Implementation of a pre-hospital network favoring primary angioplasty in STEMI to reduce mortality: the Algarve Project.

Objective: To analyze the impact of reperfusion by either primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) or fibrinolysis, and mortality rates of a pre-hospital fast-track network for treating patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods And Results: A pre-hospital network for STEMI patients, designated the Green Lane for Acute Myocardial Infarction (GL-AMI), has been implemented in the southern region of Portugal --the Algarve Project. We performed an observational study based on a prospective registry of 1338 patients admitted to Faro Hospital between 2004 and 2009, classified in two groups according to the method of admission: emergency department group (EDG) and GL-AMI group (GLG).

Compressed domain topographic classification for capsule endoscopy.

In this paper we compare the classification accuracy of using compressed domain color (CDC) descriptors versus traditional full decoded images, for the purposes of topographic classification of wireless capsule endoscopy images. Results using a dataset of 26469 images, divided into stomach, small intestine and large intestine show a difference in classification accuracy below 1%. We also show that errors are mostly located near zone transitions (the pylorus and the ileocecal valve) and motivate the need for other visual descriptors (e.

Electromyographic activity of trunk muscles during exercises with flexible and non-flexible poles.

Objective: Hand-held flexible poles which are brought into oscillation to cause alternating forces on trunk, are advocated as training devices that are supposed to solicit increased levels of stabilizing trunk muscle activity. The aim of this study was to verify this claim by comparing electromyographic (EMG) activity of trunk muscles during exercises performed with a flexible pole and a rigid pole.

Methods: Twelve healthy females performed three different exercises with flexible and rigid poles.

The evolutionary rate of citrus tristeza virus ranks among the rates of the slowest RNA viruses.

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) has been studied intensively at the molecular level. However, knowledge regarding the dynamics of its evolution is practically non-existent. In the past, diverse authors have referred to CTV as a highly variable virus, implying rapid evolution.

Cervical abscess in an immunocompetent patient with Mycobacterium malmoense pulmonary disease.

Background: Mycobacterium malmoense is a nontuberculous mycobacteria seen mainly in two age groups and with different clinical presentations. Most patients are male adults presenting clinical symptoms and signs similar to those of pulmonary tuberculosis. The second group is formed by immunocompetent children with localized cervical lymphadenitis.

Electromyographic activity of shoulder muscles during exercises performed with oscillatory and non-oscillatory poles.

Background: Pain and dysfunction of the shoulder complex are commonly found physiotherapy practice. These musculoskeletal abnormalities are related to instability and inadequate kinematic function, that depend on the integrity of the muscle tissues. Thus, to enhance the results of exercise therapies, and prevent and attenuate pain and dynfunction, the use of oscillatory pole has been implemented in clinical practice.

Seroepidemiological survey of transmissible infectious diseases in a portuguese prison establishment.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 151 (71.6%) of 211 male inmates of a regional Portuguese prison in order to establish the seroprevalence for viral hepatitis (HAV, HBV, HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and to analyze some psychosocial and criminal characteristics. Mean age was 34 years.

Female gender: an independent factor in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women. In ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in particular, the question has been raised whether specific characteristics of women confer a worse prognosis.

Objective: To evaluate the differences in STEMI patients between the genders in cardiovascular risk profile, clinical presentation, therapeutic approach and in-hospital and 6-month mortality rates.

[Endomyocardial fibrosis with massive calcification of the left ventricle].

Endomyocardial fibrosis is a rare disease, endemic in tropical countries. It is characterized by fibrosis of the endocardium that can extend to myocardium. Important calcification of the endocardium is rare with only a few cases reported in the literature.

Delayed ossification in Wistar rats induced by Morinda citrifolia L. exposure during pregnancy.

Unlabelled: Different products of plant Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) have been marketed and used around the world based on properties described by Polynesian people that use them for more than 2000 years. Marketing of these products is based on their presumptive phytotherapic properties.

The COMT Val158 Met polymorphism as an associated risk factor for Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment in APOE 4 carriers.

Background: The aim of this study is to examine the influence of the catechol-O-methyltranferase (COMT) gene (polymorphism Val158 Met) as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment of amnesic type (MCI), and its synergistic effect with the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE).A total of 223 MCI patients, 345 AD and 253 healthy controls were analyzed. Clinical criteria and neuropsychological tests were used to establish diagnostic groups.

Unstable angina as initial manifestation of Wegener granulomatosis: case report.

Wegener granulomatosis (WG) is a necrotizing vasculitis that usually affects the respiratory tract, in association with kidney disease. Cardiac involvement is rare and silent in most cases, only becoming evident in necropsy studies. The authors report the case of a patient with WG, whose unstable angina was the first clinical manifestation, although the patient had suffered a previous unrecognized myocardial infarction.

Effects of Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium breve on urinary oxalate excretion in nephrolithiasis patients.

It had been suggested that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) may degrade oxalate in the intestinal lumen, reducing urinary oxalate excretion. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a LAB mixture containing Lactobacillus casei (LC) and Bifidobacterium breve (BB) (LC + BB) upon urinary oxalate reduction in stone-forming (SF) patients without hyperoxaluria under conditions of an oxalate-rich diet. After an oxalate restriction period (7 days washout), 14 SF patients consumed an oxalate-rich diet during 4 weeks (200 mg/day) and a lyophilized LC + BB preparation was given t.

In-hospital delay in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction after Manchester Triage.

Introduction: In ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), time to reperfusion influences morbidity and mortality, and reducing in-hospital delay (IHD) continues to be important. Doubts have been expressed whether the Manchester Triage System (MTS) contributes to this objective.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the MTS in classifying STEMI patients and its effect on IHD.

Miltefosine for visceral leishmaniasis relapse treatment and secondary prophylaxis in HIV-infected patients.

Miltefosine is the first effective oral drug against visceral leishmaniasis. However, there are few data about its role against the increasing problem of HIV-associated visceral leishmaniasis. It is necessary to establish a treatment and secondary prophylaxis approach with miltefosine in this population, particularly for those in whom standard treatment was unsuccessful.

Nurse: technician and artist. "Frances's story": student response.

In this response to research reported by Dr. Gramling, the author of this response likens the art of nursing to a masterpiece drawn with the inner talents and gifts of nurses. Frances, a patient interviewed by Dr.

Influence of muscle mass and physical activity on serum and urinary creatinine and serum cystatin C.

Background And Objectives: For addressing the influence of muscle mass on serum and urinary creatinine and serum cystatin C, body composition was assessed by skinfold thickness measurement and bioelectrical impedance analyses.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: A total of 170 healthy individuals (92 women, 78 men) were classified as sedentary or with mild or moderate/intense physical activity. Blood, 24-h urine samples, and 24-h food recall were obtained from all individuals.

[Visceral leishmaniasis and HIV infection in the HAART era].

Visceral Leishmaniasis is an endemic infection in Portugal, as well as in other Mediterranean basin countries, where it has become a frequent complication of HIV infection. There are several studies published about Leishmania/HIV co-infection, however some particularities of its epidemiology, pathogenesis and especially of its treatment and prophylaxis remain unclear and undefined. The authors review some aspects of this co-infection, particularly epidemiology, clinical classic manifestations and laboratory features, diagnosis, treatment, prophylaxis and prevention and report the casuistic of the Infectious Diseases Department of the University Hospital of Coimbra during the last ten years (1996-2006) in the HAART (<>) era.

Spondylodiscitis associated with recurrent Serratia bacteremia due to a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS): a case report.

We report a case of spondylodiscitis caused by multiresistant Serratia marcescens in a cirrhotic patient who had several Serratia bacteremias after the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) device. We concluded that an endovascular stent that can not be removed makes management of recurrent bacteremia difficult. Furthermore, back pain due to bacteremia is indicative of spondylodiscitis.

Trapping of anionic organic radicals by (TpMe2)2Ln (Ln = Sm, Eu).

Stoichiometric reaction of [ Sm(Tp(Me2))2 ], 1, with a variety of reducible ketone- and quinone-type substrates gave thermally stable, isolable radical anions/ketyls in moderate to good yields. Thus reaction with benzophenone gave [Sm(Tp(Me2))2(OCPh2)], 2, with fluorenone [Sm(Tp(Me2))2(eta1-OC13H8)], 3, and di-tert-butylparaquinone [Sm(Tp(Me2))2(eta1-OC6H2(tBu)2O)], 4, each of which was structurally characterized. In the case of the less-hindered benzoquinone, an unimetallic semiquinone [Sm(Tp(Me2))2(OC6H4O)], 5, could be isolated, although it was unstable with respect to formation of the dimetallic complex [Sm(Tp(Me2))2]2(mu-OC6H4O), 6.

Arsenic speciation of two specimens of Napoleon's hair.

Since 1960, it has been demonstrated by various analytical procedures that high concentrations of arsenic were present in Napoleon's hair. Various authors, indicating that the detected arsenic levels are a consequence of external contamination, have challenged the results of these examinations. We have tested two strands of hair, referenced as Noverraz and Grand Maréchal Bertrand.

Analysis of the NADH-dependent retinaldehyde reductase activity of amphioxus retinol dehydrogenase enzymes enhances our understanding of the evolution of the retinol dehydrogenase family.

In vertebrates, multiple microsomal retinol dehydrogenases are involved in reversible retinol/retinal interconversion, thereby controlling retinoid metabolism and retinoic acid availability. The physiologic functions of these enzymes are not, however, fully understood, as each vertebrate form has several, usually overlapping, biochemical roles. Within this context, amphioxus, a group of chordates that are simpler, at both the functional and genomic levels, than vertebrates, provides a suitable evolutionary model for comparative studies of retinol dehydrogenase enzymes.

Intestinal intraluminal injection of glutamine increases trolox total equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of intraluminal injection of glutamine on the serum trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity in an experimental model of ischemia-reperfusion of the liver observing the applicability of modifications on the original assay method.

Methods: Thirty Wistar rats underwent laparotomy to perform a 20 cm blind sac of small bowel and occlusion of the hepatic hilo for 30 minutes and reperfusion for 5 minutes. Into the gut sac it was injected glutamine (glutamine group, n=10) or distilled water (control group, n=10).