Pleural AA amyloidosis preceding the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease / Amioloidosis AA pleural que precede el diagnóstico de una enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal

Pleural amyloidosis constitutes a rare presentation of a rare disease. We report a case of amyloidotic pleural effusion that preceded the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease by six months. The patient had a paucisymptomatic gastrointestinal disease but an exuberant AA amyloidosis that progressed to involve multiple organs, including lung, kidney and heart. Despite immunomodulatory treatment with corticosteroids and infliximab with good gastrointestinal response, the patient eventually passed away 2 years after diagnosis. (AU)

[Instrument to measure adherence in hypertensive patients: contribution of Item Response Theory]. / Instrumento mensurador de adesao para hipertensos: contribuicao da Teoria da Resposta ao Item.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze, by means of "Item Response Theory", an instrument to measure adherence to t treatment for hypertension. METHODS: Analytical study with 406 hypertensive patients with associated complications seen in primary care in Fortaleza, CE, Northeastern Brazil, 2011 using "Item Response Theory". The stages were: dimensionality test, calibrating the items, processing data and creating a scale, analyzed using the gradual response model. A study of the dimensionality of the instrument was conducted by analyzing the polychoric correlation matrix and factor analysis of complete information. Multilog software was used to calibrate items and estimate the scores. RESULTS: Items relating to drug therapy are the most directly related to adherence while those relating to drug-free therapy need to be reworked because they have less psychometric information and low discrimination. The independence of items, the small number of levels in the scale and low explained variance in the adjustment of the models show the main weaknesses of the instrument analyzed. The "Item Response Theory" proved to be a relevant analysis technique because it evaluated respondents for adherence to treatment for hypertension, the level of difficulty of the items and their ability to discriminate between individuals with different levels of adherence, which generates a greater amount of information. CONCLUSIONS: The instrument analyzed is limited in measuring adherence to hypertension treatment, by analyzing the "Item Response Theory" of the item, and needs adjustment. The proper formulation of the items is important in order to accurately measure the desired latent trait.

Using ISO 25040 standard for evaluating electronic health record systems.

Quality of electronic health record systems (EHR-S) is one of the key points in the discussion about the safe use of this kind of system. It stimulates creation of technical standards and certifications in order to establish the minimum requirements expected for these systems. [1] In other side, EHR-S suppliers need to invest in evaluation of their products to provide systems according to these requirements. This work presents a proposal of use ISO 25040 standard, which focuses on the evaluation of software products, for define a model of evaluation of EHR-S in relation to Brazilian Certification for Electronic Health Record Systems - SBIS-CFM Certification. Proposal instantiates the process described in ISO 25040 standard using the set of requirements that is scope of the Brazilian certification. As first results, this research has produced an evaluation model and a scale for classify an EHR-S about its compliance level in relation to certification. This work in progress is part for the acquisition of the degree of master in Computer Science at the Federal University of Pernambuco.

Implante percutâneo de stent em artérias carótidas e vertebrais: dados do REMAT (Registro Madre Teresa) / Carotid and vertebral artery stenting: REMAT data (Madre Teresa Registry)

INTRODUÇÃO: O acidente vascular encefálico (AVE) é a principal causa de morbidade e mortalidade no Brasil. Entre 10% e 30% dos AVEs estão associados à doença carotídea e 8%, à artéria vertebral. O tratamento endovascular das lesões extracrania­nas é alternativa à endarterectomia. Analisamos os resultados e avaliamos os preditores de eventos adversos em pacientes submetidos a angioplastia carotídea e vertebral com implante de stents. MÉTODOS: Incluídos assintomáticos com lesão > 70% ou sintomáticos com lesão > 50% em artérias carótidas e sintomáticos com lesão > 70% em artérias vertebrais. Avaliamos desfecho primário, definido como a incidência combinada de morte relacionada ou não ao procedimento, AVE maior, AVE menor ou infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM). RESULTADOS: Realizadas 224 intervenções com implante de stents em 199 pacientes consecutivos, com predomínio do sexo masculino (73,9%), idade de 69,8 ± 9,9 anos e 37,7% eram diabéticos. Pacientes sintomáticos representaram cerca de dois terços dos casos e as lesões mais tratadas foram as lesões de novo (96,4%). As artérias carótidas internas esquerda (46%) e direita (44,6%) foram os vasos mais abordados. Desfecho combinado primário ocorreu em 5%, mortalidade relacionada ao procedimento em 1%, mortalidade não-relacionada ao procedimento em 1%, AVE menor em 1,5% e IAM em 1,5%. Pacientes com antecedente de doença arterial coronária mostraram chance de apresentar desfecho primário 4 vezes maior [odds ratio (OR) 4,32, intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC 95%) 1,09-17,21; P = 0,038]. CONCLUSÕES: Em nosso estudo obtivemos alto índice de sucesso e baixa ocorrência de eventos adversos, que demonstram a segurança e a eficácia do implante percutâneo de stent em artérias carótidas e vertebrais.

BACKGROUND: Stroke remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Brazil. Epidemiological data suggest that 10% to 30% of all strokes are due to atherosclerotic carotid artery disease and 8% due to vertebral artery disease. Endovascular treatment of extracranial lesions is an alternative to endarterectomy. We evaluated the results and predictors of adverse events in patients undergoing carotid and vertebral artery stenting. METHODS: Asymptomatic patients with lesion > 70% or symptomatic patients with lesions > 50% in carotid arteries and symptomatic patients with lesion > 70% in vertebral arteries were included. We evaluated the primary endpoint, defined as the composite incidence of death (procedural or non-procedural), major stroke, minor stroke or myocardial infarction (MI). RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-four interventions with stenting were performed in 199 consecutive patients with a prevalence of males (73.9%), 69.8 ± 9.9 years of age and 37.7% were diabetics. Symptomatic patients represented about two thirds of the cases and the most commonly treated lesions were de novo lesions (96.4%). The left (46%) and right (44.6%) internal carotid arteries were the most commonly approached vessels. Composite primary endpoint was observed in 5% of the patients, procedure-related mortality in 1%, non-procedure related mortality in 1%, minor stroke in 1.5% and MI in 1.5%. Patients with a history of coronary artery disease had a 4-fold probability of presenting the primary endpoint [odds ratio (OR) 4.32, 95% confidence interval (CI 95%) 1.09-17.21); P = 0.038]. CONCLUSIONS: In our study we obtained a high success rate and had a low rate of adverse events, demonstrating the safety and efficacy of percutaneous stent implantation in the carotid and vertebral arteries.

Instrumento mensurador de adesao para hipertensos: contribuicao da Teoria da Resposta ao Item / Instrumento medidor de adhesion para hipertensos: contribucion de la Teoria de la Respuesta al Item / Instrument to measure adherence in hypertensive patients: contribution of Item Response Theory

OBJETIVO: Analisar instrumento de medição da adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão por meio da "Teoria da Resposta ao Item". MÉTODOS: Estudo analítico com 406 hipertensos com complicações associadas, atendidos na atenção básica em Fortaleza, CE, 2011, pela "Teoria da Resposta ao Item". As etapas de execução foram: teste de dimensionalidade, calibração dos itens; tratamento dos dados e construção da escala, analisadas com base no modelo de resposta gradual. Estudo da dimensionalidade do instrumento foi feito pela análise da matriz de correlação policórica e análise fatorial de informação completa. Utilizou-se o software Multilog para calibração dos itens e estimação dos escores. RESULTADOS: Os itens referentes ao tratamento medicamentoso foram os mais diretamente relacionados à adesão, enquanto aqueles referentes ao tratamento não medicamentoso precisam ser reformulados, pois possuíram menor quantidade de informação psicométrica e baixa discriminação. A independência dos itens, o reduzido número de níveis da escala e as baixas variâncias explicadas no ajuste dos modelos mostraram as principais fragilidades do instrumento analisado. A "Teoria da Resposta ao Item" mostrou-se relevante para análise, pois avaliou o respondente quanto à adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão, ao nível de dificuldade dos itens e à sua capacidade de discriminação entre indivíduos com diferentes níveis de adesão, o que gerou maior quantidade de informação. CONCLUSÕES: O instrumento analisado é limitado para medir a adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão, mediante análise pela "Teoria da Resposta ao Item", e necessita de ajustes. A adequada formulação dos ...

