Fields of flowers with few strikes: how oligolectic bees manage their foraging behavior on Calibrachoa elegans (Solanaceae).

In specialized plant-pollinator associations, partners may exhibit adaptive traits, which favor the maintenance of the interaction. The association between Calibrachoa elegans (Solanaceae) and its oligolectic bee pollinator, Hexantheda missionica (Colletidae), is mutualistic and forms a narrowly specialized pollination system. Flowers of C. elegans are pollinated exclusively by this bee species, and the bees restrict their pollen resources to this plant species. The pollen presentation schedules of C. elegans were evaluated at the population level to test the hypothesis that H. missionica females adjust their foraging behavior to the resource offering regime of C. elegans plants. For this, the number of new flowers and anthers opened per hour (as a proxy for pollen offering) was determined, and pollen advertisement was correlated with the frequency of flower visits during the day. Preferences of female bees for flowers of different stages were also investigated, and their efficiency as pollinators was evaluated. Pollen offering by C. elegans was found to be partitioned throughout the day through scattered flower openings. Females of H. missionica indeed adjusted their foraging activity to the most profitable periods of pollen availability. The females preferred new, pollen-rich flowers over old ones and gathered pollen and nectar selectively according to flower age. Such behaviors must optimize female bee foraging efficiency on flowers. Female bees set 93% of fruit after a single visit. These findings guarantee their importance as pollinators and the persistence of the specialized plant-pollinator association.

ERS International Congress 2023: highlights from the Respiratory Intensive Care Assembly.

Early career members of Assembly 2 (Respiratory Intensive Care) attended the 2023 European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy. The conference covered acute and chronic respiratory failure. Sessions of interest to our assembly members and to those interested in respiratory critical care are summarised in this article and include the latest updates in respiratory intensive care, in particular acute respiratory distress syndrome and mechanical ventilation.

Unilateral Horner's Syndrome and Trigeminal Nerve Palsy After Lumbar Epidural Anaesthesia for Cesarean Section.

We report a healthy 29-year-old primigravida at 38 weeks gestation who underwent elective cesarean section and suffered from Horner's syndrome and trigeminal palsy following epidural anaesthesia. The prompt recognition of this complication associated with lumbar epidural anaesthesia requiring close monitoring of the patient in order to prevent autonomic complications has been addressed.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of deep vein thrombosis related to the central catheter in hemodialytic patients.

BACKGROUND: Point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) is a useful tool for the early diagnosis of thrombosis related to the central venous catheter for dialysis (TR-CVCd). However, the application of PoCUS is still not common as a bedside imaging examination and TR-CVCd remains often underdiagnosed in the routine practice. The aim of this study was to investigate if a compression technique for the diagnosis of TR-CVCd blindly performed by PoCUS experts and medical students is accurate when compared to a Doppler study. METHODS: Two medical students without prior knowledge in PoCUS received a short theoretical-practical training to evaluate TR-CVCd of the internal jugular vein by means of the ultrasound compression technique. After the training phase, patients with central venous catheter for dialysis (CVCd) were evaluated by the students in a private hemodialysis clinic. The results were compared to those obtained on the same population by doctors with solid experience in PoCUS, using both the compression technique and the color Doppler. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were eligible for the study and the prevalence of TR-CVCd diagnosed by Doppler was 28.4%. The compression technique performed by the students and by experts presented, respectively, a sensitivity of 59.2% (CI 51.6-66.8) vs 100% and a specificity of 89.6% (CI 84.9-94.3) vs 94.8% (CI 91.4-98.2). CONCLUSION: The compression technique in the hands of PoCUS experts demonstrated high accuracy in the diagnosis of TR-CVCd and should represent a standard in the routine examination of dialytic patients. The training of PoCUS inexperienced students for the diagnosis of TR-CVCd is feasible but did not lead to a sufficient level of sensitivity.

