Inflammation as a Prognostic Marker in Heart Failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic cardiac disease of great importance worldwide and responsible for one-fifth of hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease in Brazil. Pro-inflammatory mediators are involved in the pathophysiology of HF. However, the impact of inflammatory markers on the prognosis of the disease remains uncertain.

Umbilical Cord Herniation With Small Intestinal Evisceration in Two Thoroughbred Neonates.

This report describes two cases of spontaneous small intestinal evisceration via normally inserted umbilical stumps, without abdominal wall trauma. Both cases occurred immediately following uneventful parturition. The authors believe that these represent cases of umbilical cord herniation.

Sponge Presents Dual Effect on the Gastrointestinal Motility of Rodents: and Assays.

Santos-Neto, Nascimento, Cavalcanti and Pinheiro sponges are distributed across tropical worldwide seas. Some studies of marine products have shown interesting activities in smooth muscle models. Hence, we assessed the effect of the ethanolic extract of .

Visual Field Characteristics of Type I Boston Keratoprosthesis Patients Without Glaucoma.

Purpose: To determine visual field findings in Boston type 1-KPro (BI-KPro) patients without glaucoma. Characterize normal threshold values and global indices using standard automated perimetry and characterize visual field amplitude using Goldmann's manual perimetry.

Methods: This cross-sectional prospective noninterventional study included patients (n=6 patients, 6 eyes) with BI-KPro who had normal optical coherence tomography and fundoscopic evaluation of the optic disc and retina.

Visual impairment from uveitis in a reference hospital of Southeast Brazil: a retrospective review over a twenty years period.

Purpose: To identify the frequency and causes of uveitis leading to visual impairment in patients referred to the Low Vision Service - Department of Ophthalmology - UNIFESP, over a twenty years period.

Methods: In a retrospective study, medical records of 5,461 patients were reviewed. Data from the first clinical evaluation at the Low Vision Service were collected, patient's age, gender and cause of visual impairment were analyzed.

Corneal specular microscopy in infectious and noninfectious uveitis.

Purpose: Involvement of the cornea endothelium during uveitis has not been extensively studied even though it might participate in or constitute a target of ocular inflammation. Formation of keratic precipitates (KP) is a characteristic finding in several forms of uveitis. The aim of this prospective study was to examine the vicinity of keratic precipitates in infectious and noninfectious uveitis by specular microscopy.

Density functional theory study of the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of a mu-oxo bridged dinuclear Fe(IV) complex based on a tetra-amido macrocyclic ligand.

Recently, the synthesis, crystallographic structure, and Mossbauer characterization of the first example of an [(Fe(IV)TAML)2O](2-) (TAML = tetra-amido microcyclic ligand) complex were reported. Here, we elucidate the prominent structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of this complex on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. While the torsion between the molecular halves is caused by hydrogen bonding between the TAML moieties, the bending of the Fe-O-Fe unit is an intrinsic property of the bridge.

[The process of consent in clinical trials: from elaboration to accomplishment].

The consent form is a document recommended for international declarations, resolutions and specific laws currently used in research on health. The practice or the accomplishment of the informed consent in the exercise of the medicine and the research in human beings is pertains to the last decades and characterizes the perfectioning of biomedical ethics, constitutes a legal and ethical requirement in clinical research involving human beings. The main challenge of the consent process is to guarantee the adequate understanding of the individual, however the social, cultural and intellectual aspects as well as the relationship between physician and patient, sometimes, can affect this process.

[Contrast sensitivity and stereopsis in pseudophakic patients with multifocal intraocular lens].

Purpose: To evaluate the contrast sensitivity and stereopsis tests in patients who underwent bilateral implantation of multifocal intraocular lens.

Methods: Tests of contrast sensitivity using the Pelli-Robson chart and stereopsis evaluation with the Titmus Stereo Test were performed in 20 patients 30-60 days after the bilateral implantation of Acrysof Restor multifocal intraocular lens.

Results: The binocular contrast sensitivity test demonstrated that 6 patients (30%) presented 1.