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Biomedical subjects

J A Marin-Neto

Publications and source records attributed to J A Marin-Neto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A comparison of percutaneous coronary intervention and surgical revascularization after fibrinolysis for acute myocardial infarction. Insights from the InTIME-2 trial.

BACKGROUND: A substantial proportion of patients treated with fibrinolytics for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is subsequently submitted to surgical or percutaneous revascularization procedures during the same hospitalization. However, data comparing these procedures are scarce in the literature. The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcomes of a population with AMI who, during the in-hospital phase, received fibrinolytic therapy followed by coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: The study population included 3532 patients submitted to CABG (N=574) or PCI (N=2958), out of 15,114 patients studied in the InTIME-2 trial. Among patients treated with PCI there were no differences between those who received stents or isolated balloon angioplasty, so that their data were pooled for analysis. RESULTS: CABG and PCI groups were compared regarding all-cause mortality (at 30 days and one year post-AMI) and non-fatal events (reinfarction, need of additional post-discharge revascularization and re-hospitalization for an ischemic event) within 30 days after MI. There was no significant difference in mortality rates between the groups--both unadjusted and adjusted--at 30 days and one year post-MI. The unadjusted 30-day rates of combined fatal and non-fatal events were 10.3% for the CABG group, and 15.3% for the PCI group (odds-ratio 0.64, P=0.0017), but the adjusted odds-ratio for the combined endpoint only achieved borderline significance (P=0.048). CONCLUSION: Mortality rates for CABG and PCI were similar up to one year after AMI, but CABG tends to carry a better event-free survival in the first 30 days.

Aged↗

Minor segmental wall motion abnormalities detected in patients with Chagas' disease have adverse prognostic implications.

Recent data from our laboratory have shown that patients with the indeterminate form of Chagas' disease can have impairment of left ventricular contractility, as evaluated by the slope of the left ventricle end-systolic pressure-dimension relationship. We also showed that Chagas' disease patients with minimal baseline wall motion abnormalities detected by two-dimensional echocardiography have more intense contractility impairment when compared to patients with the indeterminate form of the disease without this abnormality. The prognostic implications of these findings have not been established. We evaluated 59 patients (37-76 years, mean = 55 years) with different clinical forms of Chagas' disease, who had normal left ventricular global systolic function at baseline (57.6 +/- 6.9%) and who had at least one additional echo during clinical follow-up (0.4-17.6; mean 4.6 years). Group 1 consisted of 14 patients with minor baseline left ventricle wall motion abnormalities and group 2 consisted of 45 patients without these abnormalities. During follow-up, global left ventricle systolic function deterioration was observed in 10 group 1 patients (71.4%) and in only 10 group 2 patients (22.2%; P < 0.005). Age and duration of follow-up were not independent determinants of left ventricular function deterioration in these patients. The present data indicate that mild segmental left ventricular wall motion abnormalities are associated with worsening of systolic function in Chagas' disease patients who have normal baseline global systolic performance.

Adult↗

Automated grading of left ventricular segmental wall motion by an artificial neural network using color kinesis images.

The present study describes an auxiliary tool in the diagnosis of left ventricular (LV) segmental wall motion (WM) abnormalities based on color-coded echocardiographic WM images. An artificial neural network (ANN) was developed and validated for grading LV segmental WM using data from color kinesis (CK) images, a technique developed to display the timing and magnitude of global and regional WM in real time. We evaluated 21 normal subjects and 20 patients with LVWM abnormalities revealed by two-dimensional echocardiography. CK images were obtained in two sets of viewing planes. A method was developed to analyze CK images, providing quantitation of fractional area change in each of the 16 LV segments. Two experienced observers analyzed LVWM from two-dimensional images and scored them as: 1) normal, 2) mild hypokinesia, 3) moderate hypokinesia, 4) severe hypokinesia, 5) akinesia, and 6) dyskinesia. Based on expert analysis of 10 normal subjects and 10 patients, we trained a multilayer perceptron ANN using a back-propagation algorithm to provide automated grading of LVWM, and this ANN was then tested in the remaining subjects. Excellent concordance between expert and ANN analysis was shown by ROC curve analysis, with measured area under the curve of 0.975. An excellent correlation was also obtained for global LV segmental WM index by expert and ANN analysis (R2 = 0.99). In conclusion, ANN showed high accuracy for automated semi-quantitative grading of WM based on CK images. This technique can be an important aid, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing inter-observer variability in scoring segmental LVWM.

Adult↗

The X-X-/E+E+ genotype of the XbaI/EcoRI polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein B gene as a marker of coronary artery disease in a Brazilian sample.

