Abstract Background: Cardiovascular and pulmonary complications often occur in the immediate post- surgery period and may be prevented and/or treated with lung expansion techniques. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of lung expansion techniques in serum arterial lactate levels and oxygenation in patients in this surgical recovery phase. Method: A prospective and analytical study was carried out in postoperative cardiac surgery patients, hemodynamically stable. Measurements of artery lactate levels and partial pressure of oxygen were obtained from arterial blood samples drawn […]

Abstract Background: Different scores based on anatomical and/or clinical features have been developed for risk stratification of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Studies comparing the ability of these different models in predicting major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients submitted to primary PCI are limited. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the ability of the scores SYNTAX (SS), Clinical SYNTAX (CSS), ACEF, and modified ACEF (ACEFMod) to predict MACCE in patients with ST-elevation myocardial […]

Abstract Background: The high prevalence of CAD, as well as your impact on health expenditure and the various treatment options to reduce morbidity and mortality related to CAD, comes to develop a diagnostic tool precis and with important findings in the Emergency Department. Objetive: To conduct an overview with meta-analysis to compile evidence from multiple systematic reviews (SR) on the diagnostic and prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to assess acute chest pain in the emergency department (ED). […]

Abstract Background: Patients admitted for decompensated heart failure (HF) receive intensive diuretic and vasodilator therapy in the first days. Normally, this is a successful approach that leads to HF compensation and hospital discharge. However, recurrences within the first week of discharge are common. Objective: to evaluate whether the main predictor of recurrent outcomes in patients with HF is the severity of decompensation at admission or patient’s blood volume after clinical management. Methods: Prospective, cohort study of patients admitted between January […]

Abstract Background: Overweight has been considered an important public health problem. To reverse this situation, various types of treatment are proposed. The safflower oil (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has been used in the prevention/treatment of obesity. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of this oil in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome. Methods: Male Wistar rats initially received a highly palatable (HP) diet for ten weeks for validation of a metabolic syndrome model. Following confirmation, […]

Abstract Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) using a stimulation wave for 5 days/week over 8 weeks has been used as a treatment option for congestive heart failure (CHF) patients who are unable to tolerate aerobic exercise. Objective: We assessed the impact of a shorter NMES protocol using a Russian stimulation wave on the functional status, quality of life (QoL) and inflammatory profile of end-stage CHF patients. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with end-stage CHF (53 ± 11 years) were randomized to the […]

Abstract Background and aims: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy has been used to describe chronic cardiac dysfunction in cirrhotic patients with no previous structural heart disease. Additionally, QT prolongation is one of the most important cardiac alterations related to cirrhosis. Previous studies suggest that QT prolongation is associated with a higher mortality rate among cirrhotic patients. The aim of this study was to analyze QT intervals according to cirrhosis severity as measured by the Child-Pugh classification. Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional study, […]

Abstract Background: Patients with coronary artery disease with left ventricular dysfunction present higher mortality and are the major beneficiaries of a myocardial revascularization procedure. A previous study showed that left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a negative determinant for cardiac catheterization (CAT) after myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS). Objective: To determine clinical and scintigraphic factors associated with cardiac catheterization (CAT) indication in patients undergoing myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS).Population: Patients consecutively submitted to PMC in the period from March 2008 to December […]

Abstract Background: An ecological hiking occurs yearly in Brazil. It is a unique event because of its distance (310 km) and dynamics (mean of 62 km/day for 5 days with mean pace of 7.6 km/h). Although beneficial effects of moderate-intensity exercises are well-known, the effects of intense and long-duration exercise still require study. Objective: To evaluate the effects of mixed walking/running race on various blood pressure (BP) parameters 30 days before (A0), on the 2nd (A2), 3rd (A3), and 4th […]

Abstract Background: HAS-BLED score was developed to assess 1-year major bleeding risk in patients anticoagulated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) due to atrial fibrillation (AF). Objective: Of this study was to assess the ability of HAS-BLED score and its components to predict major bleeding in patients treated in an anticoagulation outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital. Methods: A retrospective cohort study on AF patients treated with VKA was conducted. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the ability of individual […]