São Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina
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Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a frequent and severe complication of cirrhotic patients with ascites. It has been proposed that the reagent strip for leukocyte esterase designed for the testing of urine (Combur test UX) could be a useful tool for diagnosing SPB. The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of urine test strips for diagnosing SBP in cirrhotic patients with ascites. ⋯ The Combur test UX urine screening test is a very sensitive and specific method for diagnosing SBP in cirrhotic patients with ascites.
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Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that is mainly caused by dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra. Several nuclear medicine radiotracers have been developed to evaluate PD diagnoses and disease evolution in vivo in PD patients. ⋯ Over the last decade, radiotracers suitable for imaging the DAT have been the subject of most efforts. In this review, we provide a critical discussion on the utility of DAT imaging for Parkinson's disease diagnosis (sensitivity and specificity).
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Modified radical mastectomy sparing one or both pectoral muscles in the treatment of breast cancer: intra and postoperative complications.
Modified radical mastectomy is widely utilized in breast cancer treatment. However, no prospective comparison has yet been made between the Madden technique (preservation of the pectoralis minor muscle) and the Patey technique (resection of this muscle). The aim of this work was to compare these two modified radical mastectomy techniques, by analyzing their degrees of difficulty and complications. ⋯ The removal of the pectoralis minor muscle did not influence any of the variables studied. Therefore, either technique can be performed, at the surgeon's discretion.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Antipyretic efficacy and tolerability of oral ibuprofen, oral dipyrone and intramuscular dipyrone in children: a randomized controlled trial.
Dipyrone is a widely used over-the-counter antipyretic in Latin America, and elsewhere among Latin immigrants. Despite limited evidence, physicians often prescribe oral ibuprofen or intramuscular dipyrone as the most effective antipyretics. Our aim was to compare the antipyretic efficacy and tolerability of a single dose of oral ibuprofen, oral dipyrone or intramuscular dipyrone in febrile children. ⋯ Antipyretic efficacy and tolerability were similar for oral ibuprofen, oral dipyrone and intramuscular dipyrone. Oral antipyretics seem more appropriate for feverish children.
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Free circulating Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is often present in the plasma of Hodgkins disease patients. The aim here was to evaluate the prevalence of this finding, its correlation with the immunohistochemical expression of LMP-1 (latent membrane protein 1) and the influence of other clinical factors. ⋯ EBV DNA was present in 91% of patients with EBV-associated Hodgkins disease, and in all patients with HIV-associated Hodgkins disease. EBV DNA prevalence was higher in patients with advanced disease, irrespective of HIV status.