The FAB is a useful tool for the screening of executive dysfunction in PD, showing good discriminant and concurrent validities. Normative data provided for the Portuguese version of this test improve the accuracy and confidence in the clinical use of the FAB.

At a time when health is being recognized as more than just avoiding death, age and comorbidity are becoming increasingly important aspects of chronic disease. Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) is probably one of the best paradigms of modern chronic disease, sitting at the crossroads of numerous somatic health problems, immune activation, depression, pain, and fatigue. One hundred forty-eight female participants were enrolled in the present study: 50 diagnosed with SLE, 45 with major depressive disorder (MDD), and 53 age-matched controls. Statistically significant lower scores in quality-of-life dimensions related to physical impairment were found in SLE. Patients with MDD presented significant levels of pain, reduced physical summary component (PSC), and general health scores different from healthy controls. Fatigue was reported in 90% of women with SLE and 77.8% of the MDD patients in contrast with 39.6% in the control group. Significant correlations were seen among fatigue severity, age, and educational level in SLE. From our own previous work and more recent work on the association of immune activation and depression, unexplained fatigue in SLE may signify an early sign of immune activation flare-up. The search for cytokine markers should perhaps be extended to fatigue in SLE.

Introduction:The urinary tract infections, after respiratory infections, are the most common in the community. The knowledge about the prevalence of microbial strains and their antibiotic susceptibility is crucial to establish an effective empirical therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial strains isolated from positive urine cultures performed in patients from the central region of Portugal. Material and Methods:We carried out a documental analysis of 6008 urine bacteriological exams, to be made available to physicians, most of which run through the automated system VITEK 2, bioMérieux. The majority (80%) of the urine bacteriological exams were from female. Escherichia coli was the most prevalent bacterial pathogen (65.9%), followed by Klebsiella spp (12%). Results: Nitrofurantoin showed high levels of activity (96%) for Escherichia coli, as well as Fosfomycin (96.6%). Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid presents an activity level of only 81.1% for the same germ. Quinolones exhibit efficacy to only 78% of the strains of Escherichia coli, below the Fosfomycin and Nitrofurantoin. Nitrofurantoin showed high levels of activity (96%) for E. coli as well as Fosfomycin (96.6%). Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid presents a level of activity of only 81.1% for the same germ. The quinolones have a efficacy for only 78% of strains of E. coli, lower than Fosfomycin. Discussion: Escherichia Coli was the most prevalent uropathogen (65.9%). High efficacy against this pathogenic agent was found for Fosfomycin (96.6%) and Nitrofurantoin (96%). Conclusion:Further antimicrobial surveillance studies should be developed, in order to formulate local empirical therapy recommendations for optimized therapeutical choices.

A higher risk of suicidal attempt after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) for Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been consistently reported. We retrospectively analyzed 3 PD patients with suicide attempts after STN-DBS. All patients had normal pre- and immediate postoperative psychopathological and cognitive evaluations, with STN-DBS yielding a good motor benefit. Levodopa medication was markedly reduced. Albeit there was a significant reduction in dopaminergic medication, there was also a considerable time lag to suicide attempt. Impulsive behavior could have played a higher role, going unnoticed in punctual psychopathological examinations. STN-DBS patients need a closer postoperative psychiatric and behavioral follow-up.