Hospital Universitário Regional do Norte do Paraná

Importance: The effects of intensive care unit (ICU) visiting hours remain uncertain. Objective: To determine whether a flexible family visitation policy in the ICU reduces the incidence of delirium. Design, Setting and Participants: Cluster-crossover randomized clinical trial involving patients, family members, and clinicians from 36 adult ICUs with restricted visiting hours (<4.5 hours per day) in Brazil. Participants were recruited from April 2017 to June 2018, with follow-up until July 2018. Interventions: Flexible visitation (up to 12 hours per day) supported by family education (n = 837 patients, 652 family members, and 435 clinicians) or usual restricted visitation (median, 1.5 hours per day; n = 848 patients, 643 family members, and 391 clinicians). Nineteen ICUs started with flexible visitation, and 17 started with restricted visitation. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcome was incidence of delirium during ICU stay, assessed using the CAM-ICU. Secondary outcomes included ICU-acquired infections for patients; symptoms of anxiety and depression assessed using the HADS (range, 0 [best] to 21 [worst]) for family members; and burnout for ICU staff (Maslach Burnout Inventory). Results: Among 1685 patients, 1295 family members, and 826 clinicians enrolled, 1685 patients (100%) (mean age, 58.5 years; 47.2% women), 1060 family members (81.8%) (mean age, 45.2 years; 70.3% women), and 737 clinicians (89.2%) (mean age, 35.5 years; 72.9% women) completed the trial. The mean daily duration of visits was significantly higher with flexible visitation (4.8 vs 1.4 hours; adjusted difference, 3.4 hours [95% CI, 2.8 to 3.9]; P < .001). The incidence of delirium during ICU stay was not significantly different between flexible and restricted visitation (18.9% vs 20.1%; adjusted difference, -1.7% [95% CI, -6.1% to 2.7%]; P = .44). Among 9 prespecified secondary outcomes, 6 did not differ significantly between flexible and restricted visitation, including ICU-acquired infections (3.7% vs 4.5%; adjusted difference, -0.8% [95% CI, -2.1% to 1.0%]; P = .38) and staff burnout (22.0% vs 24.8%; adjusted difference, -3.8% [95% CI, -4.8% to 12.5%]; P = .36). For family members, median anxiety (6.0 vs 7.0; adjusted difference, -1.6 [95% CI, -2.3 to -0.9]; P < .001) and depression scores (4.0 vs 5.0; adjusted difference, -1.2 [95% CI, -2.0 to -0.4]; P = .003) were significantly better with flexible visitation. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients in the ICU, a flexible family visitation policy, vs standard restricted visiting hours, did not significantly reduce the incidence of delirium. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02932358.

IMPORTANCE: Intravenous fluids are used for almost all intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Clinical and laboratory studies have questioned whether specific fluid types result in improved outcomes, including mortality and acute kidney injury. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a balanced solution vs saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride) on 90-day survival in critically ill patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Double-blind, factorial, randomized clinical trial conducted at 75 ICUs in Brazil. Patients who were admitted to the ICU with at least 1 risk factor for worse outcomes, who required at least 1 fluid expansion, and who were expected to remain in the ICU for more than 24 hours were randomized between May 29, 2017, and March 2, 2020; follow-up concluded on October 29, 2020. Patients were randomized to 2 different fluid types (a balanced solution vs saline solution reported in this article) and 2 different infusion rates (reported separately). INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either a balanced solution (n = 5522) or 0.9% saline solution (n = 5530) for all intravenous fluids. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was 90-day survival. RESULTS: Among 11 052 patients who were randomized, 10 520 (95.2%) were available for the analysis (mean age, 61.1 [SD, 17] years; 44.2% were women). There was no significant interaction between the 2 interventions (fluid type and infusion speed; P = .98). Planned surgical admissions represented 48.4% of all patients. Of all the patients, 60.6% had hypotension or vasopressor use and 44.3% required mechanical ventilation at enrollment. Patients in both groups received a median of 1.5 L of fluid during the first day after enrollment. By day 90, 1381 of 5230 patients (26.4%) assigned to a balanced solution died vs 1439 of 5290 patients (27.2%) assigned to saline solution (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.90-1.05]; P = .47). There were no unexpected treatment-related severe adverse events in either group. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Among critically ill patients requiring fluid challenges, use of a balanced solution compared with 0.9% saline solution did not significantly reduce 90-day mortality. The findings do not support the use of this balanced solution. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02875873.

