Long-Term Impact of Left Bundle Branch Block on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Variables and Left Ventricular Systolic Function: A Two-Stage Observational Study.

Introduction: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) disrupts the electrical activation of the left ventricle, potentially impairing its systolic function, leading to LBBB-induced cardiomyopathy. This study examined cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) variables in patients with and without LBBB and assessed the longitudinal development of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Method: An observational, comparative clinical study was executed in two stages at a private hospital in Brazil.

Cardiovascular Prognosis of Subclinical Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worsens prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the cardiovascular prognosis in patients with stable or mildly symptomatic COPD remains unclear. Here, we sought to determine the long-term cardiovascular events in patients with subclinical or early-stage COPD with concomitant CAD.

Co-infection of Leishmania infantum and a Crithidia-related species in a case of refractory relapsed visceral leishmaniasis with non-ulcerated cutaneous manifestation in Brazil.

We report a refractory and relapsed visceral leishmaniasis case in a male child patient followed from 2016 to 2020, whose clinical isolates from multiple relapses were analyzed at the genome level. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report that both visceral leishmaniasis and non-ulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis have concomitantly manifested in the same patient. Importantly, sequence analysis revealed that the patient was co-infected with Leishmania infantum and a Crithidia-related parasite, which was previously found in a fatal case of visceral leishmaniasis from the same endemic region.

Association between asthma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis with leprosy: A case-control study.

Background Considering the cross-regulation of Th1 and Th2 responses, we hypothesised that atopic diseases (Th2) inhibit the protective Th1 immune response to Mycobacterium leprae and exacerbates leprosy. Objective In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between leprosy and atopic diseases. Methods To evaluate the association of atopic diseases with leprosy, we conducted a case-control study that included leprosy patients (n = 333) and their household contacts (n = 93).

Use of N-acetylcysteine as treatment adjuvant regulates immune response in visceral leishmaniasis: Pilot clinical trial and experiments.

This investigation aimed to assess the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as an adjuvant treatment to alleviate visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The present work includes both blinded randomized clinical intervention and experimental studies. The clinical trial included 60 patients with VL randomly allocated into two groups: a test group (n = 30) treated with meglumine antimoniate plus NAC (SbV + NAC) and a control group (n = 30) treated with meglumine antimoniate only (SbV).

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Brazil: Is the WHO End TB Strategy at Risk?

In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the "post-2015 End TB strategy", that aims to end the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2030. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted global public health and the strict measures to control the coronavirus spread can affect the management of other diseases, such as TB. Herein, we aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of TB in Brazil, during 2020.

Insight Into the Long Noncoding RNA and mRNA Coexpression Profile in the Human Blood Transcriptome Upon Infection.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne infectious disease that can be potentially fatal if left untreated. In Brazil, it is caused by parasites. Blood transcriptomics allows us to assess the molecular mechanisms involved in the immunopathological processes of several clinical conditions, namely, parasitic diseases.

Association between Hypertriglyceridemia and Disease Severity in Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a tropical disease endemic to Brazil. The clinical manifestations of the infection range from asymptomatic to severe. In VL, changes in lipid metabolism, such as hypocholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, occur that are believed to be related to its progression and severity.

Coronary lesions in patients with COPD (Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease stages I-III) and suspected or confirmed coronary arterial disease.

Background: Systemic inflammation is the pathophysiological link between coronary artery disease (CAD) and COPD. However, the influence of subclinical COPD on patients with suspected or diagnosed CAD is largely unknown. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the degree of coronary involvement in patients with COPD and suspected or confirmed CAD.

Evaluation of medical interns' attitudes towards relevant aspects of medical practice.

Introduction:: In traditional medical school curriculum, sixth-year is the moment in which students experience medical practice more intensively. Attitudes can be considered predictors of behaviors and actions. Evaluating them contributes to improve medical training.

Level of Physical Activity and In-Hospital Course of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the modern world. A sedentary lifestyle, present in 85% of the Brazilian population, is considered a risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease. However, the correlation of a sedentary lifestyle with cardiovascular events (CVE) during hospitalization for ACS is not well established.

Preterm newborns at Kangaroo Mother Care: a cohort follow-up from birth to six months.

Objective: To evaluate clinical outcomes, growth and exclusive breastfeeding rates in premature infants assisted by Kangaroo Mother Care at birth, at discharge and at six months of life.

Methods: Prospective study of a premature infants cohort assisted by Kangaroo Mother Care in a tertiary public maternity in Northeast Brazil with birth weight ≤1750g and with clinical conditions for Kangaroo care.

Results: The sample was composed by 137 premature infants, being 62.