Myocardial Deformation by Speckle Tracking in Severe Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Background: The high and increasing prevalence of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) represents a serious public health issue. Novel technologies have been used aiming to improve diagnosis and the therapeutic approach. In this context, speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) uses natural myocardial markers to analyze the systolic deformation of the left ventricle (LV). Objective: Measure the longitudinal transmural global strain (GS) of the LV through STE in patients with severe DCM, comparing the results with normal individuals and with echocardiographic parameters established for the analysis of LV systolic function, in order to validate the method in this population. Methods: Seventy-one patients with severe DCM (53 +/- 12 years, 72% men) and 20 controls (30 +/- 8 years, 45% men) were studied. The following variables were studied: LV volumes and ejection fraction calculated by two and three-dimensional echocardiography, Doppler parameters, Tissue Doppler Imaging systolic and diastolic LV velocities and GS obtained by STE. Results: Compared with controls, LV volumes were higher in the DCM group; however, LVEF and peak E-wave velocity were lower in the latter. The myocardial performance index was higher in the patient group. Tissue Doppler myocardial velocities (S', e', a') were significantly lower and E/e' ratio was higher in the DCM group. GS was decreased in the DCM group (-5.5% +/- 2.3%) when compared with controls (-14.0% +/- 1.8%). Conclusion: In this study, GS was significantly lower in patients with severe DCM, bringing new perspectives for therapeutic approaches in this specific population. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2012;99(3):834-842)Fapesp (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo) [2004/07474-9, 2008/05723-2]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP

Chemical carcinogenesis by 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene in balb/c mice

FAPES

Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment of Canine Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Mast Cell Tumors

Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are hematopoietic neoplasms composed of mast cells. It is highly common in dogs and is extremely important in the veterinary oncology field. It represents the third most common tumor subtype, and is the most common malignant skin tumor in dogs, corresponding to 11% of skin cancer cases. The objective of this critical review was to present the report of the 2nd Consensus meeting on the Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Canine Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Mast Cell Tumors, which was organized by the Brazilian Association of Veterinary Oncology (ABROVET) in August 2021. The most recent information on cutaneous and subcutaneous mast cell tumors in dogs is presented and discussed

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Clima de Segurança do Paciente na Atenção Primária à Saúde no Brasil: revisão integrativa

