Ruralidade, natureza e paisagem: caminhos, perceções e expectativas no caso da paisagem protegida da Albufeira do Azibo

A Albufeira do Azibo, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Trás-os-Montes, um projeto hidroagrícola dos anos 70, é desde 1992 uma área de Paisagem Protegida, parcialmente incluída no sítio Morais da Rede Natura 2000. Território onde se cruzam cultura local, património agroecológico, lazer e vivências diversas, constitui atualmente um dos principais polos de atração turística do Nordeste Transmontano. A recolha e análise de informação diversa permitem perceber de que forma um projeto de intervenção agrícola, com impacto ambiental, social e económico importante, se transforma num valor natural protegido e num polo de atração agroturística inovador, conciliando interesses ecológicos, paisagísticos e de desenvolvimento rural.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ANEURISMA INFLAMATÓRIO DA AORTA ABDOMINAL: REVISÃO

O aneurisma inflamatório da aorta abdominal caracteriza-se por dor lombar ou abdominal, perda de peso e aumento da velocidade de sedimentação. Frequentemente o doente apresenta febre e leucocitose. Outros marcadores inflamatórios poderão estar aumentados como a PCR, os anticorpos-anti-nucleares e o IgG4. A tomografia computorizada é o exame de eleição, apresentando tipicamente o “sinal do manto”. Os esteroides melhoram a sintomatologia, reduzindo a inflamação, mas não corrigem o aneurisma. A decisão, entre intervenção cirúrgica ou endovascular deve ser considerada de acordo com a experiencia do centro, os fatores de risco do doente, as características anatómicas do aneurisma e a presença de hidronefrose

Nellix stent graft explant: a great challenge for late open conversion of failed endovascular aortic repair

INTRODUCTION: The concept of the Nellix endoprosthesis is based on endovascular aneurysm sealing with endobags and was launched in the market for endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). The manufacturer recently issued a hazard alert due to higher rates of endoleaks, migration and aneurysm enlargement. CASE REPORT: The authors present a clinical case of a seventy year-old man previously submitted to EVAR with a Nellix device in another country. The patient presented with an asymptomatic Type Ia endoleak and proximal aortic neck aneurysmatic degeneration. The anatomy was considered unfavourable for further endovascular management. After multidisciplinary discussion and workup, open surgical conversion was selected. Complete endoprosthesis explantation and in-situ reconstruction were performed. The post-operative course was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Once presented with a patient considered fit for open surgical conversion and with aneurysm morphology unfavourable for endovascular, the authors believe that open conversion may constitute a very acceptable method of repair and should be offered

ACTIVIDADE DE ANGIOLOGIA E CIRURGIA VASCULAR NO PERÍODO DE CONFINAMENTO DEVIDO À PANDEMIA COVID-19 — HOSPITAL DA SENHORA DA OLIVEIRA, GUIMARÃES

Introdução: Desde que o primeiro caso positivo de COVID-19 foi identificado a 2 de março em Lousada, uma região próxima à nossa área de influência, tivemos que readaptar a nossa actividade clínica.  Objetivo: Descrever as alterações realizadas pelo nosso Serviço de Cirurgia Vascular de 13 de março a 14 de maio.  Métodos: Recolhemos dados clínicos, da actividade cirúrgica, de internamento e da consulta, de 13 de março a 14 de maio e comparamos com o mesmo período do ano anterior. Também fizemos uma revisão dos documentos relacionados com a planificação da nossa actividade.  Resultados: No pico do surto, dividimos a equipa de trabalho e incentivamos a segregação dos elementos para reduzir o risco de contaminação cruzada. O volume cirúrgico diminuiu 54,8% (de 31 casos para 14 casos) e a atividade cirúrgica de ambulatório foi cancelada. O volume de consultas presenciais diminuiu 86,4%: foram realizadas 73 consultas por telefone. No serviço de urgência, a principal diferença entre o perído pré-pandémico e a pandemia foi no número de doentes observados sem patologia vascular (82 versus 28).  Conclusões: A adaptação à pandemia COVID reduziu significativamente a produção cirúrgica do nosso Departamento de Cirurgia Vascular.

Is obesity a risk factor for carotid atherosclerotic disease?—opportunistic review

Obesity is a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis. However, the influence of adipose tissue in carotid atherosclerosis is not completely understood. No systematic review/meta-analysis was previously performed to understand if obesity is a risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis. This paper aims to provide an opportunistic review of the association between obesity and carotid atherosclerosis and define the role of the different adipose tissue depots in the characteristics of carotid stenosis. The databases PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched on 15–27 April and 19 May 2021. A total of 1750 articles published between 1985 and 2019 were identified, 64 were preselected, and 38 papers (35,339 subjects) were included in the final review. The most frequent methods used to determine obesity were anthropometric measures. Carotid plaque was mostly characterized by ultrasound. Overall obesity and visceral fat were not associated with the presence of carotid plaque when evaluated separately. Waist-hip ratio, however, was a significant anthropometric measure associated with the prevalence of carotid plaques. As it reflected the ratio of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, the balance between these depots could impact the prevalence of carotid plaques.This work was supported by the Portuguese Society of Vascular Surgery. This work was developed under the scope of project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER- 000013, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020) under the Portugal Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and by National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—project UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020

