Radiografsko snimanje lakatnog zgloba pasa kolimatizovanim projekcijama

The mediolateral flexed, extended, or neutral elbow radiographic views are commonly used in clinical practice. However, there is currently no standardized methodology to accurately measure the elbow joint angle in mediolateral images that include only the elbow joint and surrounding tissues. The main aim of this work is to compare elbow joint angles obtained from mediolateral radiographs that include the complete arm and forearm of the dog, with angles measured in radiographs including only the elbow. Ninety mediolateral views of elbow joints were obtained from 50 canine thoracic limbs, with 39 joints <90º, 30 ≥90 - ≤120º and 21 >120º. Radiographs were centered on the elbow joint and include the shoulder and carpal joints. For each complete forelimb radiographic image, the elbow angle was measured using the methodology described in previous studies. Then, the digital images were cut to obtain only the joint and surrounding tissues, establishing a new set of anatomical landmarks to measure the joint angles: the lateral humeral epicondyle was used as an angular point, with the linking points being the nutritional orifice of the radius at the antebrachial interosseous space and the intersection point of the lateral supracondylar crest with the cranial humeral endosteum. There wasU kliničkoj praksi se često koriste mediolateralne savijene, ispružene i radiografske projekcije u neutralnom položaju lakta. Međutim, ne postoje standardizovane metode kojima bi se ispravno obavilo merenje ugla lakatnog zgloba u mediolateralnoj projekciji koja obuhvata isključivo lakatni zglob i okolno tkivo. Osnovni cilj rada je bio da se obavi poređenje uglova lakatnog zgloba, dobijenih mediolaterlnom radiografi jom koja je potpuno obuhvatala prednji ekstremitet psa, pri čemu su se merenja uglova dobijenih radiografi jom odnosila samo na lakat. Ukupno je dobijeno 90 mediolateralnih snimaka projekcija lakatnog zgloba, od 50 udova, pri čemu je 39 zglobova imalo vrednosti ugla manje od 90°, 30 zglobova ≤90° i 21 zgloba >120°. Radiografski snimci su centrirani na lakatni zglob pri čemu su bili obuhvaćeni rameni i karpalni zglob. Za svaki od potpunih radiografskih snimaka prednjeg ekstremiteta, ugao lakatnog zgloba je meren uz primenu metodologije koja je opisana u prethodnim studijama. Posle toga, digitalni snimci su isečeni da bi se dobili samo snimci zgloba i okolnog tkiva. Na taj način je uspostavljen novi set anatomskih granica za merenje uglova zgloba: lateralni epikondilus humerusa je korišćen kao teme ugla sa povezanim tačkama radijusa antebrahijalnog interkosnog prostora i tačka preseka lateralnog suprakondilarnog grebena sa kranijalnim endoostom humerusa. Postojala je dobra povezanost između dve metodologije merenja uglova lakatnog zgloba. Koefi cijent korelacije u okviru klase bio je statistički značajan pri čemu su donje granične vrednosti za 95% interval pouzdanosti (CI) bile >0,75 pri čemu je nulta vrednost bila uključena u standardnu grešku srednje vrednosti pri 95% CI, Bland-Altman testa. Metodologija merenja ugla lakatnog zgloba, zasnovana na anatomskim graničnim tačkama neposredno uz lakatni zglob, je tačna metoda koja može da se primenjuje kako za klinička ispitivanja tako i za naučno istraživačke svrhe

Effect of the dog positioning on X-ray table on hip dysplasia parameter evaluation

Research Areas: Veterinary Sciences; ZoologyABSTRACT - Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic tilting along the long axis and femoral rotation on Norberg angle (NA), subluxation index (SI) and subluxation category (SC) in the standard ventrodorsal hip extended (VDHE) radiographical view on live animals. Study Type This was a retrospective clinical study. Materials and Methods Pairs of VDHE views, one adequately positioned and the other with pelvic tilting or femoral internal or external rotation, were compared for the NA, SI and SC. Results On the malpositioned pelvis set, on the underside the mean +/- SD NA was 98.7 +/- 6.1 degrees, the SI was 0.27 +/- 0.12 and the SC was 2.8 +/- 0.8 versus, on the acceptable set, the NA was 99.2 +/- 6.4 degrees ( p > 0.05), the SI was 0.25 +/- 0.12 ( p 0.05). Conclusions In clinical practice, pelvic tilting along the long axis in VDHE view results in non-favourable hip changes in the NA, SI and SC on the underside and favourable on the upperside, and the internal or external femoral rotation did not affect these variables.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Motivos para a Prática de Atividade Física e Atividade Física Atual em pessoas com DPOC

