Leishmaniases diagnosis: an update on the use of immunological and molecular tools.

Leishmaniases are caused by obligate intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. They cause a spectrum of diseases, most notably visceral (VL), cutaneous (CL), and mucosal (ML) leishmaniasis, which affect millions of people around the world, each year. Despite scientific advances, leishmaniases cases are expanding, constituting an important public health problem.

Influence of upper airway abnormalities on the control of severe asthma: a cross-sectional study.

Background: A better understanding of severe uncontrolled asthma (UA) in the upper airways is needed. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of upper airway abnormalities and their associations with UA.

Methods: An observational study enrolled individuals with severe asthma.

Skeletonized versus pedicled bilateral internal mammary artery grafting: outcomes and concerns analyzed through a meta-analytical approach.

Background: It is suggested that the internal thoracic artery (ITA) harvesting technique influences the incidence of sternal wound infection (SWI) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery when both right and left ITAs are used. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether there is any difference between skeletonized versus pedicled bilateral ITA in terms of SWI after CABG.

Methods: We performed a systematic-review using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL/CCTR, SciELO, LILACS, Google Scholar and reference lists of relevant articles to search for studies that compared the incidence of SWI after CABG between skeletonized versus pedicled bilateral ITA until May 2014.

Nutritional status and its impact on time and relocation in postoperative complications of abdominal patients undergoing surgery.

Introduction: The nutritional state is the independent factor that most influences the post-operational results in elective surgeries.

Objective: to evaluate the influence of the nutritional state on the hospitalization period and on the post-operative complications of patients submitted to abdominal surgery.

Methods: prospective study with 99 surgical patients over 18 years of age, submitted to abdominal surgeries in the period from April to October of 2013, in the Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP).

Central versus peripheral arterial cannulation and neurological outcomes after thoracic aortic surgery: meta-analysis and meta-regression of 4459 patients.

Background: Thoracic aortic surgeries remain with high mortality rates, often associated with postoperative neurological complications. The choice of the right cannulation site is extremely important for suitable blood supply and maintenance of vital functions, especially of the central nervous system.

Objectives: To compare the influence of central versus peripheral arterial cannulation on neurological outcomes in patients undergoing thoracic aortic surgery through systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patency of skeletonized versus pedicled internal thoracic artery in coronary bypass graft surgery: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Background: It is suggested that the skeletonization harvesting technique influences the patency rates of internal thoracic artery (ITA) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in comparison to conventional (pedicled) harvesting. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether there is any difference between skeletonized versus pedicled ITA in terms of patency after CABG.

Methods: We performed a systematic-review using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL/CCTR, SciELO, LILACS, Google Scholar and reference lists of relevant articles to search for studies that performed angiographic evaluation within the first two years after CABG between these two groups until December 2013.

Antineoplasic effect of aqueous extract of plectranthus amboinicus in ehrlich ascites carcinoma.

There are 46,000 new cases of peritoneal carcinomatosis per year in the USA and 17,700 in Brazil. New media, including plant derivatives, are being tested in its treatment. Plectranthus amboinicus is a medicinal plant widely used in Brazil, especially in the northeast region, for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer.

Five-year outcomes following PCI with DES versus CABG for unprotected LM coronary lesions: meta-analysis and meta-regression of 2914 patients.

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy at long-term follow-up of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL/CCTR, SciELO, LILACS, Google Scholar and reference lists of relevant articles were searched for clinical studies that reported outcomes at 5-year follow-up after PCI with DES and CABG for the treatment of ULMCA stenosis. Five studies (1 randomized controlled trial and 4 observational studies) were identified and included a total of 2914 patients (1300 for CABG and 1614 for PCI with DES).

Lower quality of life in longstanding mild primary hyperparathyroidism.

Objective: To describe the non-classical manifestations and quality of life in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

Subjects And Methods: We evaluated non-classical manifestations and quality of life of 22 patients with PHPT using the SF-36 questionnaire according to the time since diagnosis.

Results: In the scores of quality of life, a significant difference was found comparing the groups with previous and recent diagnosis of PHPT in terms of functional capacity (39 + 22.

Amplified OTDR systems for multipoint corrosion monitoring.

We present two configurations of an amplified fiber-optic-based corrosion sensor using the optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) technique as the interrogation method. The sensor system is multipoint, self-referenced, has no moving parts and can measure the corrosion rate several kilometers away from the OTDR equipment. The first OTDR monitoring system employs a remotely pumped in-line EDFA and it is used to evaluate the increase in system reach compared to a non-amplified configuration.

Skeletonized internal thoracic artery is associated with lower rates of mediastinitis in elderly undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Background And Objectives: Mediastinitis is a serious complication of median sternotomy and is associated to significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to identify which option of harvesting internal thoracic artery (ITA), pedicled or skeletonized, is associated with lower rates of mediastinitis after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) in elderly, in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of PROCAPE.

Methods: Retrospective study of 160 elderly who underwent consecutive CABG between May 2007 and June 2011.

Predictors of transfusion of packed red blood cells in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Objectives: Finding predictors of blood transfusion may facilitate the most efficient approach for the use of blood bank services in coronary artery bypass grafting procedures. The aim of this retrospective study is to identify preoperative and intraoperative patient characteristics predicting the need for blood transfusion during or after CABG in our local cardiac surgical service.

Methods: 435 patients undergoing isolated first-time CABG were reviewed for their preoperative and intraoperative variables and analyzed postoperative data.

Validation of MagedanzSCORE as a predictor of mediastinitis after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability of a new score for predicting mediastinitis - MagedanzSCORE - in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco - PROCAPE.

Methods: Retrospective study involving 500 patients operated between May/2007 and April/2010. The registers contained all the information used to calculate the MagedanzSCORE.

Vacuum-assisted venous drainage in cardiopulmonary bypass and need of blood transfusion: experience of service.

Objective: To report the experience with the vacuum-assisted venous drainage (VAVD) technique in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPBP) and blood transfusion need.

Methods: A retrospective study was made about data from 111 patients who were operated, using VAVD between October 2006 and February 2008, at the Esperança Hospital, Recife, Pernambuco. The necessity of blood transfusion was verified on the single group of patients who underwent VAVD, comparing with sex, age and weigh, before the beginning of the CPBP and during the surgery, using Chi-square test and t-student test.

Effects of demineralized bone matrix and a 'Ricinus communis' polymer on bone regeneration: a histological study in rabbit calvaria.

The aim of the present study was to histologically analyze the effects of bovine and human demineralized bone matrix and a Ricinus communis polymer on the bone regeneration process. Two surgical bone defects were created in rabbit calvaria, one on the right and the other on the left side of the parietal suture. Eighteen rabbits were divided into three groups.

An improved intragastric balloon procedure using a new balloon: preliminary analysis of safety and efficiency.

Background: The authors developed a new intragastric balloon procedure with the objective of making it safer, faster, and less expensive than the established ones. The proposed procedure uses a new gastric balloon with technical improvements in the placement and removal procedures.

Methods: From June 2006 to July 2007, 52 patients were submitted to the new treatment with the Silimed Gastric Balloon (SGB), as part of a multidisciplinary program involving clinical, psychological, and behavioral approaches.

The in vitro morphological effects of some current pre-treatments on dentin surface: a SEM evaluation.

This in vitro study morphologically evaluated the effect of some current surface pre-treatments on dentin, using scanning electron microscopy, and related these morphological alterations to clinical implications. The labial surfaces of 30 bovine lower incisors were ground to obtain a flat dentin surface and were finished with 600-grit SiC paper to produce standardized smear layers. The teeth were randomly divided into six groups of five each.