Primary neurilemmal tumour of the liver: case report.

A probably unique case of primary benign neurilemmoma of the liver is presented in which no evidence of visceral neurofibromatosis was observed. The histological characteristic of the tumour are discussed.

[Symptomatic mitral valve prolapse. Left ventricular dysfunction and beneficial effect of digitalis]. / Prolapso sintomático da válvula mitral. Disfunção ventricular esquerda e efeito benéfico do digitálico.

PURPOSE: To study the left ventricular function by M-mode echocardiography in symptomatic patients with primary mitral valve prolapse (MVP), without significant mitral regurgitation, during the phenylephrine test, before and after digitalization. METHODS: Thirty one patients with MVP and 10 normal subjects as a control group were studied by M mode echocardiography: Percentage of systolic shortening (DD), ejection fraction (EF) and mean velocity of circumferential fibers shortening (Vcf) were measured. The echocardiographic recordings were obtained at rest and during the continuous infusion of phenylephrine (40-60 micrograms/min) in order to allow an increase of 20-30 mmHg in systolic pressure. RESULTS: At rest, cardiac size and function were normal in both groups. During phenylephrine infusion in 27 patients a decrease in DD (from 37.7 +/- 4.6 to 31.0 +/- 4.0, p < 0.001); in EF (from 0.76 +/- 0.05 to 0.66 +/- 0.6, p < 0.001); in Vcf (from 1.05 +/- 0.77 to 0.76 +/- 0.13, p < 0.001) were observed. From this group 20 patients received digoxin. After the digitalization the phenylephrine test did not cause changes in DD (from 38.3 +/- 5.0 to 39.2 +/- 3.8, NS); in EF (from 0.77 +/- 0.06 to 0.77 +/- 0.04, NS); in Vcf (from 1.05 +/- 0.19 to 0.94 +/- 0.13, NS). These patients during the submaximal exercise test, showed significant increases at the total work load (from 617 +/- 248 to 982 +/- 244 watts, p < 0.001) and cardiac efficiency (from 25.0 +/- 11.5 to 37.2 +/- 10.4, p < 0.001). On the other hand the phenylephrine infusion in the control group did not result in changes in DD, EF and Vcf. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic patients with primary MVP showed total recovering of left ventricular dysfunction with digitalization during the phenylephrine test, with improvement of cardiac efficiency.

[Cardiorespiratory response during exercise in heart transplant recipients. Comparative ergoespirometric analysis with normal health subjects]. / Respostas cardiorrespiratórias durante exercício em portadores de transplante cardíaco. Análise ergoespirométrica comparativa com indivíduos normais.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cardiorespiratory response of heart transplant (HT) recipients. METHODS: Nine HT recipients (GI) underwent ergospirometric tests and were compared to 9 apparently healthy, sedentary subjects with similar sex, age, weight and height (GII). All were male patients aging 48 +/- 12 years, in functional class I (NYHA) an average of 23 +/- 21 months after HT. They were receiving cyclosporin, azathioprine, prednisone, dipyridamole and antihypertensive drugs. The tests were symptom-limited and they were interrupted due to exhaustion. RESULTS: During peak exercise, GI had a significantly lower physical performance related to lower VO2, VE, VEO2, HR, endurance time and work load. At the anaerobic threshold, VO2, endurance time and work load levels were also significantly lower in GI. The physical performance was similar between the groups in the 40W load. CONCLUSION: The cardiorespiratory performance in GI was significantly lower at peak exercise and similar to GII in the 40W load, showing the HT benefits cardiac patients during usual activities.

[Early and late physiological effects of balloon mitral valvuloplasty]. / Adaptações fisiológicas precoces e tardias após valvotomia mitral por cateter balão.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the early and late cardiorespiratory responses after balloon mitral valvuloplasty. METHODS: Nine female patients aged 35 +/- 9 years with mitral stenosis, in class II or III (NYHA) underwent up-right ergoespirometric test, resting electrocardiogram and echocardiogram before, 3 to 5 days (early evaluation) and 8 to 12 months (late evaluation) after mitral valvuloplasty. All patients were treated with digitalis and diuretics. RESULTS: During late evaluation, 44% patients were in class II and 56% were in class I (NYHA). The resting heart rate decreased (87 +/- 11 bpm vs 85 +/- 7 bpm vs 75 +/- 9 bpm) and the number of steps increased (4 +/- 1 steps vs 5 +/- 2 steps vs 6 +/- 1 steps); the peak oxygen uptake improved only in the late evaluation (16 +/- 3 mL/kg/min vs 18 +/- 4 mL/kg/min vs 22 +/- 7 mL/kg/min). The anaerobic threshold, minute ventilation (VE) and ventilatory equivalent for oxygen showed no change. The heart rate (1st step: 124 +/- 18 bpm vs 112 +/- 13 bpm vs 87 +/- 15 bpm), O2 uptake (1st step: 10 +/- 2 mL/ kg/min vs 8 +/- 2 mL/kg/min vs 8 +/- 2 mL/kg/min) and VE decreased during submaximal exercise in early and late phases. The mitral valve area decreased in the late evaluation (0.94 cm2 vs 1.66 cm2 vs 1.20 cm2). CONCLUSION: Although partial restenosis tended to occur in these patients, they improved the functional class and cardiorespiratory performance and cardiocirculatory load during submaximal exercise.

