Ramiro Colleoni Neto

Reprodutibilidade da classificação ultra-sonográfica de Niamey na avaliação da fibrose periportal na esquistossomose mansônica

OBJETIVO: Medir a concordância intra- e interobservador da classificacao ultra-sonografica qualitativa para graduar a fibrose periportal adotada no encontro de Niamey em 1996. MATERIAIS E METODOS: No periodo de fevereiro de 2005 a marco de 2006 foi realizado estudo prospectivo, observacional e transversal em 30 pacientes esquistossomoticos, sem outras hepatopatias associadas, submetidos a ultra-sonografia abdominal e classificados segundo os criterios de Niamey. Os exames foram realizados por dois radiologistas de forma independente em diferentes momentos: durante o exame dinâmico (primeiro momento) e 30 e 90 dias depois (segundo e terceiro momentos) do exame, por meio da documentacao fotografica analisada em estacao de trabalho. A concordância intra- e interobservador foi avaliada pelo teste kappa. RESULTADOS: A concordância intra-observador medida pelo teste kappa foi 0,43 para o observador 1 e 0,57 para o observador 2. A concordância interobservador durante o estudo dinâmico e na avaliacao fotografica foi, respectivamente, de 0,46 e 0,71. CONCLUSAO: O uso do ultra-som para classificar a fibrose periportal segundo o protocolo de Niamey apresentou uma reprodutibilidade que variou de moderada a substancial.

Avaliação da concordância entre ressonância magnética de ultra-sonografia na classificação de fibrose periportal em esquitossomóticos, segundo a classificação de Niamey

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproducibility of magnetic resonance imaging and the agreement between ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in the classification of periportal fibrosis in patients with schistosomiasis based on Niameys qualitative criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, double-blinded study was conducted between February 2005 and June 2006 with 20 patients (10 men and 10 women, with ages ranging between 24 and 60 years, mean age 42.7 years) diagnosed with schistosomiasis mansoni. Both ultrasound and magnetic resonance images were independently evaluated by two experienced observers. Interobserver agreement was evaluated for findings of periportal fibrosis on magnetic resonance images and in a comparison between magnetic resonance and ultrasound images. RESULTS: The analysis of magnetic resonance images showed total interobserver agreement in 14 patients (70%). The comparison between ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showed agreement between images in only six cases (30%) by observer 1, and in eight cases (40%) by observer 2. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging presents a good reproducibility in the evaluation of periportal fibrosis in later stages of schistosomiasis, however, the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound is poor.

Comparative study of the healing process of the aponeurosis of the anterior abdominal wall of rats after wound closure using 3-0 nylon suture and N-butil-2-cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive

PURPOSE To investigate the healing process of the aponeurosis of the anterior abdominal wall of rats, comparing two different materials for wound closure: 3-0 nylon suture and tissue adhesive N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. METHODS Forty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups according to the type of material used (suture or adhesive) and the number of days until reoperation (seven or 14 days). After a 4 cm incision in the aponeurosis, 22 rats underwent wound closure using 3-0 nylon suture and the other 22, the tissue adhesive. After seven days, 11 rats from each group were weighed again, submitted to reoperation and then euthanized. The same procedure was carried out after 14 days with the remaining rats. The surgical wound was macroscopically examined, the tensile strength was measured and the tissue edges were histologically examined. The statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance and Coxs proportional hazards model. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS The animals lost on average 20 g over the period between the two operations. Wound closure was faster using the tissue adhesive. Only one animal, from the tissue adhesive group, had a small abscess with wound dehiscence. With regard to tensile strength, the best results were obtained with the tissue adhesive 14 days after the first surgery. The results of the histological examination showed no significant difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS Upon morphological evaluation, the two types of material analyzed in this study (3-0 nylon suture and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate, a tissue adhesive) were not significantly different with regard to the healing process of the aponeurosis of the anterior abdominal wall of rats. Wound closure using the tissue adhesive was faster. Higher tensile strength was observed in the tissue adhesive group 14 days after the first surgery.

Correlação interobservador das alterações morfológicas das vias biliares em pacientes com esquistossomose mansoni pela colangiorressonância magnética

OBJECTIVE: To describe changes of the biliary tree demonstrated by magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) in patients with the hepatosplenic presentation of schistosomiasis mansoni, and evaluating the interobserver agreement in the detection of schistosomal cholangiopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, cross-sectional study involving 24 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and 6 healthy patients (control group) submitted to biliary tree evaluation by MRC. The following changes of the biliary tree were considered: distortion, thinning, stenosis, dilation and irregularity. The interobserver agreement in the detection of biliary tree changes was calculated with the McNemars test and the kappa index of agreement (κ). RESULTS: The interobserver agreement in the detection of distortion and thinning of the biliary tree was almost perfect (κ = 0.867; confidence interval [CI] 95% [0.512-1.0] and κ = 0.865; CI 95% [0.51-1.0], respectively). There was a substantial agreement for stenosis (κ = 0.78; CI 95% [0.424-1.0]), moderate agreement for dilation (κ = 0.595; CI 95% [0.247-0.942]) and mild agreement for thinning (κ = 0.229; CI 95% [0.095-0.552]). CONCLUSION: In a decreasing order of frequency, the changes of the biliary tree were observed: distortion, thinning, stenosis, dilation and irregularity. The interobserver agreement for signs of schistosomal cholangiopathy was almost perfect for distortion and thinning, and substantial for stenosis.