Subclinical Ventricular Dysfunction Detected by Speckle Tracking Two Years after Use of Anthracycline

Background

Heart failure is a severe complication associated with doxorubicin (DOX) use. Strain, assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking (2D-STE), has been shown to be useful in identifying subclinical ventricular dysfunction.

Objectives

a) To investigate the role of strain in the identification of subclinical ventricular dysfunction in patients who used DOX; b) to investigate determinants of strain response in these patients.

Methods

Cross-sectional study with 81 participants: 40 patients who used DOX ±2 years before the study and 41 controls. All participants had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥55%. Total dose of DOX was 396mg (242mg/ms²). The systolic function of the LV was evaluated by LVEF (Simpson), as well as by longitudinal (ε_LL), circumferential (ε_CC), and radial (ε_RR) strains. Multivariate linear regression (MLR) analysis was performed using ε_LL (model 1) and ε_CC (model 2) as dependent variables.

Results

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were higher in the control group (p < 0.05). ε_LL was lower in the DOX group (-12.4 ±2.6%) versus controls (-13.4 ± 1.7%; p = 0.044). The same occurred with ε_CC: -12.1 ± 2.7% (DOX) versus -16.7 ± 3.6% (controls; p < 0.001). The S’ wave was shorter in the DOX group (p = 0.035). On MLR, DOX was an independent predictor of reduced ε_CC (B = -4.429, p < 0.001). DOX (B = -1.289, p = 0.012) and age (B = -0.057, p = 0.029) were independent markers of reduced ε_LL.

Conclusion

a) ε_LL, ε_CC and the S’ wave are reduced in patients who used DOX ±2 years prior to the study despite normal LVEF, suggesting the presence of subclinical ventricular dysfunction; b) DOX was an independent predictor of reduced ε_CC; c) prior use of DOX and age were independent markers of reduced ε_LL.     

Proficiency of DNA repair genes and microsatellite instability in operated colorectal cancer patients with clinical suspicion of lynch syndrome

Background

Lynch syndrome (LS) diagnosis is underestimated, and most of the patients remain undetected after colorectal resections. The study aims to assess the frequency of LS in patients undergoing surgical treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

A total of 458 CRC patients were operated from January 2005 to December 2008. Positive CRC family history (FH) was present in 118 (25.8%) patients. Histologic sections were reviewed for microsatellite instability (MSI) criteria (Bethesda guidelines), immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis for MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 proteins, through the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex, MSI (BAT-25, BAT-26, NR-21, NR-24 and MONO-27) and BRAF somatic mutation.

Results

Of the 118 patients with FH, 61 (51.69%) met at least one of the revised Bethesda criteria. IHC was abnormal in 8 (13.1%) and MSI in 12 patients (20%). BRAF was negative in all cases. MSI histopathological included: intratumoral lymphocytes (47.5%), expansive tumors (29.5%) mucinous component (27.8%) and Crohn’s like reaction in (14.7%). There was an association between the revised Bethesda criteria with: sex, mucinous histology and Crohn’s like reaction; MSI and IHC with PMS2 and MLH1. Revised Bethesda criteria 4 had 10.6 increased chances to display positive MSI. We have proposed a score to contribute as a practical tool in the diagnosis of LS.

Conclusions

The frequence of LS in resected CRC patients was 2.6%. The criterion 4 Revised Bethesda was associated more strongly with the presence of MSI.     

A Clinical Trial with Brazilian Arnica (Solidago chilensis Meyen) Glycolic Extract in the Treatment of Tendonitis of Flexor and Extensor Tendons of Wrist and Hand

One of the Brazilian arnicas, Solidago chilensis Meyen, is a species of the Asteraceae family. This plant is known by this common name because it shares remarkably similar organoleptic properties with the genus Arnica L., also within the family Asteraceae. We examined the effectiveness of the S. chilensis fluid extract used externally for treating tendinitis of flexor and extensor tendons of wrist and hand in placebo‐controlled double‐blind clinical pharmacological studies. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee for Scientific Research in Human Beings at University Vila Velha‐UVV. Two daily skin applications on the arm skin of a gel cream containing a 5% glycolic plant extract were administered to eight volunteers for 21 days. Among the volunteers, one of their arms was used as the placebo group, and the other one was used as a test group. Statistical data analyses demonstrated a significant reduction in the perception of pain in the arms in the test group, when it was compared to those receiving only the placebo. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metabolic Profile of Clinically Severe Obese Patients

Background

Since low basal metabolic rate (BMR) is a risk factor for weight regain, it is important to measure BMR before bariatric surgery. We aimed to evaluate the BMR among clinically severe obese patients preoperatively. We compared it with that of the control group, with predictive formulas and correlated it with body composition.

Methods

We used indirect calorimetry (IC) to collect BMR data and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance to collect body composition data. Our sample population consisted of 193 patients of whom 130 were clinically severe obese and 63 were normal/overweight individuals. BMR results were compared with the following predictive formulas: Harris?CBenedict (HBE), Bobbioni-Harsch (BH), Cunningham (CUN), Mifflin?CSt. Jeor (MSJE), and Horie-Waitzberg &; Gonzalez (HW &; G). This study was approved by the Ethics Committee for Research of the University of Brasilia. Statistical analysis was used to compare and correlate variables.

Results

Clinically severe obese patients had higher absolute BMR values and lower adjusted BMR values (p?p?=?0.0002 and p?=?0.0193, respectively), while the BH and CUN underestimated this value; only the MSJE formulas showed similar results to those of IC.

Conclusions

The clinically severe obese patients showed low BMR levels when adjusted per kilogram per body weight. Body composition may influence BMR. The use of the MSJE formula may be helpful in those cases where it is impossible to use IC.     

Food Tolerance in Patients Submitted to Gastric Bypass: The Importance of Using an Integrated and Interdisciplinary Approach

Background  

Under the restrictive component, patients undergoing gastric bypass may have food intolerance with or without complications.     

Diet-induced thermogenesis and respiratory quotient after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

BackgroundRoux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is an effective tool for long-term weight loss. Mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of such surgery might result not only from the anatomic changes due to the procedure, but also from favorable changes in energy metabolism. Our objective was to evaluate the respiratory quotient (RQ), resting metabolic rate (RMR), and diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) among clinically severe obese patients (control group) and patients who had undergone RYGB ≥1 year previously. The setting was Gastrocirurgia de Brasilia (Brasilia, Brazil).MethodsThe present study was cross-sectional and involved 35 clinically severe obese patients (body mass index ≥40 kg/m² or body mass index ≥35 kg/m² with co-morbidities) as the control group and 34 RYGB patients who had undergone the procedure ≥12 months previously (RYGB group). The anthropometric data (height and weight) were determined for both groups, and the RMR and RQ were measured using indirect calorimetry after a 12-hour fast. Patients then received a standard meal, and DIT was determined. The RMR and DIT were also adjusted per kilogram of body weight (BW), i.e BW-adjusted RMR and BW-adjusted DI.ResultsThe BW-adjusted RMR and RQ did not differ between the 2 groups in the fasting period. However, the DIT of the RYGB group, whether absolute or BW-adjusted, was >200% that of the control group (P <.0001). The BW-adjusted DIT of the RYGB group correlated significantly with the percentage of excess weight loss (P = .0097). The postprandial RQ value among the RYGB group was also significantly (P <.0001) greater than that of the control group, suggesting an increased use of carbohydrates.ConclusionPostprandial changes in energy expenditure and fuel use might contribute, in part, to the effectiveness of weight loss as a result of the RYGB procedure.