Pro Criança Cardíaca

In the individual assessment of a scientific performance, five scientometric indices have been used most: the h-index, the index g, the h-major index, the contemporary h-index and the normalized h-index. We propose an alternative index ("Index h-fac"), which considers positively the participation of the first author and that, by having a dynamic characteristic, continuously monitors his/her performance and is easily adaptable to particular or individual situations from different research groups. Results from the geometric mean between the original h-index as proposed by Hirsh and a correction factor ("fac", "first author commitment") and, in turn, this value is divided by the mean interval (in years) of all studies. The index emphasizes two scores (X and Y). These scores X and Y were obtained by asking to all 83 cardiovascular surgeons from Southern Brazil (Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) and Specialists, how they realistically estimated, in percentage, their effective contribution in each published paper in which they appeared as first author. Of the total, 80 (96.4%) responded. The average obtained was 78.0% and on this basis, the X score was established as 0.75 and the score Y as 0.25. The new index also considers the total number of citations as first author and as co-author, the average number of coauthors per publication and the total number of papers published. Theoretical examples are presented, discussing the main advantages of application. Serial evaluations in real world situations should be instituted to confirm the diagnostic and prognostic utility of this new index.

The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the European Risk System in Cardiac Operations (EuroSCORE) model to predict mortality in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization at the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Santa Casa de São Paulo Medical School. From May 2005 to November 2006, 100 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The records of these patients were reviewed in order to retrieve those variables included in the EuroSCORE risk scoring method. The correlation of predicted and observed mortality was compared. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test for univariate analysis and Hosmer-Lemeshow Test for logistic regression model. Hospital mortality was 5%. For EuroSCORE univariate analysis, findings were as follows: score 0-2 predicted mortality 0.40%, observed 0.00%; score 3-5 predicted mortality 1.45%, observed 0.00%; score greater than 6 predicted mortality 3.15%, observed 7.94%. Although these differences, p-value was 0.213 with no statistical significance. The p-value for the Hosmer-Lemeshow Test was < 0.001 indicating poor calibration of the model for this sample. The EuroSCORE model is a simple, objective system to estimate hospital mortality. However, to validate the logistic regression analysis, it is necessary hundreds of patients, which limit its widespread application.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia do cloreto de alumínio, isoladamente ou em associação com o etanol, na prevenção da calcificação e da resposta inflamatória de fragmentos de parede aórtica porcina fixada em glutaraldeído (GDA), implantados no tecido subcutâneo de ratos jovens. MÉTODO: Utilizaram-se 15 ratos da linhagem Sprague-Dawley, em cujas telas subcutâneas foram implantados fragmentos de parede aórtica porcina, submetidos a três diferentes métodos de tratamento [grupos: I (GDA), II (GDA+alumínio), III (GDA+etanol+alumínio)]. Os explantes foram realizados com 15, 30 e 60 dias após as operações. Foram realizadas análises histológicas pelas colorações de hematoxilina & eosina (HE) e de alizarina, nos pHs de 4,2 e 7,0, e a dosagem de cálcio feita por espectroscopia de absorção atômica. RESULTADOS: Pelo HE, constatou-se que a matriz extracelular das paredes aórticas ficaram melhor preservadas nos explantes do grupo III. A intensidade da reação inflamatória intensa foi menor nesse grupo. Pela alizarina pH 4,2, o grupo II e III tiveram menores índices de calcificação comparado ao controle. Pela alizarina pH 7,0, o grupo III teve menor índice de calcificação comparado aos grupos I e II. Pela espectroscopia de absorção atômica, os níveis de cálcio foram semelhantes para os grupos II e III, mas significativamente menores do que os do grupo I. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento com cloreto de alumínio diminuiu a calcificação dos fragmentos de parede aórtica porcina. O uso combinado do etanol com cloreto de alumínio foi ainda mais eficiente em inibir a calcificação, e também em diminuir a reação inflamatória.