Son contenu purulent renferme des bacilles tuberculeux viables À

Son contenu purulent renferme des bacilles tuberculeux viables. À notre connaissance, seulement 100 cas d’abcès cérébraux, vérifiés tuberculeux en milieu de culture, ont été rapportés dans la littérature entre 1978 et 2010 [5], [6] and [7]. Il est admis que l’ACT résulte d’une dissémination hématogène à partir d’un foyer tuberculeux actif périphérique

le plus souvent pulmonaire [3], [6], [7] and [8]. De ces différents faits, l’observation que nous rapportons nous paraît intéressante pour trois raisons : • contrairement aux cas rapportés dans la littérature, dans notre observation, le bacille tuberculeux a été identifié dans le contenu purulent à l’examen bactériologique direct ; Par ailleurs, le résultat de notre imagerie radiologique (scanner et IRM encéphalique réalisés FK228 sans et avec Carfilzomib price injection de produit de contraste) ainsi que l’origine respiratoire de cet ACT qui nous paraît évidente dans ce cas précis, sont en corrélation avec les données de la littérature [3]. L’atteinte du système nerveux central est une des formes les plus sévères de la tuberculose [1]. La méconnaissance de l’origine tuberculeuse d’un abcès cérébral peut être à l’origine d’une dissémination incontrôlable de bacilles tuberculeux et une cause de décès [7]. Le pronostic de l’ACT dépend de la précocité de son

diagnostic [3]. Le traitement de l’ACT rejoint celui des abcès cérébraux en général. Il est d’abord chirurgical. L’option d’une trépano-ponction-drainage (ponctuelle ou répétée) ou d’une évacuation à ciel ouvert dépend de la topographie de l’ACT, de son volume et de l’effet compressif exercé sur le parenchyme cérébral. Une fois la cause tuberculeuse confirmée le traitement antituberculeux doit être rapidement instauré. Dans certaines

situations, à défaut d’un diagnostic bactériologique le traitement antituberculeux peut être engagé sur de forts arguments de présomption de tuberculose. L’utilisation Vildagliptin de la corticothérapie adjuvante dans le traitement de l’œdème cérébral accompagnant l’ACT en particulier est à ce jour controversée. Ainsi, il apparaît que dans le cas d’un traitement tuberculeux de première ligne celle-ci freinerait la pénétration des antibiotiques dans l’abcès. La durée totale du traitement varie selon l’état immunitaire du patient, sa tolérance aux médicaments et la gravité des lésions initiales. Ce traitement peut aller de six à 18 mois [1]. Cela implique une surveillance régulière à la fois clinique et radiologique du patient d’autant plus que des cas de résistance au traitement antituberculeux ont été rapportés dans la littérature [9]. Les auteurs déclarent ne pas avoir de conflits d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.

Furthermore,

in addition to these popular names, a variet

Furthermore,

in addition to these popular names, a variety of other names were given to most of the CCN family members, which led to significant scientific confusion [1], [3], [4] and [5]. Therefore, a unified nomenclature was proposed FG-4592 molecular weight in 2003 with the consent of major researchers on the CCN family [6]. Therefore CCN2, rather than CTGF, is the name officially recommended by the International CCN Society. Structurally speaking, all CCN members are characterized by a commonly conserved modular structure. With the only exception being CCN5 with 3 modules, CCN family members are composed of 4 distinct modules placed in tandem [1], [3], [4], [7], [8], [9] and [10]. Following the signal

peptide for secretion, insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP), von Willebrand factor type C repeat (VWC), thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP1) and carboxy-terminal cystine knot (CT) modules are connected in this order. All of these modules are characterized by conserved cysteine residues and are highly interactive. This novel structure comprising “sticky” modules provides the molecular background for the multifunctionality of the CCN family proteins. While each module itself interacts with multiple factors, the modules do not appear to collaborate to construct a specific selleck chemicals llc functional domain with a higher-ordered structure [11]. Thus, these proteins should be categorized

