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The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international state of emergency in order to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19. To ensure that there is adherence to preventive measures by the population aimed at controlling the pandemic in Alagoas, it is expected that knowledge, behavior and practices play an important role in preventing and controlling the disease. In this sense, it becomes relevant to understand the knowledge of the population about the disease. To evaluate the knowledge, behavior and practices of social media users during social isolation to prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 in the state of Alagoas, Northeast, Brazil. A probabilistic sample was carried out across the entire territory of the state of Alagoas with those who have access to a device that accesses the internet and a cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire applied to a convenience sample, recruited between August 2021 and July 2022 by snowball sampling. The questionnaire consisted of seven sessions, the first collecting data on the socioeconomic and sociodemographic profile of the participants, and the other sessions involving knowledge, attitudes and practices, including topics related to the vaccination that had to be administered at that time. High popular knowledge about signs and symptoms, means of transmission and risk groups. Low knowledge about seeking health services. Based on the results obtained, information from official channels became relevant to better teach the population in order to reduce the impact of COVID-19.
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COVID-19 , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , COVID-19/prevención & control , COVID-19/transmisión , COVID-19/epidemiología , Brasil/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Masculino , Adulto , Femenino , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto Joven , Pandemias/prevención & control , Adolescente , Factores Socioeconómicos , Medios de Comunicación Sociales , AncianoRESUMEN
Pain is present in the dental clinic, whether due to oral problems such as dental caries and its complications or related to dental procedures. Pain evaluation in patients with communication difficulties (PCDs) is challenging for dentists, potentially compromising treatment. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an instrument to assess the perception of dentists about pain in PCDs. This study followed a quantitative methodological approach involving constructing and validating an instrument administered to 50 dentists. The initial instrument consisted of 29 items divided into four domains. Content and construct validity and internal consistency were confirmed. Content validation was performed by judges using the Content Validity Index. The instrument underwent construct validation and internal consistency assessments through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis using Cronbach's α, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin, and Bartlett's sphericity tests. The final instrument consisted of 21 items divided into three domains, with a high Cronbach's α for one domain and moderate values for the others. The total variance accounted for was above 46.03%. Each factor retained at least three items, with factor loadings greater than 0.3, commonalities greater than 0.2, and eigenvalues >1. Despite the study's limitations, the instrument demonstrated its applicability and potential in evaluating the perception and management of pain in PCDs.
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Caries Dental , Humanos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Dolor , Percepción , OdontólogosRESUMEN
Pain is present in the dental clinic, whether due to oral problems such as dental caries and its complications or related to dental procedures. Pain evaluation in patients with communication difficulties (PCDs) is challenging for dentists, potentially compromising treatment. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an instrument to assess the perception of dentists about pain in PCDs. This study followed a quantitative methodological approach involving constructing and validating an instrument administered to 50 dentists. The initial instrument consisted of 29 items divided into four domains. Content and construct validity and internal consistency were confirmed. Content validation was performed by judges using the Content Validity Index. The instrument underwent construct validation and internal consistency assessments through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis using Cronbach's α, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin, and Bartlett's sphericity tests. The final instrument consisted of 21 items divided into three domains, with a high Cronbach's α for one domain and moderate values for the others. The total variance accounted for was above 46.03%. Each factor retained at least three items, with factor loadings greater than 0.3, commonalities greater than 0.2, and eigenvalues >1. Despite the study's limitations, the instrument demonstrated its applicability and potential in evaluating the perception and management of pain in PCDs.
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The dopamine content in cerebral structures has been related to neuronal excitability and several approaches have been used to study this phenomenon during seizure vulnerability period. In the present work, we describe the effects of dopamine depletion after the administration of 6-hidroxidopamine (6-OHDA) into the substantia nigra pars compacta of male rats submitted to the pilocarpine model of epilepsy. Susceptibility to pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE), as well as spontaneous and recurrent seizures (SRSs) frequency during the chronic period of the model were determined. Since the hippocampus is one of main structures in the development of this experimental model of epilepsy, the dopamine levels in this region were also determined after drug administration. In the first experiment, 62% (15/24) of 6-OHDA pre-treated rats and 45% (11/24) of those receiving ascorbic acid as control solution progressed to motor limbic seizures evolving to SE, after the administration of pilocarpine. Severeness of seizures during the model´s the acute period, was significantly higher in epileptic experimental rats (56.52%), than in controls (4.16%). In the second experiment, the frequency of seizures in the model's chronic phase did not significantly change between groups. Our data show that dopamine may play an important role on seizure severity in the pilo's model acute period, which seems to be due to dopamine inhibitory action on motor expression of seizure.
