Acute blood pressure response in hypertensive elderly women immediately after water aerobics exercise: A crossover study.

Water aerobics exercise is widely recommended for elderly people. However, little is known about the acute effects on hemodynamic variables. Thus, we assessed the effects of a water aerobic session on blood pressure in hypertensive elderly women.

Association between global leukocyte DNA methylation and cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.

Background: Genetic studies to date have not provided satisfactory evidence regarding risk polymorphisms for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Conversely, epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, seem to influence the risk of CVD and related conditions. Because postmenopausal women experience an increase in CVD, we set out to determine whether global DNA methylation was associated with cardiovascular risk in this population.

Grape Seed Oil Compounds: Biological and Chemical Actions for Health.

Grape seed oil is rich in phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and vitamins, with economic importance to pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industry. Its use as an edible oil has also been suggested, especially due to its pleasant sensory characteristics. Grape seed oil has beneficial properties for health that are mainly detected by in vitro studies, such as anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties, and may interact with cellular and molecular pathways.

Molecular Properties of Red Wine Compounds and Cardiometabolic Benefits.

Wine has been used since the dawn of human civilization. Despite many health benefits, there is still a lot of discussion about the real properties of its components and its actions on cells and molecular interactions. A large part of these issues permeate the fine line between the amount of alcohol that causes problems to organic systems and the amount that could be beneficial for the health.

Nutrition and Physical Activity in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide and it is associated with other medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. The mechanisms of the underlying disease development and progression are not completely established and there is no consensus concerning the pharmacological treatment. In the gold standard treatment for NAFLD weight loss, dietary therapy, and physical activity are included.

Different adipose tissue depots: Metabolic implications and effects of surgical removal.

Increased adiposity has been associated to worse metabolic profile, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. There are two main adipose tissue depots in the body, subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, which differ in anatomical location. A large body of evidence has shown the metabolic activity of adipose tissue; lipectomy and/or liposuction therefore appear to be alternatives for improving metabolic profile through rapid loss of adipose tissue.

Cross-Sectional and Prospective Associations between Physical Activity and C-Reactive Protein in Males.

Background: There is conflicting evidence about the association between physical activity and inflammatory markers. Few prospective studies are available, particularly from low and middle-income countries. This study was aimed at assessing the cross-sectional and prospective associations between physical activity and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in males belonging to the 1982 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study.

Deleterious effects of maternal ingestion of cocoa upon fetal ductus arteriosus in late pregnancy.

Cocoa powder has twice more antioxidants than red wine and three times more than green tea. Ten percent of its weight is made up of flavonoids. Cocoa has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating cyclooxigenase-2 receptors expression in the endothelium and enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability.

Time trends of physical activity among Brazilian adolescents over a 7-year period.

Purpose: To evaluate time trends in physical activity among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years living in southern Brazil over a 7-year period.

Methods: Two population-based cross-sectional surveys with similar methodologies were carried out in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, in 2005 and 2012. Leisure-time and transport-related physical activity were measured using a validated questionnaire.

Late outcomes of congenital heart disease.

In our days, more than 90% of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) reach adolescence and adult life, and therapeutic procedures are performed with late quality of life (QOL) in mind. Rates of success are now assessed at long range by sequels, residues and adaptation of the individuals to normality. The attempt to identify factors to avoid psychopathological sequels in this group of "new" cardiac patients is one of the most important aspects of studies on late outcome of congenital heart disease.

Risk factors for hospital mortality in valve replacement with porcine bioprosthesis at an universitary institution.

Objective: Study designed to identify characteristics of patients related to increased hospital mortality after valve replacement, assumed as risk factors.

Methods: Retrospective study including 808 patients submitted to the implant of St. Jude Biocor porcine bioprosthesis between 1994 and 2009 at Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul.

Cryostimulation improves recovery from oropharyngeal dysphagia after stroke.

Introduction:  Stroke is considered one of the most frequent neurological causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Aim:  To determine the effect of cryostimulation on oropharyngeal sensitivity and, subsequently, on the swallowing reaction and premature escape of food in patients with neurogenic dysphagia after stroke.

Methods:  Clinical and experimental study.

Prognostic value of the six-minute walk test in end-stage renal disease life expectancy: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: The six-minute walk test has been widely used to evaluate functional capacity and predict mortality in several populations. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the six-minute walk test for the life expectancy of end-stage renal disease patients.

Methods: Patients over 18 years old who underwent hemodialysis for at least six months were included.

The use of inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme and its relation to events in the postoperative period of CABG.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduce the chance of death, myocardial infarction (MI) and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in patients with coronary disease. However there is no consensus as to its indication in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Objective: To assess the relationship between preoperative use of ACE inhibitors and clinical outcomes after CABG.

Predictors of infection in post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Although coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a good alternative therapy in severe arterial disease, it may evolve with complications, especially infections.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of infection in post-CABG and its clinical predictors in a cardiology reference center in Brazil.

Methods: Cohort study.

Effects of low frequency functional electrical stimulation with 15 and 50 Hz on muscle strength in heart failure patients.

Purpose: To compare the acute effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) with 15 and 50 Hertz (Hz) frequencies on muscle strength in patients with heart failure with healthy individuals.

Methods: Twenty-two 61.6 ± 1.

Effect of leisure-time physical activity on the prognosis of coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in the early outcome of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Methods: This prospective cohort study analyzed 202 patients submitted to CABG. The patients were assigned to two groups, active or sedentary, according to the practice of LTPA in the preoperative period.

Serum bilirubin concentration in patients with an established coronary artery disease.

Bilirubin has been considered an antioxidant, with capacity to remove reactive species of oxygen. Studies have suggested that an increased bilirubin level promotes protection against atherosclerosis. The case group was composed of 100 patients with coronary artery disease and the control group 100 patients with normal coronaries.

Insulin resistance and triglyceride/HDLc index are associated with coronary artery disease.

Background: Insulin-resistance is associated with cardiovascular disease but it is not used as a marker for disease in clinical practice.

Aims: To study the association between the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) and triglyceride/HDLc ratio (TG/HDLc) with the presence of coronary artery disease in patients submitted to cardiac catheterization.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 131 patients (57.

Relief of severe immediate postoperative superior vena cava stenosis with covered stent: case report with midterm follow up.

Sinus venous atrial septal defects are commonly associated with abnormal pulmonary venous connection. Numerous surgical techniques have been proposed with excellent short- and long-term outcomes. Pulmonary and superior vena cava obstructions, as well as rhythm disturbances, are the most common problems seen during follow up.

Behavior of pulmonary venous flow during fetal respiratory movements.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that fetal pulmonary venous flow pulsatility index is lower during fetal respiratory movements than in apnea.

Design: Case control. SETTINGS/PATIENTS: Twenty-two normal fetuses of mothers without systemic disease were examined in apnea (controls) and in the presence of fetal respiratory movements (cases).

Maternal consumption of polyphenol-rich foods in late pregnancy and fetal ductus arteriosus flow dynamics.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that maternal consumption of polyphenol-rich foods during third trimester interferes with fetal ductal dynamics by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis.

Study Design: In a prospective analysis, Doppler ductal velocities and right-to-left ventricular dimensions ratio of 102 fetuses exposed to polyphenol-rich foods (daily estimated maternal consumption >75th percentile, or 1089 mg) were compared with 41 unexposed fetuses (flavonoid ingestion <25th percentile, or 127 mg).

Result: In the exposed fetuses, ductal velocities were higher (systolic: 0.