to a novel group of proteins defined under a paradigm distinct from that for regular signaling molecules. In this context, CCN family proteins these may be metaphorically referred to as “4-handed conductors.” Orchestral conductors do not actually play musical instruments to make sounds. Instead, they manipulate or direct all of the players around them to manufacture an integrated world of music with a variety of sound sections. Fortunately, the CCN family proteins possess 4, or at least 3, hands to lead their colleagues in the microenvironment to organize the tissue. Among the 6 members, CCN2 has been standing out from the others in terms of its biological significance. According to the reports accumulated until today, critical involvement of CCN2 in skull and tooth development, as well as bone regeneration is indicated [1] and [5], whereas no comparable information is available regarding the other members. Moreover, CCN2 is the only member that mediates fibrotic remodeling of periodontal tissues. Here, the molecular behavior and function of CCN2 in orofacial tissues are comprehensively described and discussed, based on such a scientific background. However, it should be also noted that contribution of the other members therein still remains to be explored at present. CCN2 was originally purified and identified as a platelet growth factor-associated protein [1].

In addition, analysis of MVC according to the expression of MMP-9

In addition, analysis of MVC according to the expression of MMP-9 in endothelial cells revealed no significant difference between OKCs, DCs, and RCs. In fact, the role of MMP-9 in the development of the lesions studied might be associated with the regulation of other factors unrelated to angiogenesis, such as factors involved in cell proliferation and

migration, apoptosis, and immune and inflammatory responses.44 In conclusion, the present results suggest that the more aggressive biologic behavior of Wnt cancer OKCs compared with RCs and DCs is related to the higher expression of MMP-9 and NF-κB in these lesions. In addition, differences in the biologic behavior of the lesions studied http://www.selleckchem.com/products/Adriamycin.html do not seem to be associated with the angiogenic index. “
“Actinic cheilitis (AC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that occurs mainly in the lower lip of middle-aged men. It is usually caused by chronic and excessive exposure of the lips to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation.1 and 2 The lesion is potentially malignant and may transform into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).3 Mast cells (MCs) are multifunctional cells that play

an important role in inflammation and have been associated with both resistance and greater susceptibility to tumor development.4 and 5 These cells are present in a large number of tissues, including skin.6 and 7 MC prevalence in from human skin is modified by intrinsic (e.g., regulatory mechanisms of c-Kit

expression) and extrinsic factors (e.g., chronic sun exposure).8 and 9 Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc- and calcium-dependent proteolytic enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents and nonproteins.10 More than 20 different members are currently known and was classified according to the domain organization: collagenases (MMP-1, -8, -13, and -18), gelatinases (MMP-2 and -9), stromelysins (MMP-3 and -10), matrilysins (MMP-7, -26, and -11), membrane-type MMPs (MMP-14, -15, -16, -17, -24, and -25), and other MMPs (MMP-12, -19, -20, -21, -23, -27, and -28). Among MMPs, gelatinase B (MMP-9) plays an important role in angiogenesis as well as in tumor invasion and metastasis, especially for its ability to cleave type IV collagen in the basement membrane.10, 11 and 12 This gelatinase also cleaves other collagens, such as types I, V, VII, and X, and substrates, such as gelatin, fibronectin, tenascin-C, fibrillin, osteonectin, decorin, α2-M, laminin-5, prointerleukin (IL) 1β, pro–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, pro–transforming growth factor (TGF) β, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1, α1-proteinase inhibitor and pro–MMP-1, -2, and -13.13 MMPs, including MMP-9, are generally synthesized and secreted as latent soluble enzymes that require activation in the extracellular space.

5 ml vial Aliquots of 10–20 μl were injected Separations were p

5 ml vial. Aliquots of 10–20 μl were injected. Separations were performed at 25 °C with a flow-rate of 1 ml min−1.

The UV–vis spectrophotometric detector, set at 325 nm, was used for γ-oryzanol. Fluorimetric detection, with the excitation and emission wavelengths set at 290 and 330 nm, respectively, was used for tocopherols. The mobile phases were 50:40:10 (A) and 30:65:5 (B) acetonitrile–methanol–isopropanol mixtures (v/v/v). For the separation of both γ-oryzanol and tocopherols, isocratic elution with phase A for 5 min, followed by a 10 min linear gradient from phase click here A to 100% phase B, with a final 5 min isocratic elution with phase B, was used (adapted from Chen & Bergman, 2005). Class-VP software (Shimadzu) was used to acquire and process the data. To construct the calibration curves, standard solutions of γ-oryzanol, and α-, γ- and δ-tocopherols, were used. trans-isomer solubility dmso Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and comparison of averages by Tukey’s test were carried out using the programme Statistica v. 6.0 (Statsoft Tulsa, OK, USA). A 5% significance was used in all cases. All means and standard deviations of data in Table 1 and Table

