Risk stratifier for sudden cardiac death beyond the left ventricular ejection fraction in Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk markers are needed in Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC). Action potential duration restitution (APDR) dynamics is capable of extracting information on cardiac regional heterogeneity. This study intends to develop a patient-specific variables-based algorithm to predict SCD in the low-intermediate subgroups of the Rassi risk score.

In-hospital Outcomes of Infective Endocarditis from 1978 to 2015: Analysis Through Machine-Learning Techniques.

Background: Early identification of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) at higher risk for in-hospital mortality is essential to guide management and improve prognosis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of a cohort of patients followed up from 1978 to 2015, classified according to the modified Duke criteria. Clinical parameters, echocardiographic data, and blood cultures were assessed.

Synergistic Effect of Disease Severity, Anxiety Symptoms and Elderly Age on the Quality of Life of Outpatients with Heart Failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a multifactorial syndrome with repercussions on quality of life (QoL).

Objectives: To investigate the main interacting factors responsible to worsen quality of life of outpatients with HF.

Methods: Cross-sectional observational study with 99 patients of both genders, attending a HF outpatient clinic at a university hospital, all with a reduced ejection fraction (<40%) by echocardiography.

Survival Probability in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia Using the Competitive Risk Statistical Model.

The clinical picture of patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is associated with several complications some of which could be fatal. The objective of this study is to analyze the causes of death and the effect of sex and age on survival of Brazilian patients with SCA. Data of patients with SCA who were seen and followed at HEMORIO for 15 years were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

Exercise through a cardiac rehabilitation program attenuates oxidative stress in patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis. Cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary artery disease submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting may prevent cardiovascular events probably through the attenuation of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of a cardiac rehabilitation program in the control of the systemic oxidative stress.

A screening system for smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis using artificial neural networks.

Objectives: Molecular tests show low sensitivity for smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). A screening and risk assessment system for smear-negative PTB using artificial neural networks (ANNs) based on patient signs and symptoms is proposed.

Methods: The prognostic and risk assessment models exploit a multilayer perceptron (MLP) and inspired adaptive resonance theory (iART) network.

Impact of the Use of Benznidazole Followed by Antioxidant Supplementation in the Prevalence of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Chronic Chagas Disease: Pilot Study.

Patients with chronic Chagas disease have a higher prevalence of premature ventricular contraction (PVC) because of immunoinflammatory response magnified by the increased oxidative stress. Thus, the sequential treatment with benznidazole (BZN) and antioxidants can reduce the prevalence of PVC. We wish to establish whether the etiological treatment of Chagas disease followed by supplementation with the antioxidant vitamins E and C decreases the prevalence of PVC in these patients.

Is poststroke depression a major depression?

Background: Poststroke depression (PSD) is the most common neuropsychiatric consequence of stroke. A large number of studies have focused on the pathogenesis of PSD, but only a few aimed to characterize its psychopathology; these studies yielded results that are difficult to compare because of the different methods utilized. The current study aimed to characterize the symptom profile of PSD in an attempt to better understand the disease and allow a more accurate diagnosis.

The measurement of social disablement and assessment of psychometric properties of the Social Behaviour Schedule (SBS-BR) in 881 Brazilian long-stay psychiatric patients.

Background: Data on the prevalence of social disablement in long-stay psychiatric patients, and the assessment of the psychometric properties of the instruments that evaluate social behaviour in this population are scarce in Brazil. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence rates of social disablement in a population of long-stay psychiatric patients from the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, and assessed the psychometric properties of the Social Behaviour Schedule (SBS).

Method: Data were collected from a population of 881 psychiatric patients housed in the Municipal Mental Health Institute using the 21-item SBS.