PURPOSE: To verify the influence that increased femoral anteversion (FA) has on patients with recurrent patellar instability (RPI) treated by anteromedialization tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) combined with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) and to present the midterm outcomes of these patients. METHODS: From January 2008 to August 2013, skeletally mature patients with RPI and tibial tubercle (TT)-trochlear groove (TG) ≥ 17 mm who underwent anteromedialization TTO combined with MPFLR were evaluated for J sign, patellar glide, apprehension test, increased FA, Caton index, trochlea dysplasia, TT-TG, Kujala, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee evaluation form, and Tegner. Increased FA was determined clinically by a difference of more than 30° between hip internal and external rotation, 70° or more of hip internal rotation, and 30° or more of femoral neck anteversion. A subgroup analysis involving increased FA was made. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients composed the study group. Mean follow-up was 41.5 ± 11.05 months. The J-sign was present in 86% before surgery and none postoperatively (P < .001). All patients had a positive apprehension test or a patellar luxation at the patellar glide test rated as grade 4 before surgery. After surgery, the mean glide was 1.29 ± 0.45 with no apprehension (P < .001). Increased FA was present in 18.7%. Caton index before surgery was 1.11 ± 0.21 and 0.99 ± 0.11 postoperatively (P = .004). Trochlea dysplasia was present in all patients. TT-TG preoperatively was 20.77 ± 2.12 mm and 11.33 ± 1.24 mm postoperatively (P < .001). Functional scores improved preoperatively to postoperatively (P < .001) with Kujala and International Knee Documentation Committee means: 59.08 to 84.37; 52.6 to 85.5, respectively. Tegner preinjury score was 5.4 and postoperatively was 5.2 (P = .01). Increased FA group had worse Kujala compared with the normal FA group and worse Kujala improvement: 77.7 and 85.89 (P = .012), and 21.7 and 26.1, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased FA in patients with RPI had a negative effect on the outcome of anteromedialization TTO combined with MPFLR. Combined anteromedialization TTO and MPFLR had good functional midterm outcomes in treating patients with RPI and TT-TG ≥ 17 mm. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, comparative study.

P450c17 deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder and a rare cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia characterized by hypertension, hypokalemia, and impaired production of sex hormones. We performed a clinical, hormonal, and molecular study of 11 patients from 6 Brazilian families with the combined 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency phenotype. All patients had elevated basal serum levels of progesterone (1.8-38 ng/ml; 0.57-12 pmol/liter) and suppressed plasma renin activity. CYP17 genotyping identified 5 missense mutations. The compound heterozygous mutation R362C/W406R was found in 1 family, whereas the homozygous mutations R96W, Y329D, and P428L were seen in the other 5 families. The R96W mutation has been described as the cause of p450c17 deficiency in Caucasian patients. The other mutations were not found in 50 normal subjects screened by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization (Y329D, R362C, and W406R) or digestion with HphI (P428L) and were recently found in other Brazilian patients. Therefore, we elucidated the genotype of 11 individuals with p450c17 deficiency and concluded that basal progesterone measurement is a useful marker of p450c17 deficiency and that its use should reduce the misdiagnosis of this deficiency in patients presenting with male pseudohermaphroditism, primary or secondary amenorrhea, and mineralocorticoid excess syndrome.

The objective of this study is to perform the content validation often Nursing Care Quality Indicators in Adverse Event Prevention. Nine experts took part in this study and answered three forms. The results appointed the validity of the indicators, but with reformulations. The process yielded twelve indicators: identification of the patient's bed; identification of the risk of falling out of bed; Identification of peripheral venous accesses; Verification of skin lesions after infiltrations; Identification of venous infusion equipment; Identification of serum bottles and infusion speed control; Identification of peptic probes; Fixation of vesical delay probe and positioning of the urine collection bag; Checking of Procedures in Nursing Prescription; Control of Vital Signs; Checking of Nursing Procedures in Medical Prescription and Nursing elaboration of daily and complete prescription. The results confirm that the content validation procedure is indispensable for the development of evaluative measures.