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Epilepsia , Estado Epiléptico , Animales , Dopamina/efectos adversos , Epilepsia/inducido químicamente , Masculino , Agonistas Muscarínicos/efectos adversos , Oxidopamina/efectos adversos , Pilocarpina/toxicidad , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Convulsiones/inducido químicamente , Convulsiones/metabolismo , Estado Epiléptico/inducido químicamenteRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To investigate the prognostic value of interim PET (PETi) in adult HL patients, comparing visual with semiquantitative analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2016 in the Onco-hematology Department of Instituto Português de Oncologia - Porto (median follow-up: 46.5 months [2.6-66.4]). Fifty-eight patients with available PET at diagnosis (PET0) and PETi data were included. PETi scans were analyzed according to Deauville 5-point scale (5-PS), and cut-off values for changes in maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax], peak SUV [SUVpeak], metabolic tumour volume [MTV] and total lesion glycolysis index [TLG] between PETi and PET0 were computed using ROC analysis. Visual and semiquantitative data were compared with each other in the prediction of patient outcomes. RESULTS: Semiquantitative analysis obtained a higher sensitivity for persistent/relapsed disease compared to the 5-PS (70% vs. 10%, respectively), but lower specificity. It also demonstrated better predictive performance for response to first-line therapy (negative predictive value >92%). The positive predictive value was similar for all five measurements. At 60 months of follow-up, there was a significant difference between the progression free survival (PFS) curves of patients with positive and negative PETi according to ΔSUVmax (56.9% vs. 88.0%, p<0.05), ΔSUVpeak (55.9% vs. 88.1%, p<0.05), ΔMTV (35.3% vs. 88.7%, p<0.05), and ΔTLG (42.4% vs. 88.1%, p<0.05). Statistical significance was not reached when considering 5-PS results. DISCUSSION: PETi interpretation according to a semiquantitative approach appears to discriminate HL patients better than the visual 5-PS analysis. This could allow better detection of persistent or early relapsed disease, while a negative PETi result could support de-escalating therapy intensity.
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Fluorodesoxiglucosa F18 , Enfermedad de Hodgkin/diagnóstico por imagen , Tomografía de Emisión de Positrones/métodos , Radiofármacos , Adulto , Métodos Epidemiológicos , Femenino , Fluorodesoxiglucosa F18/farmacocinética , Glucólisis , Enfermedad de Hodgkin/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedad de Hodgkin/metabolismo , Enfermedad de Hodgkin/patología , Humanos , Masculino , Examen Físico/métodos , Portugal , Pronóstico , Radiofármacos/farmacocinética , Recurrencia , Resultado del Tratamiento , Carga TumoralRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Vesicovaginal fistulas (VVF) are an unusual problem that may significantly affect a patient's quality of life. The main causes for this condition are labour complications (mostly in developing countries) and pelvic surgeries (in industrialised countries). Treatment may be conservative or surgical. Regarding surgical treatment, there is still debate about the best approach and surgical technique. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a correction of a VVF guided by cystoscopy using intravesical laparoscopic instruments. METHODS: Case report and surgical video of a recurrent VVF treated with a hybrid technique involving direct transvesical insertion of 3 mm laparoscopic trocars and instruments guided by cystoscopy. As far as we know, although there are some reported techniques that use a combination of transvesical laparoscopic instruments and cystoscopy, this is the least invasive and most ergonomic technique described. RESULTS: Two years after surgery, the patient remains asymptomatic and with no fistula recurrence. CONCLUSION: The transvesical approach guided by cystoscopy seems to be an effective, safe and ergonomic minimally invasive procedure for VVF repair.
