The accuracy of respiratory muscle strength in identifying systolic dysfunction in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Purpose: To verify the accuracy of respiratory muscle strength in identifying systolic dysfunction in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC), and to validate optimal cutoff points based on respiratory muscle strength.

Methods: First, 72 patients with ChC were enrolled and underwent echocardiography and assessment of respiratory muscle strength by manovacuometry. Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength was defined by maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), respectively.

Impact of cardiac structure and function on exercise intolerance in Chagas cardiomyopathy: Insights from CPET and echocardiography.

Introduction: Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC), the most severe clinical condition of Chagas disease, often leads to a reduction in functional capacity and the appearance of symptoms such as fatigue and dyspnea on exertion. However, its determinant factors remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the peak oxygen consumption (VO) in patients with CCC and identify its determining factors.

The usefulness of patient-reported outcome measures in decision making in Chagas cardiomyopathy: a scoping review.

Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC) presents many biopsychosocial complexities, highlighting the need to have patient self-report questions. This study demonstrates the scope of the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with ChC and highlights the main research gaps. This is a scoping review and the search strategy was performed in the Online Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLINE), Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), Accumulated Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Central, Latin American Literature and Caribbean in Health Sciences (LILACS) and Diagnostic Test Accuracy (DITA).

Functional Status in Peripheral Arterial Disease: Rehabilitated Versus Nonrehabilitated.

Background: To analyze patient perception of functional status related to activity and participation of rehabilitated and nonrehabilitated individuals with peripheral arterial disease.

Methods: Cross-sectional study assessing the activity and participation domain using the Human Activity Profile (HAP) questionnaire and the Participation Scale, respectively. Groups were compared using Chi-squared test and unpaired t-test.

Physical and autonomic functionality in women with breast cancer pre and post chemotherapy: a case control study.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most incident types of cancer among women in the world. Although chemotherapy is an effective way to treat several types of cancer, it may also cause serious complications, including cardiotoxicity. This study aimed to identify the impact of chemotherapy on functional capacity, muscle strength and autonomic function.

Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy using Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire: A validation study.

Objective: Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC) is the most severe clinical form of Chagas disease and, in association with psychosocial factors, can compromise the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of affected patients. To date, there is no specific instrument to assess the HRQoL of these patients, and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLwHFQ), specific for heart failure, is being used both in research and current clinical practice. Therefore, we aimed to verify the validity of the MLwHFQ in the assessment of HRQoL of patients with ChC.

Pentoxifylline reduces inflammation and prevents myocardial perfusion derangements in experimental chronic Chagas' cardiomyopathy.

Background: Myocardial perfusion defect (MPD) is common in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) and is associated with inflammation and development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that pentoxifylline (PTX) could reduce inflammation and prevent the development of MPD in a model of CCC in hamsters.

Methods And Results: We investigated with echocardiogram and rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy at baseline (6-months after T.

Impairments in ankle range of motion, dorsi and plantar flexors muscle strength and gait speed in patients with chronic venous disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To verify the differences in ankle range of motion (ROM), muscle strength of dorsi and plantar flexors, and gait speed among healthy subjects, and patients with chronic venous disorders (CVD) with and without venous leg ulcer.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis (http://osf.io/b7n3k) were conducted following a search of MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, LILACS, Scopus, and EMBASE databases.

The prognostic value of the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test in Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Purpose: To verify the value of the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT) distance to identify patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC) at risk of adverse cardiovascular events.

Methods: Fifty-two patients with ChC (51 ± 6 years) were evaluated by ISWT, echocardiography, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing, and Human Activity Profile (HAP) Questionnaire. Patients were prospectively followed for 44 ± 10 months.

Exercise Limitation in Children and Adolescents With Severe Refractory Asthma: A Lack of Asthma Control?

Background: Patients with severe refractory asthma (SRA), even when using high doses of multiple controller medications in a regular and appropriate way, can have persistent complaints of exercise limitation.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving patients with SRA (treated with ≥ 800 μg of budesonide or equivalent, with ≥ 80% adherence, appropriate inhaler technique, and comorbidities treated), who presented no signs of a lack of asthma control other than exercise limitation. We also evaluated healthy controls, matched to the patients for sex, age, and body mass index.

The Value of a Standardized Knee Functional Assessment in Predicting the Outcomes of Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Questionnaires and physical tests are tools to determine the ability of an individual to perform tasks of the daily living. In our institution, a standardized knee performance evaluation including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and physical performance tests has been applied to all patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our goal was to identify which preoperative tools influence the outcomes of a TKA and if physical performance tests can be of value if used along with PROMs in predicting functional outcomes.

The relationship between performance on the modified star excursion balance test and the knee muscle strength before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamic balance of the injured and uninjured limb before and after the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and compare with the control group.

Study Design: Prospective longitudinal.

Setting: Biomechanics laboratory.

The Use of a Wheelchair Propulsion Field Test to Determine Peak Heart Rate in Children and Adolescents With Myelomeningocele.

Purpose: We analyzed the evolution and pattern of heart rate (HR) during the 12-minute wheelchair propulsion field test (WPFT) and compared the peak HR (HR) from the WPFT to the HR obtained in the progressive cardiopulmonary exercise test on arm cranking ergometer (ACT). We aimed to determine if the field test detects the HR consistently and could be used in clinical practice.

Methods: Eleven wheelchair-using children and adolescents with myelomeningocele (aged 8-15 y) performed a maximal ACT and a 12-minute WPFT.

Prolonged dipyridamole administration reduces myocardial perfusion defects in experimental chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Background: Myocardial perfusion defects (MPD) due to coronary microvascular dysfunction is frequent in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) and may be involved with development of myocardial damage. We investigated whether MPD precedes left ventricular systolic dysfunction and tested the hypothesis that prolonged use of dipyridamole (DIPY) could reduce MPD in an experimental model of CCC in hamsters.

Methods And Results: We investigated female hamsters 6-months after T.

Histopathological Correlates of Global and Segmental Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Experimental Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy in humans is characterized by segmental left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (WMA), mainly in the early stages of disease. This study aimed at investigating the detection of WMA and its correlation with the underlying histopathological changes in a chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy model in hamsters.

Methods And Results: Female Syrian hamsters (n=34) infected with 3.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Heart Rate Variability and Baroreflex Sensitivity in Rats with Chronic Heart Failure.

Heart failure induced by myocardial infarct (MI) attenuates the heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity, which are important risk factors for life-threatening cardiovascular events. Therapies with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown promising results after MI. However, the effects of MSCs on hemodynamic (heart rate and arterial pressure) variability and baroreflex sensitivity in chronic heart failure (CHF) following MI have not been evaluated thus far.

Pilot study testing the effect of physical training over the myocardial perfusion and quality of life in patients with primary microvascular angina.

Background: Primary microvascular angina (PMA) is a common clinical condition associated to negative impact on quality of life (QOL) and reduced physical capacity. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of aerobic physical training (APT) on myocardial perfusion, physical capacity, and QOL in patients with PMA.

Methods: We investigated 12 patients (53.