The influence of sex on left ventricular remodeling in patients with aortic dissection.

Aims: Patients with aortic dissection have a high prevalence of left ventricular structural alterations, including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), but little is known about the impact of sex on this regard. This study compared clinical, cardiac, and prognostic characteristics between men and women with aortic dissection.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, and 1-year mortality in 367 aortic dissection patients (30% women; 66% with Stanford-A) who underwent echocardiography 60 days before or after the diagnosis of aortic dissection from three Brazilian centers.

Determinants and prognostic value of in-hospital infection in patients waiting for permanent pacemaker implantation.

Background: In-hospital delays in permanent cardiac pacemaker (PPM) implantation are common and may result in in-hospital infection among patients waiting for PPM implantation (pre-PPM-HI). This study investigated the predictors and prognostic impact of these events.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 905 consecutive patients (68.

Impact of Hypertension History and Blood Pressure at Presentation on Cardiac Remodeling and Mortality in Aortic Dissection.

Objective: This study compared clinical, echocardiographic, and prognostic characteristics among patients with aortic dissection (AD) with (HypHist) and without (No-HypHist) hypertension history and evaluated the association of blood pressure (BP) at presentation with 1-year mortality, left ventricular (LV) remodeling and renal dysfunction.

Methods: We investigated clinical and echocardiographic characteristics and 1-year mortality among 367 patients with AD (81% HypHist, 66% Type-A) from three Brazilian centers.

Results: Patients with No-HypHist were more likely to have Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, to undergo surgical therapy, were less likely to have LV hypertrophy and concentricity, and had similar mortality compared with HypHist patients.

Left Ventricular Concentric Geometric Patterns Are Associated With Worse Prognosis Among Patients With Type-A Aortic Dissection.

Background This study compared left ventricular (LV) characteristics between patients with type-A and type-B aortic dissection (AD) and evaluated the ability of LV remodeling phenotypes (hypertrophy, concentricity, or geometric patterns) to predict mortality in both AD types. Methods and Results We evaluated 236 patients with type A and 120 patients with type B who had echocardiograms within 60 days before or after AD diagnosis (median [25th, 75th percentiles] time difference between echocardiogram and AD diagnosis=1 [0, 6] days) from 3 centers. Patients were stratified according to LV phenotypes, and early (90-day) and late (1-year) mortality after AD diagnosis were assessed.

P-wave duration is a predictor for long-term mortality in post-CABG patients.

Risk stratification in secondary prevention has emerged as an unmet clinical need in order to mitigate the Number-Needed-to-Treat and make expensive therapies both clinically relevant and cost-effective. P wave indices reflect atrial conduction, which is a sensitive marker for inflammatory, metabolic, and pressure overload myocardial cell remodeling; the three stimuli are traditional mechanisms for adverse clinical evolution. Accordingly, we sought to investigate the predictive role of P-wave indices to estimate residual risk in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD).

Correction: Atorvastatin Improves Ventricular Remodeling after Myocardial Infarction by Interfering with Collagen Metabolism.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Myocardial tissue remodeling after orthotopic heart transplantation: a pilot cardiac magnetic resonance study.

After orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT), the allograft undergoes characteristic alterations in myocardial structure, including hypertrophy, increased ventricular stiffness, ischemia, and inflammation, all of which may decrease overall graft survival. Methods to quantify these phenotypes may clarify the pathophysiology of progressive graft dysfunction post-OHT. We performed cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with T1 mapping in 26 OHT recipients (mean age 47 ± 7 years, 30 % female, median follow-up post-OHT 6 months) and 30 age-matched healthy volunteers (mean age 50.

Structural covariance in schizophrenia and first-episode psychosis: An approach based on graph analysis.

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that produces abnormalities across different brain regions. Measuring structural covariance with MRI is a well-established approach to investigate common changes in distinct systems. We investigated structural covariance in schizophrenia in a large Brazilian sample of individuals with chronic schizophrenia (n = 143), First Episode Psychosis (n = 32), and matched healthy controls (n = 82) using a combination of graph analysis and computational neuroanatomy.

