Effect of seasonality and estuarine waters on the phytoplankton of the Guamá River (Belém, Amazon, Brazil).

This study aimed to analyze the application of the Phytoplankton Community Index-PCI and Functional Groups-FG in determining the water quality of the Guamá River (Pará, Amazônia, Brazil). Samplings occurred monthly for analyses of phytoplankton and physical and chemical parameters, for two years, at the station where water was collected for human supply consumption. Seasonality influenced electrical conductivity, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, transparency, winds, true color, and N-ammoniacal. The ebb tide showed high turbidity and suspended solids. The density varied seasonally with the highest values occurring in September and December (61.1 ind mL-1 and 60.2 ind mL-1, respectively). Chlorophyll-a was more elevated in December (21.0 ± 4.7 µg L-1) and chlorophyll-c higher in relation to clorophyll- b indicated the dominance of diatoms. Functional Group P prevailed in the study months. Through the PCI índex the waters of Guamá River varied from reasonable to excellent and the TSI ranged from oligo to mesotrophic. The use of Functional Groups proved to be a promising tool in the determination of water quality since it covered the most abundant species in the Environment, but the PCI is not adequate to characterize Amazonian white-waters rivers, which have diatoms as the leading dominant group.

Environmental health of water bodies from a Brazilian Amazon Metropolis based on a conventional and metagenomic approach.

AIMS: The present study aimed to use a conventional and metagenomic approach to investigate the microbiological diversity of water bodies in a network of drainage channels and rivers located in the central area of the city of Belém, northern Brazil, which is considered one of the largest cities in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS AND RESULTS: In eight of the analyzed points, both bacterial and viral microbiological indicators of environmental contamination-physical-chemical and metals-were assessed. The bacterial resistance genes, drug resistance mechanisms, and viral viability in the environment were also assessed. A total of 473 families of bacteria and 83 families of viruses were identified. Based on the analysis of metals, the levels of three metals (Cd, Fe, and Mn) were found to be above the recommended acceptable level by local legislation. The levels of the following three physicochemical parameters were also higher than recommended: biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. Sixty-three bacterial resistance genes that conferred resistance to 13 different classes of antimicrobials were identified. Further, five mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance were identified and viral viability in the environment was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Intense human actions combined with a lack of public policies and poor environmental education of the population cause environmental degradation, especially in water bodies. Thus, urgent interventions are warranted to restore the quality of this precious and scarce asset worldwide.

Case report: First case of fungemia caused by Papiliotrema laurentii in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Previously considered saprobe and non-pathogenic, the fungus Papiliotrema laurentii (formerly known as Cryptococcus laurentii), is rarely associated with human infection. Nevertheless, there has been an increase in reported infections by non-neoformans cryptococci. After a literature search on the Cochrane Library, LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, PubMed, and PMC (PubMed Central) databases, we conclude that this is the first case report of fungemia and probable meningitis caused by Papiliotrema laurentii in a previously immunocompetent host with associated COVID-19.

Case report: First case of fungemia caused by Papiliotrema laurentii in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection

ABSTRACT Previously considered saprobe and non-pathogenic, the fungus Papiliotrema laurentii (formerly known as Cryptococcus laurentii), is rarely associated with human infection. Nevertheless, there has been an increase in reported infections by non-neoformans cryptococci. After a literature search on the Cochrane Library, LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, PubMed, and PMC (PubMed Central) databases, we conclude that this is the first case report of fungemia and probable meningitis caused by Papiliotrema laurentii in a previously immunocompetent host with associated COVID-19.

Brain abscesses caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a patient with myasthenia gravis - Case report and systematic review.

