Associação de métodos de imagem no desafio diagnóstico da drenagem anômala total das veias pulmonares do tipo mista / Association of imaging methods in the diagnostic challenge of mixed total anomalous pulmonary vein drainage

APRESENTAÇÃO DO CASO: Lactente sem diagnósticos prévios, internado com dispneia e baixo débito cardíaco aos dois meses de vida. Transferido para serviço de referência em cardiopatias congênitas em ventilação mecânica e em uso de drogas vasoativas. Realizado ecocardiograma que demonstrou drenagem anômala total das veias pulmonares (DATVP) do tipo mista, com as veias pulmonares esquerdas drenando em veia vertical ascendente, que desemboca na veia inominada, e então na veia cava superior (VCS) e as veias pulmonares direitas drenando no seio coronário, que desemboca no átrio direito. O exame também demonstrou comunicações interatriais tipo ostium secundum não restritivas com fluxo do átrio direito para o esquerdo, dilatação importante das cavidades direitas, ventrículo direito com hipertrofia importante e disfunção sistólica, além de hipertensão pulmonar. Submetido a angiotomografia de coração corroborando o diagnóstico, com melhor visualização de todo o trajeto da veia vertical. Realizada cirurgia com redirecionamento das veias pulmonares e ligadura da veia vertical, com sucesso. DISCUSSÃO: A DATVP é uma cardiopatia congênita cianótica rara na qual todas as veias pulmonares se conectam com o sistema venoso sistêmico. Resulta da persistência das conexões embrionárias do plexo venoso pulmonar. O tipo IV da classificação de Darling e colaboradores ou drenagem mista é a associação entre duas ou mais dentre as formas supracardíaca, infracardíaca ou intracardíaca. Neste caso, houve combinação da drenagem supracardíaca das veias pulmonares esquerdas (que por meio da veia vertical drenavam na VCS), com a drenagem intracardíaca das veias pulmonares direitas (que drenavam no átrio direito através do seio coronário). Esta associação é uma variante rara com apenas alguns relatos. O ecocardiograma realizado por profissional experiente em cardiopatias congênitas dá o diagnóstico, mas a associação com outros métodos de imagem como a tomografia é especialmente importante nas variantes mistas para permitir um plano cirúrgico adequado e o redirecionamento completo, evitando lesões residuais. COMENTÁRIOS FINAIS: Apresentamos um caso de DATVP com drenagem cardíaca e supracardíaca, forma rara e de diagnóstico desafiador, definido pelo ecocardiograma e confirmado por tomografia computadorizada com reconstrução 3D. Devido à grande variabilidade da DATVP, é essencial detalhar bem o trajeto, as conexões dos vasos e o local de drenagem de cada um deles para um manejo adequado.

Diagnóstico precoce de síndrome de cimitarra pelo ecocardiograma fetal / Early diagnosis of scimitar syndrome by fetal echocardiography

CASO: Paciente de 37 anos, G2P1A0, com 33 semanas de idade gestacional, encaminhada para realização de ecocardiografia fetal devido a desvio da área cardíaca para a direita ao ultrassom morfológico. O ecocardiograma fetal mostrou desvio a direita, dilatação das cavidades cardíacas direitas e do tronco pulmonar, e hipoplasia da artéria pulmonar direita, que media 2 mm (Escore Z de -3,77). As duas veias pulmonares esquerdas drenavam no átrio esquerdo, não sendo visualizadas as veias pulmonares direitas. Dessa forma, analisamos as veias pulmonares direitas, que drenavam em um coletor através de uma veia vertical, e desembocava no átrio direito, próximo à veia cava inferior, sendo feito diagnóstico de drenagem anômala parcial das veias pulmonares direitas infracardíaca, associado à hipoplasia segmentar da artéria pulmonar direita e dextroposição do coração, sugerindo hipoplasia pulmonar à direita, caracterizando a Síndrome de Cimitarra. Não foi visualizado vaso anômalo que evidenciasse sequestro pulmonar. DISCUSSÃO: A síndrome de Cimitarra é uma malformação congênita rara, caracterizada por drenagem pulmonar anômala parcial ou total do pulmão direito, na veia cava inferior, muito associada à hipoplasia do pulmão direito, sequestro pulmonar, persistência de veia cava superior esquerda e dextroposição do coração. Tem uma incidência de cerca de 1-3 a cada 100.000 nascidos vivos, podendo ser maior devido a pacientes assintomáticos. Deve-se suspeitar deste diagnóstico ao ecocardiograma fetal quando houver desvio do mediastino para a direita e hipoplasia da artéria pulmonar direita. A dilatação das cavidades cardíacas direitas pode sugerir a drenagem anômala das veias pulmonares, no entanto, este pode ser um achado normal no terceiro trimestre da gestação ou ser desencadeada por outras cardiopatias, como a coartação de aorta. O sinal de cimitarra, refere-se à imagem semelhante à espada turca convexa que corresponde à drenagem venosa pulmonar anômala direita para a veia cava inferior. COMENTÁRIOS FINAIS: O diagnóstico pré-natal da Síndrome de Cimitarra ao ecocardiograma fetal é importante para o encaminhamento da gestante a uma maternidade de referência, manejo perinatal adequado e planejamento cirúrgico. Portanto, na presença de sinais indiretos de drenagem anômala das veias pulmonares, dextrocardia e hipoplasia do pulmão direito, torna-se necessária a completa visualização da drenagem das quatro veias pulmonares e das dimensões da artéria pulmonar direita.

