Approach to cardiology residents clinical aptitude evaluation. Multicenter design.

Introduction: To the best of our knowledge, the research herein presented is the first multicenter study in Mexico to analyze the development of clinical aptitude in medical units that train cardiologists.

Objective: To determine the degree of development of clinical aptitude in cardiology residents at three High Specialty Medical Units.

Methods: Multicenter, cross-sectional design.

COVID-19 and the renin, angiotensin, aldosterone system. A complex relationship.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had major negative health, psychological, social and economic repercussions for individuals, families, communities, countries and for humanity in general. The interrelation with age and the presence of chronic non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking) seems to go further than what would be explained by the prevalence and distribution of both. The drugs that act on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system are in many cases the backbone for the management of these diseases, it has been known for a long time that these drugs significantly increase the expression of receptors for angiotensin conversion enzyme type 2 in the lung tissue.

Central blood pressure and vascular stiffness in Mexican population.

Introduction: Central blood pressure (CBP) is considered a measure of prognostic value for cardiovascular risk. In turn, the aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVAo) and augmentation index (Aix) have been related to arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk. Controversies exist regarding the reference values in different ethnic groups, ages, and anthropometrics.

Echocardiographic correlates of severe pulmonary hypertension in adult patients with ostium secundum atrial septal defect.

Objective: To identify echocardiographic factors that correlate with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in adults with ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD).

Methods: Between November 2009 and November 2013, 92 adults with ASD were studied. All had clinical history and transthoracic echocardiogram.

Heart rate and use of β-blockers in Mexican stable outpatients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: To evaluate the use of β-blockers and to monitor heart rate in Mexican patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: CLARIFY is an outpatients registry with stable CAD. A total of 33,283 patients from 45 countries were enrolled between November 2009 and July 2010 from which 1342 were Mexican patients.

[Aortic valve calcification evaluated by echocardiography associated with baseline conduction abnormalities as a predictor for pacemaker placement after aortic valve replacement].

Introduction: Aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis may be complicated by complete atrioventricular block (CAVB), requiring a permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. Predicting this complication could help to plan the surgical.

Objective: Determine whether electrocardiography and echocardiography are useful methods for predicting the need for PPM.

[Low paraoxonase and arylesterase plasma activities in Mexican patients with coronary artery disease].

Purpose: To determine the Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity as well as its pheno- and genotypes at position 192 in Mexican subjects with diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: We determined the PON1-192 polymorphism by PCR-RFLP, and serum PON1 activity, using either paraoxon (PONase activity) or phenylacetate (ARE activity) as substrates, in 155 clinically healthy individuals (control group), and 155 patients with at least one myocardial infarction (CHD group). The biochemical A/B phenotype was determined by the ratio of the NaCI 1 M-stimulated PONase activity divided by the ARE activity.

Non-invasive assessment of endothelial function. Intra and inter-observer variability.

Background And Objectives: Non-invasive evaluation of endothelial function with high resolution ultrasound has become a widely accepted tool in determination of high risk subjects for early atherosclerosis. Despite its simple appearance, ultrasonographic assessment of brachial artery changes, is technically challenging and has a significant learning curve. In the present study, we evaluate the intra and inter-observer variability in assessing peripheral endothelial function with high resolution ultrasound at a tertiary referral center.

[Endothelial function].

The endothelium is the first line of tissue whose function is affected by the cardiovascular risk factors. The normal function of this vascular covering maintains the homeostasis of the vascular bed and its alterations favors the appearance of the initial lesions of various diseases including the atherosclerotic process. The endothelial function can be measured by means of non invasive methods and these measures can identify the people at higher risk to develop atherosclerosis and its complications and also the methodology has proven to be useful in the evaluation of the outcomes related to the therapeutic measures.