Background: Listeriosis is a known cause of community acquired bacterial meningitis/meningoencephalitis. It occurs more frequently in neonates, older people and immunocompromised hosts. Rarely, brain abscesses can complicate the course of infection, which poses a difficulty in the management and elevates morbidity and mortality. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that often requires immunosuppressive treatment, which increases the risk for invasive infections. Case description: A 75-year-old myasthenic patient, treated with prednisone and pyridostigmine, was diagnosed with invasive listeriosis. He presented with muscle weakness, dyspnea, hemiparesis and altered mental status. Brain imaging revealed multiple abscesses and blood cultures were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Despite combination antibiotic therapy, he died 6 weeks after admission. Systematic review: Ninety-six cases of brain abscesses from 1968 to 2023 were reviewed; the majority of the patients were men, 54 years-old on average, and had at least one risk factor for invasive listeriosis. The mortality exceeded 22%. Blood cultures and CSF/abscess cultures were positive in only 79.2% and 54.6%, respectively. The most common therapeutic approach was a combination regimen that included amoxicillin or ampicillin. Only 8 patients underwent surgery, of which one died. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of L. monocytogenes as a cause of brain abscesses in populations at risk, including myasthenic patients. The challenge of diagnosing and treating this condition is aggravated by the paucity of literature and the high mortality rate.

Case report: Mycetoma caused by Gordonia soli.

Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease caused by fungi (eumycetoma) or bacteria (actinomycetoma), with high morbidity. Gordonia spp. are gram-positive bacteria that have previously been reported to cause mycetoma. Here, we report a case of Gordonia soli (initially misidentified as Nocardia spp.) as the etiological agent of actinomycetoma in a 64-year-old patient. After a literature search in the Cochrane Library, LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, PubMed, and PubMed Central databases, we concluded that this is the first case report of mycetoma caused by Gordonia soli. The current case highlights the importance of microbiological diagnosis of mycetoma and the challenges in its management.

MRI of Pediatric Foot and Ankle Conditions.

The increase in competitive sports practice among children and lack of ionizing radiation have resulted in a higher demand for MRI examinations. MRI of the children skeleton has some particularities that can lead orthopedists, pediatricians, and radiologists to diagnostic errors. The foot and ankle have several bones with abundant radiolucent and high signal intensity cartilage in several ossification centers, apophysis and physis, that can make this interpretation even harder. The present revision aims to show, how to differentiate between normal developmental findings and anatomic variants from pathologic conditions, whether mechanical, inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic.

Antiviral Evaluation of New Synthetic Bioconjugates Based on GA-Hecate: A New Class of Antivirals Targeting Different Steps of Zika Virus Replication.

Re-emerging arboviruses represent a serious health problem due to their rapid vector-mediated spread, mainly in urban tropical areas. The 2013-2015 Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in South and Central America has been associated with cases of microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barret syndrome. We previously showed that the conjugate gallic acid-Hecate (GA-FALALKALKKALKKLKKALKKAL-CONH2)-is an efficient inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus. Here, we show that the Hecate peptide is degraded in human blood serum into three major metabolites. These metabolites conjugated with gallic acid were synthesized and their effect on ZIKV replication in cultured cells was evaluated. The GA-metabolite 5 (GA-FALALKALKKALKKL-COOH) was the most efficient in inhibiting two ZIKV strains of African and Asian lineage at the stage of both virus entry (virucidal and protective) and replication (post-entry). We also demonstrate that GA-metabolite 5 does not affect cell growth after 7 days of continuous treatment. Thus, this study identifies a new synthetic antiviral compound targeting different steps of ZIKV replication in vitro and with the potential for broad reactivity against other flaviviruses. Our work highlights a promising strategy for the development of new antivirals based on peptide metabolism and bioconjugation.

Case report: Mycetoma caused by Gordonia soli

ABSTRACT Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease caused by fungi (eumycetoma) or bacteria (actinomycetoma), with high morbidity. Gordonia spp. are gram-positive bacteria that have previously been reported to cause mycetoma. Here, we report a case of Gordonia soli (initially misidentified as Nocardia spp.) as the etiological agent of actinomycetoma in a 64-year-old patient. After a literature search in the Cochrane Library, LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, PubMed, and PubMed Central databases, we concluded that this is the first case report of mycetoma caused by Gordonia soli. The current case highlights the importance of microbiological diagnosis of mycetoma and the challenges in its management.

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis: the role of whole-body MRI.