[Athlete's heart in elite disabled athletes]. / Coração de atleta em desportistas deficientes de elite.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of the athlete's, heart syndrome in elite disabled Brazilians athletes. METHODS: Seventy-five athletes, age 27.8 +/- 6.7 years, 56 men, with various disabilities (47 physical, 12 visual and 16 cerebral paralysis) underwent clinical, electrocardiographic, vectorcardiographic, ergometric and echocardiographic evaluations. RESULTS: Athlete's heart signs occurred in 33% of the clinical evaluations, in 55% of the electrocardiograms, in 15% of the vectorcardiograms, and in 5% of the echocardiograms. At least one of these signs was presented in 51% of the athletes. There were 2 or more abnormalities in 46% of the athletes and 4 or more signs in 12%. Exercise test was considered not ischemic in 77% of the subjects. There was right bundle branch block in 23% of the tests. CONCLUSION: There were two or more athlete's heart syndrome signs in 46% of Brazilian disabled athletes.

[Exercise test: abnormal ST segments restricted to recovery phase]. / Teste de esforço: alterações do segmento ST restritas à fase de recuperação.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) and or myocardial ischemia in patients (pt) with abnormal ST segments restrict to recovery phase (RRAST) of exercise testing (ET). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study in 19 non consecutive pt with RRAST, related to coronary arteriography or exercise planar scyntillography (18 men, 58 +/- 9 years, 18 asymptomatic). RESULTS: RRAST corresponded to ST segment depression from 1 to 4 mm, with T inversion during early recovery (2 pt); late (14 pt) or both (4 pt). It was documented CAD (14 pt and 9) with artery-by-pass surgery); hypertensive myocardiopathy with normal coronary (3 pt), and mitral prolapse valve (1 pt). In 13 pt with coronary arteriography or exercise scyntillography, within the first 6 months from exercise testing, myocardial ischemia was confirmed in 8 pt in 3 pt, successive exercise testing showed RRAST reproductive in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: The authors report the high incidence of CAD and or transitory hypoperfusion during myocardial scyntillography in symptomatic men with middle age with RRAST during exercise testing.

[Axillary dissection in cancer of the breast: a conservative approach]. / Dissecção da axila no câncer da mama: um enfoque conservador.

It is common in oncology to have more than one alternative treatment for the same clinical situation. This is particularly true in breast cancer. Traditional treatments such as Halsted Radical Mastectomies are difficult to change. It is not uncommon to see this approach in Brazil, even in initial tumors, although it is considered unnecessary unless the pectoralis muscle is involved. Radical dissection of the axilla is another controversial issue in breast cancer today. Recent publications have given support to question the routine recommendation of axillary dissection in breast cancer. It is reasonable, under certain circumstances, not to perform axillary dissection or treat the axilla with other methods. Limited axillary dissection, for instance, may present good results with less risk of arm lymphedema. This paper illustrates this point showing preliminary results of 147 breast cancer patients with local tumor treated with conservative management. Half of the patients (74) had axillary surgery while the other 73 did not. Multivariate analysis using Cox's regression was performed and showed that axillary dissection did not change survival. This information confirms similar data published in the literature.

Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and coronary disease risk factors in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of myocardial perfusion abnormalities and the possible association between myocardial perfusion defects and traditional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors as well as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) related risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Female patients with SLE, disease duration >5 years, age 18-55 years, who had used steroids for at least one year were enrolled. Traditional CAD risk factors evaluated were arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, postmenopausal status, smoking, obesity, and premature family CAD profile. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy was evaluated by single photon emission computed tomography with technetium 99m-sestamibi at rest and after dipyridamole induced stress. RESULTS: Eight two female patients with SLE without angina pectoris with mean (SD) age 37 (10) years, disease duration 127 (57) months, SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score 6 (5), and SLICC/ACR-DI score 2 (2) were evaluated. Myocardial perfusion abnormalities were found in 23 patients (28%). The mean (SD) number of CAD risk factors was 2.2 (1.6). There was a significant positive correlation between age and number of CAD risk factors. Lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level showed a significant association with abnormal scintigraphy. Logistic regression analysis showed that lower HDL cholesterol level and diabetes mellitus were associated with myocardial perfusion abnormalities. Current vasculitis was also associated with abnormal scintigraphy. CONCLUSIONS: Lower HDL cholesterol level and diabetes mellitus have a significant influence on abnormal myocardial perfusion results found in asymptomatic patients with SLE. Current vasculitis was associated with abnormal myocardial scintigraphy. These data suggest that abnormal myocardial scintigraphy may be related to subclinical atherosclerosis.

