Cohort study on 20 years' experience of bilateral video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy (VATS) for treatment of hyperhidrosis in 2431 patients.

Background: Primary hyperhidrosis is a condition characterized by excessive sweating, inconsistent with the needs for thermoregulation.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and the change in the quality of life of patients undergoing bilateral VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy) for treatment of hyperhidrosis, in a large case series.

Design And Setting: Cohort study conducted in a tertiary hospital specializing in hyperhidrosis located in São Paulo, Brazil.

Evaluation of compensatory hyperhidrosis after sympathectomy: The use of an objective method.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of compensatory hyperhidrosis following videothoracic sympathectomy to treat palmoplantar hyperhidrosis and its effect on sweating in the chest, abdomen, back and thighs. Furthermore, to evaluate the concordance between a subjective and an objective method of assessment for compensatory hyperhidrosis.

Methods: Forty patients with combined palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (15 women and 25 men, with a mean age of 25 years) were prospectively followed for 1 year.

Current treatment options for craniofacial hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis (HH) is characterized by sweating exceeding the amount necessary to meet the thermal regulation and physiological needs of the body. Approximately 9.41% of individuals with HH have craniofacial hyperhidrosis (FH).

Long-term results of the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis with oxybutynin: follow-up of 1,658 cases.

Background: Hyperhidrosis (HH) is characterized by exaggerated sweating in a specific region due to hyperfunction of the sweat glands. In the late 2000s, we started treating patients with an anticholinergic, oxybutynin, that was not being used until then.

Objectives: To present, after 12 years of utilizing this medication in our service, the substantial experience obtained with the use of oxybutynin as an initial treatment of HH in a large series of 1,658 patients.

Comparative analysis of the results of videothoracoscopic sympathectomy in the treatment of hyperhidrosis in adolescent patients.

Objective: Several factors that could influence the efficacy and satisfaction of patients after bilateral thoracic sympathectomy (VATS) in the treatment of hyperhidrosis (HH) have been studied, but no studies in the literature have specifically analyzed the effectiveness of treatment and variations in the quality of life of adolescents patients compared to those of adult patients (18-40 years).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2431 hyperhidrosis patients who underwent bilateral VATS and divided the patients into the following groups: adolescents (472 patients) and adult group (1760 patients). Variables included quality of life prior to surgery, improvement in quality of life after surgery, clinical improvement in sweating, presence of severe compensatory hyperhidrosis and general satisfaction at one month after surgery.

Analysis of the Results of Videotoracoscopic Sympathectomy in the Treatment of Hyperhidrosis in Patients 40 Years or Older.

Background: Several factors that could influence the efficacy and satisfaction of patients after bilateral thoracic sympathectomy (video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy [VATS]) in the treatment of hyperhidrosis (HH) have been studied, but no studies in the literature have specifically analyzed the effectiveness of treatment and variations in the quality of life of patients aged 40 years or older compared with those of young adult patients (19-40 years).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2,431 HH patients who underwent bilateral VATS and divided the patients into the following groups: a group younger than 40 years old (1,760 patients) and a group 40 years and older (142 patients). Variables included quality of life before surgery, improvement in quality of life after surgery, clinical improvement in sweating, the presence of severe compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH), and general satisfaction at 1 month after surgery.

Consensus on the investigation of thrombophilia in women and clinical management.

Objective: To standardize the investigation and clinical management of women with laboratory and/or clinical abnormalities suggestive of thrombophilia, in order to optimize antithrombotic approach and indication of laboratory tests.

Methodology: A discussion was carried out among 107 physicians (gynecologists/obstetricians, hematologists and vascular surgeons) present at a forum held at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, in São Paulo (SP), Brazil. As a minimum criterion, 80% agreement was established in the voting to each recommendation of conduct in the final document.

Number of Preoperative Hyperhidrosis Sites Does Not Affect the Sympathectomy Postoperative Results and Compensatory Hyperhidrosis Occurrence.

Background:  Patients with primary hyperhidrosis present with sweating in two or more sites in nearly 85% of cases. In this study, we examined whether the number of hyperhidrosis sites is related to the surgery outcomes.

