São Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina
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In patients with acromegaly, cardiovascular complications are the main cause of death; sudden death has been associated with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In other patients with life-threatening malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias, surgical placement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has proved highly effective in reducing sudden death rates. ⋯ In patients with acromegaly, malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia might be effectively controlled by implantation of an ICD and surgical removal of the pituitary adenoma.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Lateral wedge insole for knee osteoarthritis: randomized clinical trial.
Optimal management of knee osteoarthritis requires a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods. The use of lateral wedge insoles to treat medial knee osteoarthritis is recommended, but there is still controversy about its efficacy. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether the use of lateral wedge insoles can diminish pain and improve function in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis. ⋯ The use of a lateral wedge insole with subtalar strapping improved the patients' symptoms and function but was not superior to placebo insoles.
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Glomerular disease registries are increasing all around the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment response among patients with glomerular diseases followed up in a tertiary hospital in Brazil. ⋯ The present study found that the most frequent glomerular disease was FSGS, followed by MCD, MN and LN. The presence of interstitial fibrosis was a predictor of poor therapeutic response.
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The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the most common cause of infectious mononucleosis and is also associated with several human tumors, including Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, some cases of gastric carcinoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, among other neoplasms. The aim of this study was to screen 75 primary gliomas for the presence of specific EBV DNA sequences by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with confirmation by direct sequencing. ⋯ The prevalence of EBV DNA was 11/75 (14.7%) in our glioma collection. Further molecular and epidemiological studies are needed to establish the possible role played by EBV in the tumorigenesis of gliomas.
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Heparanase-1 degrades heparan sulfate and has been correlated with tumor progression. Although the isoform heparanase-2 has no catalytic activity, it seems to be important for modulating heparanase-1 activity. Cathepsin B is a proteinase involved in tumor metastasis. The aim of this study was to analyze heparanase isoform expression and cathepsin B activity in plasma samples from patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas, compared with healthy individuals (control group). ⋯ Overexpression of heparanase-1 and heparanase-2, along with increased heparanase-1 and cathepsin B activity in plasma, is associated with the diagnosis of gastrointestinal carcinoma. These findings provide support for using non-invasive assays (plasma samples) as an auxiliary method for diagnosing gastrointestinal tumors.