Acta Medica Port
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Pithomyces, a dematiaceous fungus, is a common colonizer of dead leaves and stems of many different plants and is associated with facial eczema in some animals. We report a case of invasive fungal pulmonary disease by Pithomyces chartarum in a healthy, nonimmunocompromised patient. We aim to demonstrate our diagnostic and therapeutic approach and focus on the major challenges arising from the lack of scientific evidence regarding infection by this fungus in humans.
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The prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized children is high and is associated with negative health impact. The aim of this study was to characterize the nutritional status of hospitalized children as well as comparing nutritional risk stratification using the STRONGkids® tool and anthropometric assessment. ⋯ STRONGkids® is a simple, quick nutritional screening tool for hospitalized children that is related to nutritional status on admission. Given that a considerably high percentage of children were identified as being at risk for malnutrition, it is essential to identify this early and provide nutritional intervention during hospitalization.
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Genetic causes are responsible for half of the cases of hearing loss, most of them being the result of non-syndromic genetic changes resulting from autosomal recessive inheritance. Parental consanguinity might be an indicator to consider in the diagnosis of these cases. The aim of this study was to assess its importance as a risk factor for childhood hearing loss. ⋯ Parental consanguinity was associated with a higher risk of a refer screening result in newborns, which suggests the need to consider this as a risk factor for childhood hearing loss.
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Obesity is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood, being an important public health issue. Excessive weight has been associated with autonomic dysfunction but the evidence in children is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of overweight and obesity on the autonomic nervous system activity, in children. ⋯ Our findings suggest an association between body mass and changes in the autonomic activity, Moreover, this study provides proof of concept for interventions targeting the prevention/treatment of obesity in children that may offer some benefit in re-establishing the balance of the autonomic nervous system, and subsequently preventing the consequences associated with the autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
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The Pediatric Palliative Screening Scale (PaPaS Scale) was designed to help professionals to identify life-limiting or life-threatening children/young people with complex chronic conditions who would benefit from pediatric palliative care and facilitate their timely and appropriate referral. The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and validate the PaPaS Scale for the Portuguese pediatric population. ⋯ The PaPaS Scale was translated and adapted to the European Portuguese version, allowing its immediate use in the Portuguese population. It will be essential to design multicentric studies to expand the knowledge about the psychometric characteristics of this scale.