Bento Fortunato Cardoso dos Santos

Stroke Epidemiology, Patterns of Management, and Outcomes in Fortaleza, Brazil A Hospital-Based Multicenter Prospective Study

Background and Purpose— Little information exists on the epidemiology and patterns of treatment of patients admitted to Brazilian hospitals with stroke. Our objective was to describe the frequency of risk factors, patterns of management, and outcome of patients admitted with stroke in Fortaleza, the fifth largest city in Brazil. Methods— Data were prospectively collected from consecutive patients admitted to 19 hospitals in Fortaleza with a diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack from June 2009 to October 2010. Results— We evaluated 2407 consecutive patients (mean age, 67.7±14.4 years; 51.8% females). Ischemic stroke was the most frequent subtype (72.9%) followed by intraparenchymal hemorrhage (15.2%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (6.0%), transient ischemic attack (3%), and undetermined stroke (2.9%). The median time from symptoms onset to hospital admission was 12.9 (3.8–32.5) hours. Hypertension was the most common risk factor. Only 1.1% of the patients with ischemic stroke received thrombolysis. The median time from hospital admission to neuroimaging was 3.4 (1.2–26.5) hours. In-hospital mortality was 20.9% and the frequency of modified Rankin Scale score ⩽2 at discharge was less than 30%. Older age, prestroke disability, and having a depressed level of consciousness at admission were independent predictors of poor outcome; conversely, male gender was a predictor of good outcome. Conclusions— The prevalence of stroke risk factors and clinical presentation in our cohort were similar to previous series. Treatment with thrombolysis and functional independency after a stroke admission were infrequent. We also found long delays in hospital admission and in evaluation with neuroimaging and high in-hospital mortality.

Temperature variation in the 24 hours before the initial symptoms of stroke

UNLABELLED A few studies have performed to evaluate the temperature variation influences over on the stroke rates in Brazil. METHOD 176 medical records of inpatients were analyzed after having had a stroke between 2004 and 2006 at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. The temperature preceding the occurrence of the symptoms was recorded, as well as the temperature 6, 12 and 24 hours before the symptoms in 6 different weather substations, closest to their houses in São Paulo. RESULTS Strokes occurred more frequently after a variation of 3 C between 6 and 24 hours before the symptoms. There were most hospitalizations between 23-24 C. CONCLUSION Incidence of stroke on these patients was increased after a variation of 3 masculine Celsius within 24 hours before the ictus. The temperature variations could be an important factor in the occurrence of strokes in this population.

Treatment of a frail older patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma on maintenance dialysis: Attenuated immunochemotherapy and adapted care plan

Purpose of the Study: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common lymphoid malignancy worldwide. Its incidence increases with age and about 40% of cases occur in patients over 70 years. Herein, we describe a case of a frail elderly patient with renal insufficiency and DLBCL treated with R-mini-CHOP. Case Report: A 77-year-old man on maintenance hemodialysis started experiencing persistent fatigue. He was diagnosed with a large mass on the left lobe of the lung. Biopsy demonstrated a DLBCL, CD20 positive. The patient was assigned clinical stage IIBX, with a high age-adjusted international prognosis index. A proper geriatric assessment revealed a frail patient. Thus, an adapted chemotherapy regimen was proposed which consisted of R-mini-CHOP every 21 days, with a reduction of 10% in the doses of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. During the treatment, the patient went through regular dialysis sessions, 3 times per week, with an extra session performed 12 h after each chemotherapy administration. The patient experienced no adverse events or grade 3/4 toxicities. After 6 cycles of R-mini-CHOP, the patient achieved unconfirmed complete remission, and consolidation radiotherapy was performed. At the last follow-up, he was still in unconfirmed complete remission, with a progression-free survival of 11.3 months. Conclusions: R-mini-CHOP represented a reasonable treatment option for this patient with renal failure. The oncogeriatric approach led to a successful management of this frail patient, highlighting that an adapted plan of care is a key issue to improve the outcomes of elderly cancer patients.

Georeferencing deaths from stroke in São Paulo: an intra-city stroke belt?

Background The role of socioeconomic status in the worldwide stroke burden has been studied with various methods using vital statistics and research-generated data. Aim The objective of our study was to describe the stroke mortality rates and the stroke mortality distribution, and to evaluate the association between stroke mortality rates and geographical distribution with the human development index in São Paulo, Brazil. Methods This ecological study evaluated a historical series of stroke mortality in São Paulo, Brazil, from 2004 to 2010. Standard stroke mortality rate per 100 000 inhabitants at each year, the address of residence assumed as the place of living, and the human development index applied as a social indicator were used in order to evaluate if stroke mortality correlated with socioeconomic status. Results The mean standardized stroke mortality in São Paulo decreased from 66 to 46-7 per 100 000 inhabitants from 2004 to 2010. Stroke mortality differed according to human development index strata with an almost three times higher stroke mortality in the lowest when compared with the highest human development index stratum. Visual inspection of the map of the districts with high stroke mortality disclosed regional clusters with high mortality in the east, northwest, and south regions, a finding suggestive of the presence of a stroke belt inside the city of São Paulo. Conclusions In conclusion, between 2004 and 2010, stroke mortality rates decreased by 28-5% in São Paulo. A geographical pattern in stroke mortality could be observed, with considerable differences according the human development index level of the place of living.

