Trends in gastric and esophageal cancer incidence in northern Portugal (1994-2009) by subsite and histology, and predictions for 2015.

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) and esophageal cancer (EC) share risk factors, and the incidence trends reflect differences in etiology according to their subtypes. We aimed to describe the incidence trends of GC (by topography) and EC (by histological type) in northern Portugal for 1994-2009 and to estimate the incidence for 2015. We further analyzed exposure to the main risk factors for these cancers in the region over the last decades.

The role of prenatal exposures on body fat patterns at 7 years: Intrauterine programming or birthweight effects?

Background And Aims: It remains unknown whether the effects of prenatal exposures on child's adiposity reflect entirely intrauterine programming. We aimed to assess the effects of maternal gestational weight gain, diabetes and smoking on the child's body fat patterns, disentangling the direct (through intrauterine programming) and indirect (through birthweight) effects.

Methods And Results: We included 4747 singleton 7-year-old children from the Generation XXI birth cohort (Porto, Portugal).

Regional variation in coronary heart disease mortality trends in Portugal, 1981-2012.

Background: Information is scarce about the geographic variation in time trends of mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD). We aimed to describe trends in death rates, absolute number of deaths and years of life lost (YLL) due to CHD among men and women in Portugal, by region, from 1981 to 2012.

Methods: The age-standardized mortality rates from CHD were estimated by sex and region.

The prevalence of lifetime abuse among older adults in seven European countries.

Objectives: To investigate the lifetime prevalence rate of abuse among older persons and to scrutinize the associated factors (e.g. demographics).

Trajectories of total and central adiposity throughout adolescence and cardiometabolic factors in early adulthood.

Background/objectives: Our aim was to identify trajectories of total and central adiposity from 13 to 21 years, and to investigate how adiposity changes at different phases of adolescence relate to adulthood cardiovascular risk factors.

Subjects/methods: This study included participants from a population-based cohort (EPITeen), Portugal. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured at 13, 17 and 21 years, and sex- and age-specific z-scores were calculated.

Age and disability drive cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis across disease subtypes.

Background: There is limited and inconsistent information on the clinical determinants of cognitive impairment (CI) in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and profile of CI across MS disease subtypes and assess its clinical determinants.

Methods: Cognitive performance was assessed through the Brief Repeatable Battery and the Stroop test in consecutive patients with MS referred to six Italian centers.

Heart rate at admission is a predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes: Results from 58 European hospitals: The European Hospital Benchmarking by Outcomes in acute coronary syndrome Processes study.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between heart rate at admission and in-hospital mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Methods: Consecutive ACS patients admitted in 2008-2010 across 58 hospitals in six participant countries of the European Hospital Benchmarking by Outcomes in ACS Processes (EURHOBOP) project (Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Spain). Cardiogenic shock patients were excluded.

Light to Moderate Habitual Alcohol Consumption Is Associated with Subclinical Ventricular and Left Atrial Mechanical Dysfunction in an Asymptomatic Population: Dose-Response and Propensity Analysis.

Background: The effects of light to moderate alcohol consumption on cardiac mechanics remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) function using myocardial deformation.

Methods: In total 3,946 asymptomatic participants (mean age, 49.

Smoking and Cardiac Structure and Function in the Elderly: The ARIC Study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities).

Background: Cigarette smoking has been associated with higher risk of incident heart failure independent of coronary artery disease, but the impact of tobacco use on cardiac structure and function in the general population is uncertain. This study evaluated the relationship between smoking and echocardiographic measures in a large elderly cohort.

Methods And Results: We studied 4580 participants free of overt coronary artery disease, heart failure, and significant valvular disease from the fifth visit of the ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) who underwent transthoracic echocardiography.

Cigarette smoking and gastric cancer in the Stomach Cancer Pooling (StoP) Project.

Tobacco smoking is a known cause of gastric cancer, but several aspects of the association remain imprecisely quantified. We examined the relation between cigarette smoking and the risk of gastric cancer using a uniquely large dataset of 23 epidemiological studies within the 'Stomach cancer Pooling (StoP) Project', including 10 290 cases and 26 145 controls. We estimated summary odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by pooling study-specific ORs using random-effects models.

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality in Portugal: trends, projections and regional differences.

