Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Chagas Disease: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal manifestations among individuals with positive serology for Chagas disease (ChD) and to describe the clinical gastrointestinal manifestations of the disease. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted based on the criteria and recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The PubMed, Scopus, Virtual Health Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases were used to search for evidence.

Systemic cytokines, chemokines and growth factors reveal specific and shared immunological characteristics in infectious cardiomyopathies.

Heart disease is a major cause of death worldwide. Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) caused by infection with Trypanosoma cruzi leading to high mortality in adults, and rheumatic heart disease (RHD), resulting from infection by Streptococcus pyogenes affecting mainly children and young adults, are amongst the deadliest heart diseases in low-middle income countries. Despite distinct etiology, the pathology associated with both diseases is a consequence of inflammation.

Sex-influence on the time in therapeutic range (TTR) during oral anticoagulation with coumarin derivatives: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: We sought to investigate the association between sex and oral anticoagulation control employing coumarin derivatives.

Methods: Electronic sources were MEDLINE, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Cochrane Central and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria were: observational and experimental studies; age ≥18 years; both sexes; treatment with any coumarin derivative for ≥3 months; any indication of long-term use; quality of oral anticoagulation measured by time in therapeutic range (TTR).

Incidence and predictors of stroke in patients with rheumatic heart disease.

Objective: Ischaemic stroke is a severe complication of rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which may result in permanent disability and death. This study aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of stroke in patients with RHD in the current era of evidence-based recommendations for prevention.

Methods: Consecutive patients with RHD diagnosed by clinical and echocardiographic criteria were selected.

Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure Response to Exercise in Patients with Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis: Determinants and Prognostic Value.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension in response to exercise is a marker of the hemodynamic severity of mitral stenosis (MS). However, the factors related to elevated pulmonary pressure with exercise are not well defined. The aim of this study was to assess the parameters associated with the pulmonary pressure response to exercise in patients with pure rheumatic MS.

Left atrial cross-sectional area is a novel measure of atrial shape associated with cardioembolic strokes.

Objective: Cardioembolic (CE) stroke carries significant morbidity and mortality. Left atrial (LA) size has been associated with CE risk. We hypothesised that differential LA remodelling impacts on pathophysiological mechanism of major CE strokes.

Electrocardiographic Findings in Brazilian Adults without Heart Disease: ELSA-Brasil.

Background: The electrocardiogram (ECG) is widely used in population-based studies. However, there are few studies on electrocardiographic findings in Latin America and in Brazil. The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) comprised 15,105 participants (35-74 years) from six Brazilian capitals.

Net atrioventricular compliance is an independent predictor of cardiovascular death in mitral stenosis.

Objectives: Rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) is a progressive disease, and risk of death may persist despite relief of the obstruction. Net atrioventricular compliance (C) modulates the overall haemodynamic burden of the MS and may be useful in predicting cardiovascular death after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV).

Methods: A total of 427 patients (mean age 50±16 years, 84% female) with severe MS undergoing PMV were enrolled.