OBJECTIVE To detect markers for minimal residual disease monitoring based on conventional polymerase chain reaction for immunoglobulin, T-cell receptor rearrangements and the Sil-Tal1 deletion in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia. METHODS Fifty-nine children with acute lymphocytic leukemia from three institutions in Minas Gerais, Brazil, were prospectively studied. Clonal rearrangements were detected by polymerase chain reaction followed by homo/heteroduplex clonality analysis in DNA samples from diagnostic bone marrow. Follow-up samples were collected on Days 14 and 28-35 of the induction phase. The Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox methods were used for survival analysis. RESULTS Immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor rearrangements were not detected in 5/55 children screened (9.0%). For precursor-B acute lymphocytic leukemia, the most frequent rearrangement was IgH (72.7%), then TCRG (61.4%), and TCRD and IgK (47.7%); for T-acute lymphocytic leukemia, TCRG (80.0%), and TCRD and Sil-Tal deletion (20.0%) were the most common. Minimal residual disease was detected in 35% of the cases on Day 14 and in 22.5% on Day 28-35. Minimal residual disease on Day 28-35, T-acute lymphocytic leukemia, and leukocyte count above 50 x 109/L at diagnosis were bad prognostic factors for leukemia-free survival in univariate analysis. Relapse risk for minimal residual disease positive relative to minimal residual disease negative children was 8.5 times higher (95% confidence interval: 1.02-70.7). CONCLUSION Immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor rearrangement frequencies were similar to those reported before. Minimal residual disease is an independent prognostic factor for leukemia-free survival, even when based on a non-quantitative technique, but longer follow-ups are needed.

The anatomy of the psoas minor muscle in human beings has frequently been correlated with ethnic and racial characteristics. The present study had the aim of investigating the anatomy of the psoas minor, by observing its occurrence, distal insertion points, relationship with the psoas major muscle and the relationship between its tendon and muscle portions. Twenty-two human fetuses were used (eleven of each gender), fixed in 10% formol solution that had been perfused through the umbilical artery. The psoas minor muscle was found in eight male fetuses: seven bilaterally and one unilaterally, in the right hemicorpus. Five female fetuses presented the psoas minor muscle: three bilaterally and two unilaterally, one in the right and one in the left hemicorpus. The muscle was independent, inconstant, with unilateral or bilateral presence, with distal insertions at different anatomical points, and its tendon portion was always longer than the belly of the muscle.

La anatomía del músculo psoas menor, en los seres humanos ha sido a menudo vinculada con cuestiones de orden étnico-raciales. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la anatomía del músculo psoas menor en relación a su presencia, puntos de origen e inserción, relación con el músculo psoas mayor y sus porciones tendinosa y muscular. Se utilizaron 22 fetos humanos (11 de cada sexo) que fueron fijados en solución de formalina al 10% por perfusión a través de la arteria umbilical. El músculo psoas menor se encontró en 8 fetos de sexo masculino, siete bilateralmente y apenas uno unilateralmente en el hemicuerpo derecho. En los fetos de sexo femenino, cinco tenían el músculo psoas menor, tres bilateralmente y dos unilateralmente, siendo uno encontrado en el hemicuerpo derecho y otro en el izquierdo. El músculo es independiente, inconstante, de presencia unilateral o bilateral, con la inserción en diferentes sitios anatómicos y su porción tendinosa siempre mayor que el vientre muscular.

OBJETIVOS: Verificar a influência da força muscular respiratória pré-operatória na incidência de complicações pulmonares no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca. MÉTODOS: De março de 2009 a setembro de 2010, 40 pacientes internados no serviço de cardiologia da Fundação de Beneficência Hospital de Cirurgia foram distribuídos em dois grupos, de acordo com os valores da pressão inspiratória máxima avaliada por meio da manovacuometria: Grupo A (n=21), composto de pacientes que apresentaram força muscular respiratória normal; e grupo B (n=19), pacientes com redução da força. Após a avaliação pré operatória, todos foram submetidos ao procedimento cirúrgico e acompanhados até o momento da alta hospitalar pelo mesmo pesquisador, que anotava na ficha de coleta de dados sua evolução, especialmente quanto à presença de complicações pulmonares no pós-operatório, que foi dividida em geral e específica. RESULTADOS: Dezenove por cento dos pacientes do grupo A e 31,6% dos pacientes do grupo B apresentaram complicações pulmonares gerais, sendo esta diferença não significativa estatisticamente (P=0,29). Quanto à presença de complicações específicas, o grupo A teve 14,3% e o grupo B 10,5% (P= 0,55). Também não houve diferença quanto aos dias de internação em UTI e total (UTI + enfermaria) entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Nesse trabalho, a disfunção muscular respiratória no pré-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca não foi considerada um fator de risco para desenvolvimento de complicações pulmonares no pós-operatório

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of preoperative respiratory muscle strength in postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with heart failure undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: From March 2009 to September 2010, 40 patients admitted to the cardiology service of the Fundação de Beneficência Hospital de Cirurgia were divided into two groups according to the values of maximal inspiratory pressure measured by manometer: Group A (n = 21), composed of patients with normal respiratory muscle strength, and Group B (n = 19), patients with reduced strength. After pre-operative evaluation, all patients underwent the surgical procedure and followed until hospital discharge by the same researcher, who recorded on data collection especially its evolution for the presence of pulmonary complications after surgery, which was divided general and specific. RESULTS: 19% of patients in group A and 31.6% of patients in group B had pulmonary complications overall, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.29). Regarding the presence of specific complications, group A was 14.3% and 10.5% group B (P = 0.55). There was also no difference in the days of ICU stay and total (ICU + ward) between groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, preoperative respiratory muscle dysfunction does not seem to influence the evolution of heart failure patients for the presence of pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery

Twenty legs from adult male cadavers were examined to analyze the anatomical relationships between the component parts of the plantaris muscle. This muscle was present in all of the cadavers and it was found that the length of the muscle in relation to its belly was approximately three times greater than in relation to the tendon.

Se estudiaron 20 miembros inferiores de cadáveres de adultos do sexo masculino con el fin de analizar la relación anatómica de los músculos plantares y sus partes constitutivas. En todos las piezas estudiadas este músculo estaba presente y fue observado que la longitud del músculo en relación a su vientre era aproximadamente tres veces superior a la del tendón.