There is a large geographical variability in prostate cancer incidence and mortality trends, mostly because of heterogeneity in control efforts across regions. We aimed to describe the time trends in prostate cancer incidence and mortality in Portugal, overall and by region, and to estimate the number of incident cases and deaths in 2020. The number of cases and incidence rates in 1998-2009 were collected from the Regional Cancer Registries.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With α1 Antitrypsin Deficency: A Cross Sectional Study.

Background: Measures of health related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) can help to determine the impact of the disease and provide an important insight into the intervention outcomes. There is few data regarding this issue in the literature. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between HRQoL and gender, functional parameters and history of hospitalizations in patients with AATD.

COBA-Cohort: a prospective cohort of HIV-negative men who have sex with men, attending community-based HIV testing services in five European countries (a study protocol).

Introduction: Community-based voluntary counselling and testing (CBVCT) services for men who have sex with men (MSM) can reach those most-at-risk and provide an environment for gay men that is likely to be non-stigmatising. Longitudinal data on the behaviour of HIV-negative MSM are scarce in Europe. The aim of this protocol, developed during the Euro HIV Early Diagnosis And Treatment (EDAT) project, is to implement a multicentre community-based cohort of HIV-negative MSM attending 15 CBVCT services in 5 European countries.

Targeting N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Older Versus Younger Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic value and attainability of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in young and elderly acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients.

Background: Less-effective NT-proBNP-guided therapy in chronic heart failure (HF) has been reported in elderly patients. Whether this can be attributed to differences in prognostic value of NT-proBNP or to differences in attaining a prognostic value is unclear.

Longitudinal clustering of tuberculosis incidence and predictors for the time profiles: the impact of HIV.

Background: Portugal remains the country with the highest tuberculosis (TB) incidence in Western Europe.

Objectives: To identify longitudinal trends in TB incidence in Portugal from 2002 to 2012 and investigate the longitudinal effect of sociodemographic and health-related predictors among the resident population on the TB incidence rate.

Methods: We used data from the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System and other national institutions.

The Freestyle Facial Artery Perforator Flap for Reconstruction of Simultaneous Periorbital and Cheek Defects.

The reconstruction of defects involving the nasolabial, paranasal, and periorbital regions may be challenging, because they often involve more than one facial aesthetic unit, and can lead to functional problems. An average of 5 facial artery perforators of caliber >0.5 mm can be found above the mandible.

Current real-life use of vasopressors and inotropes in cardiogenic shock - adrenaline use is associated with excess organ injury and mortality.

Background: Vasopressors and inotropes remain a cornerstone in stabilization of the severely impaired hemodynamics and cardiac output in cardiogenic shock (CS). The aim of this study was to analyze current real-life use of these medications, and their impact on outcome and on changes in cardiac and renal biomarkers over time in CS.

Methods: The multinational CardShock study prospectively enrolled 219 patients with CS.

The decision about retirement: A scale to describe representations and practices of medical doctors and nurses.

Highlights: New reliable and valid instrument to describe health professionals representations about retirement.A valid instrument that can be used to compare different health professionals.Job satisfaction is the major factor associated with positions about general policies about retirement.

Bayesian prediction of lung and breast cancer mortality among women in Spain (2014-2020).

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the main cause of cancer mortality among women, and mortality from lung cancer (LC) is increasing among women. The purpose of the present study was to project the mortality rates of both cancers and predict when LC mortality will exceed BC mortality.

Methods: The cancer mortality data and female population distribution were obtained from the Spanish National Statistics Institute.

Discontinuation of Infliximab in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Is Associated With Increased Risk of Relapse: A Multinational Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background & Aims: Infliximab is a safe and effective therapy for ulcerative colitis (UC). We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study that included 7 European countries and Israel to examine whether infliximab discontinuation can be considered for patients who achieve sustained remission.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study, collecting medical records from 13 tertiary care referral inflammatory bowel disease centers of all patients with UC treated with infliximab (n = 193).

Male and female physical intimate partner violence and socio-economic position: a cross-sectional international multicentre study in Europe.

Objectives: This work explores the association between socio-economic position (SEP) and intimate partner violence (IPV) considering the perspectives of men and women as victims, perpetrators and as both (bidirectional).

Study Design: Cross-sectional international multicentre study.

Methods: A sample of 3496 men and women, (aged 18-64 years), randomly selected from the general population of residents from six European cities was assessed: Athens; Budapest; London; Östersund; Porto; and Stuttgart.