Performance evaluation of occupational health and safety in relation to the COVID-19 fighting practices established by WHO: Survey in multinational industries.

The coronavirus pandemic meant that companies had to adapt quickly to survive the challenging scenario and avoid losing market share or even going bankrupt. In this sense, employees dedicated to Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) activities within organizations played a key role in ensuring that the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) were properly implemented. Even so, no studies were identified in the literature that investigated how the practices to combat COVID-19 improved the performance related to employee safety and occupational health. This is what motivates the accomplishment of this work; evaluate how these practices improve safety and health-related performance. For this, a survey of multinational companies was carried out and, together with this research, a model for structural equations was developed. In the end, a correlation test was performed. The main results showed that practices to combat COVID-19, such as the provision of sanitizers, the adoption of social distance, the creation of new work shifts, and the disinfection of workplaces were related to improvements in safety and health performance through the implementation of a risk management and biological risk mitigation program. Meanwhile, the provision of emergency assistance has found stronger relationships with managerial and strategic actions.

Experience of a Portuguese Center: Effectiveness of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C.

INTRODUCTION: In late 2014, Portugal implemented a national program for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C with directacting antiviral agents. This program has made Portugal one of the first European countries to implement a structured measure of treatment to eliminate this serious public health problem. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral therapy in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental on the national online platform from December 2014 until February 2017 and included patients with hepatitis C virus infection who underwent treatment. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response at least 12 weeks post treatment. Data was analyzed with the SPSS 17.0 program. RESULTS: During the study period, 820 patients completed therapy and achieved sufficient follow-up time to assess sustained virologic response with an overall response rate of 97.2% (n = 797) and a response rate of 98.0%, 99.5%, 90.9%, 95.1% and 94.2% for genotypes 1a, 1b, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Data suggested that advanced fibrosis (F3/F4), human immunodeficiency virus co-infection and treatment failure with interferon and ribavirin were not negatively related with sustained virologic response in our population. Most patients (80.1%) completed treatment with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir ± ribavirin. The most common adverse events were fatigue and insomnia followed by headache and weight loss. DISCUSSION: Patients predominantly had genotype 1 infection which correlates with HCV distribution in Europe, but we found a major proportion in genotype 4 which can be explained by immigration from African countries. Our patients' ages ranging from 22 to 90 years, reflected a new approach with no upper age limit. Direct-acting antivirals regimens resulted in remarkably high SVR rates compared to interferon-based regimens, which were consistent with clinical trials data. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that direct-acting antiviral-based regimens are safe and have a high success rate in the treatment of patients with hepatitis C virus infection in a real-world setting.

Introdução: No final de 2014 foi implementado em Portugal um programa nacional para o tratamento de doentes com infecção crónica por vírus da hepatite C com recurso a antivíricos de acção directa. Este programa fez com que Portugal fosse um dos primeiros países europeus a implementar uma medida estruturante para a eliminação da hepatite C. Este estudo tem como objectivo a avaliação da efectividade dos antivíricos de acção directa no tratamento da hepatite C crónica. Material e Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo observacional dos doentes seguidos no Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, entre dezembro de 2014 e fevereiro de 2017. O objectivo primário do estudo é avaliar a resposta virológica sustentada a partir das 12 semanas pós tratamento. Analisámos os dados com o programa SPSS 17.0. Resultados: Durante o período do estudo 820 doentes completaram o tratamento e o tempo necessário para avaliação da resposta virológica sustentada. A resposta virológica sustentada global foi de 97.2% (n = 797), com taxas de resposta de 97,2%, 98,5%, 90,9%, 95,1% e 94,2% para os genótipos 1a, 1b, 2, 3 e 4, respectivamente. Os dados sugerem não haver relação entre a fibrose avançada (F3 / F4), a coinfecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana e a falência do tratamento com interferão e ribavirina e uma menor resposta ao tratamento. A maioria dos doentes (80,1%) concluiu o tratamento com ledipasvir/sofosbuvir ± ribavirina. Os eventos adversos mais frequentes foram a fadiga e a insónia, seguida de dor de cabeça e perda de peso. Discussão: A população em estudo apresentou maior prevalência de infecção pelo genótipo 1, à semelhança dos restantes países Europeus, contudo a prevalência do genótipo 4 foi superior, reflectindo a imigração africana. A faixa etária (22 - 90 anos) dos doentes tratados reflecte uma nova abordagem sem limite superior de idade. A taxa de RVS obtida, muito superior à obtida com regimes baseados em interferão, foi consistente com os dados dos ensaios clínicos. Conclusão: Os dados encontrados demonstram que os regimes baseados em antivirais de acção directa, em contexto de vida real, são seguros e eficazes no tratamento de doentes com infecção por vírus da hepatite C.

A case of fulminant Type 1 diabetes following anti-PD1 immunotherapy in a genetically susceptible patient.

Programmed cell death-1 protein (PD-1) is an immune checkpoint that has gained popularity in the treatment of several advanced cancers. Inhibiting this checkpoint is known to enhance immune response, but is also known to diminish immune tolerance and to increase autoimmune toxicity. We discuss a case of rapid onset fulminant Type 1 diabetes induced by treatment with anti-programmed cell death-1 monoclonal antibody, nivolumab, in a patient with late-stage non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma. The patient had no history of previous diabetes but did reveal a high-risk genotype for Type 1 diabetes development (DR3-DQ2; DR4-DQ8). This finding supports that acute Type 1 diabetes can be an important adverse effect of immunotherapies targeting T-cell activation regulation. Because of the severity of this adverse effect, physicians should be aware of it, and studies directed to the detection of new biomarkers for early risk stratification (e.g., HLA) should be sought.