Justification and Objectives: although Primary Health Care plays a central role in Brazil, much of the research that assesses safety culture and climate focuses on hospitals and few studies on this subject have explored this reality, thus justifying this study. The aim was therefore to identify the patient safety climate characteristics in Primary Health Care services in Brazil. Methods: an integrative review study. The MEDLINE via PubMed, LILACS, CINAHL and SciELO databases were used to search for studies. Results: nine articles were selected which reported on the negative safety climate in Primary Health Care. The five classes generated in the dendrogram are divided into two main categories: (1) Safe healthcare in Primary Health Care; and (2) Patient safety climate assessment in Primary Health Care services. Communication, organizational learning and teamwork were cited as enhancers of safe healthcare. Community health workers had a more negative safety climate perception. Working conditions and management support were rated negatively. Conclusion: strengthening the safety climate in Primary Health Care services favors quality of care and safe healthcare.Justificación y Objetivos: a pesar de que la Atención Primaria de Salud desempeña un papel central en Brasil, gran parte de las investigaciones que evalúan la cultura y el clima de seguridad se centran en los hospitales y pocos estudios sobre este tema han explorado esta realidad, lo que justifica el desarrollo de este estudio. Por lo tanto, el objetivo fue identificar las características del clima de seguridad del paciente en los servicios de Atención Primaria de Salud en Brasil. Métodos:estudio de revisión integradora. Se utilizaron las bases de datos MEDLINE vía PubMed, LILACS, CINAHL y SciELO para la búsqueda de publicaciones. Resultados: fueron seleccionados nueve artículos que informaban sobre el clima de seguridad negativo en los servicios de Atención Primaria de Salud. Las cinco clases generadas en el dendrograma se dividen en dos categorías principales: (1) Atención de salud segura en la Atención Primaria de Salud; y (2) Evaluación del clima de seguridad del paciente en los servicios de Atención Primaria de Salud. La comunicación, el aprendizaje organizativo y el trabajo en equipo se citaron como potenciadores de una asistencia sanitaria segura. Los trabajadores sanitarios comunitarios tenían una percepción más negativa del clima de seguridad. Las condiciones de trabajo y el apoyo de la dirección se valoraron negativamente. Conclusión: reforzar el clima de seguridad en la Atención Primaria de Salud favorece la calidad de la atención y la seguridad de la asistencia sanitaria.Justificativa e Objetivos: embora a Atenção Primária à Saúde tenha papel central no contexto brasileiro, grande parte das pesquisas que avaliam a cultura e o clima de segurança tem enfoque no âmbito hospitalar e poucas investigações sobre essa temática exploram essa realidade, justificando a elaboração deste estudo. Dessa forma, objetivou-se identificar as características do clima de segurança do paciente em serviços de Atenção Primária à Saúde no Brasil. Métodos: estudo de revisão integrativa. As bases de dados MEDLINE via PubMed, LILACS, CINAHL e SciELO foram utilizadas para busca das publicações. Resultados: foram selecionados nove artigos, que relataram sobre o clima de segurança negativo na Atenção Primária à Saúde. As cinco classes geradas no dendrograma se dividem em duas categorias principais: (1) Cuidado à saúde seguro na Atenção Primária à Saúde; e (2) Avaliação do clima de segurança do paciente nos serviços de Atenção Primária à Saúde. Comunicação, aprendizagem organizacional e trabalho em equipe foram citados como potencializadores do cuidado à saúde seguro. Os Agentes Comunitários de Saúde apresentaram percepção mais negativa do clima de segurança. As condições de trabalho e o suporte da gerência foram avaliados negativamente. Conclusão: o fortalecimento do clima de segurança nos serviços primários de saúde favorece a qualidade da assistência e o cuidado à saúde seguro

Paniculite chagásica pós-transplante renal: relato de caso

Resumo A doença de Chagas acarreta grande morbimortalidade, por parasitemia aguda ou por lesões cardíacas, digestivas, cutâneas ou neurológicas crônicas. Os países latino-americanos apresentam a maioria das pessoas infectadas ou em risco. Pacientes transplantados em uso de imunossupressores podem desenvolver formas graves da doença, muitas vezes fatais. As drogas disponíveis para o tratamento causam frequentemente efeitos colaterais graves. Uma paciente de 59 anos, com insuficiência renal crônica avançada e sorologia positiva para doença de Chagas, mas sem qualquer manifestação clínica dessa patologia, recebeu transplante renal de doador cadáver e apresentou três meses depois paniculite na coxa, tendo a biópsia das lesões mostrado formas amastigotas de Trypanosoma cruzi. Foi tratada com benzonidazol, observando-se o desaparecimento das lesões, mas a droga teve que ser suspensa por pancitopenia grave. Simultaneamente, apresentou infecção por E. faecalis e por citomegalovírus, tratadas com vancomicina e ganciclovir. Manteve-se depois muito bem clinicamente, sem novas lesões cutâneas e com boa função do enxerto. Um ano e três meses após o transplante, foi submetida à cirurgia de urgência por aneurisma dissecante da aorta. Evoluiu com choque irreversível e óbito no pós-operatório imediato. Não foi possível estabelecer ou afastar alguma relação entre as lesões aórticas e a tripanossomíase. A doença de Chagas deve ser lembrada no diagnóstico diferencial de várias situações clínicas em pacientes transplantados, principalmente em zonas endêmicas. Pode haver resposta clínica à medicação, mas são possíveis para-efeitos graves com as drogas utilizadas. O tratamento ou a profilaxia ainda aguardam por opções mais efetivas e melhor toleradas