Comparison of a vascular closure device versus the radial approach to reduce access site complications in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome patients: The angio-seal versus the radial approach in acute coronary syndrome trial

OBJECTIVES

To compare the radial versus femoral approach using Angio-Seal for the incidence of access site complications among non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing invasive strategy.

BACKGROUND

Arterial access is a major site of complications after invasive coronary procedures. Vascular closure devices provide more comfort to patients decreasing time to hemostasis and need for bed rest. However, the inconsistency of data proving their safety limits their routine adoption as a strategy to prevent vascular complications.

METHODS

Single-center non-inferiority trial where 240 patients were randomized to radial or femoral access using Angio-Seal. The primary objective was the occurrence of complications at the arterial puncture site until 30 days after the procedure.

RESULTS

There were no baseline clinical differences between groups, except for a greater prevalence of female patients in the radial group (33.3 vs. 20.0%, P = 0.020). Hemostasis was achieved in the entire radial group with the use of TR Band and in 95% of the procedures in the femoral group with Angio-Seal (P = 0.029). Except for a higher incidence of asymptomatic arterial occlusion in the radial group, there were no differences among the other analyzed outcomes. According to the noninferiority test, the use of Angio-Seal was noninferior to the radial approach, considering the margin of 15% (12.5 vs. 13.3%, difference -0.83%, 95% CI -9.31 - 7.65, P for noninferiority <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Angio-Seal seems noninferior in the incidence of access site complications at 30 days when compared with the radial approach. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Antiviral evaluation of plants from Brazilian Atlantic Tropical Forest

The antiviral activity of six medicinal plants from Brazilian Atlantic Tropical Forest was investigated against two viruses: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and poliovirus type 2 (PV-2). Cuphea carthagenensis and Tillandsia usneoides extracts showed the best antiherpes activity. T. usneoides dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts, and Lippia alba n-butanol extract showed inhibition of HSV-1, strain 29R/acyclovir resistant. In addition, only L. alba ethyl acetate extract showed antipoliovirus activity. These results corroborate that medicinal plants can be a rich source of potential antiviral compounds.

Chagas seropositive donors in kidney transplantation

Among 239 kidney transplantations between September 1992 and September 1997, nine recipients' kidneys were obtained from Chagas seropositive donors. All of these patients were treated with benznidazole (5 mg/kg/d) for 14 days starting on day 0. None of them experienced acute Chagas disease or seroconversion even after 10 years follow-up. We concluded that, due to cadaver shortage, donors with positive serology for Chagas disease should not be excluded.

[A comparative study of therapeutic complications in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and in idiopathic glomerulopathy]

PURPOSE

To evaluate the therapeutic complications due to the use of immunosupressors in patients with nephropathy.

METHODS

76 patients who had used steroids and cyclophosphamide were retrospectively studied. The cases were divided into three groups: G1= 15 patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus without renal lesion; G2= 33 patients with lupus nephritis and G3= 28 patients with nephrotic syndrome owing to idiopathic glomerulopathy.

RESULTS

There were no differences related to time of follow up (G1= 42.4 +/- 51, G2= 52.3 +/- 51, G3= 41.8 +/- 47.8 months), total used dosage of steroids (G1= 20, G2= 28, G3= 16 grams) and time of drug use (G1= 20, G2= 26, G3= 14.5 months). About cyclophosphamide use, there was no difference in the percentage of patients who used it (13% in G1, 51% in G2, 28% in G3), but the patients from G1 received lower total dosage than those from G2 (p<0.05). Cushingoid appearance, epigastric distress, psychiatric disorders, diabetes mellitus and ocular alterations occurred in all the three groups, with no statistically significant differences. The infections complications, those considered more severe clinically, were more frequent in G2 (G1= 6%, G2= 15%, G3= 0% - p<0.05), the same occurring with the deaths (7% in G1, 30% in G2, 0% in G3 - p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

In patients with lupus nephritis there were more infections complications owing to prolonged immunosuppresion what may indicate a severity marker of this type of lesion.