Liraglutide Effectiveness in Type 2 Diabetes: Insights from a Real-World Cohort of Portuguese Patients.

Liraglutide is a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist prescribed to diabetic patients for glycaemic control. To understand the impact of liraglutide in the real-world setting, this study analysed its effects in a Portuguese cohort of Type 2 diabetes patients. This was an observational, multicentric, and retrospective study that included 191 liraglutide-treated patients with at least 12 months of treatment. Patients' data were collected and analysed during a 24-month follow-up period. Overall, liraglutide treatment effectively reduced HbA1c levels from 8.3% to around 7.5%, after 6, 12, and 24 months (p < 0.001). In fact, 38.2%, 37.2%, and 44.8% of patients at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively, experienced an HbA1c reduction of at least 1%. Moreover, a persistent reduction in anthropometric features was also observed, with 44.0%, 47.6%, and 54.4% of patients achieving a weight reduction of at least 3% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Finally, significant improvements were observed in the HDL-c and LDL-c levels. Our results demonstrate that liraglutide effectively promoted the reduction of HbA1c values during routine clinical practice, which was sustained throughout the study. In addition, there were significant improvements in anthropometric parameters and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Graves' Disease Caused by SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that results in hyperthyroidism, caused by autoantibodies to the thyrotropin receptor (TRAbs) stimulating thyroid hormone synthesis, giving rise to a variety of systemic manifestations such as goitre, dermatopathy and orbitopathy. The authors present the case of a 28-year-old man admitted to hospital for a 3-week history of fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations and diffuse goitre, after recent mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Laboratory investigation revealed hyperthyroidism with TRAbs elevation. Thyroid ultrasound confirmed a diffusely heterogeneous and irregular thyroid gland and a nodular image below the sternal notch. Thyroid scintigraphy excluded the nodule and confirmed a Graves' disease pattern. Following the initiation of methimazole, the patient had complete resolution of symptoms and normalization of thyroid values. The results suggest a possible association between Graves' disease and SARS-CoV-2 infection acting as a trigger. Graves' disease is an important differential diagnosis to keep in mind when patients present with hyperthyroidism after COVID-19 disease. LEARNING POINTS: Graves' disease may be induced after SARS-CoV-2 infection by a possible autoimmune pathway.Graves' disease induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection responds well to antithyroid medication.

[Satisfação com o Internato Médico em Portugal]. / Satisfação com o Internato Médico em Portugal.

INTRODUCTION: In the last years, the global context of medical education and Medical Residency programs in Portugal suffered substantial changes. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize medical residents ́ satisfaction with medical residency programs in Portugal and to identify features that could be improved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We utilized as model the survey Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure that has been developed in the United Kingdom and is speci cally targeted to medical residents. The survey was translated and adapted to the Portuguese reality. The survey was available online during April and May of 2016. RESULTS: A total of 3456 responses were obtained, corresponding to a response rate of 35%. Endocrinology/Nutrition, Cardiology, Anesthesiology, Family Physician and Gastroenterology were the specialties in which the degree of satisfaction was higher, while Forensic Medicine, Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine, General Surgery and Pneumology showed the lowest level of satisfaction. DISCUSSION: This study presented a high response rate when compared to previous studies. Portuguese medical residents presented high levels of satisfaction. Depending on year of medical residency, region, type of specialty and type of hospital marked asymmetries were noticed. CONCLUSION: The survey ́s results should constitute in the future a support tool for the implementation of local and national measures relating to the medical residency. It is advisable to regularly conduct satisfaction surveys to medical residents.