Methods:  One hundred ninety-three hyperhidrosis patients who underwent bilateral videothoracoscopic sympathectomy after failure or dissatisfaction with clinical treatment were distributed into three groups based on the number of hyperhidrosis sites (one site, two sites, and three or more sites of hyperhidrosis).

The relation between age and outcomes of thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis: The older the better.

Objective: Several factors may potentially influence the efficacy and patient satisfaction after bilateral thoracic sympathectomy as the treatment for hyperhidrosis, but few studies have specifically analyzed the impact of age on the efficacy of this treatment, the occurrence of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH), and variations in the quality of life.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the effect of age, body mass index, surgical techniques, quality of life before surgery, betterment in the quality of life after surgery, clinical improvement in sweating at the main site, and the occurrence and intensity of CH in patients with hyperhidrosis (n = 1633) who underwent bilateral sympathectomy.

Results: Quality of life improved in more than 90% of patients, and severe CH occurred in 5.

Mobile Phone Ratiometric Imaging Enables Highly Sensitive Fluorescence Lateral Flow Immunoassays without External Optical Filters.

Paper-based diagnostic tests based on the lateral flow immunoassay concept promise low-cost, point-of-care detection of infectious diseases, but such assays suffer from poor limits of detection. One factor that contributes to poor analytical performance is a reliance on low-contrast chromophoric optical labels such as gold nanoparticles. Previous attempts to improve the sensitivity of paper-based diagnostics include replacing chromophoric labels with enzymes, fluorophores, or phosphors at the expense of increased fluidic complexity or the need for device readers with costly optoelectronics.

Combination of topical agents and oxybutynin as a therapeutic modality for patients with both osmidrosis and hyperhidrosis.

Introduction: The association of osmidrosis and hyperhidrosis often causes emotional and social problems that may impair the patients' quality of life. The purpose of our study was to analyze the therapeutic results of oxybutynin and topical agents in 89 patients with both osmidrosis and hyperhidrosis.

Method: We conducted an observational study at two specialized centers of hyperhidrosis between April 2007 and August 2013.

Evaluation of patients who underwent resympathectomy for treatment of primary hyperhidrosis.

Objectives: Video thoracoscopic sympathectomy is the recommended surgical treatment for primary hyperhidrosis and has a high success rate. Despite this high success rate, some patients are unresponsive and eventually need a resympathectomy. Few studies have previously analysed exclusively the results of these resympathectomies in patients with primary hyperhidrosis.

The therapeutic challenge of giant splenic artery aneurysm: a case repport.

Giant splenic artery aneurysm is a rare condition that represents an eminent life threatening for the patient, requiring, therefore, urgent surgical correction. A 61-year-old woman, former smoker, hypertensive, hypercholesterolemic and multipara sought our service because of a large tumor in the mesogastrium, which was an abdominal ultrasound finding. Despite the size of the tumor, the patient was asymptomatic.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy for Facial Hyperhidrosis: The Influence of the Main Site of Complaint.

Introduction: Facial hyperhidrosis (FH) may lead patients to a significantly impaired quality of life (QOL). Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VATS) is reserved for more severe cases refractory to common first-line agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of VATS for FH and to compare the results between patients with facial hyperhidrosis as main complaint (FHMC) and patients with facial hyperhidrosis as nonmain complaint (FHNMC).

Videothoracoscopic Sympathectomy Results after Oxybutynin Chloride Treatment Failure.

Background: Videothoracoscopy sympathectomy (VATS) is the only definitive treatment for primary hyperhidrosis (HH). Since 2007, in our institution, patients with HH were initially treated with oxybutynin chloride to avoid VATS and reduce compensatory hyperhidrosis incidence with good results. The aim of this study was to analyze the surgical response of patients suffering from essential hyperhidrosis after failure of oxybutynin chloride treatment.

Disposable Autonomous Device for Swab-to-Result Diagnosis of Influenza.

A prototype of a self-contained, automated, disposable device for chemically amplified protein-based detection of influenza virus from nasal swab specimens was developed and evaluated in a clinical setting. The device required only simple specimen manipulation without any dedicated instrumentation or specialized training by the operator for interpretation. The device was based on a sandwich immunoassay for influenza virus nucleoprotein; it used an enzyme-labeled antibody and a chromogenic substrate to provide an amplified visible signal, in a two-dimensional paper network format.

Variability of radiation doses of cardiac diagnostic imaging tests: the RADIO-EVINCI study (RADIationdOse subproject of the EVINCI study).

Background: Patients with coronary artery disease can accumulate significant radiation dose through repeated exposures to coronary computed tomographic angiography, myocardial perfusion imaging with single photon emission computed tomography or positron emission tomography, and to invasive coronary angiography. Aim of the study was to audit radiation doses of coronary computed tomographic angiography, single photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography and invasive coronary angiography in patients enrolled in the prospective, randomized, multi-centre European study-EVINCI (Evaluation of Integrated Cardiac Imaging for the Detection and Characterization of Ischemic Heart Disease).

Methods: We reviewed 1070 tests (476 coronary computed tomographic angiographies, 85 positron emission tomographies, 310 single photon emission computed tomographies, 199 invasive coronary angiographies) performed in 476 patients (mean age 60 ± 9 years, 60% males) enrolled in 12 centers of the EVINCI.

Translation and validation of Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale.

Introduction: The evaluation of patients with hyperhidrosis (HH) can be accomplished, among other ways, through questionnaires and scales. The Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) has been used as a simple and quick tool to perform this evaluation. Although HDSS has been well established in several languages, it has not been translated into Portuguese, restricting its specific use for Brazilian patients.

Might Hallucinations Have Social Utility?: A Proposal for Scientific Study.

There are many historical examples of people who heard voices or saw visions but were not classified as having a mental illness and who were supported by a religious community. The article offers a perspective for effective psychosocial supports for schizophrenia. The author analyzes data on 95 people who experienced verifiable persistent non-drug-assisted hallucinations in Europe, North America, and Australasia and discusses the life outcomes of 39 subjects.

A rapid, instrument-free, sample-to-result nucleic acid amplification test.

The prototype demonstrated here is the first fully integrated sample-to-result diagnostic platform for performing nucleic acid amplification tests that requires no permanent instrument or manual sample processing. The multiplexable autonomous disposable nucleic acid amplification test (MAD NAAT) is based on two-dimensional paper networks, which enable sensitive chemical detection normally reserved for laboratories to be carried out anywhere by untrained users. All reagents are stored dry in the disposable test device and are rehydrated by stored buffer.

Video-Assisted Thoracic Sympathectomy for Hyperhidrosis.

By the 1980s, endoscopy was in use by some groups in sympathetic denervation of the upper limbs with vascular indications. Low morbidity, cosmetic results, reduction in the incidence of Horner syndrome, and the shortened time in hospital made video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy (VATS) better accepted by those undergoing treatment for hyperhidrosis. Over the last 25 years, this surgical procedure has become routine in the treatment of hyperhidrosis, leading to a significant increase in the number of papers on the subject in the literature.

Flow control using audio tones in resonant microfluidic networks: towards cell-phone controlled lab-on-a-chip devices.

Fluid control remains a challenge in development of portable lab-on-a-chip devices. Here, we show that microfluidic networks driven by single-frequency audio tones create resonant oscillating flow that is predicted by equivalent electrical circuit models. We fabricated microfluidic devices with fluidic resistors (R), inductors (L), and capacitors (C) to create RLC networks with band-pass resonance in the audible frequency range available on portable audio devices.

Electromechanical cell lysis using a portable audio device: enabling challenging sample preparation at the point-of-care.

Audio sources are ubiquitously available on portable electronic devices, including cell phones. Here we demonstrate lysis of Mycobacterium marinum and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria utilizing a portable audio device coupled with a simple and inexpensive electromagnetic coil. The resulting alternating magnetic field rotates a magnet in a tube with the sample and glass beads, lysing the cells and enabling sample preparation for these bacteria anywhere there is a cell phone, mp3 player, laptop, or other device with a headphone jack.

Long-term results of the use of oxybutynin for the treatment of plantar hyperhidrosis.

Background: Plantar hyperhidrosis is a common illness with significant impact on quality of life. Oxybutynin presents good short-term results, but longer follow-up results are lacking. We evaluated oxybutynin effectiveness in patients who were not surgically treated and who had at least six months of follow-up.