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Scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration should provide the right cues for stem cell adhesion and proliferation, but also lead to their osteogenic differentiation. Hydrogels of modified platelet lysates (PLMA) show the proper mechanical stability for cell encapsulation and contain essential bioactive molecules required for cell maintenance. We prepared a novel PLMA-based nanocomposite for bone repair and regeneration capable of releasing biofactors to induce osteogenic differentiation. Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) were encapsulated in PLMA hydrogels containing bioactive mesoporous silica nanoparticles previously loaded with dexamethasone and functionalized with calcium and phosphate ions. After 21 d of culture, hBM-MSCs remained viable, presented a stretched morphology, and showed signs of osteogenic differentiation, namely the presence of significant amounts of alkaline phosphatase, bone morphogenic protein-2 and osteopontin, hydroxyapatite, and calcium nodules. Developed for the first time, PLMA/MSNCaPDex nanocomposites were able to guide the differentiation of hBM-MSCs without any other osteogenic supplementation.
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The liver plays essential roles in human and animal organisms, such as the storage, release, metabolism, and elimination of various endogenous or exogenous substances. Although its vital importance, few treatments are yet available when a hepatic failure occurs, and hence, the use of stem cells has arisen as a possible solution for both human and veterinary medicines. Previous studies have shown the existence of hepatic progenitor cells in human fetuses that were positive for EpCAM and NCAM. There is limited evidence, however, further identification and characterization of these cells in other species. Considering the similarity between dogs and humans regarding physiology, and also the increasing importance of developing new treatments for both veterinary and translational medicine, this study attempted to identify hepatic progenitor cells in canine fetal liver. For that, livers from canine fetuses were collected, cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion and cultured. Cells were characterized regarding morphology and expression of EpCAM, NCAM, Nestin, and Thy-1/CD90 markers. Our results suggest that it is possible to identify hepatic progenitor cells in the canine fetal liver; however, for therapeutic use, further techniques for cellular isolation and culture are necessary to obtain enriched populations of hepatic progenitors from the canine fetal liver.
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Perros/embriología , Células Madre Fetales/citología , Hígado/embriología , Animales , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Perros/anatomía & histología , Molécula de Adhesión Celular Epitelial/metabolismo , Células Madre Fetales/metabolismo , Feto/citología , Feto/embriología , Hepatocitos/metabolismo , Hígado/citología , Hígado/metabolismo , Antígenos Thy-1/metabolismoAsunto(s)
Betacoronavirus , Infecciones por Coronavirus/virología , Parto Obstétrico/métodos , Aislamiento de Pacientes/métodos , Neumonía Viral/virología , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/virología , Adulto , COVID-19 , Infecciones por Coronavirus/transmisión , Femenino , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Transmisión Vertical de Enfermedad Infecciosa/prevención & control , Nacimiento Vivo , Pandemias , Neumonía Viral/transmisión , Portugal , Embarazo , SARS-CoV-2 , Vagina/virologíaRESUMEN
The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the damage caused by cryopreservation on sperm DNA and estimate the percentage of cell apoptosis in tissue after thawing. Testicles of cats were sectioned into of 0.3â¯cm3 and 0.5â¯cm3 fragments and evaluated for DNA damage using acridine orange and semi-quantitatively through histo-morphological and immunohistochemical methods (caspase-3). Other fragments were placed in cryotubes with diluent containing either 3% glycerol or 3% propanediol, and were cryopreserved. Evaluation using acridine orange indicated there was a difference with use of propanediol and glycerol on DNA damage in 0.5â¯cm3fragments, with the latter being more effective than the former for cryopreservation. Results from histomorphological evaluations indicated there was a greater cell integrity among germ cells that were not cryopreserved, based on criteria assessed (detachment of cells from basal membrane, retraction of seminiferous tubule epithelium, visibility of the spermatogonia nucleoli and nuclear spermatogonia condensation), for both sizes of fragments. The values for these variables decreased after cryopreservation, with there being no differences as a result of size of fragment stored or between cryoprotectants used (Pâ¯>â¯0.05). The staining for caspase-3 differed for the cytoplasm, nuclei and germ cells. Assessment of these staining patterns indicated the fresh fragments had an amount of cell damage and there was a similar amount of damage detected in cryopreserved fragments. This finding indicated that there was considerable efficacy in preserving the tissue fragments with use of the freezing protocols that were evaluated in this study.