Studies that consider polymorphisms within the apolipoprotein B (apo B) gene as risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) have reported conflicting results. The aim of the present study was to search for associations between two DNA RFLPs (XbaI and EcoRI) of the apo B gene and CAD diagnosed by angiography. In the present study we compared 116 Brazilian patients (92 men) with CAD (CAD+) to 78 control patients (26 men) without ischemia or arterial damage (CAD-). The allele frequencies at the XbaI (X) and EcoRI (E) sites did not differ between groups. The genotype distributions of CAD+ and CAD- patients were different (chi (1) = 6.27, P = 0.012) when assigned to two classes (X-X-/E+E+ and the remaining XbaI/EcoRI genotypes). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that individuals with the X-X-/E+E+ genotype presented a 6.1 higher chance of developing CAD than individuals with the other XbaI/EcoRI genotypes, independently of the other risk factors considered (sex, tobacco consumption, total cholesterol, hypertension, and triglycerides). We conclude that the X-X-/E+E genotype may be in linkage disequilibrium with an unknown variation in the apo B gene or with a variation in another gene that affects the risk of CAD.

Adult↗

Trypanocidal drugs for chronic asymptomatic Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

BACKGROUND: Prior guidelines stated that trypanocidal therapy should not be used for treating chronic asymptomatic Trypanosoma cruzi infections. However, the recent availability of clinical trials reporting high rates of parasitologic cure in children with early chronic T. cruzi infection have produced changes of these recommendations in some countries. Because of the uncertainty regarding best treatment for this stage of T. cruzi infections, the literature was reviewed systematically for a synthesis of the available evidence. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of trypanocidal therapy for chronic asymptomatic T. cruzi infection. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Issue 1, 2000), MEDLINE (start-Nov 1999), EMBASE (start - Feb 2000), LILACS (start - Feb 2000) and the Tropical Diseases Research Division of WHO database (Start - Feb 2000). Reference lists of articles were searched for relevant material. SELECTION CRITERIA: Published RCTs of trypanocidal therapy for people with chronic, asymptomatic T. cruzi infections DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently screened papers for inclusion criteria, quality assessment and data extraction. Forms were used to collect data. Reviewers resolved differences by discussion then a third reviewer if necessary. MAIN RESULTS: Of 43 papers assessed for inclusion, five RCTs (total population=756) met the inclusion criteria. The quality of the trials was rated as low (n=3) or intermediate (n=2). Two RCTs tested benznidazole in school children and three tested different agents in adults. The Odds Ratios and their 95%CI (Fixed models) were: Incidence of ECG abnormalities: 0.41 (0.09, 1.85); Negative seroconversion (AT ELISA): 10.91 (6.07, 19.58); Negative xenodiagnosis during the follow up: 5.37 (3.34, 8.64); Standardised mean reduction of antibody titres: 0.54 (0.31, 0.84). Nitroimidazolic derivatives substantially and significantly modified parasite-related outcomes compared to placebo. Other agents showed borderline or not significant effect. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Despite major public health importance, trypanocidal.therapy for chronic asymptomatic T. cruzi infection has been tested in few, small size RCTs which were designed to assess parasitic-related, but not clinical outcomes. Therefore, the potential of trypanocidal therapy to prevent Chagas' disease among asymptomatic, chronically infected subjects is promising, but remains to be evaluated. trypanocidal therapy, particularly nitroimidazolic derivatives given to children or adults with positive xenodiagnosis improve parasite-related outcomes. The large contrast between the burden of Chagas disease and the existing evidence on its prevention points the need to test these or newer agents in more and larger RCTs that include clinical endpoints.

Animals↗

Effects of aerobic exercise training on heart rate variability during wakefulness and sleep and cardiorespiratory responses of young and middle-aged healthy men.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic physical training (APT) on heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiorespiratory responses at peak condition and ventilatory anaerobic threshold. Ten young (Y: median = 21 years) and seven middle-aged (MA = 53 years) healthy sedentary men were studied. Dynamic exercise tests were performed on a cycloergometer using a continuous ramp protocol (12 to 20 W/min) until exhaustion. A dynamic 24-h electrocardiogram was analyzed by time (TD) (standard deviation of mean R-R intervals) and frequency domain (FD) methods. The power spectral components were expressed as absolute (a) and normalized units (nu) at low (LF) and high (HF) frequencies and as the LF/HF ratio. Control (C) condition: HRV in TD (Y: 108, MA: 96 ms; P<0.05) and FD - LFa, HFa - was significantly higher in young (1030; 2589 ms2/Hz) than in middle-aged men (357; 342 ms2/Hz) only during sleep (P<0.05); post-training effects: resting bradycardia (P<0.05) in the awake condition in both groups; VO2 increased for both groups at anaerobic threshold (P<0.05), and at peak condition only in young men; HRV in TD and FD (a and nu) was not significantly changed by training in either groups. The vagal predominance during sleep is reduced with aging. The resting bradycardia induced by short-term APT in both age groups suggests that this adaptation is much more related to intrinsic alterations in sinus node than in efferent vagal-sympathetic modulation. Furthermore, the greater alterations in VO2 than in HRV may be related to short-term APT.