Avaliação ultrassonográfica de variações anatômicas entre vasos femorais realizada por estudantes de medicina / Ultrasonographic evaluation of anatomical variations in femoral vessels done by medical students

Introdução: A punção venosa central é um procedimento médico tradicionalmente realizado seguindo os marcadores anatômicos como referência para atingir o vaso, às cegas. No entanto, nem sempre o sucesso nessa técnica é alcançado, fato que se deve principalmente às variações anatômicas. A ultrassonografia point of care (US-POC) é utilizada para auxiliar a cateterização central por visualização direta do vaso, aumentando a segurança do procedimento. Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência das variações anatômicas de vasos femorais através da utilização da US-POC por estudantes de medicina submetidos a curto período de treinamento. Material e Métodos: Cinco estudantes de medicina, sem experiência prévia em US-POC, foram submetidos a oito horas de treinamento teórico-prático. Foram avaliados os vasos femorais de cem voluntários. Resultados: A veia femoral direita foi encontrada mais frequentemente na posição medial (43%) em relação à artéria femoral direita. À esquerda, a posição posteromedial foi a mais observada (45%).Conclusão: A técnica tradicional de punção de acesso central se baseia em marcadores anatômicos e não leva em consideração as variações anatômicas existentes. Um treinamento de curto período para uso da US-POC é capaz de capacitar o profissional para reconhecer o posicionamento real dos vasos e evitar punções inadvertidas.

Introduction: Central vein puncture is a medical procedure traditionally done following anatomical landmarks as a reference to successfully achieving the vessel. However, this traditional technique is commonly unsuccessful due to anatomical variations that may be found. Point of care ultrasonography (POC-US) is used to assist central catheterization by directly visualizing the vessel, increasing procedure security and minimizing risks. Objective: Evaluate anatomical variations prevalence in femoral vessels, utilizing POC-US, done by medical students submitted to a short period of time training in ultrasonography. Material and Methods: Five medical students, without previous experience on the use of ultrasonography, were submitted to an eight-hour theorical practical training in POC-US. The students evaluated one hundred femoral vessels of volunteers. Results: The right limb femoral vein was found more frequently in the medial position (43%) in comparison to the right limb femoral artery. On the left limb, the posteromedial position was the most found (45%). Conclusion: The insertion of a central catheter following the traditional technique is based on anatomical landmarks, and does not take into account existing anatomical variations. With a short period of training, POC-US is capable of qualifying professionals to acknowledge the real location of the vessel and avoid inadvertent punctures and complications.

[Diagnosis of hereditary angioedema after thirty years of clinical manifestations]. / Diagnóstico de angioedema hereditario después de treinta años de mani-festaciones clínicas.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis and treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE) are necessary to improve the quality of life and even the survival of patients. CASE REPORT: A 52-year-old woman with angioedema for 30 years, which affects the face, tongue, and hands. It is asymmetric, with neither pruritus nor urticaria, without response to antihistamines or corticosteroids, with spontaneous resolution in 48 hours to 72 hours; with a family history of angioedema. Normal physical examination between exacerbations. Autoimmune and lymphoproliferative diseases were ruled out. Values of C1q, C4, C1-INH were normal. The diagnosis of HAE type C1-INH normal subtype Unknown was established. The total resolution of the crises was achieved after two months with androgen therapy. Outpatient follow-up has been given for four years and no angioedema crisis has been reported, which is associated with a radical change in the quality of life. CONCLUSION: The patient was diagnosed with HAE after 30 years of clinical manifestations, after acquired angioedema was ruled out.

Introducción: El diagnóstico y tratamiento del angioedema hereditario (AEH) son necesarios para mejorar la calidad de vida e incluso la supervivencia de pacientes. Reporte de caso: Mujer de 52 años con angioedema desde hace 30 años, que afecta cara, lengua y manos, asimétrico, sin prurito ni urticaria, sin respuesta a antihistamínicos ni corticoides, resolución espontánea entre las 48 a 72 horas, historia familiar de angioedema. Examen físico normal entre las exacerbaciones. Se descartaron enfermedades autoinmunes, linfoproliferativas. Los valores de C1q, C4, C1-INH fueron normales. Diagnóstico de AEH tipo C1-INH normal subtipo unknown. Tratamiento iniciado con andrógenos: resolución total de las crisis a los dos meses. Seguimiento ambulatorio durante cuatro años, sin crisis de angioedema, asociado con un cambio total en la calidad de vida. Conclusiones: La paciente fue diagnosticada de AEH solo después de 30 años de manifestaciones clínicas, después de descartar angioedema adquirido.

Current Practices in Home Mechanical Ventilation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Real-Life Cross-Sectional Multicentric Study.