BACKGROUND: Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO), also known as chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis, is a noninfectious autoinflammatory disorder that occurs primarily in children and adolescents and is characterized by episodic musculoskeletal pain with a protracted course. MAIN BODY: Traditionally, the diagnosis of CNO is made by exclusion and commonly requires bone biopsy to rule out infection and malignancy. However, bone biopsy may be avoided when imaging and clinical characteristic features are present, such as multifocal bone lesions at typical sites, no constitutional symptoms and no signs of infection in laboratory test results. Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) can assess signs of acute and chronic inflammation and enables the detection of CNO typical patterns of lesion location and distribution, thereby helping to exclude differential diagnosis. The goal of the present study paper is to review the main clinical and imaging aspects of the disease with emphasis on the role of WB-MRI in the diagnosis, assessment of disease burden and follow-up monitoring. CONCLUSION: Radiologists need to be familiar with the imaging features to suggest the diagnosis as the early therapy may help to avoid irreversible secondary damage of skeletal system.

Sacroiliac joint beyond sacroiliitis-further insights and old concepts on magnetic resonance imaging.

The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is an amphiarthrosis composed of a posterior syndesmosis and an anterior cartilaginous portion, with limited yet present mobility. Its main function is to transmit the load from the axial skeleton to the lower limbs and vice-versa; it is susceptible to early mechanical and degenerative changes which are much more common than inflammatory sacroiliitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has increasingly been used to evaluate these changes, and while subchondral bone marrow edema (BME) is a common finding related to both, care must be taken when applying the ASAS research MRI definition for sacroiliitis without considering lesion BME topography, size and depth, concomitant structural damage and, of course, the clinical picture. In this review, we will discuss the anatomy and biomechanics of the SIJ, the noninflammatory causes of SIJ subchondral BME, and how these concepts combined can be used to increase our diagnostic confidence.

Early infection of Zika virus in the male reproductive system of AG129 mice: molecular and immunohistochemical evaluation.

Sexual transmission of Zika virus (ZIKV), an important arbovirus, and the virus persistence in semen raise several questions about how and where it circulates in the male reproductive system (MRS). Several studies reported detection of the virus in testes, epididymis, and prostate at 5 days post-infection (dpi) or more in animal models. In the present study, we investigated the interactions of ZIKV with mouse MRS using the AG129 strain, a ZIKV permissive immunodeficient mouse strain, at two dpi. Viral RNA was detected in blood, testes, epididymis, and prostatic complexes (prostate and seminal vesicles). Immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses, based on the envelope protein, showed an early infection in organs of MRS since ZIKV positive antigens were detected in cells within or surrounding blood vessels, Sertoli, and germ cells in testes and epithelial cells in epididymis and prostate. Positive antigens for NS5 protein, the virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, were also detected by IHC in these organs and circulating leukocytes, suggesting that the virus replicates in these sites as early as 2 days post-infection. Analysis of the early stages of ZIKV infection in MRS may improve the current knowledge about this issue and contribute to the development of therapies directed to the infection at this site.

Uso de realidade virtual no manejo da dor durante procedimentos de cuidados com feridas por queimaduras: Revisão sistemática e meta-análise / Use of virtual reality for pain management during burn wound care: Systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia do uso de realidade virtual para o manejo da dor durante procedimentos de cuidados com feridas em pacientes queimados. MÉTODO: Revisão sistemática com meta-análise incluindo ensaios clínicos randomizados que usaram aparelhos de realidade virtual para controle álgico durante o cuidado de feridas por queimaduras. As bases de dados utilizadas foram PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, SciELO, Scopus, ScienceDirect e NIH Clinical Trials Registry. O risco de enviesamento dos estudos incluídos foi analisado com a ferramenta RoB2 da Cochrane. A análise estatística foi realizada por diferença de médias padronizada em modelo de efeitos aleatórios, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 137 estudos, dos quais 13 alcançaram os critérios de elegibilidade. O uso de realidade virtual se mostrou efetivo para reduzir a intensidade da dor durante o procedimento de cuidado de feridas. A intervenção também se mostrou benéfica para desfechos adicionais, como a redução do tempo que o paciente permanece pensando na dor. A intervenção não se mostrou estatisticamente superior ao grupo de comparação na redução de sintomas ansiosos durante o procedimento. CONCLUSÕES: O presente estudo apresentou algumas limitações devido à heterogeneidade e risco de viés dos estudos originais, mas, ainda assim, as intervenções de realidade virtual se mostram como estratégia útil no manejo da dor procedimental em pacientes queimados.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality for pain management during wound care procedures in burn patients. METHODS: Systematic review with metanalysis including randomized clinical trials of virtual reality devices interventions for pain management during burn wound care. The databases used were PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, SciELO, Scopus, ScienceDirect e NIH Clinical Trials Registry. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed with Cochrane's RoB2. Statistical analysis was performed by using the Standardized Mean Differences in a random effects model with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: 137 studies were identified, of which 13 achieved the eligibility criteria. The use of virtual reality was effective for reducing pain intensity during the wound care procedure. The intervention was also found to be beneficial for additional outcomes, such as reducing the time spent thinking about pain. The intervention was not superior to control for the reduction of anxiety during the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This review had some limitations due to heterogeneity and risk of bias of the original studies, however, virtual reality interventions were found to be a useful strategy for pain management in burn patients.

