Remodeling of ipsilateral ulnar artery after radial artery harvesting for coronary artery bypass graft.

There are controversies in the literature on the blood supply to the forearm after surgical removal of the radial artery in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The objective was to investigate the arterial remodeling of the ulnar artery after the removal of the radial artery in myocardial revascularization by means of ultrasound examination with color Doppler in the pre- and post-operative periods. This paper describes an observational prospective study of the remodeling of the left brachial and ulnar arteries (donor arm) in 103 right-handed non-consecutive adult patients undergoing CABG with removal of the ipsilateral radial artery using the color Doppler ultrasound examination. In the ulnar artery, a significant increase (P < 0.05) was seen in the following measurements: lumen diameter by 13%, lumen area by 26%, peak systolic flow by 40%, and average flow by 46%. Intima-media thickness measured in the ulnar artery did not show a statistically significant difference (P = 0.22), except in diabetic patients (P = 0.007). We conclude that the ulnar artery undergoes positive physiological remodeling, adapting to the new requirements of chronic increase in flow after the ipsilateral removal of the radial artery to serve as a graft in CABG. There was no evidence of increased intima-media thickness, except in diabetic patients.

Oxidative stress and histological changes following exposure to diamond nanoparticles in the freshwater Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774).

Recently, the scientific community became aware of the potential ability of nanoparticles to cause toxicity in living organisms. Therefore, many of the implications for aquatic ecosystems and its effects on living organisms are still to be evaluated and fully understood. In this study, the toxicity of nanodiamonds (NDs) was assessed in the freshwater bivalve (Corbicula fluminea) following exposure to different nominal concentrations of NDs (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg l(-1)) throughout 14 days. The NDs were characterized (gravimetry, pH, zeta potential, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy) confirming manufacturer information and showing NDs with a size of 4-6 nm. Oxidative stress enzymes activities (glutathione-S-transferase, catalase) and lipid peroxidation were determined. The results show a trend to increase in GST activities after seven days of exposure in bivalves exposed to NDs concentrations (>0.1 mg l(-1)), while for catalase a significant increase was found in bivalves exposed from 0.01 to 1.0 mg l(-1) following an exposure of 14 days. The histological analysis revealed alterations in digestive gland cells, such as vacuolization and thickening. The lipid peroxidation showed a trend to increase for the different tested NDs concentrations which is compatible with the observed cellular damage.

Análise da mobilidade funcional e força muscular em paciente com fratura diafisária de fêmur tratada com fixação interna submetido à reabilitação através da hidrocinesioterapia - relato de caso / Functional mobility analysis and muscular strength in diaphysial femur fracture patients treated with internal fixing submitted to hydro-kinetic therapy rehabilitation - case report

Este trabalho teve por objetivo relatar a importância da hidrocinesioterapia em paciente com fratura diafisária de fêmur não submetido à reabilitação prévia. Foi selecionado paciente com fratura aberta de fêmur tratado com fixação interna, não submetido à reabilitação física durante 11 meses. A força muscular dos membros inferiores foi analisada através da dinamometria que passou de 46 kg antes do tratamento para 78 kg após a reabilitação; também foi analisada a mobilidade funcional do paciente através do teste Timed Up & Go (TUG) que passou de 15,72 s para 9,91 s após o programa de intervenção, que teve duração de 5 semanas, com freqüência semanal de 3 sessões de uma hora de tratamento. Através destes resultados e do relato do paciente pôde-se concluir que o protocolo de intervenção foi capaz de propiciar melhora na força muscular e na mobilidade funcional deste paciente que, mesmo não tendo reabilitação prévia, pôde ser beneficiado com a hidrocinesioterapia num curto período de tratamento.