Adult↗

Effects of blood viscosity on proximal flow convergence calculations of regurgitant flow rate and jet dimensions as evaluated by color Doppler flow mapping: an in vitro study.

There are limited data on the potential influence of blood viscosity on the quantification of valvular regurgitation by color Doppler in the clinical setting. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of blood viscosity on jet dimensions and the proximal flow convergence (proximal isovelocity surface area, PISA) method of estimating valvular insufficiency severity. We used an in vitro flow model filled with human blood at varying hematocrits (15%, 35%, and 55%) and blood viscosity (blood/water viscosity: 2.6, 4.8, 9.1) in which jets were driven through a known orifice (16 mm(2)) into a 110-mL compliant receiving chamber (compliance: 2.2 mL/mm Hg) by a power injection pump. Blood injections (2 and 4 mL) at flow rates of 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 mL/s were performed. Proximal flow convergence and spatial distribution of jets were imaged by a 3.5-MHz transducer. Pressure and volume in the flow model were kept constant before each injection. Ultrasound settings were the same for all experiments. Jet area decreased significantly with increasing blood viscosity, but the difference in jet dimensions was much larger for lower than for higher flow rates and for highest blood viscosity. Estimation of flow rate by the PISA method was not significantly influenced by blood viscosity. Blood viscosity has a major influence in jet area, especially for lower flow rates, but did not change significantly the grading of regurgitation by the PISA method. Thus this factor should be considered for determining the method of choice when quantification of valvular regurgitation is performed in patients with anemia or polycythemia.

Blood Viscosity↗

Head-to-head comparison of dipyridamole, dobutamine and pacing stress echocardiography for the detection of myocardial ischemia in an animal model of coronary artery stenosis.

To compare the sensitivity of dipyridamole, dobutamine and pacing stress echocardiography for the detection of myocardial ischemia we produced a physiologically significant stenosis in the left circumflex artery of 14 open-chest dogs (range: 50 to 89% reduction in luminal diameter). In each study, dobutamine (5 to 40 microg kg(-1) min(-1) in 3-min stages) and pacing (20 bpm increments, each 2 min, up to 260 bpm) were performed randomly, and then followed by dipyridamole (up to 0.84 mg/kg over 10 min). The positivity of stress echocardiography tests was quantitatively determined by a significant (P<0.05) reduction of or failure to increase absolute and percent systolic wall thickening in the stenotic artery supplied wall, as compared to the opposite wall (areas related to the left anterior descending artery). Systolic and diastolic frozen images were analyzed off-line by two blinded observers in the control and stress conditions. The results showed that 1) the sensitivity of dobutamine, dipyridamole and pacing stress tests was 57, 57 and 36%, respectively; 2) in animals with positive tests, the mean percent change of wall thickening in left ventricular ischemic segments was larger in the pacing (-19 +/- 11%) and dipyridamole (-18 +/- 16%) tests as compared to dobutamine (-9 +/- 6%) (P = 0.05), but a similar mean reduction of wall thickening was observed when this variable was normalized to a control left ventricular segment (area related to the left anterior descending artery) (pacing: -16 +/- 7%; dipyridamole: -25 +/- 16%; dobutamine: -26 +/- 10%; not significant), and 3) a significant correlation was observed between magnitude of coronary stenosis and left ventricular segmental dysfunction induced by ischemia in dogs submitted to positive stress tests. We conclude that the dobutamine and dipyridamole stress tests showed identical sensitivities for the detection of myocardial ischemia in this one-vessel disease animal model with a wide range of left circumflex artery stenosis. The pacing stress test was less sensitive, but the difference was not statistically significant. The magnitude of segmental left ventricular dysfunction induced by ischemia was similar in all stress tests evaluated.

Animals↗

Gene polymorphisms in the TNF locus and the risk of myocardial infarction.

We investigated two genetic polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor locus (TNF-alpha -308 G-->A and LT-alpha +252 A-->G) as risk factors for coronary atherothrombotic disease (CAD) by determining its prevalence in 148 survivors of myocardial infarction (MI) with angiographically-proven severe CAD, and in 148 age-, gender- and race-matched controls. The odds ratio (OR) for MI related to the mutant TNF-alpha and LT-alpha alleles was 0.8 (CI95: 0.4-1.3) and 1. 3 (CI95: 0.8-2.0), respectively. We also sought interaction of smoking and metabolic risk factors for MI with each mutant genotype. Smokers not carrying the LT-alpha +252 A-->G mutation had a risk of MI of 2.7 (CI95: 1.4-5.4) whereas in smoking carriers the risk was 6. 9 (CI95: 3.4-14.1). An interactive effect of the LT-alpha mutation may also exist with dyslipidemia (OR for MI in non-carriers was 12 [CI95: 3.2-41.3] and in carriers the OR was 39, [CI95: 5.1-301] and with obesity (OR for MI was 2.7, [CI95: 1-7.2] in non-carriers and in carriers the OR was 6 [CI95: 2.1-16.8]). Lastly, the OR for MI in obese non-carriers of TNF-alpha -308 G-->A was 2.8 (CI95: 1.3-6) and in obese carriers the OR was 14.5 (CI95: 1.8-113). Although significant interactive effects could not be detected, the findings suggest that interaction of polymorphisms in the TNF locus with major risk factors for CAD may exist, and should be explored in larger studies.