2 were obtained with n = 9. Typical chromatograms obtained for γ-oryzanol and tocopherols in two different residues of the RBO refining process are shown in Fig. 3. The chromatograms of γ-oryzanol showed nine peaks (Fig. 3A); however, due to difficulty in accurately measuring peaks 5A and 5B in some samples, the sum of the areas of these two peaks was measured. The nine peaks of γ-oryzanol, obtained using similar chromatographic conditions Forskolin purchase and mass spectrometry detection, were identified by Xu and Godber (1999). These nine peaks were also identified by Pestana et al. (2008), using the same chromatographic conditions as those adopted in this work and mass spectrometry detection. Therefore, according to these literature sources, the γ-oryzanol peaks were identified as indicated in the caption of Fig. 3. The tocopherols were detected within the 5.6–7.1 min range (Fig. 3B), in the expected retention time order: δ < γ < α. According to literature

(Pestana et al., 2008, and other authors), β-tocopherol, present in minor concentrations in RBO, was measured jointly with γ-tocopherol, since this pair of isomers is not usually resolved using RP-HPLC. The contents of phytochemicals in all the residues of RBO refining and soap hydrolysate, fatty acid recovery from soap, calculated from the peak areas, are shown in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively. In the same Tables, the distribution of each phytochemical among the residues (recovery values), using its total amount in a batch of crude RBO as reference (100% of initial compound present in 100 arbitrary mass units of crude RBO), is also indicated. In this way, the fate of the phytochemical during the process was established.

The SIEFED method was developed for the specific detection of act

The SIEFED method was developed for the specific detection of active equine neutrophil MPO (Franck et al., 2006). This

method involves three steps. The first one is the capture of MPO from a solution or a biological sample by specific immobilised antibodies (immunoextraction step). The second one consists of washings to eliminate all the sample compounds (proteins, potential modulating or interfering substances, etc.) that do not bind to the antibodies. The third one involves the in situ detection of MPO activity (revelation step) using a fluorogenic substrate (Amplex red 40 μM), H2O2 (10 μM), and NaNO2 (10 mM) as the enhancer of the reaction. MPO activity transforms Amplex red into resorufin, a fluorescent compound (λexcitation = 544 nm; Trichostatin A supplier λemission = 590 nm). The fluorescence emission was monitored for 30 min at 37 °C using a fluorescent plate reader (Fluoroskan Ascent, Fisher Scientific). The MPO solution (50 ng mL−1) used for SIEFED was prepared with purified equine MPO diluted in PBS at pH 7.4 with 5 g L−1 BSA and 0.1% Tween 20 (dilution buffer). The extracts and isoorientin

in DMSO solution at final concentrations of 1.0, 0.1, 0.01 mg mL−1 and 4, 0.4, 0.04 μg mL−1, respectively, were incubated for 10 min with equine MPO before the immunoextraction step. After incubation, the mixture was loaded on the SIEFED microplate and incubated (2 h, GW786034 37 °C), to allow the antibodies to capture the MPO, and after washing, the enzymatic activity of MPO was

measured. Any excess of extracts and standard was thus washed out before the MPO activity was measured. A control assay was performed with MPO incubated CYTH4 with the dilution buffer containing 1% DMSO and was taken as 100% of MPO activity. The percentage of inhibition was calculated in relation to the DMSO control. The flavonoid fractions were obtained by solid-phase extraction, following a validated external standard method for quantification of flavonoid isoorientin in P. edulis ( Zeraik & Yariwake, 2010), by using a stock solution of isoorientin (0.4 mg mL−1 in methanol) to obtain an analytical curve with four points ranging from 0.004 to 0.1 mg mL−1. The extracts were filtered through a 0.45-μm Millex-HV PVDF membrane (Millipore), before the injection of 10.0 μL into the HPLC–UV/DAD system. The amount of isoorientin was determined by analysing three chromatograms for each extract, obtained at λ = 330 nm. The HPLC analyses were carried out on an Agilent Model HP G1311A (Palo Alto, CA) liquid chromatograph connected to a diode array detector (DAD) model HP 1040M-series 2. The separation was performed using a Symmetry® C18 column (250 mm long × 4.6 mm i.d.

