Crop-Livestock Integration Improves Physical Soil, Agronomic and Environmental Aspects in Soybean Cultivation.

Soybean is one of the most widely grown crops in the world and technologies are increasingly needed to increase productivity without impacting environmental degradation. In this context, the aim was to evaluate the action of forage plants of the genus sp. in crop-livestock integration on physical soil, agronomic and environmental aspects of soybean cultivation.

Hand-foot syndrome due to hepatitis C therapy.

Introduction: Direct-acting antivirals are new drugs for chronic hepatitis C treatment. They are usually safe and well tolerated, but can sometimes cause serious adverse effects and there is no consensus on how to treat or prevent them. We described a case of hand-foot syndrome due to hepatitis C virus interferon-free therapy.

Periungual tegumentary leishmaniasis: a diagnostic challenge.

Periungual and paronychia-like skin lesions can mimic various diseases, setting up a diagnostic challenge that invariably requires correlation with complementary tests. We report a case of an ulcerated tumor of the nailfold diagnosed as leishmaniasis. Although paronychia-like cutaneous leishmaniasis is a rare variant, its epidemiological relevance in Brazil should prompt dermatologists to include it as a plausible diagnosis thus leading to correct work up and treatment.

The high incidence of anti-Ro/SSA and anti-p200 antibodies in female patients with connective tissue diseases confirms the importance of screening for congenital heart block-associated autoantibodies during pregnancy.

It is known that anti-Ro/SSA positivity leads to higher risk of miscarriage and fetal cardiac malformations. Particularly, anti-p200 antibodies against a finer specificity of the Ro/SSA antigen, have been associated with congenital heart block. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of anti-p200 among female patients with different connective tissue diseases and, among these, the relevance of anti-p200 values in patients with cutaneous diseases compared to systemic diseases.

Evaluation of erythrocyte and reticulocyte parameters as indicative of iron deficiency in patients with anemia of chronic disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mature red cell and reticulocyte parameters to identify three conditions: iron deficiency anemia, anemia of chronic disease, and anemia of chronic disease associated with absolute iron deficiency.

Methods: Peripheral blood cells from 117 adult patients with anemia were classified according to iron status, inflammation, and hemoglobinopathies as: iron deficiency anemia (n=42), anemia of chronic disease (n=28), anemia of chronic disease associated with iron deficiency anemia (n=22), and heterozygous β-thalassemia (n=25). The percentage of microcytic erythrocytes, hypochromic erythrocytes, and the levels of hemoglobin in both reticulocytes and mature red cells were determined.

Tracheal ring fracture secondary to percutaneous tracheostomy: is tracheal flaccidity a risk factor?

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors of tracheal ring fracture and whether previous tracheal ring flaccidity predisposes to it in consecutive, mechanically ventilated, intensive care unit patients undergoing different percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy procedures (Ciaglia Blue Rhino, PercuTwist, and Ciaglia BlueDolphin).

Design: Single-center retrospective study performed between November 2006 and July 2013.

Setting: Single-center university hospital.

Evaluation of red cell and reticulocyte parameters as indicative of iron deficiency in patients with anemia of chronic disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mature red cell and reticulocyte parameters under three conditions: iron deficiency anemia, anemia of chronic disease, and anemia of chronic disease associated with absolute iron deficiency.

Methods: Peripheral blood cells from 117 adult patients with anemia were classified according to iron status, and inflammatory activity, and the results of a hemoglobinopathy investigation as: iron deficiency anemia (n=42), anemia of chronic disease (n=28), anemia of chronic disease associated with iron deficiency anemia (n=22), and heterozygous β thalassemia (n=25). The percentage of microcytic red cells, hypochromic red cells, and levels of hemoglobin content in both reticulocytes and mature red cells were determined.

A home-made animal model in comparison with a standard manikin for teaching percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.

Objectives: As airway management specialists, thoracic surgeons should be familiar with percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. To optimize the learning curve, we propose a home-made pig model obtained from a slaughterhouse for training residents in the technical aspects of performing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. The satisfaction of the residents' training experience using this model was compared with that using a standard manikin model.

Caval filters in intensive care: a retrospective study.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a caval vein filter (CVF) peri-implant monitoring protocol in order to reduce pulmonary embolism (PE) mortality and CVF-related morbidity.

Background: The reduction in mortality from PE associated with the use of CVF is affected by the risk of increase in morbidity. Therefore, CVF implant is a challenging prophylactic or therapeutic option.

