Effect of Adjuvant Chemotherapy on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Women with Newly Diagnosed Primary Breast Cancer: A Pilot Prospective Longitudinal Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the left ventricular (LV) remodeling response to chemotherapy in low-cardiac-risk women with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic breast cancer. Cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy are an increasing concern. To effectively interpret cardiac imaging studies performed for screening purposes in patients undergoing cancer therapy it is necessary to understand the normal changes in structure and function that may occur.

Role of Imaging in Cardio-Oncology.

Recent advances in cancer treatment and research have greatly improved survival rates for patients with cancer. However, many of these cancer survivors are developing cardiac disease-most commonly heart failure as a result of this treatment. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including anthracyclines and trastuzumab, have been linked to cardiotoxicity-induced cardiomyopathy in cancer patients.

Increased ultrasensitive C-reactive protein is not associated with obesity in hospitalized heart failure patients.

Objective:: To evaluate the association between obesity and levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with heart failure admitted to a tertiary hospital.

Methods:: Cross-sectional study with a consecutive sampling of hospitalized patients with heart failure. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and the nutritional status was assessed through indicators such as body mass index (in kg/m2), waist circumference (in cm), waist-hip ratio, triceps skinfold (in mm) and subscapularis skinfold (in mm).

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients - The CORDIAL study.

Background: There are scarce epidemiological data on cardiovascular risk profile of chronic hemodialysis patients in Brazil.

Objective: The CORDIAL study was designed to evaluate cardiovascular risk factors and follow up a hemodialysis population in a Brazilian metropolitan city.

Methods: All patients undergoing regular hemodialysis for chronic renal failure in all fifteen nephrology centers of Porto Alegre were considered for inclusion in the baseline phase of the CORDIAL study.

[Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in chronic renal failure patients under haemodialysis in Porto Alegre, Brazil].

Introduction: The most common cause of chronic renal failure (CRF) among patients who are starting on dialysis in developed countries is diabetes mellitus (DM), with growing rates approaching 50%. In Brazil, the available data indicate a lower prevalence, around 27%, even though it is also increasing.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of DM in the adult population of patients on hemodialysis for CRF in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Acute ingestion of alcohol and cardiac autonomic modulation in healthy volunteers.

Arrhythmogenic effects of alcohol may be intermediated by its effects over heart rate variability (HRV). Most studies about the effects of alcohol over HRV were observational and did not explore the temporal influence of alcohol ingestion over autonomic modulation. The aim of this study was to verify if an acute ingestion of alcohol has a time-dependent influence over time-domain indices of HRV.

Comparison of the accuracy of multidetector computed tomography versus two-dimensional echocardiography to measure left atrial volume.

Left atrial (LA) volume is an important prognostic factor in cardiovascular disease. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is an emerging cardiac imaging modality; however, its accuracy in measuring the LA volume has not been well studied. The aim of our study was to determine the accuracy of MDCT in quantifying the LA volume.

Pericardial fat volume correlates with inflammatory markers: the Framingham Heart Study.

The objective of this study was to determine whether systemic inflammatory and oxidative stress marker concentrations correlate with pericardial and intrathoracic fat volumes. Participants of the Framingham Offspring Study (n = 1,175, 53% women, mean age 59 +/- 9 years) had pericardial and intrathoracic fat volumes assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans, and provided fasting blood and urine samples to measure concentrations of 14 inflammatory markers: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), CD40 ligand, fibrinogen, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) activity and mass, myeloperoxidase, osteoprotegerin, P-selectin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, tumor necrosis factor receptor-2, and urinary isoprostanes. Multivariable linear regression models were used to determine the association of log-transformed inflammatory marker concentrations with fat volumes, using fat volume as the dependent variable.

Cross-sectional associations between abdominal and thoracic adipose tissue compartments and adiponectin and resistin in the Framingham Heart Study.

Objective: To test the association of regional fat depots with circulating adiponectin and resistin concentrations and to assess the potential mediating effect of adipokines on associations between abdominal fat depots and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Research Design And Methods: Participants from the Framingham Heart Study offspring cohort (n = 916, 55% women; mean age 59 years) free of cardiovascular disease underwent computed tomography measurement of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), pericardial fat, and intrathoracic fat volumes and assays of circulating adiponectin and resistin.

Results: VAT, SAT, pericardial fat, and intrathoracic fat were negatively correlated with adiponectin (r = -0.