These factors affect both the number and

the size of the

These factors affect both the number and

the size of the spherulites without changing the balance between free fibrils and spherulites. Two distinct pH regions were identified with large changes in spherulite radius occurring between pH 1.75 and 2. Importantly, protein concentration was shown to affect the balance between free fibrils and spherulites, with the volume fraction of free fibrils increasing with concentration above 5 mg ml−1. At low pH, elevated temperature (60–90 °C), Adriamycin 25 mM NaCl and for protein concentrations below ∼5 mg ml−1, amyloid spherulites were observed to be the dominant pathway for bovine insulin. Funding from the EPSRC (EP/H004939/1) is gratefully acknowledged. “
“The authors regret that in the above mentioned

article the authors’ names appeared incorrectly. They now appear correctly above. The authors would like to apologise selleck chemical for any inconvenience this may have caused to the readers of the journal. “
“Sodium nitrite (nitrite) has for decades been widely used for preservation of meat products and is an efficient inhibitor of the growth of Clostridium botulinum and thereby decreases the risk of this organism producing toxins and heat-resistant spores. Nitrite also provides the processed meat with its characteristic red colour, flavours and aromas, known from products such as bacon, and it inhibits lipid oxidation processes ( Skibsted, 2011). However, N-nitrosamines (NA) may be formed during production and storage

of nitrite preserved meat products. The group of NA include both the so called volatile NA (VNA) and the non-volatile NA (NVNA). The levels of these compounds in nitrite preserved meat products varies greatly, from below detectability (<1 μg kg−1) to levels in the order of thousands μg kg−1, depending on the type of NA. In particular the NVNA are found in high amounts ( Hill et al., 1988). The NA is a large group of compounds of which the majority is carcinogenic ( IARC, 1978). The VNA are generally Cetuximab purchase potent carcinogens (e.g. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR)) whereas the NVNA are weak carcinogens (N-nitrososarcosine (NSAR)), or assumed to be non-carcinogenic (e.g. N-nitrosoproline (NPRO), N-nitrosohydroxyproline (NHPRO), N-nitroso-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (NTCA) and N-nitroso-2-methyl-thiazolidine 4-carboxylic acid (NMTCA)). However, the assumption that NVNA as NPRO, NHPRO, NTCA and NMTCA are non-carcinogenic, needs to be verified by actual toxicological in vivo studies. Theoretically there is a risk of these compounds being decarboxylated into their carcinogenic counterparts (NPYR, NHPYR, NThZ and NMThZ) either during heat treatment or by microbial activity in the large intestine.

The following is the Supplementary data to this article Suppleme

The following is the Supplementary data to this article. Supplementary Data “
“Epidemiological research plays a critical role in assessing the effects of various chemical, physical, biological, radiological, and behavior-related exposures on human PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway health. However, even well-designed and rigorously implemented epidemiological studies that are specifically designed to test causal hypotheses in humans often report conflicting results. Regulatory bodies and consensus panels charged with recommending health policy typically rely on weight-of-evidence (WOE) approaches for evaluating epidemiological

research findings. A WOE assessment may be incomplete or misleading if it does not evaluate study quality to ensure that the conclusions are based on the strongest evidence available. In addition, study quality assessments during peer reviews of grant proposals and manuscripts

serve to enhance the overall quality of human exposure and health research. While determination of study quality will always to some extent involve professional judgment, there appears to be an emerging consensus that any evaluation of the strength SCH727965 solubility dmso of epidemiological evidence should rely on agreed-upon criteria that are applied systematically (Vandenbroucke et al., 2007). These considerations motivated the development and refinement selleck chemical of several study quality assessment tools. Some of these tools (e.g., STROBE (Vandenbroucke et al., 2007); CONSORT (Moher et al., 2001)) address general issues that apply across disciplines. Other tools were developed specifically for various areas of medicine or life sciences (e.g., STREGA for genetic studies (Little et al., 2009), GRADE for comparative treatment effectiveness research (Owens et al., 2010), and STARD for studies of diagnostic accuracy (Bossuyt et al., 2004)). In view of the current tendency toward standardization

