Treatment of fungal infection on left ventricle assist device driveline exit site: a case report and systematic review.

Objective: The use of ventricular assist devices (VAD) is increasing; however, diagnosis and management of device complications, such as the driveline exit site (DES) being the portal of entry for fungal infection, is not well known.

Method: A systematic review involving searching PubMed (2005 to July 2020) was conducted. The case of a 43-year-old female patient who had a left VAD (LVAD) (HeartMate 3, Abbott, US) is also reported.

Renin-angiotensin System Antagonists and Beta-blockers in Prevention of Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: The evidence supporting the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors and beta-blockers for the prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy is controversial.

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of these drugs in preventing cardiotoxicity.

Methods: The meta-analysis included prospective, randomized studies in adults receiving anthracycline chemotherapy and compared the use of RAAS inhibitors or beta-blockers versus placebo with a follow-up of 6 to 18 months.

Effects of β-blocker therapy on exercise oscillatory ventilation in reduced ejection fraction heart failure patients: A case series study.

Background: Exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) is an abnormal breathing pattern that occurs in ~20% of patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with poor prognosis and exercise intolerance. β-blockers (βb) are prescribed for most HF patients; however, their effect on EOV remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of βb on EOV in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Plasma biomarkers reflecting high oxidative stress in the prediction of myocardial injury due to anthracycline chemotherapy and the effect of carvedilol: insights from the CECCY Trial.

Background: Anthracycline (ANT) is often used for breast cancer treatment but its clinical use is limited by cardiotoxicity (CTX). CECCY trial demonstrated that the β-blocker carvedilol (CVD) could attenuate myocardial injury secondary to ANT. Mieloperoxydase (MPO) is a biomarker of oxidative stress and galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a biomarker of fibrosis and cardiac remodeling.

The course of patients with Chagas heart disease during episodes of decompensated heart failure.

Aims: This study aimed to analyse the clinical presentation and prognosis of patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy and decompensated heart failure (HF), as compared with other aetiologies.

Methods And Results: A prospective cohort of patients admitted with decompensated HF. We included 767 patients (63.

Exhaled breath acetone for predicting cardiac and overall mortality in chronic heart failure patients.

Aims: Exhaled breath acetone (EBA) has been described as a new biomarker of heart failure (HF) diagnosis. EBA concentration increases according to severity of HF and is associated with poor prognosis, especially in acute decompensated HF. However, there are no data on chronic HF patients.

Thromboembolic findings in patients with heart failure at autopsy.

Background: The risk of thromboembolic events is increased in patients with heart failure (HF); however, few studies have reported thromboembolic findings in HF patients who have undergone autopsy.

Methods And Results: We reviewed 1457 autopsies (January 2000/July 2006) and selected 595 patients with HF. We studied the occurrence of thromboembolic events in patients' autopsy reports.

Effect of a Perioperative Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump in High-Risk Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of perioperative intra-aortic balloon pump use in high-risk cardiac surgery patients.

Design: A single-center randomized controlled trial and a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Setting: Heart Institute of São Paulo University.

Cost-Effectiveness Benefits of a Disease Management Program:The REMADHE Trial Results.

Background: Published studies have generated mixed, controversial results regarding the cost-effectiveness of heart failure disease management programs (HF-DMPs). This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of an HF-DMP in ambulatory patients compared with usual care (UC).

Methods: In the prospective randomized REMADHE trial, we evaluated incremental costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and life-year (LY) gained as effectiveness ratios (ICERs) over a study period of 2.

Carvedilol for Prevention of Chemotherapy-Related Cardiotoxicity: The CECCY Trial.

Background: Anthracycline (ANT) chemotherapy is associated with cardiotoxicity. Prevention with β-blockers remains controversial.

Objectives: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study sought to evaluate the role of carvedilol in preventing ANT cardiotoxicity.

Clinical findings and prognosis of patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure: Analysis of the influence of Chagas etiology and ventricular function.

Aims: Explore the association between clinical findings and prognosis in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and analyze the influence of etiology on clinical presentation and prognosis.

Methods And Results: Prospective cohort of 500 patients admitted with ADHF from Aug/2013-Feb/2016; patients were predominantly male (61.8%), median age was 58 (IQ25-75% 47-66 years); etiology was dilated cardiomyopathy in 141 (28.

Zika Virus Meningoencephalitis in an Immunocompromised Patient.

The World Health Organization considers the Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in the Americas a global public health emergency. The neurologic complications due to ZIKV infection comprise microcephaly, meningoencephalitis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. We describe a fatal case of an adult patient receiving an immunosuppressive regimen following heart transplant.

Diagnostic discrepancies in clinical practice: An autopsy study in patients with heart failure.

Autopsies are the gold standard for diagnostic accuracy; however, no recent study has analyzed autopsies in heart failure (HF).We reviewed 1241 autopsies (January 2000-May 2005) and selected 232 patients with HF. Clinical and autopsy diagnoses were analyzed and discrepancies categorized according to their importance regarding therapy and prognosis.

Circulating miR-1 as a potential biomarker of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients.

Cardiotoxicity is associated with the chronic use of doxorubicin leading to cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Identification of cardiotoxicity-specific miRNA biomarkers could provide clinicians with a valuable prognostic tool. The aim of the study was to evaluate circulating levels of miRNAs in breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin treatment and to correlate with cardiac function.

Impact of Exhaled Breath Acetone in the Prognosis of Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF). One Year of Clinical Follow-up.

Background: The identification of new biomarkers of heart failure (HF) could help in its treatment. Previously, our group studied 89 patients with HF and showed that exhaled breath acetone (EBA) is a new noninvasive biomarker of HF diagnosis. However, there is no data about the relevance of EBA as a biomarker of prognosis.

Reverse auction: a potential strategy for reduction of pharmacological therapy cost.

Background: Polypharmacy is a significant economic burden.

Objective: We tested whether using reverse auction (RA) as compared with commercial pharmacy (CP) to purchase medicine results in lower pharmaceutical costs for heart failure (HF) and heart transplantation (HT) outpatients.

Methods: We compared the costs via RA versus CP in 808 HF and 147 HT patients followed from 2009 through 2011, and evaluated the influence of clinical and demographic variables on cost.