Mycetoma is a chronic suppurative disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, characterized by a symptomatic triad: tumor, fistulas and grains. It can be caused by fungi (eumycetoma) and bacteria (actinomycetoma), with similar clinical features. Diagnosis is based on the clinical presentation and identification of the etiological agents in the tissue, by mycological/bacteriological, histopathological and immunohistochemical tests. It is important to specify the fungal or bacterial etiology, because the treatments are different. An approach that involves early diagnosis, the use of systemic antibiotics or antifungal agents, including surgical removal of lesions, is the basis for the treatment of these diseases. In this review, the most commonly used diagnostic methods and treatments will be discussed. Also, we will review the history of the disease through epidemiological and etiological aspects.

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging of the knee in identifying traumatic intraarticular knee lesions.. 300 patients with a clinical diagnosis of traumatic intraarticular knee lesions underwent prearthoscopic magnetic resonance imaging. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, likelihood ratio for a positive test, likelihood ratio for a negative test, and accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging were calculated relative to the findings during arthroscopy in the studied structures of the knee (medial meniscus, lateral meniscus, anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, and articular cartilage). Magnetic resonance imaging produced the following results regarding detection of lesions: medial meniscus: sensitivity 97.5%, specificity 92.9%, positive predictive value 93.9%, positive negative value 97%, likelihood positive ratio 13.7, likelihood negative ratio 0.02, and accuracy 95.3%; lateral meniscus: sensitivity 91.9%, specificity 93.6%, positive predictive value 92.7%, positive negative value 92.9%, likelihood positive ratio 14.3, likelihood negative ratio 0.08, and accuracy 93.6%; anterior cruciate ligament: sensitivity 99.0%, specificity 95.9%, positive predictive value 91.9%, positive negative value 99.5%, likelihood positive ratio 21.5, likelihood negative ratio 0.01, and accuracy 96.6%; posterior cruciate ligament: sensitivity 100%, specificity 99%, positive predictive value 80.0%, positive negative value 100%, likelihood positive ratio 100, likelihood negative ratio 0.01, and accuracy 99.6%; articular cartilage: sensitivity 76.1%, specificity 94.9%, positive predictive value 94.7%, positive negative value 76.9%, likelihood positive ratio 14.9, likelihood negative ratio 0.25, and accuracy 84.6%. Magnetic resonance imaging is a satisfactory diagnostic tool for evaluating meniscal and ligamentous lesions of the knee, but it is unable to clearly identify articular cartilage lesions. Avaliar a validade da ressonância magnética do joelho no diagnóstico das lesões intra-articulares traumáticas do joelho. População de 300 pacientes, com quadro clínico sugestivo de lesões intra-articulares traumáticas do joelho, que tiveram seus laudos de ressonância magnética comparados com os resultados obtidos nas artroscopias realizadas posteriormente. Foram calculados a sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo, valor preditivo negativo, razão de verossimilhança positiva, razão de verossimilhança negativa e acurácia da ressonância magnética do joelho para o diagnóstico de lesões em cada estrutura intra-articular estudada do joelho (menisco medial, menisco lateral, ligamento cruzado anterior, ligamento cruzado posterior e cartilagem articular). Em relação às lesões do menisco medial, a sensibilidade da ressonância magnética foi de 97.5%, a especificidade de 92.9% o valor preditivo positivo de 93.9%, o valor preditivo negativo de 97%, a razão de verossimilhança positiva de 13.7, a razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0.02 e a acurácia de 95.3%. Para o menisco lateral, a sensibilidade da ressonância magnética foi de 91.9%, a especificidade de 93.6%, o valor preditivo positivo de 92.7%, o valor preditivo negativo de 92.9%, a razão de verossimilhança positiva de 14.3, a razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0.08 e a acurácia de 93.6%. Para o ligamento cruzado anterior, a sensibilidade da ressonância magnética foi de 99.0%, a especificidade de 95.4%, o valor preditivo positivo de 91.9%, o valor preditivo negativo de 99.5%, a razão de verossimilhança positiva de 21.5, a razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0.01 e a acurácia de 96.6%. Para o ligamento cruzado posterior, a sensibilidade da ressonância magnética foi de 100%, a especificidade de 99%, o valor preditivo positivo de 80%, o valor preditivo negativo de 100%, a razão de verossimilhança positiva de 100, a razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0.01 e a acurácia de 99.6%. Para as lesões condrais a sensibilidade da ressonância magnética foi de 76.1%, a especificidade de 94.9%, o valor preditivo positivo de 94.7%, o valor preditivo negativo de 76.9%, a razão de verossimilhança positiva de 14.9, a razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0.25 e a acurácia de 84.6%. A ressonância magnética apresenta alta acurácia para identificar as lesões meniscais e ligamentares do joelho, mas é insatisfatória para diagnosticar as lesões da cartilagem articular.