Introdução e objetivos: A inatividade física está associada a um maior risco de exacerbações, hospitalizações e mortalidade em pessoas com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica (DPOC). A motivação é um dos fatores-chave para a adoção de um estilo de vida mais ativo. Porém, os motivos para a prática de atividade física (AF) em pessoas com DPOC têm sido pouco estudados, embora sejam relevantes para o desenvolvimento de intervenções de promoção de AF efetivas e sustentáveis. Assim, exploraram-se os motivos para o exercício que as pessoas com DPOC valorizam e a sua relação com a AF atual. Material e Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo observacional transversal em pessoas com DPOC clinicamente estáveis recrutadas em 4 hospitais e 1 centro de saúde. Os motivos para o exercício foram avaliados através do Exercise Motivation Inventory – 2 (EMI-2; 5 dimensões e 14 fatores motivacionais; valores mais altos correspondem a motivos mais valorizados). O comportamento atual de AF foi avaliado através de acelerometria [ActiGraph GT3X+; duração (min/dia) em AF ligeira e moderada-a-vigorosa (AFMV), n.º passos/dia]. Foram usadas medidas de estatística descritiva e correlação de Spearman para avaliar a relação entre os dados do EMI-2 e de acelerometria. Resultados: Foram incluídos 79 participantes (67,4±8,2 anos; 82,3% homens; 43,3% GOLD 3). O fator motivacional mais pontuado foi “manter-se saudável” (mediana [Q1-Q3] 4,7 [3,3–5]) e o que obteve um menor valor foi o “reconhecimento social” (0,8 [0–2,8]). Relativamente às dimensões, os “Motivos de Saúde” 4,1 [3,1–4,7] foram os mais valorizados. Em média, os participantes realizaram 5365,1±3239,1 passos/dia, despenderam 133,6±72,5 min/dia em AF ligeira e 30,5±25,6 min/dia em AFMV. As correlações entre a AF e os fatores e dimensões motivacionais do EMI-2 não apresentaram significância estatística (ρ≤0,194, p>0,05). Conclusões: Embora as pessoas com DPOC valorizem motivos relacionados com a dimensão “saúde”, nenhum dos fatores motivacionais se correlacionou fortemente com a AF atual. Os resultados realçam a natureza multifatorial e complexa da AF e a necessidade de explorar a relação de outros fatores na motivação e AF desta população.N/

Perfil de atividade física de pessoas com Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crónica (DPOC) em Portugal

Introdução e objetivos: A participação em atividade física (AF) regular está associada a um menor risco de mortalidade e melhor qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde. Apesar de se saber que as pessoas com Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crónica (DPOC) apresentam níveis baixos de AF quando comparadas com indivíduos saudáveis da mesma idade e sexo, desconhece-se ainda a caracterização diária dos níveis de AF destas pessoas em Portugal. Este estudo teve como objetivos caracterizar o perfil de AF de pessoas com DPOC portuguesas e explorar a sua relação com características clínicas. Material e Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo observacional transversal em pessoas com DPOC clinicamente estáveis, nas regiões Centro e Lisboa e Vale do Tejo. Foram recolhidos dados sociodemográficos, antropométricos, função pulmonar [Volume Expiratório Forçado no 1º segundo (FEV1)], sintomas e exacerbações (GOLD ABCD), dispneia (modified Medical Research Council), tolerância ao exercício (teste de marcha dos 6-min) e estado de saúde (COPD Assessment Test). A AF foi avaliada através de acelerometria (ActiGraph GT3X+) durante 7 dias e consistiu em: tempo despendido em AF Moderada a Vigorosa (AFMV) e em AF Total (min/dia), e número de passos/dia. Realizou-se estatística descritiva e correlações de Spearman (ρ) entre as variáveis de AF e as medidas clínicas. Resultados: Os participantes (n=102, 82 do sexo masculino, FEV1=48±19%previsto) apresentaram uma mediana [Q1–Q3] de 20 [9–41] min/dia em AFMV, 144 [100–208] min em AF Total e realizaram 4438 [2821–6944] passos/dia. Apenas 24% dos participantes atingiram ≥7000 passos/dia e 41% os ≥30 min/dia de AFMV recomendados na literatura. O tempo despendido em AFMV e o n.º de passos/dia apresentaram correlações moderadas com a dispneia (ρ=-0.401 e ρ=0.537, respetivamente; p<0.001) e com a tolerância ao exercício (ρ=0.560 e ρ=0.525, respetivamente; p<0.001). O tempo em AFMV apresentou ainda correlação com os graus ABCD (ρ=-0.430, p<0.001). Conclusões: A maioria das pessoas com DPOC é fisicamente inativa. Os sintomas, exacerbações e tolerância ao esforço estão associados à AF nesta população e devem ser considerados em intervenções de promoção de AF.N/

The GO-DACT protocol : a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study to compare the efficacy of golimumab in combination with methotrexate (MTX) versus MTX monotherapy

© 2001-2020 Sociedade Portuguesa de ReumatologiaThe GO-DACT is an investigator-initiated, national, multicentric randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded trial, that assesses dactylitis as primary endpoint. Psoriatic arthritis patients naïve to methotrexate and biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, with at least one active dactylitis, were assigned to golimumab in combination with methotrexate or placebo in combination with methotrexate, for 24 weeks. Both clinical (dactylitis severity score and the Leeds dactylitis index) and imaging (high resolution magnetic resonance imaging), among others, were assessed as outcomes. The main objective of GO-DACT is to provide evidence to improve the treatment algorithm and care of psoriatic arthritis patients with active dactylitis. In this manuscript we describe the GO-DACT protocol and general concepts of the methodology of this trial.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

