José Knopfholz

Association between epistaxis and hypertension: A one year follow-up after an index episode of nose bleeding in hypertensive patients

Association between epistaxis and hypertension is controversial. In this study, we evaluated in hypertensive patients the incidence of epistaxis according to stages of hypertension and compared blood pressure (BP) readings in these episodes to routine readings. Thirty-six patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) with epistaxis were enrolled and divided into 3 groups according to hypertension severity (JNC-VI criteria). BP readings were obtained weekly (routine BP) and in the setting of a new episode of epistaxis (epistaxis BP). No difference in the incidence of epistaxis was found: patients with hypertension stage 1 had 7.6+/-4.1 episodes/year, those in stage 2 had 8.0+/-4.0 and in stage 3 the incidence was 8.2+/-3.9 (p=ns). The average SBP for all 36 patients was 154+/-19 mmHg on routine readings and 157+/-22 mmHg on epistaxes episodes (p=ns). No difference was also observed regarding DBP: 104+/-18 mmHg vs. 105+/-18 mmHg (p=ns). In conclusion, epistaxis incidence in hypertensive patients is not associated to hypertension severity. Moreover, BP readings in the setting of epistaxis are similar to readings obtained in routine situations.

Validation of the Friedewald Formula in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Currently, the Friedewald formula (FF) is the main method for evaluating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). Recently, many limitations have emerged regarding its use, including patients with triglyceride levels ≥400 mg/dL, diabetes mellitus, and kidney or hepatic chronic diseases. We analyzed the use of the FF in patients with metabolic syndrome. We selected patients with known metabolic syndrome that fulfilled the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) Final Report and excluded patients with triglyceride levels ≥400 mg/dL and chronic liver and/or kidney disease. Using direct assays, we measured total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-c. Then, LDL-c was estimated using the FF and compared with the LDL-c by direct assay. The sample size was 135 patients. Using the FF, the mean LDL-c value was 124.4 ± 42.1 mg/dL; it was 125.1 ± 38.5 mg/dL by direct assay. The correlation coefficient between these two methods was 0.89, with statistical significance (P  value < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the patients with triglyceride levels >150 mg/dL (P = 0.618). In conclusion, FF is a good method for estimating LDL-c in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Histopathologic and morphometric evaluation of the skin abnormalities induced by erbium:YAG and carbon dioxide lasers in 10 patients.

In the 1960s, carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy started to be applied to eliminate wrinkles, actinic scars, and acne because of its capacity of induce intracellular water vaporization. However, recent studies have shown the efficacy of the erbium laser in removing delicate and moderate scars. Furthermore, the postoperative lesions induced by the erbium laser seem to resolve faster and with less erythematous pattern compared with lesions induced by the CO2 laser. The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate pathologic alterations caused by single applications of CO2 and erbium lasers and their association in human skin shreds. Ten white female patients aged 30 to 63 years underwent rhytidectomy, and their respective shreds, which were prepared for excision, were tattooed with the CO2 laser, the erbium laser, or a combination of both in random order and number of applications, before final removal. This project was approved by the local ethical committee. After surgical removal, these tattooed shreds were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and submitted to histopathologic analysis. Morphometric studies demonstrated the normal skin thickness and thickness of the laser-treated area, and their subtraction resulted in the ablation damage values. Residual thermal damage corresponded to the thickness of the affected skin from the most superficial layer of tissue in the laser-treated area down to the deepest dermal area with basophilic degeneration of collagen fibers. Our results showed that two CO2 applications resulted in greater ablation and residual thermal damage when compared with only one CO2 application. The same was true in comparisons of one and two applications of the erbium laser. Both results were statistically significant (p < 0.05). When one isolated erbium and one isolated CO2 application were compared, ablation damage was greater in the former group, although with no statistical significance. One CO2 plus one erbium application compared with one isolated CO2 application showed similar ablation damage but greater residual thermal damage in the latter group (p < 0.05). These observations might contribute to our understanding of the lesions caused in the human skin by erbium and CO2 lasers and eventually help determine the ideal laser combination for the appropriate surgical treatment.

Monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial em filhos de hipertensos

OBJECTIVE: This study intended to evaluate blood pressure monitoring (BPM) data in young hypertensive offspring. METHODS: We evaluated 31 students, of ages ranging from 17 to 25 years, whose parents (one or both) were being treated for hypertension (group I) and 30 normotensive subjects, whose parents were not hypertensive (group II). Epidemiological data were collected from all participants and the blood pressure (BP) measurements obtained by BPM were compared. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between both groups when mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.195) and mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p=0.958); SBP decrease (p=0.61) and DBP decrease (p=0.289); SBP variability (p=0.24) and DBP variability (p=0.497) were compared. There were statistical differences, when pulse pressures (42.74 mmHg in group I and 45.53 in group II) and in the minimum SBP during the awake period (85.00 mmHg in group I and 90.27 mmHg in group II, p=0.048) were compared. Both parameters were higher in the group whose parents were not hypertensive individuals. CONCLUSION: In this population, there were statistical differences in pulse pressure and in minimum SBP during the awake period, being higher in the group whose parents were not hypertensive. There were no differences between the two groups in the other parameters analyzed.