Abstract Rationale The effects of balanced crystalloid versus saline on clinical outcomes for ICU patients may be modified by the type of fluid that patients received for initial resuscitation and by the type of admission. Objectives To assess whether the results of a randomized controlled trial could be affected by fluid use before enrollment and admission type. Methods Secondary post hoc analysis of the BaSICS (Balanced Solution in Intensive Care Study) trial, which compared a balanced solution (Plasma-Lyte 148) with 0.9% saline in the ICU. Patients were categorized according to fluid use in the 24 hours before enrollment in four groups (balanced solutions only, 0.9% saline only, a mix of both, and no fluid before enrollment) and according to admission type (planned, unplanned with sepsis, and unplanned without sepsis). The association between 90-day mortality and the randomization group was assessed using a hierarchical logistic Bayesian model. Measurements and Main Results A total of 10,520 patients were included. There was a low probability that the balanced solution was associated with improved 90-day mortality in the whole trial population (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 89% credible interval [CrI], 0.66–10.51; probability of benefit, 0.58); however, probability of benefit was high for patients who received only balanced solutions before enrollment (regardless of admission type, OR, 0.78; 89% CrI, 0.56–1.03; probability of benefit, 0.92), mostly because of a benefit in unplanned admissions due to sepsis (OR, 0.70; 89% CrI, 0.50–0.97; probability of benefit, 0.96) and planned admissions (OR, 0.79; 89% CrI, 0.65–0.97; probability of benefit, 0.97). Conclusions There is a high probability that balanced solution use in the ICU reduces 90-day mortality in patients who exclusively received balanced fluids before trial enrollment. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 02875873).

OBJECTIVE: To describe and test a practical protocol to measure common carotid intima-media thickness that uses the combined values of two longitudinal examination angles to increase sensitivity. METHOD: Between February and September 2005, 206 patients underwent duplex scan examination of carotid vessels, and the intima-media thickness of 407 common carotids were measured in three angles: transversal, longitudinal posterolateral, and anterolateral, with three intima-media thickness measurements for each near and far wall. In addition to numbers obtained from the three angles of measurement, a fourth visual perspective was obtained by combining the intima-media thickness results of posterolateral and anterolateral longitudinal views and considering the thickest wall measurement. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy (66.3%) carotid arteries had an intima-media thickness thicker than 1mm. The mean intima-media thickness values achieved by the different incidences were 1.26+/-0.6 mm (transversal), 1.17+/-0.54 mm (longitudinal anterolateral), and 1.18+/-0.58 mm (longitudinal posterolateral). A significant difference in intima-media thickness measurement values was observed when the three angles of examination plus the combined positive results of both longitudinal angles were compared by ANOVA (P=0.005). The LSD Post-Hoc test determined that the combined longitudinal view results were similar to the transversal views (P=0.28) and had greater intima-media thickness means than isolated anterolateral or posterolateral longitudinal views (P=0.02 and 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The protocol presented is a practical method for obtaining common carotid artery intima-media thickness measurements. The combined longitudinal posterolateral and anterolateral longitudinal views provide a more sensitive evaluation of the inner layers of the carotid walls than isolated longitudinal views.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the contributions of the Mais Médicos Program (PMM) for health care in Brazil. METHOD: An integrative review was performed in the following databases: SciELO, Lilacs, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search term "mais médicos" was used in Portuguese, Spanish ("más médicos"), and English ("more doctors"). RESULTS: The search retrieved 1 482 articles, of which 35 were included in the review. Overall, the articles described positive contributions of the PMM, with increase in the number of available physicians, opening of additional undergraduate slots in medical schools, increased availability of medical appointments, and improvements in the physical structure and work processes in primary care facilities. CONCLUSIONS: The PMM provided significant contributions for the Brazilian health care system, promoting the allocation of financial resources for primary care in the country.

