Comparative effect of dense-and-disperse versus non-repetitive and non-sequential frequencies in electroacupuncture-induced analgesia in a rodent model of peripheral neuropathic pain.

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a complex disease that remains challenging to treat. Low-frequency dense-and-disperse (DD) electroacupuncture (EA) has been used as adjuvant therapy for neuropathic pain; however, its analgesic effect decreases as stimulation time increases, or when it is repeatedly used. We hypothesized that a new frequency parameter could improve the effectiveness of EA, and aimed to compare the efficacy and duration of the analgesic effect between classic DD-EA and non-repetitive and non-sequential frequency (random frequency (RF)-EA) in neuropathic rats. Furthermore, the effect of RF-EA at local traditional acupuncture point locations versus auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) was evaluated. METHODS: Male Wistar rats with peripheral neuropathy were subjected to a single session of DD-EA or RF-EA for 20 or 40 min at ST36 + GB34. An additional group of rats was treated with RF-EA for 20 min using aVNS at the appropriate ear point locations. Paw pressure test, von Frey filaments and spontaneous pain scores were evaluated. Sham-operated rats were used as controls. RESULTS: In all, 20 min of RF-EA reversed hyperalgesia (for 24 h) and allodynia (for 8 h), showing a longer analgesic effect than DD-EA. Both RF-EA and DD-EA induced partial inhibition of spontaneous pain for 8 h. Forty minutes of DD-EA did not interfere with the NP phenomena; however, RF-EA induced significant long-term analgesia. aVNS induced an analgesic effect similar to local stimulation. CONCLUSION: This pilot study shows that RF-EA at both local traditional acupuncture point and auriculotherapy point locations induces long-lasting analgesia in neuropathic rats, and more effectively so than classical DD-EA.

Meta-analysis of deferral versus performance of coronary intervention based on coronary pressure-derived fractional flow reserve.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) has been proposed as the gold standard to assess functional severity of coronary artery stenosis and to stratify which lesions should be subjected to intervention (percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]). A systematic review was performed in MEDLINE and EMBASE including studies indexed until November 2013 that used FFR for deferral or performance of PCI. Outcomes of interest were death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and new revascularization (RV). Nineteen studies were included, totaling 3,097 patients (3,796 lesions). Mean follow-up was 21.2 months. In indirect comparisons, FFR-PCI and FFR-defer groups had similar death (2.2% vs 2.0%, respectively, p = 0.86) and AMI rates (1.9% vs 1.9%, respectively, p = 1.00). RV rates were higher in the FFR-PCI group (14.0% vs 4.4%, p = 0.002). Direct comparisons (2-arm trials) also showed no differences in death (odds ratio [OR] 1.86 [95% CI 0.81 to 4.27], I(2) = 11.5, p = 0.14) and AMI rates (OR 0.75 [95% CI 0.21 to 2.69], I(2) = 47.1, p = 0.66); RV rates were again higher in the FFR-PCI (OR 3.10 [95% CI 1.25 to 7.70], I(2) = 72.2, p = 0.015). Meta-regression suggests influence of male gender on RV rates (ß = 0.058, p = 0.026). In conclusion, deferral of PCI based on FFR is a safe strategy. Considerable heterogeneity was observed, however.

Influence of routine assessment of fractional flow reserve on decision making during coronary interventions.

In complex coronary artery disease, it is sometimes difficult to determine which lesions are associated with reversible ischemia and should be stented. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is an established objective methodology to indicate which lesions produce ischemia. Despite this, the selection of lesions to be stented is often based on the subjectively interpreted angiogram alone. The aim of this study in patients admitted for elective percutaneous intervention (PCI) was to evaluate the change in strategy if the decision to intervene was based on FFR measurement rather than on angiographic assessment. Two hundred fifty consecutive patients (471 arteries) scheduled for PCI were included in this study. All stenoses >or=50% by visual estimation and initially selected to be stented by 3 independent reviewers were assessed by FFR measurements. If FFR was <0.75, stenting was performed; if FFR was >or=0.75, no interventional treatment was given. Optimal pressure measurements were obtained in 452 lesions (96%). Diameter stenosis was 62 +/- 12%, and FFR was 0.67 +/- 0.17 for the entire group. In 68% of the stenoses, initial strategy as assessed from the angiogram was followed, and in 32%, there was a change in the planned approach based on FFR. In 48% of the patients, there was >or=1 lesion in which the treatment decision was changed after physiologic measurements. In conclusion, in this prospective, nonselective, but complete study representing the real world of PCI, 32% of the coronary stenoses and 48% of patients would have received a different treatment if the decision had been based on angiography only, stressing the utility of physiologic assessment in refining decision making during PCI.

Embolização eletiva de artéria uterina como alternativa à histerectomia / Uterine artery embolization

A embolização de artéria uterina para o tratamento de miomas uterinos veio, recentemente, mudar a abordagem terapêutica desta condição tão comum. Já utilizada há bastante tempo para o tratamento de hemorragias decorrentes de outras doenças, só a partir de 1992 começou a ser empregada com a finalidade de tratar os sintomas decorrentes do mioma uterino. Relatamos neste artigo o primeiro caso de embolização de artérias uterinas por nós realizado, com sucesso, no hemisfério sul