A cardiac rehabilitation exercise program potentially inhibits progressive inflammation in patients with severe Chagas cardiomyopathy: A pilot single-arm clinical trial.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation exerts anti-inflammatory effect on several cardiovascular diseases; however, these effects were not described for Chagas cardiomyopathy, which is associated with pro-inflammatory imbalance.

Materials And Methods: Ten patients with severe Chagas cardiomyopathy performed 8 months of exercise training in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-8, IL-10, interferon gamma (IF-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) serum levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline, 4, and 8 months.

Reassessment of quality of life domains in patients with compensated Chagas heart failure after participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Introduction:: We evaluated the effects of a cardiac rehabilitation program on quality of life.

Methods: This secondary analysis of a single-arm study included 12 patients with Chagas heart failure. The cardiac rehabilitation program comprised exercise training and nutritional and pharmaceutical counseling.

Effect of physical exercise training in patients with Chagas heart disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (PEACH study).

Background: The effects of exercise training on Chagas heart disease are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exercise training over functional capacity, cardiac function, quality of life, and biomarkers in Chagas heart disease.

Methods: The PEACH study is a superiority randomized clinical trial which will include subjects who meet the following criteria: Chagas heart disease with a left ventricular ejection fraction below 45 % with or without heart failure symptoms; clinical stability in the last 3 months; adherence to clinical treatment; and age above 18 years.

Cardiac rehabilitation program in patients with Chagas heart failure: a single-arm pilot study.

Introduction: The benefit of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program for patients with Chagas heart failure (CHF) remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of CR for CHF patients.

Methods: A single-arm pilot study, including 12 patients with CHF, was performed.

Defective nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling in patients with bipolar disorder: a potential role for platelet dysfunction.

Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality rates. We investigated the modulation of l-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) signaling in platelets from patients with BD at different phases.

Methods: Platelets obtained from 28 patients with BD and 10 healthy volunteers were analyzed for l-arginine transport, NO synthase (NOS) activity, cyclic guanosine monophosphate content, and biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Low plasma levels of L-arginine, impaired intraplatelet nitric oxide and platelet hyperaggregability: implications for cardiovascular disease in depressive patients.

Background: Major depression (MD) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor, but the exact mechanisms are not clear. In this study we have investigated the intraplatelet L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway and platelet function in depressive patients.

Methods: Nineteen unmedicated patients with MD (34±4years) and 19 control subjects (CS, 34±3years) were included.

[Maximal heart rate in exercise tests on treadmill and in a cycloergometer of lower limbs].

Objective: To compare, retrospectively, the values of maximum heart rate (MHR) and the decrease of the heart rate at the first minute of recovery, which were obtained in an exercise test (ET) performed in two different ergometers and at different moments.

Methods: Sixty individuals (from 29 to 80 years old), submitted to cardiopulmonary ET in a cycle of lower limbs (CLL) in our laboratory and who had previous ET (up to 36 months) in a treadmill (TRM) in other laboratories, under identical conditions of medications of negative chronotropic action.

Results: MHR was similar in CLL: 156 +/- 3 and TRM: 154 +/- 2 bpm (p=0.

[Home exercise program: short term effects on physical aptitude and blood pressure in hypertensive individuals].

Objective: To observe the influence of a four-month-unsupervised-exercise program performed at home on the blood pressure (BP) and physical performance in hypertensive adults.

Methods: A target group with 26 men and 52 women, and a control group with 9 men and 7 women were observed, with ages ranging from 25 to 77 years old. The target group underwent a home exercise program, basically with aerobic activity (60-80% of the estimated maximum heart rate for the age, 30 min of walking at least 3 times a week), in addition to the flexibility exercises.