34981
The impact of folic acid supplementation on gestational and long term health: Critical temporal windows, benefits and risksCarla Silva, Elisa Keating, Elisabete Pinto
Porto Biomed J. 2017;2:315-32
34981
Highlights
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Associations between FA supplementation in pregnancy and effects on offspring's NTDs, allergy/respiratory problems, cancer and behaviour problems as been studied.
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There is growing concern about the effects of excessive FA supplementation, whether in terms of doses or times of exposure.
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FA supplementation in the periconceptional period is protective against NTDs while in later periods it could be deleterious.
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A daily dose of 0.4mg FA in the periconceptional period seems to be effective and safe.
24535
Rituximab in generalized myasthenia gravis: Clinical, quality of life and cost–utility analysisJoão Peres, Rita Martins, José Delgado Alves, Ana Valverde
Porto Biomed J. 2017;2:81-5
24535
Highlights
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Rituximab use in MG patients lead to the reduction of relapses and to a lesser use of immunosuppressive agents in our series.
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Rituximab use in our MG patients decreased healthcare costs after treatment, comparing to the pre-treatment period.
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Rituximab is a clinical effective treatment for B cell-related diseases like MG and seems to be a cost–saving intervention.
15592
Botulinum toxin improves pain in chronic anal fissureHugo Amorim, José Santoalha, Rui Cadilha, Maria-José Festas, Paula Barbosa, Armanda Gomes
Porto Biomed J. 2017;2:273-6
15592
Highlights
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Chronic anal fissure is a common condition associated with intense pain.
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Local botulinum toxin injection is a valid option in its management.
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Pain intensity scores significantly improved after BoNT injection.
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Side effects were rare and mild.
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Our results support the inclusion of BoNT in the management algorithm of chronic anal fissure.
9679
Quality of life after gastric sleeve and gastric bypass for morbid obesityGil Filipe Ramada Faria, Jorge Manuel Nunes Santos, Donald C. Simonson
Porto Biomed J. 2017;2:40-6
9679
Highlights
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Quality-of-life measures improve as early as 3 months after bariatric surgery.
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There is wide variability in reporting that renders direct comparisons difficult.
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The available comparisons between RYGB and sleeve gastrectomy could not detect any difference.
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Improvement in PRO measures might be related to weight loss.
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Larger and better designed studies are required to achieve discrimination in PRO measures.
9009
Family physicians’ opinions on and difficulties with breaking bad newsJosé António Ferraz Gonçalves, Carla Almeida, Joana Amorim, Rita Baltasar, Joana Batista, Yusianmar Borrero, João Pedro Fallé, Igor Faria, ... Rita Xavier
Porto Biomed J. 2017;2:277-81
9009
Highlights
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Breaking bad news is still deemed a difficult task by family physicians.
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Family physicians feel they need training in breaking bad news.
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The family physicians’ attitude to this issue is different from what they would wish if they themselves had a life-threatening disease.
8634
Comorbidities impact on the prognosis of severe acute community-acquired pneumoniaAna Vidal, Lurdes Santos
Porto Biomed J. 2017;2:265-72
8634
Highlights
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Host comorbidities impact on prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia.
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Association of severity indexes, clinical and analytic parameters at admission and patient comorbidities with mortality.
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Characterization of severe community-acquired pneumonia patients admitted to ICU.
