No abstract

BackgroundEarly recognition of infectious processes in neutropenic patients is hampered by the fact that these processes may have dissimilar and non-specific clinical presentations. CD64 is a neutrophil surface marker that is not expressed in non-sensitized neutrophils. When the neutrophil is exposed to tumor necrosis factor-alpha it is activated and is measured via the CD64 index.MethodsThis paper evaluated the relationship between the index value of CD64 on the first day of febrile neutropenia and a positive blood culture. The correlations with white blood count, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were also evaluated. This case–control, prospective, diagnostic study included 64 episodes of neutropenia. Case group (n = 14) comprised positive blood cultures, and the control group (n = 50), negative blood cultures.ResultsThe median rates of CD64 were 2.1 (σ ± 3.9) in the case group and 1.76 (σ ± 5.02) in the control group. There was no correlation between the value of the CD64 index and blood cultures. The CD64 index was also not correlated with C-reactive protein positivity. Furthermore, the CD64 index was not able to predict blood culture positivity. The sensitivity was 64.3%, the specificity was 42%, the positive predictive value was 23.7% and the negative predictive value was 80%. For C-reactive protein, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 71.4%, 32%, 22.7%, and 80%, respectively.ConclusionThe CD64 index is not suitable for predicting the positivity of blood cultures in this specific population of patients with febrile neutropenia.

Resumo. O projeto Recursos Educacionais Multiplataformas Abertos na Rede (REMAR) tem como objetivo facilitar e ampliar a construção e o reuso de recursos educacionais abertos (REA), por meio de uma plataforma web, que ofereça ferramentas que facilitem a construção e a customização de REA, seguindo diretrizes que favoreçam o reuso, a disponibilização desses recursos em diferentes plataformas, bem como a integração com ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem.

The ocular bobbing (OB) refers to a distinct pattern of spontaneous vertical eye movements that occurs in various diseases of the posterior fossa pathologies. We describe a case of 42-years-old female submitted to epidermoid tumor removal through a subocciptal approach, presenting an OB during the postoperative period.The clinical aspects of the ocular bobbing are reviewed and discussed. There are other presentations or etiologies for OB, therefore differential diagnosis should always be carefully considered.

Disc herniation is a common condition in the population and has a direct impact on the quality of life in patients, also causing functional limitations in the work place. Treatment protocols include conservative management and/or various surgical interventions. This paper reports on a case of symptomatic large extruded disc herniation, together with spontaneous clinical regression and total re-absorption. We show here conservative management, and a literature review of the main pathophysiological hypotheses for such an unusual evolution.