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Prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms: a screening program in São Paulo, Brazil

REA Auditado

CONTEXT: Abdominal aortic aneurysm is an asymptomatic but potentially fatal condition. Elective surgery can prevent death from rupture, and is indicated for aneurysms larger than 45 mm. Because aneurysms tend to grow with time, detection of small ones (> 29 mm) may lead to a closer follow-up of patients at risk. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in São Paulo, Brazil. DESIGN: Prospective, descriptive. SETTING: University Hospital.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias de la Salud›Medicina›Medicina (en General)

Possible hepatotoxicity of chronic marijuana usage

REA Auditado

CONTEXT: Hepatotoxicity is a potential complication from the usage of various illicit drugs, possibly consequent to their liver metabolism, but information on this is scarce in the medical literature. OBJECTIVE: To study the occurrence of clinical and laboratory hepatic alterations in chronic marijuana users, from the use of marijuana on its own or in association with other legal or illicit drugs.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias de la Salud›Medicina›Medicina (en General)

Bilirubin dosage in cord blood: could it predict neonatal hyperbilirubinemia?

REA Auditado

CONTEXT: With early discharge, many newborns have to be readmitted to hospital for hyperbilirubinemia to be treated, and this has been held responsible for the reappearance of kernicterus. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether bilirubin levels in cord blood could predict neonatal hyperbilirubinemia that would require treatment, in full-term newborns up to their third day of life. TYPE OF STUDY: Prospective study. SETTING: Neonatal Unit of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias de la Salud›Medicina›Medicina (en General)

Surgery or general medicine: a study of the reasons underlying the choice of medical specialty

REA Auditado

CONTEXT: The reality of medical services in Brazil points towards expansion and diversification of medical knowledge. However, there are few Brazilian studies on choosing a medical specialty. OBJECTIVE: To investigate and characterize the process of choosing the medical specialty among Brazilian resident doctors, with a comparison of the choice between general medicine and surgery. TYPE OF STUDY: Stratified survey. SETTING: Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP).

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias de la Salud›Medicina›Medicina (en General)

Role of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis

REA Auditado

CONTEXT: Essential hyperhidrosis is a frequent disorder causing significant functional impairment. The advent and development of video-assisted thoracoscopic techniques now allows thoracic sympathectomy to be carried out precisely and safety with good results and minimal morbidity. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy in patients diagnosed as presenting severe and disabling hyperhidrosis. TYPE OF STUDY: This was a longitudinal study of the clinical course of all hyperhidrosis cases selected for surgery between May 1999 and January 2003.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias de la Salud›Medicina›Medicina (en General)

Misoprostol versus oxytocin for labor induction in term and post-term pregnancy: randomized controlled trial

REA Auditado

CONTEXT: Misoprostol, a synthetic E1 methyl analog prostaglandin, is at present receiving attention as a cervical modifier and labor induction agent. However, there is still a need for better determination of its safety and effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To compare intravaginal misoprostol versus intravenous oxytocin for cervical ripening and labor induction in pregnant women with unripe cervices. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The study was performed at the Leonor Mendes de Barros Maternity Hospital between November 1998 and December 2000.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias de la Salud›Medicina›Medicina (en General)

Accuracy of the serological ELISA test compared with the polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy

REA Auditado

CONTEXT: The most frequently used methods for detecting antibodies are the indirect immunofluorescence test and the enzymatic immunoassay (ELISA). The polymerase chain reaction is a molecular biology technique in which the production of large amounts of specific DNA fragments is induced from very low concentrations of complex substrates aloowing the detection of very low amounts of viral particles. OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of serological/ELISA tests in comparison with the polymerase chain reaction in maternal blood to diagnose cytomegalovirus infection.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias de la Salud›Medicina›Medicina (en General)

Ring-stripping retrograde common carotid endarterectomy: case report

REA Auditado

CONTEXT: Total occlusion of the common carotid is rare and the indications and techniques for surgical treatment are still a matter of controversy. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of retrograde common carotid endarterectomy. DESIGN: Retrospective case report study. SETTING: Tertiary care private hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Three patients underwent ring-stripping retrograde common carotid endarterectomy. Their ages were 81, 68 and 65 years.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias de la Salud›Medicina›Medicina (en General)

Normal erythrocyte calpain I activity on membrane proteins under near-physiological conditions in patients with essential hypertension

REA Auditado

CONTEXT: It has been reported that the equilibrium between the erythrocyte protease calpain I and its physiological inhibitor calpastatin is disrupted in patients with essential hypertension. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the activity of non-purified calpain I in hemolysates against the erythrocytic membrane proteins, rather than against other substrates. DESIGN: Evaluation of calpain I red cell activity upon its own physiological substrates in hypertensive patients, in a near-physiological environment. SETTING: LIM-23 and LIM-40 of Hospital das Clinicas of the Faculty of Medicine of USP.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias de la Salud›Medicina›Medicina (en General)

Height, weight, weight change and risk of breast cancer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

REA Auditado

CONTEXT: The relationship between body size and breast cancer still remains controversial in considering menopausal status. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of height, weight and weight changes with breast cancer in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias de la Salud›Medicina›Medicina (en General)