of WOE assessment that incorporates study quality, the relative paucity of instruments for evaluating environmental epidemiology studies – either during development of study design or in review of manuscripts – is notable and difficult to explain. An evaluative scheme focusing on assessing study quality for weight of evidence assessments (Harmonization of Neurodevelopmental Environmental Epidemiology Studies) (Youngstrom et al., 2011) used the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) as the basis for a coding tool (Whiting et al., 2003), but as the name implies, this instrument centered on neurodevelopmental studies. The National Toxicology Program recently developed an approach for assessing study quality (NTP, 2013) and used this to examine the literature on environmental chemicals and diabetes (Kuo et al.

Over 30 ginsenosides have been isolated from the roots, leaves, s

Over 30 ginsenosides have been isolated from the roots, leaves, stems, flower buds, and berries [41]. However, ginsenoside content varies depending on the plant part and age [41] and [42]. Ginseng is a deciduous PD0332991 order herbaceous plant that perennially loses its leaves in late fall, with the remaining roots persisting through winter. The leaf samples used in this study were

of the same seasonal age. Therefore, it is of interest that the leaf samples reflected the chronological age of the roots. The results suggest that ginseng root accumulates or produces different components as chronological age increases. In this study, FT-IR combined with multivariate analysis was capable of discerning metabolic differences among different cultivation ages and cultivars of ginseng. PCA was able to distinguish between ginseng samples in a cultivation age-dependent manner (Fig. 3). Similar to PCA, PLS-DA was also able to discriminate among ginseng samples in a cultivation age-dependent manner, except for the 2-yr-old open-pollinated variety (Fig. 4). These results imply that FT-IR combined with multivariate analysis from ginseng leaves could be applied for the metabolic discrimination of cultivation age. Our results also show that a longer cultivation period was associated with a greater metabolic variation in ginseng leaves. Furthermore,

there were more significant variations in the overall metabolic pattern between 1-yr-old and 2-yr-old leaves than between 2-yr-old and 3-yr-old leaves. Only a group consisting of the 2-yr-old open-pollinated variety from the 12 total groups was not precisely discriminated in this study. buy EPZ-6438 It is possible that sampling errors or contamination during leaf sample preparation could account for this failure. However, we could not reexamine the 2-yr-old open-pollinated variety due to the long periods required to obtain

leaf samples. We also cannot exclude the possibility that this exclusion reflects inherent characteristics of the open-pollinated variety. Recently, Lin et al [29] reported that Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) fingerprint analysis is able to evaluate cultivation ages of dried ginseng roots. Considering click here these results, we suggest that FT-IR spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis can be applied for the discrimination of cultivation ages and cultivars of ginseng leaves. The highest FT-IR spectral variations from ginseng leaves were observed in the polysaccharide region (1,050–1,150 cm−1), amide region (1,550–1,650 cm−1), and in a broad range (1,200–1,500 cm−1) corresponding to phospholipid/DNA/RNA [39] of the FT-IR spectra (Fig. 2). Identifying the most significant FT-IR spectral variables (i.e., those exhibiting the greatest variance on PC 1 and PC 2 scores) for the discrimination of cultivation ages and cultivars of ginseng is possible using PCA loading values.

After determination of dry mass (DM) of each stem, allometric rel

After determination of dry mass (DM) of each stem, allometric relationships were established between stem or shoot diameter and aboveground dry mass, fitted as DM = a⋅Db for both genotypes, with a and b as regression

coefficients ( Broeckx et al., 2012). Root samples were analyzed for their C and N mass fractions by dry combustion using a NC-2100 element analyzer (Carlo Erba Instruments, Italy). Root click here mass was converted to C mass using the average root C mass fraction, and expressed in g C m−2. For 2011 and 2012, Fr production (P) and mortality (M) were calculated using the “decision matrix” approach ( Fairley and Alexander, 1985). The values of P and M were calculated separately for each Fr diameter class (i.e. 0–1 mm and 1–2 mm) and then added on each sampling date. All differences in biomass and necromass were taken into account during the calculation, assuming that the living and dead pools were continuously changing. This approach was better than using the significant differences between root mass of consecutive sampling dates, especially in the case of high-frequency sampling ( Brunner et al., 2013), such as in our sampling campaign. For the calculation of the annual P,

