The cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is known to be the gold standard method for the assessment of functional capacity. However, the method is expensive, often not well tolerated by the patients, and may not be a good strategy to evaluate activities of daily living (ADL). Functional tests are indirect method to assess functional status or functional capacity of an individual to perform ADL and meet their metabolic demands. These tests are considered objective measures that can monitor the clinical course […]

Biomarkers have been increasingly used in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) for diagnosis, stratification, and short-and long-term prognosis. However, they play a less decisive role in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) where ST-segment elevation in ECG remains the most important tool for diagnosis and treatment decision. Troponin has been the most widely used biomarker to evaluate the prognosis in STEMI, but other biomarkers may also be used to assess the potential causes and complications of myocardial infarction (MI). High […]

Every year, millions of people of different ages and origins go to the streets in many countries around the world to celebrate carnival (). In Brazil, the most popular carnival celebrations and parades take place in the city of Rio de Janeiro and in the Brazilian states of Bahia and Pernambuco. Rio de Janeiro’s carnival alone drew more than 5 million people in the last years. One of the most common activities during carnival is taking part in the Samba […]

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a type of surgery where there is a compromise in one or more coronary arteries, with the objective of restoring function to the areas that have been compromised in the heart, possibly leading to respiratory compromise and postoperative complications. The return time of the pulmonary function to the preoperative condition is still indeterminate in the literature. Objective: To describe the behavior of pulmonary function after hospital discharge in patients submitted to CABG. Methods: […]

Background: Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant involved in important interactions with foods and other drugs. Objectives: To evaluate the occurrence of adverse events reported by warfarin users and their relationship with drug interactions. Methods: This was an open cohort, prospective study conducted in an 18-month period with warfarin users attending public health clinics of the city of Ijuí, Brazil. Data were collected by means of interviews administered at patients’ home every month. Patients’ responses were confirmed by review of medical […]

Background: Inflammation is a major component of the response to tissue injury caused by myocardial infarction. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels might be a simple marker of the severity of this inflammatory response, providing prognostic information. Objective: To associate hs-CRP level on admission and other clinical characteristics with in-hospital mortality of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients admitted with STEMI was carried out. Patients were analyzed regarding clinical characteristics, reperfusion therapy, […]

Background: Although new studies and guidelines can be considered useful tools, it does not necessarily mean they are put into clinical practice. Objective: The aim of the current analysis was to assess the changes in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and mortality in a tertiary university hospital in southern Brazil during a six-year period. Methods: We have included consecutive patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary PCI between March 2011 and February 2017. Previous clinical history, characteristics of […]

Background: The evaluation of the functional capacity of patients with chronic heart failure (HF) by means of the distance covered in the six-minute walk test (6MWT) has assumed great importance, since the 6MWD is a predictor of mortality and hospitalization in this population, however the determinants of better distance traveled in patients with HF are little explored, especially in the Brazilian population. Objective: To evaluate the determinants of 6MWD in patients with chronic HF. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed […]

Background: Anabolic/catabolic disorder in heart failure (HF) favors cardiac cachexia, implying a reduction in HF survival. Objectives: To assess the accuracy and concordance of the diagnosis of protein malnutrition and excess fat among the anthropometric and body composition methods in individuals with HF. Method: A study of accuracy that included 60 individuals with HF. Body mass index (BMI), arm circumference (AC), triceps skinfold thickness (TST), adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT), arm muscle circumference (AMC) and corrected arm muscle area (cAMA). […]

Background: Galectin-3 is the designation given to the protein that binds to ß-galactosides, expressed by activated macrophages and described as a cardiac fibrosis mediator. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), myocardial fibrosis is an independent predictor of adverse outcome; however, the association between Galectin-3 and myocardial fibrosis has not been studied in this cardiopathy. Objective: To evaluate the association of Galectin-3 and the presence of myocardial fibrosis in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Methods: Galectin-3 was measured in automated equipment using the […]

Background: Telecardiology may be a useful support in diagnosis and management of chest pain. Objective: Evaluate the application of telecardiology to support the differential diagnosis of chest pain in patients admitted to Emergency Care Units. Method: Observational, retrospective and documental study of 5,816 patients admitted with supposedly cardiological chest pain in twenty two Emergency Care Units in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Data were tabulated and analyzed by Excel® software, using simple descriptive statistics, from the database of the […]

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is less frequent in young individuals (? 45 years) than in older ones (> 45 years). Young AMI patients differ from older AMI patients in different ways. This article aims to assess the differences between young and older AMI patients. A search was made in the database of Cochrane Library, PubMed, BioMed Central and Embase, sence their establishment to December 2016, using the key words: risk factors, clinical characteristics, acute myocardial infarction and young. Meta-analysis was […]

Abstract Amyloidosis is a disease caused by extracellular deposition of insoluble protein fibrils, that results in changes in tissue architecture and consequently modification of the organ structure. Cardiac involvement is common in amyloidosis. Two major types of systemic amyloidosis affect the myocardium – immunoglobulin light chain and transthyretin amyloidosis – each leading to different prognosis. Early detection and diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis are the main objectives in the assessment of the disease. New techniques of magnetic resonance imaging have minimized […]

Introduction The açaí palm tree (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is mostly native to Brazil, and its fruit, açaí berry, is very popular among physically active individuals. The açaí berry pulp, very pleasing to the taste buds, has gained adepts in Brazil, Europe and USA in recent years, being even considered a “superfruit”. The açaí berry pulp is rich in anthocyanins, which is reflected on its deep purple color, in addition to other bioactive substances, such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Because […]

Introduction Congenital coronary fistulas are rare anomalies in which there is connection from the coronary arteries to large vessels or cardiac chambers, without the need for anomalies of number, origin or course of coronary arteries. They usually present in an isolated way, and can have severe hemodynamic consequences. Diagnosed in one of every 50,000 live births, it has an incidence of approximately 0.4% among congenital heart diseases.– Most of them involve the right coronary artery (50%), followed by the left […]

Introduction Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), also known as stress cardiomyopathy, is a rare condition characterized by transient systolic and diastolic LV dysfunction, with akinesia of the apex and compensatory basal hyperkinesia, giving the heart the aspect of “apical ballooning”, described for the first time in 1990 in Japan. Its clinical presentation mainly includes chest pain, which often has typical angina characteristics, and dyspnea, being an important differential diagnosis from a classic acute coronary syndrome (ACS). TTS is observed predominantly among postmenopausal […]