Infecções do esterno pós revascularização do miocárdio: tratamento com retalhos miocutâneos e musculares Sternal infections after myocardial revascularization: treatment by myocutaneous and muscle flaps

No período de outubro de 1986 a janeiro de 1989, realizamos 445 esternotomias, sendo 158 para revascularização do miocárdio; em 92 pacientes, a artéria mamária interna esquerda (AMIE) foi utilizada. Dos 445 casos, sete pacientes tiveram infecção do esterno no período pós-operatório imediato. O tempo médio de aparecimento foi de 8,7 dias (4-15 dias), sendo que seis pacientes eram do sexo masculino e a idade média foi de 48,8 anos (35-60 anos). Em todos os casos, os pacientes estavam sendo submetidos à primeira cirurgia, tendo como possíveis fatores associados diabete (um caso), embolia pulmonar com insuficiência respiratória (um caso), síndrome de baixo débito (três casos), cirurgia prolongada (um caso) e dissecção da AMIE (seis casos). Na correção desta complicação, a associação de técnicas de cirurgia plástica, com a utilização de retalhos miocutâneos ou musculares, permitiu mais rápida recuperação dos pacientes, sem que tivéssemos óbitos nesta série. Os resultados estético e funcional foram considerados excelentes, com três pequenas deiscências tratadas ambulatorialmente. A identificação do germe através de cultura e a orientação do tratamento pelo antibiograma também se mostraram de grande importância, ao lado das técnicas cirúrgicas empregadas. Concluindo, julgamos que a intervenção precoce e agressiva nas infecções do esterno contribuiu, efetivamente, na queda da morbi-mortalidade desta complicação.<br>During the period of October 1986 to January 1989 we executed 445 sternotomies; 158 of these were for myocardial revascularization. In 92 cases the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) was used. Of 445 cases, 7 patients developed sternal infection in the immediate post operative period. The average time for the infection to appear was 8.7 days (4-15 days). Of these, 6 patients were male with an average age of 48.8 years (35-60 years). All cases were first operations; complicating factors were diabetes (1 case), pulmonic emboly with respiratory insufficiency (1 case), low output syndrome (3 cases), prolonged surgery (1 case) and LIMA dissection (6 cases). With the use of plastic surgery techniques and myocutaneous and muscular flaps, complications were corrected and permitted a more rapid patient recovery, avoiding deaths in this period. The esthetic and functional results were considered excellent. Three small dehiscences were treated in the out-patient clinic. Also of great importance was the identification of the germes by cultures and the treatment based on antibiograms in conjunction with the surgical techniques aplied. In conclusion, we judged that in sternal infections, rapid and aggressive surgery avoided deaths

Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia observed in immunocompromised patients: the importance of the artificial xenodiagnosis A importância do xenodiagnóstico artifical no diagnóstico da parasitemia pelo Trypanosoma cruzi em pacientes imunocomprometidos

Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia observed in immunocompromised patients (transplant or positive HIV) occurred more frequently by the artificial xenodiagnosis method (10/38) compared with hemoculture (2/38), given the same quantity of blood. Other ways of diagnosis, like mice inoculation (5/38), QBC and buffy coat (2/38), were evaluated also. This result showed the importance of the artificial xenodiagnosis. The other techniques increased only one more patient positive.<br>A demonstracão da parasitemia pelo Trypanosoma cruzi em pacientes imunocomprometidos (transplantados ou HIV positivos) ocorreu com mais frequência por meio do xenodiagnóstico (10/38) frente à hemocultura (2/38), quando se utilizou o mesmo volume de sangue. Também foram avaliados outros métodos de diagnóstico como inoculação em camundongos (5/38), QBC e creme leucocitário (2/38). Este resultado reitera a importância do xenodiagnóstico artificial. As outras técnicas acrescentaram apenas mais um paciente positivo

Advances in the Molecular Landscape of Lung Cancer Brain Metastasis

Lung cancer is one of the most frequent tumors that metastasize to the brain. Brain metastasis (BM) is common in advanced cases, being the major cause of patient morbidity and mortality. BMs are thought to arise via the seeding of circulating tumor cells into the brain microvasculature. In brain tissue, the interaction with immune cells promotes a microenvironment favorable to the growth of cancer cells. Despite multimodal treatments and advances in systemic therapies, lung cancer patients still have poor prognoses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify the molecular drivers of BM and clinically applicable biomarkers in order to improve disease outcomes and patient survival. The goal of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge on the mechanisms of the metastatic spread of lung cancer to the brain and how the metastatic spread is influenced by the brain microenvironment, and to elucidate the molecular determinants of brain metastasis regarding the role of genomic and transcriptomic changes, including coding and non-coding RNAs. We also present an overview of the current therapeutics and novel treatment strategies for patients diagnosed with BM from NSCLC

Advances in the Molecular Landscape of Lung Cancer Brain Metastasis

Lung cancer is one of the most frequent tumors that metastasize to the brain. Brain metastasis (BM) is common in advanced cases, being the major cause of patient morbidity and mortality. BMs are thought to arise via the seeding of circulating tumor cells into the brain microvasculature. In brain tissue, the interaction with immune cells promotes a microenvironment favorable to the growth of cancer cells. Despite multimodal treatments and advances in systemic therapies, lung cancer patients still have poor prognoses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify the molecular drivers of BM and clinically applicable biomarkers in order to improve disease outcomes and patient survival. The goal of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge on the mechanisms of the metastatic spread of lung cancer to the brain and how the metastatic spread is influenced by the brain microenvironment, and to elucidate the molecular determinants of brain metastasis regarding the role of genomic and transcriptomic changes, including coding and non-coding RNAs. We also present an overview of the current therapeutics and novel treatment strategies for patients diagnosed with BM from NSCLC

miR-22 and miR-205 drive tumor aggressiveness of mucoepidermoid carcinomas of salivary glands

Abstract Objectives: To integrate mRNA and miRNA expression profiles of mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MECs) and normal salivary gland (NSGs) tissue samples and identify potential drivers. Material and Methods: Gene and miRNA expression arrays were performed in 35 MECs and six NSGs. Results: We found 46 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs and 3,162 DE mRNAs. Supervised hierarchical clustering analysis of the DE transcripts revealed two clusters in both miRNA and mRNA profiles, which distinguished MEC from NSG samples. The integrative miRNA-mRNA analysis revealed a network comprising 696 negatively correlated interactions (44 miRNAs and 444 mRNAs) involving cell signaling, cell cycle, and cancer-related pathways. Increased expression levels of miR-205-5p and miR-224-5p and decreased expression levels of miR-139-3p, miR-145-3p, miR-148a-3p, miR-186-5p, miR-338-3p, miR-363-3p, and miR-4324 were significantly related to worse overall survival in MEC patients. Two overexpressed miRNAs in MEC (miR-22 and miR-205) were selected for inhibition by the CRISPR-Cas9 method. Cell viability, migration, and invasion assays were performed using an intermediate grade MEC cell line. Knockout of miR-205 reduced cell viability and enhanced ZEB2 expression, while miR-22 knockout reduced cell migration and invasion and enhanced ESR1 expression. Our results indicate a distinct transcriptomic profile of MEC compared to NSG, and the integrative analysis highlighted miRNA-mRNA interactions involving cancer-related pathways, including PTEN and PI3K/AKT. Conclusion: The in vitro functional studies revealed that miR-22 and miR-205 deficiencies reduced the viability, migration, and invasion of the MEC cells suggesting they are potential oncogenic drivers in MEC