Multiple myeloma complicated with pseudomonas endocarditis.

Patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma are more susceptible to infections which are the major causes of morbidity and mortality associated to this disease. The main infectious agents involved are Gram-positive bacteria. However, after chemotherapy an increase in the incidence of Gram-negative strains is observed. These bacteria are also responsible for most cases of urinary tract infections. Here is reported a rare case in a 73-year-old man with multiple myeloma who developed endocarditis due to pseudomonas.

Serum Soluble‐Fas, Inflammation, and Anemia in Acute Kidney Injury

Anemia is a common feature in critically ill patients. Serum soluble-Fas (sFas) levels are associated with anemia in chronic kidney disease. It is possible that sFas levels are also associated with anemia in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. The study aims to investigate the relationship between serum levels of sFas, erythropoietin (Epo), inflammatory cytokines, and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration in critically ill patients with AKI. We studied 72 critically ill patients with AKI (AKI group; n = 53) or without AKI (non-AKI group; n = 19), and 18 healthy volunteers. Serum sFas, Epo, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, iron status, and Hb concentration were analyzed in all groups. We also investigated the correlation between these variables in the AKI group. Critically ill patients (AKI and non-AKI groups) had higher serum levels of Epo than healthy volunteers. Hb concentration was lower in the AKI group than in the other groups. Serum sFas, IL-6, TNF-α, and ferritin levels were higher in the AKI group. Hb concentration correlated negatively with serum IL-6 (r = -0.37, P = 0.008), sFas (r = -0.35, P = 0.01), and Epo (r = -0.27, P = 0.04), while serum sFas correlated positively with iron levels (r = 0.36, P = 0.008) and IL-6 (r = 0.28, P = 0.04) in the AKI group. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for markers of inflammation and iron stores, only serum sFas levels (P = 0.03) correlated negatively with Hb concentration in the AKI group. Serum Epo and inflammatory cytokine levels are elevated in critically ill patients with or without AKI. Serum levels of sFas are elevated and independently associated with anemia in critically ill patients with AKI.

HSP70 induced by hyperosmotic stress partially protects LLC-PK1 cells against nephrotoxic drugs.

Accumulation of HSP70 is related to the cytoprotection. It was evaluated whether hyperosmotic stress induces HSP70 accumulation in LLC-PK1 cells, and protects cells against toxicity provoked by cisplatin (Cis) and cyclosporine A (CyA). Cells were maintained in isosmotic (Iso) or hyperosmotic (H) culture medium for 24 h and then exposed to Cis or CyA for an additional period of 12 or 24 h (groups H+Cis and H+CyA). The H medium did not induce cell death and increased both HSP70 mRNA and protein levels, suggesting a role in cell adaptation to H condition. H medium produced partial cytoprotection against Cis and CyA compared with control cells. Despite the cytoprotection, there was a reduction in HSP70 mRNA and protein levels in H+Cis group. In contrast, the H+CyA group presented high levels of HSP70 mRNA and protein. The induction of HSP70 by H medium was associated with tolerance of LLC-PK1 cells against Cis and CyA cytotoxicity but this protection was induced by different mechanisms and depended on the characteristics of the drug used.

Georeferencing of deaths from sepsis in the city of São Paulo

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to obtain information about deaths due to sepsis in São Paulo from 2004 to 2009 and their relationship with geographical distribution. METHODS Causes of death, both main and secondary, were defined according to the codes of the International Classification of Disease version 10 (ICD-10) contained in the database. Sepsis, septic shock, multiple organ failure, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, peritonitis and other intraabdominal infections, skin and soft tissue infections (including surgical wound infection) and meningitis were considered as immediate cause of death or as the condition leading to the immediate cause of death related or associated to sepsis. RESULTS In the analyzed period, there was a 15.3% increase in the absolute number of deaths from sepsis in São Paulo. The mean number of deaths during this period was 28,472±1566. Most deaths due to sepsis and sepsis-related diseases over the studied period occurred in a hospital or health care facility, showing that most of the patients received medical care during the event that led to death. We observed a significant concentration of deaths in the most populous regions, tending more toward the center of the city. CONCLUSIONS Georeferencing data from death certificates or other sources can be a powerful tool to uncover regional epidemiological differences between populations. Our study revealed an even distribution of sepsis all over the inhabited areas of São Paulo.