Carcinoma Mucoepidermóide do Pulmão ­ estado da arte a propósito de um caso clínico / Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung ­ state of art with regard to a case report

O Carcinoma Mucoepidermóide do Pulmão (CMP) é um tumor com baixo potencial de malignidade; acredita-se que é indolente, mas pouco se sabe sobre as suas características dada a sua baixa incidência (0,2% de todos os tumores pulmonares). Os autores apresentam um caso clínico de um Carcinoma Mucoepidermóide do Pulmão de alto grau, a que se associa, habitualmente, metastização à distância, recorrência do tumor e mau prognóstico. Destaca-se a exuberante metastização (pleural, pericárdica, ganglionar e cerebral), que contrasta com o curso da doença, relativamente indolente, volvidos 12 meses do diagnóstico. Dado não ter indicação cirúrgica, a doente foi tratada com radioterapia e quimioterapia, apesar de ainda não estar definido um tratamento standard para este tipo histológico. A raridade do diagnóstico e os escassos estudos da literatura condicionam a abordagem terapêutica sistémica destes doentes, constituindo um desafio para a comunidade médica. O possível papel da terapêutica dirigida, como os inibidores da tirosina cinase do receptor do fator de crescimento epidérmico (EGFR) ou a terapêutica contra o oncogene de fusão CRTC1-MAML2, tem sido investigado, em doentes com Carcinoma Mucoepidermóide do Pulmão de alto grau.

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Lung (MECL) is a tumor of low malignant potential; we believe it is indolent, but little is known about its clinical features because of the low incidence rate (incidence of 0.2% of all lung cancers). We present a clinical case of a high degree Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung, which frequently have distant metastasis, tumor recurrence and a bad prognosis. It is highlighted in this case the exuberant metastases (pleural, pericardial, cerebral, lymph nodes), contrasting with the relatively indolent course of the disease since the diagnosis (10 months ago). Our patient was treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, although effective treatment measures for high-grade tumors have not been established. The rarity of the diagnosis and the rare studies in the literature affect the systemic approach to these patients, becoming a challenge for the scientific community. The role of targeted therapy directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the novel fusion oncogene CRTC1-MAML2, is being investigated in high-grade tumors.

[Recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma. Review based on a case report]. / Carcinoma adenóide quístico recorrente. Revisão a propósito de um caso clínico.

The adenoid cystic carcinoma is a malignant epithelial glandular type neoplasia, occurring frequently in the salivary and mammary glands, and rarely in the lung, and is responsible for 0.2% of lung tumours. These tumours present a slow growth and prolonged clinical course, and are characterised by their infiltrative nature and tendency towards late local recurrence. The authors present a case of a woman with adenoid cystic lung carcinoma diagnosed after investigation of a lung nodule, submitted to surgical resection with curative intention, whose follow -up identified late recurrence, 9 years after surgery. The present case emphasises the need for a prolonged surveillance, due to the potential late recurrence of this kind of tumour. The article reviews clinical and pathological features of lung adenoid cystic carcinoma, as well as therapeutic options, namely for prevention of recurrence.

Antibodies against a Leishmania infantum peroxiredoxin as a possible marker for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis and for monitoring the efficacy of treatment.

Diagnosis of leishmaniasis is frequently based on serological methods, such as direct agglutination, immunofluorescence tests and ELISA assays with Leishmania total extracts, as antigen, however due to highly inconclusive results, more reliable tests are needed. In the present study, the prevalence of antibodies to a number of recombinant proteins (LmSIR2, LmS3a, LimTXNPx, LicTXNPx and LiTXN1) highly conserved among Leishmania species, were evaluated by ELISA in Leishmania infantum infected children from an endemic area of Portugal. We found that sera from children patients had antibodies against the different recombinant proteins, LicTXNPx presented the highest immuno-reactivity compared to the other and the most often recognized in the case of acute visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Moreover, in children treated with meglumine antimoniate or amphotericin B, antibodies against some of the recombinant proteins declined, whereas conventional serology using crude extracts showed little or no difference between the pre- and post-treatment values. The highest reduction was observed in the case of antibodies against the LicTXNPx protein. These results suggest that the antibodies against LicTXNPx might be a useful constituent of a defined serological test for the diagnosis and the monitoring of the therapeutic response in VL. The monitoring and follow-up in a large-scale field trials of such marker in areas where leishmaniasis is endemic will lend support to this.

[Emphysema and lung volume reduction surgery--a case report]. / Enfisema pulmonar e cirurgia de redução de volume - a propósito de um caso clínico.

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has been proposed as a palliative therapy in severe emphysema, with good results in lung function improvement, exercise capacity and quality of life. The authors present a case report of a 34 years old man with severe, heterogeneous lung emphysema submit to bilateral LVRS in 2000 January. Pre-surgical conditions, clinical and radiological evolution after surgery and for a 30 months follow up were analysed. Based on a literature revision, some technical aspects of LVRS, selection criteria and comparative study of medical and surgical therapy were discussed.

[Wegener's granulomatosis - a case report]. / granulomatose de Wegener-a propósito de um caso clínico.

The Wegener granulomatosis (WG) is a rare vasculite which involves preferentially the upper airways, lungs and kidneys, although it can presents in a multissistemic form. The authors present a clinical case of WG, its diagnostic methodology and respective follow-up from de last two years and half. There are discussed the most often presentation forms of the disease, the importance of histologic results and the contribution of ANCA's determination for disease diagnosis and follow-up. Although important, the histological results, are not essential for WG diagnosis, since clinic presentation and immunological data (ANCA's) are suggestive of the disease. Airways infections and ANCA's presence seems to be important in the etiopathogenesis of WG.