Clinical and immunological allergy assessment in cancer patients.

Cancer is associated with immunodeficiency, while allergies result from immune system hyperactivity mediated by cytokines and immunoglobulins. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between immune environment of specific cancers and allergies, emphasizing cytokines related to Th1 and Th2 responses associated with IgE. 80 adults were distributed into two groups: control (n = 20) and cancer (n = 60), distributed in three subgroups (n = 20), head and neck, stomach, and prostate cancers. This study compared Th1 (IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4) parameters, anti-inflammatory, pro-inflammatory, or regulatory profile regarding both IgE levels and reported allergies, by means of clinical manifestations and IgE, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-17, and TGF-ß serum concentration. Clinically allergies were observed in 50% of the control group and in 20% of the cancer group (p = 0.009). IL-2 cytokine and TGF-ß concentrations were higher in the patients with cancer as compared to the control (p < 0.005). However, there were IL-4, IL-17, and IL-1ß decreases in the patients with cancer (p < 0.05). No correlation was observed between the cytokines studied and IgE and clinically proven allergies in both investigated groups. There was an inverse association between cancer and clinical allergy manifestations. In head and neck, stomach, and prostate cancers, an immunosuppressive serum tumor environment was predominant. There was no difference in cytokines related to Th1 and Th2 parameters in relation to IgE. No correlation was found between clinically proved allergies and immunity markers related to the same allergens.

O papel da ressonância magnética na avaliação da gluteoplastia: aspectos habituais e complicações / The role of magnetic resonance in the evaluation of gluteoplasty: habitual aspects and complications

RESUMO Introdução: Os procedimentos estéticos na região glútea têm ganhado evidência nas últimas décadas, com aumento da procura e aparecimento de novas técnicas. Somado ao desenvolvimento e maior facilidade de acesso aos métodos de imagem, assim como a crescente judicialização da medicina, tornam-se cada vez mais frequentes os exames de imagem nos pacientes submetidos a gluteoplastia, com destaque atualmente para a avaliação por ressonância magnética desta região. Dessa forma, a imagem entra cada vez mais na prática clínica diária do cirurgião plástico, requerendo do mesmo conhecimentos sobre conceitos básicos em relação à solicitação e interpretação dos exames. Neste artigo, revisamos aspectos de imagem por ressonância magnética de procedimentos estéticos da região glútea, bem como suas complicações. O objetivo é ilustrar através de estudos de ressonância magnética os achados habituais nos procedimentos de gluteoplastia, bem como algumas de suas complicações, além de propor um protocolo de exame por ressonância magnética da região. Foram selecionados selecionados casos ilustrativos de pacientes que se submeteram a procedimentos de gluteoplastia, sejam eles aprovados, off-label ou mesmo ilícitos, e que fizeram estudo de ressonância magnética em nosso serviço. Foi realizada ainda revisão bibliográfica sobre o tema.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Aesthetic procedures in the gluteal region are increasingly in evidence in recent decades with the augment in demand and the emergence of new techniques. This fact, coupled with the development and easier access to imaging methods and the increasing judicialization of medicine, makes imaging exams more frequent in patients undergoing gluteoplasty, with an emphasis currently on magnetic resonance imaging in this region. Thus, the image increasingly enters the plastic surgeon's daily clinical practice, requiring knowledge of basic concepts regarding the request and interpretation of the exams. In this article, we reviewed aspects of magnetic resonance imaging of aesthetic procedures in the gluteal region and their complications. The objective is to, through magnetic resonance studies, the usual findings in gluteoplasty procedures, as well as some of their complications, in addition to proposing an examination protocol for magnetic resonance imaging in the region. Illustrative cases of patients who underwent gluteoplasty procedures, whether approved, off-label or even illicit, were selected, in which we conducted a magnetic resonance study in our service. A bibliographic review was also done on the topic.