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Apoptosis , Gatos , Criopreservación/veterinaria , Fragmentación del ADN , Testículo/fisiología , Conservación de Tejido/veterinaria , Animales , Masculino , Espermatozoides/fisiología , Conservación de Tejido/métodosRESUMEN
Parasitoids of Ceroplastes Gray were surveyed in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Among the parasitoids reared, seven species of Metaphycus Mercet (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) were obtained. Metaphycusanaluciaesp. nov., M. floridensissp. nov., and M. grandissp. nov., are described as new species, and M. ceros Noyes, M. comes Noyes, M. dardanus Noyes, M. opis Noyes are recorded for the first time from Brazil. Ten new host-parasitoid associations are reported: M. analuciaesp. nov. parasitizing C. formicarius Hempel, C. glomeratus Peronti and C. iheringi Cockerel; M. ceros parasitizing C. cirripediformis Comstock; M. comes parasitizing C. formicarius; M. dardanus parasitizing C. glomeratus; M. floridensissp. nov. parasitizing C. floridensis; M. grandissp. nov. parasitizing C. grandis Hempel; and M. opis parasitizing C. glomeratus and C. janeirensis (Gray). A checklist of Metaphycus species associated with Ceroplastes, their distribution and host ranges are summarized and discussed.
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Hemípteros/parasitología , Avispas/anatomía & histología , Avispas/clasificación , Animales , Brasil , Femenino , Masculino , Clima TropicalRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a promising target in cancer therapy with a high therapeutic potential due to its abundant localization within the tumor tissue and its involvement in tumor development and proliferation. Potential clinical application of Gal-3-targeted inhibitors is often complicated by their insufficient selectivity or low biocompatibility. Nanomaterials based on N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) nanocarrier are attractive for in vivo application due to their good water solubility and lack of toxicity and immunogenicity. Their conjugation with tailored carbohydrate ligands can yield specific glyconanomaterials applicable for targeting biomedicinally relevant lectins like Gal-3. RESULTS: In the present study we describe the synthesis and the structure-affinity relationship study of novel Gal-3-targeted glyconanomaterials, based on hydrophilic HPMA nanocarriers. HPMA nanocarriers decorated with varying amounts of Gal-3 specific epitope GalNAcß1,4GlcNAc (LacdiNAc) were analyzed in a competitive ELISA-type assay and their binding kinetics was described by surface plasmon resonance. We showed the impact of various linker types and epitope distribution on the binding affinity to Gal-3. The synthesis of specific functionalized LacdiNAc epitopes was accomplished under the catalysis by mutant ß-N-acetylhexosaminidases. The glycans were conjugated to statistic HPMA copolymer precursors through diverse linkers in a defined pattern and density using Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. The resulting water-soluble and structurally flexible synthetic glyconanomaterials exhibited affinity to Gal-3 in low µM range. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study reveal the relation between the linker structure, glycan distribution and the affinity of the glycopolymer nanomaterial to Gal-3. They pave the way to specific biomedicinal glyconanomaterials that target Gal-3 as a therapeutic goal in cancerogenesis and other disorders.
