Acta Medica Port
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The objective of the current study was to adapt and validate the Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) to the Portuguese patients because there are no European Portuguese psychometric instruments to evaluate patients suffering from low back pain. After translation and back translation the Portuguese version of the RMDQ was tested in 112 patients with low back pain (30 males and 82 females) to analyse psychometric characteristics. ⋯ The results revealed a large correlation between the RMDQ and END (r = 0.73) and a medium correlation with TS and GFA (in this order, r = -0,52 and r = 0,42). The psychometric analysis showed that the RMDQ gives reliable measures for the disability of patients with back pain and was successfully adapted and validated to the European Portuguese patients.
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The use of herbal complementary and alternative medicines is growing among Portuguese cancer patients, contributing to a higher risk for unwanted interactions, especially due to the narrow therapeutic index of most oncolytic drugs. A literature review was carried out in order to determine which medicinal plants are most commonly used by cancer patients, in Europe and USA, and their risk of interaction with the multiple medications taken by those patients. The collected information reveals a high degree of herb-drug interaction suggesting that patients under antineoplastic treatments should avoid the concomitant use of herbal medicines. These findings show that it is extremely important to have a clear knowledge of the herbal complementary and alternative medicines used by Portuguese cancer patients and to assess healthcare professionals' familiarity and attitude towards its use by cancer patients.
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The authors report a clinical case of warfarin hypersensitivity noticed when a patient, with thromboembolic risk, was submitted to warfarin. She was found to be heterozigotic to -1639G>A (gene VKORC1) and homozygotic to 1075A>C (genotype CYP2C9*3/*3). In this article the warfarin pharmacodinamics and its role over Vitamin K is revisited. It includes some suggested indications for investigating genetic polymorphisms, in order to avoid complications associated with warfarin.
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Pertussis is an acute bacterial disease involving the respiratory tract. The causal agent is Bordetella pertussis. Among all age groups, infants (aged < 12 months) have had the highest incidence of pertussis in the vaccine era. ⋯ This hospital-based study indicates that pertussis continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in infants. Pertussis incidence remains high among infants, most of whom are under one year of age. Immunization strategies in the adult population must be reviewed and updated in order to attain higher protection of the more vulnerable paediatric population.
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The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a neuroendocrine complex system that regulates the modulation of salt and water homeostasis, and regulation of blood pressure. Through its multiple interactions it protects the endothelium, heart, brain and kidney. ⋯ Consequently, the RAAS is an important therapeutic target in these situations. This article presents an overview of physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacologic modulation of the RAAS.