In vitro antifungal activity of fatty acid methyl esters of the seeds of Annona cornifolia A.St.-Hil. (Annonaceae) against pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis / Atividade antifúngica in vitro dos ésteres metílicos de ácidos graxos das sementes de Annona cornifolia A.St.-Hil. (Annonaceae) sobre o fungo patogênico Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

INTRODUCTION: Fatty acids are abundant in vegetable oils. They are known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties. METHODS: Antifungal susceptibility was evaluated by broth microdilution assay following CLSI (formerly the NCCLS) guidelines against 16 fungal strains of clinical interest. RESULTS: In this work, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was able to inhibit 12 clinical strains of the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and were also active in the bioautographic assay against Cladosporium sphaerospermum. CONCLUSIONS: FAME was a more potent antifungal than trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole against P. brasiliensis under the experimental conditions tested.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os ácidos graxos são abundantes em óleos vegetais. Eles são conhecidos por suas propriedades antibacterianas e antifúngicas. MÉTODOS: A suscetibilidade a antifúngicos foi avaliada pelo ensaio de microdiluição em caldo de acordo com CLSI (anteriormente NCCLS) sobre 16 isolados de interesse clínico. RESULTADOS: Nesse trabalho, os ésteres metílicos de ácidos graxos (FAME) inibiram doze isolados clínicos do fungo patogênico Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, e também foi muito ativo no ensaio de bioautografia sobre o fungo Cladosporium sphaerospermum. CONCLUSÕES: FAME foi um antifúngico mais potente do que sulfametoxazol-trimetoprim contra P. brasiliensis, nas condições utilizadas no presente trabalho.

Uso da cintilografia miocárdica em repouso durante dor torácica para descartar infarto agudo do miocárdio / Utilización de la centellografía miocárdica en reposo durante dolor torácico para descartar infarto agudo de miocardio / Use of resting myocardial scintigraphy during chest pain to exclude diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction

FUNDAMENTO: A imagem de perfusão miocárdica adquirida durante episódio de dor torácica tem sido utilizada nos pacientes na sala de emergência. OBJETIVO: Avaliar as características operacionais da cintilografia com 99mTc-Tetrofosmin durante episódio de dor torácica para descartar o diagnóstico de infarto agudo do miocárdio. MÉTODOS: 108 pacientes admitidos com dor torácica ou até quatro horas do término dos sintomas e eletrocardiograma não diagnostico realizaram cintilografia em repouso e dosagens de troponina I. Pacientes com passado de infarto do miocárdio (IM) não foram excluídos (24 pacientes). Troponina I foi dosada na admissão e seis horas após. Médicos nucleares realizaram análise cega das imagens. Infarto do miocárdio foi confirmado com elevação da troponina I maior que três vezes o controle. RESULTADOS: A imagem perfusional de repouso foi anormal em todos os seis pacientes com IM. Apenas um paciente apresentou imagem normal e elevação da troponina. Outros 55 pacientes obtiveram imagem positiva sem IM e 46 pacientes com imagens e troponinas normais. A prevalência da doença foi 6,5 por cento. A sensibilidade da imagem de repouso durante dor torácica para a evidência de IM foi 85,7 por cento e especificidade de 45,5 por cento. O valor preditivo negativo foi 97,7 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes submetidos ao protocolo de dor torácica com cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica demonstraram um excelente valor preditivo negativo para afastar o diagnóstico de infarto do miocárdio. Estes resultados sugerem que a imagem de perfusão em repouso é uma ferramenta importante na unidade de dor torácica.

BACKGROUND: Images of myocardial perfusion taken during an episode of chest pain have been used for patients in the emergency department. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the operating characteristics of 99mTc-Tetrofosmin scintigraphy during an episode of chest pain to exclude the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: One hundred and eight patients admitted with chest pain, or up to four hours after the end of symptoms and nondiagnostic electrocardiogram, underwent resting scintigraphy and measurement of troponin I concentrations. Patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) were not excluded (24 patients). Troponin I concentrations were determined at admission and 6 hours later. Nuclear physicians performed a blind analysis of the images, and myocardial infarction was confirmed whenever troponin I level increase was three times that of the control. RESULTS: Resting perfusion image was abnormal in all 6 patients with MI. Only 1 patient had a normal image and increased troponin levels. Fifty-five patients had positive images without MI, and 46 patients had normal images and troponin levels. The prevalence of the disease was 6.5 percent. The sensitivity and specificity of the resting images during an episode of chest pain to diagnose MI was 85.7 percent and 45.5 percent, respectively. The negative predictive value was 97.7 percent. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing chest pain protocol with SPECT showed an excellent negative predictive value to exclude diagnosis of myocardial infarction. These results suggest that resting perfusion image is an important tool at the chest pain unit.

