Abstract In 1907, Carlos Chagas was designated to fight paludism in the Rio das Velhas region along the Central do Brasil railroad. During his field research, Chagas discovered a hematophagous insect ( Panstrongylus megitus ) carrying a new trypanosomatide, which he named Trypanosoma cruzi . On April 14th, 1909, he found the same parasite in the blood of a febrile child, submitting the announcement of his discoveries to the Brasil Médico scientific journal. Here, we discuss the early stages in […]

Abstract An acute respiratory syndrome caused by SARS-CoV2 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Current data in the world and in Brazil show that approximately 40% of patients who died have some type of cardiac comorbidity. There are also robust reports showing an increase in IL-6 / IL-1B / TNF-alpha and the presence of lymphopenia in patients with COVID-19. Our team and others have shown that increased cytokines are the link between arrhythmias/Left ventricular dysfunction and the […]

Abstract Cardiovascular manifestations of COVID-19 include cardiac rhythm disturbances, whose mechanisms, incidence, and most common types are not well established in this population. Intense inflammatory response and metabolic activity contribute to recurrence of pre-existing arrhythmias, and other arrhythmias can occur due to myocardial injury, acute coronary insufficiency, and electrolyte disturbances. Brady- and tachyarrhythmias, as well as conduction disorders have been described. QT interval prolongation and fatal ventricular arrhythmias ( Torsades de Pointes ) may result from the pathological process or […]

Abstract Background: Despite optimal medical treatment, many heart failure (HF) patients continue to show a high prevalence of symptoms, which contributes to a high morbidity and poor health-related quality of life (HRQL). Mindfulness meditation may be effective in improving the quality of life in these patients. Objective: A systematic review was conducted to evaluate if mindfulness meditation programs are effective in promoting and improving the quality of life in patients with heart failure. Methods: The PubMed (MEDLINE), Cumulative Index of […]

Abstract Therapeutics that inhibit enzymes, receptors, ion channels, and cotransporters have long been the mainstay of cardiovascular medicine. Now, oligonucleotide therapeutics offer a modern variation on this paradigm of protein inhibition. Rather than target a protein, however, small interfering ribonucleic acids and antisense oligonucleotides target the messenger RNA (mRNA) from which a protein is translated. Endogenous, cellular mechanisms enable the oligonucleotides to bind a selected sequence on a target mRNA, leading to its degradation. The catalytic nature of the process […]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Especially for women, traditional risk factors fail to explain most cases, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from CVD. Risk factors inherent to the female sex and psychosocial aspects play an essential role in the development of CVD in women. Efforts need to be made to narrow the gap in diagnosis and treatment among women, especially younger ones, among whom CVD prevalence is increasing worldwide. […]

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. In different cardiac diseases, the neuronal function of the heart is impaired. Nevertheless, the development of a simple method to assess the autonomic effects on the heart and/or autonomic dysfunction is a challenge. The evaluation of autonomic innervation in cardiac diseases has helped to improve the knowledge of the pathophysiology of these conditions, as well as to provide information on their prognosis. Single photon emission […]

Abstract The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), that assumed pandemic proportions in March 2020, mainly affects the respiratory tract, causing severe interstitial pneumonia in adults. Worldwide data indicate that COVID-19 tends to be more benign in children, which is evidenced by a high incidence of asymptomatic or mild upper airways’ infection cases in this population. However, recent studies have been associating Kawasaki-like symptoms as a nonclassical presentation of coronavirus disease in pediatrics. It is suggested that the intense cytokine cascade, promoted by […]

Abstract ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a highly prevalent condition worldwide. Reperfusion therapy is strongly associated with the prognosis of STEMI and must be performed with a high standard of quality and without delay. A systematic review of different reperfusion strategies for STEMI was conducted, including randomized controlled trials that included major cardiovascular events (MACE), and systematic reviews in the last 5 years through the PRISMA ( Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) methodology. The research was […]

Abstract The regular practice of physical exercise as a non-pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension (AH) has been encouraged due to causing a series of physiological responses in the cardiovascular system, such as the production of vasoactive substances, including nitric oxide (NO). NO is a relaxation factor released by the endothelium, and the decrease in its bioavailability is related to coronary and arterial diseases, such as AH. This study aimed to perform an integrative literature review to elucidate the effect of […]