Acta Medica Port
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Mastocytosis is characterized by the clonal expansion of morphological and immunophenotypically abnormal mast cells in different organs. The skin is the most frequently affected tissue. Virtually all children and more than 80% of adult patients with mastocytosis show cutaneous lesions. ⋯ Based on the age of onset, cutaneous manifestations of mastocytosis can be variable. The classification of cutaneous mastocytosis has recently been updated. Typically, in patients with childhood-onset mastocytosis, the disease occurs as cutaneous mastocytosis and shows spontaneous resolution around puberty. In contrast, adult patients, despite having also cutaneous lesions, often show systemic involvement and the course of the disease is usually chronic.
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Observational Study
Nutrition Education in Portuguese Medical Students: Impact on the Attitudes and Knowledge.
Nutrition has been underrepresented in the curriculum of many medical schools and therefore physicians do not feel adequately prepared to provide dietary counselling. The aim of the present study is to determine the impact of a Nutrition and Metabolism curricular unit on nutrition attitudes, knowledge and confidence on future clinical practice of medical students. ⋯ Nutrition education can have a positive impact on attitudes and eating behaviours, knowledge and in the perception of competencies for dietary counselling.
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Cantharidin is a toxin extracted from coleoptera beetles, commonly known as 'Spanish fly'. Traditionally it was used as an aphrodisiac, a vesicant or as an abortifacient. Intoxication by this substance has been widely reported, generally associated with gastrointestinal complications, such as digestive hemorrhage, and genitourinary disorders, such as hematuria and acute kidney injury. ⋯ The patient reported a burning sensation in his oral cavity, diarrhea and hematuria, having sustained acute kidney injury and atypical neurological symptoms. Due to the lack of an antidote, the available treatment options are reduced to supportive measures. This case strengthens the need for a thorough medical history to ascertain the use of 'natural' products and medicinal herbs (i.e. of unregulated origin), and the importance of educating the community to their potential toxicity.