Obesity and premature coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction in Puerto Rican young adults.

A cross-sectional study examined adults aged 21 to 35 years who underwent left cardiac catheterization in the Cardiovascular Center for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean during 2008-2012 due to myocardial infarction. Demographic characteristics, clinical risk factors, and the extent of CAD were documented. Chi-square statistic or Fisher's exact test was used to compare the distribution of demographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics across CAD extent.

Metabolic Changes After Roux-N-Y Bariatric Surgery In Hispanics.

The objective was to describe the metabolic outcomes 12 months after bariatric surgery (Roux-N-Y) in morbidly obese Hispanic patients, and evaluate the correlation between weight loss and the observed changes. Medical records from a hundred-and-two Hispanic obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery were identified at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Hospital. The following variables were obtained before and 12 months after surgery: Body Mass Index (BMI), body weight, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and fasting blood sugar (FBS).

Inflammation, Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome. Implications in Hispanics.

We report clinical and molecular mechanisms relating the process of inflammation involved in the progression of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, emphasizing the cardiovascular problems developed in Hispanic populations. Namely, the incidence, component characteristics and complications of obesity and metabolic syndrome in island Puerto Ricans are described and evidence is presented supporting the fact that the metabolic syndrome may be milder in Puerto Rico than in the mainland United States because it is characterized by less aggressive coronary artery disease and a relatively normal lipid profile. Moreover, data supports the fact that increased serum cholesterol levels produce less myocardial infarctions in Puerto Rico than in mainland Hispanics and Caucasians.

Celiac trunk and branches dissection due to energy drink consumption and heavy resistance exercise: case report and review of literature.

Higher doses and consumption of energy drinks leads to cardiovascular effects and potential consequences. Principal components found in energy drinks such as caffeine, guarana and taurine has been related to dilatation, aneurysm formation, dissection and ruptures. There is no evidence showing an integration of these components and its effects in endothelium and aortic walls due to higher levels of pressure during exercises.

Coronary levels of angiotensin-II and endothelin-I in diabetic patients with and without coronary artery disease.

Two groups of patients were studied to find out the levels of angiotensin-II and endothelin-I in the coronary and peripheral circulation. Group A consisted of eight patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and coronary artery disease; and Group B with diabetes mellitus without coronary artery disease. Significant differences were found between Group A and B in the levels of both peptides peripherally and intracoronary.

Ethnicity and genetics are more important than diabetes mellitus and hypertension in producing cardiovascular events in patients with the metabolic syndrome: emphasis in the Puerto Rico population.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease that affects an estimated 50 million Americans. The present article reviews the metabolic syndrome with respect to its definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology and management. A primary focus in research has been to elucidate the processes determined to cause insulin resistance, the fundamental mechanism underlying the metabolic syndrome.

Magnesium: the forgotten electrolyte.

Unlabelled: Magnesium (Mg++), Potassium (K+) and Calcium (CA++) are important electrolytes in keeping a stable electrical status. The purpose of this study was to measure them in critically ill patients.

Methods: We evaluated the electrolytes in 28 consecutive patients.

Heart tumors in Puerto Rico de novo atrial fibrillation as clinical presentation in a subgroup of patients.

Objective: Primary cardiac tumors are rare neoplasms in humans, of which the most common is the atrial Myxoma. The objective of this study was to find the incidence of these tumors at the Heart Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Medical Sciences Campus University of Puerto Rico to review the records at the Heart Center of patients with heart tumors in the last 14 years.

Higher incidence of atrial fibrillation in the metabolic syndrome: a Hispanic population study.

Unlabelled: The metabolic syndrome is probably one of the main medical problems in developing countries. Purpose of this investigation was to study the metabolic syndrome at the Puerto Rico and Caribbean Cardiovascular Center with emphasis on the cardiovascular complications.

Materials/methods: The medical charts in the last six years of the metabolic syndrome were evaluated at the PRCCC.

Aliskiren improves left ventricular dysfunction and reduces cardiac dilation in Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Objective: Chronic activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is a major contributing factor to the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular and renal diseases.

Methods: To evaluate the role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade with aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, in the development and progression of dilated cardiomyopathy in the Syrian cardiomyopathic hamster (SCH) model, we treated 1-month-old SCH with aliskiren (10 mg·kg·d) over a 4-month period. For comparative purposes, we also evaluated the effects of the angiotensin receptor blocker valsartan (10 mg·kg·d) and the combination of both drugs.

