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Background: The most important part of the follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is the measurement of serum thyroglobulin (Tg). An increase of Tg levels indicates likely tumor recurrence. According to the guidelines of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), the follow-up should consist of serum Tg assays and a neck ultrasound, while the American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommends serum Tg assays, neck ultrasounds, and a diagnostic radioiodine whole-body scan (WBS) if non-stimulated Tg is greater than 10 ng/mL or if Tg is rising. This study questions the necessity of a diagnostic WBS in patients with low stimulated Tg levels during the initial follow-up. Design: This study is a retrospective data analysis. Methods: The data of 185 patients, who were in regular treatment and aftercare between 2015 and 2018 at the Department of Nuclear Medicine in Vienna, as well as the data of 185 patients who were treated in Tbilisi between 2015 and 2019, were analyzed. Results: There was a highly significant relationship between low stimulated Tg levels (0.5 ng/mL. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the first follow-up, 4–12 months after the initial therapy of DTC, including the measurement of basal and stimulated Tg levels and Tg antibody levels, does not mandate a diagnostic WBS on all patients.

Background: The Demand Control Support model is useful for studying work-related stress. The combination of high demand and a low level of control generates “job strain” (“job iso-strain” if poor support is added), with implications for the worker’s health and well-being. The aims of this study were to adapt, examine the factor structure of, and determine the reliability of, the Demand Control Support Questionnaire (DCSQ) short version for European Portuguese (DCSQ-PT). Methods: The scale was translated into Portuguese following a rigorous process and then applied to 501 workers from various professional sectors. An online survey was used to collect sociodemographic, professional, and Demand Control Support data. Validation was based on reliability and validity tests. Results: The mean age of the sample was 41.8 ± 10.3 years, and 50.1% of the participants were female. The results reveal good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.807) and validity. Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that a four-factor solution of the DCSQ-PT scale had a good fit to the data, as was the case for the original scale. The DCSQ-PT© with 16 items is composed of the following factors: social support at work; psychological demands; skill discretion; and decision authority. Conclusions: This validation allows an instrument to be obtained with 16 items for studying work-related stress in Portuguese workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused changes in the families’ social support network, employment status, and family income, which are the focus of attention of family health nurses. This study aims to describe the pandemic’s repercussions in the areas of attention of the structural dimension of families according to the Dynamic Model of Family Assessment and Intervention, as perceived by Portuguese families, and to relate the changes in their employment status according to the variables of the structural dimension. A quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted using snowball sampling. A questionnaire of sociodemographic characterization and assessment of the family structural dimension according to the model’s operational matrix was applied to 235 family members. Changes were found in their employment status; family income; intensity and frequency of contact with family, friends, and coworkers; frequency of contact with educational/health/religious institutions and community groups; cultural activities; and housing comfort conditions such as the use of heating/air conditioning, gas, and water consumption. Changes in employment status were related to family income, interaction with friends, frequency of cultural activities, and use of air conditioning and heating. Knowing the implications of the pandemic on the family’s structural dimension results in a nursing intervention more focused on family needs.

Enquadramento: A participação da família nos cuidados potencia ganhos em saúde, sendo a atitude dos enfermeiros, influenciada por múltiplos fatores. Objetivo: Conhecer as atitudes dos enfermeiros quanto à importância atribuída à integração das famílias nos cuidados e determinar a relação entre essas atitudes e a idade, habilitações académicas, tempo na carreira, categoria profissional, sentido de vida e sintomatologia depressiva/ansiosa dos enfermeiros. Metodologia: Estudo transversal, descritivo-correlacional, realizado com 317 enfermeiros de um Centro Hospitalar da Região Centro de Portugal. Aplicou-se um questionário sociodemográfico, a escala Importância das Famílias nos Cuidados de Enfermagem-Atitudes dos Enfermeiros, o Inventário da Saúde Mental e a Escala dos Objetivos de Vida. Resultados: A maioria dos participantes documenta atitudes integrativas, sendo as correlações da variável em estudo com os fatores associados, coerentes com o esperado. Conclusão: Apesar da maioria dos enfermeiros documentar atitudes inclusivas da família, são os mais velhos, com mais habilitações e tempo na carreira, detentores de categoria profissional mais elevada, com maior extensão de sentido de vida e menor sintomatologia depressiva/ansiosa que mais priorizam o envolvimento da família nos cuidados.

