Brazilian Scientific Journals in Surgery: quality control in the abstract structure of non-experimental articles

PURPOSE: To evaluate the quality of abstracts of original non-experimental research articles in Brazilian Journals in Surgery. METHODS: Convenience sample of 471 abstracts of original research articles from six Brazilian surgical journals indexed in Thomson Reuters (ISI) Web of Knowledge. The quality of abstracts was measured against a checklist of eight evaluation criteria, which were divided into 32 categories. The total score for each abstract was obtained by summing the score of all criteria present. The overall mean score was also determined. RESULTS: The overall mean score of abstract quality was that of a good abstract. Most of the abstracts contained some information from each of the eight basic categories of an abstract. All abstracts were structured ones. CONCLUSION: The overall quality, for abstracts of original articles of six Brazilian non-experimental journals in surgery, was classified as good.Rio de Janeiro Federal University School of Medicine Department of SurgeryUNIFESP Central LibraryUniversity City of São PauloUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Biblioteca do Campus São Paulo, EPM, São Paulo, BrazilSciEL

Heart injury following intestinal ischemia reperfusion in rats is attenuated by association of ischemic preconditioning and adenosine

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and adenosine as strategies to protect cardiac injury caused by intestinal IR in rats, based on increasing in adenosine bioavailability and improvement of cell energy state by IPC.METHODS:Male Wistar rats were submitted to 60 minutes of intestinal ischemia and 120 minutes of reperfusion. Intravenous injections of saline or Adenosine (AD) was administered five minutes before ischemia, five minutes before reperfusion and after 55 minutes reperfusion. Cardiac samples were obtained, fixed in formalin solution, embedded in paraffin, and sections of 5 μm were stained by hematoxylin-eosin. Histological analysis of myocardium was performed according occurrence of necrosis signs: piknosis, band contraction, eosinophilic cytoplasm, karyorrhexis and vacuolization (score - zero to 5).RESULTS:The groups submitted to ischemia alone (I=4.0), and reperfusion (IR=4.5) showed highest level of lesion compared to the others (I+IPC=3.3, IR+IPC=3.6, I+AD=3.0, IR+AD=3.8). The most interesting result was association of IPC and AD in IR model (IR+IPC+AD=1.2, p=0.002), showing preservation of the heart tissue, with fibers showing typical cross-striations and nuclei characteristics. Rare and small areas of tissue necrosis was observed and suggestion of capillaries congestion.CONCLUSION: Intestinal ischemia reperfusion promotes cardiac tissue injury. Ischemic preconditioning in association with adenosine is an efficient strategy to protect the heart against ischemia and reperfusion injury.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)ABC Medical SchoolFederal University of São PauloSão Paulo University Faculty of MedicineUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of SurgeryUNIFESP, Department of SurgerySciEL

Effects of diazoxide in experimental acute necrotizing pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the effects of diazoxide on the mortality, pancreatic injury, and inflammatory response in an experimental model of acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (200-400 g) were divided randomly into two groups. Fifteen minutes before surgery, animals received physiological (0.9%) saline (3 mL/kg) (control group) or 45 mg/kg diazoxide (treatment group) via the intravenous route. Acute pancreatitis was induced by injection of 2.5% sodium taurocholate via the biliopancreatic duct. Mortality (n=38) was observed for 72 h and analyzed by the Mantel-Cox Log-rank test. To study pancreatic lesions and systemic inflammation, rats (10 from each group) were killed 3 h after acute pancreatitis induction; ascites volume was measured and blood as well as pancreases were collected. Pancreatic injury was assessed according to Schmidt’s scale. Cytokine expression in plasma was evaluated by the multiplex method. RESULTS: Mortality at 72 h was 33% in the control group and 60% in the treatment group (p=0.07). Ascites volumes and plasma levels of cytokines between groups were similar. No difference was observed in edema or infiltration of inflammatory cells in pancreatic tissues from either group. However, necrosis of acinar cells was lower in the treatment group compared to the control group (3.5 vs. 3.75, p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with diazoxide can reduce necrosis of acinar cells in an experimental model of acute pancreatitis, but does not affect the inflammatory response or mortality after 72 h

The effect of n-acetylcysteine on hepatic histomorphology during hypothermic preservation

PURPOSE:To evaluate the NAC effects on liver hypothermic preservation at different time intervals.METHODS:For this, we used livers of male Wistar rats weighing between 250 and 300g, undergoing preservation in Ringer solution at 4°C for up to 24 hours. Tissue samples were obtained at four moments of preservation for histological examination by hematoxylin and eosin staining: T0 = beginning of preservation, T12 = 12 hours, T18 = 18 hours and T24 = 24 hours. Will be analyzed vacuolation, hepatic apoptosis by optical microscopy and parenchymal.RESULTS: The results showed a progressive increase in hepatic injury in both groups and showed that NAC was effective at T0. The parenchyma preservation was better in the NAC group and no difference when vacuolization of the cells.CONCLUSION: Hypothermic preservation, over time, causes changes in the hepatic parenchyma with increased apoptosis, loss of architecture, vacuolization, culminating in severe injury. The administration of N-acetylcysteine protects against preservation liver injury.University City of São PauloSão Paulo University Medical SchoolFederal University of São Paulo Paulista Medicine SchoolUNIFESP, Paulista Medicine SchoolSciEL

Effects of ischemic preconditioning and cilostazol on muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

PURPOSE: To evaluate effects of ischemic preconditioning and Cilostazol on muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury.METHODS: Male Wistar rats were submitted to muscle ischemic and reperfusion injury (4h of the left common iliac artery occlusion followed by 1h of reperfusion). Five experimental groups were constituted: Control group (n=4); Ischemia-Reperfusion (IR, n=5); Ischemic preconditioning group (IP, n=6); Ischemia-Reperfusion group treated with cilostazol (IRCi, n=6) and Ischemic preconditioning group treated with cilostazol (IPCi, n=6). At the end, left gracile muscle was removed and embedded in paraffin. Histopathology, neutrophil infiltration, myocyte necrosis and edema were analyzed.RESULTS: When compared with the control group, IR group showed increased neutrophil infiltration, severe necrosis and edema. There was significant difference between myocytes necrosis of IR group and IP group. There was no difference between the histopathological changes between IP, IRCi and IPCi groups.CONCLUSIONS: the model of IR caused severe muscle injury in the rat hind limb and ischemic preconditioning has a protective effect, reducing myocyte necrosis, however, treatment with cilostazol and also the association between cilostazol and preconditioning has no protective effect on the skeletal muscle subjected to ischemia and reperfusion injury.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, Surg Tech Lab, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, Surg Tech Lab, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Remote ischemic preconditioning and tacrolimus in the fetal small bowel transplant in mice

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (IPC-R) in the fetal small bowel transplantation model. METHODS: Two groups were constituted: The Isogenic transplant (ISO, C57BL/6 mice, n=24) and the allogenic transplant (ALO, BALB/c mice, n=24). In each group, the animals were distributed with and without IPC-R. It was obtained the following subgroups: Tx, IPC-R, Fk, IPC-Fk, in both strains. Intestinal grafts were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemically. RESULTS: The graft development evaluation in ISO group showed that IPC-R reduced the development compared with ISO-Tx (5.2+/-0.4 vs 9.0+/-0.8) and IPC-R-Fk increased the graft development compared with IPC-R (11.2+/-0.7 and 10.2+/-0.8). In ALO group, IPC-Fk increased the development compared with ALO-Tx and ALO with IPC-R (6.0+/-0.8, 9.0+/-1.2, 0.0+/-0.0, 0.5+/-0.3). The PCNA expression was increased in ISO group treated with Fk and IPC-R compared to other groups (12.2+/-0.8 vs Tx: 8.8+/-0.9, IPC-R: 8.0+/-0.4 and Fk: 9.0+/-0.6). The graft rejection was lower in groups treated with IPC-R (-18%), Fk (-68%) or both (-61%) compared with ALO-Tx. CONCLUSION: Remote ischemic preconditioning showed benefic effect even associate with Tacrolimus on the development and acute rejection of the fetal small bowel graft in the Isogenic and Allogenic transplants.Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Sch Med, Operat Tech & Expt Surg Div, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Lab Emergency Med LIM 51, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Vale Sao Francisco UNIVASF, Sch Med, Petrolina, PE, BrazilFMUSP, Surg Physiopathol Lab LIM 62, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilOperative Technique and Experimental Surgery Division, Medical School, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), BrazilWeb of Scienc

