EFICIÊNCIA EM VACADAS MERTOLENGAS – OUTRA MANEIRA DE VER A QUESTÃO!

As necessidades alimentares e a conjuntura económica, hoje mais que nunca, exigem que nos esforcemos para que consigamos atingir metas produtivas cada vez mais elevadas. A eficiência (re)produtiva torna-se assim numa peça chave nos resultados finais das explorações de bovinos de carne, principalmente, nas raças autóctones, como no caso da raça Mertolenga e, desde modo, ajuizarmos sobre o bom ou mau desempenho de uma vacada. Para o trabalho foi utilizada parte dos registos de campo das vacadas associadas á ACBM e foram considerados nesta análise as seguintes características: INTP – Intervalo entre partos; TXF – Taxa de fertilidade anual (365/INTP); VND – Vitelos desmamados por exploração e ano; DVC – Vitelos não desmamados por ano em relação à exploração ideal teórica; TOTALp – Perda por vaca e por ano (considerando vacadas de 100 fêmeas); P210 – Peso médio desmamado por vaca em cada parto DELTA – Lucro teórico diário tendo em conta a quantidade de vitelo desmamado e os encargos da vaca por ano. Avaliaram-se como efeitos de variabilidade: a provável experiência no sector (número de associado); épocas de parto (meses); idade das vacas ao parto; sexo dos vitelos; e anos. Para os cálculos foram utilizados valores fornecidos pelos técnicos da ACBM. Embora os resultados tenham sido referenciados para os valores de Maio/Junho de 2008, apresentamo-los para discussão agora (2012) por nos parecerem ainda como reflexo válido dos sistemas de produção de bovinos mertolengos

Eosinophil granule proteins involvement in acute appendicitis: an allergic disease?

Several pieces of evidence point to an allergic component as a trigger of acute appendicitis. As the Th2 immune response is characterized by eosinophil mobilization to the target organ and release of their cationic granule proteins, it is reasonable to investigate if the degranulation of eosinophils could be associated with the local injury. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the participation of eosinophils granules proteins in acute appendicitis, both at local and systemic levels and the secondary aim is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of eosinophils granules proteins for the detection of acute appendicitis, as well as for distinguishing between complicated and uncomplicated acute appendicitis. Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil peroxidase (EP) are the most well-known eosinophil granule proteins. From August 2021 to April 2022, we present a prospective single-center study to evaluate the EDN, ECP, and EP concentrations simultaneously in appendicular lavage fluid (ALF) and the serum of 22 patients with acute phlegmonous appendicitis (APA), 24 with acute gangrenous appendicitis (AGA), and 14 normal controls. Concerning EDN, no differences were found between groups. ECP concentrations in ALF and serum were significantly higher in the histologically confirmed acute appendicitis compared to the control groups (p 11.41 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 93.5%, but with a specificity for identifying appendicitis of 21.4%, good discriminative power (AUC = 0.880). For EP, the optimal cut-off was >93.20 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 87%, but with a specificity of 14.3% (AUC = 0.901), excellent discriminative power. For the diagnosis of perforated AA, the discriminative power of ECP and EP serum concentrations are weak (AUC = 0.562 and AUC = 0.664, respectively). Concerning the presence of peritonitis, the discriminative power of ECP and EP serum concentrations is acceptable, respectively: AUC = 0.724 and AUC = 0.735. Serum levels of EDN (p = 0.119), ECP (p = 0.586) and EP (p = 0.08) in complicated appendicitis were similar to uncomplicated appendicitis. Serum concentrations of ECP and EP can be added to decision-making AA diagnosis. A Th2-type immune response is present in AA. These data bring forward the role of an allergic reaction in the pathogenesis of acute appendicitis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Finite element analysis of pectus carinatum surgical correction via a minimally invasive approach

Pectus carinatum (PC) is a chest deformity caused by a disproportionate growth of the costal cartilages compared to the bony thoracic skeleton, pulling the sternum towards, which leads to its protrusion. There has been a growing interest on using the 'reversed Nuss' technique as a minimally invasive procedure for PC surgical correction. A corrective bar is introduced between the skin and the thoracic cage and positioned on top of the sternum highest protrusion area for continuous pressure. Then, it is fixed to the ribs and kept implanted for about 2-3 years. The purpose of this work was to (a) assess the stresses distribution on the thoracic cage that arise from the procedure, and (b) investigate the impact of different positioning of the corrective bar along the sternum. The higher stresses were generated on the 4th, 5th and 6th ribs backend, supporting the hypothesis of pectus deformities correction-induced scoliosis. The different bar positioning originated different stresses on the ribs' backend. The bar position that led to lower stresses generated on the ribs backend was the one that also led to the smallest sternum displacement. However, this may be preferred, as the risk of induced scoliosis is lowered.This work was financially supported by the Potuguese Foundation for Science and Techrnology (FCT) under the R&D project PTDC/SAU-BEB/103368/2008 and the fellowship SFRH/BPD/46851/2008

