Impairment of Multiple Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism Pathways in the Heart of Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy Patients.

Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCC) is an inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy occurring in 30% of the 6 million infected with the protozoan in Latin America. Survival is significantly lower in CCC than ischemic (IC) and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Previous studies disclosed a selective decrease in mitochondrial ATP synthase alpha expression and creatine kinase activity in CCC myocardium as compared to IDC and IC, as well as decreased myocardial ATP production.

Disturbances of the transfer of cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in patients with peripheral artery disease with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol is frequent in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and also in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the major risk factor for PAD. The transfer of cholesterol from the other lipoproteins to HDL is an important aspect of HDL metabolism and function, and may contribute to atherogenic mechanisms that lead to PAD development.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the status of cholesterol transfers in patients with PAD without or with T2DM.

Use of paclitaxel carried in lipid nanoparticles to treat aortic allograft transplantation in rats.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test whether lipid core nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel (LDE-PTX) protect rat aortic allograft from immunological damage.

Methods: Fisher and Lewis rats were used differing in minor histocompatibility loci. Sixteen Lewis rats were allocated to four-animal groups: SYNG (syngeneic), Lewis rats receiving aorta grafts from Lewis rats; ALLO (allogeneic), Lewis rats receiving aortas from Fisher rats; ALLO+LDE (allogeneic transplant treated with LDE), Lewis rats receiving aortas from Fisher rats, treated with LDE (weekly injection for 3 weeks); ALLO+LDE-PTX (allogeneic transplant treated with LDE-PTX), Lewis rats receiving aortas from Fisher rats treated with LDE-PTX (4 mg/kg weekly for 3 weeks).

Does Prior Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Influence the Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery?

Introduction: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been increasingly performed to treat coronary artery disease. The performance of multiple PCI has also been increasing. Consequently, the percentage of patients presenting for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is reported to vary from 13 to 40%.

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Background: There are clinically important morphological differences in the Adamkiewicz artery (AKA) between populations that do and do not have aortic disease and they have an influence on the neuroischemic complications involving the spinal cord during surgical operations. It is not yet known whether clinical parameters correlate with the predictability of identification of the artery using angiotomography.

Objective: To develop a mathematical model that by correlating clinical parameters with atherosclerosis enables prediction of the probability of identification of the AKA in patients examined with angiotomography.

Predictors of Adamkiewicz artery and anterior spinal artery detection through computerized tomographic angiography.

Background: The detection of the Adamkiewicz artery and the anterior spinal artery has been associated with the ability to prevent adverse spinal cord outcomes after aortic surgical procedures. Yet, to our knowledge, no previous studies have attempted to use modern predictive models to identify the most important variables in determining artery detectability.

Aims: To develop a model to predict the odds of visualizing the Adamkiewicz artery or anterior spinal artery in patients undergoing computerized tomographic angiography.

Influential Factors on the Evaluation of Adamkiewicz Artery Using a 320-Detector Row Computed Tomography Device.

Background: Understanding the difference of Adamkiewicz artery (AKA) presentation in healthy and diseased subjects, and the influence of atherosclerotic factors prevalent in aortic disease patients, are important for aortic disease therapeutic planning. This study used a 320-detector row computed tomography (CT) device to examine the impact of clinical aspects of AKA identification in individuals with and without aortic disease.

Methods: Angio-CTs obtained from 115 patients were assessed and the individuals grouped according to the presence or absence of aortic disease.

Influence of Drugs Carried in Lipid Nanoparticles in Coronary Disease of Rabbit Transplanted Heart.

Background: Coronary allograft vasculopathy is an inflammatory-proliferative process that compromises the long-term success of heart transplantation and currently has no effective prevention and treatment. Lipid nanoparticles, termed LDE can carry chemotherapeutic agents in the circulation and concentrates them in the heart.

Methods: Twenty-eight rabbits fed a cholesterol-rich diet and submitted to heterotopic heart transplantation were treated with cyclosporine A (10 mg/kg daily) and allocated to four groups of 7 animals treated with intravenous LDE-methotrexate (MTX; 4 mg/kg weekly), with LDE-paclitaxel (PACLI; 4 mg/kg weekly), or with LDE-PACLI (4 mg/kg weekly) and LDE-MTX (4 mg/kg weekly).

Myocardial gene expression of T-bet, GATA-3, Ror-γt, FoxP3, and hallmark cytokines in chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy: an essentially unopposed TH1-type response.

