Sex and body mass index impact on digit circumference for Leeds Dactylitis Index calculation

Objectives: To estimate digit circumference and the impact of sex and body mass index (BMI) for the calculation of the Leeds Dactylitis Index (LDI) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with bilateral dactylitis. Methods: Digit circumference of the hands and the foot were measured with a dactylometer and were studied according to sex and BMI (divided in 4 weight categories) in healthy Portuguese subjects, using Student's t-test and One-way ANOVA, respectively. The effect size of sex and BMI were calculated using Cohen's d test and Eta squared, respectively. Multiple linear regression was used to calculate the effect of sex and BMI, as well as their interaction, to create a formula to predict digit circumference. Results: Fifty-nine participants (33 women, 26 men) with a mean BMI of 24.8 were included. Men's mean digit circumferences were statistically higher than those of women (p<0.001), with a large sex effect size in most of the digits. Differences in the mean circumference between the four BMI categories were statistically significant (p<0.05) for all digits, with a large BMI effect size. Sex and BMI were independent variables to predict mean digit circumference (p<0.001). A new tool (based on regression analysis) allowing to estimate the circumference of digits for males and females of different BMIs is presented. Conclusions: Our data allows the calculation of digit circumference for males and females of different BMIs in the Portuguese population; and shows that BMI influences digital circumference supporting BMI inclusion in LDI references tablesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Levantamento diferencial evidenciado pelas escadarias de terraços marinhos do Cabo Espichel e do Cabo Raso durante o Plistocénico

This study focuses on two marine terrace staircases of central Portugal: Cabo Raso (west of Lisboa) and Cabo Espichel (western Arrábida chain). Four emerse marine terraces were found in the Cabo Raso area, while twelve were found at Cabo Espichel, according to geomorphological and stratigraphical studies. Electron Spin Resonance and luminescence dating were used to establish a chronology for the coastal staircases, from which uplift rates were calculated. The present elevations of the culminating marine abrasion platform represented at Cabo Raso and Cabo Espichel, express the differential uplift between these areas over the last ~3,7 Ma

Portuguese recommendations for the use of biological and targeted synthetic diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis – 2020 update

Objective: To update the recommendations for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs and tsDMARDs), endorsed by the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology (SPR). Methods: These treatment recommendations were formulated by Portuguese rheumatologists taking into account previous recommendations, new literature evidence and consensus opinion. At a national meeting, in a virtual format, three of the ten previous recommendations were re-addressed and discussed after a more focused literature review. A first draft of the updated recommendations was elaborated by a team of SPR rheumatologists from the SPR rheumatoid arthritis study group, GEAR. The resulting document circulated among all SPR rheumatologists for discussion and input. The level of agreement with each of all the recommendations was anonymously voted online by all SPR rheumatologists. Results: These recommendations cover general aspects such as shared decision, treatment objectives, systematic assessment of disease activity and burden and its registry in Reuma.pt. Consensus was also achieved regarding specific aspects such as initiation of bDMARDs and tsDMARDs, assessment of treatment response, switching and definition of persistent remission. Conclusion: These recommendations may be used for guidance of treatment with bDMARDs and tsDMARDs in patients with RA. As more evidence becomes available and more therapies are licensed, these recommendations will be updated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

P1402 Isolation of pulmonary veins with duty-cycled circular multi-polar catheter : randomized controlled clinical trial

Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2019. For permissions please email: [email protected]. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model)Introduction: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the central element in the ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), and can be obtained with different ablation modalities. The duty­cycled circular multi­pole catheter PVAC® (Medtronic) allows linear application of radiofrequency energy, with the production of circumferential lesions. Conceptually, it can make ablation simpler and faster in patients with favorable anatomy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

First intention epicardial VT ablation : what are the results?

Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2019. For permissions, please email: [email protected]: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) endocardial mapping and ablation may not be sufficient in several arrhythmogenic contexts, because ventricular myocardium may comprise intricate endocardial, intramural and epicardial substract. Thus, epicardial ablation has lately become a complementary and necessary tool to approach some VTs in different types of cardiomyopathies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Predictors of Interstitial Lung Disease in Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) frequently complicates mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and contributes to increased mortality. We aimed to identify predictors of ILD in MCTD patients. This is a nationwide, multicentre, retrospective study including patients with an adult-onset MCTD clinical diagnosis who met Sharp’s, Kasukawa, Alarcón-Segovia, or Kahn’s diagnostic criteria and had available chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) data. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. We included 57 MCTD patients, with 27 (47.4%) having ILD. Among ILD patients, 48.1% were asymptomatic, 80.0% exhibited a restrictive pattern on pulmonary function tests, and 81.5% had nonspecific interstitial pneumonia on chest HRCT. Gastroesophageal involvement (40.7% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.043) and lymphadenopathy at disease onset (22.2% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.045) were associated with ILD. Binary logistic regression identified lymphadenopathy at disease onset (OR 19.65, 95% CI: 1.91–201.75, p = 0.012) and older age at diagnosis (OR 1.06/year, 95% CI: 1.00–1.12, p = 0.046) as independent ILD predictors, regardless of gender and gastroesophageal involvement. This study is the first to assess a Portuguese MCTD cohort. As previously reported, it confirmed the link between gastroesophageal involvement and ILD in MCTD patients. Additionally, it established that lymphadenopathy at disease onset and older age at diagnosis independently predict ILD in MCTD patients

Coastal raptors and raiders:New bird tracks in the Pleistocene of SW iberian Peninsula

Avian traces occurring in Pleistocene aeolianite and beach deposits are rare and relatively poorly known, despite being good paleoenvironmental indicators. Passeriform and raptorial birds are especially rare in the track fossil record. Exceptional tracksites were found in the Malhão formation, a Pleistocene coastal aeolianite unit from the SW mainland Portugal, with subunits in the interval ∼187 to ∼27 ka. Two new forms of avian traces were identified, Corvidichnus odemirensis and Buboichnus vicentinus - attributed to the locomotion of Western jackdaw and the locomotion and predation/feeding behaviour of a large Eagle-owl. The last trace fossil may correspond to the first evidence of a raptorial bird-prey interaction found in action in the fossil record. Typical shorebird tracks and trackways attributed to gulls (Laridae) and curlews, and others tentatively compared with Rallidae, such as Eurasian coot, are also discussed within the aeolianite ichnoassemblages. The tracks here described are the first avian ichnotaxa from the Pleistocene of Europe.</p

Portuguese Recommendations for the Use of Biological and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis - 2020 Update

Objective: To update the recommendations for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs and tsDMARDs), endorsed by the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology (SPR). Methods: These treatment recommendations were formulated by Portuguese rheumatologists taking into account previous recommendations, new literature evidence and consensus opinion. At a national meeting, in a virtual format, three of the ten previous recommendations were re-addressed and discussed after a more focused literature review. A first draft of the updated recommendations was elaborated by a team of SPR rheumatologists from the SPR rheumatoid arthritis study group, GEAR. The resulting document circulated among all SPR rheumatologists for discussion and input. The level of agreement with each of all the recommendations was anonymously voted online by all SPR rheumatologists. Results: These recommendations cover general aspects such as shared decision, treatment objectives, systematic assessment of disease activity and burden and its registry in Reuma.pt. Consensus was also achieved regarding specific aspects such as initiation of bDMARDs and tsDMARDs, assessment of treatment response, switching and definition of persistent remission. Conclusion: These recommendations may be used for guidance of treatment with bDMARDs and tsDMARDs in patients with RA. As more evidence becomes available and more therapies are licensed, these recommendations will be updated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio