Pulmonary morphofunctional effects of mechanical ventilation with high inspiratory air flow.

Objective: Uncertainties about the numerous degrees of freedom in ventilator settings leave many unanswered questions about the biophysical determinants of lung injury. We investigated whether mechanical ventilation with high air flow could yield lung mechanical stress even in normal animals.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled experimental study.

Self-reported prevalence of endometriosis and its symptoms among Puerto Rican women.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of endometriosis and its symptoms in a Puerto Rican cohort, and to describe the menstrual, obstetric, and clinical profiles of the women.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was given to 1285 Puerto Rican women. Categorical variables were compared using chi2 analysis or Fisher exact test.

Does the use of recombinant AAV2 in pulmonary gene therapy damage lung function?

Forty-eight BALB/c mice were divided into two groups of 24 animals each. In the control group (CTRL) saline was intratracheally instilled, while the virus group (VR) received rAAV2-GFP (4 x 10(9) particles). These groups were subdivided into four sub-groups (n=6).

Validation and global uncertainty of a gas chromatographic with mass spectrometry method for fenamidone analysis in grapes and wines.

Fenamidone is an imidazolinone fungicide recently introduced in viticulture practices. This work reports the validation and assessment of global uncertainty of a gas chromatographic with mass spectrometry method to analyze fenamidone in grapes and wines. This method consists in a simple and fast liquid-liquid extraction step followed by chromatographic determination.

HIV-1 infection of monocytes is directly related to the success of HAART.

Macrophages are recognized cellular compartments involved in HIV infection; however, the extent to which precursor monocytes are infected in vivo and its significance remains poorly understood. Our aim was to analyze the contribution of monocytes to HIV infection in vivo. PCR assays did not detect HIV-1 proviral DNA in monocytes of HAART-suppressed patients.

Ventricular resynchronization: comparing biventricular and bifocal right ventricular pacemakers.

Objective: To analyze the conventional biventricular pacing (BV) and the bifocal (BF) right ventricular (RV) pacing, and to perform a comparative analysis of these two techniques in relation to clinical, functional and echocardiographic parameters in a population without the exclusion criteria of the major studies.

Methods: A prospective non-randomized analysis of 36 patients undergoing surgery for multisite pacemaker implantation due to QRS > or =130 ms, severe left ventricular dysfunction, and NYHA functional class III or ambulatory class IV congestive heart failure was performed.

Results: Favorable results of resynchronization were obtained with both techniques, with no significant differences in the comparison of the two groups, except for a higher QRS narrowing in the BV group, and a trend of a lower number or hospital admissions in the BV group.

[Low-doses dobutamine and fluids in high-risk surgical patients: effects on tissue oxygenation, inflammatory response and morbidity].

Background And Objectives: Dobutamine is an inotropic agent with predominant beta1- adrenergic properties frequently used to increase blood flow in critically ill patients. Dobutamine may have a role in increasing splanchnic perfusion, thereby protecting this area from further injury. We investigated the effects of low doses dobutamine (5 mug/kg/min) on tissue oxygenation, inflammatory response and postoperative complications in high-risk surgical patients.

Characterization of an astrovirus genotype 2 strain causing an extensive outbreak of gastroenteritis among Maxakali Indians, Southeast Brazil.

Background: Human astroviruses (HAstVs) are a common cause of sporadic diarrhea in children but large outbreaks occur in children's day care centers, schools and in homes for the elderly.

Objectives: To report a large outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that occurred in January 2004 among Indians from the Maxakali Reserve in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Study Design: Fecal samples from 46 Maxakali patients were collected and tested for a range of enteric pathogens.

Evaluation of the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of a Brazilian green propolis.

Phamacological activities of a standard ethanol extract G1 from Brazilian green propolis, typified as BRP1, was evaluated in mouse models of pain and inflammation. Intraperitoneal injection ( I. P.

Seasonal fluctuations of tissue mercury contents in the European shore crab Carcinus maenas from low and high contamination areas (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal).

The main objective was to study the seasonal variation of mercury concentrations in different tissues (muscle, hepatopancreas and gills) of Carcinus maenas from low and high Hg contaminated areas, a valuable resource in temperate estuaries and a possible pathway for human uptake. Individuals of two size classes (around 35 and 55 mm cephalothorax wide) were captured monthly between March 1999 and May 2000 in two areas of Ria de Aveiro: in the main navigation channel that connects the lagoon to the sea, and in the inner lagoon area heavily contaminated by mercury (maximum Hg in sediments of 5.4 microg g(-1)).

Complications in laparoscopic radical cystectomy. The South American experience with 59 cases.

Objective: In this study, we have gathered the second largest series yet published on laparoscopic radical cystectomy in order to evaluate the incidence and cause of intra and postoperative complication, conversion to open surgery, and patient mortality.

