Kidney cancer. Heavy metals as a risk factor.

The association between exposure to heavy metals and cancer has been extensively studied, although the mechanisms involved are far from being completely understood. Concerning renal cell carcinoma, several heavy metals have been implicated as risk factors, namely cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Herewith, we investigated the presence and distribution of heavy metals in samples of renal cell carcinoma, as well as adjacent renal tissue (control samples), in patients submitted to radical or partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma.

[Consensus document on coding of cardiac magnetic resonance examinations in Portugal].

One of the obstacles to more frequent and appropriate use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in Portugal has been the lack of specific codes that accurately describe these examinations as they are currently performed. In this consensus document, recommendations are made for updating and standardizing CMR codes in Portugal. Guidance on which techniques and codes should be used in the most common clinical scenarios is also provided.

The importance of multimodality cardiac imaging: Echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging contributions to the diagnosis and management of a right ventricular mass.

Cardiac metastases from testicular tumors are rare. We report a case of a 42-year-old man with a cardiac mass incidentally found in a computed tomography-scan included in the workup for lumbago and a suspicious neoformation in the right testicle. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large multilobular ill-defined mass infiltrating the right ventricle free wall, protruding to, and partially obstructing the right ventricular outflow tract resulting in considerable outflow obstruction.

[Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery and acute myocardial infarction: cause or coincidence?].

Congenital coronary artery anomalies are one of the causes of myocardial ischemia and sudden death in the young, mainly during sports. Origin of the right coronary artery from the left anterior descending artery is very rare, with a prevalence of 0.015%, corresponding to 1.

Enhancing impact: visualization of an integrated impact assessment strategy.

The environmental impact assessment process is over 40 years old and has dramatically expanded. Topics, such as social, health and human rights impact are now included. The main body of an impact analysis is generally hundreds of pages long and supported by countless technical appendices.

Acute coronary syndrome in young adults.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the features of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients younger than 46 years of age.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of clinical features, complications and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of patients hospitalized between 1999 and 2007 with a diagnosis of ACS in a non-tertiary hospital. Data were collected from clinical records.

Evaluation of a manual-based programme for the promotion of social and emotional skills in elementary school children: results from a 4-year study in Portugal.

The promotion of socio-emotional skills in educational contexts is highly beneficial to individuals' global adjustment and development. Evaluation research suggests that interventions for the promotion of socio-emotional skills are effective. However, most of this work has been carried out in the USA and there is now a pressing need to evaluate interventions at the cross-cultural level.

Constrictive pericarditis of tuberculous etiology in the HIV-positive patient: case report and review of the literature.

Pericardial inflammation secondary to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is a rare condition, but its incidence is increasing in parallel with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Recrudescence of various types of tuberculosis should alert the clinician to the possibility of tuberculous pericarditis. The authors present the case of a 27-year-old white male, seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus, presenting with large volume pericardial effusion and unusual echocardiographic features, global heart failure and clinical suspicion of tuberculosis.