Characterization of the patterns of care, access, and direct cost of systemic lupus erythematosus in Brazil: findings from the Macunaíma study.

Background: A cost of illness (COI) study aims to evaluate the socioeconomic burden that an illness imposes on society as a whole. This study aimed to describe the resources used, patterns of care, direct cost, and loss of productivity due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Brazil.

Methods: This 12-month, cross-sectional, COI study of patients with SLE (ACR 1997 Classification Criteria) collected data using patient interviews (questionnaires) and medical records, covering: SLE profile, resources used, morbidities, quality of life (12-Item Short Form Survey, SF-12), and loss of productivity.

Determination of suspected fragrance allergens extended list by two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in ready-to-inject samples.

A new strategy was developed to elucidate and quantify 56 (69 analytes including isomers) suspected chemically defined fragrance allergens in perfumes that were recently targeted by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). Samples were analyzed with a two-dimensional gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry system (GC-GC-MS). Method performance was evaluated by the accuracy profile approach to determine uncertainties around the regulation limit of 10mg/kg.

Detection of microcirculatory impairment by transcutaneous oxymetry monitoring during hemodialysis: an observational study.

Background: Little is known about the effects of intermittent hemodialysis on microcirculatory perfusion. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of hemodialysis on microvascular perfusion using transcutaneous oxymetry (TCPO2).

Methods: In this observational study, hourly TCPO2 measurements were performed during hemodialysis sessions.

Intraoperative factors affecting renal outcome after open repair of suprarenal aortic aneurysms.

Background: The open repair of suprarenal aortic aneurysm requires supraceliac aortic cross-clamping and separate renal artery reconstruction. The aim of this study was to determine the intraoperative factors responsible for postoperative renal dysfunction.

Methods: Between January 1, 2000 and May 31, 2010, 54 suprarenal aortic aneurysms were repaired at our center (mean age of the patients, 66 ± 8 years).

Aortic aneurysm surgery: long-term patency of the reimplanted intercostal arteries.

Background: During aortic surgery, the long-term patency of reimplanted intercostal arteries is unknown, limiting the relevance to preserve spinal cord vascularization.

Methods: Between January 2001 and January 2007, 40 patients were operated for either thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). Twenty cases of aneurysms limited to the proximal descending thoracic aorta were treated using endovascular repair, without preoperative spinal cord artery identification.

A rare case of visceral arterial stenoses in Williams-Beuren syndrome treated by complex revascularization.

Williams-Beuren syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. We present the case of a 27-year-old patient with Williams-Beuren syndrome and a juxtarenal abdominal aorta coarctation. As arterial hypertension (AHT) was not controlled, bilateral renal artery bypasses were performed at the age of 2 years by means of a hepatorenal bypass and a splenorenal bypass.

Collaborative validation of the quantification method for suspected allergens and test of an automated data treatment.

Previous publications investigated different data treatment strategies for quantification of volatile suspected allergens by GC/MS. This publication presents the validation results obtained on "ready to inject" samples under reproducibility conditions following inter-laboratory ring-testing. The approach is based on the monitoring of three selected ions per analyte using two different GC capillary columns.

Open repair of extensive thoracoabdominal and thoracic aneurysm: a preliminary single-center experience with femorofemoral distal aortic perfusion with oxygenator and without cerebrospinal fluid drainage.

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) and extensive thoracic descending aortic aneurysms (TDA) are not accessible through standard endovascular treatment. Fenestrated and branched endograft technology was developed rapidly without widespread application. The aim of this study was to review our open repair (OR) experience of TAAA and TDA.

Syngeneic bone marrow cell therapy prevents intimal proliferation in allogeneic vascular transplantation.

Background: Transplant arteriosclerosis is characterized by intraluminal obstructive proliferation occurring in response to immune-mediated arterial wall injury. Cell therapy with vascular progenitor cells have been suggested to repair intimal lesions following endothelial injury. The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of autologous bone marrow cell direct transfer and of Fucan-mobilization bone marrow-derived progenitor cells on intimal thickening in vascular grafts.