EFEITO DA L-ARGININA NA NEOPROLIFERAÇÃO INTIMAL E NO REMODELAMENTO ARTERIAL APÓS LESÃO POR BALÃO EM ILÍACAS DE COELHOS HIPERCOLESTEROLÊMICOS

OBJECTIVE It has been implied that neointimal proliferation and remodeling are the major causes of restenosis. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of orally administered L-arginine on these two factors in hypercholesterolemic rabbits that had suffered an injury to their iliac arteries caused by a catheter balloon. METHODS The study included nineteen rabbits that were divided in two groups: control (CG) and arginine (AG). There were 19 arteries studied from the control group and 17 in the arginine group. The animals were placed on a 2% hypercholesterolemic diet for 15 days and then submitted to a balloon angioplasty in order to produce a lesion in their iliac arteries. Next, the AG animals were given a 1g/kg/day oral dose of a L-arginine solution. The animals were sacrificed 15 days after the angioplasty procedure and histological artery sections were prepared, stained and fixed. The ratio between the neointimal area (in mm(2)) and the media layer (in mm(2)) was used to represent lesion development. In order to determine remodeling, the ratio between the total area of the medial portion of the vessel (greater balloon contact) and the total area of the reference segment of the vessel (less balloon contact) was used. RESULTS Mean neointimal thickness (NI/M) was 0.8151+/-0.2201 in CG and 0.3296+/-0.1133 in AG. Remodeling patterns for the two groups studied were similar. CONCLUSION In the experimental model used, L-arginine was able to reduce intimal tissue thickness in hypercholesterolemic rabbits but did not act on artery remodeling.

Radiolesão vascular como efeito deletério da braquiterapia intra-arterial com dose elevada de Samário-153 em coelhos hipercolesterolêmicos

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to evaluate vascular morphological and morphometric changes induced by brachytherapy with samarium-153 (Sm-153) at high doses in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. METHODS Forty-three New Zealand White hypercholesterolemic rabbits were analyzed, and the total of 86 iliac arteries underwent balloon angioplasty injury. The rabbits were divided into three different groups: two irradiation groups (IG) assigned to 15 Gy (n=14) and 60 Gy (n=36) irradiation doses, respectively, and a control group (n = 36). Histomorphometric and qualitative histological analyses were performed for tissue evaluation. RESULTS Significant reductions were found in neointimal proliferation (NIP) (p< 0.0001), media area (MA) (p<0.0001) and percent stenosis (p<0.0001) in the 15-Gy IG, compared to the other groups. The 60-Gy IG had the higher rate of NIP, increase in media and vessel areas (VA) and percent stenosis. The 60-Gy IG also showed the greatest number of xanthomatous cells (60-Gy IG: 86.11% and 15-Gy IG: 14.29%, p<0.0001) and the highest amount of hyaline amorphous tissue (60-Gy IG:58.33% and 15-Gy IG:0%, p=0.0001) and vascular proliferation (60-Gy IG:30.56% and 15-Gy IG:0%, p=0.0221). No statistically significant differences were found among groups concerning other tissue analyses. CONCLUSION The high-dose irradiation of 60 Gy resulted in intense cell proliferation considered vascular radiolesion, unlike the 15-Gy dose, which was associated with an excellent inhibition of neointimal proliferation.

Alterações histopatológicas associadas à braquiterapia intra-arterial com o samário-153

Balloon angioplasty or stents performed in animal models or in humans helps determine vessel restenosis. The brachytherapy inhibits the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells and reduces neointimal formation, and works reducing extracellular matrix synthesis. Many studies showed that the endovascular brachytherapy is usefull for that factors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Samarium-153 to inhibit intimal neoproliferation (IN) in hypercholestherolemic rabbits by using both an ideal doses and a higher one. Samarium-153 is a gamma and mainly beta emitting radioactive agent. Eighty-six iliac arteries of forty-three hypercholesterolemic rabbits underwent balloon angioplasty injury. They were divided in three different groups: control group (CG = 36), a group submitted to 15Gy irradiation doses (IG 15Gy = 14) and the third group irradiated with 60Gy (IG 60Gy = 36). Quality histological and morphometric (neointimal, media layer and vessel areas) analysis were performed. Blood cholesterol levels (1362 ± 497mg/dl) were measured in the three groups.The most interesting finding was the significant inhibition of IN in the IG 15Gy comparing with CG and IG 60Gy.There was also reduction of the media layer and vessel areas in IG15Gy showing significant difference comparing to other groups. Medium and higher degrees xantomatous cells in the media layer were mostly found in IG 60Gy, as well as hyaline tissue and vascular proliferation. The presence of xantomatous cells as well as the increase of the morphometric size of the vessels were proportional to the lesion levels of the internal elastic layer. These changes were more frequently found in IG 60Gy. As a conclusion, we can state that the IG 15Gy was effective to inhibit the IN while the IG 60Gy was not. The IG 60Gy presented histological and morphometric changes similar to those of vascular radio injury.

Holoprosencefalia: análise do seu espectro morfológico em doze casos de autópsia

The term holoprosencephaly (HPC) is used to indicate the group of hemispheric deformities caused by a failure in the development of the prosencephalic vesicle. The purpose of this study is to explain the morphologic spector of twelve cases of HPC, qualify them, and compare them to the literature. It was evaluated 5837 pediatrics necropsies, and there were 12 cases of HPC. Data like gender, age and the presence of another associated malformations were evaluated and compared to another malformations and to the total number of necropsies. The majority of the cases was male (66.66%), and stillborns (75%). The most frequently type of HPC found was the lobar type (58.3%), and the most frequently type of facial alteration was the ciclopy (25%). There is a statistic tendency to HPC affect the male sex, in comparison with other neurologic malformations. Besides, the stillborns are more frequently observed in HPC than in other neurologic malformations.