Outcomes from a cohort of patients with acute kidney injury subjected to continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration: The role of negative fluid balance

Background Several factors influence the outcomes in acute kidney injury (AKI), especially in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. In this scenario, continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) are used to control metabolic derangements and blood volume. Knowing this fact, it may be possible to change the course of the disease and decrease the high mortality rate observed. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the main risk factors for death in AKI patients needing CRRT. Results This was a prospective, observational cohort study of ICU patients (N = 183) with AKI who underwent continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) as their initial dialysis modality choice. The patients were predominantly male (62.8%) and their median age was 65 (55–76) years. The most frequent comorbidities were cardiovascular disease (39.3%), hypertension (32.8%), diabetes (24%), and cirrhosis (20.7%). The main cause of AKI was sepsis (52.5%). At beginning of CVVHDF, 152 patients (83%) were using vasopressors. The median SAPS 3 and SOFA score at ICU admission was 61 (50–74) and 10 (7–12), respectively. The dialysis dose delivered was 33.2 (28.9–38.7) ml/kg/h. The median time between ICU admission and CVVHDF initiation was 2 (1–4) days. The median cumulative fluid balance during the CVVHDF period was -1838 (-5735 +2993) ml. The mortality rate up to90 days was 58%. The independent mortality risk factors in propensity score model were: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 3.44[1.14–10.4; p = 0.028]), hematologic malignancy (OR = 5.14[1.66–15.95; p = 0.005]), oliguria (OR = 2.36[1.15–4.9; p = 0.02]), positive daily fluid balance during CVVHDF (OR = 4.55[2.75–13.1; p<0.001]), and total SOFA score on first dialysis day (OR = 1.27[1.12–1.45; p<0.001]). Conclusions Dialysis-related factors may influence the outcomes. In our cohort, positive daily fluid balance during CRRT was associated with lower survival. Multicenter, randomized studies are needed to assess fluid balance as a primary outcome to define the best strategy in this patient population.

O nível sérico de Fas solúvel é preditor da necessidade de transfusão de hemácias em pacientes gravemente enfermos

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between the need for red blood cell transfusion and serum levels of soluble-Fas, erythropoietin and inflammatory cytokines in critically ill patients with and without acute kidney injury. METHODS: We studied critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (n=30) and without acute kidney injury (n=13), end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis (n=25) and healthy subjects (n=21). Serum levels of soluble-Fas, erythropoietin, interleukin 6, interleukin 10, iron status, hemoglobin and hematocrit concentration were analyzed in all groups. The association between these variables in critically ill patients was investigated. RESULTS: Critically ill patients (acute kidney injury and non-acute kidney injury patients) had higher serum levels of erythropoietin than the other groups. Hemoglobin concentration was lower in the acute kidney injury patients than in other groups. Serum soluble-Fas levels were higher in acute kidney injury and end-stage renal disease patients. Critically ill patients requiring red blood cell transfusions had higher serum levels of soluble-Fas (5,906±2,047 and 1,920±1,060; p<0.001), interleukin 6 (518±537 and 255+502; p=0.02) and interleukin 10 (35.8±30.7 and 18.5±10.9; p=0.02), better iron status and higher mortality rates in the first 28 days in intensive care unit. Serum soluble-Fas levels were independently associated with the number of red blood cell units transfused (p=0.02). Serum soluble-Fas behaved as an independent predictor of the need for red blood cell transfusion in critically ill patients (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Serum soluble-Fas level is an independent predictor of the need for red blood cell transfusion in critically ill patients with or without acute kidney injury. Further studies are warranted to reconfirm this finding.ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the relation between the need for red blood cell transfusion and serum levels of soluble-Fas, erythropoietin and inflammatory cytokines in critically ill patients with and without acute kidney injury. Methods: We studied critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (n=30) and without acute kidney injury (n=13), end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis (n=25) and healthy subjects (n=21). Serum levels of soluble-Fas, erythropoietin, interleukin 6, interleukin 10, iron status, hemoglobin and hematocrit concentration were analyzed in all groups. The association between these variables in critically ill patients was investigated. Results: Critically ill patients (acute kidney injury and non-acute kidney injury patients) had higher serum levels of erythropoietin than the other groups. Hemoglobin concentration was lower in the acute kidney injury patients than in other groups. Serum soluble-Fas levels were higher in acute kidney injury and end-stage renal disease patients. Critically ill patients requiring red blood cell transfusions had higher serum levels of soluble-Fas (5,906±2,047 and 1,920±1,060; p<0.001), interleukin 6 (518±537 and 255+502; p=0.02) and interleukin 10 (35.8±30.7 and 18.5±10.9; p=0.02), better iron status and higher mortality rates in the first 28 days in intensive care unit. Serum soluble-Fas levels were independently associated with the number of red blood cell units transfused (p=0.02). Serum soluble-Fas behaved as an independent predictor of the need for red blood cell transfusion in critically ill patients (p=0.01). Conclusions: Serum soluble-Fas level is an independent predictor of the need for red blood cell transfusion in critically ill patients with or without acute kidney injury. Further studies are warranted to reconfirm this finding.