Prolapso sintomático da válvula mitral: disfunçäo ventricular esquerda e efeito benéfico do digitálico / Symptomatic mitral valve prolapse: left ventricular dysfunction and beneficial effect of digitalis

Objetivo - Estudar a funçäo ventricular esquerda pela ecocardiografia modo M de pacientes sintomáticos com prolapso da válvula mitral (PVM) primário, sem insuficiência mitral significante, durante a prova da fenilefrina, antes e após a digitalizaçäo. Métodos - Foram estudados 31 pacientes com PVM e 10 indivíduos normais como grupo de controle. Pela ecocardiografia modo M foram medidos: percentagem do encurtamento sistólico (DD), fraçäo de ejeçäo (FE) e velocidade média de encurtamento circunferencial e velocidade média de encurtamento circunferencial das fibras (Vcf). Os traçados ecocardiográficos foram realizados em repouso e durante a infusäo lenta de fenilefrina (40-60 ug/min) a fim de permitir aumentos da pressäo arterial sistólica de 20 a 30 mmHg. Resultados - Em repouso, o tamanho e a funçäo cardíaca foram normais em ambos os grupos, porém durante a infusäo de fenilefrina, 27 pacientes apresentaram diminuiçöes na DD (de 37.7 ñ 4,6 para 31, 0 ñ 4,0, p < 0,001, na FE (de 0,76 ñ 0,05 para 0,66 ñ 0,6, p 0,001 e no Vef (de 1,05 ñ 0,77 para 0,76 ñ 0,13 cir/s, p < 0,001). Desse grupo, 20 pacientes após a digitalizaçäo, durante o teste de fenilefrina, näo apresentaram alteraçöes na DD (de 38,3 ñ 5,0 para 39,2 ñ 3,8 NS); FE (de 0,77 ñ 0,06 para 0,77 ñ 0,004, NS) e no Vef (de 1,05 ñ 0,19 para 0,94 ñ 0,13, cir/s, NS). Esses pacientes, digitalizados, durante o teste ergométrico submáximo apresentaram aumentos significantes do trabalho total (de 617 ñ 248 para 982 ñ 244 watts, p < 0,001) e da eficiência cardíaca (de 25,0 ñ 11,5 para 37,2 ñ 10,4, p 0,001). Por outro lado, a infusäo de fenilefrina no grupo controle, näo provocou alteraçöes na DD, FE e VcF. Conclusäo - Pacientes sintomáticos com PVM primário, sem insuficiência mitral significativa, apresentam durante a prova de fenilefrina uma total recuperaçäo da disfunçäo ventricular esquerda, quando digitados, com melhora significativa do trabalho total e da eficiência cardíaca no teste de esforço

Purpose - To study the left ventricular function by M-mode echocardiography in symptomatic patients with primary mitral valve prolapse (MVP), without significant mitral regurgitation, during the phenylephrine test, before and after digitalization. Methods - Thirty one patients with MVP and 10 normal subjects as a control group were studied by M mode echocardiography: Percentage of systolic shortening ( DD), ejection fraction (EF) and mean velocity of circunferential fibers shortening (Vcf) were measured. The echocardiographic recordings were obtained at rest and during the continuous infusion of phenylephrine (40-60 ug/min) in order to allow an increase of 20-30 mmHg in systalic pressure. Results - At rest, cardiac size and function were normal in both groups. During phenylephrine infusion in 27 patients a decrease in DD (from 37.7 ±4.6 to 31.0 ± 4.0, p<0.001); in EF (from 0.76 ± 0.05 to 0.66 ± 0.6, p<0.001); in Vcf (from 1.05 ± 0.77 to 0.76 ± 0.13, p<0.001) were observed. From this group 20 patients received digoxin. After the digitalization the phenylephrine test did not cause changes in DD (from 38.3 ± 5.0 to 39.2 ± 3.8, NS); in EF (from 0.77 ± 0.06 to 0.77 ± 0.04, NS); in Vcf (from 1.05 ± 0.19 to 0.94 ± 0.13,NS). These patients during the submaximal exercise test, showed significant increases at the total work load (from 617 ± 248 to 982 ± 244 watts, p<0.001) and cardic efficiency (from 25.0 ± 11.5 to 37.2 ± 10.4, p<0.001). On the other hand the phenylephrine infusion in the control group did not result in changes in DD, EF and Vcf. Conclusion - Symptomatic patients with primary MVP showed total recovering of left ventricular dysfunction with digitalization during the phenylephrine test, with improvement of cardiac efficiency