The COMQ-12 Portuguese version showed high reliability, and may be used as an assessment of quality of life in patients with chronic otitis media.

Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and causes of vision impairment (VI) in the Norwest of Portugal. Methods: Information about people with VI was obtained from different sources in the Norwest of Portugal during a period spanning years 2014-2015. Log-linear models were applied to estimate the number of individuals missing from lists of cases obtained from Primary Care Centres, blind association (ACAPO) and from hospitals (the PCVIP-study). Log-linear models were used to estimate the crude prevalence and the category specific prevalence of VI. Causes of VI were obtained from the PCVIP-study. Results: Crude prevalence of VI was 1.97% (95%CI=1.56-2.54), and normalized prevalence was 1% (95%CI=0.78-1.27). The age-specific prevalence was 3.27% (95% CI,=2.36-4.90), older than 64 years, 0.64% (95%CI=0.49-0.88), aged 25-64 years, and 0.07% (95%CI=0.045-0.13), aged less than 25 years. Prevalence amongst females was 1.3x higher than amongst males. The five leading causes of VI were Diabetic Retinopathy, Cataract, Age-related Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma and Disorders of the Globe. Conclusion: The prevalence of VI in Portugal was within the expected range and in line with other European countries. A significant number of cases of VI might be due to preventable cases and, therefore, a reduction of the prevalence of VI in Portugal seems possible. Women and old people were more likely to have VI and, therefore, these groups require extra attention. Future studies are necessary to characterize temporal changes in prevalence of VI in Portugal.

No abstract

Background The EQ-5D index often fails to detect the effect of ophthalmic diseases and sight loss. Investigating predictors of individual EQ-5D health dimensions might reveal the underlying reasons. The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of health dimension ratings obtained with the EQ-5D-3L from participants with impaired vision representing a spectrum of eye diseases. Methods Observational cross-sectional study with participants recruited at four public hospitals in Portugal. Outpatients with visual acuity of 0.30 logMAR(6/12) or worse in the better-seeing eye were invited to participate. Participants completed two instruments: the EQ-5D-3L (measures participants’ perceived health-related quality-of-life) and the Massof Activity Inventory (measures visual ability–ability to perform vision-related activities). This study used logistic regression models to identify factors associated with responses to the EQ-5D-3L. Results The study included 492 participants, mean age 63.4 years (range = 18–93), 50% females. The most common diagnosis was diabetic retinopathy (37%). The mean visual acuity in the better seeing eye was 0.65 logMAR (SD = 0.48) and the mean visual ability was 0.62 logits (SD = 2.04), the correlation between the two was r = − 0.511 (p < 0.001). Mobility and self-care were the health dimensions with the fewest problems (1% reported extreme problems), anxiety and depression the dimension with the most problems (24% reported extreme problems). ROC curve analysis showed that the EQ-5D index was a poor predictor of cases of vision impairment whilst visual ability given was a good predictor of cases of vision impairment. Visual ability was an independent predictor of the response for all dimensions, higher ability was always associated with a reduced odds of reporting problems. The odds of reporting problems were increased for females in 3 out of 5 dimensions. Comorbidities, visual acuity and age-category were predictors of the odds of reporting problems for one dimension each. Conclusions The odds of reporting problems for the five health dimensions of the EQ-5D-3L were strongly influenced by the ability to perform vision-related activities (visual ability). The EQ-5D index showed poor performance at detecting vision impairment. These findings are informative and relevant for the clinic and for research evaluating the impact of eye diseases and disease treatments in ophthalmology.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) still has a high prevalence of mortality in the world. So far, basic pre-clinical research based on 2D cultures has failed to improve patient prognostic outcomes. A growing field of research based on microphysiological systems (MPS) involvingorganoids/spheroids or patient-derived tumour cells has become a solid base for a better understanding of the tumour microenvironment and as a result a step towards personalized medicine. Furthermore, microfluidic approaches have also started to open possibilities of research, with tumour-on-chips and body-on-chips being used in order to decipher complex inter-organ signalling and the prevalence of metastasis, as well as CRC early-diagnosis through liquid biopsies. Herein, we focus on the state-of-the-art of CRC research with emphasis on 3D microfluidic in vitro cultures - organoids, spheroids – drug resistance, circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and microbiome-on-a-chip technology.&#xD;