FIBROBLASTOMA DESMOPLÁSICO ENVOLVENDO A ARTÉRIA BRAQUIAL — UM CASO CLÍNICO ÚNICO

O fibroblastoma desmoplásico (FD), também conhecido como fibroma colagenoso, é uma neoplasia fibrosa benigna rara, de crescimento indolente, recentemente descrita. Ocorre predominantemente no tronco e membros superiores, podendo surgir em qualquer idade. Os autores descrevem um caso de uma doente do sexo feminino de 42 anos de idade com FD, com compromisso neurovascular do membro superior. Foi submetida a exérese em bloco da massa tumoral e artéria braquial, com reconstrução arterial (enxerto de interposição autólogo). A análise anatomopatológica foi consistente com FD e o diagnóstico foi validado por laboratório externo internacional1. Trata-se da primeira descrição na literatura de um FD envolvendo um segmento arterial

TYPE B AORTIC INTRAMURAL HEMATOMA – WHEN A SHEEP BECOMES A WOLF

Introduction: Type B aortic intramural hematoma (B-IMH) has a complex and variable natural history: it can remain stable and resolve spontaneously or progress to dissection, aneurysm, ulcer or even rupture. The possibility of disease progression, frequently with mild or no symptomatology, poses a significant treatment dilemma. Clinical Case: We report a case of a 60 year-old-female diagnosed with an acute B-IMH, initially treated medically. However, 1-month control CTA revealed disease progression (increased B-IMH thickness and evolution to an ulcer-like-projection with 20 mm diameter and 11 mm depth). She was submitted to a left carotid-subclavian bypass followed by TEVAR and left-subclavian ostial embolization. During follow-up (5 months) patient remain asymptomatic, demonstrating favorable aortic remodeling. Conclusion: Type B-IMH is a dynamic pathology. From presentation to late follow-up, patients remain at high risk for abrupt catastrophic complications. As reported, TEVAR seems to be a safe and effective approach in the event of unfavorable evolution

Variations of the soft tissue thicknesses external to the ribs in pectus excavatum patients

BACKGROUND: Surgical repair of pectus excavatum (PE) has become more popular due to improvements in the minimally invasive Nuss procedure. The pre-surgical assessment of PE patients requires Computerized Tomography (CT), as the malformation characteristics vary from patient to patient. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to characterize soft tissue thickness (STT) external to the ribs among PE patients. It also presents a comparative analysis between the anterior chest wall surface before and after surgical correction. METHODS: Through surrounding tissue segmentation in CT data, STT values were calculated at different lines along the thoracic wall, with a reference point in the intersection of coronal and median planes. The comparative analysis between the two 3D anterior chest surfaces sets a surgical correction influence area (SCIA) and a volume of interest (VOI) based on image processing algorithms, 3D surface algorithms, and registration methods. RESULTS: There are always variations between left and right side STTs (2.54 ± 2.05 mm and 2.95 ± 2.97 mm for female and male patients, respectively). STTs are dependent on age, sex, and body mass index of each patient. On female patients, breast tissue induces additional errors in bar manual conception. The distances starting at the deformity's largest depression point at the SCIA are similar in all directions. Some diverging measures and outliers were found, being difficult to find similar characteristics between them, especially in asymmetric patients. CONCLUSION: The Nuss procedure metal bar must be modeled according to each patient's special characteristics. The studied relationships between STT and chest surface could represent a step forward to eliminate the CT scan from PE pre-surgical evaluation.This work was supported by "Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia" (FCT), Portugal, through the R&D project referenced PTDC/SAU-BEB/103368/2008 and the fellowships referenced SFRH/BD/74276/2010, SFRH/BD/68270/2010 and SFRH/BPD/46851/2008