Association of pericardial fat, intrathoracic fat, and visceral abdominal fat with cardiovascular disease burden: the Framingham Heart Study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess whether pericardial fat, intrathoracic fat, and visceral abdominal adipose tissue (VAT) are associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods And Results: Participants from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort underwent abdominal and chest multidetector computed tomography to quantify volumes of pericardial fat, intrathoracic fat, and VAT. Relations between each fat depot and CVD were assessed using logistic regression.

Cardiac magnetic resonance with T2-weighted imaging improves detection of patients with acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging permits early triage of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain but has been limited by the inability to differentiate new from old myocardial infarction. Our objective was to evaluate a CMR protocol that includes T2-weighted imaging and assessment of left ventricular wall thickness in detecting patients with acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department.

Methods And Results: In this prospective cohort observational study, we enrolled patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain, negative cardiac biomarkers, and no ECG changes indicative of acute ischemia.

Pericardial fat, visceral abdominal fat, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and vascular calcification in a community-based sample: the Framingham Heart Study.

Background: Pericardial fat may be an important mediator of metabolic risk. Correlations with cardiovascular disease risk factors and vascular calcification in a community-based sample are lacking. We sought to examine associations between pericardial fat, metabolic risk factors, and vascular calcification.

Alcohol consumption, cardiovascular health, and endothelial function markers.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the worldwide leading causes of shorter life expectancy and loss of quality of life. Thus, any influence of diet or life habits on the cardiovascular system may have important implications for public health. Most world populations consume alcoholic beverages.

Early and late effects of alcohol ingestion on blood pressure and endothelial function.

Previous investigations have shown a biphasic effect of alcohol on blood pressure (BP). However, there are no studies on possible simultaneous influences in endothelial function. This study aims to evaluate the early and late effects of alcohol ingestion on vascular and endothelial function parameters in healthy young men.

Variability among cardiologists in the management of patients under secondary prevention of ischemic heart disease.

Objective: To compare the management of patients with ischemic heart disease being followed up in a general cardiology outpatient clinic with that of patients being followed up in an outpatient clinic specific for ischemic heart disease, emphasizing the lipid profile and the pharmacological treatment prescribed.

Methods: Data were collected from the medical records of 52 patients consecutively treated in the outpatient clinic for ischemic heart disease (group I) and of 43 patients treated in the general cardiology outpatient clinic (group II), the anatomical diagnosis of ischemic heart disease being the basic condition for their inclusion in the study. The criteria for dyslipidemia were as follows: total cholesterol > or = 200 mg/dL or LDL-cholesterol > 100 mg/dL, or both, in patients using or not lipid-lowering drugs, and the use of lipid-lowering drugs, even when the total cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol levels were < 200 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL, respectively, or both.

Association between obesity and a prothrombotic state: the Framingham Offspring Study.

Although obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, the mechanism has not been fully explained. Since thrombosis is a critical component of cardiovascular disease, we examined the relationship between obesity and hemostatic factors. We studied 3230 subjects (55% females, mean age 54 years) without a history of cardiovascular disease in cycle 5 of the Framingham Offspring Study.

Red wine with the noon meal lowers post-meal blood pressure: a randomized trial in centrally obese, hypertensive patients.

Objective: Despite being recognized as a cause of hypertension at higher doses, consumption of lesser amounts of alcohol appears to protect against cardiovascular disease and acutely reduces blood pressure. We tested the hypothesis that two glasses of red wine, taken together with the noon meal, would cause postprandial reduction in blood pressure in hypertensive individuals.

Method: Thirteen (8 female) middle-aged, centrally obese, hypertensive and otherwise healthy participants received, in an open randomized crossover experiment, red wine (250 ml to approximately 23 g of ethanol) and a placebo equivalent, together with a standardized lunch.

Intrinsic sinus and atrioventricular node electrophysiologic adaptations in endurance athletes.

Objectives: In the present study, we evaluated sinus and atrioventricular (AV) node electrophysiology of endurance athletes and untrained individuals before and after autonomic pharmacologic blockade.

Background: Endurance athletes present a higher prevalence of sinus bradycardia and AV conduction abnormalities, as compared with untrained individuals. Previous data from our laboratory suggest that nonautonomic factors may be responsible for the longer AV node refractory period found in well-trained athletes.