FUNDAMENTO: La utilización en los pacientes de la imagen de perfusión miocárdica, adquirida durante episodio de dolor torácico, es frecuente en la sala de emergencia. OBJETIVO: Evaluar las características operacionales de la centellografía con 99mTc-Tetrofosmin, durante episodio de dolor torácico, para descartar el diagnóstico de infarto agudo de miocardio. MÉTODOS: Un total de 108 pacientes ingresados con dolor torácico, o hasta tras 4 horas del término de los síntomas, con electrocardiograma no diagnostico, realizaron centellografía en reposo y dosificaciones de troponina I. No se excluyeron a los pacientes con pasado de infarto de miocardio (IM) (24 pacientes). Se dosificó troponina I al ingreso y tras 6 horas del ingreso. Médicos nucleares realizaron análisis ciego de las imágenes. Se confirmó infarto de miocardio, con elevación de la troponina I mayor que tres veces el control. RESULTADOS: La imagen de perfusión en reposo se mostró anormal en todos los seis pacientes con IM. Sólo un paciente presentó imagen normal y elevación de la troponina. Otros 55 pacientes obtuvieron imagen positiva sin IM y 46 pacientes presentaron imágenes y troponinas normales. La prevalencia de la enfermedad fue de un 6,5 por ciento. Fue de un 85,7 por ciento la sensibilidad de la imagen de reposo durante dolor torácico para la evidencia de IM, y la especificidad de un 45,5 por ciento. El valor predictivo negativo fue de un 97,7 por ciento. CONCLUSIÓN: Pacientes sometidos al protocolo de dolor torácico con centellografía de perfusión miocárdica demostraron un excelente valor predictivo negativo para la exclusión del diagnóstico de infarto de miocardio. Estos resultados sugieren que la imagen de perfusión en reposo es una herramienta importante en la unidad de dolor torácico.

É o sexo feminino um preditor independente de mortalidade hospitalar no infarto agudo do miocárdio? / Is female sex an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction?

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether female sex is a factor independently related to in-hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Of 600 consecutive patients (435 males and 165 females) with acute myocardial infarction, we studied 13 demographic and clinical variables obtained at the time of hospital admission through uni- and multivariate analysis, and analyzed their relation to in-hospital death. RESULTS: Females were older (p<0.001) and had a higher incidence of hypertension (p<0.001). Males were more frequently smokers (p<0.001). The remaining risk factors had a similar incidence among both sexes. All variables underwent uni- and multivariate analysis. Through univariate analysis, the following variables were found to be associated with in-hospital death: female sex (p<0.001), age >70 years (p<0.001), the presence of previous coronary artery disease (p=0.0004), previous myocardial infarction (p<0.001), infarction in the anterior wall (p=0.007), presence of left ventricular dysfunction (p<0.001), and the absence of thrombolytic therapy (p=0.04). Through the multivariate analysis of logistic regression, the following variables were associated with in-hospital mortality: female sex (p=0.001), age (p=0.008), the presence of previous myocardial infarction (p=0.02), and left ventricular dysfunction (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: After adjusting for all risk variables, female sex proved to be a variable independently related to in-hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction

Eficácia de uma estratégia diagnóstica para pacientes com dor torácica e sem supradesnível do segmento ST na sala de emergência / Efficacy of a diagnostic strategy for patients with chest pain and no ST-segment elevation in the emergency room

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of a systematic model of care for patients with chest pain and no ST segment elevation in the emergency room. METHODS: From 1003 patients submitted to an algorithm diagnostic investigation by probability of acute ischemic syndrome. We analyzed 600 ones with no elevation of ST segment, then enrolled to diagnostic routes of median (route 2) and low probability (route 3) to ischemic syndrome. RESULTS: In route 2 we found 17 per cent acute myocardial infarction and 43 per cent unstable angina, whereas in route 3 the rates were 2 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively. Patients with normal/non--specific ECG had 6 per cent probability of AMI whereas in those with negative first CKMB it was 7 per cent; the association of the 2 data only reduced it to 4 per cent. In patients in route 2 the diagnosis of AMI could only be ruled out with serial CKMB measurement up to 9 hours, while in route 3 it could be done in up to 3 hours. Thus, sensitivity and negative predictive value of admission CKMB for AMI were 52 per cent and 93 per cent, respectively. About one-half of patients with unstable angina did not disclose objective ischemic changes on admission. CONCLUSION: The use of a systematic model of care in patients with chest pain offers the opportunity of hindering inappropriate release of patients with ACI and reduces unnecessary admissions. However some patients even with normal ECG should not be released based on a negative first CKMB. Serial measurement of CKMB up to 9 hours is necessary in patients with medium probability of AMI.

