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El aneurisma de la aorta abdominal es una entidad frecuente, muchas veces silenciosa y que puede presentarse como una emergencia que amenaza la vida del paciente. Se describen las técnicas ecográficas para la evaluación de la aorta abdominal y se brindan consejos y trucos para la detección y cuantificación del aneurisma de la aorta abdominal.

Objectives Guinea pigs have been indicated as a potential source of zoophilic dermatophytes that cause human dermatomycosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dermatophytes as well as saprophytic fungi in asymptomatic pet guinea pigs in Southern Italy. Methods Two-hundred pet guinea pigs were enrolled from both private veterinary clinics and pet shops in the Campania region, Italy, from August 2012 to September 2013. Samples were collected using the MacKenzie’s toothbrush technique. The plates were incubated for four weeks at 25°C and identification of the fungal colonies was based on both macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Results Two pathogenic dermatophytes were isolated in 9 (4·5%) of 200 guinea pigs; Epidermophyton species in 2 (1%) and Scopulariopsis species in 7 (3·5%). Saprophytic dermatophytes were isolated from 151 (75·5%) animals enrolled. No fungal growth was observed in 40 (20%) guinea pigs. Clinical Significance The results of this study indicate a low prevalence of pathogenic dermatophytes in pet guinea pigs in Southern Italy but the presence of Epidermophyton and Scopulariopsis species in asymptomatic pet guinea pigs.

BACKGROUND: Recently, high-frequency transducers have been introduced in echocardiography laboratories to non-invasively evaluate peripheral arteries. Our aim was to assess the usefulness of these non-invasive vascular ultrasonic techniques in differentiating between ischemic and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Forty patients with dilated cardiomyopathy of uncertain origin who underwent echocardiographic examination were studied. In all patients, carotid, femoral, and brachial arteries were scanned using high-frequency transducers in order to detect atherosclerotic plaques and to measure intima-media wall thickness. Also, flow-mediated vasodilation was measured at the brachial artery. RESULTS: Of the 40 patients studied, 24 (60%) had significant coronary lesions. In patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, carotid plaques were found more frequently (79% vs. 25%, p=0.001), and intima-media wall thickness was higher in carotid (1.14+/-0.23 vs. 0.84+/-0.20 mm,0.001), femoral (1.21+/-0.15 vs. 0.90+/-0.17 mm, p0.001), and brachial (0.85+/-0.11 vs. 0.68+/-0.12, p0.001) arteries. Carotid intima-media thickness of 1 mm or more was 83% sensitive and 69% specific for the diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy. The highest diagnostic accuracy for any isolated vascular finding was obtained for femoral intima-media thickness greater than 1.1 mm (83% sensitivity, 88% specificity) and for brachial intima-media thickness greater than 0.7 mm (88% sensitivity and 81% specificity). The highest sensitivity (92%) was obtained for the presence of 1 or more vascular findings, and the highest specificity (94%) for 3 or more vascular findings. CONCLUSION: Non-invasive assessment of peripheral arteries is of help in differentiating between ischemic and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. These ultrasonic techniques should be considered as complementary examinations in the evaluation of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy in echocardiography laboratories.