Two new species of Domene Fauvel, 1873 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) from Portugal and faunistic notes.

Two new species of rove beetles belonging to the genus Domene Fauvel, 1873, subgenus Lathromene Koch, 1938 from Portugal are described: Domene (Lathromene) boavidae sp. nov. and Domene (Lathromene) pedroi sp.

Pathogenesis and clinical management of arboviral diseases.

Arboviral diseases are viral infections transmitted to humans through the bites of arthropods, such as mosquitoes, often causing a variety of pathologies associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Over the past decades, these infections have proven to be a significant challenge to health systems worldwide, particularly following the considerable geographic expansion of the dengue virus (DENV) and its most recent outbreak in Latin America as well as the difficult-to-control outbreaks of yellow fever virus (YFV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Zika virus (ZIKV), leaving behind a substantial portion of the population with complications related to these infections. Currently, the world is experiencing a period of intense globalization, which, combined with global warming, directly contributes to wider dissemination of arbovirus vectors across the globe.

A Portuguese expert panel position paper on the management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction - Part II: Unmet needs and organization of care in Portugal.

In Portugal, a 15.2% prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was recently identified among those aged ≥50 years. HFpEF represents 90% of Portuguese heart failure patients.

Expert opinion on the integration of combination therapy into the treatment algorithm for the management of dyslipidaemia: the integration of ezetimibe and bempedoic acid may enhance goal attainment.

The clinically important link between LDL cholesterol (LDL - C) lowering and cardiovascular (CV) risk reduction is well-established and reflected in the 2019 European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemia. They recommend a stepwise approach to reaching LDL - C goals, beginning with statin monotherapy at the highest tolerated dose. However, real-world data show a large gap between guideline LDL - C goal recommendations and their achievement in clinical practice.

A Portuguese expert panel position paper on the management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction - Part I: Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) affects more than 50% of HF patients worldwide, and more than 70% of HF patients aged over 65. This is a complex syndrome with a clinically heterogeneous presentation and a multifactorial pathophysiology, both of which make its diagnosis and treatment challenging. A Portuguese HF expert panel convened to address HFpEF pathophysiology and therapy, as well as appropriate management within the Portuguese context.

Suspicion and referral of patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: Recommendations by a Portuguese multidisciplinary expert panel.

Early diagnosis of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is crucial for better disease management and outcome. To ensure timely diagnosis, a multidisciplinary panel of Portuguese experts, including cardiologists, internal medicine specialists, and general practitioners, have developed a national consensus to aid physicians in enhancing the referral of patients with suspicion of ATTR-CM in Portugal. A structured approach was used to develop the consensus: (1) an online survey aimed at identifying clinical red flags, patient journeys, and diagnostic tools related to ATTR-CM; (2) a face-to-face roundtable meeting where the survey findings were discussed and a consensus was reached on referral and diagnostic algorithms for ATTR-CM in Portugal; and (3) critical review of the proposed algorithms.

Multidisciplinary cardiorenal program for heart failure patients: Improving outcomes through comprehensive care.

The cardiorenal program (CRP), implemented within a specialized heart failure and kidney disease clinic, encompasses a multidisciplinary approach to the management of patients with heart failure and kidney disease. It focuses on optimizing therapy and improving patient outcomes. The CRP includes a range of services, including clinical evaluation, diagnostic testing, medical treatment, and patient education.

Use of combination therapy is associated with improved LDL cholesterol management: 1-year follow-up results from the European observational SANTORINI study.

Aims: To assess whether implementation of the 2019 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) dyslipidaemia guidelines observed between 2020 and 2021 improved between 2021 and 2022 in the SANTORINI study.

Methods And Results: Patients with high or very high cardiovascular (CV) risk were recruited across 14 European countries from March 2020 to February 2021, with 1-year prospective follow-up until May 2022. Lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) and 2019 ESC/EAS risk-based low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C) goal attainment (defined as <1.

Attainment of LDL-Cholesterol Goals in Patients with Previous Myocardial Infarction: A Real-World Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: The European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend an LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) < 55 mg/dL for patients with established cardiovascular disease. While the Friedewald equation to estimate LDL-C is still widely used, the newer Martin-Hopkins equation has shown greater accuracy.

Objectives: We aimed to assess: A) the proportion of patients reaching LDL-C goal and the therapies used in a tertiary center; B) the impact of using the Martin-Hopkins method instead of Friedewald's on the proportion of controlled patients.

