Biomedical subjects

P Moura

Publications and source records attributed to P Moura.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Performance-costs evaluation for urban storm drainage.

The design process of urban stormwater systems incorporating BMPs involves more complexity unlike the design of classic drainage systems for which just the technique of pipes is likely to be used. This paper presents a simple decision aid methodology and an associated software (AvDren) concerning urban stormwater systems, devoted to the evaluation and the comparison of drainage scenarios using BMPs according to different technical, sanitary, social environmental and economical aspects. This kind of tool is particularly interesting so as to help the decision makers to select the appropriate alternative and to plan the investments especially for developing countries, with important sanitary problems and severe budget restrictions.

Cities↗

PubMed2001

Detection of circulant tumor necrosis factor-alpha, soluble tumor necrosis factor p75 and interferon-gamma in Brazilian patients with dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines are believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of dengue infection. This study reports cytokine levels in a total of 54 patients examined in Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Five out of eight patients who had hemorrhagic manifestations presented tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in sera which were statistically higher than those recorded for controls. In contrast, only one out of 16 patients with mild manifestations had elevated TNF-alpha levels. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL), IL-1beta tested in 24 samples and IL-12 in 30 samples were not significantly increased. Interferon-g was present in 10 out of 30 patients with dengue. The data support the concept that the increased level of TNF-alpha is related to the severity of the disease. Soluble TNF receptor p75 was found in most patients but it is unlikely to be related to severity since it was found with an equivalent frequency and levels in 15 patients with dengue fever and another 15 with dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction -- when should the patient be discharged?].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Hospital discharge on day 10 after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is still frequent in our hospital. The present study aims at evaluating the occurrence of cardiac events on day 5, 7 and 10, in patients with AMI who had an uncomplicated course for 72 hours after thrombolysis, as well as a cost-effectiveness analysis on an earlier discharge. METHODS: We retrospectively studied consecutive patients admitted with AMI for a period of 5 years, submitted to thrombolysis who suffered no events (recurrent ischemia, reinfarction, coronary revascularization, heart failure, arrhythmias implicating electric cardioversion or dysfibrilation, pacemaker or death) within the first 72 hours (n = 128; 101 males and 27 females, mean age 64.1 +/- 12.8). Patients were divided into two groups, with no events occurring by discharge (group I, n = 119) or with events between 72 hours and discharge (group II, n = 9). The latter were subdivided according to whether events occurred between 72 hours and day 5, between days 6 and 7 or between 8 and 10. RESULTS: Group I and II were not significantly different regarding vascular risk factors, prior coronary disease and infarction location. Group I was mainly constituted of males, younger than those in group II and with preserved systolic LV function. Between 72 hours and discharge, there were no events in 93% of the patients (119) and events occurred in 7% (9 patients). Two cases of cardiac events occurred until day 5 (1.6%) one angina and one death, two patients with complications between days 6 and 7 (1.6%), both heart failure, and 5 patients suffered events after day 7 (4%), 3 angina and 2 deaths. Dead patients (3 cases--2.3%) were older, had prior AMI, mostly with unpreserved systolic LV function and prior ischemic heart disease. All of them had sudden death. The most frequent non-fatal complications were recurrent ischemia and heart failure. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: In patients with AMI who had an uncomplicated course for 72 hours after thrombolysis, the risk of cardiac events by the 10th day is low. It occurs randomly in time. In this group of patients it seems of no effectiveness to lengthen hospitalization. An earlier discharge may be advantageous since it does not significantly increase the risk that a longer hospitalization could prevent.

Aged↗

PubMed1986

Electrophysiologic effects of halothane and quinidine on canine Purkinje fibers: evidence for a synergistic interaction.

The authors studied possible interactions between halothane and quinidine on the action potentials of canine Purkinje fibers superfused with Tyrode's solution. Using standard microelectrode techniques and a physiologic pacing rate (2 Hz), halothane in concentrations from 0.5% to 2% decreased the action potential duration to 50% repolarization (ADP50). Total ADP (APD100), in contrast, increased after 1% and 2% halothane. Resting membrane potential (RMP) and action potential amplitude (APamp) increased after 0.5% halothane, but returned to control with higher halothane levels. Conduction time (CT) increased at each halothane level. Pacing at faster (3 Hz) or slower (1 Hz) rates did not markedly alter the effects of halothane. Quinidine 1 X 10(-5)M decreased the phase O upstroke (Vmax) and prolonged APD100 and CT. When halothane was added, RMP and APamp decreased, Vmax decreased further, and APD100 and CT were markedly prolonged. This resulted in conduction block or inexcitability, especially at faster pacing rates (3 Hz). Synergistic interactions between halothane and quinidine were found on RMP, APamp, APD100, and CT. Effects on Vmax, APD50, and action potential duration to 90% repolarization (APD90) were additive. It is concluded that quinidine and halothane act synergistically to decrease action potential amplitude, lower RMP, and prolong conduction. Severe depression of conduction often progressed to conduction block or inexcitability when halothane, 2%, was administered during superfusion with therapeutic concentrations of quinidine.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1985

Esophageal P-synchronous pacing.

An esophageal electrode can be employed to provide atrial sensing which then can be used to change from temporary right ventricular (VVI) pacing to P-synchronous (VAT) pacing. Two cases of postoperative aortic valve replacement, each with new complete heart block (CHB) and dopamine dependency, are presented. In both cases, establishment of P-synchronous pacing resulted in improved hemodynamic status characterized by successful weaning from dopamine and maintenance of adequate cardiac output (CO).

Aged↗