Modified body adiposity index for body fat estimation in severe obesity.

BACKGROUND: The body adiposity index (BAI) comprises a simple method for estimating body fat (BF) that needs to be validated in patients with severe obesity. The present study aimed to determine BAI accuracy with respect to the determination BF in patients with severe obesity. METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective study comparing two methods for BF estimation was conducted in 433 patients with severe obesity between August 2012 to December 2014. BF was estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with specific equations developed for BF estimation in patients with severe obesity and BAI. The BF estimation in 240 patients with severe obesity (Group 1: G1) was used to evaluate BAI limitations and to develop a specific equation in this population. The new equation proposed was validated in another 158 patients with severe obesity (Group 2: G2). RESULTS: There was a significant difference between BF determination by BIA and BAI (P = 0.039). The mean (SD) BF in G1 was 52.3% (6.1%) determined by BIA and 51.6% (8.1%) determined by BAI. Sex, waist-hip ratio (WHR) and obesity grade determined significant errors on BF estimation by BAI. A new equation (modified body adiposity index; MBAI) was developed by linear regression to minimise these errors [MBAI% = 23.6 + 0.5 × (BAI); add 2.2 if body mass index ≥ 50 kg m-2 and 2.4 if WHR ≥ 1.05]. The new equation reduced the difference [1.2% (5.9%), P < 0.001 to 0.4% (4.12%), P = 0.315] and improved the correlation (0.6-0.7) between methods. CONCLUSIONS: BAI present significant limitations in severe obesity and MBAI was effective for BF estimation in this population.

Correlation between Body Composition and Walking Capacity in Severe Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with mobility reduction due to mechanical factors and excessive body fat. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) has been used to assess functional capacity in severe obesity. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of BMI, total and segmental body composition with distance walked (6MWD) during the six-minute walk test (6MWT) according to gender and obesity grade. SETTING: University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil; Public Practice. METHODS: Functional capacity was assessed by 6MWD and body composition (%) by bioelectrical impedance analysis in 90 patients. RESULTS: The mean 6MWD was 514.9 ± 50.3 m for both genders. The male group (M: 545.2 ± 46.9 m) showed a 6MWD higher (p = 0.002) than the female group (F: 505.6 ± 47.9 m). The morbid obese group (MO: 524.7 ± 44.0 m) also showed a 6MWD higher (p = 0.014) than the super obese group (SO: 494.2 ± 57.0 m). There was a positive relationship between 6MWD and fat free mass (FFM), FFM of upper limps (FFM_UL), trunk (FFM_TR) and lower limbs (FFM_LL). Female group presented a positive relationship between 6MWD and FFM, FFM_UL and FFM_LL and male group presented a positive relationship between 6MWD and FFM_TR. In morbid obese group there was a positive relationship between 6MWD with FFM, FFM_UL, FFM_TR and FFM_LL. The super obese group presented a positive relationship between 6MWD with FFM, FFM_TR and FFM_LL. CONCLUSIONS: Total and segmental FFM is associated with a better walking capacity than BMI.

Congenital achalasia: facts and fantasies.

Achalasia, a poorly relaxing lower esophageal sphincter, produces a functional obstruction and the expected symptoms of dysphagia, regurgitation and eventually weight loss. The cause of achalasia remains largely unknown in Western countries, Chagas' disease being the most frequent etiology in Brazil. We report on two sets of monozygotic male twins with typical manifestations of achalasia. The majority of authors attribute a limited contribution unless achalasia is related to a multisystem disorder, like the triple-A or Allgrove's syndrome, an autosomal recessive disease characterized by the triad of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) resistant adrenal insufficiency, achalasia and alacrima. The four cases reported demonstrated the genetic influence of achalasia in patients without multisystem disorders. We believe that idiopathic achalasia is a syndrome with similar clinical, pathological, radiological and manometric evolution, but with a great variety of etiological agents, one of them being the congenital form.

Intermittent left bundle branch block (LBBB) as a clinical manifestation of myocardial contusion after blunt chest trauma.

Injury to the heart in blunt chest trauma is dependent on a number of factors. Symptoms are often non-specific, and there is no gold standard test for diagnosis. Injuries to small areas of the myocardium may only be identified at autopsy. We report a 38 year old man who sustained a number of injuries in a road traffic accident, and in whom the single clinical or ECG abnormality was a left bundle branch block (LBBB); he had a myocardial injury rated as grade II. The patient was treated for his injuries and later discharged. As this is a difficult diagnosis, algorithms of blunt chest trauma may save time and money by avoiding misleading diagnosis and unnecessary monitoring and admissions.

Acute renal failure due to abdominal compartment syndrome: report on four cases and literature review.