Purpose: Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is becoming increasingly widespread. The aim of this study was to provide an accurate description of the current practices and clinical characteristics of COPD patients on HMV in Portugal. Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional, multicenter real-life study of COPD patients established on HMV for at least 30 days. Data related to clinical characteristics, adaptation and ventilatory settings were collected. Results: The study included 569 COPD patients on HMV from 15 centers. The majority were male, with a median age of 72 years and a high prevalence of obesity (43.2%) and sleep apnea (45.8%). A high treatment compliance was observed (median 8h/day), 48.7% with inspiratory positive airway pressure ≥20 cmH2O and oronasal masks were the preferred interface (91.7%). There was an equal distribution of patients starting HMV during chronic stable condition and following an exacerbation. Patients in stable condition were initiated in the outpatient setting in 92.3%. Despite the differences in criteria and setting of adaptation and a slightly lower BMI in patients starting HMV following an exacerbation, we found no significant differences regarding age, gender, ventilation pressures, time on HMV, usage, severity of airflow obstruction or current arterial blood gas analysis (ABGs) in relation to patients adapted in stable condition. Conclusion: Patients were highly compliant with the therapy. In agreement with most recent studies and recommendations, there seems to be a move towards higher ventilation pressures, increased use of oronasal masks and an intent to obtain normocapnia. This study shows that chronic hypercapnic and post exacerbation patients do not differ significantly regarding patient characteristics, physiological parameters or ventilatory settings with one exception: chronic hypercapnic patients are more often obese and, subsequently, more frequently present OSA.

Minimum size threshold of visiting bees of a buzz-pollinated plant species: consequences for pollination efficiency.

PREMISE: Flowering plants with poricidal anthers are commonly visited by buzzing bees, which vibrate flowers to extract pollen. However, not all flower visitors are in fact pollinators, and features such as body size and duration of flower visits are important factors in determining pollination effectiveness. We tested whether bee-to-flower size relationships predict the pollination effectiveness of flower visitors of a buzz-pollinated species (Chamaecrista ramosa, Fabaceae). METHODS: We sorted 13 bee taxa into three groups: smaller than, equivalent to ("fit-size"), and larger than flower herkogamy (spatial separation between anthers and stigma). We expected the latter two groups to touch the stigmas, which would be an indicator of pollination effectiveness, more frequently than the first group. To test this hypothesis, we assessed contact with stigmas, foraging behavior, and duration of visits for the three size groups of bees. RESULTS: Our data reveal that small bees scarcely touched the stigmas, while large and fit-size bees were the most efficient pollinators, achieving high stigma-touching rates, conducting much shorter flower visits, and visiting flowers and conspecific plants at high rates during foraging bouts. CONCLUSIONS: The results did not show size-matching among bees and flowers, as expected, but rather a minimum size threshold of efficient pollinators. The finding of such a threshold is a nonarbitrary approach to predicting pollination effectiveness of visitors to herkogamous flowers with poricidal anthers.

Point-of-care ultrasonography in nephrology: a cross-sectional national survey among Brazilian nephrologists / Ultrassonografia point-of-care em nefrologia: uma pesquisa nacional transversal entre nefrologistas brasileiros

Abstract Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasonography (US) (POCUS) has been used in several specialties, particularly in medical emergency. Despite the confirmation of its numerous benefits, the use of POCUS is still timid in nephrology. In the present study, we aim to investigate the use of POCUS by Brazilian nephrologists. Methods: A survey carried out among the members of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology, through institutional e-mail, using the SurveyMonkey platform. We included 12 self-administered questions, which answers were given anonymously. Results: It was evident that the majority (64%) of the participants did not have the opportunity to practice US during their nephrological training in their residency, specialization, or even in internships; those with experience with US use the method mainly for implanting central vascular accesses (68%), performing a renal biopsy (58%) and evaluating renal morphology (50%); and the main barriers for nephrologists who do not yet use US are the high price of US machines (26%) and the lack of time to learn about US (23%). Also, POCUS use for examinations of other organs, such as the lung (31%) and heart (18%), which are fundamental in the cardiovascular and volume assessment of patients with kidney diseases, is even more limited. However, 95% of the participants expressed an interest in learning POCUS for use in their medical practice. Conclusion: Most of the Brazilian nephrologists interviewed were not trained in US; however, almost all of the research participants expressed an interest in learning to use POCUS in nephrological practice.

