Sympathetic Dysautonomia in Heart Failure by 123I-MIBG: comparison between Chagasic, non-Chagasic and heart transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a severe public health problem because of its high morbidity and mortality and elevated costs, thus requiring better understanding of its course. In its complex and multifactorial pathogenesis, sympathetic hyperactivity plays a relevant role. Considering that sympathetic dysfunction is already present in the initial phases of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) and frequently associated with a worse prognosis, we assumed it could be more severe in CCC than in cardiomyopathies of other etiologies (non-CCC). OBJECTIVES: To assess the cardiac sympathetic dysfunction 123I-MIBG) of HF, comparing individuals with CCC to those with non-CCC, using heart transplant (HT) patients as denervated heart parameters. METHODS: We assessed 76 patients with functional class II-VI HF, being 25 CCC (17 men), 25 non-CCC (14 men) and 26 HT (20 men), by use of cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine 123I-MIBG) scintigraphy, estimating the early and late heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR) of 123I-MIBG uptake and cardiac washout (WO%). The 5% significance level was adopted in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The early and late HMR values were 1.73 ± 0.24 and 1.58 ± 0.27, respectively, in CCC, and 1.62 ± 0.21 and 1.44 ± 0.16 in non-CCC (p = NS), being, however, higher in HT patients (p < 0.001). The WO% values were 41.65 ± 21.4 (CCC), 47.37 ± 14.19% (non-CCC) and 43.29 ± 23.02 (HT), p = 0.057. The late HMR values showed a positive weak correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in CCC and non-CCC (r = 0.42 and p = 0.045; and r = 0.49 and p = 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSION: Sympathetic hyperactivity 123I-MIBG) was evidenced in patients with class II-IV HF, LVEF < 45%, independently of the HF etiology, as compared to HT patients.

Sympathetic Dysautonomia in Heart Failure by 123I-MIBG: comparison between Chagasic, non-Chagasic and heart transplant patients / Disautonomia Simpática na Insuficiência Cardíaca pela 123I-MIBG: Comparação entre Pacientes Chagásicos, não-Chagásicos e Transplantados Cardíacos

Abstract Background: Heart failure (HF) is a severe public health problem because of its high morbidity and mortality and elevated costs, thus requiring better understanding of its course. In its complex and multifactorial pathogenesis, sympathetic hyperactivity plays a relevant role. Considering that sympathetic dysfunction is already present in the initial phases of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) and frequently associated with a worse prognosis, we assumed it could be more severe in CCC than in cardiomyopathies of other etiologies (non-CCC). Objectives: To assess the cardiac sympathetic dysfunction 123I-MIBG) of HF, comparing individuals with CCC to those with non-CCC, using heart transplant (HT) patients as denervated heart parameters. Methods: We assessed 76 patients with functional class II-VI HF, being 25 CCC (17 men), 25 non-CCC (14 men) and 26 HT (20 men), by use of cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine 123I-MIBG) scintigraphy, estimating the early and late heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR) of 123I-MIBG uptake and cardiac washout (WO%). The 5% significance level was adopted in the statistical analysis. Results: The early and late HMR values were 1.73 ± 0.24 and 1.58 ± 0.27, respectively, in CCC, and 1.62 ± 0.21 and 1.44 ± 0.16 in non-CCC (p = NS), being, however, higher in HT patients (p < 0.001). The WO% values were 41.65 ± 21.4 (CCC), 47.37 ± 14.19% (non-CCC) and 43.29 ± 23.02 (HT), p = 0.057. The late HMR values showed a positive weak correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in CCC and non-CCC (r = 0.42 and p = 0.045; and r = 0.49 and p = 0.015, respectively). Conclusion: Sympathetic hyperactivity 123I-MIBG) was evidenced in patients with class II-IV HF, LVEF < 45%, independently of the HF etiology, as compared to HT patients.