Diacerein improves left ventricular remodeling and cardiac function by reducing the inflammatory response after myocardial infarction.

Background: The inflammatory response has been implicated in the pathogenesis of left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). An anthraquinone compound with anti-inflammatory properties, diacerein inhibits the synthesis and activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor and interleukins 1 and 6. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of diacerein on ventricular remodeling in vivo.

Development of cardioplegic solution without potassium: experimental study in rat.

Introduction: Myocardial preservation during open heart surgeries and harvesting for transplant are of great importance. The heart at the end of procedure has to resume its functions as soon as possible. All cardioplegic solutions are based on potassium for induction of cardioplegic arrest.

Use of a novel polyvinyl alcohol membrane as a pericardial substitute reduces adhesion formation and inflammatory response after cardiac reoperation.

Background: Adhesions may increase the incidence of lethal complications of cardiac reoperations, which account for up to 20% of all open-heart surgeries. Herein, we describe the use of a polyvinyl alcohol membrane (PVAM) as a pericardial alternative and describe its performance during reoperation in a relevant animal model.

Methods: The PVAM samples were reticulated by electron beam radiation and manipulated into a tube shape.

Associated factors with survivals in patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplant using retrograde blood microcardioplegia.

Background: Several techniques and cardioplegic solutions have been used for heart preservation during transplant procedures. Unfortunately, there is a lack of ideal method for myocardial preservation in the clinical practice. The use of retrograde cardioplegia provides continuous infusion of cardioplegic solution during the graft implantation.

Ventricular pacing threshold after transthoracic external defibrillation with two different waveforms: an experimental study.

Aims: Although an increase in the ventricular pacing threshold (VPT) has been observed after administration of transthoracic shock for ventricular defibrillation, few studies have evaluated the phenomenon with respect to the defibrillation waveform energy. Therefore, this study examined the VPT behaviour after transthoracic shock with a monophasic or biphasic energy waveform.

Method And Results: Domestic Landrace male piglets implanted with a permanent pacemaker stimulation system were divided into three groups: no ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction and transthoracic shock with monophasic or biphasic energy (group I); VF induction, 1 min of observation without intervention, 2 min of external cardiac massage, and transthoracic shock with monophasic or biphasic energy (group II); and VF induction, 2 min of observation without intervention, 4 min of external cardiac massage, and transthoracic shock with monophasic or biphasic energy (group III).

Six-minute walk test as a tool for assessing the quality of life in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Objective: To assess the quality of life in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization using the six-minute walk test.

Methods: Prospective observational study with patients who undergoing CABG. The clinical variables, the sixminute walk test, and the SF-36 test were recorded.

Use of modified ultrafiltration in adults undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with inflammatory modulation and less postoperative blood loss: a randomized and controlled study.

Objectives: Modified ultrafiltration (MUF) has been shown to decrease the postcardiac surgery inflammatory response and to improve respiratory function and cardiac performance in pediatric patients; however, this approach has not been well established in adults. The present study hypothesized that MUF could decrease the postsurgical inflammatory response, leading to improved respiratory and cardiac function in adults undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: Sixty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to the MUF or control group (n = 30 each).

Erythropoietin protects the systolic function of neonatal hearts against ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

Objectives: The effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on neonatal hearts is not well understood. The current hypothesis is that EPO has protective effects against ischaemia-reperfusion when administered prior to ischaemia induction.

Methods: Systolic and diastolic indices, as well as the Akt and extracellular-regulated kinase (Erk) signalling pathways, were studied in vivo using a neonatal pig heart model.

Late outcomes of mitral repair in rheumatic patients.

Introduction And Aims: The long-term results after surgical repair of rheumatic mitral valve remain controversial in literature. Our aim was to determine the predictive factors which impact the long-term results after isolated rheumatic mitral valve repair and to evaluate the effect of those factors on reoperation and late mortality.

