The role of membranous urethral afferent autonomic innervation in the continence mechanism after nerve sparing radical prostatectomy: a clinical and prospective study

Purpose: We evaluated the somatic and autonomic innervation of the pelvic floor and rhabdosphincter before and after nerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy using neurophysiological tests and correlated findings with clinical parameters and urinary continence. Materials and Methods: From February 2003 to October 2005, 46 patients with prostate cancer were enrolled in a controlled, prospective study. Patients were evaluated before and 6 months after nerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy using the UCLA-PCI urinary function domain and neurophysiological tests, including somatosensory evoked potential, and the pudendo-urethral, pudendo-anal and urethro-anal reflexes. Clinical parameters and urinary continence were correlated with afferent and efferent innervation of the membranous urethra and pelvic floor. We used strict criteria to define urinary continence as complete dryness with no leakage at all, not requiring any pads or diapers and with a UCLA-PCI score of 500. Patients with a sporadic drop of leakage, requiring up to 1 pad daily, were defined as having occasional urinary leakage. Results: Two patients were excluded from study due to urethral stricture postoperatively. We evaluated 44 patients within 6 months after surgery. The pudendo-anal and pudendo-urethral reflexes were unchanged postoperatively (p = 0.93 and 0.09, respectively), demonstrating that afferent and efferent pudendal innervation to this pelvic region was not affected by the surgery. Autonomic afferent denervation of the membranous urethral mucosa was found in 34 patients (77.3%), as demonstrated by a postoperative increase in the urethro-anal reflex sensory threshold and urethro-anal reflex latency (p <0.001 and 0.0007, respectively). Six of the 44 patients used pads. One patient with more severe leakage required 3 pads daily and 23 showed urinary leakage, including 5 who needed 1 pad per day and 18 who did not wear pads. Afferent autonomic denervation at the membranous urethral mucosa was found in 91.7% of patients with urinary leakage. Of 10 patients with preserved urethro-anal reflex latency 80% were continent. Conclusions: Sensory and motor pudendal innervation to this specific pelvic region did not change after nerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy. Significant autonomic afferent denervation of the membranous urethral mucosa was present in most patients postoperatively. Impaired membranous urethral sensitivity seemed to be associated with urinary incontinence, particularly in patients with occasional urinary leakage. Damage to the afferent autonomic innervation may have a role in the continence mechanism after nerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Dornase alfa improves the health-related quality of life among Brazilian patients with cystic fibrosis - A one-year prospective study

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measurements provide valuable information about the psychological and social impact of treatment on patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). This study evaluated the HRQOL of Brazilian patients with CF and assessed the changes in HRQOL domains over 1 year after dornase alfa (Pulmozyme) introduction. Patients and Methods: One hundred fifty-six stable patients with CF and 89 caregivers answered the Portuguese-validated version of the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R) at baseline (T 0), and at 3 (T 1), 6 (T 2), 9 (T 3), and 12 (T 4) months of follow-up. Eighteen patientswere excluded because they did not fulfill the inclusion criteria. The patients were analyzed in two groups: those aged 6-11 years and those aged 14 years and older. ANOVA for observed repeated results and the last observation carried forward (LOCF) method for missing data were used for the statistical analysis. Results: After 1 year of follow-up, there was significant improvement in respiratory symptoms (T 4-T 0=8.1; 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=[2.1;14.0]; effect size (ES)=0.35; P<0.001), Emotional Functioning (T 4-T 0=5.6; 95% CI=[1.1;10.1]; ES=0.31; P<0.05), Social Functioning (T 4-T 0=6.0; 95% CI=[1.3;11.7]; ES=0.31; P<0.05), Body Image (T 4-T 0=11.9; 95% CI=[4.1;19.7]; ES=0.42; P<0.05), and Treatment Burden (T 4-T 0=5.3; 95% CI=[0.3;10.3]; ES=0.24; P<0.05) domains in the younger group. A significant improvement in Role Functioning (T 4-T 0=6.1; 95% CI=[1.1;11.1]; ES=0.40; P<0.05), Body Image (T 4-T 0=12.6; 95% CI=[3.5;21.7]; ES=0.46; P<0.05), and Weight (T 4-T 0=11.7; 95% CI=[1.8;21.6]; ES=0.40; P<0.05) was obtained in the older group. The caregivers' CFQ-R showed improvements in the Digestive Symptoms (T 4-T 0=5.5; 95% CI=[1.5;9.4]; ES=0.30; P<0.05), Respiratory Symptoms (T 4-T 0=7.6; 95% CI=[3.9;11.4]; ES=0.48; P<0.05), and Weight (T 4-T 0=10.1; 95% CI=[1.6;18.6]; ES=0.26; P<0.05) domains. Conclusion: The introduction of dornase alfa improved the HRQL of the patients with CF during the first year of treatment. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Ventricular systolic reserve in asymptomatic children previously treated with low doses of anthracyclines: A longitudinal, prospective exercise echocardiography study

