Expanding Horizons in Cardiac Transplant: Efficacy and Outcomes of Circulatory and Brain Death Donor Hearts in a Newly Implemented Cardiac Transplant Program with Limited Donor Accessibility and a Literature Review.

(1) Background: Cardiac donation after circulatory death (DCD) is an emerging paradigm in organ transplantation. However, this technique is recent and has only been implemented by highly experienced centers. This study compares the characteristics and outcomes of thoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TANRP) and static cold-storage DCD and traditional donation after brain death (DBD) cardiac transplants (CT) in a newly stablished transplant program with restricted donor availability. (2) Method: We performed a retrospective, single-center study of all adult patients who underwent a CT between November 2019 and December 2023, with a follow-up conducted until August 2024. Data were retrieved from medical records. A review of the current literature on DCD CT was conducted to provide a broader context for our findings. The primary outcome was survival at 6 months after transplantation. (3) Results: During the study period, 76 adults (median age 56 years [IQR: 50-63 years]) underwent CT, and 12 (16%) were DCD donors. DCD donors had a similar age (46 vs. 47 years, p = 0.727), were mostly male (92%), and one patient had left ventricular dysfunction during the intraoperative DCD process. There were no significant differences in recipients' characteristics. Survival was similar in the DCD group compared to DBD at 6 months (100 vs. 94%) and 12 months post-CT survival (92% vs. 94%), p = 0.82. There was no primary graft dysfunction in the DCD group (9% in DBD, p = 0.581). The median total hospital stay was longer in the DCD group (46 vs. 21 days, p = 0.021). An increase of 150% in transplantation activity due to DCD was estimated. (4) Conclusions: In a new CT program that utilized older donors and included recipients with similar illnesses and comorbidities, comparable outcomes between DCD and DBD hearts were observed. DCD was rapidly incorporated into the transplant activity, demonstrating an expedited learning curve and significantly increasing the availability of donor hearts.

Historia de la Ortopedia y Traumatología en la provincia de Matanzas / History of Orthopedics and Traumatology in Matanzas Province

Introducción: El presente trabajo aborda la historia de la especialidad de Ortopedia y Traumatología desde el momento de su aparición en la provincia de Matanzas en el período pre revolucionario, hasta la actualidad. Objetivos: Exponer las evidencias históricas que muestran el derrotero de esta especialidad, y las figuras que jugaron y juegan un papel importante en la formación de especialistas. Métodos: Se utilizó el método de revisión documental sobre el tema, que contempló los documentos editados de 1941 al 2020. Se confeccionó un cuestionario para recoger la información aportada por los testigos entrevistados. Se revisaron los artículos publicados en la revista Médica que se encuentran en la Biblioteca Gener del Monte, de Matanzas (ejemplares únicos), así como otras investigaciones sobre la historia de la medicina matancera. Conclusiones: El esfuerzo desarrollado por la provincia desde el punto de vista asistencial, docente e investigativo ha contribuido a la preservación de la historia de la Ortopedia matancera y de sus actores para las actuales y futuras generaciones(AU)

Introduction: The present work addresses the history of the specialty of Orthopedics and Traumatology from the moment of its appearance in Matanzas province during the pre-revolutionary period, to the present day. Objectives: To show the historical evidence the historical evidence that displays the course of this specialty, and the personalities who played and play important roles in the training specialists. Methods: The document review method on the subject was used, considering the documents published from 1941 to 2020. A questionnaire was made to collect the information provided by the interviewed witnesses. The articles published in the Medical Journal found in Gener del Monte Library in Matanzas (single copies) were reviewed, as well as other investigations on the history of medicine in Matanzas. Conclusions: The effort established by the province, in care, teaching and research has contributed to the preservation of the history of Matanzas Orthopedics and its players for current and future generations(AU)

Hematoma de Morel Lavallée gigante en la rodilla derecha: reporte de un caso / Giant Morel Lavallée hematoma in the right knee: case report