Dor torácica na sala de emergência: a importância de uma abordagem sistematizada / Chest pain in the emergency room: importance of a systematic approach

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency of a systematic diagnostic approach in patients with chest pain in the emergency room in relation to the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the rate of hospitalization in high-cost units. METHODS: One thousand and three consecutive patients with chest pain were screened according to a pre-established process of diagnostic investigation based on the pre-test probability of ACS determinate by chest pain type and ECG changes. RESULTS: Of the 1003 patients, 224 were immediately discharged home because of no suspicion of ACS (route 5) and 119 were immediately transferred to the coronary care united because of ST elevation or left bundle-branch block (LBBB) (route 1) (74 per cent of these had a final diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction [AMI]). Of the 660 patients that remained in the emergency room under observation, 77 (12 per cent) had AMI without ST segment elevation and 202 (31 per cent) had unstable angina (UA). In route 2 (high probability of ACS) 17 per cent of patients had AMI and 43 per cent had UA, whereas in route 3 (low probability) 2 per cent had AMI and 7 per cent had UA. The admission ECG has been confirmed as a poor sensitivity test for the diagnosis of AMI ( 49 per cent), with a positive predictive value considered only satisfactory (79 per cent). CONCLUSION : A systematic diagnostic strategy, as used in this study, is essential in managing patients with chest pain in the emergency room in order to obtain high diagnostic accuracy, lower cost, and optimization of the use of coronary care unit beds.

Mortalidade hospitalar no infarto agudo do miocárdio: E possível prever utilizando dados de admissão? / Hospital Mortality in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Is it Possible to Predict Using Admission Data?

PURPOSE: To identify clinical variables on admission that are related to hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to generate a mathematic model to predict accurately this mortality. METHODS: Prospective study with 347 consecutive patients with AMI in which clinical variables related to mortality were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis. The mathematic model generated by multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied in each patient to determine his/her probability (P) of hospital death. Model's accuracy was validated by reliability and discrimination tests. RESULTS: Admission variables directly and independently related to hospital mortality: female gender, age, absence of history of hypertension, history of previous infarction, non-inferior AMI and Killip class. These six variables, when present cumulatively, showed increasing mortality rates. Mean P value for non-survivors was significantly greater than for survivors (43.2 +/- 31.4 vs 9.1 +/- 12.5, p < 0.00001). Reliability of the model to predict death, assessed by stratifying patients in three risk groups (low, medium and high) or continuously (by linear regression analysis) showed excellent predictive performance. Discrimination between survivors and non-survivors, assessed by C-index (concordance probability), disclosed 85 rate of success. CONCLUSION: Risk variables can be used in a mathematic model that is capable of predicting accurately in-hospital mortality of each patient with AMI. Mortality prediction can allow physicians to be more efficient in assessing risk-benefit ratios in these patients when faced with therapeutic decisions.

Objetivo - Identificar as variáveis clínicas de admissão que se relacionam com a mortalidade hospitalar no infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) e criar um modelo matemático capaz de prever acuradamente o seu risco. Métodos - Estudo prospectivo com 347 pacientes consecutivos com IAM nos quais se identificaram variáveis clínicas, que se relacionaram com a mortalidade, pelas análises univariada e multivariada. O modelo matemático obtido pela análise multivariada de regressão logística foi aplicado em cada paciente, para determinar a sua probabilidade (P) de óbito hospitalar. A acurácia do modelo foi validada por testes de confiabilidade e de discriminação. Resultados - Variáveis de admissão relacionadas, independentemente, com a mortalidade hospitalar: sexo feminino, idade, ausência de história de hipertensão, história de infarto prévio, IAM não-inferior e classe Killip que, quando presentes cumulativamente, mostraram taxas de mortalidades crescentes. O valor médio de P dos pacientes que faleceram foi significativamente maior que dos sobreviventes (43,2±31,4% vs 9,1±12,5%, p<0,00001). A confiabilidade do modelo matemático na previsão de óbitos, avaliada estratificadamente em três subgrupos de risco (baixo, médio e alto) ou continuamente (por análise de regressão linear), mostrou excelente desempenho preditivo. O poder discriminatório entre óbitos e sobreviventes, avaliado pelo índice - C (concordância de probabilidades), mostrou taxa de acerto de 85%. Conclusão - Variáveis clínicas podem ser utilizadas num modelo matemático, que é capaz de prever, acuradamente, a taxa de mortalidade hospitalar de cada paciente com IAM. A previsão desta mortalidade poderá permitir, aos médicos, maior eficiência na avaliação da relação risco-benefício destes pacientes, quando confrontados com decisões terapêuticas