Comparison of two pharmacological prophylaxis strategies for venous thromboembolism in spinal cord injury patients: a retrospective study.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare the cost and incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding between two different VTE pharmacological prophylaxis strategies in individuals with spinal cord injury: one based on motor impairment (Protocol 1) and the other based on time from the lesion and presence of associated risk factors for VTE (Protocol 2).

Setting: A tertiary rehabilitation hospital in Brazil.

Hemodynamic effects of experimental acute right ventricular overload.

Background: Acute right ventricular overload is associated with high morbidity and mortality clinical situations such as: extensive lung resection, pulmonary thromboembolism, lung transplantation and high altitude pulmonary edema. Some points of its pathophysiology remain unclear.

Objective: To assess the hemodynamic effects of experimental acute right ventricular overload in pigs.

Isokinetic muscle evaluation of quadriceps in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Muscle debility has a significant impact on health-related quality of life in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is correlated to exacerbation and even mortality. Assessing muscle strength is extremely relevant. Lack of standardisation in numbers of sets and rest interval in isokinetic test protocol can lead to distinct results, making com- prehension and comparisons among studies difficult.

ABPM in COPD patients with sleep desaturation.

Background: Sleep hypoxemia may change blood pressure by sympathetic activation. Few studies have analyzed blood pressure parameters in COPD patients who do not present sleep apnea, but do present sleep desaturation.

Objectives: To analyze blood pressure parameters in COPD patients with sleep desaturation not caused by apnea.

Effects of Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom on lung mechanics and inflammation in mice.

The present study evaluated the effects of an intramuscular injection of Tityus serrulatus venom (TsV) (0.67 miocrog/g) on lung mechanics and lung inflammation at 15, 30, 60 and 180 min after inoculation. TsV inoculation resulted in increased lung elastance when compared with the control group (p < 0.

The influence of lung function and muscular strength on the functional capacity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Aim: To determine which variable (forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2), nocturnal hypoxaemia and muscular strength of femoral quadriceps) can predict the distance walked in the six-minute walk test (6MWT) by COPD patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional and observational study of thirty patients referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation programme at a university hospital. Lung function was evaluated by spirometry, arterial blood gas analysis and nocturnal oximetry.

Correlation between mild hypoxaemia and limb skeletal muscle function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - pilot study.

Rationale: Exercise capacity in COPD patients depends on the degree of airflow obstruction, the severity of the hypoxaemia and skeletal muscle function. Muscle atrophy and weakness are considered systemic consequences of COPD and are associated with reduced exercise capacity.

Aims: To investigate the correlation between mild hypoxaemia and muscular strength, muscular fatigue and functional capacity in COPD patients.

Pulmonary mechanic and lung histology injury induced by Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom.

In the present work we investigated the effects of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom (CdtV) on the pulmonary mechanic events [static and dynamic elastance, resistive (DeltaP1) and viscoelastic pressures (DeltaP2)] and histology after intramuscular injection of saline solution (control) or venom (0.6 microg/g). The static and dynamic elastance values were increased significantly after 3 h of venom inoculation, but were reduced at control values in the other periods studied.

Using clinical data to predict sleep hypoxemia in patients with acromegaly.

Hypoxemia secondary to sleep apnea is commonly seen in patients with acromegaly, and this alteration apparently leads to considerable morbidity and mortality among such patients. With the objective of identifying hypoxemia based on clinical data, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 34 patients with acromegaly, all of whom were submitted to nocturnal oximetry and evaluation of snoring, as well as to the determination of body mass index (BMI) and neck circumference. In addition, daytime sleepiness was evaluated using the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS).

Analysis of pulmonary mechanics in an experimental model of sepsis.

Objective: To determine whether pulmonary mechanics are altered in mice with sepsis.

Methods: A total of 40 Balb/c mice were divided into two groups: survival (n = 21) and pulmonary mechanics (n = 19). The survival group was divided into three subgroups: control (n = 7), sublethal (n = 7) and lethal (n = 7).