RESUMEN Se presenta el caso del paciente de 36 años de edad, con antecedentes de acondroplasia que desde hace 7 meses sufrió una lesión traumática no de gravedad en la rodilla derecha. La cual comienza a aumentar de volumen con contenido líquido fluctuante. Fue puncionado en dos ocasiones obteniéndose líquido serohemático; al no resolver y continuar aumentando de tamaño, se le plantea que es portador de un hematoma seroso de Morel Lavallée, que se produce por la fricción entre el tejido celular subcutáneo y la fascia. Su localización es infrecuente en la rodilla por lo que se decide presentar el caso ya que en la literatura revisada; no aparece ningún caso descrito. Por lo que constituye el objetivo principal de este trabajo, describir su proceder y la eficacia del tratamiento quirúrgico, con el que se obtuvo resultado satisfactorio (AU).

ABSTRACT We present the case of a patient aged 36 years, with antecedents of achondroplasia who 7 months ago suffered a non serious traumatic lesion in the right knee. The volume of the lesion began to increase with a fluctuant fluid contain. It was punctured twice draining serohematic fluid; it did not solve and the size increased more and more, so the patient was said that he had a serous Morel Lavallée hematoma, produced by the friction between the subcutaneous cell tissue and fascia. Its location in the knee is infrequent and it was not found any case like this in the reviewed literature; therefore we decided to present the case. The main objective of our work was describing it, showing the procedure and efficacy of the surgical that gave a satisfactory result (AU).

Hematoma de Morel Lavallée gigante en la rodilla derecha: reporte de un caso / Giant Morel Lavallée hematoma in the right knee: case report

RESUMEN Se presenta el caso del paciente de 36 años de edad, con antecedentes de acondroplasia que desde hace 7 meses sufrió una lesión traumática no de gravedad en la rodilla derecha. La cual comienza a aumentar de volumen con contenido líquido fluctuante. Fue puncionado en dos ocasiones obteniéndose líquido serohemático; al no resolver y continuar aumentando de tamaño, se le plantea que es portador de un hematoma seroso de Morel Lavallée, que se produce por la fricción entre el tejido celular subcutáneo y la fascia. Su localización es infrecuente en la rodilla por lo que se decide presentar el caso ya que en la literatura revisada; no aparece ningún caso descrito. Por lo que constituye el objetivo principal de este trabajo, describir su proceder y la eficacia del tratamiento quirúrgico, con el que se obtuvo resultado satisfactorio (AU).

ABSTRACT We present the case of a patient aged 36 years, with antecedents of achondroplasia who 7 months ago suffered a non serious traumatic lesion in the right knee. The volume of the lesion began to increase with a fluctuant fluid contain. It was punctured twice draining serohematic fluid; it did not solve and the size increased more and more, so the patient was said that he had a serous Morel Lavallée hematoma, produced by the friction between the subcutaneous cell tissue and fascia. Its location in the knee is infrequent and it was not found any case like this in the reviewed literature; therefore we decided to present the case. The main objective of our work was describing it, showing the procedure and efficacy of the surgical that gave a satisfactory result (AU).

Long-term use of selective digestive decontamination in an ICU highly endemic for bacterial resistance.