Resumo Fundamentos: A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) representa um grave problema de saúde pública pela alta morbimortalidade e custos envolvidos, exigindo uma melhor compreensão de sua evolução. Em sua patogênese, complexa e multifatorial, a hiperatividade simpática ocupa relevante papel. Considerando que a disfunção simpática está presente já nas fases iniciais da cardiopatia chagásica crônica (CCC), frequentemente associando-se a um pior prognóstico, supomos que pudesse ser mais grave na CCC que nas demais etiologias (não-CCC). Objetivos: Avaliar a disfunção simpática cardíaca (123I-MIBG) da IC, comparando-se os portadores de CCC aos não-CCC, utilizando os pacientes transplantados cardíacos (TC) como parâmetro de coração desnervado. Métodos: Estudamos 76 pacientes com IC classe funcional II-VI, sendo 25 CCC (17 homens), 25 não-CCC (14 homens) e 26 TC (20 homens), pela cintilografia cardíaca (123I-MIBG), estimando-se a captação (HMR) precoce e tardia e o washout cardíaco (Wc%). Nas análises estatísticas, o nível de significância foi de 5%. Resultados: Os valores da HMR precoce e da tardia foram 1,73 ± 0,24 e 1,58 ± 0,27, respectivamente, na CCC, e 1,62 ± 0,21 e 1,44 ± 0,16 na não-CCC (p = NS), sendo, porém, mais elevados nos TC (p < 0,001). Os valores de Wc% foram 41,65 ± 21,4 (CCC), 47,37 ± 14,19% (não-CCC) e 43,29 ± 23,02 (TC), p = 0,057. Os valores de HMR tardia apresentaram correlação positiva fraca com a fração de ejeção de ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) na CCC e na não-CCC (r = 0,42 e p = 0,045; e r = 0,49 e p = 0,015, respectivamente). Conclusão: Evidenciou-se a presença de hiperatividade simpática (123I-MIBG) em pacientes com IC classe II-IV, FEVE < 45%, independentemente da etiologia da IC, quando comparados aos pacientes TC.

Gelatin model for training ultrasound-guided puncture / Treinamento de punção ecoguiada em modelo de gelatina

It is indispensable that members of the medical profession receive the technical training needed to enable them to rapidly obtain effective vascular access. Training procedures should be used judiciously to familiarize students with the technique. However, existing models are expensive or ineffective, and models need to be developed that are similar to what will be encountered in real patients.OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate creation and application of a gelatin model for training ultrasound-guided puncture.METHOS: The model was made using a mixture of colorless gelatin and water in a transparent plastic receptacle with two pairs of orifices of different diameters, through which two plastic tubes were inserted, to simulate blood vessels.RESULTS: The model was a close approximation to the real medical procedure in several aspects, since gelatin has a similar consistency to human tissues, providing a more faithful reproduction of the tactile sensation at the moment when the needle reaches the interior of a vessel and its contents are aspirated.CONCLUSIONS: The method proposed here can be used to easily construct a low-cost model using everyday materials that is suitable for large-scale training of ultrasound-guided puncture.

É imprescindível a capacitação técnica da classe médica para a obtenção de um acesso vascular rápido e eficiente, sendo que os procedimentos de treinamento devem ser usados sabiamente como forma de familiarizar o aluno à técnica. Os modelos comerciais existentes são de alto custo ou não são eficientes, devendo ser criados novos modelos semelhantes ao que será visto num paciente.OBJETIVOS: Demonstrar a criação e a utilização de um modelo de gelatina para o treinamento da punção ecoguiada por ultrassom.MÉTODOS: Modelo criado através da mistura de água com gelatina incolor num recipiente plástico transparente com dois orifícios de diferentes diâmetros, nos quais foram colocados dois canos plásticos simulando os vasos sanguíneos.RESULTADOS: O modelo proposto se aproxima da realidade do procedimento médico em vários aspectos, pois a consistência da gelatina é próxima aos tecidos humanos, promovendo a preservação da sensação tátil ao atingir o interior do vaso e durante a aspiração do conteúdo.CONCLUSÕES: O método proposto permite criar um modelo de baixo custo e fácil confecção utilizando-se materiais de uso cotidiano para treino de punção ecoguiada em larga escala.