Resumo Introdução: A ultrassonografia (US) pointof-care (POCUS) tem sido utilizada emvárias especialidades, particularmente na urgência médica. Apesar da constatação de seus numerosos benefícios, a utilização da POCUS ainda é tímida na nefrologia. No presente estudo, objetivamos fazer um levantamento sobre a utilização da POCUS pelos nefrologistas brasileiros. Métodos: Levantamento realizado entre os sócios da Sociedade Brasileira de Nefrologia, por meio do e-mail institucional, utilizando a plataforma SurveyMonkey. Foram incluídas 12 perguntas autoadministradas, cujas respostas se deram de forma anônima. Resultados: Ficou evidente que a maioria (64%) dos participantes não teve oportunidade de praticar a US durante sua formação nefrológica na residência, especialização ou mesmo em estágios; que aqueles com experiência com a US usam o método, principalmente, para implantação de acesso vascular central (68%), realização de biópsia renal (58%) e avaliação da morfologia renal (50%); e que as principais barreiras para os nefrologistas que ainda não utilizam a US são o preço elevado das máquinas de US (26%) e a falta de tempo para aprender sobre US (23%). Além disso, o uso da POCUS para exames de outros órgãos, como pulmão (31%) e coração (18%), fundamentais na avaliação cardiovascular e volêmica dos pacientes com doenças renais, ainda é mais limitado. Porém, 95% dos participantes expressaram interesse em aprender a POCUS para aplicação na sua prática médica. Conclusão: A maioria dos nefrologistas brasileiros entrevistados não foi treinada em US, contudo, a quase totalidade dos participantes da pesquisa manifestou interesse em aprender a utilizar a POCUS na prática nefrológica.

Point-of-care ultrasonography in nephrology: a cross-sectional national survey among Brazilian nephrologists.

INTRODUCTION: Point-of-care ultrasonography (US) (POCUS) has been used in several specialties, particularly in medical emergency. Despite the confirmation of its numerous benefits, the use of POCUS is still timid in nephrology. In the present study, we aim to investigate the use of POCUS by Brazilian nephrologists. METHODS: A survey carried out among the members of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology, through institutional e-mail, using the SurveyMonkey platform. We included 12 self-administered questions, which answers were given anonymously. RESULTS: It was evident that the majority (64%) of the participants did not have the opportunity to practice US during their nephrological training in their residency, specialization, or even in internships; those with experience with US use the method mainly for implanting central vascular accesses (68%), performing a renal biopsy (58%) and evaluating renal morphology (50%); and the main barriers for nephrologists who do not yet use US are the high price of US machines (26%) and the lack of time to learn about US (23%). Also, POCUS use for examinations of other organs, such as the lung (31%) and heart (18%), which are fundamental in the cardiovascular and volume assessment of patients with kidney diseases, is even more limited. However, 95% of the participants expressed an interest in learning POCUS for use in their medical practice. CONCLUSION: Most of the Brazilian nephrologists interviewed were not trained in US; however, almost all of the research participants expressed an interest in learning to use POCUS in nephrological practice.

Diastolic dysfunction for nephrologists: diagnosis at the point of care.

Cardiovascular diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Diastolic dysfunction (DD) may progress with the clinical manifestation of heart failure, known as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a condition that precedes systolic dysfunction. The early identification of DD by echocardiography at the point-of-care before the appearance of symptoms and signs of pulmonary congestion and the implementation of appropriate treatment can improve the prognosis of CKD. This review article briefly addresses DD in kidney disease and presents a practical approach to the echocardiographic diagnosis of DD at the point of care.

Diastolic dysfunction for nephrologists: diagnosis at the point of care

SUMMARY Cardiovascular diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Diastolic dysfunction (DD) may progress with the clinical manifestation of heart failure, known as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a condition that precedes systolic dysfunction. The early identification of DD by echocardiography at the point-of-care before the appearance of symptoms and signs of pulmonary congestion and the implementation of appropriate treatment can improve the prognosis of CKD. This review article briefly addresses DD in kidney disease and presents a practical approach to the echocardiographic diagnosis of DD at the point of care.

SUMÁRIO As doenças cardiovasculares são causa importante de morbidade e mortalidade no curso da doença renal crônica (DRC). A disfunção diastólica (DD) pode evoluir com insuficiência cardíaca manifesta clinicamente, denominada insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada, e precede a disfunção sistólica. A identificação precoce da DD pela ecocardiografia "point of care", antes do aparecimento dos sintomas e sinais de congestão pulmonar, e a implementação de tratamento adequado podem melhorar o prognóstico da DRC. Este artigo de revisão aborda brevemente a DD na doença renal e apresenta uma abordagem prática para o diagnóstico ecocardiográfico da DD à beira do leito

Role of point-of-care ultrasound during the COVID-19 pandemic: our recommendations in the management of dialytic patients.