BACKGROUND: We examined whether long-term use of selective digestive tract decontamination (SDD) was effective in reducing intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired infection and antibiotic consumption while decreasing colistin-, tobramycin-, and most of the antibiotic-resistant colonization rates in a mixed ICU with a high endemic level of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB). METHODS: In this cohort study, which was conducted in a 30-bed medical-surgical ICU, clinical outcomes before (1 year, non-SDD group) and after (4 years) implementation of SDD were compared. ICU patients who were expected to require tracheal intubation for > 48 hours were given a standard prophylactic SDD regimen. Oropharyngeal and rectal swabs were obtained on admission and once weekly thereafter. RESULTS: ICU-acquired infections occurred in 110 patients in the non-SDD group and in 258 in the SDD group. A significant (P <  0.001) reduction of infections caused by MDRB (risk ratio [RR], 0.31; 95% CI, 0.23-0.41) was found after SDD and was associated with low rates of colistin- and tobramycin-resistant colonization. Colistin- and tobramycin-acquired increasing rate of ICU colonization resistance by 1000 days, adjusted by the rate of resistances at admission, was nonsignificant (0.82; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.95; 1.13; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.70, respectively). SDD was also a protective factor for ICU-acquired infections caused by MDR gram-negative pathogens and Acinetobacter baumannii in the multivariate analysis. In addition, a significant (P <  0.001) reduction of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) (RR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.32-0.59) and secondary bloodstream infection (BSI) (RR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.24-0.52) was found. A decrease in antibiotic consumption was also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with SDD during 4 years was effective in an ICU setting with a high level of resistance, with clinically relevant reductions of infections caused by MDRB, and with low rates of colistin- and tobramycin-resistant colonization with nonsignificant increasing rate of ICU colonization resistance by 1000 days, adjusted by the rate of resistances at ICU admission. In addition, VAP and secondary BSI rates were significantly lower after SDD. Notably, a decrease in antimicrobial consumption was also observed.

Human immunodeficiency virus in institutionalized elderly people / Vírus da imunodeficiência humana em idosos institucionalizados

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: A search in the SciELO and PubMed databases showed few studies on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals in long-term care institutions (LTCIs), thus prompting the present study. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether there were any HIV-positive individuals in LTCIs for the elderly. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in which the Hospital Infection Control Committee (HICC) of a 405-bed LTCI was consulted. METHODS: The medical records of 405 individuals interned in the LTCI who had been tested for HIV infection were requested for analysis of the following variables: [1] age and gender; [2] length of stay at LTCI (months); [3] causes and diagnoses on admission to LTCI according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition; [4] date of HIV diagnosis; [5] seropositivity for syphilis and hepatitis B and C viruses; [6] medications used at last prescription in medical file; and [7] mean CD4 lymphocyte count based on: total lymphocyte count/6 and total lymphocyte count x 0.8 x 0.2 or 0.3. RESULTS: Four men were HIV-positive, with mean age 71.2 ± 8.6 years, LTCI stay 74.2 ± 38.1 months and length of HIV diagnosis 24.5 ± 17 months (confirmed by HICC standard screening). Three had stroke sequelae; one, dementia syndrome; two, seropositivity for syphilis; two, hepatitis B and one, hepatitis C. The main drugs used were lamivudine, zidovudine, lopinavir, ritonavir, levothyroxine, omeprazole, ranitidine, lactulose and risperidone. The estimated CD4 count was 341 ± 237/mm3. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-positive individuals are present in LTCIs, diagnosable through serological screening and treatable with antiretroviral drugs.

RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Busca nos portais SciELO e PubMed encontrou poucos estudos sobre indivíduos positivos para o vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) em instituições de longa permanência para idosos (ILPIs), fato este que justifica o presente estudo. O objetivo foi verificar se há soropositivos para o HIV em instituições de ILPIs. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal por consulta à Comissão de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar (CCIH) de ILPI com 405 leitos. MÉTODOS: Solicitaram-se 405 prontuários de pacientes internados, nos quais se pesquisou sorologia reagente ao HIV para análise de: [1] idade e gênero; [2] período de internação na ILPI (meses); [3] causa(s) e diagnósticos à internação na ILPI pela Classificação Internacional de Doenças, 10a edição; [4] data do diagnóstico do HIV; [5] soropositividade para sífilis e vírus da hepatite B e C; [6] medicamentos em uso na última prescrição no prontuário; e [7] média de linfócitos CD4 baseada em: número total de linfócitos/6 e número total de linfócitos x 0,8 x 0,2 ou 0,3. RESULTADOS: Quatro homens eram HIV-positivos. Eles tinham 71,2 ± 8,6 anos de idade; 74,2 ± 38,1 meses na ILPI e 24,5 ± 17 meses de soropositividade (diagnósticos realizados como triagem padrão da CCIH). Havia sequelas de acidente vascular cerebral em 3 e síndrome demencial em 1; sorologias positivas para sífilis em 2, vírus hepatite B em 2 e C em 1. Os principais fármacos utilizados eram: lamivudina, zidovudina, lopinavir, ritonavir, levotiroxina, omeprazol, ranitidina, lactulona e risperidona. O CD4 foi estimado em 341 ± 237/mm3. CONCLUSÕES: Há soropositivos para o HIV em ILPIs, passíveis de diagnóstico em triagens sorológicas e de tratamento com antirretrovirais.