Asma de difícil controle em pediatria: desafio presente e futuro / Hard-to-control asthma and pediatrics: current and future challenges

Objetivos: fazer revisão dos aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos, propedêuticos e do manejo terapêutico da asma de difícil controle. Fonte dos dados: pesquisa não sistemática nas bases de dados Medline e LILACS. Síntese dos dados: a asma de difícil controle (ADC) constitui-se em síndrome definida na ausência de controle da asma com doses de budesonida, ou equivalente, iguais ou superiores a 800 ?g por dia. Apesar da simplicidade dessa definição clínica, o manejo propedêutico e terapêutico envolve multiplicidade de fatores e os pacientes devem ser acompanhados por pneumopediatra e equipe multidisciplinar em centros de referência. É necessário confirmar o diagnóstico de asma, avaliar diagnósticos alternativos e/ou fatores agravantes, verificar a adesão, a presença de causas psicossociais e estabelecer o fenótipo da asma a partir de marcadores inflamatórios (invasivos e não invasivos). As pesquisas revelam que os diferentes fenótipos requerem tratamentos específicos, entretanto, a aplicação na prática clínica desse conhecimento fenotípico ainda requer mais estudos. Conclusões: a asma de difícil controle em criança ou adolescente pode estar relacionada a múltiplas causas e à existência de diferentes subgrupos de ADC e com diferentes fisiopatologias de base.

Objectives: To review the epidemiological, clinical, propaedeutic aspects as well as the treatment of hard-to-control asthma. Source of data : Non-systematic research on Medline and LILACS databases. Data summary: Hard-to-control asthma (HCA) is a syndrome defined as the lack of asthma control despite daily doses of budesonide or equivalent that are equal to or higher than 800 ?g. This clinical definition may sound simple, but preliminary handling and treatment involve multiple factors and patients should be followed up by a pediatric pulmonologist and a multidisciplinary team at specialist care centers. It is necessary to confirm the diagnosis, to assess alternative diagnoses and/or aggravating factors, assess compliance and existence of psychosocial causes, and to define the asthma phenotype based on inflammatory markers (both invasive and non-invasive). Studies show that different phenotypes demand different treatments; however, further studies are needed to investigate the actual application of this knowledge in the clinical practice. Conclusions: Hard-to-control asthma in children or adolescents can be related to multiple causes and the existence of different HCA subgroups with different pathophysiological grounds

Tratamento conservador do trauma esplênico contuso: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Nonoperative management of blunt spleen injuries: case report and review of the literature

Relata-se o trauma contuso de baço em jovem atendida no Hospital UniversitárioRisoleta Tolentino Neves, em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Essa lesão é encontrada,frequentemente, em traumas contusos do abdômen. O intuito é discutir a terapêuticadessa lesão, sua abordagem não cirúrgica como primeira escolha na maioria dos casos.Justifica-se a escolha do manejo não operatório, em paciente com lesão esplênicagrau IV, segundo critérios da American Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

We report a case of blunt splenic trauma in a young patient served by the urgency of the University Hospital Risoleta Tolentino Neves Belo Horizonte-MG. This kind of injury is often found in blunt abdominal trauma. The aim is to discuss the approach of the blunt splenic injuries and address the non-surgical treatment as first choice in most cases. Justi-fied this approach by reporting non-surgical therapy, even in a patient with splenic injury grade IV, according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

Variation in the ligand binding domains of the CD94/NKG2 family of receptors in the squirrel monkey.

Natural killer cells are regulated, in part, by cell surface expression of the inhibitory CD94/NKG2A heterodimer and the activating CD94/NKG2C heterodimer. In the present study, we characterize the CD94/NKG2 family in the squirrel monkey, a New World monkey species. Full-length CD94, NKG2A, and NKG2CE complementary deoxyribonucleic acid molecules were identified in three unrelated squirrel monkeys. Three alternatively spliced forms of CD94 were detected in which part of intron 4 was included in the mature transcript, suggesting evolutionary pressure for changes in the corresponding loop 3 region of the lectin domain in squirrel monkeys. Squirrel monkey NKG2A contains a three-nucleotide indel that results in an additional amino acid in the predicted NKG2A protein compared to NKG2A in other species. This NKG2A insertion tracks to loop five of the lectin domain, as is seen with the recently described marmoset NKG2CE indel. Transmembrane-deleted forms of CD94 and NKG2CE were also expressed in the squirrel monkey. Analysis of full-length squirrel monkey and additional primate CD94/NKG2 sequences demonstrated statistically significant increases in the Ka/Ks ratio in the putative major histocompatibility complex E (MHC-E) binding domain compared to the non-binding domain. Furthermore, positive selection was detected in the MHC-E binding domain of primate NKG2 family members, and purifying selection was detected in the primate CD94 binding domain. Purifying selection was also detected in the nonbinding domains of primate CD94 and NKG2 molecules.