COVID-19 is a viral disease due to the infection of the novel Corona virus SARS-CoV-2, that has rapidly spread in many countries until the World Health Organization declared the pandemic from March 11, 2020. Elderly patients and those affected by hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic pulmonary and cardiovascular conditions are more susceptible to present more severe forms of COVID-19. These conditions are often represented in dialytic renal end-stage patients. Moreover, dialysis patients are more vulnerable to infection due to suppression of the immune system. Growing evidences, although still supported by few publications, are showing the potential utility of ultrasound in patients with COVID-19. In this review, we share our experience in using point-of-care ultrasound, particularly lung ultrasound, to indicate the probability of COVID-19 in patients with end-stage renal disease treated by hemodialysis. We also propose recommendations for the application of lung ultrasound, focused echocardiography and inferior vena cava ultrasound in the management of patients in hemodialysis.

Use of artisanal simulators in the ultrasound training for invasive procedures in nephrology: venous access and renal biopsy / Utilização de simuladores artesanais no treinamento ultrassonográfico de procedimentos invasivos em nefrologia: acesso venoso e biópsia renal

ABSTRACT Introduction: Vascular access and renal biopsy are common procedures in nephrology. In this study, two artisanal simulators of very low cost and excelent image quality are (prented) presented to guide, by ultrasound, the venous access and renal biopsy. Methods: The simulators are constructed using chicken breast slices, Penrose drain, plastic milk shake straw and pig kidney. Results: Both simulators enable immediate identification of the anatomical structures of interest, vessels and kidney, and enable spatial orientation and hand-eye coordination, essential for the development of the necessary skills to safely carry out invasive procedures. Conclusion: The simulators described, were extremely useful for simulating venous access and renal biopsy guided by ultrasonography, enabling training to reduce the failure rate in punctures and the potential complications associated with the described procedures.

RESUMO Introdução: O acesso vascular e a biópsia renal são procedimentos comuns na prática nefrológica. Neste estudo, são apresentados dois simuladores artesanais de baixo custo e excelente qualidade de imagem para guiar, ultrassonograficamente, o acesso venoso e a biópsia renal. Métodos: Os simuladores são construídos utilizando fatias de peito de frango, dreno de Penrose, canudo plástico milk shake e rim de porco. Resultados: Ambos os simuladores permitem a identificação imediata das estruturas anatômicas de interesse, vasos e rim, e possibilitam a orientação espacial e coordenação olho-mão, essenciais para o desenvolvimento das habilidades necessárias para realizar seguramente procedimentos invasivos. Conclusão: Os simuladores descritos, extremamente úteis para as simulações do acesso venoso e a biópsia renal guiados por ultrassonografia, possibilitam o treinamento objetivando a redução do insucesso das punções e das complicações potenciais associadas aos procedimentos descritos.

Use of artisanal simulators in the ultrasound training for invasive procedures in nephrology: venous access and renal biopsy.

INTRODUCTION: Vascular access and renal biopsy are common procedures in nephrology. In this study, two artisanal simulators of very low cost and excelent image quality are (prented) presented to guide, by ultrasound, the venous access and renal biopsy. METHODS: The simulators are constructed using chicken breast slices, Penrose drain, plastic milk shake straw and pig kidney. RESULTS: Both simulators enable immediate identification of the anatomical structures of interest, vessels and kidney, and enable spatial orientation and hand-eye coordination, essential for the development of the necessary skills to safely carry out invasive procedures. CONCLUSION: The simulators described, were extremely useful for simulating venous access and renal biopsy guided by ultrasonography, enabling training to reduce the failure rate in punctures and the potential complications associated with the described procedures.

Uso da ultrassonografia "point-of-care" na prática nefrológica: Transpondo os limites do trato urinário / Point-of-care ultrasound in the nephrological practice: Beyond the limits of the urinary tract

Introdução: O modelo tradicional de referenciamento ao radiologista para a realização de ultrassonografia ou ecografia tem se modificado nos últimos 25 anos. Com a diminuição do tamanho e do custo dos aparelhos de ultrassom (hoje já existem mais de 10 unidades "handheld" no mercado), cada vez mais médicos de diferentes especialidades estão utilizando a ultrassonografia a beira do leito, como extensão do exame físico. Objetivo: Destacar a importância do uso da ultrassonografia a beira do leito na avaliação objetiva e ampliada dos pacientes renais. Materiais e Métodos:Revisão narrativa com seleção dos estudos e a interpretação das informações baseados na escolha arbitrária dos autores. Resultados: Na nefrologia, a ecografia ainda tem sido pouco utilizada, sendo o seu maior uso na identificação renal e venosa quando da realização da biópsia renal e do acesso vascular, respectivamente. Contudo, o papel fundamental dos rins no controle da volemia e da pressão arterial, eventualmente quando se tornam disfuncionais, demanda avaliações multiorgânicas. Assim, a utilização da ultrassonografia na nefrologia não deveria se restringir aos procedimentos mencionados ou a avaliação da retenção urinária. As ecografias "focadas" dos pulmões, do coração e da veia cava inferior permite o diagnóstico de complicações frequentes observadas nas doenças renais, como por exemplo, congestão pulmonar, derrame pleural, pneumotórax, disfunção sistólica, diastólica, derrame pericárdico e, assim, incorporadas como extensão do exame físico em nefrologia. Conclusão: A multifuncionalidade renal implica em grande número de complicações renais e extra-renais quando os rins são funcionalmente acometidos, o que justifica o uso da POCUS não somente na avaliação do trato urinário, mas também dos pulmões, coração, veia cava inferior, entre outros.