Background: The time course of mild cardiotoxicity induced by anthracycline remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term evolution of decreased myocardial reserve in children previously treated with a cumulative dose of anthracycline up to 100mg/m 2. Patients and Methods: Twenty-seven asymptomatic cancer survival patients (25 with lymphoblastic leukemia), in continuous remission and off treatment for >12 months with no alterations in conventional echocardiograms were evaluated by exercise echocardiography at 37±15.4 months (T1) and 101±24 months (T2) after finishing treatment (ADRIA group). This group was compared with 25 healthy individuals (control group) similar to the ADRIA group with respect to age and body surface area (BSA). All individuals underwent treadmill exercise testing according to Bruce protocol. Echocardiograms were performed before and immediately after exercise. Results: The groups were similar regarding cardiac structure and left ventricular (LV) systolic function at rest at T1 and T2. The growth of LV posterior wall thickness related to BSA was lower in the ADRIA group at T2. Post exercise, smaller LV ejection indexes and attenuated changes in the afterload in ADRIA group were observed at T1 and T2. Conclusion: The decreased systolic reserve induced by a low dose of anthracycline in asymptomatic children and adolescents remains unaffected over a 5-year period, suggesting that positive outcomes in chronic cardiotoxicity would be expected in patients with mild impairment after anthracycline treatment. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Living kidney donors - a prospective study of quality of life before and after kidney donation

Although the safety of living kidney donation has been well established, prospective studies examining the physical and psychosocial aspects of the donor's quality of life are still scarce. Thus, the purpose of this prospective work was to assess the quality of life of 50 consecutive donors before and after kidney transplantation. All donors were asked to respond to both a donor questionnaire and the short-form 36-item health survey (SF-36). Interviews were individually conducted before, three months after, and over one yr after transplantation. Donation was considered a positive experience by all patients and had no impact on any physical or psychosocial aspect of the donor's life. Improved self-esteem and better quality of life after donation were reported in 52% of the cases. All donors would donate again and encouraged donation. SF-36 data indicated improvement in post-donation mental and physical scores among living donors closely related to recipient. Overall, most donors had a positive experience, felt no changes in quality of life, experienced enhanced self-esteem, would donate again, and recommended donation. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Efeito do ácido zoledrônico em tíbias de ratas ooforectomizadas: estudo prospectivo e randomizado

