Development of a predictive score to discriminate community acquired pneumonia with underlying lung cancer: A retrospective case - control study.

BACKGROUND: A pneumonic infiltrate might hide an occult lung cancer (LC). This awareness depends on each clinician personal experience, turning definitive LC diagnosis challenging and possibly delayed. In this study we aimed to develop a clinical score to better identify those cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study, including previously undiagnosed LC patients admitted in our institution, with a presumptive suspicious of community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Cases were compared with random CAP inpatient controls, using a matched 2:1 ratio. Demographic, clinical, and laboratorial variables were assessed for a possible association with the presence of a CAP with underlying LC (CAP-uLC). RESULTS: Among 535 hospitalized LC patients, 43 cases had a presentation compatible with CAP and were compared with 86 CAP controls. A scoring system was built using 6 independent variables, which positively correlated with CAP-uLC: smoking history (OR: 8.3 [1.9-36.2]; p = 0.005); absence of fever (6.5 [2.0-21.5]; p = 0.002); sputum with blood (5.9 [1.2-29.9]; p = 0.033); platelet count ≥ 232x103/µL (5.8 [1.6-20.6]; p = 0.006); putative alternative diagnosis than CAP (4.6 [1.5-14.7]; p = 0.009); and duration of symptoms ≥ 10 days (3.7 [1.1-13.0]; p = 0.037). Our score presented an AUC of 0.910 (95 % CI, 0.852-0.967; p < 0.001), a sensitivity of 88.1 % and specificity of 84.7 %, in predicting the risk of presenting a CAP-uLC, when set to a cutoff of 18. CONCLUSION: We propose a novel risk score aimed to aid clinicians identifying patients with CAP-uLC in the acute setting, possibly prompting early LC diagnosis.

Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of Cutaneous and Mucosal Leishmaniases in Portugal: Retrospective Analysis of Cases Diagnosed in Public Hospitals and Reported in the Literature between 2010 and 2020.

Leishmania infantum, a zoonotic vector-born parasite, is endemic in the Mediterranean region, presenting mostly as visceral (VL), but also as cutaneous (CL) and mucosal leishmaniasis (ML). This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the CL and ML cases diagnosed in mainland Portugal between 2010 and 2020. Collaboration was requested from every hospital of the Portuguese National Health System. Cases were screened through a search of diagnostic discharge codes or positive laboratory results for Leishmania infection. Simultaneously, a comprehensive literature search was performed. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were performed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics. A total of 43 CL and 7 ML cases were identified, with a predominance of autochthonous cases (86%). In CL, immunosuppressed individuals constituted a significant proportion of patients (48%), and in this group, disseminated CL (22%) and simultaneous VL (54%) were common. In autochthonous cases, lesions, mostly papules/nodules (62%), were frequently observed on the head (48%). The approach to treatment was very heterogeneous. ML cases were all autochthonous, were diagnosed primarily in older immunosuppressed individuals, and were generally treated with liposomal amphotericin B. The findings suggest a need for enhanced surveillance and reporting, clinical awareness, and diagnostic capacity of these forms of leishmaniasis to mitigate underdiagnosis and improve patient outcomes. A holistic One Health approach is advocated to address the multifaceted challenges posed by leishmaniases in Portugal and beyond.

Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk and Arterial Stiffness in Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest that patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have a higher cardiovascular risk than the general population. Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and can be measured through carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). The objectives of this study were to characterize a sample of HIV-infected patients under HAART regarding cardiovascular risk, compare PWV values of this group with those of uninfected controls, and investigate predictors of PWV in the HIV-infected group. METHODS: PWV was measured, and data was collected from a sample of 125 HIV-infected patients under HAART. PWV measurements in the study group were compared with those in a control group of 250 subjects similar in sex, age, prevalence of hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). A linear regression model was constructed to identify predictors of PWV in the HIV-infected group. RESULTS: In the HIV-infected group, composed mostly of men, the mean age and respective standard deviation were 48.6 ± 11.6 years. In this group, 112 individuals (89.6%) presented moderate to very high cardiovascular risk. Significant differences were found in median PWV between HIV-infected and control groups (8.56 vs. 8.00 m/s, p = .002). Age, peripheral systolic blood pressure, presence of DM, amount of alcohol consumed, and current CD4+ T cell count were independent predictors of PWV in the HIV-infected group.  Conclusions: The HIV-infected group showed higher cardiovascular risk and arterial stiffness measurements than the general population. PWV may be an important predictor of subclinical cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected patients.