Background: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose (2-[18F]FDG) is a sensitive diagnostic imaging modality in oncology and could be a useful diagnostic tool in patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO) or with inflammation of unknown origin (IUO). Case presentation: We report a case of a patient originally presenting with a clinical history of FUO and later with persistent high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, even after antibiotic therapy. The patient underwent 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT to investigate and to localize a possible focus of infection or inflammation. 2-[18F]FDG hotspots were detected in both thyroid lobes. Thyroid diagnostic examinations and follow up were performed. Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) was then diagnosed by thyroid examinations, and other possible causes of FUO or IUO were not found. Conclusion: This case illustrates the potential diagnostic value of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in patients with atypical SAT, who originally present with only a clinical history of FUO.

Enquadramento: As diferenças paradoxais identificadas entre a forma como as pessoas experienciam a dor, independente da sua intensidade, e o sofrimento a ela associado, relacionam-se com os sistemas de crenças e valores. Objetivos: Validar o Meaning in Suffering Test (MIST) para a população portuguesa e determinar as suas características psicométricas. Metodologia: Este estudo apresenta o processo de adaptação transcultural, realizado numa amostra de 187 pessoas com doença reumática músculo-esquelética (DRM), com recurso a questionário sociodemográfico, clínico e o MIST-P. Resultados: A amostra, maioritariamente do sexo feminino, tinha 49,9±12,1 anos. O MIST-P apresenta bons valores de fidelidade (alfa de Cronbach de 0,833). A análise fatorial determinou a organização dos 12 itens em 2 fatores: Sentido e respostas face ao sofrimento e Características subjetivas face ao sofrimento. A escala é estável no tempo (r = 0,844). Conclusão: O MIST-P é válido e fiável para a população portuguesa com DRM, tendo potencial para ser aplicado na investigação e na prática clínica de prevenção, controlo e integração do sofrimento inevitável.

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the academic and professional background of school personnel; to assess the impact of the Diabetes + Support given by School Personnel to Children with Type 1 Diabetes Program on the school personnel’s knowledge and confidence to support students with type 1 diabetes; to compare their level of knowledge with the academic and professional variables of the school personnel. Methods A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study design without a Control Group. Study with a sample of 129 (before intervention – T0) and 113 (after intervention – T1) pre-school to secondary school personnel from participating schools, with at least one student with type 1 diabetes. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Portuguese Ministry of Education. Results Most school personnel included in the study were teachers (51.2%). After training, they were more confident than before to support children with type 1 diabetes (p

Cutaneous Hodgkin lymphoma is a rare condition. Specific neoplastic involvement can be primary (confined to the skin) or secondary to systemic involvement (metastatic). Cutaneous involvement by HL usually occurs late in the course and is associated with poor prognosis; however in some cases it can exhibit indolent behavior. Skin involvement with nonspecific cutaneous findings may represent a paraneoplastic syndrome. We describe a case of 46-year-old white male patient presented with rash and lymphadenopathy which led to the diagnosis of stage IVE mixed cellularity classical Hodgkin lymphoma with skin involvement. His disease was refractory to multiple lines of chemotherapy including (1) AVD (doxorubicin/bleomycin/dacarbazine), (2) brentuximab, and (3) bendamustine, he later achieved complete remission with (4) GCD (gemcitabine/carboplatin/dexamethasone) salvage regimen. Bleomycin was not given secondary to poor pulmonary function tests. His treatment was complicated after AVD with multiple pneumothoraces which unmasked the diagnosis of ZZ phenotype alpha-1 antitrypsin (ATT) deficiency. Simultaneous existence of Hodgkin lymphoma and ATT is rarely reported.