OBJETIVO: Investigar as repercussões clínicas, biomecânicas e histomorfométricas do ácido zoledrônico em tíbias de ratas osteoporóticas, após ooforectomia bilateral. MÉTODOS: Foram estudadas, prospectivamente, 40 ratas da linhagem Wistar (Rattus novergicus albinus). Com 60 dias de vida, os animais foram aleatorizados em dois grupos de acordo com o procedimento cirúrgico: ooforectomia bilateral (O) (n=20) e pseudo-cirurgia (sham) (P) (n=20). Após 30 dias, os animais foram divididos em quatro subgrupos, de acordo com a administração de 0,1mg/kg de ácido zoledrônico (AZ) ou água destilada (AD): OAZ (n=10), OAD (n=10), PAZ (n=10) e PAD (n=10). Após 12 meses, os animais foram eutanasiados e suas tíbias analisadas. No estudo clínico foi considerado o peso dos animais; no estudo biomecânico foram realizados ensaios compressivos e na análise histomorfométrica foi determinada a área trabecular óssea. RESULTADOS: Os grupos O tiveram aumento de peso significativamente maior que os grupos P (p=0,005). Os grupos OAZ e PAZ tiveram aumento, não significativo, de peso quando comparados aos grupos OAD (p=0,47) e PAD (p=0,68). Os grupos com ácido zoledrônico e com água destilada suportaram carga máxima, semelhante (p=0,2), no momento em que ocorreu fratura. Nos grupos com ácido zoledrônico verificou-se o aumento não significante da área trabecular óssea quando comparados aos grupos com água destilada (p=0,21). Houve correlação positiva entre a área trabecular e a carga máxima (p=0,04; r=0,95). CONCLUSÃO: O ácido zoledrônico não influiu significativamente no peso dos animais. Os resultados mostraram aumento, não significante, tanto da resistência óssea diafisária tibial, como da área trabecular óssea.

Pterígio e alterações da curvatura corneana

Objetivo: Avaliar as mudanças de curvatura corneana ocorridas após a exérese do pterígio (Pt). Métodos: Foi realizado estudo prospectivo em 49 olhos com Pt primário avaliando-se idade, sexo, tamanho [grau (G) I, GII, GIII e GIV] e a morfologia da lesão (atrófica ou carnosa) à biomicroscopia. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos ao exame de videoceratoscopia computadorizada e ceratometria no pré-operatório (pré-op), e no 30º e 60º dias após a cirurgia. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística. Resultados: 63% dos indivíduos avaliados eram do sexo masculino e 80% tinham mais de 41 anos. Houve predomínio dos Pt atróficos (77%), GII e GIII (39% e 28%, respectivamente). Observou-se manutenção do astigmatismo (Astg) presente no pré-operatório no 2º mês pós-operatório (PO), principalmente nos portadores de Pt GI e GII. A variação no valor de K do 1º mês para o 2º mês de PO foi pequena. As variações observadas estiveram mais relacionadas com o tamanho do pterígio, do que com a idade do paciente, ou com as suas características morfológicas. Conclusões: A avaliação ceratométrica e topográfica da córnea em portadores de pterígio no pré e no pós-operatório mostrou que os Pt menores (GI e GII) estão associados com graus menores de astigmatismo e no pós-operatório a córnea sofre menos mudanças que nos GIII e GIV. Após 2 meses da cirurgia, o padrão da curvatura corneana é semelhante ao do pré-operatório, na maioria dos pacientes.

A comparison of patient satisfaction between treatment with conventional complete dentures and overdentures in the elderly: a literature review

Background:It has been stated that mandibular overdentures are more satisfactory than conventional dentures, but problems relating to the use of retrospective ratings, lack of control group and sequential provision of treatment may compromise the findings.Objective:To establish a comparison between treatment with conventional complete dentures and implant-retained overdentures in elderly patients by conducting a literature review.Materials and methods:A search of English language peer-review literature was completed using Medline up to 2008 focusing on evidence-based research. Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) and longitudinal prospective studies were favoured in the review, using a general hierarchical classification. Articles that did not focus exclusively on the comparison of patient satisfaction between complete dentures and overdentures were excluded from further evaluation. The last search was conducted in February 2008. Key terms included quality of life, patient satisfaction, edentulism, complete denture and overdenture.Results:Among the 90 articles found in the initial search, 27 met the inclusion criteria. This included 18 RCTs and eight prospective and one cohort study. Most of the articles stated superiority of the mandibular implant-retained overdenture therapy over the conventional complete denture regarding patient satisfaction and quality of life.Conclusion:Even with implant treatment presenting higher patient satisfaction and improvement of quality of life, it was not possible to establish a direct comparison between the studies due to differences in adopted methodologies.