The impact of the ketogenic diet on arterial morphology and endothelial function in children and young adults with epilepsy: a case-control study.

Purpose: The present study aimed to assess the impact of the ketogenic diet on arterial morphology and endothelial function of the big vessels of the neck and on cardiac diastolic function, in a cohort of epileptic children and young adults treated with the ketogenic diet.

Methods: Patients were recruited based on the following inclusion criteria: (1) patients who were or had been on the ketogenic diet for a time period of at least six months. Each patient underwent measurement of carotid intima media thickness, carotid artery stiffness, echocardiography, and diastolic function assessment.

[Predictors of hospital mortality in 186 cases of active infective endocarditis treated in a tertiary medical center (1992-2001)].

Introduction And Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the predictors of hospital mortality found in patients admitted for infective endocarditis (IE) to a cardiovascular surgery ward. Patients and method. Prospective study of 186 patients with IE treated in our hospital between 1992 and 2001.

Right atrial size and tricuspid regurgitation severity predict mortality or transplantation in primary pulmonary hypertension.

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a fatal illness. In advanced stages only transplantation is able to increase survival. Echocardiography is useful for the assessment of these patients, but there is limited information about its prognostic value.

[Cardiac myxoma. Clinical-pathological correlation].

Introduction And Objectives: Myxomas are the most common type of primary cardiac tumors. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical forms of presentation of cardiac myxoma, the postoperative evolution, and the possibility of recurrence and tumoral embolism.

Patients And Method: From July 1992 to March 1999, 31 patients with myxoma were studied.

Local thrombus as an isolated sign of traumatic aortic injury.

We report an unusual case of blunt traumatic aortic injury in which a mobile thrombus located at the isthmus was the only abnormality detected by transesophageal echocardiography. The case illustrates the high sensitivity of this diagnostic tool in aortic trauma and underscores the possibility of finding infrequent evidence of injury in subtle aortic lesions.

Unsuspected embolic fungal endocarditis of an aortic conduit diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography.

A 66-year-old man with a history of hypertension and ascending aortic replacement because of a type A dissection had 3 successive embolic events (left lower limb, brain, and spleen). Two consecutive transesophageal echocardiography studies showed mobile masses in the ascending aorta. The patient was reoperated without a certain etiologic diagnosis, and an unsuspected fungal endocarditis caused by an unusual germ (Trichoderma species) was found.

Human dbl proto-oncogene in 85 kb of xq26, and determination of the transcription initiation site.

The dbl oncogene is generated by substitution of the 5' portion of its normal counterpart with an unrelated human sequence. To analyze the genomic structure and transcriptional regulation of the dbl proto-oncogene, we have isolated human genomic clones containing the entire human proto-dbl gene, localized in Xq26. Restriction mapping of a 600kb YAC clone (yWXD311) placed proto-dbl about 50kb telomeric to the coagulation Factor IX gene.

Differentially regulated and evolved genes in the fully sequenced Xq/Yq pseudoautosomal region.

Human sex chromosomes, which are morphologically and genetically different, share few regions of homology. Among them, only pseudoautosomal regions (PARs) pair and recombine during meiosis. To better address the complex biology of these regions, we sequenced the telomeric 400 kb of the long arm of the human X chromosome, including 330 kb of the human Xq/YqPAR and the telomere.

Human and mouse SYBL1 gene structure and expression.

SYBL1 is a gene in the 320kb human pseudo-autosomal region at the terminus of Xq and Yq. In contrast to other pseudoautosomal genes, SYBL1 is inactivated on one X in every female cell, and is also inactive on the Y of male cells. Hypermethylation of the CpG island associated with the human gene is involved in this phenomenon.

Manual debridement of the aortic valve in elderly patients with degenerative aortic stenosis.

Objective: We prospectively analyzed the short- and long-term results of manual debridement of the aortic valve in elderly patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis.

Methods: Between September 1988 and January 1997, 103 patients aged 73.7 +/- 6 years with degenerative aortic stenosis underwent the manual debridement technique.

Unusual "Polycystic" Appearance of a Right Atrial Angiosarcoma Described by Transesophageal Echocardiography.

Angiosarcoma is the most common primary sarcoma of the heart and the most frequent location of the tumor is the right atrium. In the few published cases of right atrial angiosarcoma studied by transesophageal echocardiography, the features described greatly differ from one to another. We describe the transesophageal images of a prolapsing mass type angiosarcoma with polycystic appearance previously misinterpreted as a right atrial myxoma in two consecutives transthoracic echocardiograms.