São Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina
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Erectile dysfunction has been associated with cardiovascular diseases. The aim here was to evaluate cardiovascular risk through the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) criteria, C-reactive protein (CRP) assays and presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in men with and without erectile dysfunction diagnosed within a healthcare program. ⋯ Men with erectile dysfunction presented higher cardiovascular risk according to the FRS criteria and CRP measurements. Severe erectile dysfunction seemed to have a correlation with metabolic syndrome.
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High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lungs is more sensitive than radiographs for evaluating pulmonary disease, but little has been described about HRCT interpretation during the neonatal period or shortly afterwards. The aim here was to evaluate the reliability of the interpretation of HRCT among very low birth weight premature infants (VLBWPI; < 1500 g). ⋯ For normal/abnormal examinations, the intra and interobserver agreements were substantial. For most of the imaging findings, the intraobserver agreement ranged from moderate to substantial. Our data demonstrate that in clinical practice, there is no reason for more than one tomographic image evaluator, provided that this person is well trained in VLBWPI HRCT interpretation. Analysis by different observers should be reserved for research and for difficult cases in clinical contexts.
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Maternal Streptococcus agalactiae colonization and early-onset neonatal sepsis have aroused interest in the worldwide literature. Streptococcal neonatal disease is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the perinatal period, especially among premature neonates. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of maternal streptococcal colonization by using combined swab cultures, compared with swab collection from a single site. ⋯ In combined swab cultures collected from three collection sites, the prevalence of maternal Streptococcus agalactiae colonization was higher than in swabs collected from a single site.