OBJETIVO: Analizar instrumento de medición de la adhesión al tratamiento de hipertensión por medio de la "Teoría de la Respuesta al Ítem". MÉTODOS: Estudio analítico con 406 hipertensos con complicaciones asociadas, atendidos en la asistencia básica en Fortaleza, CE, Brasil, 2001 por la "Teoría de Respuesta al Ítem". Las etapas de ejecución fueron: prueba de dimensionalidad, calibración de los ítems; tratamiento de los datos y construcción de la escala, analizadas con base en el modelo de respuesta gradual. Estudio de la dimensionalidad del instrumento fue hecho por análisis de la matriz de correlación policórica y análisis factorial de información completa. Se utilizó el software Multilog para calibración de los ítems y estimación de los escores. RESULTADOS: Los ítems referentes al tratamiento medicamentoso fueron los más directamente relacionados con la adhesión, mientras que aquellos referentes al tratamiento no medicamentoso precisan ser reformulados, pues presentaron menor cantidad de información psicométrica y baja discriminación. La independencia de los ítems, el reducido número de niveles de escala y las bajas varianzas explicadas en el ajuste de los modelos mostraron las principales fragilidades del instrumento analizado. La Teoría de la Respuesta al Ítem se mostró relevante para el análisis, ya que evaluó al respondiente cuanto a la adhesión al tratamiento de la hipertensión, al nivel de dificultad de los ítems y a su capacidad de discriminación entre individuos con diferentes niveles de adhesión, lo que generó mayor cantidad de información. CONCLUSIONES: El instrumento analizado es limitado para medir la adhesión al tratamiento de la hipertensión, mediante análisis por la "Teoría ...

OBJECTIVE: To analyze, by means of "Item Response Theory", an instrument to measure adherence to t treatment for hypertension. METHODS: Analytical study with 406 hypertensive patients with associated complications seen in primary care in Fortaleza, CE, Northeastern Brazil, 2011 using "Item Response Theory". The stages were: dimensionality test, calibrating the items, processing data and creating a scale, analyzed using the gradual response model. A study of the dimensionality of the instrument was conducted by analyzing the polychoric correlation matrix and factor analysis of complete information. Multilog software was used to calibrate items and estimate the scores. RESULTS: Items relating to drug therapy are the most directly related to adherence while those relating to drug-free therapy need to be reworked because they have less psychometric information and low discrimination. The independence of items, the small number of levels in the scale and low explained variance in the adjustment of the models show the main weaknesses of the instrument analyzed. The "Item Response Theory" proved to be a relevant analysis technique because it evaluated respondents for adherence to treatment for hypertension, the level of difficulty of the items and their ability to discriminate between individuals with different levels of adherence, which generates a greater amount of information. CONCLUSIONS: The instrument analyzed is limited in measuring adherence to hypertension treatment, by analyzing the "Item Response Theory" of the item, and needs adjustment. The proper formulation of the items is important in order to accurately measure the desired latent trait. .

Pseudoaneurisma e CIV pós-IAM concomitantes: apresentação grave e rara / Pseudoaneurysm and VSD concomitant after AMI: severe and rare presentation

Relata-se caso raro de dupla-complicação mecânicapós-IAM anterior: pseudoaneurisma e comunicação interventricular (CIV). Paciente do sexo feminino,66 anos, tendo apresentado quadro de dor torácica típica, foi submetida à cineangiocoronariografia, que demonstrou oclusão total em terço médio de artéria descendente anterior (DA), com angioplastia realizada10 dias após o início do quadro. Evoluiu após três semanas com recidiva de dor precordial, dispneia,sopro sistólico novo, estável hemodinamicamente. Diagnóstico à cineangiocoronariografia e ao ecocardiograma de pseudoaneurisma de parede anterior de ventrículo esquerdo e CIV apical. Realizada correção cirúrgica, com ressecção do aneurisma e correção da CIV, obtendo-se ótimo resultado, apesar da gravidade do caso.