Methods: One hundred and four patients with rheumatic valve disease who had undergone mitral valve repair with or without tricuspid valve annuloplasty were included.

A bovine pericardium rigid prosthesis for left ventricle restoration: 12 years of follow-up.

Background: Myocardial infarction might result in dilated left ventricle and numerous techniques have been described to restore the original left ventricle shape and identify tools for late survival assessment. The aim of this study is to compare our experience with a modified Dor procedure using a rigid prosthesis to the septal anterior ventricular exclusion procedure (SAVE) for left ventricle restoration. The EuroScore index for prediction of late follow up survival was evaluated.

The effects of modified ultrafiltration on pulmonary function and transfusion requirements in patients underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objective: The inflammatory response after cardiac surgery increases vascular permeability leading to higher mortality and morbidity in the post operative time. The modified ultrafiltration (MUF) had shown benefits on respiratory, and hemodynamic in pediatric patients. This approach in adults is not well established yet.

Systemic inflammation caused by chronic periodontite in patients victims of acute ischemic heart attack.

Objective: Infectious and inflammatory processes mediated by bacteria in distant sites have been described as a risk factor for acute ischemic heart disease (AIHD).

Methods: One hundred one patients with AIHD with and without chronic periodontitis (CP) were included in this study. Patients were admitted to the HC UNICAMP and stratified into three groups: in group 1, we selected patients with severe chronic periodontitis (31 men and 19 women, mean age 55.

Flow visualization in blood aspirator and cardiotomy reservoir used in cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: One of the major damage caused by occlusion in roller pumps is hemolysis. Comparative studies between roller pump with adjustments non occlusive and centrifugal pumps have been made in recent decades in an attempt to develop new products and adjustments that cause fewer traumas to the figurative elements of blood. Usually the roller pumps are adjusted by the static method due to concern variables flow that can occur with non-occlusive settings.

Identification of a statistical method as a quality tool: patient's length of stay in the operating room.

Objective: To identify a statistical method that may express the patient length of stay in the operating room and build a 'matrix of relationship' for optimizing this time, the real and exact time of the operation.

Methods: The analysis of survival and the Kaplan-Meier estimator allowed to calculate the survival curves for different times and the 'matrix of relationship' with 10 hypothesis to help in choosing the new operation. The study consisted of a simple random sample of 71 patients, from elective operations for adults in Cardiac Surgery/Clinics Hospital/Unicamp, with confidence level of 95% in 2008.

Early changes in contractility indices and fibrosis in two minimally invasive congestive heart failure models.

Background: Heart failure is a common and often fatal disease. Numerous animal models are used to study its aetiology, progression and treatment. This article aims to demonstrate two minimally invasive models of congestive heart failure in a rabbit model and a precise method to assess cardiac performance.

Trimetazidine as cardioplegia addictive without pre-treatment does not improve myocardial protection: study in a swine working heart model.

Objective: The aim of this study is to verify in an isolated working heart swine model if the acute administration of trimetazidine to cardioplegia, without pre-treatment improves heart performance.

Methods: Eighteen pairs of swine were used in this working heart model, divided into three groups (n = 6) that underwent regional and global ischemia. Each group was selected to a different treatment: St.

The use of ultrafiltration for inflammatory mediators removal during cardiopulmonary bypass in coronary artery bypass graf surgery.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of ultrafiltration in removing inflammatory mediators released by cardiopulmonary bypass and to correlate ultrafiltration with alterations in organic function according to the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score.

Methods: Forty patients were included and randomized into two groups: "no ultrafiltration" (n=20; Group I) and "ultrafiltration" (n=20; Group II). Activated complement 3 and 4, interleukins 1beta, 6, 8 and tumor necrosis factor alfa were measured prior to anesthesia induction (Time 1), 5 minutes before cardiopulmonary bypass (Time 2), in the ultrafiltrated fluid (Time 3), 30 minutes (Time 4), and 6 (Time 5), 12 (Time 6), 24 (Time 7), 36 (Time 8) and 48 (Time 9) hours following cardiopulmonary bypass.