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Acrilamidas/metabolismo , Portadores de Fármacos/metabolismo , Sistemas de Liberación de Medicamentos , Galectina 3/metabolismo , Glicoconjugados/metabolismo , Acrilamidas/química , Proteínas Sanguíneas , Portadores de Fármacos/química , Galectinas , Glicoconjugados/química , Humanos , Nanoestructuras/químicaRESUMEN
Riedel's thyroiditis (RT) represents one type of IgG4-related thyroid disease (IgG4RTD) and the diagnosis involves quantitative immunohistochemistry showing dense lymphoplasmacellular inflammatory infiltrate consisting of IgG4-positive plasma cells with storiform fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis. We report a case of RT with progressive enlargement of the anterior neck, severe dysphagia, odynophagia, and dyspnea. The patient underwent surgical decompression of the airway, protection tracheotomy, and gastrostomy for nutritional intake 6 months after first symptoms. Complete resolution occurred after surgical treatment combined with prednisolone. Immunostaining revealed IgG4-positive plasma cells 12/HPF (high-power field) and the IgG4/IgG ratio 25%, values that were disproportionate to the intensity of the patient's symptoms. As to this case and the few cases described and analyzed in the literature, our impression is that there is no relation between the intensity of symptoms in RT with the total number of IgG4-positive plasma cells and the IgG4/IgG ratio, but more studies are needed.
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Ethylene acts as an inhibitor of the nodulation process of leguminous plants. However, some bacteria can decrease deleterious ethylene levels by the action of the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase which degrades ACC, the ethylene precursor in all higher plants. Co-inoculation of rhizobia with endophytes enhances the rhizobial symbiotic efficiency with legumes, improving both nodulation and nitrogen fixation. However, not much is understood about the mechanisms employed by these endophytic bacteria. In this regard, the role of ACC deaminase from endophytic strains in assisting rhizobia in this process has yet to be confirmed. In this study, the role of ACC deaminase in an endophyte's ability to increase Rhizobium tropici nodulation of common bean was evaluated. To assess the effect of ACC deaminase in an endophyte's ability to promote rhizobial nodulation, the endophyte Serratia grimesii BXF1, which does not encode ACC deaminase, was transformed with an exogenous acdS gene. The results obtained indicate that the ACC deaminase-overexpressing transformant strain increased common bean growth, and enhanced the nodulation abilities of R. tropici CIAT899, in both cases compared to the wild-type non-transformed strain. Furthermore, plant inoculation with the ACC deaminase-overproducing strain led to an increased level of plant protection against a seed-borne pathogen. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In this work, we studied the effect of ACC deaminase production by the bacterial endophyte Serratia grimesi BXF1, and its impact on the nodulation process of common bean. The results obtained indicate that ACC deaminase is an asset to the synergetic interaction between rhizobia and the endophyte, positively contributing to the overall legume-rhizobia symbiosis by regulating inhibitory ethylene levels that might otherwise inhibit nodulation and overall plant growth. The use of rhizobia together with an ACC deaminase-producing endophyte is, therefore, an important strategy for the development of new bacterial inoculants with increased performance.
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Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Liasas de Carbono-Carbono/metabolismo , Phaseolus/crecimiento & desarrollo , Nodulación de la Raíz de la Planta/fisiología , Rhizobium tropici/metabolismo , Nódulos de las Raíces de las Plantas/microbiología , Serratia/enzimología , Inoculantes Agrícolas , Endófitos/metabolismo , Etilenos/metabolismo , Phaseolus/microbiología , Serratia/genética , Serratia/metabolismo , SimbiosisRESUMEN
The effect of partial substitution of NaCl with KCl and the flavor enhancers addition (arginine, yeast extract and oregano extract) on Probiotic Prato cheese processing with (L. casei 01, 7logCFU/mL) was investigated. Microbiological (lactic acid bacteria and probiotic counts), physicochemical (proximate composition, pH, proteolysis), bioactivity (antioxidant and angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity), rheological (uniaxial compression and creep tests), water mobility (time domain low field magnetic resonance), microstructure (scanning electron microscopy) and sensory evaluation (consumer test) were performed. Sodium reduction and flavor enhancers addition did not constitute an obstacle to the survival of lactic and probiotic bacteria. Proximate composition, antioxidant and angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity, and the rheological parameters were affected by the addition of flavor enhancer. No change in the fatty acid profile of cheeses was observed while good performance in the consumer test was obtained by the addition of yeast extract and oregano extract. Prato cheese can be an adequate carrier of probiotics and the addition of different flavor enhancers can contribute developing this functional product in the cheese industry.