We report a rare case of double mechanical complication after anterior myocardial infarction:pseudoaneurysm and ventricular septal defect (VSD). Female patient, 66 years old, presented with typical chest pain and under went coronary angiography,which showed total occlusion in the middle third ofleft anterior descending artery (DA) with angioplasty performed 10 days after on set of symptoms. Evolved after three weeks with recurrence of chest pain, dyspnea, systolic murmur new, hemodynamically stable. Diagnostic coronary angiography and echocardiography pseudoaneurysm of the anterior wall of the left ventricle and apical VSD. Performed surgical repair with resection of the aneurysm and VSD correction, obtaining excellent results despite the gravity of the case.

Intervenções percutâneas na isquemia arterial mesentérica: indicações, técnica e tratamento / Percutaneous intervention in mesenteric arterial ischemia: indications, techniques and treatment

Os relatos científicos a respeito da isquemia arterial mesentérica sugerem que essa doença é pouco entendida, muito pouco diagnosticada e raramente tratada, apesar de sua alta letalidade. O prognóstico da isquemia mesentérica dependerá do rápido restabelecimento do fluxo sanguíneo, seja por meio de medidas clínicas, cirúrgicas, endovasculares ou da combinação destas. Neste artigo revisam-se as principais evidências diagnósticadas da isquemia mesentérica bem como as opções terapêuticas disponíveis, incluindo a intervenção percutânea como método alternativo à cirurgia, que é associada a significativa taxas de morbidade e mortalidade.

Scientific reports on mesenteric arterial ischemia suggest that the disease is not thoroughly understood, is poorly diagnosed and rarely treated, despite its high lethality. The prognosis of mesenteric ischemia depends on a fast restoration of blood flow, which may be achieved by clinical, surgical and endovascular management or by a combination of all them. This article reviews the diagnostic evidence of mesenteric ischemia and the available therapeutic options including percutaneous intervention as an alternative method to surgery, which is associated to significant mortality and morbidity rates.

A web application to support telemedicine services in Brazil.

This paper describes a system that has been developed to support Telemedicine activities in Brazil, a country that has serious problems in the delivery of health services. The system is a part of the broader Tele-health Project that has been developed to make health services more accessible to the low-income population in the northeast region. The HealthNet system is based upon a pilot area that uses fetal and pediatric cardiology. This article describes both the system's conceptual model, including the tele-diagnosis and second medical opinion services, as well as its architecture and development stages. The system model describes both collaborating tools used asynchronously, such as discussion forums, and synchronous tools, such as videoconference services. Web and free-of-charge tools are utilized for implementation, such as Java and MySQL database. Furthermore, an interface with Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems using Extended Markup Language (XML) technology is also proposed. Finally, considerations concerning the development and implementation process are presented.

Estudo prospectivo das variações perinatais de humor

O estudo investiga as variações de humor mais comumente encontradas nos dias que antecedem e que se seguem ao parto, buscando identificar alguns dos fatores a elas relacionados, bem como sua associação com depressão nos três primeiros meses de puerpério (AU)

Exames complementares pré-eletroconvulsoterapia / Electroconvulsive therapy: supplementary examinations

Os autores fazem uma revisäo bibliográfica, avaliando os exames necessários como pré-requisitos a aplicaçäo da ECT. Como ponto comum, a propedeutica médica direta e a recomendaçäo fundamental, incluindo, obrigatoriamente, exame psiquiátrico, neurológico, avaliaçäo odontológica, eletrocardiograma, hemograma, Na+ e K+ sericos