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Objective: To evaluate the compliance rates to quality of care indicators along the implementation of an acute myocardial infarction clinical practice guideline., Methods: A clinical guideline for acute myocardial infarction was introduced on March 1st, 2005. Patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction from March 1st, 2005 to December 31st, 2012 (n=1,431) were compared to patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction before the implementation of the protocol (n=306). Compliance rates to quality of care indicators (ASA prescription on hospital admission and discharge, betablockers on discharge and door-to-balloon time) as well as the length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality were compared before and after the implementation of the clinical guideline., Results: The rates of ASA prescription on admission, on discharge and of betablockers were higher after guideline implementation: 99.6% versus 95.8% (p<0.001); 99.1% versus 95.8% (p<0.001); and 95.9% versus 81.7% (p<0.001), respectively. ASA prescription rate increased over time, reaching 100% from 2009 to 2012. Door-to-balloon time after versus before implementation was of 86(32) minutes versus 93(51) (p=0.20). The length of hospital stay after the implementation versus before was of 6(6) days versus 6(4) days (p=0.34). In-hospital mortality was 7.6% (before the implementation), 8.7% between 2005 and 2008, and 5.3% between 2009 and 2012, (p=0.04)., Conclusion: The implementation of an acute myocardial infarction clinical practice guideline was associated with an increase in compliance to quality of care indicators.

Background: Brazil lacks published multicenter registries of acute coronary syndrome., Objective: The Brazilian Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome is a multicenter national study aiming at providing data on clinical aspects, management and hospital outcomes of acute coronary syndrome in our country., Methods: A total of 23 hospitals from 14 cities, participated in this study. Eligible patients were those who came to the emergency wards with suspected acute coronary syndrome within the first 24 hours of symptom onset, associated with compatible electrocardiographic alterations and/or altered necrosis biomarkers. Follow-up lasted until hospital discharge or death, whichever occurred first., Results: Between 2003 and 2008, 2,693 ACS patients were enrolled, of which 864 (32.1%) were females. T he final diagnosis was unstable angina in 1,141 patients, (42.4%), with a mortality rate of 3.06%, non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 529 (19.6%), with mortality of 6.8%, ST-elevation AMI 950 (35.3%), with mortality of 8.1% and non-confirmed diagnosis 73 (2.7%), with mortality of 1.36%. The overall mortality was 5.53%. The multiple logistic regression model identified the following as risk factors for death regarding demographic factors and interventions: female gender (OR=1.45), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.59), body mass index (OR=1.27) and percutaneous coronary intervention (OR=0.70). A second model for death due to major complications identified: cardiogenic shock/acute pulmonary edema (OR=4.57), reinfarction (OR=3.48), stroke (OR=21.56), major bleeding (OR=3.33), cardiopulmonary arrest (OR=40.27) and Killip functional class (OR=3.37)., Conclusion: The Brazilian Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome data do not differ from other data collected abroad. The understanding of their findings may help promote better planning and management of acute coronary syndrome care in public and private health services.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate a new proposal for increasing compliance to the clinical management of patients with Graves' disease (GD) in a large and public University Hospital. The patients were carefully selected (no previous GD treatment, goiter volume less than 6 mL must be living in the metro area of São Paulo), received medication at no cost, were contacted frequently by the social worker and alerted for the date of consultation and only referred to a single endocrinologist during all phases of treatment. We recruited 229 patients with GD that were initially treated with methimazole (MMI--60 mg q.d) in a single daily dose followed by a combination of MMI (20 mg) plus L-T4 (100 microg) daily for 24 months. Only 83 patients (36.2%) completed the protocol and were subdivided in: Group 1 (n= 34) that were in remission for 3 years after discontinuation of the MMI and Group 2 (n= 49) that presented recurrence of GD between 2 and 36 months without MMI. Predictive factors associated with remission were: decrease of the glandular volume, serum TG< 40 ng/mL and normal TRAb values. We concluded that in spite of a careful protocol planned to increase compliance, more than 60% of patients with GD did not complete the therapeutic trial and were referred for radioiodine treatment. The solution for this low therapeutic success for GD should be the possible identification of factors that would indicate patients that are not inclined to follow a long period of clinical therapy.

The patient was a male with myasthenia gravis, hospitalized with acute respiratory failure due to decompensation of the underlying disease. He evolved with findings suggestive of acute myocardial infarction, with electrocardiographic and enzymatic alterations compatible with that diagnosis. The patient underwent emergency coronary angiography, which showed no severe coronary obstruction, although his left ventricle had significant systolic dysfunction with characteristic alterations, on ventriculography, of the syndrome described as transient ventricular dysfunction or Takotsubo syndrome. On evolution, complete recovery of the electrocardiographic alterations and systolic ventricular function assessed on echocardiography occurred, confirming the syndrome.

The thyroid gland promotes its adaptation to iodine deficiency inducing an increase in the iodine uptake followed by a substantial increase in the thyroid gland mass (goiter). Simultaneously, there is a preferential T3 secretion by the follicular cell and a persistently elevated serum TSH. Laboratory tests, isotopic methods and imaging are routinely used to verify the altered thyroid pathophysiology. In certain populations the presence of goitrogenic natural substances, present in the locally consumed staple food, were found and may add to the pathogenic process. Endemic cretinism is usually present when the iodine deficiency is quite low and may present with the neurologic or myxedematous sub-types, frequently associated with deafmutism. In Brazil, the prevalence of iodine-deficiency disorders has been evaluated, periodically, with schoolchildren examined for goiter. Universal salt iodination was implemented in Brazil in the early fifties but recently the system was considered effective for the supply of iodine to the Brazilian population.