Optimal management of gastric cancer: results from an international RAND/UCLA expert panel.

Objective: Defining processes of care, which are appropriate and necessary for management of gastric cancer (GC), is an important step toward improving outcomes.

Methods: Using a RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, an international multidisciplinary expert panel created 22 statements reflecting optimal management. All statements were scored for appropriateness and necessity.

[Normal maximal functional capacity in patients with congestive heart failure due to Chagas' cardiomyopathy].

Purpose: To compare patients with heart failure due to Chagas' cardiomyopathy and maximal oxygen consumption greater than 20mL/kg-1/min-1 to normal individuals.

Methods: We studied 104 male patients with heart failure due to Chagas' cardiomyopathy, functional classe II-IV, age 18 to 65 years (40.3 +/- 9.