Temporal evolution of pneumothorax: respiratory mechanical and histopathological study.

Respiratory mechanics, chest wall configuration, and lung morphometry were determined in rats before and at 30 (PTX.30) and 60 (PTX.60) min after pneumothorax induction (intrathoracic injection of 8 ml of room air; 50% collapse). Pneumothorax increased respiratory system and lung elastances and viscoelastic/inhomogeneous pressures in both groups, but respiratory system and lung resistive pressures increased only in PTX.60 group. Antero-posterior diameters at the third intercostal space and xiphoid levels, circumference at xiphoid level, and thoracic cephalo-caudal diameter increased significantly after pneumothorax induction independently of temporal evolution. In both groups lung collapse, hyperinflation, and interstitial and alveolar edema were present. Additionally, in PTX.60 group the central airways calibre diminished in relation to PTX.30. In conclusion pneumothorax yields changes in respiratory system and lung elastic and viscoelastic parameters, which are related to alveolar collapse and edema, respectively. Temporal evolution of pneumothorax also leads to changes in lung resistive pressure, probably because of airway narrowing.

[Assessment of short-term effects of awareness programs and pravastatin therapy on subjects from private clinics at high risk for cardiovascular disease]. / Avaliação dos efeitos a curto prazo de programas de conscientização e de terapia com pravastatina em indivíduos de alto risco para doença cardiovascular provenientes de consultórios particulares.

PURPOSE: To evaluate short-term efficacy of awareness programs (AP) in reducing coronary heart disease risk factors (CHDRF). METHODS: High risk hypercholesterolemic patients were divided in 2 groups during 16 weeks. Group A (n = 417, 54.3 +/- 10.0 years, 55% males) received verbal and written orientation on CHDRF control, and group B (n = 180, 54.4 +/- 10.9 years, 45% males) received only verbal orientation. All participants received pravastatin 10 mg q.d. for 12 weeks. The evolution of body weight, arterial pressure, lipid profile, Castelli's I and II indexes (TC/HDL and LDL/HDL), and Framingham scores were evaluated. RESULTS: At baseline, A had a lower HDL-C (40.0 +/- 11.0 vs 43.0 +/- 11.0 mg/dl, p = 0.013) and a higher index I (8.2 +/- 3.0 vs 7.6 +/- 2.3, p = 0.008) than B. After 16 weeks, A had greater change than B in TC (-28.0 vs -25.0, p < 0.05), LDL-C (-29.0 vs -27.6, p < 0.05), HDL-C levels (+13.7 vs +10.8, p < 0.05) and in the Castelli's Index (-39.0 vs -33.0; p < 0.05). In both groups pravastatin use potentialized the effects of diet on the lipid profile. CONCLUSION: The AP seemed to be more effective than verbal orientation alone in CHDRF reduction at short-term.

[The development of epidemiological surveillance systems for smallpox and poliomyelitis: changing concepts in operational categories]. / Desenvolvimento dos sistemas de vigilância epidemiológica da varíola e da poliomelite: a transformação de conceitos em categorias operacionais.

This article describes the process by which some concepts of epidemiological surveillance are elaborated and turned into operational categories to comprise the so-called epidemiological surveillance system for two specific diseases. The authors describe some epidemiological concepts and categories which were elaborated over the course of the smallpox eradication program and more recently in the poliomyelitis eradication program. Such concepts and categories as outbreak containment, cross-notification, and case definitions are described as they fit into a series of actions which make up the epidemiological surveillance system. Finally, it is worth noting that the description developed in this article is based on personal observations, since the authors participated in the smallpox eradication program in Bangladesh and Somalia as well as in the regional poliomyelitis eradication program in the Americas.

[The use of acetylsalicylic acid as a platelet antiaggregant]. / Uso do acido acetil salicílico como antiagregante plaquetário.

PURPOSE: To comprove the efficiency of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) as platelet antiaggregant drug, a 100 mg/day dose base. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-eight patients were studied between 1988 and 1990. Platelet functions were measured using an aggregometer plus ADP 5 as platelet aggregation inductor. RESULTS: Two groups were studied: 1st group, using ASA (111 patients), 91 hypoaggregants; 2nd group, not using ASA (147 patients), 120 normals, 12 hypoaggregants and 15 hyperaggregants. From the 2nd group, 91 had another evaluation under the use of ASA and showed a clear effect of the drug. CONCLUSION: The use of aspirin, 100 mg/day dose, is enough to reduce platelet antiaggregation.

Phonomechanocardiographic findings in endomyocardial fibrosis.

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a severe restrictive cardiomyopathy characterized by the formation of fibrous tissue on the endocardium and to a lesser extent in the myocardium of one or both ventricles. The disease results in endocardial rigidity, atrioventricular valve dysfunction and progressive obliteration of the ventricular cavity. The clinical and pathological findings of EMF have been well established and definitive diagnosis can be made by selective cineangiocardiography. However, there are few reports concerning the phonomechanocardiographic (PMCG) patterns in this condition. In this paper we describe the PMCG findings in 12 patients with EMF which is now recognized with increasing frequency in the Northeast of Brazil.

Síndrome de Holt-Oram com persistência do canal AV comum, forma total. Relato de um caso / Holt-Oram syndrome with patency of the cammon AV canal, complete form. Report of a case

A sindrome de Holt-Oram e entidade rara e caracteriza-se por malformacoes esqueleticas e cardiopatias congenitas. E determinada por gene autossomico dominante. E apresentado um caso em que o defeito cardiaco associado era a persistencia do canal AV comum, forma total, achado nunca antes comprovado. Sao revistos e discutidos os aspectos clinicos e geneticos