Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Coronary Artery Disease: Big Brothers in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasing. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of NAFLD, as diagnosed by ultrasound, in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to assess whether NAFLD is associated with the severity of coronary obstruction as diagnosed by coronary angiography. METHODS: We performed a prospective single-center study in patients hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography. Consecutive patients who presented to the emergency room were diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome and were included. All patients underwent ultrasonography of the upper abdomen to determine the presence or absence of NAFLD; NAFLD severity was graded from 0 to 3 based on a previously validated scale. All patients underwent diagnostic coronary angiography in the same hospital, with the same team of interventional cardiologists, who were blinded to the patients' clinical and ultrasonographic data. CAD was then angiographically graded from none to severe based on well-established angiographic criteria. RESULTS: This study included 139 patients, of whom 83 (59.7%) were male, with a mean age of 59.7 years. Of the included patients, 107 (77%) patients had CAD, 63 (45%) with serious injury. Regarding the presence of NAFLD, 76 (55.2%) had NAFLD including 18 (23.6%) with grade III disease. In severe CAD, 47 (60.5%) are associated with NAFLD, and 15 (83.3%) of the patients had severe CAD and NAFLD grade III. CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is common in patients with ACS. The intensity of NAFLD detected by ultrasonography is strongly associated with the severity of coronary artery obstruction on angiography.

Estudo comparativo das extensões das lesões causadas por duas e quatro passadas de laser Erbium em ratos Wistar com 0% de sobreposição dos spots

CO2 lasers has been presented with the purpose of rejuvenating the face by means of resurfacing. Though each laser systems has the same base principle, there is a significant difference among lasers which could result in variations in the clinical and histological effects of the tissue. The Erbium:YAG laser has the characteristic of having the wavelength with 10 times more affinity for water than the CO2 laser. The purpose of this experimental study was to compare the morphometric alterations found in 2 and 4 Erbium:YAG laser passes with 0% overlap of spots. It was evaluated the homogeneity of ablation in length and was used the dorsal skin of 3 living mice. It was selected a control area in each mouse. Finally, in the maximum period of three hours, the skin was resected and sent to histopathology for evaluations proposed. As a result there was more homogeneity in the length of the ablation with 4 passes than with 2 passes. The conclusions of the experiment indicated that the length and homogeneity of the ablation were larger with 4 passes. The use of 0% overlap of spots does not guarantee homogeneity in ablation.

Lasers de CO2 tem sido apresentados com a finalidade de rejuvenecer a face através do resurfacing. Embora cada sistema de laser tenha o mesmo princípio básico, há significativa diferença entre os lasers que pode resultar em variações no efeito tecidual clínico e histológico. O laser Erbium:YAG que tem como característica o comprimento de onda com 10 vezes mais afinidade pela água que o laser de CO2. O propósito deste estudo experimental foi comparar as alterações morfométricas encontradas em 2 e 4 passadas com laser Erbium:YAG com sobreposição de 0% dos spots. Foi avaliada a homogeneidade da ablaçãoem comprimento e usou-se a pele do dorso de 3 ratos in vivo. Foi selecionada uma área de pele controle de cada rato. Finalmente, num período máximo de 3 horas, a pele foi ressecada e encaminhada à histopatologia para as avaliações propostas. Como resultados com 4 passadas houve mais homogeneidade da extensão da ablação do que em 2 passadas. Conclui-se que a extensão e homogeneidade de ablação foi maior com 4 passadas. A utilização de 0% de sobreposição dos spots não garante homogeneidade de ablação.