SYSTEMIC ARTERY ANEURYSMS IN KAWASAKI DISEASE — A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Introduction: Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a self-limited, unknown-cause febrile vasculitis that predominantly addresses medium-sized arteries and most patients are under 5-years-old. In addition to life-threatening coronary artery involvement, aneurysms may develop in almost any medium-sized vessel, however systemic artery aneurysms (SAA) are described in only 2% of cases. The objective of this study was to identify cases of KD associated SAA and to analyze their frequency, anatomical distribution, treatment and outcomes. Methods: systematic literature review, performed using MEDLINE database. Results: Literature review retrieved a total of 9 reports corresponding to 38 patients and a total of 134 KD-SAA. The most affected arteries were the brachial artery (29.8%), the internal iliac artery (18,6%), the common iliac artery (16,4%) and the subclavian artery (11,2%) with bilateral involvement being a common feature. History of concomitant coronary involvement was present in almost every patients. Only 5 SAA (3,7%) required intervention. Medical therapy was associated with SAA regression in approximately half of the patients, with better results when initiated promptly after diagnosis. Worst outcomes were found in younger patients, showing higher rates of morbimortality. The underlying coronary sequelae dictated the prognosis. Conclusions: Considering their rarity, only multicenter collaboration and literature research can provide more insight about KD-SAA treatment and outcomes, defining the potential role of KD as a primary cause of late vascular lesion. Late presentation KD-SAA may present some diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in view of a more likely need for intervention once the benefit of medical treatment has been outweighed

ENDOVASCULAR MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES OF VISCERAL ARTERIAL ANEURYSMS — SINGLE CENTRE EXPERIENCE

Introduction: Over the past decade, endovascular treatment (EVT) is taking over visceral arterial aneurysms treatment considering its effectiveness, safety and minimal invasiveness. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated our department experience in visceral arterial aneurysms endovascular approach from 2009 to 2019. Results: From 2009 to 2019, nineteen visceral artery aneurysms were submitted to EVT (mean age 62,5 years, 53% women). The addressed arterial segments were: the splenic artery (52%, n=10) followed by the renal artery (21%, n = 4), the hepatic artery (11%, n = 2), the superior mesenteric artery (11%, n = 2) and the celiac arrtery (5%, n = 1). Average diameter was 26,9 ± 5,4 mm [range 21–39 mm]. The majority were asymptomatic incidental findings (74%). Concomitant aneurysms were found in 3 patients (15,8%). EVT included: stent-graft exclusion (n = 9), aneurysm-sac coil embolization (n = 6), stent-assisted coil embolization (n=2) and segmental artery exclusion (n=2). Median radiological follow-up was 46,8 months [range 1,1–128 months]. Early SMA occlusion was reported in one case after stent-assisted coil embolization, however without ischemic symptoms. End-organ loss was reported in one case (renal artery coil embolization, without overall renal function worsening). Conclusion: Nowadays, endovascular approach is the first-line intervention for most visceral arterial aneurysms. Although still limited, the reported results are favourable and are in line with the current literature

HOME-MADE FROZEN STENTED ELEPHANT TRUNK FOR ACUTE ARCH DISSECTION: AN HYBRID OFF-THE-SHELF TREATMENT IN AN EMERGENCY SETTING

Introduction: Involvement of the ascending/aortic arch in the thoracic aorta pathology can preclude thoracic endovas- cular aortic repair (TEVAR) due to the absence of an adequate proximal landing zone. Hybrid interventions combining ascending/aortic arch replacement with TEVAR of the descending thoracic aorta (DTA) are associated with good outcomes. Despite the existence of dedicated devices (E-vita®, Thoraflex®), they may not be available in good time in emergent cases that might require inventive solutions, like the one we present. Case Report: A 53-year-old hypertensive, active smoker male was admitted due to a non-A-non-B acute aortic dissection, complicated with a contained rupture at the aortic isthmus and a left haemothorax. Considering the absence of a secure proximal landing zone we decided on an aortic arch replacement and frozen stented elephant trunk using off-the-shelf devices. Debranching of the innominate and left common carotid arteries was performed with a 16×8mm bifurcated graft. The aortic arch replacement was performed with a 28 mm Dacron, under hypothermic circulatory arrest. A 30×30×157mm stent graft was anterogradely advanced to the DTA, under direct vision, with its proximal part parked at the level of the Dacron anastomosis. The proximal arch anastomosis was completed at the level of the sinotubular junction. Completion angiography revealed appropriately reconstructed aortic arch, successful exclusion of the entry tear and rupture site, as well as adequate renal and visceral perfusion. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course, being discharged on postoperative day 23. Control CTA demonstrated successful arch reconstruction, true lumen expansion and no signs of complications. Conclusion: This hybrid approach with off-the-shelf devices was successful and avoided the cumulative morbidity of an additional left thoracotomy as the technical difficulty of a full open surgery in this setting. In the absence of readily available dedicated devices, hybrid techniques will undoubtedly play a role in the treatment of acute aortic syndromes. The existence of an “Aortic Team” available to evaluate, decide and combine the expertise of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery was essential in this case