THE ROLE OF THE SKELETAL MUSCLE IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS

The role of visceral obesity in atherosclerosis is well recognized by the medical community. On the contrary, the importance of skeletal muscle is almost unknown. Muscle is nowadays understood as an endocrine organ producing myokines with direct action in several physiological and pathological pathways, including atherosclerosis. The myokines reduce the formation of neointima, expression of inflammatory mediators, the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the formation of foam cells. Epidemiological studies are demonstrating the association between reduced muscle mass and cardiovascular atherosclerotic disease. Low muscle mass is associated with an increased prevalence of coronary heart disease, aortic calcification, carotid atherosclerosis, carotid intima-media thickness, intracranial artery stenosis and endothelial dysfunction. In this way resistance training, which increases the muscle size and strength may have a key role in atherosclerosis while endurance training alone might not. The time and type of protein intake by older adults may be critical to the maintenance of muscle mass and to the increase survival. The objective of this paper was to perform a review about the published literature in the last 13 years about the role of skeletal muscle in atherosclerosis.

DIABETIC FOOT: THE DIAGNOSTIC POWER OF THE RADIOLOGICAL IMAGING

pé diabético é uma complicação da Diabetes Mellitus (DM) responsável por 1250 amputações (705 minor e 545 major) em 2015 em Portugal1,2. É uma consequência da vasculopatia, imunopatia e neuropatia3,4, sendo esta última o mecanismo mais importante da Neuroartropatia de Charcot (NC)5. Ainda com a fisiopatologia exata por definir, defendem-se atualmente duas correntes — a neurotraumática e a neurovascular — ou mesmo uma terceira que combina ambas as teorias. Apesar do diagnóstico permanecer primariamente clínico, particularmente nos estadios iniciais da doença, é importante distingui-la de patologias com a mesma sintomatologia4. A radiografia convencional deverá ser o método de imagem inicial na avaliação do pé diabético. Realizando incidências em ambos os pés, preferencialmente em três projeções, podem-se comparar alterações subtis e identificar 25% dos pacientes que acabam por desenvolver alterações similares no pé contralateral3,4,7. Numa fase inicial a radiografia convencional poderá ser normal, sendo o achado mais precoce a desmineralização focal8,9. Uma vez que 50% do osso precisa de ser perdido para que se detete radiologicamente, demorando este processo entre 1 a 2semanas, realça-se a importância da repetição periódica deste exame de imagem. Eichenholtz classificou a progressão radiográfica da NC em três estadios: fragmentação/dissolução (Estadio I), coalescência (Estadio II) e reconstrução (Estadio III)5,. Na fase crónica crónica estável, este método de imagem é igualmente importante no follow-up, podendo sumariar-se a evolução pela regra dos “6 D’s”: Dense subchondral bones; Degeneration; Destruction; Deformity; Debris, Dislocation. Os achados radiológicos da forma severa da NC são patognomónicos. Deste modo, pretende-se relacionar os dados imagiológicos da radiografia simples do pé com a clínica e a fisiopatologia da entidade “Pé Diabético”, tendo como mote a descrição de um caso clínico.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Exploring the diversity of visceral, subcutaneous and perivascular adipose tissue in a vascular surgery population

The prevalence of obesity has doubled, with a concomitant increase in cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of visceral, subcutaneous and peri-aortic adipose tissue determined with computed tomography (CT) scans and to correlate them with cardiovascular risk factors, anthropometric measures and medication. An observational and prospective study was conducted, and 177 subjects were included. Peri-aortic adipose tissue had the highest density, while the subcutaneous adipose tissue had the lowest. The density of subcutaneous adipose tissue differs from the density of visceral (p = 0.00) and peri-aortic adipose tissue (p = 0.00). Smokers/ex-smokers had a lower area (p = 0.00) and density (p = 0.02) of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that sex was a predictor of subcutaneous adipose tissue area (β = −0.27, t = −3.12, p = 0.00) but smoking habits were not. After controlling for sex, we found that the association between smokers/ex-smokers and area of subcutaneous adipose tissue was lost, but the association with density persisted. Patients with hypertension had a higher visceral adipose tissue area, and this relationship was maintained even after adjusting for gender. Peri-aortic adipose tissue is similar to visceral and distinct from subcutaneous adipose tissue. Cardiovascular risk factors have different influences in distinct adipose compartments.This work was developed under the scope of project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER- 000013, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020) under the Portugal Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and by national funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—project UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020. J.A. received a fellowship from Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), reference SFRH/BPD/116784/2016

ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION IN A YOUNG ADULT: THE PARADIGM OF WHEN AND HOW TO REPAIR

Arteriovenous malformations are the least common vascular anomalies, but they can have a worst prognosis when compared with other vascular anomalies. In this way, the authors present a case of young female with arteriovenous malformation on the left shoulder. The indication and the treatment options were discussed within national and international experts at the Conference of Vascular Anomalies in Lisbon in 2018. The authors shared their opinions and made a revision on this topic