Clostridium difficile Severity and Outcome at a North of Portugal Healthcare Facility.

INTRODUCTION: Clostridium difficile infection has been increasingly reported, with a significant healthcare burden and important morbimortality. This study aimed to characterize and describe the severity and outcomes of this event at a Portuguese hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis, by clinical record review, of all confirmed cases diagnosed in a hospital in the North of Portugal, between January 2013 and December 2018. We included those who were non-pregnant and at least 18 years old. RESULTS: Fifty-seven cases occurred, mostly in females and aged patients; 33.3% were healthcare facility-outset, while 31.6% were community-associated. Regarding severity, 43.9% had non-severe, while 29.8% severe and 21.0% fulminant presentations, the latter with the need of admission. Exposure to antibiotics occurred in 68.4%, while to proton-pump inhibitors in 57.9%. Risk factors for severe disease were female gender, chronic renal disease, and high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. Moreover, renal disease and a higher ratio were associated with fulminant disease. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was found in 15.8% while 90-day in 28.1%. Risk factors for 30-day mortality were renal disease, higher Charlson score, and higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. Risk factors for 90-day mortality were advanced age, previous antibiotic exposure, higher Charlson score, and higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. CONCLUSION: Data concerning Clostridium difficile infection severity and prognosis in Portugal is scarce, and future studies should focus on this important topic.

Introdução: A infeção por Clostridium difficile tem aumentado, com importante morbimortalidade e impacto nos sistemas de saúde. Este estudo procurou caracterizar e descrever a severidade e prognóstico desta infeção, na nossa instituição. Material e Métodos: Realizou-se uma análise retrospetiva dos casos confirmados ocorridos entre janeiro de 2013 e dezembro de 2018, num hospital do Norte de Portugal. Recorreu-se à análise de processo clínico e foram incluídos doentes sem gravidez em curso e com pelo menos 18 anos. Resultados: Verificaram-se 57 casos, a maioria em mulheres e idosos, sendo que 33,3% tiveram origem em instituições de saúde e 31,6% na comunidade. Nesta amostra, 43,9% tiveram doença não severa, 29,8% severa e 21,0% fulminante, estes com necessidade de internamento. A toma prévia de antibióticos ocorreu em 68,4%, e de inibidores da bomba de protões em 57,9%. O sexo feminino relacionou-se com doença severa, enquanto que a doença renal crónica e um elevado rácio neutrófilos-linfócitos se relacionaram com doença severa e fulminante. A mortalidade aos 30 dias verificou-se em 15,8% e associou-se a doença renal e elevação do score de Charlson e do rácio neutrófilos-linfócitos. A mortalidade aos 90 dias ocorreu em 28,1%, associada a idade avançada, toma de antibióticos e elevação do score e do rácio. Conclusão: Em Portugal, são escassos os dados sobre a severidade e prognóstico desta infeção, pelo que são necessários mais estudos nacionais.

Disseminated Tuberculosis: A Case of Multiple Spread Mass.

Disseminated tuberculosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It results from a lymphohematogenous dissemination of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) and its atypical clinical presentation often delays the diagnosis. Diagnosis is established by identifying MT obtained from a biopsy sample in culture or acid-fast smear. Evidence suggests an initial two-month phase of four-drug therapy followed by a two-drug phase for six to nine months. A 61-year-old man presented with back lumbar pain. He presented two masses, a left parasternal and a left axillary masses with approximately 6 cm each. He referred a 21% weight loss, anorexia and asthenia. His computed tomography revealed recent lumbar fractures and a left paravertebral space-occupying lesion; hilum and upper lobe masses; inflammatory/infectious micronodules; mediastinal adenomegaly, hypodense lesions in the spleen, sternum and left scapula. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed lumbar vertebral fractures, an anterior epidural collection, left iliac psoas muscle liquid collection. A mass puncture and biopsy were performed, resulting in a positive detection of MT in nucleic acid amplification (NAA). The patient started on quaternary antibacillary therapy with isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol. Bronchofibroscopy revealed an hypervascularized and infiltrated submucosa. Later, histopathology was compatible with chronic granulomatous inflammatory process and bronchial lavage molecular test was positive for MT. At the moment, he is under two-drug antibacillary therapy with isoniazid and rifampin and masses are regressing.