Interference of vaccinal antibodies on serological diagnosis of leptospirosis in vaccinated buffalo using two types of commercial vaccines

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

O papel dos hormônios leptina e grelina na gênese da obesidade

A prevalência da obesidade está aumentando e estudos prospectivos mostram que, em 2025, o Brasil será o quinto país do mundo a apresentar problemas de obesidade em sua população. A etiologia da obesidade não é de fácil identificação, uma vez que a mesma é caracterizada como uma doença multifatorial, ou seja, diversos fatores estão envolvidos em sua gênese, incluindo fatores genéticos, psicológicos, metabólicos e ambientais. Pesquisas recentes na área de metabolismo mostram que o adipócito é capaz de sintetizar várias substâncias e, diferentemente do que se supunha anteriormente, o tecido adiposo não é apenas um sítio de armazenamento de triglicérides, é hoje considerado um órgão endócrino. Dentre as diversas substâncias sintetizadas pelo adipócito, destacam-se a adiponectina, a angiotensina e a leptina. A leptina é um petídeo que desempenha importante papel na regulação da ingestão alimentar e no gasto energético, gerando um aumento na queima de energia e diminuindo a ingestão alimentar. Além dos avanços no estudo da célula adiposa, um novo hormôrnio relacionado ao metabolismo foi descoberto recentemente, a grelina. A grelina é um peptídeo produzido nas células do estômago, e está diretamente envolvida na regulação do balanço energético a curto prazo. Assim, este artigo abordará o papel da leptina e da grelina no controle do peso corporal e as limitações que ainda existem para tratar a obesidade em humanos.

Insuficiência renal aguda. Estudo do quadro clínico e prognóstico.

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a frequent complication in hospitalized patients, and is strongly related to increase of mortality. PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical outcome and the prognostic factors in hospital acquired AFR. METHOD: A prospective study was performed. Data from 200 patients with established ARF admitted during the period of January, 1987 and July, 1990 were collected. RESULTS: The incidence of ARF was 4.9/1000 admissions. Renal ischemia (50%) and nephrotoxic drugs (21%) were the main etiologic factors. The histologic study done in 43 patients showed: acute tubular necrosis (53%), tubular hydrophic degeneration (16%), glomerulopathies (16%) and other lesions (15%). Dialysis therapy was performed in 101 patients and the main indications were: uremia (67%), hypervolemia (22%) and hyperkalemia (9%). The mortality rate was 46.5% and the most important causes of death were: sepsis (38%), respiratory failure (19%) and multiple organs failure (11%). Treatment withdraw was the cause of death in 2 patients. Higher mortality was observed in oliguric patients (62.9%) than non-oliguric (34.5%) (p < 0.05) and in ischemic renal failure (56.7%) when compared to nephrotoxic renal failure (14.7%) (p < 0.05). This difference was maintained when the comparison was done only between dialyzed patients. CONCLUSION: As primary cause of death was not associated to the acute renal failure, we conclude that acute renal failure is an important marker of the gravity of the underlying disease and not the cause of death.

Alterations of cell-mediated immune response in children with febrile seizures

The aim of the present investigation was to study the distribution of T-cell subsets in peripheral blood defined by monoclonal antibodies and by the lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in 30 children with febrile seizures and in 14 age-matched control subjects. Frequent respiratory, urinary and dermatologic infections were observed in 22 patients. The immunologic parameters showed that 64% of the patients presented an increased number of CD8+ cells and a low helper/suppressor ratio was observed in 60% of the patients. In addition, the proliferative response of lymphocytes to PHA was impaired in the patients It was observed the presence of inhibitory activity on lymphocyte function in the plasma of 33% of children with febrile seizures. These results suggest that patients with febrile seizures have an impairment of cellular immunity that may be connected with this epileptic syndrome and explain the infections observed.

