Resumo Fundamento: A avaliação da razão de monócitos para lipoproteínas de alta densidade (MHR, sigla em inglês) é uma nova ferramenta para se prever o processo inflamatório, o qual desempenha um papel importante na aterosclerose. A ponte miocárdica (PM) é considerada uma condição benigna com desenvolvimento de arteriosclerose, particularmente no segmento proximal da ponte. Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre a MHR e a presença de PM. Métodos: Examinamos concecutivamente pacientes encaminhados para angiografia coronariana entre janeiro de 2013 e dezembro de 2016, e um total de 160 pacientes, uma parcela dos quais com PM, e outra com artérias coronárias normais, foram incluídos no estudo. As características angiográficas, demográficas e clínicas dos pacientes foram revisadas a partir de registros médicos. Monócitos e colesteróis HDL foram medidos através de hemograma completo. A MHR foi calculada como a razão entre a contagem absoluta de monócitos e o valor do colesterol HDL. Os valores de MHR foram divididos em três tercis, da seguinte forma: tercil inferior (8,25 ± 1,61); tercil moderado (13,11 ± 1,46); e tercil superior (21,21 ± 4,30). Considerou-se significativo um valor de p < 0,05. Resultados: A MHR foi significativamente maior no grupo com PM, em comparação com grupo controle com artérias coronárias normais. Verificamos que a prevalência de PM (p=0,002) aumentou à medida que se elevavam os tercis de MHR. A razão monócitos-colesterol HDL com ponto de corte de 13,35 apresentou sensibilidade de 59% e especificidade de 65,0% (área ROC sob a curva: 0,687, IC95%: 0,606-0,769, p < 0,001) na predição acurada do diagnóstico de PM. Na análise multivariada, a MHR (p = 0,013) mostrou-se um preditor independente significativo da presença de PM, após ajustes para outros fatores de risco. Conclusão: O presente estudo revelou uma correlação significativa entre MHR e PM.

Abstract Background: Assessing the monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) is a new tool for predicting inflamation, which plays a major role in atherosclerosis. Myocardial bridge (MB) is thought to be a benign condition with development of atherosclerosis, particularly at the proximal segment of the brigde. Objective: To evaluate the relationhip between MHR and the presence of MB. Methods: We consecutively scanned patients referred for coronary angiography between January 2013- December 2016, and a total of 160 patients who had a MB and normal coronary artery were enrolled in the study. The patients’ angiographic, demographic and clinic characteristics of the patients were reviewed from medical records. Monocytes and HDL-cholesterols were measured via complete blood count. MHR was calculated as the ratio of the absolute monocyte count to the HDL-cholesterol value. MHR values were divided into three tertiles as follows: lower (8.25 ± 1.61), moderate (13.11 ± 1.46), and higher (21.21 ± 4.30) tertile. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: MHR was significantly higher in the MB group compared to the control group with normal coronary arteries. We found the frequency of MB (p = 0.002) to increase as the MHR tertiles rose. The Monocyte-HDL ratio with a cut-point of 13.35 had 59% sensitivity and 65.0% specificity (ROC area under curve: 0.687, 95% CI: 0.606-0.769, p < 0.001) in accurately predicting a MB diagnosis. In the multivariate analysis, MHR (p = 0.013) was found to be a significant independent predictor of the presence of MB, after adjusting for other risk factors. Conclusion: The present study revealed a significant correlation between MHR and MB.

OBJECTIVES: We described the treatment of dehiscence of thoracotomy incisions in patients who underwent thoracic surgery in the present study. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with either partial or complete dehiscence of their thoracotomy incisions were included in the study from 2005 to 2010. The patients were evaluated regarding their age, sex, indication for thoracotomy, and surgical approaches. We also described our method of re-closure. RESULTS: The male/female ratio was 17/7. The youngest and oldest patients were 15 and 75 years old, respectively, and the mean age was 43 years. Among the indications for thoracotomy, empyema was the most common reason (determined in eight [33%] patients), followed by vertebral surgery (determined in six [25%] patients). Bacterial growth was detected in the wound site cultures from 13 (54%) patients. For the patients with dehiscence of their thoracotomy incisions, an en block approximation technique with debridement was performed under general or local anesthesia in 16 (66%) and eight (33%) of the cases, respectively. Three patients exhibited an open thorax with dehiscence of the thoracotomy incision. Thoracoplasty was required in two patients. Using this method, successful closure was obtained in 91.7% (n = 22) of the patients with dehiscence of their thoracotomy incisions. CONCLUSION: Dehiscence of the thoracotomy incision is an important complication that causes concern in patients and their thoracic surgeons and strongly affects the success of the surgery. An en block approximation technique with significant debridement that enables removal of the necrotic tissues from the wound site can successfully be applied to patients with dehiscence of their thoracotomy incisions.

INTRODUCTION: Rib fractures are the most common type of injury associated with trauma to the thorax. In this study, we investigated whether morbidity and mortality rates increased in correlation with the number of fractured ribs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 214 patients with rib fractures who applied or were referred to our clinic between January 2007 and December 2008 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were allocated into three groups according to the number of fractures: 1) patients with an isolated rib fracture (RF1) (n = 50, 23.4%), 2) patients with two rib fractures (RF2) (n = 53, 24.8%), and 3) patients with more than two rib fractures (RF3) (n = 111, 51.9%). The patients were evaluated and compared according to the number of rib fractures, mean age, associated chest injuries (hemothorax, pneumothorax, and/or pulmonary contusion), and co-existing injuries to other systems. FINDINGS: The mean age of the patients was 51.5 years. The distribution of associated chest injuries was 30% in group RF1, 24.6% in group RF2, and 75.6% in group RF3 (p<0.05). Co-existing injuries to other systems were 24% in group RF1, 23.2% in group RF2, and 52.6% in group RF3 (p<0.05). Two patients (4%) in group RF1, 2 patients (3.8%) in group RF2, and 5 patients (4.5%) in group RF3 (total n = 9; 4.2%) died. CONCLUSION: Patients with any number of rib fractures should be carefully screened for co-existing injuries in other body systems and hospitalized to receive proper treatment.