Exercise training program based on minimum weekly frequencies: effects on blood pressure and physical fitness in elderly hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND: Exercise training (ET) can reduce blood pressure (BP) and prevent functional disability. However, the effects of low volumes of training have been poorly studied, especially in elderly hypertensive patients. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of a multi-component ET program (aerobic training, strength, flexibility, and balance) on BP, physical fitness, and functional ability of elderly hypertensive patients. METHODS: Thirty-six elderly hypertensive patients with optimal clinical treatment underwent a multi-component ET program: two 60-minute sessions a week for 12 weeks at a Basic Health Unit. RESULTS: Compared to pre-training values, systolic and diastolic BP were reduced by 3.6% and 1.2%, respectively (p<0.001), body mass index was reduced by 1.1% (p<0.001), and peripheral blood glucose was reduced by 2.5% (p=0.002). There were improvements in all physical fitness domains: muscle strength (chair-stand test and elbow flexor test; p<0.001), static balance test (unipedal stance test; p<0.029), aerobic capacity (stationary gait test; p<0.001), except for flexibility (sit and reach test). Moreover, there was a reduction in the time required to perform two functional ability tests: put on sock and sit down, stand up, and move around the house (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lower volumes of ET improved BP, metabolic parameters, and physical fitness and reflected in the functional ability of elderly hypertensive patients. Trial Registration RBR-2xgjh3.CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: O treinamento físico (TF) é capaz de reduzir a pressão arterial (PA) e prevenir o declínio da capacidade funcional. Entretanto, pouco tem sido estudado sobre os efeitos de menores volumes de treinamento em idosos com hipertensão arterial (HA). OBJETIVOS: Investigar os efeitos de um programa de TF multicomponente (treinamento aeróbico, força, flexibilidade e equilíbrio) na PA, aptidão física e capacidade funcional de idosos com HA. MÉTODOS: Trinta e seis idosos com HA e tratamento clínico otimizado foram submetidos a um programa de exercícios físicos multicomponente, com duas sessões semanais de 60 minutos cada, durante 12 semanas, em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS). RESULTADOS: Comparados aos valores antes do TF, observou-se redução de 3,6% da PA sistólica (p<0,001), de 1,2% da PA diastólica (p<0,001), de 1,1% do índice de massa corporal (IMC) (p<0,001) e de 2,5% da glicemia periférica em jejum (p=0,002). Observou-se melhora em todos os domínios da aptidão física, como força muscular (testes de levantar da cadeira e flexão de cotovelos, p<0,001); equilíbrio estático (teste de apoio unipodal, p=0,029), capacidade aeróbica (teste de marcha estacionária, p<0,001), com exceção da flexibilidade (teste de sentar e alcançar). Além disso, houve redução no tempo utilizado para realização de dois testes de avaliação da capacidade funcional, o de calçar meias e o de sentar, levantar-se da cadeira e locomover-se pela casa (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: O TF com duas sessões semanais em idosos hipertensos repercutiu na melhora dos indicadores metabólicos, da aptidão física e da capacidade funcional e atuou como auxiliar no controle da PA. Registro de Ensaios Clínicos RBR-2xgjh3.Universidade de São Paulo School of Physical Education and SportUniversidade de Fortaleza Health Sciences CenterUSP Medical School Laboratory of Experimental HypertensionUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of BiosciencesUSP Medical School Departament of Internal MedicineUNIFESP, Department of BiosciencesSciEL