Inventory of tiger- and ground-beetles (Coleoptera, Caraboidea, Cicindelidae and Carabidae) in two sampling seasons of the Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Background: The Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique) is one of the most emblematic protected areas in Africa, well known for its vertebrate biodiversity and restoration ecology efforts following the Mozambican civil war in 1992. The invertebrate biodiversity of Gorongosa National Park is still poorly studied, although the scarce information available indicates the existence of a rich number of species, namely in the case of tiger- and ground-beetles (Coleoptera, Caraboidea). Moreover, the study of arthropod assemblages is key for designing conservation practices since they are potentially accurate biodiversity and ecological indicators.

Characterization and LDL-C management in a cohort of high and very high cardiovascular risk patients: The PORTRAIT-DYS study.

Aim: This study aims to characterize sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, use of lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) control in a population with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study that uses electronic health records of patients from one hospital and across 14 primary care health centers in the North of Portugal, spanning from 2000 to 2020 (index date). Patients presented at least (i) 1 year of clinical data before inclusion, (ii) one primary care appointment 3 years before the index date, and (iii) sufficient data for CV risk classification.

Portuguese Heart Failure Prevalence Observational Study (PORTHOS) rationale and design - A population-based study.

Introduction And Objectives: Current epidemiological data on heart failure (HF) in Portugal derives from studies conducted two decades ago. The main aim of this study is to determine HF prevalence in the Portuguese population. Using current standards, this manuscript aims to describe the methodology and research protocol applied.

Non-HDL-cholesterol in dyslipidemia: Review of the state-of-the-art literature and outlook.

Dyslipidemia refers to unhealthy changes in blood lipid composition and is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). Usually, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) is the primary goal for dyslipidemia management. However, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) has gained attention as an alternative, reliable goal.

Effectiveness and Safety of P2Y12 Inhibitor Pretreatment for Primary PCI in STEMI: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been shown to be associated with better outcomes. Yet, there is uncertainty regarding the optimal timing for its initiation. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence on pretreatment with P2Y12 inhibitors in combination with aspirin in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Exercise Oscillatory Ventilation Improves Heart Failure Prognostic Scores.

Background: Several heart failure (HF) prognostic risk scores are available to guide the ideal time for listing candidates for a heart transplant (HTx). The detection of exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is associated with advanced HF and a worse prognosis, and yet it is not accounted for in these risk scores. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether EOV further adds prognostic value to HF scores.

Expert perspectives on strategic factors for the management and prevention of heart failure in Portugal.

Introduction And Objectives: Heart failure (HF) has significant morbidity and mortality, and its prevalence will continue to increase in the future. This unfavorable evolution requires reflection as well as recommendations and decisions based on expert critical and strategic appraisal.

Methods: In the Acceleration on Heart Failure Empowerment and Awareness - the Portuguese Challenge (ATHENA-PT) study, a range of strategic factors that represent the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities (SWOT) of HF in Portugal were established.

Polypill use for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: A position paper.

Cardiovascular (CV) guidelines stress the need for global intervention to manage risk factors and reduce the risk of major vascular events. Growing evidence supports the use of polypill as a strategy to prevent cerebral and cardiovascular disease, however it is still underused in clinical practice. This paper presents an expert consensus aimed to summarize the data regarding polypill use.

Treatment gaps in the implementation of LDL cholesterol control among high- and very high-risk patients in Europe between 2020 and 2021: the multinational observational SANTORINI study.

Background: European data pre-2019 suggest statin monotherapy is the most common approach to lipid management for preventing cardiovascular (CV) events, resulting in only one-fifth of high- and very high-risk patients achieving the 2019 ESC/EAS recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. Whether the treatment landscape has evolved, or gaps persist remains of interest.

Methods: Baseline data are presented from SANTORINI, an observational, prospective study that documents the use of lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) in patients ≥18 years at high or very high CV risk between 2020 and 2021 across primary and secondary care settings in 14 European countries.

Diuretic-resistant heart failure and the role of ultrafiltration: A proposed protocol.

Acute heart failure (HF) decompensation generally manifests with signs and symptoms of congestion that strongly predict poor poor patient outcome. Loop diuretics are the cornerstone of therapy to counteract fluid overload and are widely used for acute management and chronic stabilization of HF. However, a diminished response to loop diuretics is a common problem, affecting the patient's clinical course and potentially prolonging hospitalization.