A new species of Neofavolus (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from Brazil.

Neofavolus teixeirae sp. nov. (Basidiomycota) is described and illustrated based on specimens collected from a reforestation area in southeastern Brazil. This new species is characterized by a lateral stipe up to 1.3 cm long, lacerate and angular pores measuring 0.5-2 (-2.5) per mm, and cylindrical to subcylindrical basidiospores. Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS and LSU regions confirmed its phylogenetic placement and taxonomic identity. A key to Neofavolus species is presented.

A prospective, randomized, controlled trial of noninvasive ventilation in pediatric acute respiratory failure.

OUTCOMES: To compare the benefits of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) plus standard therapy vs. standard therapy alone in children with acute respiratory failure; assess method effectiveness in improving gas exchange and vital signs; and assess method safety. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled study. SITE: Two pediatric intensive care units in Santiago, Chile, at Clínica Santa María and Clínica Dávila, respectively. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with acute respiratory failure admitted to pediatric intensive care units were recruited; 25 patients were randomly allocated to noninvasive inspiratory positive airway pressure and expiratory positive airway pressure plus standard therapy (study group); the remaining 25 were given standard therapy (control group). Both groups were comparable in demographic terms. INTERVENTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS: The study group received NIV under inspiratory positive airway pressure ranging between 12 cm and 18 cm H2O and expiratory positive airway pressure between 6 cm and 12 cm H2O. Vital signs (cardiac and respiratory frequency), Po2, Pco2, pH, and Po2/Fio2 were recorded at the start and 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hrs into the study. RESULTS: Heart rate and respiratory rate improved significantly with NIV. Heart rate and respiratory rate were significantly lower after 1 hr of treatment compared with admission (p = 0.0009 and p = 0.004, respectively). The trend continued over time, heart rate being significantly lower than control after the first hour and heart rate after 6 hrs. With NIV, Po2/Fio2 improved significantly from the first hour. The endotracheal intubation was significantly lower (28%) in the NIV group than in the control group (60%; p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: NIV improves hypoxemia and the signs and symptoms of acute respiratory failure. NIV seems to afford these patients protection from endotracheal intubation.

Estudio preliminar de índices ecocardiográficos que permitanoptimizar la indicación de resonancia cardíaca en pacientes conTetralogía de Fallot reparada / Echocardiographic indexes help predict the need for nuclear magnetic resonance evaluation of patients with repaired tetralogy of fallot

Introducción: La Tetralogía de Fallot reparada (TOFr) a largo plazo evoluciona frecuentemente con insuficiencia pulmonar (IP). La resonancia magnética cardíaca (RMC) juega un rol fundamental en la indicación de recambio valvular pulmonar destinada a evitar las complicaciones de la IP. Objetivo: El objetivo de este trabajo es buscar qué índice(s) ecocardiográfico(s) permite(n) identificar a los pacientes con TOFr que tienen VD dilatado y fracción de eyección (FE) disminuida en la RMC. Método: En 20 pacientes (9 mujeres, 8-25 años, promedio 15,8 años) con TOFr se realizó ecocardiograma (ECO) y RMC en el Hospital Sótero del Río. Por ECO se obtuvieron mediciones de excursión sistólica máxima anular tricuspídea (TAPSE), onda s tisular, aceleración miocárdica isovolumétrica (IVA), y grado de IP (leve, moderado o severo). Por RMC se midieron la FE, volumen fin de diástole (VFD) del VD y fracción de regurgitación de la arteria pulmonar (FR). Se realizó un análisis estadístico multivariado. Resultados: No se obtuvo ninguna correlación entre algún parámetro de ECO versus VFD o FE del VD. Sin embargo, se encontró un modelo basado en el TAP-SE e IP que en nuestros pacientes pudo predecir el VDF del VD con un r2 = 0.6. (VDF-VD = 8.60*TAPSE + 36.19*IP - 77.213). Al comparar la IP con la FR se encontró que la ecografía puede distinguir correctamente aquellos casos que tienen IP leve de severa (p<0.001), o moderada de severa (p=0.004), pero no puede diferenciar con significancia estadística aquellos casos de IP leve de moderada (p=0.272). Conclusión: En este estudio preliminar se encontró un modelo estadístico basado en el TAPSE e IP que podría ser útil en la selección de pacientes que son derivados para estudio con RMC. La estimación del grado de IP medida por ECO es un parámetro fácil de obtener, sin embargo no siempre es informado en forma categórica (leve, moderado o severo). Si bien este estudio se debe validar en un mayor número de pacientes, éste nos indica la...

Background: Pulmonary insufficiency (PI) frequently appears long-term after repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOFr). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) plays a fundamental role in the indication of pulmonary valve replacement, in order to avoid complications of PI. However, CMR is a scarce and expensive resource in our reality, which is why its indication must be optimized. Aim: The objective of this work is to find echocar-diographic indices to identify patients with TOFr with dilated RV and reduced ejection fraction (EF). Method: Images from echocardiograms (ECHO) and CMR in 20 patients (9 women, 8-25 years of age, average 15,8 years old) with TOFr were retrospectively reviewed. From ECHO images we obtained measurements for tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), tissular s wave, isovolumetric acceleration (IVA), and severity of PI (mild, moderate, or severe). From CMR images, we measured EF, end diastolic volume (EDV) of the RV, and regurgitant fraction (RF) of the pulmonary artery. We performed a multivariate statistical analysis to explore the relation between ECHO parameters and CMR findings. Results: No correlation was found between individual ECHO parameters and EDV or RV EF. However, we did find a model based on the TAPSE and PI that was able to predict the EDV of the RV with an r2 = 0.6. (FDV-RV = 8.60*TAPSE + 36.19*PI - 77.213). After comparing the PI with RF, we found that that echocar-diography could correctly distinguish cases with mild PI from those with severe PI (p<0.001), or moderate from severe (p=0.004), but not mild from moderate PI. Conclusion: In this preliminary study, we found a statistical model based on the TAPSE and PI which could be useful in the selection of patients with TOFr that are referred to CMR. While this study needs to be validated on a greater number of patients, it indicates the relevance of some echocardiographic parameters, which should always be included in the evaluation of patients with TOFr.