Allopurinol versus Trimetazidine for the Treatment of Angina: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Recently, it was demonstrated that allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, has cardiovascular and anti-ischaemic properties and may be a metabolic antianginal agent option.Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the antianginal effect of allopurinol as a third drug for patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial between 2018 and 2020 including patients with CAD who maintained angina despite initial optimization with beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers.

Pre-Existing Atrial Fibrillation in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: Insights from the CARDIO COVID 19-20 Registry.

Pre-existing (chronic) atrial fibrillation (AF) has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular complications and mortality in patients with COVID-19; however, evidence in Latin America (LATAM) is scarce. This prospective and multicenter study from the CARDIO COVID 19-20 database includes hospitalized adults with COVID-19 from 14 countries in LATAM. A parsimonious logistic regression model was used to identify the main factors associated with mortality in a simulated case-control setting comparing patients with a history of AF to those without.

Hemodiafiltration versus Hemodialysis in End-Stage Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Rationale & Objective: The use of hemodiafiltration (HDF) as a kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has sparked a debate regarding its advantages over conventional hemodialysis (HD). The present study aims to shed light on this controversy by comparing mortality rates and cause-specific deaths between ESKD patients receiving HDF and those undergoing HD.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

The efficacy of fluconazole for anti-fungal prophylaxis in peritoneal dialysis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction And Objectives: The efficacy of fluconazole as a prophylactic strategy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on peritoneal dialysis (PD) with prior antibiotic exposure is controversial in the current literature. This study aimed to compare a strategy of fluconazole prophylaxis versus no-prophylaxis for patients in PD on antibiotics for previous episodes of peritonitis.

Materials And Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing fluconazole prophylaxis with no prophylaxis for PD-related peritonitis.

In-Hospital influenza vaccination to prevent cardiorespiratory events in the first 45 days after acute coronary syndrome: A prespecified analysis of the VIP-ACS trial.

Background: Influenza vaccination prevents major cardiovascular events in individuals presenting a recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS), however the early effect of an in-hospital double-dose vaccination strategy remains uncertain.

Methods: The VIP-ACS was a randomized, pragmatic, multicenter, open-label trial with a blinded-adjudication endpoint. Patients with ACS ≤ 7 days of hospitalization were randomized to an in-hospital double-dose quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (double-dose) or a standard-dose influenza vaccine at 30 days post-randomization.

Safety, Effectiveness, and Hemodynamic Performance of the Bovine Pericardium Organic Valvular Bioprosthesis.

Objective: To assess actual data on the safety, effectiveness, and hemodynamic performance of Bovine Pericardium Organic Valvular Bioprosthesis (BVP).

Methods: The BIOPRO Trial is an observational, retrospective, non-comparative, non-randomized, and multicenter study. We collected data from 903 patients with symptomatic, moderate, or severe valve disease who underwent BVP implants in the timeframe from 2013 to 2020 at three Brazilian institutions.

Inflammation in Coronary Atherosclerosis: Insights into Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Potential of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.

Atherosclerosis is a lipid-driven immune-inflammatory disease that affects the arteries, leading to multifocal plaque development. The inflammatory process involves the activation of immune cells and various inflammatory pathways. Anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to be effective in reducing cardiovascular events in individuals with coronary disease.

Pleuroperitoneal communication in a patient on automated peritoneal dialysis: A rare but important complication.

Despite its rare frequency, a pleuroperitoneal communication is a well-documented complication for patients on peritoneal dialysis. It occurs in ~2% of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, with uncertain incidence for those on automated peritoneal dialysis. We report a case of a 30-year-old female patient with end-stage kidney disease with sudden dyspnea 2 days after starting automated peritoneal dialysis.

Association of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitors with Cardiovascular Events and Death in Dialysis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Anemia is a common finding among patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, especially those on dialysis. The recent introduction of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) has raised some concerns about the cardiovascular and thrombotic complications of this class of drugs.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the safety of HIF-PHIs in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) versus standard therapy with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).

IMPACTO-MR: a Brazilian nationwide platform study to assess infections and multidrug resistance in intensive care units.

Objective: To describe the IMPACTO-MR, a Brazilian nationwide intensive care unit platform study focused on the impact of health care-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Methods: We described the IMPACTO-MR platform, its development, criteria for intensive care unit selection, characterization of core data collection, objectives, and future research projects to be held within the platform.

Results: The core data were collected using the Epimed Monitor System® and consisted of demographic data, comorbidity data, functional status, clinical scores, admission diagnosis and secondary diagnoses, laboratory, clinical, and microbiological data, and organ support during intensive care unit stay, among others.