Is paclitaxel less cardiotoxic in the treatment of breast cancer before or after doxorubicin? / Qual estratégia terapêutica é menos cardiotóxica no tratamento do câncer de mama: uso de paclitaxel antes ou depois da doxorrubicina?

Background: The combination of doxorubicin (DOX) with paclitaxel (PTX) effectively treats breast cancer (BC). However, DOX-associated cardiotoxicity (CTX) is aggravated by the use of PTX. Consensus is lacking about which drug sequence involves the most CTX. Objectives: To evaluate whether DOX followed by PXT or the reverse sequence has the greatest cardiotoxic potential in the treatment of BC. Methods: Prospective study of women with primary BC who received four cycles of DOX and 12 infusions of PTX. Participants were divided into Group 1 (G1; PXT before DOX) and Group 2 (G2; DOX before PXT) at the discretion of the oncologist. CTX was defined as an absolute reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 10% to a value <53%. Patients underwentclinical evaluations and echocardiography before treatment (Phase 1) and one year after treatment (Phase 2). Results: Sixty-nine women were evaluated: 19 in G1 and 50 in G2. The groups had similar clinical characteristics. The doses of radiation, DOX, and PTX used were similar. Eight (11.6%) patients developed CTX: two (10.5%) in G1 and six (12.0%) in G2 (p=0.62). The mean LVEF was similar between groups in Phase 1 (G1=65.1±3.5%; G2=65.2±3.9%; p=0.96), with a significant reduction noted after one year in both groups: G1=61.4±8.1% (p=0.021) and G2=60.8±7.6% (p<0,001). Although lower, mean LVEF remained similar between groups after Phase 2 (p=0.79). Conclusions: In women with BC who underwent chemotherapy, the incidence of CTX at the end of the first year of treatment was similar regardless of whether DOX was used before or after PTX. (AU)

CCL2, CXCL8, CXCL9 and CXCL10 serum levels increase with age but are not altered by treatment with hydroxychloroquine in patients with osteoarthritis of the knees.

AIM: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of morbidity and incapacity in the elderly. This study evaluates serum levels of the chemokines CCL2, CXCL8, CXCL9, and CXCL10 in 16 patients with primary OA of the knees, and investigates how treatment with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for 4 months affects these chemokine levels. METHOD: Thirteen elderly patients received a placebo. Healthy control groups consisted of 10 elderly individuals (age > 60 years) with no clinical or radiological evidence of OA (CT-O), and 10 young adult individuals, (CT-Y group, age < 40 years). RESULTS: The CT-Y group presented lower levels of all chemokines studied, in comparison to the other groups. HCQ treatment did not alter the serum levels of CCL2 (P = 0.80), CXCL8 (P = 0.76), CXCL9 (P = 0.95) and CXCL10 (P = 0.74) in OA patients. CONCLUSION: Hydroxychloroquine treatment did not alter the serum levels of CCL2, CXCL8, CXCL9 or CXCL10 in patients with OA of the knees, although increased serum levels correlated with aging for all subjects, including controls.

Autotransplantation of Spleen Mitigates Drug-Induced Liver Damage in Splenectomized Mice.

PURPOSE: The spleen presents numerous functions, including the production of immunoglobulins and blood filtration, removing microorganisms and cellular debris. The spleen also has anatomical and functional relationship with the liver, but there are few studies on this topic. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of splenectomy and autologous spleen transplantation on both filtering functions of spleen and acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two BALB/c mice were randomized into four groups: splenectomized; splenectomy and splenic autotransplantation in the greater omentum; sham operated control; and non-operated control. At day 7th, 14th, and 28th after surgery, splenic filtration was assessed by counting Howell-Jolly bodies (HJB) and pitted red cells (PIT). The animals received 400 mg/kg acetaminophen by gavage at day 28th and after 12 or 24 hours were euthanized for evaluation of splenic and hepatic morphology. RESULTS: The splenectomized group demonstrated reduced filtration of HJB and PIT in all analyzes, while the autotransplanted group developed progressive recovery of function after the 14th day. At day 28 after surgery the implants showed similar histology in comparison to normal spleen. Liver histology showed more intense centrilobular necrosis in splenectomized group in comparison to the others, suggesting a protective role of spleen in acetaminophen-induced liver injury. CONCLUSIONS: Splenic implants showed structural and functional recovery, demonstrating the ability of autologous implant to rescue filtering function of intact spleen. Furthermore, the integrity of splenic function appears to influence liver morphology, since the presence of the splenic implants mitigated the effects of chemically-induced liver damage.

Crotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus is able to down-modulate the acute intestinal inflammation in mice.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is the result of dysregulation of mucosal innate and adaptive immune responses. Factors such as genetic, microbial and environmental are involved in the development of these disorders. Accordingly, animal models that mimic human diseases are tools for the understanding the immunological processes of the IBD as well as to evaluate new therapeutic strategies. Crotoxin (CTX) is the main component of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom and has an immunomodulatory effect. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the modulatory effect of CTX in a murine model of colitis induced by 2,4,6- trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). The CTX was administered intraperitoneally 18 hours after the TNBS intrarectal instillation in BALB/c mice. The CTX administration resulted in decreased weight loss, disease activity index (DAI), macroscopic tissue damage, histopathological score and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity analyzed after 4 days of acute TNBS colitis. Furthermore, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 were lower in colon tissue homogenates of TNBS-mice that received the CTX when compared with untreated TNBS mice. The analysis of distinct cell populations obtained from the intestinal lamina propria showed that CTX reduced the number of group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) and Th17 population; CTX decreased IL-17 secretion but did not alter the frequency of CD4+Tbet+ T cells induced by TNBS instillation in mice. In contrast, increased CD4+FoxP3+ cell population as well as secretion of TGF-ß, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and lipoxin A4 (LXA4) was observed in TNBS-colitis mice treated with CTX compared with untreated TNBS-colitis mice. In conclusion, the CTX is able to modulate the intestinal acute inflammatory response induced by TNBS, resulting in the improvement of clinical status of the mice. This effect of CTX is complex and involves the suppression of the pro-inflammatory environment elicited by intrarectal instillation of TNBS due to the induction of a local anti-inflammatory profile in mice.

Increased IgG1, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-6 responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in patients with tuberculosis are lower after chemotherapy.

Detection of specific antibodies may represent an additional tool in diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). Herein, levels of serum IgG antibodies against early secreted antigenic target (ESAT-6), culture filtrate antigen-10 (CFP-10) and 16 kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens were measured in 33 active pulmonary TB patients (0M-TB), in 47 patients after 1-3 months of treatment (3M-TB) and in 22 patients who had completed 6 months of chemotherapy (6M-TB). The control group consisted of 38 BCG-vaccinated healthy controls (HC). In addition, IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-6, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 production in PBMC cultures from 20 patients were measured following stimulation with the M. tuberculosis-specific fusion protein ESAT-6/CFP-10. Elevated levels of IgG against ESAT-6, CFP-10 and 16 kDa antigens were detected in 0M-TB and 3M-TB patients in comparison to the HC and 6M-TB groups. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated sensitivity of 85, 94 and 61% and specificity of 89, 87 and 89% for serum IgG against ESAT-6, CFP-10 and 16 kDa, respectively. A predominant IgG1 response to ESAT-6 and CFP-10 was observed in 0M-TB patients, together with ESAT-6/CFP-10-specific IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-6 that were produced at lower levels in the 6M-TB group. These data indicate that a T(h)1 phenotype against early phase Mtb antigens appears to be dominant in the peripheral blood of patients with active pulmonary TB that is reduced after chemotherapy. Taken together, ESAT-6/CFP-10 cytokine tests together with detecting IgG antibodies specific to ESAT-6 and CFP-10 may be the useful TB disease biomarkers in monitoring treatment success.

Anti-mycobacterial treatment reduces high plasma levels of CXC-chemokines detected in active tuberculosis by cytometric bead array.

Chemokines recruit and activate leukocytes, assisting granuloma formation. Herein, we evaluated plasma chemokines in patients with active tuberculosis (ATB) and after completing treatment (TTB) and compared them to BCG-vaccinated healthy controls (HC). Levels of chemokines were measured by cytometric bead array. Levels of CXCL8, CXCL9 and CXCL10 were higher in ATB patients compared to HC, but they decreased in TTB. Levels of CCL2 and CCL5 in ATB patients were similar to those observed in HC. Thus, the high levels of CXC-chemokines detected during ATB, which can modulate the trafficking of immune cells from the periphery to the site of infection, were reversed by anti-mycobacterial treatment.

Anti-mycobacterial treatment reduces high plasma levels of CXC-chemokines detected in active tuberculosis by cytometric bead array

Chemokines recruit and activate leukocytes, assisting granuloma formation. Herein, we evaluated plasma chemokines in patients with active tuberculosis (ATB) and after completing treatment (TTB) and compared them to BCG-vaccinated healthy controls (HC). Levels of chemokines were measured by cytometric bead array. Levels of CXCL8, CXCL9 and CXCL10 were higher in ATB patients compared to HC, but they decreased in TTB. Levels of CCL2 and CCL5 in ATB patients were similar to those observed in HC. Thus, the high levels of CXC-chemokines detected during ATB, which can modulate the trafficking of immune cells from the periphery to the site of infection, were reversed by anti-mycobacterial treatment.