Prevalência de dilatação da aorta abdominal em coronariopatas idosos Prevalence of abdominal aortic dilatation in patients aged 60 years or older with coronary disease

CONTEXTO: A realização de programas de triagem para o aneurisma da aorta abdominal de forma indiscriminada auxiliará uma pequena porcentagem de indivíduos, mas ao considerarmos grupos com fatores de risco relacionados à dilatação da aorta, aumentando a probabilidade da doença, este permitirá um direcionamento adequado dos recursos e um benefício maior à população. Programas direcionados pelas sociedades médicas, permitindo um diagnóstico precoce das doenças vasculares e conseqüentemente um melhor preparo do doente, promoveriam melhores taxas de sobrevida com menor morbidade. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência da dilatação da aorta abdominal em uma amostra de pacientes idosos com mais de 60 anos de idade, portadores de coronariopatia aterosclerótica diagnosticada por cineangiocoronariografia. MÉTODOS: Para a seleção dessa amostra, levou-se em consideração o fato de que a avaliação pré-operatória de cirurgia vascular não tenhasido a indicação do cateterismo. Procedeu-se então a avaliação, baseada na anamnese, exame físico e Doppler ultra-som da aorta abdominal. A análise estatística iniciou-se com o teste qui-quadrado, com a posterior análise de regressão logística multivariada e regressão logística univariada, considerando significativo um p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Dos 180 pacientes, 57 (31,7%) dos casos pertencem ao sexo feminino, e 123 (68,3%) ao masculino. A faixa etária variou entre 60 e 80 anos, com idade média de 66,7 anos. Dos 16 indivíduos portadores de dilatação da aorta abdominal (10 aneurismas e 6 ectasias), apenas um era do sexo feminino. O risco para um indivíduo com 1 lesão aterosclerótica coronariana de apresentar dilatação da aorta abdominal foi de 0,4% no grupo avaliado. Da mesma forma, nos portadores de 2 ou 3 lesões, o risco foi de 1,7%, e naqueles com mais de 3 lesões, de 4,5%. Quando associados ao tabagismo, estes valores alteraram-se respectivamente para 6,9, 11,8 e 27,1%. CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo permite concluir que a prevalência de dilatação da aorta abdominal foi de 8,9% (16 de 180 pacientes) nesta amostra específica. Apresentou-se de forma mais freqüente nos indivíduos do sexo masculino, tabagistas e em presença de lesões ateroscleróticas difusas das artérias coronárias.<br>BACKGROUND: Indiscriminate screening programs for abdominal aortic aneurysm will help a small percentage of individuals. However, when considering groups with risk factors associated with aortic dilatation, which increases the probability of the disease, such programs will provide an adequate allocation of resources and a greater benefit to the population. Programs guided by medical societies, providing an early diagnosis of vascular diseases and consequently a better preparation of patients, would result in better survival rates with lower morbidity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of abdominal aortic dilatation in patients aged 60 years or older with atherosclerotic coronary disease diagnosed by coronary angiography. METHODS: The sample selected for this study considered the fact that preoperative assessment of vascular surgery had not been indication for catheterization. Evaluation was then performed, based on anamnesis, physical examination and ultrasound Doppler of the abdominal aorta. Statistical analysis started with chi-square test, with further multivariate logistic regression analysis and univariate logistic regression, with p < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Of 180 patients, 57 (31.7%) were female and 123 (68.3%) were male. Age varied from 60 to 80 years, with mean of 66.7 years. Among the 16 individuals with abdominal aortic dilatation (10 aneurysms and six dilatations), only one was female. The risk of an individual with one atherosclerotic coronary lesion presenting abdominal aortic dilatation was 0.4%. Similarly, in those with two or three lesions the risk was 1.7, and 4.5% in those with more than three lesions. When associated with smoking, these values were 6.9, 11.8 and 27.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study leads to the conclusion that prevalence of abdominal aortic dilatation was 8.9% (16 out of 180 patients) in this specific sample. It was more prevalent in males, smokers and associated with presence of diffuse atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries

Analysis of the NTPDase and ecto-5'-nucleotidase profiles in serum-limited Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite of the human urogenital tract that causes trichomonosis, the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted disease. Ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase) family members, which hydrolyse extracellular ATP and ADP and ecto-5′-nucleotidase, which hydrolyses AMP, have been characterised in T. vaginalis. For trichomonad culture, the growth medium is supplemented with 10% serum, which is an important source of nutrients, such as adenosine. Here, we investigated the ATP metabolism of T. vaginalis trophozoites from long-term cultures and clinical isolates under limited bovine serum conditions (1% serum). The specific enzymatic activities were expressed as nmol inorganic phosphate (Pi) released/min/mg protein, the gene expression patterns were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, the extracellular adenine nucleotide hydrolysis was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography and the cell cycle analysis was assessed by flow cytometry. Serum limitation led to the profound activation of NTPDase and ecto-5'-nucleotidase activities. Furthermore, the levels of NTPDase A and B transcripts increased and extracellular ATP metabolism was activated, which led to enhanced ATP hydrolysis and the formation of ADP and AMP. Moreover, the cell cycle was arrested at the G0/G1 stage, which suggested adenosine uptake. Our data suggest that under conditions of serum limitation, NTPDase and ecto-5'-nucleotidase play a role in providing the adenosine required for T. vaginalis growth and that this process contributes to the establishment of parasitism