Human immunodeficiency virus in institutionalized elderly people.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE:: A search in the SciELO and PubMed databases showed few studies on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals in long-term care institutions (LTCIs), thus prompting the present study. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether there were any HIV-positive individuals in LTCIs for the elderly. DESIGN AND SETTING:: Cross-sectional study in which the Hospital Infection Control Committee (HICC) of a 405-bed LTCI was consulted. METHODS:: The medical records of 405 individuals interned in the LTCI who had been tested for HIV infection were requested for analysis of the following variables: [1] age and gender; [2] length of stay at LTCI (months); [3] causes and diagnoses on admission to LTCI according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition; [4] date of HIV diagnosis; [5] seropositivity for syphilis and hepatitis B and C viruses; [6] medications used at last prescription in medical file; and [7] mean CD4 lymphocyte count based on: total lymphocyte count/6 and total lymphocyte count x 0.8 x 0.2 or 0.3. RESULTS:: Four men were HIV-positive, with mean age 71.2 ± 8.6 years, LTCI stay 74.2 ± 38.1 months and length of HIV diagnosis 24.5 ± 17 months (confirmed by HICC standard screening). Three had stroke sequelae; one, dementia syndrome; two, seropositivity for syphilis; two, hepatitis B and one, hepatitis C. The main drugs used were lamivudine, zidovudine, lopinavir, ritonavir, levothyroxine, omeprazole, ranitidine, lactulose and risperidone. The estimated CD4 count was 341 ± 237/mm3. CONCLUSIONS:: HIV-positive individuals are present in LTCIs, diagnosable through serological screening and treatable with antiretroviral drugs.

Assessment of factors that confound MRI and neuropathological correlation of human postmortem brain tissue.

In spite of considerable technical advance in MRI techniques, the optical resolution of these methods are still limited. Consequently, the delineation of cytoarchitectonic fields based on probabilistic maps and brain volume changes, as well as small-scale changes seen in MRI scans need to be verified by neuronanatomical/neuropathological diagnostic tools. To attend the current interdisciplinary needs of the scientific community, brain banks have to broaden their scope in order to provide high quality tissue suitable for neuroimaging- neuropathology/anatomy correlation studies. The Brain Bank of the Brazilian Aging Brain Research Group (BBBABSG) of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School (USPMS) collaborates with researchers interested in neuroimaging-neuropathological correlation studies providing brains submitted to postmortem MRI in-situ. In this paper we describe and discuss the parameters established by the BBBABSG to select and to handle brains for fine-scale neuroimaging-neuropathological correlation studies, and to exclude inappropriate/unsuitable autopsy brains. We tried to assess the impact of the postmortem time and storage of the corpse on the quality of the MRI scans and to establish fixation protocols that are the most appropriate to these correlation studies. After investigation of a total of 36 brains, postmortem interval and low body temperature proved to be the main factors determining the quality of routine MRI protocols. Perfusion fixation of the brains after autopsy by mannitol 20% followed by formalin 20% was the best method for preserving the original brain shape and volume, and for allowing further routine and immunohistochemical staining. Taken to together, these parameters offer a methodological progress in screening and processing of human postmortem tissue in order to guarantee high quality material for unbiased correlation studies and to avoid expenditures by post-imaging analyses and histological processing of brain tissue.