Osteochondral lesions of the talar dome: an up-to-date approach to multimodality imaging and surgical techniques.

Osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the talar dome consist of a multifactorial pathology of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone and can result in persistent ankle pain and osteoarthritis (OA). Along with a physical examination and clinical history, an imaging evaluation plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of these lesions and is fundamental for making treatment decisions and determining prognosis by providing information regarding the size, location, and cartilage and subchondral bone statuses as well as associated lesions and degenerative changes. Multiple surgical techniques for OCLs of the talar dome have been developed in recent decades, including cartilage repair, regeneration, and replacement strategies, and radiologists should be acquainted with their specific expected and abnormal postoperative imaging findings to better monitor the results and predict poor outcomes. The present article proposes a thorough review of the ankle joint anatomy and biomechanics, physiopathology, diagnosis, and treatment of OCLs of the talar dome, highlighting the radiological approach and imaging findings in both pre- and postoperative scenarios.

Cutaneous tuberculosis on the scalp: a case report.

Tuberculosis is a disease that usually affects the lungs, although other systems may also be infected, resulting in atypical clinical presentations. We report the case of a 76-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital in Brazil with a 3-week history of a painful, enlarging ulcer on the scalp and cough. His medical history was notable for non-metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. On physical examination, the ulcer measured 10 cm in diameter and was tender, with a firm border and yellow crusts. A punch-biopsy specimen of the edge of the ulcer showed acute and chronic non-specific inflammation and neutrophilic infiltrates. Acid-fast bacilli were seen on microscopic examination, molecular testing detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA and pan-sensitive M. tuberculosis was cultured. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head showed a frontoparietal osteolytic lesion under the ulcer, chest CT revealed areas of consolidation in the lower lobes and M. tuberculosis was also identified in a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen. After one month of combination therapy with rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol his symptoms were found to be improving and the size of the ulcer was markedly reduced.

Osteoid osteoma: the great mimicker.

Osteoid osteoma is a painful, benign and common bone tumor that is prevalent in young adults. The typical clinical presentation consists of pain that becomes worse at night and is relieved by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The most common imaging finding is a lytic lesion, known as a nidus, with variable intralesional mineralization, accompanied by bone sclerosis, cortical thickening and surrounding bone marrow edema, as well as marked enhancement with intravenous contrast injection. When the lesion is located in typical locations (intracortical bone and the diaphyses of long bones), both characteristic clinical and radiological features are diagnostic. However, osteoid osteoma is a multifaceted pathology that can have unusual presentations, such as intraarticular osteoid osteoma, epiphyseal location, lesions at the extremities and multicentric nidi, and frequently present atypical clinical and radiological manifestations. In addition, many conditions may mimic osteoid osteoma and vice versa, leading to misdiagnosis. Therefore, it is essential to understand these musculoskeletal diseases and their imaging findings to increase diagnostic accuracy, enable early treatment and prevent poor prognosis.

Custo direto da inserção de cateter venoso central para realização de hemodiálise convencional / Costo directo de la inserción de catéter venoso central para realización de la hemodiálisis convencional / Direct cost of central venous catheter insertion for conventional hemodialysis

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar o custo direto médio da inserção de cateter venoso central de longa permanência em pacientes submetidos à hemodiálise convencional em um hospital público de ensino e pesquisa. Método: pesquisa quantitativa, exploratório-descritiva, realizada em um Centro de Diálise, em São Paulo, Brasil entre novembro e dezembro/2019. Calculou-se o custo direto médio multiplicando-se o tempo despendido por profissionais de saúde pelo custo unitário da mão de obra direta, somando-se aos custos de insumos. Resultados: o custo direto médio total correspondeu a US$134,56 (DP±3,65), sendo US$107,01 (DP±0,23) relativos ao custo com material, US$22,10 (DP±3,63) com a mão de obra direta da equipe de inserção do cateter, US$4,65 (DP±0,00) com custo de medicamentos e US$0,80 (DP±0,15) com custo de soluções. Conclusão: constatou-se o impacto dos custos com recursos materiais e a imprescindibilidade da sua alocação racional, especialmente nos hospitais públicos de ensino e pesquisa, que possuem recursos financeiros limitados.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar el costo directo de la inserción de catéteres venosos centrales de larga duración en pacientes sometidos a hemodiálisis convencional en un hospital público de enseñanza e investigación. Método: investigación cuantitativa exploratoria-descriptiva realizada en un Centro de Diálisis de São Paulo, Brasil, entre noviembre y diciembre/2019. El costo directo medio se calculó multiplicando el tiempo empleado por los profesionales de la salud por el costo unitario de la mano de obra directa, sumando los costos de los insumos. Resultados: el costo directo medio total fue de 134,56 dólares (SD±3,65), de los cuales 107,01 dólares (SD±0,23) fueron costos de material, 22,10 dólares (SD±3,63) fueron costos de mano de obra directa del equipo de inserción de catéteres, 4,65 dólares (SD±0,00) fueron costos de medicación y 0,80 dólares (SD±0,15) fueron costos de solución. Conclusión: se ha constatado el impacto de los costos de los recursos materiales y la importancia de su asociación racional, especialmente en los hospitales públicos de enseñanza e investigación, que cuentan con recursos financieros limitados.

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the average direct cost of long-term central venous catheter insertion in patients undergoing conventional hemodialysis in a public teaching and research hospital. Method: quantitative, exploratory-descriptive research, conducted in a Dialysis Center in São Paulo, Brazil between November and December/2019. The average direct cost was calculated by multiplying the time spent by health professionals by the unit cost of direct labor, adding to the costs of inputs. Results: The average total direct cost was US$134.56 (SD±3.65), of which US$107.01 (SD±0.23) for material costs, US$22.10 (SD±3.63) for direct labor of the catheter insertion team, US$4.65 (SD±0.00) for medication costs, and US$0.80 (SD±0.15) for solution costs. Conclusion: the impact of costs with material resources and the indispensability of their rational allocation was verified, especially in public teaching and research hospitals, which have limited financial resources.

The Role of Magnetic Resonance in the Diagnosis of Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome.

Chronic compartment syndrome is a common and often underdiagnosed exercise-induced condition, accounting on average for a quarter of cases of chronic exertional pain in the leg, second only to the fracture/tibial stress syndrome spectrum. It traditionally occurs in young runner athletes, although more recent studies have demonstrated a considerable prevalence in low-performance practitioners of physical activity, even in middle-aged or elderly patients. The list of differential diagnoses is extensive, and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish them only by the clinical data, and subsidiary examinations are required. The diagnosis is classically made by the clinical picture, by exclusion of the differential diagnoses, and through the measurement of the intracompartmental pressure. Although needle manometry is considered the gold standard in the diagnosis, its use is not universally accepted, since there are some important limitations, apart from the restricted availability of the needle equipment in Brazil. New protocols of manometry have recently been proposed to overcome the deficiency of the traditional ones, and some of them recommend the systematic use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the exclusion of differential diagnoses. The use of post-effort liquid-sensitive MRI sequences is a good noninvasive option instead of needle manometry in the diagnosis of chronic compartment syndrome, since the increase in post-exercise signal intensity is statistically significant when compared with manometry pressure values in asymptomatic patients and in those with the syndrome; hence, the test can be used in the diagnostic criteria. The definitive treatment is fasciotomy, although there are less effective alternatives.