Introdução: Nos últimos anos, o contexto global da formação médica, e em particular do Internato Médico em Portugal, sofreu profundas alterações. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e caracterizar a satisfação dos médicos internos com a realização do Internato Médico em Portugal e identificar aspetos passíveis de melhoria.Material e Métodos: Foi utilizado como modelo de inquérito o questionário Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measuredesenvolvido no Reino Unido e dirigido a médicos internos, o qual foi traduzido e adaptado à realidade portuguesa. O questionário esteve disponível online durante os meses de abril e maio de 2016.Resultados: Foram obtidas 3456 respostas, correspondendo a uma taxa de resposta de 35%. Endocrinologia/Nutrição, Cardiologia, Anestesiologia, Medicina Geral e Familiar e Gastrenterologia foram as especialidades nas quais o grau de satisfação foi mais elevado,enquanto que Medicina Legal, Oncologia Médica, Medicina Interna, Cirurgia Geral e Pneumologia apresentaram o grau de satisfaçãomais baixo.Discussão: O presente estudo apresenta uma elevada taxa de resposta comparativamente com estudos prévios. A nível nacional, no global, os médicos internos apresentaram níveis elevados de satisfação, destacando-se marcadas assimetrias de acordo com o ano de especialidade, região, tipologia de instituição e de especialidade.Conclusão: Os resultados deste inquérito poderão constituir uma ferramenta de apoio à implementação de medidas de âmbito local enacional relacionadas com o Internato Médico, sendo desejável a realização regular de inquéritos de satisfação aos médico internos.

[Teaching human anatomy to the graduation course in Health Sciences of the Lisbon University: five years of a new educational experience]. / O ensino de anatomia humana na Licenciatura em Ciências da Saúde da Universidade de Lisboa: cinco anos de uma nova experiência pedagógica.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: The authors make the balance of the first five years of teaching Anatomy to the Licensure in Health Sciences, of Lisbon University. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Were studied 408 students, enrolled in the Curricular Unit of Anatomy (mandatory subject of the 1st semester) and 29 in the Curricular Unit of Neuroanatomy (optional subject of the 6th semester). It was performed the statistical analysis by Anova and t Student test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was an annual growing influx of students enrolled in Curricular Unit of Anatomy, a stable number in Neuroanatomy and clear predominance of female students; ratio teacher / student variable between 1/9 and 1/17 in Anatomy and 1/8 in Neuroanatomy; high number of initial dropouts (15.69%) in Anatomy; approval levels of 95.93% in Anatomy and Neuroanatomy 100%; trend of improvement in the last two years, with statistical significance in the Curricular Unit of Anatomy (p = 0.0001) and equal academic performance of students of both genders; satisfaction scores of students of Anatomy, Good = 71% and Very Good = 8%; in Neuroanatomy, unanimous classification by students = Very Good. CONCLUSIONS: It was a very positive learning experience. The authors propose: the study of the causes and prevention of early dropout of incoming students, improving the ratio teacher / student, possible extension to a 2nd semester of the Curricular Unit of Anatomy and improving facilities that are already underway and includes the refurbishment and modernization of the anatomical theater of the Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon.

Introdução/Objectivos: Os autores fazem o balanço dos primeiros cinco anos de ensino de Anatomia da Licenciatura em Ciências da Saúde da Universidade de Lisboa.Material e Métodos: Estudaram o desempenho de 408 alunos inscritos na Unidade Curricular de Anatomia (disciplina obrigatória do primeiro semestre) e 29 na Unidade Curricular de Neuroanatomia (disciplina opcional do sexto semestre). Realizaram a análise estatística pelos testes Anova e t de Student.Resultados e Discussão: Houve um afluxo crescente anual de alunos inscritos na Unidade Curricular de Anatomia, um número estável em Neuroanatomia, predomínio claro de alunos do sexo feminino, ratio docente/aluno variável entre 1/9 e 1/17 na Unidade Curricular de Anatomia e 1/8 na Unidade Curricular de Neuroanatomia; elevado número de desistências iniciais (15,69%) em Anatomia; níveis de aprovação de 95,93% na Unidade Curricular de Anatomia e de 100% em Neuroanatomia; tendência de melhoria verificada nos últimos dois anos, com significado estatístico na Unidade Curricular de Anatomia (p = 0,0001) e igual desempenho escolar de alunos de ambos os sexos; índices de satisfação dos alunos de Anatomia, Bom = 71% e Muito Bom = 8%; Neuroanatomia, classificaçãounânime pelos alunos = Muito Bom.Conclusões: Foi uma experiência pedagógica muito positiva. Os autores propõem: o estudo e a prevenção das causas da desistência inicial dos alunos que acedem ao curso, melhoria do ratio docente/discente, possível extensão a um segundo semestre da Unidade Curricular de Anatomia e melhoria das instalações que já estão em curso e que inclui a remodelação e a modernização do teatro anatómico do Instituto de Anatomia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa.