New parameter for QRS complex low voltage in chagasic cardiomyopathy: the ADOC index.

Background: Low QRS complex voltage is an important predictor of death in Chagas disease. However, the parameters applied to the low-voltage classification were described by the Minnesota Code and not specifically for Chagas disease. This study aimed to analyze low QRS voltage by determining the ADOC index and averages in the frontal and horizontal electrocardiographic planes, establishing possible clinical implications.

Allopurinol versus Trimetazidine for the Treatment of Angina: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Recently, it was demonstrated that allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, has cardiovascular and anti-ischaemic properties and may be a metabolic antianginal agent option.Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the antianginal effect of allopurinol as a third drug for patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial between 2018 and 2020 including patients with CAD who maintained angina despite initial optimization with beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers.

Primary results of the brazilian registry of atherothrombotic disease (NEAT).

There is limited contemporary prospective real-world evidence of patients with chronic arterial disease in Latin America. The Network to control atherothrombosis (NEAT) registry is a national prospective observational study of patients with known coronary (CAD) and/or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Brazil. A total of 2,005 patients were enrolled among 25 sites from September 2020 to March 2022.

Standardized Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF®) in COVID-19 outcomes: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

SARS-CoV-2 and its different variants caused a "wave and wave" pandemic pattern. During the first wave we demonstrated that standardized Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF®) reduces length of hospital stay in adult patients with COVID-19. Afterwards, we decided to evaluate the impact of EPP-AF in hospitalized patients during the third wave of the pandemic.

Inflammation in Coronary Atherosclerosis: Insights into Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Potential of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.

Atherosclerosis is a lipid-driven immune-inflammatory disease that affects the arteries, leading to multifocal plaque development. The inflammatory process involves the activation of immune cells and various inflammatory pathways. Anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to be effective in reducing cardiovascular events in individuals with coronary disease.

Role of Lateral Ankle Ligaments in Vertical Stability of the Fibula: A Cadaveric Model.

Background: In unstable ankle fractures, the role of the deltoid and syndesmosis ligaments has been widely studied. However, it is uncertain what the importance of the lateral ankle ligament complex (LALC) is in the vertical stability of the fibula. Given its anatomical position, it should prevent the proximal translation of the fibula.

Effectiveness of 5-Fluorouracil and Hypertonic Glucose in the Prevention of Post-mastectomy Seroma in an Experimental Animal Model.

Introduction: Seroma is a frequent complication that can affect the final result of reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries.

Methodology: This study evaluated the effectiveness of 5-Fluorouracil and 75% hypertonic glucose in preventing seroma in a mastectomy rat model, as well as cellular and vascular events in adjacent tissues. A left mastectomy with lymphadenectomy was performed in 60 Wistar-Albino female rats.

Detection of Early Diffuse Myocardial Fibrosis and Inflammation in Chagas Cardiomyopathy with T1 Mapping and Extracellular Volume.

Purpose: To evaluate myocardial T1 mapping and extracellular volume (ECV) parameters in different stages of Chagas cardiomyopathy and determine whether they are predictive of disease severity and prognosis.

Materials And Methods: Prospectively enrolled participants (July 2013 to September 2016) underwent cine and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac MRI and T1 mapping with a precontrast (native) or postcontrast modified Look-Locker sequence. The native T1 and ECV values were measured among subgroups that were based on disease severity (indeterminate, Chagas cardiomyopathy with preserved ejection fraction [CCpEF], Chagas cardiomyopathy with midrange ejection fraction [CCmrEF], and Chagas cardiomyopathy with reduced ejection fraction [CCrEF]).

Erratum: Evaluation of the characteristics of infection prevention and control programs and infection control committees in Brazilian hospitals: A countrywide cross-sectional study - CORRIGENDUM.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1017/ash.2023.

Evaluation of the characteristics of infection prevention and control programs and infection control committees in Brazilian hospitals: A countrywide cross-sectional study.

Objective: Data are scarce regarding hospital infection control committees and compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) recommendations in Brazil, a country of continental dimensions. We assessed the main characteristics of infection control committees (ICCs) on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in Brazilian hospitals.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in ICCs of public and private hospitals distributed across all Brazilian regions.

Attributable mortality due to nosocomial sepsis in Brazilian hospitals: a case-control study.

Background: Nosocomial sepsis is a major healthcare issue, but there are few data on estimates of its attributable mortality. We aimed to estimate attributable mortality fraction (AF) due to nosocomial sepsis.

Methods: Matched 1:1 case-control study in 37 hospitals in Brazil.

IMPACTO-MR: a Brazilian nationwide platform study to assess infections and multidrug resistance in intensive care units.

Objective: To describe the IMPACTO-MR, a Brazilian nationwide intensive care unit platform study focused on the impact of health care-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Methods: We described the IMPACTO-MR platform, its development, criteria for intensive care unit selection, characterization of core data collection, objectives, and future research projects to be held within the platform.

Results: The core data were collected using the Epimed Monitor System® and consisted of demographic data, comorbidity data, functional status, clinical scores, admission diagnosis and secondary diagnoses, laboratory, clinical, and microbiological data, and organ support during intensive care unit stay, among others.

Restoration of Anatomic Parameters and Syndesmotic Reduction After Intramedullary Nailing of Distal Fibular Fractures.

Background: Intramedullary nailing of the fibula (FN) is a method of fixation that has proven to be useful for treating distal fibular fractures (DFs). FN minimizes soft tissue complications and provides similar stability to plating, with fewer hardware-related symptoms. Nevertheless, FN has been associated with syndesmotic malreduction and the incapacity of restoring length and rotation of the fibula.

Comparing Social Robot Embodiment for Child Musical Education.

The present research focuses in the comparison of two social robot models running the same Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) applications targeting the context of music education for children aged 9-11, with the objective of underlying the design choices favored by the target audience on the running tasks. The Guitar Tuner consists of two main functionalities: tuning process and performance evaluation, which we implemented using the NAO and Zenbo robots. User evaluation included 20 children and assessed their perceived robot embodiment preferences (e.

The use of standardized Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF) as an adjunct treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients (BeeCovid2): a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread and affects large numbers of people with unprecedented impacts. Experimental evidence has already been obtained for use of the standardized extract of Brazilian green propolis (EPP-AF) against viral targets, and clinical rationality has been demonstrated for testing this extract as an adjunct to treatment in patients affected by COVID-19. The BeeCovid2 study aims to assess whether EPP-AF has an impact on the improvement of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 by reducing the length of hospital stay.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Evolocumab Therapy in Patients at High Risk of Cardiovascular Events in the Context of the Brazilian Unified Health System.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) secondary to systemic hypertension (HTN) may be associated with left atrial (LA) functional abnormalities.

Objectives: We aimed to characterize LA mechanics in HCM and HTN and determine any correlation with the extent of left ventricular (LV) fibrosis measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in HCM patients.

Methods: Two-dimensional speckle tracking-derived longitudinal LA function was acquired from apical views in 60 HCM patients, 60 HTN patients, and 34 age-matched controls.

Effectiveness of sarolaner in the clinical management of furuncular myiasis in dogs naturally infested with Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae).

Background: The human botfly, Dermatobia hominis, is a common cause of furuncular myiasis in dogs in Latin America. Lesions can be single or multiple, each harboring an individual larva, presented as an erythematous nodule that causes pruritus and pain. Typical treatment consists of sedation for removal of larvae by surgical incision or manual pressure.

Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics after six months of sacubitril/valsartan in Chagas heart disease - A case series.

Chagas cardiomyopathy is the most prevalent non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy in Latin America, with high morbidity and mortality even today. Treatment of these patients is based on the use of medications for heart failure. This study evaluated a case series of patients with Chagas heart disease who used sacubitril/valsartan at a referral hospital for this disease in Brazil.

Sequential serological surveys in the early stages of the coronavirus disease epidemic: limitations and perspectives.

Introduction: Estimates of the number of individuals infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 are important for health planning and establishment of expectations regarding herd immunity.

Methods: Seven testing rounds of a serological survey were conducted at 1-week intervals between April 19 and May 31, 2020 in Teresina municipality. RESULTS Over the 7 weeks, serological positivity increased from 0.

Chagas disease is associated with a poor outcome at 1-year follow-up after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a therapeutic modality for patients with heart failure (HF). The effectiveness of this treatment for event reduction is based on clinical trials where the population of patients with Chagas' disease (DC) is underrepresented.

Objective: To evaluate the prognosis after CRT of a population in which CD is an endemic cause of HF.

Subtalar Arthroscopic Fusion.

Arthroscopic subtalar fusion is an excellent approach to subtalar pathologic condition where conservative treatment has failed and a fusion has been indicated. Formal contraindications include excessive malalignment and bone loss. The posterior arthroscopic approach is analyzed in this article, including indications, surgical technique, surgical tips, and complications.

Abnormal elevation of myocardial necrosis biomarkers after coronary artery bypass grafting without established myocardial infarction assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance.

Background: The diagnosis of peri-procedural myocardial infarction is complex, especially after the emergence of high-sensitivity markers of myocardial necrosis.

Methods: In this study, patients with normal baseline cardiac biomarkers and formal indication for elective on-pump coronary bypass surgery were evaluated. Electrocardiograms, cardiac biomarkers, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement were performed before and after procedures.

Chagas' heart disease: gender differences in myocardial damage assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background: Since a male-related higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with Chagas' heart disease has been reported, we aimed to investigate gender differences in myocardial damage assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods And Results: Retrospectively, 62 seropositive Chagas' heart disease patients referred to CMR (1.5 T) and with low probability of having significant coronary artery disease were included in this analysis.

Evaluation of first metatarsal head declination through a modified distal osteotomy in hallux rigidus surgery. A cadaveric model.

Background: First metatarsal osteotomies have been described for treatment of hallux rigidus. Most of these techniques result in declination of the first metatarsal head through shortening of the metatarsal and transfer metatarsalgia may result. Our objective was to evaluate the declination effect of a distal metatarsal osteotomy when different angulations and lateral translations are applied.