Metabolic syndrome among Puerto Ricans and other Hispanic populations.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease that affects an estimated 50 million Americans. The present article reviews this syndrome with respect to its definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management. A primary focus in research has been to elucidate the processes that have been determined to cause insulin resistance, the fundamental mechanism underlying metabolic syndrome; these processes are reviewed here along with the interplay of the syndrome with the renin-angiotensin system, circadian rhythm, and atherosclerosis.

Chronic treatment with N-acetylcysteine improves cardiac function but does not prevent progression of cardiomyopathy in Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Oxidative stress has been postulated to contribute to the onset and development of heart failure (HF). The efficacy of antioxidant therapy in HF, however, remains controversial. This study evaluates the effect of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 1 g/kg per day) on cardiovascular function in 2- and 6-month-old Bio-TO2 Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters (SCH) after treatment for 1 month and 5 months with this drug.

Enalapril and losartan are more effective than carvedilol in preventing dilated cardiomyopathy in the Syrian cardiomyopathic hamster.

To assess the role of the renin-angiotensin (RAS) and adrenergic systems in the development and progression of dilated cardiomyopathy in the Syrian cardiomyopathic hamster (SCH), echocardiographic parameters were evaluated in 6-month-old animals after 5 months of treatment with enalapril (25 mg/kg/day) plus losartan (10 mg/kg/day), or with carvedilol (1 mg/kg/day). Cardiac output indexes (COI) increased by 53% after RAS blockade and by 20% after beta-blockade in SCH. Moreover, LVEDV and LVESV decreased 30% and 62%, respectively (P < .

Syncope in Puerto Rico.

Syncope is defined as a transient loss of consciousness with an inability to maintain postural tone that is followed by spontaneous recovery. Syncope is a prevalent disorder, accounting for 1-3% of emergency department visits and up to 6% of hospital admissions each year in the United States. The medical records of patients admitted at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean after an episode of syncope were reviewed.

Basiliximab and heart transplantation in Hispanics: the experience in Puerto Rico.

Background: Induction immunotherapy in addition to standard triple therapy at the time of cardiac transplantation with cytolytic antibodies has been used in recipients with pre transplant renal impairment, and to prevent rejection. Recently, anti-interlukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies have been used for these purposes. A retrospective study of 58 heart transplant recipients was conducted to assess the effect of basiliximab, a chimeric anti-interlukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody on biopsy proven acute rejection, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, hospitalizations due to infection and mortality one year after transplantation.

Coronary artery abnormalities in Puerto Rico.

A retrospective study was done to determine the frequency of coronary artery anomalies in terms of their origin, course, and structure. The clinical history, catheterization data and surgical reports of patients undergoing coronary angiography at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, from 1999 to 2004, were analyzed. Thirty-eight patients were identified with a coronary artery anomaly in this population.

Heart transplantation in females: the experience in Puerto Rico.

Background: Heart transplantation is the procedure of choice for a selected group of patients with end stage heart disease. Gender related differences have been observed in the heart transplant field: less women than men are recipients of heart transplants, more risk of rejection in female recipients, and a perception toward reduced survival in women. We report our experience of heart transplantation in females in Puerto Rico.

Increased vascular angiotensin II binding capacity and ET-1 release in young cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Heart failure (HF) is a multifactorial and progressive disease that has been associated with multiple systemic and vascular alterations. Previous reports from our laboratory showed that in 2-month-old Bio-To2 Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters (SCH) that have not yet developed the clinical manifestations of HF, the vascular contractility induced by 0.1 microM angiotensin II was approximately 35% greater than in control animals.

Effects of Enalaprilat on Regional Wall Stress in Patients with Angina Pectoris.

Left ventricle (LV) cineventriculograms silhouettes in the right anterior oblique projection with simultaneous pressure micromanometry were assessed before and 10 min after administration of 1.25 mg enalaprilat intravenously to 10 patients with angina pectoris undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Cineventriculograms were divided into 20 areas using a modified Leighton's method for segmentalization of the LV and computed by the Janz's method for regional wall stress.

Dose-Related Hemodynamic Effects of Enalaprilat in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease.

To investigate the dose-related hemodynamic effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEI) in patients with angina pectoris (AP), five patients underwent right and left heart catheterization, and left ventriculogram before and 10 min after administration of 1.25 mg enalaprilat intravenously (Group 1). The results were compared with those of five patients with similar characteristics who received 2.

Electrophysiologic Changes in the Human Heart Produced by Enalaprilat (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor).

Several trials have showed that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors possess some extent of antiarrhythmic properties. To evaluate the effects of Enalaprilat on His bundle recording, patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiogram due to angina pectoris and a positive thallium exercise test subsequently underwent His bundle electrogram. A double-blind crossover protocol was used with conduction velocity measurements at baseline and after saline (placebo) and Enalaprilat 2.