Machado de Assis's own writings about his epilepsy: a brief clinical note

Machado de Assis's own writings about his epilepsy are here given. They come from his correspondence with his friend Mario de Alencar during the last 8 months of Machado de Assis's life. These are the only places where Machado de Assis dealt clearly with his epilepsy during his entire life

Uso e abuso de EEGs / Use and abuse of EEGs

Médicos no Brasil e também nos Estados Unidos adquirem, durante seus anos de treinamento, conhecimentos adequados sobre eletrocardiogramas, exames de raio X, tomografia computadorizada, ultra-sonografia e outros exames. Em geral, eles não obtêm informações semelhantes da natureza, uso e limitações de eletroencefalogramas (EEGs). Este artigo trata de algumas das falhas mais comuns de médicos não-especialistas em Neurologia e Psiquiatria: 1. EEGs não dão informações sobre as personalidades e os estados emocionais e intelectuais dos pacientes; 2. EEGs podem ser úteis na avaliação e tratamento de pacientes com dores de cabeça somente se o médico enfatiza que a maioria das cefaléias não está relacionada ao cérebro, mas tem as suas causas nas tensões das camadas musculares da cabeça e em outras estruturas não-cerebrais da cabeça; 3. EEGs são de muito valor no diagnóstico de ausências (epilepsia pequeno mal) mas para obter este valor o médico tem de entender bem a natureza deste tipo de convulsão; 4. EEGs têm utilidade no diagnóstico de epilepsia grande mal, mas eles possuem limitações neste campo; 5. EEGs são úteis no tratamento de pacientes com traumatismo craniano leve, mas neste caso eles também têm de ser utilizados nos contextos da situação total da vida do doente, e o significado do seu traumatismo craniano deverá ser explicado. O artigo trata ligeiramente de outros assuntos semelhantes

The concept of nemesis in psychoneurosis

A patient who has a nemesis fear as the basic process in his psychoneurosis feels that he is destined to repeat the life course of one of his parents to eventual long-term psychosis, or incapacitating physical illness or death by illness or accident. He feels that this will occur at about same age as that at which his parent suffered his misfortune. The patient during his childhood and adolescence had a traumatic relationship with this parent, and is haunted by guilt feelings about it, and fears that avenging destiny, or nemesis, requires that he pay with a similar misfortune for that which he feels he caused. Thse patients improve much in psychotherapy, but the underlying nemesis fear, though much reduced in severeity, is not entirely eliminated.

Obsessions of infanticide and imminent psychosis

In young mothers an obsession of infanticide, that is, fear that they may murder their children, may be coupled with an obsession of imminent psychosis, that is, fear that the first obsession is a sign of approaching insanity. Sixteen mothers with this clinical picture were evaluated in interviews. Seven of them entered psychotherapy and improved. The causative factors in childhood and adolescence wich led to the later development of these obsessive difficulties are analyzed. Even when psychotherapy was not possible, as was the case in nine patients, they should be strongly reassured and explanations should be given about the nature of the problem, for such encouragement and clarification helps them to improve to a significant extent. The prognosis of patients who have systematic psychoterapy is good.

Tentative interpretations in psychotherapy

A natureza e o método da interpretaçäo tentativa säo descritas. A sua utilidade e as suas vantagens säo esboçadas e o seu uso em psicoterapia é examinado

Población y educación en la República Dominicana / Population and education in the Dominican Republic

Analiza elementos conceptuales de las relaciones de los procesos educacionales con los demográficos y de desarrollo socio-económico. Aborda aspectos de organización, infraestructura y cobertura del sistema educativo nacional; problemas referentes a la eficiencia del sistema y calidad de la educación; el perfil educativo de la población; y hace proyecciones de algunas variables básicas utilizadas para la planificación y programación en el área de la educación