Materials And Methods: From 1997 to 2005, 59 laparoscopic radical cystectomies were performed for the management of bladder cancer at 3 institutions in South America. Twenty nine patients received continent urinary diversion, including 25 orthotopic ileal neobladders and 4 Indiana pouches.

Laparoscopic-assisted radical cystectomy with U-shaped orthotopic ileal neobladder constructed using nonabsorbable titanium staples.

Introduction: Recently, nonabsorbable staples have been safely used in a variety of urologic open and laparoscopic extirpative and reconstructive procedures. We report the surgical steps of our technique of U-shaped orthotopic ileal neobladder created with titanium staples.

Technical Considerations: Using stay stitches, a 45 to 50-cm ileal segment is arranged in a U shape with two segments of approximately 20 cm and an afferent limb of 5 or 10 cm.

Use of titanium knot placement device (TK-5) to secure dorsal vein complex during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and cystoprostatectomy.

Introduction: We evaluated the feasibility and describe the surgical technique of using the Ti-Knot device TK-5 to secure the dorsal vein complex (DVC) during 20 consecutive cases of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and cystoprostatectomy.

Technical Considerations: Bloodless DVC ligation and transection was successfully achieved in 19 (95.03%) of 20 cases.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with intracorporeally constructed Y-shaped orthotopic ileal neobladder using nonabsorbable titanium staples exclusively.

Increasing evidence in published reports has suggested that titanium staples may be well tolerated inside the urinary tract. Recently, the Italian Group from Piedmont described an "easy, fast, and reliable" technique of a Y-shaped ileal neobladder that was created during open surgery with nonabsorbable mechanical staples. They observed an acceptable 6% rate of stone formation at a median follow-up of 20 months (range 8 to 47).

Laparoscopic assisted radical cystoprostatectomy with Y-shaped orthotopic ileal neobladder constructed with non-absorbable titanium staples through a 5 cm Pfannensteil incision.

Introduction: We performed a laparoscopic radical cystoprostatectomy followed by constructing a Y-shaped reservoir extra-corporeally with titanium staples through a 5-cm muscle-splitting Pfannenstiel incision.

Surgical Technique: Upon completion of the extirpative part of the operation, the surgical specimen was entrapped and removed intact through a 5-cm Pfannenstiel incision. Through the extraction incision, the distal ileum was identified and a 40 cm segment isolated.

Transperitoneal versus retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: patient selection and perioperative outcomes.

Purpose: We compared the results of transperitoneal (T) and retroperitoneal (R) approaches to laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in regard to perioperative outcomes and technical considerations, thereby, identifying patient selection guidelines for each approach.

Materials And Methods: The choice of approach was dictated primarily by tumor location, that is TLPN for anterior or lateral lesions and RLPN for posterior or posterolateral lesions. The approaches differed primarily by the hilar control technique.

Stapleless laparoscopic assisted radical cystectomy with ileal neobladder in a male and with ileal loop in a female: initial report from Brazil.

Introduction: Here, we report our initial experience with laparoscopic assisted radical cystectomy without the use of surgical staples.

Cases Report: A 70 year old male and a 55 year old female were diagnosed to have T2G3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with negative metastatic work-out. Both patients were scheduled and agreed to a laparoscopic assisted radical cystectomy.

Impact of intraoperative heparin on laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

Purpose: At many centers systemic heparinization is performed during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy because of concerns regarding graft thrombosis. However, no consensus exists in this regard. We evaluated the impact of intraoperative heparin on donor and recipient outcomes.

Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy has equivalent early and late renal function outcomes compared with open donor nephrectomy.

Objectives: To assess the patterns of early functional recovery and long-term function in laparoscopic and open procured live donor nephrectomy (LDN) kidneys, highlighting the radionuclide scan as an additional tool for assessment, because of concerns regarding renal functional recovery after laparoscopic LDN.

Methods: We reviewed the donor and recipient records of 101 laparoscopic and 35 open LDNs performed between August 1997 and September 2001. Data were collected on demographic, immunologic, and intraoperative variables and ureteral/vascular complications.

Dismembered percutaneous endopyeloplasty: a new procedure.

Purpose: We recently described a novel technique of percutaneous non-dismembered endopyeloplasty (Fenger type). Herein, we extend this transrenal technique further and report percutaneous dismembered endopyeloplasty (Anderson-Hynes type).

Materials And Methods: In five pigs with unilateral ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction created 3 to 6 weeks earlier, percutaneous dismembered endopyeloplasty was performed.

Pertinent issues related to laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: We describe the critical steps of the laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) technique and discuss how they impact upon the pertinent issues regarding prostate cancer surgery: blood loss, potency and continence.

Results: A major advantage of LRP is the reduced operative blood loss. The precise placement of the dorsal vein complex stitch associated with the tamponading effect of the CO(2) pneumoperitoneum significantly decrease venous bleeding, which is the main source of blood loss during radical prostatectomy.