The effects of inflammation on connexin 43 in chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy.

Background: Cardiac arrhythmias are the main cause of sudden death due to Chronic Chagasic Cardiomyopathy (CCC). Here we investigated alterations in connexin 43 (Cx43) expression and phosphorylation in cardiomyocytes as well as associations with cardiac arrhythmias in CCC.

Methods: C57Bl/6 mice infected with underwent cardiac evaluations at 6 and 12 months after infection via treadmill testing and EKG.

In-Hospital Management and Long-term Clinical Outcomes and Adherence in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: Primary Results of the First Brazilian Registry of Heart Failure (BREATHE).

Background: Heart failure (HF), a common cause of hospitalization, is associated with poor short-term clinical outcomes. Little is known about the long-term prognoses of patients with HF in Latin America.

Methods: BREATHE was the first nationwide prospective observational study in Brazil that included patients hospitalized due to acute heart failure (HF).

Circulating miRNAs as Potential Biomarkers Associated with Cardiac Remodeling and Fibrosis in Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy.

Chagas disease (CD) affects approximately 6-7 million people worldwide, from which 30% develop chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC), usually after being asymptomatic for years. Currently available diagnostic methods are capable of adequately identifying infected patients, but do not provide information regarding the individual risk of developing the most severe form of the disease. The identification of biomarkers that predict the progression from asymptomatic or indeterminate form to CCC, may guide early implementation of pharmacological therapy.

Chagas Cardiomyopathy in Latin America Review.

Purpose Of Review: Chagas cardiomyopathy is a major public health disease in Latin America and, due to migration, is becoming a worldwide health and economic burden. This review sought to present the clinical and epidemiological aspects of Chagas cardiomyopathy, as well as some specific features and principles of treatment. We also retrospectively assessed our institutional experience with mechanical circulatory support in refractory heart failure due to Chagas cardiomyopathy over a 10-year period.

Impact of Heart Transplantation on the Recovery of Peripheral and Respiratory Muscle Mass and Strength in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: To assess the impact of heart transplantation (HT) on the recovery of peripheral and respiratory muscle mass and strength in patients with congestive heart failure.

Methods: The study included 23 patients with an indication for HT (patients in the waiting list [WL] group). These patients were monitored for 1.

Association of Cardiac Galectin-3 Expression, Myocarditis, and Fibrosis in Chronic Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy.

Chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, is a major cause of heart failure in Latin America. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) has been linked to cardiac remodeling and poor prognosis in heart failure of different etiologies. Herein, we investigated the involvement of Gal-3 in the disease pathogenesis and its role as a target for disease intervention.

Hypertension and arterial stiffness in heart transplantation patients.

Objectives: Post-transplantation hypertension is prevalent and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and subsequent graft dysfunction. The present study aimed to identify the factors associated with arterial stiffness as measured by the ambulatory arterial stiffness index.

Methods: The current study used a prospective, observational, analytical design to evaluate a group of adult heart transplantation patients.

I Brazilian Registry of Heart Failure - Clinical Aspects, Care Quality and Hospitalization Outcomes.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of hospitalization in adults in Brazil. However, most of the available data is limited to unicenter registries. The BREATHE registry is the first to include a large sample of hospitalized patients with decompensated HF from different regions in Brazil.

Clinical and functional capacity of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy after four years of transplantation.

Objective: To evaluate patient with cardiomyopathy's progress after cardiac transplant, by analyzing his survival, complications and cardiovascular responses after nearly four years of surgery.

Methods: The survey was conducted from February to May 2011, with patients undergoing cardiac transplantation at Dr. Carlos Alberto Studart Gomes Hospital - Messejana Hospital (HDM).

Summary of the II Brazilian Guideline update on Acute Heart Failure 2009/2011.

In the past two years we observed several changes in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of patients with acute heart failure (acute HF), which led us to the need of performing a summary update of the II Brazilian Guidelines on Acute Heart Failure 2009. In the diagnostic evaluation, the diagnostic flowchart was simplified and the role of clinical assessment and echocardiography was enhanced. In the clinical-hemodynamic evaluation on admission, the hemodynamic echocardiography gained prominence as an aid to define this condition in patients with acute HF in the emergency room.