While there are several subjective English tools, such as the London Chest Activity of Daily Living scale (LCADL), aimed at assessing dyspnoea during activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), none of these questionnaires has ever been translated into Portuguese. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reproducibility of the LCADL's Portuguese version in patients with COPD. 31 patients with COPD (17 male; 69 ± 7 years; FEV1 44 ± 15%predicted) completed the Portuguese version of the LCADL twice with a 1-week interval. The traditional Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), already validated in Portuguese, was used as the criterion method. There were no significant differences between test and retest of the LCADL. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient between test and retest concerning the different scale components was Self-care r = 0.96; Domestic r = 0.99; Physical r = 0.92; Leisure r = 0.95; Total Score r = 0.98. There were significant correlations of the LCADL Total Score with the SGRQ's different components and total score (0.36 < r < 0.74; p < 0.05 for all). The LCADL Total Score was also significantly correlated with the 6-minute walking distance test (r = -0.48; p = 0.006). The Portuguese version of the LCADL is valid and reproducible in patients with COPD, making this study a new and important tool for assessing the limitations of performing ADL in this population. Diversos questionários desenvolvidos em língua inglesa visam avaliar especificamente a limitação pela dispnéia durante actividades da vida diá ria (AVD) em doentes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica (DPOC), como a escala London Chest Activity of Daily Living (LCADL). No entanto, nenhum destes questionários foi ainda traduzido para a língua portuguesa. O objectivo desse estudo foi verificar a validade e a reprodutibilidade da versão em português da LCADL em pacientes com DPOC. Trinta e um doentes com DPOC (17 homens; 69 ± 7 anos; FEV1 44 ± 15% predito) responderam por duas vezes à versão em português da LCADL com intervalo de uma semana. O tradicional questionário Saint George na doença respiratória (SGRQ), já validado em português, foi utilizado como critério de validação. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre a aplicação e a reaplicação da LCADL. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse dos domínios da escala entre o dia 1 e dia 2 foi de: Cuidado pessoal r = 0,96; doméstico r = 0,99; actividade física r = 0,92; lazer r = 0,95; escore total r = 0,98. Foram observadas correlações significativas do escore total da LCADL com os domínios e o escore total do SGRQ (0,36 < r < 0,74; p < 0,05 para todos). O escore total da LCADL correlacionou-se também significativamente com a distância percorrida no teste da caminhada de 6 minutos (r = −0,48; p = 0,006). A versão em língua portuguesa da LCADL demonstrou ser reprodutível e válida em pacientes com DPOC. Portanto, o presente estudo fornece uma nova e importante ferramenta para avaliar a limitação na capacidade de realizar AVD nessa população.

"Estudo descritivo, de corte transversal, que avaliou a qualidade de vida no trabalho (QVT) de profissionais de enfermagem, atuantes em unidades do Bloco Cirúrgico (BC) em quatro hospitais de Londrina, PR. Participaram 105 trabalhadores, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino (82,9%), com média de idade de 38 anos. Dentre eles, 69,5% eram auxiliares de enfermagem, 11,4% eram enfermeiros. A QVT foi medida através do Índice de Satisfação no Trabalho (ISP) e os valores obtidos variaram entre 114 e 227 e média de 169,7±25,9. O valor médio dos 44 itens foi de 3,85, significando que os trabalhadores estavam entre insatisfeitos e nem satisfeitos/nem insatisfeitos com a QVT. A remuneração foi considerada como fonte de menor satisfação entre os trabalhadores, enquanto o domínio status profissional, o de maior satisfação. O instrumento mostrou-se confiável à população estudada, sendo o valor obtido para o alpha de Cronbach igual a 0,81."

