of controversy. Some studies suggest that early institution of precut is a safe and effective strategy even though the extent to which this approach may affect the duration of the ERCP is seldom addressed.

Objective: To assess the success, safety, and procedure duration of an early precut fistulotomy (group A) versus a classic precut strategy after a difficult biliary cannulation (group B).

The management of ingested foreign bodies in an Ear Nose and Throat Emergency Unit: prospective study of 204 cases.

Aims: To determine how often ingested foreign bodies are found and what parameters may predict their retrieval.

Methods: During 1 year, we prospectively studied all patients referred to our Ear Nose and Throat Emergency Unit because of foreign body ingestion.

Results: During the study, 204 (median age-42 years [10 months-84 years]) patients were admitted because of ingested foreign body.

Detection of the Epstein-Barr virus in blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells of patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is not associated with prognosis.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with a large spectrum of lymphoproliferative diseases. Traditional methods of EBV detection include the immunohistochemical identification of viral proteins and DNA probes to the viral genome in tumoral tissue. The present study explored the detection of the EBV genome, using the BALF5 gene, in the bone marrow or blood mononuclear cells of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) and related its presence to the clinical variables and risk factors.

Reprocessing practice in digestive endoscopy units of district hospitals: results of a Portuguese National Survey.

Background And Aim: An inadequate disinfection of endoscopes and associated accessories can result in the transmission of infections to patients. The aim of this study was to access reprocessing practice in the endoscopy units of Portuguese district general hospitals.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire on cleaning and disinfection methods was sent to all endoscopy units of Portuguese district general hospitals.