Background The EQ-5D index often fails to detect the effect of ophthalmic diseases and sight loss. Investigating predictors of individual EQ-5D health dimensions might reveal the underlying reasons. The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of health dimension ratings obtained with the EQ-5D-3L from participants with impaired vision representing a spectrum of eye diseases. Methods Observational cross-sectional study with participants recruited at four public hospitals in the north of Portugal. Out-patients with visual acuity of 0.30 logMAR (6/12) or worse in the better-seeing eye were invited to take part in the study. Higher values of acuity in logMAR correspond to worse vision. Participants completed two instruments: the EQ-5D-3L and the Massof Activity Inventory (MAI). The MAI provides a measure of visual ability ‒the ability to perform vision-related activities. Higher values of visual ability correspond to greater ease performing activities. The EQ-5D-3L is a generic instrument that frequently is used to quantify the participants’ perceived health-related quality of life. This study used logistic regression models to identify factors associated with self-reported health status estimated from patient responses to the EQ-5D-3L. Results The study included 492 participants, mean age 63.4 years (range = 18–93) and 50% females. The most common diagnosis was diabetic retinopathy (37%). The mean visual acuity in the better seeing eye was 0.65 logMAR (SD = 0.48) and the mean visual ability was 0.62 logits (SD = 2.04), correlation between the two was − 0.511 (p < 0.001). Mobility and self-care were the health dimensions with the fewest problems (1% reported extreme problems), anxiety and depression the dimension with the most problems (24% reported extreme problems). Visual ability was an independent predictor of the response for all dimensions, higher ability was always associated with a reduced odds of reporting problems. The odds of reporting problems were increased for females in 3 out of 5 dimensions. Comorbidities, visual acuity and age-category were predictors of the odds of reporting problems for one dimension each. Conclusions The odds of reporting problems for the five health dimensions of the EQ-5D-3L are strongly influenced by the ability to perform vision-related activities (visual ability). These findings are informative and relevant for the clinic and for research evaluating the impact of eye diseases and disease treatments in ophthalmology.

No abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and causes of vision impairment (VI) in Portugal.SettingInformation about people with VI was obtained from primary care centres, blind association (ACAPO) and from hospitals (the PCVIP study) in the Northwest of Portugal during a period spanning years 2014–2015. Causes of VI were obtained from hospitals.ParticipantsAdministrative and medical records of people with visual acuity in the better seeing eye of 0.5 decimal (0.30logMAR) or worse and/or visual field less than 20° were investigated. Capture–recapture with log-linear models was applied to estimate the number of individuals missing from lists of cases obtained from available sources.Primary and secondary outcome measuresLog-linear models were used to estimate the crude prevalence and the category specific prevalence of VI.ResultsCrude prevalence of VI was 1.97% (95% CI 1.56% to 2.54%), and standardised prevalence was 1% (95% CI 0.78% to 1.27%). The age-specific prevalence was 3.27% (95% CI 2.36% to 4.90%), older than 64 years, 0.64% (95% CI 0.49% to 0.88%), aged 25–64 years, and 0.07% (95% CI 0.045% to 0.13%), aged less than 25 years. The female-to-male ratio was 1.3, that is, higher prevalence among females. The five leading causes of VI were diabetic retinopathy, cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and disorders of the globe.ConclusionsThe prevalence of VI in Portugal was within the expected range and in line with other European countries. A significant number of cases of VI might be due to preventable cases and, therefore, a reduction of the prevalence of VI in Portugal seems possible. Women and old people were more likely to have VI and, therefore, these groups require extra attention. Future studies are necessary to characterise temporal changes in prevalence of VI in Portugal.