the productivity values from all sampling periods were summed from the beginning till the end Everolimus manufacturer of the year. More details on the calculation of root productivity and on the comparison of different methods to assess P can be found in Berhongaray et al. (2013a). Allometric equations were used to scale-up belowground woody biomass components

based on measurements of basal area (BA). The BA of each tree was calculated as BA = Σ(π∗(Di/2)2), the sum of the calculated area of all the shoots (Di = diameter of each individual shoot) for each selected tree. All stem or shoot diameters, and all BAs refer to measurements taken at a height of 22 cm above the soil. Stu, Cr and Mr biomasses were plotted against BA and allometric linear equations were fitted. The most reliable equations with higher determination coefficients (R2) were selected. Average belowground woody root biomass (Cr and Mr) and stump biomass pool were estimated from the allometric equations and the full stem diameter inventory of each sampling year, made up in winter 2011–2012 and in winter 2013–2014. The root:shoot ratio is commonly Phosphoglycerate kinase defined as the root biomass divided by the shoot biomass. The distinction between ‘root’ and ‘shoot’ is generally made at the ground surface level: the term ‘root’ refers to all biomass below the ground surface and ‘shoot’ represents all biomass above the ground surface. In the present study, the root:shoot ratio was calculated using woody biomass only (Cr, Mr, Stu, stem and branches), and excluding Fr and leaves. As the studied trees were planted in a SRWC plantation, we considered the harvesting height as the upper limit for the belowground biomass, instead of the ground surface.

Bone marrow cells from 5 male C57BL/6 mice were flushed from the

Bone marrow cells from 5 male C57BL/6 mice were flushed from the femurs and tibias with Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM). After a homogeneous cell suspension was achieved, cells were centrifuged (400 × g for 10 min), resuspended in DMEM and added to Ficoll-Hypaque. The isolated cells were counted in a Neubauer chamber see more with Trypan Blue for evaluation of viability. Saline or BMDMC were slowly injected into the jugular vein. A

small aliquot of mononuclear cells was used for immunophenotypic characterization of the injected cell population. Cell characterization was performed by flow cytometry using antibodies CD45 (leukocyte), CD34 (hematopoietic precursors), CD3, CD8, and CD4 (T lymphocyte), CD14 (monocytes and macrophages), CD11b, CD29 and CD45- (non-hematopoietic precursors), all from BD Biosciences, USA ( Abreu et al., 2011a). Twenty-four female and five male C57BL/6 mice

(20–25 g) were used in this study. The animals were kept under specific pathogen-free conditions in the animal care facility of Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Bcl-2 inhibitor Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Females were randomly assigned into control (C) and elastase-induced emphysema (E) groups. In C group, sterile saline solution (0.9% NaCl) was intratracheally (i.t.) instilled (50 μl), while in E group, mice received porcine pancreatic elastase i.t. (0.1 UI, 50 μl of saline solution, PPE – Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO, USA). Saline and PPE were administered once a week during 4 weeks.

For intratracheal instillation, mice were anesthetized with sevoflurane. A midline cervical incision (1 cm) was made to expose the trachea, and saline or PPE were instilled using a bent 27-gauge tuberculin needle. The cervical incision was closed with 5.0 silk suture and the mice returned to their cage. Three hours after the first instillation of saline or PPE, animals were further randomized into subgroups receiving saline Idelalisib cell line solution (0.9% NaCl, 50 μl, SAL) or BMDMC (2 × 106 cells diluted in 50 μl saline solution, CELL) through the left jugular vein (Fig. 1). For acquisition of the images, VEVO 770 form Visual Sonics (Canada) coupled to a 30 MHz transducer was used. Images were obtained from the subcostal and parasternal views. M-mode images showed right ventricular muscle thickness. Short and long-axis B-dimensional views of both ventricles were acquired at the level of the papillary muscles to obtain left and right ventricular areas, as well as left ventricular cardiac output and ejection fraction by Simpson’s method (Lang et al., 2006). All parameters followed the recommendations of the American and European Societies of echocardiography.