Rui M. S. Almeida

Impact of EGFR Genetic Variants on Glioma Risk and Patient Outcome

Background: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) regulates important cellular processes and is frequently implicated in human tumors. Three EGFR polymorphisms have been described as having a transcriptional regulatory function: two single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the essential promoter region, −216G/T and −191C/A, and a polymorphic (CA)n microsatellite sequence in intron 1. We aimed to elucidate the roles of these EGFR polymorphisms in glioma susceptibility and prognosis. Methods: We conducted a case–control study with 196 patients with glioma and 168 cancer-free controls. Unconditional multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate ORs and 95% confidence intervals. A Cox regression model was used to evaluate associations with patient survival. False-positive report probabilities were also assessed. Results: None of the EGFR −216G/T variants was significantly associated with glioma risk. The −191C/A genotype was associated with higher risk for glioma when the (CA)n alleles were classified as short for ≤16 or ≤17 repeats. Independently of the (CA)n repeat cutoff point used, shorter (CA)n repeat variants were significantly associated with increased risk for glioma, particularly glioblastoma and oligodendroglioma. In all tested models with different (CA)n cutoff points, only −191C/A genotype was consistently associated with improved survival of patients with glioblastoma. Conclusions: Our findings implicate EGFR −191C/A and the (CA)n repeat polymorphisms as risk factors for gliomas, and suggest −191C/A as a prognostic marker in glioblastoma. Impact: Our data support a role of these EGFR polymorphisms in determining glioma susceptibility, with potential relevance for molecularly based stratification of patients with glioblastoma for individualized therapies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(12); 2610–7. ©2011 AACR.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair – a Brazilian experience in 255 patients over a period of 112 months

The aim of this study is to analyze the immediate and late evolution for death and reintervention in a thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) group, over a follow-up period of 112 months. Retrospective data of 255 patients, from 1998 to 2007, were obtained. The most prevalent diseases were thoracic aortic aneurysms (89), thoracic and abdominal aneurysms (85) and thoracic aortic dissections (61). The mean age was 63.2 years and 67.1% were male. Three hundred and three endoprostheses were used. Causes of morbidity, in the immediate postoperative period, were hyperthermia (45.9%), endoleaks (9.8% - being 7.1% type I), vascular complications (5.2%), renal insufficiency (3.1%) and neurological complications (3.1%). There were two (0.8%) hospital deaths and 17 (6.7%) late deaths. Time of follow-up was up to 112 months (mean of 60 months). The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed an increase of reintervention, compared with death, after a follow-up period of 42 months. Freedom from death at 36, 60 and 112 months was 96%, 89.1%, 85.1% and for reintervention, for the same periods was 93.6%, 82.7%, 57.2%, respectively. This study showed low incidence of prostheses related morbidity and immediate mortality. After a period of 42 months there was an increase on the percentual tax of reintervention.

Diretrizes para o tratamento cirúrgico das doenças da aorta da Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular - Atualização 2009

DESCRICAO DO METODO DE COLETA DEEVIDENCIASO documento original de 2007 [1] foi contruido a partirde reunioes periodicas para elaboracao do texto cominclusao das citacoes bibliograficas, por uma comissao demembros titulares designados pela Diretoria da SociedadeBrasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular. A partir de um textobasico referencial, os participantes, divididos em gruposde trabalho, agregaram contribuicoes, correcoes, erecomendacoes aprovadas em consenso, que permitiram aedicao do texto preliminar. Em diferentes momentos foramrealizadas as buscas de referencias cruzadas e artigosrelacionados mais relevantes, como metanalises, revisoessistematicas, e estudos multicentricos classicos. Procurou-se indicar trabalhos relevantes de autores brasileiros,particularmente os gerados pela Revista Brasileira deCirurgia Cardiovascular e pelos Arquivos Brasileiros deCardiologia, orgaos de divulgacao oficial da Cardiologiabrasileira.Na presente atualizacao, os editores procuraram revisarsistematicamente as publicacoes mais relevantes, nos

The use of cell saver system in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

