ABSTRACT CONTEXT: Pancreatic metastases from primary malignant tumors at other sites are rare, constituting about 2% of the neoplasms that affect the pancreas. Pancreatic metastasis from breast cancer is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose, because its clinical and radiological presentation is similar to that of a primary pancreatic tumor. CASE REPORT: A 64-year-old female developed a lesion in the pancreatic tail 24 months after neoadjuvant therapy, surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy for right-side breast cancer (ductal carcinoma). She underwent distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and left adrenalectomy, and presented an uneventful outcome. The immunohistochemical analysis on the surgical specimen suggested that the lesion originated from the breast. CONCLUSION: In cases of pancreatic lesions detected in patients with a previous history of breast neoplasm, the possibility of pancreatic metastasis should be carefully considered.

Abstract Introduction: Ischemic postconditioning is a method that shows evidence of efficacy in minimizing reperfusion injury; however, its effectiveness in preventing injuries in distant organs is still unknown, especially in those who have undergone mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion. Objective: To evaluate the effect of ischemic postconditioning in preventing reperfusion injury in the liver of rats submitted to mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion, comparing two different methods of ischemic postconditioning. Methods: 30 Wistar male rats were used, distributed into three groups: Group A: Ten rats submitted to intestinal ischemia for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion for 60 minutes; Group B: Ten rats subjected to ischemia and reperfusion; after ischemia, two cycles of reperfusion (two minutes each) interleaved with two cycles of ischemia (two minutes each); and Group C: Ten rats subjected to ischemia and reperfusion; after ischemia, four cycles of reperfusion (30 seconds each) interspersed with four cycles of ischemia (30 seconds each). After the experiment, the left lobe of the liver was resected for subsequent histological analysis, using the following classification: grade 1 - centrilobular congestion; grade 2 - centrilobular congestion with some degeneration of hepatocytes in one or two central veins; and grade 3 - multifocal centrilobular congestion and degeneration of portal hepatocytes. Results: The mean degree of liver damage found was 1.8 in group A, 1.7 in group B and 1.3 in group C. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: Ischemic postconditioning was unable to minimize reperfusion injury in rats undergoing mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion.

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Some publications have demonstrated the presence of lung reperfusion injury in mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), but under to diverse methods. Postconditioning has been recognized as effective in preventing reperfusion injury in various organs and tissues. However, its effectiveness has not been evaluated in the prevention of lung reperfusion injury after mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of pulmonary reperfusion injury and the protective effect of ischemic postconditioning on lung parenchyma in rats submitted to mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were distributed into three groups: group A (10 rats), which was held mesenteric ischemia (30 minutes) and reperfusion (60 minutes); group B (10 rats), ischemia and reperfusion, interspersed by postconditioning with two alternating cycles of reperfusion and reocclusion, for two minutes each; and group C (10 rats), ischemia and reperfusion interleaved by postconditioning with four alternating cycles of reperfusion and reocclusion of 30 seconds each. Finally, it was resected the upper lung lobe for histological analysis. RESULTS: There were mild lung lesions (grade 1) in all samples. There was no statistical difference between groups 1 and 2 (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: The mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion in rats for thirty and sixty minutes, respectively, caused mild reperfusion injury in lung. Postconditioning was not able to minimize the remote reperfusion injury and there was no difference comparing two cycles of two minutes with four cycles of 30 seconds.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of ischemic postconditioning (IPC) on intestinal mucosa of rats subjected to ischemia and reperfusion process comparing two cycles of reperfusion and ischemia lasting two minutes each and four cycles of reperfusion and ischemia lasting 30 seconds each METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were distributed into three groups: group A (10 rats), ischemia (30 minutes) and reperfusion (60 minutes); group B (10 rats), ischemia and reperfusion plus IPC by two lasting two minutes each; and Group C (10 rats), ischemia and reperfusion plus IPC by four cycles lasting 30 seconds each. Finally, a segment of small intestine was resected for histological analysis. We analysed the results according to Chiu et al . classification and proceeded to the statistical treatment by Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The mean degree of tissue injury according to Chiu et al . classification were: Group A, 2.77; in group B, 1.4; and group C, 1.4. B X C (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic postconditioning was able to minimize reperfusion injury of rats undergone mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion process. There was no difference in the effectiveness of the method comparing two cycles of two minutes with four cycles of 30 seconds by H&E histological evaluation of the ileum after 60-minute reperfusion.

Objetivo: Analisar as funções executivas de idosos com doença de Parkinson (DP – com e sem quadro demencial) e doença de Alzheimer (DA), e confrontar os escores dos participantes no que se refere às atividades funcionais da vida diária e à habilidade motora em situações de dupla tarefa. Métodos: Sob um desenho transversal, 54 idosos foram divididos em quatro grupos: G1, composto por 11 sujeitos com DP; G2, formado por 10 sujeitos com demência de Parkinson; G3, composto por 13 participantes com DA; e G4, formado por 20 idosos saudáveis. Os procedimentos metodológicos envolveram análise das funções cognitivas pré-frontais dos sujeitos, da realização das atividades da vida diária e da habilidade motora em situações de dupla tarefa. A análise dos dados envolveu a estatística descritiva (média e erro-padrão) e inferencial (teste ANOVA e pós-teste de Scheffé), admitindo significância de 5% (p < 0,05) e intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: As funções cognitivas pré-frontais apresentaram diferença significativa entre os grupos, sobretudo nas comparações envolvendo G2 e G3, em relação a G1 e G4 (p = 0,001). Os grupos com déficit cognitivo apresentaram pior rendimento na realização das atividades da vida diária, com menor escore do G2, na qual há junção de déficit cognitivo e motor (p = 0,001). Em situações de dupla tarefa, G2 e G3 apresentaram maiores dificuldades que os demais grupos (p < 0,05). Conclusão: Distúrbios pré-frontais repercutem negativamente nas atividades funcionais e na habilidade psicomotora dos indivíduos. Quando não vinculado a quadro demencial, os pacientes com DP apresentaram escores cognitivos pré-frontais e independência funcional semelhantes aos de idosos saudáveis.

Objective: To analyze the executive functions of elderly people with Parkinson’s (PD – with and without dementia) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and to compare the independence of the subjects on the activities of daily living and their performance under dual-task conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional design study assessed 54 subjects divided into four groups: G1, formed by 11 subjects with PD; G2, formed by 10 subjects with Parkinson’s dementia; G3 consisting of 13 participants with AD; and G4, formed by 20 healthy control peers. The methodological procedures involved the analysis of prefrontal cognitive functions, the activities of daily living and the performance of the subjects under motor and cognitive dual-task conditions. Data analysis involved descriptive (mean and standard error) and inferential statistics (ANOVA with Scheffé post hoc test), assuming a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05) and a confidence interval of 95%. Results: The prefrontal cognitive functions showed significant differences between groups, especially in comparison involving G2 and G3 with G1 and G4 (p = 0.001). The groups with cognitive decline had presented poorest performance in carrying out the activities of daily living, with worst score of G2, where it has the association of motor and cognitive deficits (p = 0.001). In situations of dual-task, G2 and G3 showed inferior performance than the other groups. Conclusion: Prefrontal cognitive disorders negatively affect the functional activities and psychomotor skills of individuals. When not associated to dementia, PD patients have showed prefrontal scores and functional independence similar to healthy elderly.