Investigation into the use of the Laryngeal Mask Airway in pentobarbital anesthetized dogs

Objective - To investigate the use of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in dogs. Study Design - Prospective experimental study. Animals - Eight healthy adult mixed breed dogs weighing from 15 to 20 kg. Methods - The dogs were anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital. An LMA was introduced after the induction of anesthesia and 1 L/min O2 plus 1 L/min air was delivered using a circle anesthetic system. Respiratory rate, tidal volume, arterial O2 saturation (pulse oximetry), end tidal CO2, inspired fraction of O2, pulse rate, and mean arterial blood pressure were measured after the insertion of the LMA and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes afterwards. Results - There were no changes in respiratory rate, tidal volume, arterial O2 saturation, and pulse rate during anesthesia. End tidal CO2 decreased significantly by the end of anesthesia and ventilation appeared satisfactory. Conclusions - An LMA appeared to be an alternative option to maintain the patency of the airway in dogs. Clinical Relevance - This device may allow safe maintenance of an airway in dogs when intubation is difficult or when it interferes with the procedure (eg, cervical myelography). ©Copyright 1999 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

The effect of changing the mode of ventilation on the arterial-to-end-tidal CO2 difference and physiological dead space in laterally and dorsally recumbent horses during halothane anesthesia

Objective - To evaluate the effect of changing the mode of ventilation from spontaneous to controlled on the arterial-to-end-tidal CO2 difference [P(a-ET)CO2] and physiological dead space (VD(phys)/VT) in laterally and dorsally recumbent halothane-anesthetized horses. Study Design - Prospective, experimental, nonrandomized trial. Animals - Seven mixed breed adult horses (1 male and 6 female) weighing 320 ± 11 kg. Methods - Horses were anesthetized in 2 positions - right lateral and dorsal recumbency - with a minimum interval of 1 month. Anesthesia was maintained with halothane in oxygen for 180 minutes. Spontaneous ventilation (SV) was used for 90 minutes followed by 90 minutes of controlled ventilation (CV). The same ventilator settings were used for both laterally and dorsally recumbent horses. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed every 30 minutes during anesthesia. End-tidal CO2 (PETCO2) was measured continuously. P(a-ET)CO2 and VD(phys)/VT were calculated. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance for repeated measures over time, followed by Student-Newman-Keuls test. Comparison between groups was performed using a paired t test; P < .05 was considered significant. Results - P(a-ET)CO2 and VD(phys)/VT increased during SV, whereas CV reduced these variables. The variables did not change significantly throughout mechanical ventilation in either group. Dorsally recumbent horses showed greater P(a-ET)CO2 and VD(phys)/VT values throughout. PaCO2 was greater during CV in dorsally positioned horses. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - Changing the mode of ventilation from spontaneous to controlled was effective in reducing P(a-ET)CO2 and physiological dead space in both laterally and dorsally recumbent halothane-anesthetized horses. Dorsal recumbency resulted in greater impairment of effective ventilation. Capnometry has a limited value for accurate estimation of PaCO, in anesthetized horses, although it may be used to evaluate pulmonary function when paired with arterial blood gas analysis. © Copyright 2000 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Estudo comparativo dos métodos de ultra-sonografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética no estadiamento e invasão das estruturas adjacentes por tumores renais.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography (US), Computed Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance imaging (MR) were compared for the staging of renal tumors. The differences between these imaging techniques were also studied for their ability to detect adenopathies, vascular invasion, distant intra-abdominal metastases, and particularly adjacent organ invasion. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with solid or complex renal masses were prospectively studied using US, CT, and MR. Differences between the results obtained were studied using the COCHRAN G test and the McNEMAR test. The sensitivity and specificity of each diagnostic technique were compared against a gold standard of the surgical and histopathological findings. RESULTS: The following sensitivities were obtained: For the detection of adenopathy, US 63.6%, CT and MR 90.9%. For vascular invasion, US 42.8%, CT and MR 85.7%. For the adjacent organ invasion, US 28.5%, CT 85.7%, and MR 71.4%. Some of the criteria that suggest invasion of adjacent structures include: the envelopment of the adjacent structures by the tumor, tumor extension into the adjacent structures with an irregular appearance, and alterations in shape, size, and density of adjacent structures. Loss of fat planes between the tumor and adjacent structures is not a sign of tumor invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were found in the detection capacity of US in relation to CT and MR, which were similar. All three techniques were highly sensitive and specific only in the detection of distant abdominal metastases. In addition to the accuracy of these diagnostic modalities for the detection and staging of tumors, invasiveness, risks and cost should be considered in relation to relative costs and benefits.