Older people's knowledge of the purpose of drugs prescribed at primary care appointments.

Objective: This study aimed to assess older people's knowledge of the purpose of drugs prescribed at medical appointments in primary care units and the possible factors related to their level of knowledge about their medications.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 22 basic health units in Brazil. Patients aged ≥60 years were included in this study (n=674).

Improving Access to the Glycated Hemoglobin Test in Rural Communities With Point-of-Care Devices: An Application Study.

Living in a rural or remote area is frequently associated with impaired access to health services, which directly affects the possibility of early diagnosis and appropriate monitoring of diseases, mainly non-communicable ones, because of their asymptomatic onset and evolution. Point-of-care devices have emerged as useful technologies for improving access to several laboratory tests closely patients' beds or homes, which makes it possible to eliminate the distance barrier. To evaluate the application of point-of-care technology for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) estimation in the assessment of glycemic control and identification of new diagnoses of diabetes in primary care among rural communities in a Brazilian municipality.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Evolocumab Therapy in Patients at High Risk of Cardiovascular Events in the Context of the Brazilian Unified Health System.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) secondary to systemic hypertension (HTN) may be associated with left atrial (LA) functional abnormalities.

Objectives: We aimed to characterize LA mechanics in HCM and HTN and determine any correlation with the extent of left ventricular (LV) fibrosis measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in HCM patients.

Methods: Two-dimensional speckle tracking-derived longitudinal LA function was acquired from apical views in 60 HCM patients, 60 HTN patients, and 34 age-matched controls.

Judgement of the multidisciplinary team is an important predictor of mortality after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in appropriately selected patients with heart failure improves symptoms and survival. It is necessary to correctly identify patients who will benefit most from this therapy. We aimed to assess the predictive power of the multidisciplinary team's clinical judgement in the short-term death after CRT implantation.

Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics after six months of sacubitril/valsartan in Chagas heart disease - A case series.

Chagas cardiomyopathy is the most prevalent non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy in Latin America, with high morbidity and mortality even today. Treatment of these patients is based on the use of medications for heart failure. This study evaluated a case series of patients with Chagas heart disease who used sacubitril/valsartan at a referral hospital for this disease in Brazil.

Physician-modified Stent Graft for Total Endovascular Aortic Arch Repair.

Endovascular techniques have proven useful in aortic arch management because they allow less invasive treatment and potentially faster recovery. We present the case of a 66-year-old woman with a 2-month history of precordial pain. Imaging studies revealed a saccular aortic arch aneurysm in the anterior portion of the arch.

Chagas disease is associated with a poor outcome at 1-year follow-up after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a therapeutic modality for patients with heart failure (HF). The effectiveness of this treatment for event reduction is based on clinical trials where the population of patients with Chagas' disease (DC) is underrepresented.

Objective: To evaluate the prognosis after CRT of a population in which CD is an endemic cause of HF.

Association between increased mortality rate and antibiotic dose adjustment in intensive care unit patients with renal impairment.

Purpose: Adjusting the antibiotic dose based on an estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) may result in subdosing, which may actually be significantly more problematic for intensive care unit (ICU) patients than not adjusting the dose. The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of antibiotic dose adjustment in ICU patients with renal impairment.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in adult patients admitted to an ICU of a Brazilian hospital from January 2014 to December 2015.

A comparison of the Beers and STOPP criteria for identifying the use of potentially inappropriate medications among elderly patients in primary care.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Explicit criteria for evaluating the appropriateness of medication use among the elderly have been extensively employed in several countries. The aim of the current study was to assess and characterize the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) according to the Screening Tool of Older People's Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria and compare these data with the 2012 Beers criteria.

Methods: A prospective survey of the medications used by elderly patients was performed.

Evaluation of the accuracy of anthropometric clinical indicators of visceral fat in adults and elderly.

Background: Visceral obesity is associated with higher occurrence of cardiovascular events. There are few studies about the accuracy of anthropometric clinical indicators, using Computed Tomography (CT) as the gold standard. We aimed to determine the accuracy of anthropometric clinical indicators for discrimination of visceral obesity.

Discriminatory power of indicators predictors of visceral adiposity evaluated by computed tomography in adults and elderly individuals.

Introduction: Identifying anthropometric methods of abdominal adiposity, predictors of excess area of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) allows rapid and low cost evaluation for the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the elderly.

Objective: To evaluate the discriminatory power of anthropometric indicators for detection of excess of the area of VAT.

Methods: Cross-sectional study comprising 194 adults and elderly individuals for comparison of both sexes and age groups.