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Queso/análisis , Queso/microbiología , Aromatizantes/análisis , Manipulación de Alimentos/métodos , Microbiología de Alimentos/métodos , Lacticaseibacillus casei/fisiología , Lactococcus lactis/fisiología , Probióticos , Sodio en la Dieta/análisis , Inhibidores de la Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina/análisis , Antioxidantes/análisis , Comportamiento del Consumidor , Ácidos Grasos/análisis , Juicio , Viabilidad Microbiana , Valor Nutritivo , Gusto , Percepción del GustoRESUMEN
The addition of galactooligosaccharide, (GOS, 0, 1.5, 3 or 4g/100g) on the quality parameters of requeijão cremoso was investigated. Chemical characteristics (pH, moisture, fat and protein), color (L*, a*, b*), water mobility by TD- nuclear magnetic resonance, rheology (flow curve and oscillatory tests), microstructure and sensory acceptance (consumer test) were evaluated. The addition of GOS provided a denser and compact structure and reduced number and size of fat globules. Increased GOS level (3 and 4g/100g) improved the softness and spreadability (decrease of G', Gâ³ and apparent viscosity and an increase of tan δ and melting index) and impacted positively on the aroma and taste of the requeijão cremoso. Overall, the addition of GOS in requeijão cremoso was proved to be a potential and interesting technological option.
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The objective of this study was to assess the effects of different prebiotic dietary oligosaccharides (inulin, fructo-oligosaccharide, galacto-oligossacaride, short-chain fructo-oligosaccharide, resistant starch, corn dietary oligosaccharide and polydextrose) in non-fat sheep milk ice cream processing through physical parameters, water mobility and thermal analysis. Overall, the fat replacement by dietary prebiotic oligosaccharides significantly decreased the melting time, melting temperature and the fraction and relaxation time for fat and bound water (T22) while increased the white intensity and glass transition temperature. The replacement of sheep milk fat by prebiotics in sheep milk ice cream constitutes an interesting option to enhance nutritional aspects and develop a functional food.
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Manipulación de Alimentos/métodos , Alimentos Funcionales/análisis , Helados/análisis , Leche , Oligosacáridos/análisis , Prebióticos/análisis , Ovinos , Animales , Grasas de la Dieta/análisis , Manipulación de Alimentos/normas , Calidad de los Alimentos , Congelación , Alimentos Funcionales/normas , Helados/normas , Leche/normas , Valor Nutritivo , Oligosacáridos/normas , Prebióticos/normas , Control de Calidad , Temperatura de TransiciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Catecholamines and/or levosimendan have been proposed for haemodynamic restoration during cardiogenic shock (CS). In CS induced by post-partum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), levosimendan might be particularly favourable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the haemodynamic and echocardiographic effects of levosimendan in patients with CS, in particular in patients with PPCM-induced CS. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with refractory CS were retrospectively included in the study. Among them, a cohort of 8 women with PPCM-induced CS was included. All patients were treated with levosimendan (loading dose followed by a continuous infusion for 24 h) and were invasively monitored, including a pulmonary artery catheter, for 48hours. Echocardiographic measurements were performed at baseline and during follow-up. RESULTS: Significant improvements in haemodynamic parameters were observed 48 h after starting levosimendan. The cardiac index increased (+1.2±0.6L/min, P<0.001) and filling pressures decreased (pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, PAOP: -11.2±4.3mmHg, P<0.001; right-atrial pressure, RAP: -6.1±4.9mmHg, P<0.001). The left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher at 48 h compared to baseline (38% [34-46%] versus 27% [22-30%], P<0.001). Despite similar characteristics at baseline, in the subgroup of patients with PPCM, more profound decongestive effects at 48hours were observed: PAOP (13±2 versus 17±4mmHg, P=0.007) and RAP (12±4 versus 17±4mmHg, P=0.006) were significantly lower in the PPCM subgroup compared to the non-PPCM subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Haemodynamics and left-ventricular ejection fraction rapidly improved after treatment with levosimendan. In patients with PPCM-induced CS, a more profound reduction of congestion was observed.