INTRODUCTION The use of cell saver (CS) in cardiac surgery is proposed to reduce the use of units of packed red blood cells stored (URBC), which increases morbidity, mortality and causes inflammatory reactions. OBJECTIVE The objective is to evaluate whether the use of CS decreases the use URBC, is cost /effective and beneficial to the patient. METHODS In a prospective study, between November 2009 and October 2011, 100 consecutive patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery with CPB, hemodilution and hemofiltration, were enrolled. Patients were divided into group 1 (no CS) and 2 (CS). The criteria for the replacement of RBC were hemodynamic instability and hemoglobin (Hb) <7-8g/dl. Demographic data, as well as Hb and hematocrit, mediastinal drainage, number of URBC and CPB, ICU and hospital time, were analysed. RESULTS In groups 1 and 2 the average age was 64.1 and 60.6 years; predominantly male; the logistic EuroSCORE 10.3 and 9.4; mortality 2% and 4%. Group 2 had a higher incidence of reoperations (12% versus 6%), but the average of URBC used (4.31 versus 1.25) and mean length of hospital stay (10.8 versus 7.4 days) was lower. Univariate and multivariate analysis, were performed, which showed no statistically significant values, except in the use of URBC. The relationship between the CS and the cost of RBC was not cost /effective and length of stay was shorter. CONCLUSION The use of CS decreases the number of used URBC, is not cost /effective but has shown benefits for patients.

Análise dos resultados imediatos da cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio com e sem circulação extracorpórea

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to compare the immediate results of patients undergoing on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS: From January 2007 to January 2009, 177 patients underwent CABG, being 92 off-pump and 85 onpump. We evaluated the demographics, preoperative risk factors, preoperative functional class and risk assessment by the EuroSCORE. The postoperative evolution was compared between groups. RESULTS: The mean number of grafts per patient was 2.48 ± 0.43 in off-pump group and 2.90 ± 0.59 in on-pump group. In the off-pump group, 97.8% of patients received an internal thoracic artery graft, while on-pump group the percentage was 94.1% (P = 0.03). The rate of complete revascularization was similar in both groups. In off-pump group, the circumflex artery was revascularized in 48.9% and 68.2% in the onpump group (P = 0.01). Hospital mortality was 4.3% and 4.7%, respectively in the off-pump group in the on-pump group (P = 0.92). Off-pump group had fewer complications in relation to perioperative myocardial infarction (P = 0.02) and use of intra-aortic balloon pump (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The off-pump CABG is a safe procedure with hospital mortality similar to that observed in on-pump CABG, with lower rates of complications and less need for intra-aortic balloon.

Surgical repair of a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta after aortic valve replacement

We report the case of a patient with a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aortic clinically diagnosed 5 months after surgical replacement of the aortic valve. Diagnosis was confirmed with the aid of two-dimensional echocardiography and helicoidal angiotomography. The corrective surgery, which consisted of a reinforced suture of the communication with the ascending aorta after opening and aspiration of the cavity of the pseudoaneurysm, was successfully performed through a complete sternotomy using extracorporeal circulation, femorofemoral cannulation, and moderate hypothermia, with no aortic clamping.

Revascularização do miocárdio: estudo comparativo do custo da cirurgia convencional e da angioplastia transluminal percutânea

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost of coronary bypass surgery (CBS) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for a one year follow-up. METHOD: Eight-six patients were submitted to 87 CBS and 240 patients to 267 PTCA, between October 2003 and April 2004. The mean age of the two groups was 62 years. The CBS group was submitted to a mean of 3.7 bypass/ patient, using 96.5% of arterial conduits. In the PTCA group, a mean of 1.1 angioplasties/procedure were performed. Twenty-one (24.4%) patients had an angioplasty performed before the CBS. Each group was subdivided in, group A and B, in respect to the manner of payment. RESULTS: The mean cost for CBS was R

Arteriovenous access banding revisited

7.759,78, per procedure; in the PTCA group the cost/angioplasty was R

Benefit from using recycling red blood cells in cardiovascular surgery

6.307,79. At the end of a year, the end values were R

O tratamento endovascular da úlcera penetrante aórtica é a solução

7.875,73 for the CBS and R