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diaphragmatic mobility of healthy subjects during incentive spirometry with a volume-oriented device, during incentive spirometry with a flow-oriented device, and during diaphragmatic breathing. To compare men and women in terms of diaphragmatic mobility during these three types of breathing exercises. METHODS: We evaluated the pulmonary function and diaphragmatic mobility of 17 adult healthy volunteers (9 women and 8 men). Diaphragmatic mobility was measured via ultrasound during diaphragmatic breathing and during the use of the two types of incentive spirometers. RESULTS: Diaphragmatic mobility was significantly greater during the use of the volume-oriented incentive spirometer than during the use of the flow-oriented incentive spirometer (70.16 ± 12.83 mm vs. 63.66 ± 10.82 mm; p = 0.02). Diaphragmatic breathing led to a greater diaphragmatic mobility than did the use of the flow-oriented incentive spirometer (69.62 ± 11.83 mm vs. 63.66 ± 10.82 mm; p = 0.02). During all three types of breathing exercises, the women showed a higher mobility/FVC ratio than did the men. CONCLUSIONS: Incentive spirometry with a volume-oriented device and diaphragmatic breathing promoted greater diaphragmatic mobility than did incentive spirometry with a flow-oriented device. Women performed better on the three types of breathing exercises than did men.

Captures of the coffee berry borer (CBB) Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) were assessed in traps in the field. IAPAR designed traps [plastic bottles (2 L) lured with methanol:ethanol (1:1) in a vessel] were placed either at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5m high from the ground or simultaneously tested in the 2004 fructification season. Traps placed at the three heights trapped 5.5 times more CBB than the others, mostly at the traps placed at 0.5 m (75%). Treatments using the IAPAR designed trap placed at 1.2 m high; IAPAR trap with a white plastic plate above (IAPAR modified I) at 1.2 m high; IAPAR at 0.5 m high and two additional vessels at 1.0 and 1.5m high (IAPAR modified II) and T-163 trap [three red plastic cups (300 ml) and a red plastic plate as a cover] lured with M:E (1:1) at 1.2m height were compared in the vegetative (2005) and fructification (2006) periods. IAPAR modified II (dispenser vessels placed at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m) trapped more beetles than the remaining types (2.72 times more beetles than IAPAR design); and IAPAR modified I traps trapped more beetles than T 163 and IAPAR traps in the vegetative period. In the reproductive period, IAPAR modified II trapped less beetles than IAPAR and IAPAR modified I. In 2007 vegetative season, IAPAR modified II trap were compared with IAPAR trap and trapped 2.8 times more beetles. The positive responses to a vertical distribution of the volatile attractants in the vegetative period of the planting allow the development of more efficient trapping systems for CBB.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between 24-hour ambulatory arterial blood pressure monitoring and the prognosis of patients with advanced congestive heart failure. METHODS: We studied 38 patients with NYHA functional class IV congestive heart failure, and analyzed left ventricular ejection fraction, diastolic diameter, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data. RESULTS: Twelve deaths occurred. Left ventricular ejection fraction (35.2 +/-7.3%) and diastolic diameter (72.2 +/- 7.8mm) were not correlated with the survival. The mean 24-hour (SBP24), waking (SBPw), and sleeping (SBPs) systolic pressures of the living patients were higher than those of the deceased patients and were significant for predicting survival. Patients with mean SBP24, SBPv, and SBPs >/=105mmHg had longer survival (p=0.002, p=0.01 and p=0.0007, respectively). Patients with diastolic blood pressure sleep decrements (dip) and patients with mean blood pressure dip </= 6mmHg had longer survival (p=0.04 and p=0.01, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, SBPs was the only variable with an odds ratio of 7.61 (CI: 1.56; 3704) (p=0.01). Patients with mean SBP<105mmHg were 7.6 times more likely to die than those with SBP >/= 105 mmHg CONCLUSION: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring appears to be a useful method for evaluating patients with congestive heart failure.

Esta pesquisa objetiva avaliar a coordenação do sistema de saúde exercida pela atenção primária mediante a aplicação do PCATool. Foi Realizada de agosto de 2010 a maio de 2012, envolvendo os Centros de Saúde da Família de Sobral (CE). Participaram 98 profissionais da Estratégia Saúde da Família e 607 usuários. Para análise estatística dos dados utilizou-se o SPSS 19.0. Os profissionais têm conhecimento sobre a procura de seus usuários aos serviços especializados, no entanto, há deficiência na contrarreferência para a atenção primária. A utilização do prontuário familiar foi avaliada positivamente. Assim, é necessário fortalecer a comunicação entre a rede de atenção, buscando a integração do sistema.