We report on 4 cases of abdominal compartment syndrome complicated by acute renal failure that were promptly reversed by different abdominal decompression methods. Case 1: A 57-year-old obese woman in the post-operative period after giant incisional hernia correction with an intra-abdominal pressure of 24 mm Hg. She was sedated and curarized, and the intra-abdominal pressure fell to 15 mm Hg. Case 2: A 73-year-old woman with acute inflammatory abdomen was undergoing exploratory laparotomy when a hypertensive pneumoperitoneum was noticed. During the surgery, enhancement of urinary output was observed. Case 3: An 18-year-old man who underwent hepatectomy and developed coagulopathy and hepatic bleeding that required abdominal packing, developed oliguria with a transvesical intra-abdominal pressure of 22 mm Hg. During reoperation, the compresses were removed with a prompt improvement in urinary flow. Case 4: A 46-year-old man with hepatic cirrhosis was admitted after incisional hernia repair with intra-abdominal pressure of 16 mm Hg. After paracentesis, the intra-abdominal pressure fell to 11 mm Hg.

Systemic hemodynamic changes in mansonic schistosomiasis with portal hypertension treated by azygoportal disconnection and splenectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess systemic hemodynamic changes in patients with Manson's schistosomiasis and portal hypertension during azygoportal disconnection and splenectomy. METHODS: Sixteen patients with portal hypertension secondary to hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with indication for surgery were studied prospectively. All underwent invasive hemodynamic monitoring with pulmonary artery catheter. The first systemic hemodynamic assessment was performed preoperatively. In the intraoperative period new hemodynamic data were collected as follows: a) after laparotomy; b) 15-30 min after splenic artery ligature; c) 15-30 min after splenectomy; and d) after ligation of the collateral circulation. RESULTS: The results indicated preoperatively that the patients presented with an increased cardiac index (4.40 +/- 0.94 L/min/m2) together with a reduction in the systemic vascular resistance index (1692.25 +/- 434.91 dyne.s/cm5.m2). The stroke index (53.74 +/- 10.40 ml/beat/m2) and both left (5.71 +/- 1.50 kg.m/m2) and right heart work indexes (1.12 +/- 0.74 kg.m/m2) were also elevated. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was increased (17.81 +/- 9.00 mm Hg) and the pulmonary vascular resistance index decreased (164.31 +/- 138.69 dyne.s/cm5.m2). From the moment that the splenic artery was ligated until the end of the procedure, the cardiac index (3.45 +/- 0.90 L/min/m2) was reduced and the systemic vascular resistance index (2059.50 +/- 590.05 dyne.s/cm5.m5) increased. The systolic index (44.25 +/- 11.01 ml/beat/m2) and the left ventricle work index (4.33 +/- 1.29 kg.m/m2) also reduced. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (19.18 +/- 9.21 mm Hg) and the right ventricle work index (0.94 +/- 0.62 mm Hg) remained elevated after the surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The data allowed us to conclude that hepatosplenic schistosomiasis induces a hyperdynamic circulatory state that was corrected after splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection, remaining a mild pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, these changes are correlated with the portosystemic collateral circulation, especially as a consequence of splanchnic hyperflow.

[Peripartum cardiomyopathy. A critical analysis of immunosuppression]. / Cardiomiopatia periparto. Análise critica da immunossupressão.

The authors review the literature about peripartum cardiomyopathy and describe a case of a white woman, 31 years old, primipara, who developed myocardial failure six hours after caesarian operation, with good results after immunosuppressive therapy.

[Hyperdynamic circulation in Manson's hepatosplenic schistosomiasis]. / Estado hiperdinâmico sistêmico na forma hepatoesplênica da esquistossomose mansônica.

Twenty two patients having indication for surgical treatment of portal hypertension due to hepatoesplenic schistosomiasis were prospectively studied. Each patient was submitted to preoperative monitoring with pulmonary artery catheterization. The results showed hemodynamic alterations characterized by an increase of cardiac index (4.50 +/- 0.96 l/min/m2) associated to a decrease of systemic vascular resistance index (1638.60 +/- 441.86 dyn.s/cm5.m2). The stroke index and all right and left cardiac work indeces were increased. The pulmonary artery mean pressure was increased (17.23 +/- 8.63 mmHg) and the pulmonary vascular resistance index was decreased (147.95 +/- 126.21 dinas.seg/cm5.m2). We concluded that hepatoesplenic schistosomiasis determines hyperdynamic systemic circulation, probably correlated with portosystemic shunt, and pulmonary hypertension.

[External jugular vein as central venous access in intensive care patients]. / Veia jugular externa como acesso venoso central em pacientes de terapia intensiva.

The authors studied 98 patients in need of a central venous line route, joined into two different groups: Group 1 - 62 (63.3%) patients, and Group 2 - 36 (36.7%). All the patients had a visible external jugular vein while on Trendelenburg position. According to the Seldinger technique using a J-wire guided catheter the authors describe a maneuver to make it easy to advance the catheter. Patients from Group 1 had the technique applied by operators with previous experience, and patients from Group 2 by operators with no previous experience, but under supervision. There was no significant difference in the success rate between these two groups: 96.8% in Group 1 and 94.4% in Group 2 (p > 0.5). There was only one case of local bleeding, managed by local compression.

[Sinus bradycardia with junctional rhythm escape reverted with calcium gluconate]. / Bradicardia sinusal com ritmo de escape juncional revertida com gluconato de cálcio.

A 65-years-old female patient in chronic use of verapamil who developed bradyarrhythmia and hypotension reverted by endovenous calcium gluconate.