Introduction: The traditional model of reference ultrasound to radiologist has changed over the past 25 years. With the reductions in size and cost of ultrasound devices (today there are more than 10 handheld units on the market), medical specialists are increasingly using bedside ultrasound as an extension of the physical examination. Objective:To highlight the importance of using bedside ultrasound in the objective and expanded evaluation of renal patients. Material and Methods: Narrative review with study selection and interpretation of information based on arbitrary choice of authors. Results: In nephrology, ultrasound has not been widely used, and its major uses are in renal and venous identifications in renal biopsy and vascular access, respectively. However, the fundamental role of the kidneys in controlling body volume and blood pressure, eventually when they become dysfunctional, requires multiorgan evaluations. Thus, the use of ultrasound in nephrology should not be restricted to the procedures mentioned or the assessment of urinary retention. "Focused" ultrasound of the lungs, heart, and inferior vena cava allows the diagnosis of frequent complications observed in renal diseases, such as pulmonary congestion, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, pericardial effusion, and thus be incorporated as extension of physical examination in nephrology. In the present review, the authors highlight the importance of using bedside ultrasound in the objective and expanded evaluation of renal patients. Conclusion: Renal multifunctionality implies a large number of renal and extrarenal complications when the kidneys are functionally affected, which justifies the use of POCUS not only in the evaluation of the urinary tract, but also in the lungs, heart, inferior vena cava, among others.

Point-of-care ultrasound evaluation and puncture simulation of the internal jugular vein by medical students.

OBJECTIVES: To show that medical students can evaluate the internal jugular vein (IJV) and its anatomical variations after rapid and focused training. We also aimed to evaluate the success rate of IJV puncture in simulation following traditional techniques (TTs) and monitored via ultrasound (US). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six medical students without experience with US were given 4 h of theoretical-practical training in US, and then evaluated the IJV and common carotid artery (CCA) of 105 patients. They also simulated a puncture of the IJV at a demarcated point, where a TT was theoretically performed. RESULTS: Adequate images were obtained from 95% of the patients; the IJV, on the right side, was more commonly found in the anterolateral position in relation to the CCA (38%). On the left side, the most commonly position observed was the anterior (36%). The caliber of the IJV relative to the CCA greatly varied. The success rate in the IJV puncture simulation, observed with US, by the TTs was 55%. CONCLUSION: The training of medical students to recognize large neck vessels is a simple, quick, and feasible task and that can be integrated into the undergraduate medical curriculum.

Prevalence of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) disease in dogs of central Portugal.

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors concerning Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs from Figueira da Foz, located in the central region of Portugal. In the period between November 2009 and January 2011, 304 blood samples were obtained from dogs over 1 year of age, with no previous history of heartworm prevention or diagnosis. Every blood sample was analyzed using varied laboratory techniques (direct microscopic evaluation of a fresh blood sample, the modified Knott technique, and the ELISA antigen detection test - IDEXX Snapp®). In the samples in which microfilaremia was detected, a histochemical technique using acid phosphatase staining was applied to identify the species of microfilariae. A total prevalence of 27.3% (83 out of 304) was found. We also found that 73.5% of all positive cases (61 out of 83) were microfilaremic, and 26.5% were occult infections (22 out of 83). By means of a histochemical technique Dirofilaria immitis was identified in 96.7% of microfilaremic samples. A multivariate model allowed us to identify the following risk factors for the presence of heartworm disease: age between 4 and 9 years, dogs living in a rural environment, large breed dogs, and living outdoors. This study shows for the first time the high prevalence of heartworm disease in a central area of Portugal and emphasizes the importance of systematic screening for this disease, as well as the need to prevent it in dogs in this area.