GO-DACT : a phase 3b randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of GOlimumab plus methotrexate (MTX) versus placebo plus MTX in improving DACTylitis in MTX-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis

© author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY- nC. no commercial re-use. see rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-­NC 4.0) license.Objectives: To assess the efficacy of golimumab in combination with methotrexate (MTX) versus MTX monotherapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) dactylitis. Methods: Multicentre, investigator-initiated, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-design phase 3b trial in 11 Portuguese rheumatology centres. Patients with PsA along with active dactylitis and naive to MTX and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were randomly assigned to golimumab or placebo, both in combination with MTX. The primary endpoint was Dactylitis Severity Score (DSS) change from baseline to week 24. Key secondary endpoints included DSS and Leeds Dactylitis Index (LDI) response, and changes from baseline in the LDI and MRI dactylitis score. Analysis was by intention-to-treat for the primary endpoint. Results: Twenty-one patients received golimumab plus MTX and 23 MTX monotherapy for 24 weeks. One patient from each arm discontinued. Patient inclusion was halted at 50% planned recruitment due to a favourable interim analysis. Median baseline DSS was 6 in both arms. By week 24, patients treated with golimumab plus MTX exhibited significantly greater improvements in DSS relative to MTX monotherapy (median change of 5 vs 2 points, respectively; p=0.026). In the golimumab plus MTX arm, significantly higher proportions of patients achieved at least 50% or 70% improvement in DSS and 20%, 50% or 70% improvement in LDI in comparison to MTX monotherapy. Conclusions: The combination of golimumab and MTX as first-line bDMARD therapy is superior to MTX monotherapy for the treatment of PsA dactylitis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Measuring adherence to inhaled control medication in patients with asthma: Comparison among an asthma app, patient self‐report and physician assessment

Background Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using an asthma app to support medication management and adherence but failed to compare with other measures currently used in clinical practice. However, in a clinical setting, any additional adherence measurement must be evaluated in the context of both the patient and physician perspectives so that it can also help improve the process of shared decision making. Thus, we aimed to compare different measures of adherence to asthma control inhalers in clinical practice, namely through an app, patient self-report and physician assessment. Methods This study is a secondary analysis of three prospective multicentre observational studies with patients (≥13 years old) with persistent asthma recruited from 61 primary and secondary care centres in Portugal. Patients were invited to use the InspirerMundi app and register their inhaled medication. Adherence was measured by the app as the number of doses taken divided by the number of doses scheduled each day and two time points were considered for analysis: 1-week and 1-month. At baseline, patients and physicians independently assessed adherence to asthma control inhalers during the previous week using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS 0–100). Results A total of 193 patients (72% female; median [P25–P75] age 28 [19–41] years old) were included in the analysis. Adherence measured by the app was lower (1 week: 31 [0–71]%; 1 month: 18 [0–48]%) than patient self-report (80 [60–95]) and physician assessment (82 [51–94]) (p 0.05). There was a moderate correlation between patient self-report and physician assessment (ρ = 0.596, p < 0.001). Conclusions Adherence measured by the app was lower than that reported by the patient or the physician. This was expected as objective measurements are commonly lower than subjective evaluations, which tend to overestimate adherence. Nevertheless, the low adherence measured by the app may also be influenced by the use of the app itself and this needs to be considered in future studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Building a Portuguese Coalition for Biodiversity Genomics

The diverse physiography of the Portuguese land and marine territory, spanning from continental Europe to the Atlantic archipelagos, has made it an important repository of biodiversity throughout the Pleistocene glacial cycles, leading to a remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems. This rich biodiversity is under threat from anthropogenic drivers, such as climate change, invasive species, land use changes, overexploitation or pathogen (re)emergence. The inventory, characterization and study of biodiversity at inter- and intra-specific levels using genomics is crucial to promote its preservation and recovery by informing biodiversity conservation policies, management measures and research. The participation of researchers from Portuguese institutions in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative, and its pilot effort to generate reference genomes for European biodiversity, has reinforced the establishment of Biogenome Portugal. This nascent institutional network will connect the national community of researchers in genomics. Here, we describe the Portuguese contribution to ERGA’s pilot effort, which will generate high-quality reference genomes of six species from Portugal that are endemic, iconic and/or endangered, and include plants, insects and vertebrates (fish, birds and mammals) from mainland Portugal or the Azores islands. In addition, we outline the objectives of Biogenome Portugal, which aims to (i) promote scientific collaboration, (ii) contribute to advanced training, (iii) stimulate the participation of institutions and researchers based in Portugal in international biodiversity genomics initiatives, and (iv) contribute to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and engaging the public to preserve biodiversity. This initiative will strengthen biodiversity genomics research in Portugal and fuel the genomic inventory of Portuguese eukaryotic species. Such efforts will be critical to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity and will contribute to ERGA’s goal of generating reference genomes for European species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio