Interatrial blocks. A separate entity from left atrial enlargement: a consensus report.

Impaired interatrial conduction or interatrial block is well documented but is not described as an individual electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern in most of ECG books, although the term atrial abnormalities to encompass both concepts, left atrial enlargement (LAE) and interatrial block, has been coined. In fact, LAE and interatrial block are often associated, similarly to what happens with ventricular enlargement and ventricular block. The interatrial blocks, that is, the presence of delay of conduction between the right and left atria, are the most frequent atrial blocks. These may be of first degree (P-wave duration >120 milliseconds), third degree (longer P wave with biphasic [±] morphology in inferior leads), and second degree when these patterns appear transiently in the same ECG recording (atrial aberrancy). There are evidences that these electrocardiographic P-wave patterns are due to a block because they may (a) appear transiently, (b) be without associated atrial enlargement, and (c) may be reproduced experimentally. The presence of interatrial blocks may be seen in the absence of atrial enlargement but often are present in case of LAE. The most important clinical implications of interatrial block are the following: (a) the first degree interatrial blocks are very common, and their relation with atrial fibrillation and an increased risk for global and cardiovascular mortality has been demonstrated; (b) the third degree interatrial blocks are less frequent but are strong markers of LAE and paroxysmal supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Their presence has been considered a true arrhythmological syndrome.

Electrocardiographic manifestation of the middle fibers/septal fascicle block: a consensus report.

There are fibers in the left ventricle (LV) (LV middle network) that in around one third of cases may be considered a true septal fascicle that arises from the common left bundle. Its presence and the evidence that there are 3 points of activation onset in the LV favor the quadrifascicular theory of the intraventricular activation of both ventricles. Since the 70s, different authors have suggested that the block of the left middle fibers (MS)/left septal fascicle may explain different electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns. The 2 hypothetically based criteria that are in some sense contradictory include: a) the lack of septal "q" wave due to first left and later posteriorly shifting of the horizontal plane loop and b) the presence of RS in lead V(2) (V(1)-V(2)) due to some anterior shifting of the horizontal plane vectorcardiogram loop. However, there are many evidence that the lack of septal q waves can be also explained by predivisional first-degree left bundle-branch block and that the RS pattern in the right precordial leads may be also explained by first-degree right bundle-branch block. The transient nature of these patterns favor the concept that some type of intraventricular conduction disturbance exists but a doubt remains about its location. Furthermore, the RS pattern could be explained by many different normal variants. To improve our understanding whether these patterns are due to MF/left septal fascicle block or other ventricular conduction disturbances (or both), it would be advisable: 1) To perform more histologic studies (heart transplant and necropsy) of the ventricular conduction system; 2) To repeat prior experimental studies using new methodology/technology to isolate the MF; and 3) To change the paradigm: do not try to demonstrate if the block of the fibers produces an ECG change but to study with new electroanatomical imaging techniques, if these ECG criteria previously described correlate or not with a delay of activation in the zone of the LV that receives the activation through these fibers or in other zones.

Novas evidências sobre o valor diagnóstico da reação de imunofluorescência indireta e reação intradérmica de hipersensibilidade tardia na infecção humana por Leishmania (L) infantum chagasi na Amazônia, Brasil / New evidences on the diagnostic value of indirect immunofluorescence test and delayed hypersensitivity skin test in human infection by Leishmania (L ) infantum chagasi in the Amazon, Brazil

Estudo prospectivo realizado no período de maio/2006-setembro/2008, numa coorte de 1.099 indivíduos, ambos os sexos, com idades de 1 a 84 anos (média 24, 4 anos), residente em área endêmica de leishmaniose visceral americana (LVA) no Município de Cametá, Pará, Brasil, objetivando analisar a prevalência e a incidência da infecção humana por Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi, assim como a dinâmica da evolução dos seus perfis clínico-imunológicos previamente definidos: 1. Infecção assintomática (IA); 2. Infecção sintomática (IS=LVA); 3. Infecção subclínica oligossintomática (ISO); 4. Infecção subclínica resistente (ISR); e 5. Infecção inicial indeterminada (III). O diagnóstico da infecção baseou-se no uso simultâneo da reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) e reação intradérmica de hipersensibilidade tardia. Um total de 304 casos da infecção foi diagnosticado no período do estudo (187 na prevalência e 117 na incidência), gerando prevalência acumulada de 27,6 por cento, cuja distribuição no âmbito dos perfis clínico-imunológicos foi da seguinte ordem: IA 51,6 por cento, III 22,4 por cento, ISR 20,1 por cento, ISO 4,3 por cento e, IS (=LVA) 1,6 por cento. Com base na dinâmica da infecção, o principal achado recaiu no perfil III, que teve papel fundamental na evolução da infecção, dirigindo-a ora para o pólo imunológico de resistência, perfis ISR (21 casos - 30,8 por cento) e IA (30 casos - 44,1 por cento), ora para o polo imunológico de susceptibilidade, perfil IS (um caso -1,5 por cento); além destes, 16 casos mantiveram o perfil III até o fim do estudo. Concluiu-se que esta abordagem diagnóstica pode ajudar no monitoramento da infecção na área endêmica, visando, principalmente, prevenir a morbidade da LVA, assim como reduzir o tempo e despesas com o tratamento.

This is a prospective study on a cohort of 1099 individuals of both genders, aged 1-84 years (mean 24.4 years), living in an endemic area of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) in the Municipality of Cametá, Brazil, from May 2006 to September 2008. It aimed to analyze the prevalence and incidence rates of human infection by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi, as well as the evolutional process of its previously defined clinical and immunological profiles: 1. Asymptomatic infection (AI);2. Symptomatic infection (SI = AVL); 3. Subclinical oligosymptomatic infection (SOI); 4. Subclinical resistant infection (SRI); and 5. Indeterminate initial infection (III). The diagnosis was based on the simultaneous use of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and delayed hypersensitivity skin test. A total of 304 cases of infection were diagnosed during the period studied(187 for prevalence and 117 for incidence), generating an accumulated prevalence rate of 27.6 percent. The distribution regarding their clinical and immunological profiles presented the following order: AI 51.6 percent; III 22.4 percent; SRI 20.1 percent; SOI4.3 percent; and SI (= AVL) 1.6 percent. Based on the dynamics of the infection, the main discovery was about the III profile, which had an instrumental role in its evolution, directing it either to the resistant immunological pole – SRI (21 cases - 30.8 percent) and AI (30 cases - 44.1 percent) profiles – or to the susceptible immunological pole – SI (1 case - 1.5 percent) profile. In addition, 16 cases remained within the III profile until the end of the study. It was concluded that this diagnostic approach can help monitor the infection in endemic areas, aiming mainly at preventing morbidity caused by AVL, and reducing the treatment time and expenses.

[Effect of Passiflora edulis (passion fruit) extract on rats' bladder wound healing: morphological study]. / Efeito do extrato de Passiflora edulis (maracujá) na cicatrização de bexiga em ratos: estudo morfológico.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora edulis leaves in the healing of urinary bladder in rats from histological aspects. METHODS: Forty Wistar male rats were submitted to a longitudinal incision of the bladder followed by a stetching in only one level. After this common procedure, animals were divided at random two groups: Passiflora and Control. In the Passiflora group the only dosage used was administered by intraperitoneal injection of hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora edulis leaves while in the Control group distilled water was injected. Each subgroup was then divided in two subgroups according to the death of these animals: Control, three and seven days, Passiflora, three and seven days. After the death of these animals, an inventory of the abdominal cavity was performed and the bladder was removed. A comparative analysis was done between the two groups with microscopic evaluation of the healing. There was less acute inflammation (p=0.008), greater collagenous formation (p=0.001) and greater capillary neo-formation (p=0.000) in the third day Passiflora subgroup when compared to the Control subgroup of the third day. RESULTS: There was less acute inflammation (p=0.001), greater fibroblastic proliferation (p=0.011) and greater collagenous formation (p=0.001) in the Passiflora subgroup of seventh day when compared with the Control seventh day subgroup. CONCLUSION: The use of Passiflora edulis leaves extract resulted in less acute inflammation, greater fibroblastic proliferation, collagenous formation and capillary neo-formation on rats' bladder wound healing.

Efeito do extrato de Passiflora edulis (maracujá) na cicatrização de bexiga em ratos: estudo morfológico / Effect of Passiflora edulis (passion fruit) extract on rats bladder wound healing: morphological study

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do extrato das folhas de Passiflora edulis na cicatrização de bexiga em ratos, sob aspectos histológico. MÉTODOS: Quarenta ratos da linhagem Wistar, machos foram submetidos à incisão longitudinal na bexiga e síntese em plano único. Após este procedimento comum, os animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos, Passiflora e Controle. No grupo Passiflora utilizou-se dose única intra-peritoneal do extrato hidroalcoólico das folhas de Passiflora edulis e no grupo controle utilizou-se dose única intraperitoneal de água destilada. Cada grupo foi dividido em dois subgrupos, conforme o dia de morte dos animais, subgrupos Controle três e sete dias e subgrupos Passiflora três e sete dias. Após a morte dos animais, foi feito o inventário da cavidade abdominal e a retirada da bexiga. Uma análise comparativa entre os dois grupos, utilizando-se parâmetros microscópicos da cicatrização, foi realizada. RESULTADOS: Houve menor inflamação aguda (p=0,008), maior colagenização (p=0,001) e maior neoformação capilar (0,000) no subgrupo Passiflora do terceiro dia, quando comparado com o subgrupo Controle do terceiro dia. Encontrou-se menor inflamação aguda (p=0,001), maior proliferação fibroblástica (p=0,011) e maior presença de colágeno (p=0,001) no subgrupo Passiflora do sétimo dia quando comparado ao subgrupo Controle do sétimo dia. CONCLUSÃO: O extrato das folhas de Passiflora edulis diminuiu a inflamação aguda e aumentou a proliferação fibroblástica, a colagenização e a neoformação capilar na cicatrização da bexiga de ratos.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora edulis leaves in the healing of urinary bladder in rats from histological aspects. METHODS: Forty Wistar male rats were submitted to a longitudinal incision of the bladder followed by a stetching in only one level. After this common procedure, animals were divided at random two groups: Passiflora and Control. In the Passiflora group the only dosage used was administered by intraperitonial injection of hydoalcoholic extract of Passiflora edulis leaves while in the Control group distilled water was injected. Each subgroup was then divided in two subgroups according to the death of these animals: Control, three and seven days, Passiflora, three and seven days. After the death of these animals, an inventory of the abdominal cavity was performed and the bladder was removed. A comparative analysis was done between the two groups with microscopic evaluation of the healing. There was less acute inflammation (p=0.008), greater colagenous formation (p=0.001) and greater capillary neo-formation (p=0.000) in the third day Passiflora subgroup when compared to the Control subgroup of the third day. RESULTS: There was less acute inflammation (p=0.001), greater fibroblastic proliferation (p=0.011) and greater colagenous formation (p=0.001) in the Passiflora subgroup of seventh day when compared with the Control seventh day subgroup. CONCLUSION: The use of Passiflora edulis leaves extract resulted in less acute inflammation, greater fibroblastic proliferation, colagenous formation and capillary neo-formation on rats bladder wound healing.

Influência do grau de artrose femoropatelar no resultado da artroplastia total do joelho, sem o uso do componente patelar / Influence of the femoropatellar osteoarthritis degree on the outcome of total knee arthroplasty without patellar resurfacing

Os autores apresentam estudo retrospectivo de 46 artroplastias totais primárias de joelho em 43 pacientes (três bilaterais), realizadas no período de janeiro de 1996 a outubro de 1999. Nos casos em que não foi utilizado componente patelar, o grau de artrose femoropatelar pré-operatório foi classificado, sendo os pacientes divididos em grupos de comprometimento articular leve (I), moderado (II) e grave (III), e comparados com grupo controle (IV), em que a substituição da superfície articular da patela foi realizada. Em todos os casos foi utilizado um único modelo de prótese e o diagnóstico foi de osteoartrose, sendo excluídas do trabalho operações em pacientes com doenças inflamatórias e de natureza sistêmica, de modo a permitir avaliação de um grupo de pacientes mais homogêneo. Nenhum paciente deixou de ser avaliado ou teve seu seguimento perdido. O tempo médio entre a operação e a última avaliação foi de 28,9 meses, com mínimo de 18 e máximo de 42 meses. A média de idade foi de 69,6 anos, variando entre 53 e 82 anos. A avaliação pelos critérios do sistema clínico de pontuação de joelho do Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), realizada por único examinador, apresentou pontuação média de 85,22 (para um total de 100), com 25,54 pontos (num total de 30) para o item dor. As amostras foram testadas nas variáveis idade, tempo de seguimento e HSS em todos os grupos. Os resultados indicaram não existir diferença estatisticamente significante na utilização ou não do componente patelar em artroplastia total do joelho, independentemente do grau de artrose femoropatelar pré-operatório.