Resumo Fundamento: A avaliação funcional para descartar a isquemia miocárdica utilizando a angiotomografia computadorizada (angio-TC) de coronárias é de extrema importância e dados na população brasileira ainda são escassos. Objetivo: Avaliar o desempenho diagnóstico da perfusão miocárdica pela angio-TC de coronárias na detecção de doença arterial coronariana (DAC) obstrutiva significativa em comparação com a tomografia computadorizada por emissão de fóton único (SPECT; do inglês, single photon emission computerized tomography). Analisar a importância do conhecimento anatômico para entender a presença de defeito de perfusão miocárdica pela SPECT que não é identificado pela tomografia computadorizada (TC). Método: Trinta e cinco pacientes foram avaliados por um protocolo de estresse farmacológico simultâneo. O teste exato de Fisher foi utilizado para comparação entre as proporções. Os pacientes foram agrupados de acordo com a presença ou não de DAC significativa. A área sob a curva foi utilizada para identificar o desempenho diagnóstico da avaliação da perfusão pela angio-TC de coronárias e pela SPECT. Os valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significativos. Resultados: Para detecção de DAC obstrutiva a avaliação da perfusão miocárdica pela TC teve uma área sob a curva de 0,84 [intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%): 0,67 a 0,94, p < 0,001]. Já o estudo da perfusão miocárdica pela SPECT foi de 0,58 (IC95%: 0,40 a 0,74, p < 0,001). Neste estudo, foram descritos falso-positivos pela SPECT. Conclusão: A avaliação da perfusão miocárdica pela angio-TC apresenta resultados satisfatórios em comparação com os da SPECT na detecção de DAC obstrutiva. A angio-TC de coronárias tem capacidade de afastar falso-positivos da SPECT.

Abstract Background: Functional assessment to rule out myocardial ischemia using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is extremely important and data on the Brazilian population are still limited. Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of myocardial perfusion by CCTA in the detection of severe obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). To analyze the importance of anatomical knowledge to understand the presence of myocardial perfusion defects on SPECT imaging that is not identified on computed tomography (CT) scan. Method: A total of 35 patients were evaluated by a simultaneous pharmacologic stress protocol. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare proportions. The patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of significant CAD. The area under the ROC curve was used to identify the diagnostic performance of CCTA and SPECT in perfusion assessment. P < 0.05 values were considered statistically significant. Results: For detection of obstructive CAD, CT myocardial perfusion analysis yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.84 [a 95% confidence interval (CI95%): 0.67-0.94, p < 0.001]. SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging, on the other hand, showed an AUC of 0.58 (95% CI 0.40 - 0.74, p < 0.001). In this study, false-positive results with SPECT are described. Conclusion: Myocardial perfusion analysis by CTA displays satisfactory results compared to SPECT in the detection of obstructive CAD. CCTA can rule out false-positive results of SPECT.

Abstract Amyloidosis is a disease caused by extracellular deposition of insoluble protein fibrils, that results in changes in tissue architecture and consequently modification of the organ structure. Cardiac involvement is common in amyloidosis. Two major types of systemic amyloidosis affect the myocardium - immunoglobulin light chain and transthyretin amyloidosis - each leading to different prognosis. Early detection and diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis are the main objectives in the assessment of the disease. New techniques of magnetic resonance imaging have minimized the need for biopsies for the diagnosis. Late gadolinium enhancement technique, and more recently T1 mapping, have allowed a simplified evaluation of amyloid deposits and extracellular volume. The aim of this review was to describe basic concepts and updates of the use of magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis amyloidosis and evaluation of its severity.

Abstract In Brazil, without considering the non-melanoma skin tumors, bladder cancer in men is the eighth most common, and the urothelial carcinoma or transitional cell carcinoma is the most common among these. Cutaneous metastases from urothelial neoplasms appear as single or multiple erythematous, infiltrated nodules or plaques, and like other cases of distant disease, it is indicative of poor prognosis. The invasive urothelial carcinoma is recognized for its ability to present divergent differentiation and morphological variants. The sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma is a rare cancer that consists of two different components: one composed of epithelial tissue and the other with sarcomatoid features of mesenchymal origin. The authors describe a case of cutaneous metastasis of sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma in a 63-year-old male patient.

No presente artigo são apresentados novos registros de Boeckella bergi em vários corpos de água na Argentina e no Brasil. Dentro desses registros estão incluídos os limites setentrionais e meridionais de ocorrência de B. bergi na América do Sul. A ampla gama de distribuição é consistente com estudos anteriores, mas se mostra muito mais extensa do que conhecida anteriormente. Observações sobre a taxonomia e os habitats também são feitas. Esta espécie é tolerante a condições de clima temperado na região da América do Sul, com uma grande amplitude de temperatura entre o verão e inverno, e padrões irregulares de precipitação.

We present new records of Boeckella bergi at several water bodies in Argentina and Brazil. Within these records the northernmost and southernmost limits of occurrence of B. bergi in South America are included. The ample range of distribution is consistent with former studies, but it is more extensive than previously known. Observations on habitat preferences are also made. This species is tolerant to temperate climate conditions in this region of South America, with wide amplitude of temperature between summer and winter seasons, and irregular patterns of precipitation.