Background: Chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCC), a late consequence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, is an inflammatory cardiomyopathy with prognosis worse than those of noninflammatory etiology (NIC). Although the T cell-rich myocarditis is known to play a pathogenetic role, the relative contribution of each of the functional T cell subsets has never been thoroughly investigated. We therefore assessed gene expression of cytokines and transcription factors involved in differentiation and effector function of each functional T cell subset (TH1/TH2/TH17/Treg) in CCC, NIC, and heart donor myocardial samples.

Improvement in cardioplegic perfusion technique in single aortic clamping - initial results.

Introduction: The most common method used for myocardial protection is administering cardioplegic solution in the coronary circulation. Nevertheless, protection may be achieved by intermittent perfusion of the coronary system with patient's own blood. The intermittent perfusion may be performed by multiple sequences of clamping and opening of the aortic clamp or due single clamping and accessory cannulation of the aortic root as in the improved technique proposed in this study, reperfusion without the need for multiple clamping of the aorta.

MicroRNAs miR-1, miR-133a, miR-133b, miR-208a and miR-208b are dysregulated in Chronic Chagas disease Cardiomyopathy.

Background/methods: Chagas disease is caused by an intracellular parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, and it is a leading cause of heart failure in Latin America. The main clinical consequence of the infection is the development of a Chronic Chagas disease Cardiomyopathy (CCC), which is characterized by myocarditis, hypertrophy and fibrosis and affects about 30% of infected patients. CCC has a worse prognosis than other cardiomyopathies, like idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Kidney function after off-pump or on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

Importance: Most acute kidney injury observed in the hospital is defined by sudden mild or moderate increases in the serum creatinine concentration, which may persist for several days. Such acute kidney injury is associated with lower long-term kidney function. However, it has not been demonstrated that an intervention that reduces the risk of such acute kidney injury better preserves long-term kidney function.

Long-Term and Sustained Therapeutic Results of a Specific Promonocyte Cell Formulation in Refractory Angina: ReACT(®) (Refractory Angina Cell Therapy) Clinical Update and Cost-Effective Analysis.

Mononuclear stem cells have been studied for their potential in myocardial ischemia. In our previous published article, ReACT(®) phase I/II clinical trial, our results suggest that a certain cell population, promonocytes, directly correlated with the perceived angiogenesis in refractory angina patients. This study is ReACT's clinical update, assessing long-term sustained efficacy.

Incidence of stroke and acute renal failure in patients of postoperative atrial fibrillation after myocardial revascularization.

Introduction: Postoperative atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in cardiac surgery, its incidence range between 20% and 40%.

Objective: Quantify the occurrence of stroke and acute renal insufficiency after myocardial revascularization surgery in patients who had atrial fibrillation postoperatively.

Methods: Cohort longitudinal bidirectional study, performed at Portuguese Beneficent Hospital (SP), with medical chart survey of patients undergoing myocardial revascularization surgery between June 2009 to July 2010.

The descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery is a good option in CABG with arterial grafts.

Introduction: The descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery is an option for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: To evaluate the early patency and adaptation of lumen diameter using multidetector computed angiotomography.

Methods: Thirty-two patients were selected to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting using the descending branch of the lateral circumflex artery, the internal thoracic artery, and other grafts.

Behavior of lyophilized biological valves in a chronic animal model.

Glutaraldehyde is used in order to improve the mechanical and immunogenic properties of biological tissues, such as bovine pericardium membranes, used to manufacture heart valve bioprostheses. Lyophilization, also known as freeze-drying, preserves biological material without damage by freezing the water content and removing ice by sublimation. Through this process, dehydrated products of high quality may be obtained; also, the material may be easily handled.

Mortality impact of thoracic aortic disease in São Paulo state from 1998 to 2007.

Background: The epidemiological characteristics of thoracic aortic diseases (TAD) in the State of São Paulo and in Brazil, as well as their impact on the survival of these patients have yet to be analyzed.

Objectives: To evaluate the mortality impact of TAD and characterize it epidemiologically.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of data from the public health system for the TAD registry codes of hospitalizations, procedures and deaths, from the International Code of Diseases (ICD-10), registered at the Ministry of Health of São Paulo State from January 1998 to December 2007.

Correlation of bacterial coinfection versus matrix metalloproteinase 9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 expression in aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis.

Background: We searched for any relationship between Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in aneurysmatic atherosclerotic lesions, and whether this relationship differed from that in atherosclerotic nonaneurysmatic lesions.

Methods: Twenty-eight tissue samples paired by age and sex were grouped as follows: group 1 included 14 nonaneurysmal atherosclerotic fragments obtained from abdominal aortas collected from necropsies; group 2 included 14 aneurysmatic atherosclerotic aortic fragments obtained from patients during corrective surgery. Immunohistochemistry reactions were evaluated for C pneumoniae, M pneumoniae, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 antigens.