Objetivo: Identificar a percepção dos profissionais de saúde de uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) sobre os fatores restritivos do trabalho em equipe multiprofissional. Métodos: Estudo exploratório, descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, que ocorreu em um hospital terciário de alta complexidade, localizado em Sobral/CE. Participaram nove entrevistados representantes da equipe multiprofissional da UTI. Os dados foram coletados por entrevista semiestruturada e analisados segundo a Análise de Conteúdo. Assim, as interlocuções com os profissionais foram apreendidas em quatro categorias: desrespeito entre os profissionais da equipe, excesso de demanda, falta de comunicação entre seus integrantes e falta de capacitação profissional. Resultados: O fator mais restritivo do trabalho em equipe multiprofissional na UTI foi a falta de respeito entre os integrantes da equipe, resultado das relações de hierarquia de poder, da falta de conhecimento do fazer de cada profissional, bem como da falta de comunicação dentro da equipe, evidenciando a necessidade de estratégias que potencializem a comunicação e o respeito entre os integrantes. Além disso, o excesso de demanda, somando-se a um ambiente estressante como a UTI e à falta de capacitação da equipe foram destacados nas falas como fatores considerados restritivos ao processo. Conclusão: Foi possível levantar os fatores restritivos do trabalho em equipe multiprofissional no cenário da UTI, o que pode colaborar para a construção e o fortalecimento das ações para superar esses desafios. Ratifica-se a importância da compreensão de que as ações a serem desenvolvidas são da equipe multidisciplinar como um todo, e não de um indivíduo apenas.

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering dermatosis that is uncommon in childhood. We report a case of a female infant, 3 months old, which presented clinical and laboratory data for the confirmatory diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. The authors used immunohistochemical staining for collagen type IV that allowed the differentiation of bullous pemphigoid from other subepidermal bullous diseases. Opportunely we review the clinical, immunological, therapeutic and prognostic features of this pathology in children.

The Western blot method, using antigens from epimastigote forms of the Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain, was evaluated for the confirmatory diagnosis of Chagas' disease. Serum samples were obtained from 136 chagasic patients (Group I), 23 patients with inconclusive serologic results for Chagas' disease (Group II), 53 patients with other diseases (Group III), and 50 healthy individuals (Group IV). The Western blot results for Group I gave a confirmatory diagnosis of Chagas' diseases in 118 (86.80%), an indeterminate pattern of reactivity in 16 (11.76%), and a negative pattern in only two (1.47%). Of the samples from Groups II, III and IV, none had a positive result in the Western blot; 60.86%, 52.83%, and 16.0%, respectively, showed indeterminate results; and 39.13%, 47,16% and 84,0%, respectively, showed negative results. The Western blot method showed a sensitivity of 86.60%, a specificity of 100.0%, a positive predictive value of 100.0%, and a negative predictive value of 73.50%, and the concordance coefficient kappa was high (0.7789). The results suggest that the previous serologic results for Chagas' disease could be confirmed by Western blot for the detection of specific antibodies to T. cruzi antigenic fractions, which may reduce the medical, legal, and social consequences of an inconclusive serologic result for Chagas' disease and also underscore the need for additional studies for continued efforts in the development of an ideal standard confirmatory test for Chagas' disease.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the immediate reconstruction of face and scalp after canine bites in children. METHODS: we conducted a prospective series of cases treated at the Emergency Unit of the Asa Norte Regional Hospital, Brasília - DF, from January 1999 to December 2014. At the time of patient admission to the emergency, the primary wound closure of the face and scalp bite was performed, regardless of the time or day of the event. The primary treatment of the bites was by means of direct suture, flaps rotation or grafting, depending on the type of wound and surgeon's decision. RESULTS: the study comprised 146 children, with the zygomatic region and scalp being the main sites of head bites. All patients received surgical treatment within the first 24 hours after admission. There were no infectious complications in the cases studied. CONCLUSION: the findings suggest that the immediate closure of canine bites on the face and scalp in children is safe, even when carried out several hours after injury.