Adult↗

Relation of regional sympathetic denervation and myocardial perfusion disturbance to wall motion impairment in Chagas' cardiomyopathy.

Impairment of sinus node autonomic control and myocardial perfusion disturbances have been described in patients with chronic Chagas' cardiomyopathy. However, it is not clear how these conditions contribute to myocardial damage. In this investigation, iodine-123 (I-123) meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) and thallium-201 myocardium segmental uptake were studied in correlation with the severity of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction detected in various phases of Chagas' heart disease. Group I consisted of 12 subjects (43 +/- 4 years, 7 men) with no symptoms and no cardiac involvement on electrocardiogram (ECG) or echocardiography; group II consisted of 13 patients (48 +/- 3 years, 9 men) with abnormal resting ECG and/or echocardiographic segmental abnormalities, and LV ejection fraction of > or = 0.5; group III was comprised of 12 patients (59 +/- 3 years, 10 men) with more severe heart disease, LV dilation, and LV ejection fraction of < 0.5. Eighteen control volunteers (38 +/- 3 years, 9 men) were also included in the study. I-123 MIBG single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) segmental uptake defects were observed in group I (33%), group II (77%), and group III (92%). Quantitative analysis showed mean areas of reduced LV I-123-MIBG uptake: group I was 3.7 +/- 2.1%; group II was 8.3 +/- 2.3%; and group III was 19.0 +/- 3.3%. The differences between group I and both groups II and III were statistically significant (p < 0.001, analysis of variance test). Myocardial perfusion defects (reversible, fixed, and paradox) were observed in group I (83%), group II (69%), and group III (83%). A marked topographic association between perfusion, innervation, and wall motion abnormalities (assessed by gated-SPECT perfusion studies) was observed in all the groups. Defects predominated in the inferior, posterior lateral, and apical LV regions. Thus, extensive impairment of cardiac sympathetic function at the ventricular level occured early in the course of Chagas' cardiomyopathy and was related to regional myocardial perfusion disturbances, before wall motion abnormalities. Both conditions are associated with progression of ventricular dysfunction.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

HFE gene mutations in coronary atherothrombotic disease.

Although iron can catalyze the production of free radicals involved in LDL lipid peroxidation, the contribution of iron overload to atherosclerosis remains controversial. The description of two mutations in the HFE gene (Cys282Tyr and His63Asp) related to hereditary hemochromatosis provides an opportunity to address the question of the association between iron overload and atherosclerosis. We investigated the prevalence of HFE mutations in 160 survivors of myocardial infarction with angiographically demonstrated severe coronary atherosclerotic disease, and in 160 age-, gender- and race-matched healthy control subjects. PCR amplification of genomic DNA followed by RsaI and BclI restriction enzyme digestion was used to determine the genotypes. The frequency of the mutant Cys282Tyr allele was identical among patients and controls (0.022; carrier frequency, 4.4%), whereas the mutant His63Asp allele had a frequency of 0.143 (carrier frequency, 27.5%) in controls and of 0.134 (carrier frequency, 24.5%) in patients. Compound heterozygotes were found in 2 of 160 (1.2%) controls and in 1 of 160 (0.6%) patients. The finding of a similar prevalence of Cys282Tyr and His63Asp mutations in the HFE gene among controls and patients with coronary atherothrombotic disease, indirectly questions the possibility of an association between hereditary hemochromatosis and atherosclerosis.

Adult↗

A pulsatile flow model for in vitro quantitative evaluation of prosthetic valve regurgitation.

A pulsatile pressure-flow model was developed for in vitro quantitative color Doppler flow mapping studies of valvular regurgitation. The flow through the system was generated by a piston which was driven by stepper motors controlled by a computer. The piston was connected to acrylic chambers designed to simulate "ventricular" and "atrial" heart chambers. Inside the "ventricular" chamber, a prosthetic heart valve was placed at the inflow connection with the "atrial" chamber while another prosthetic valve was positioned at the outflow connection with flexible tubes, elastic balloons and a reservoir arranged to mimic the peripheral circulation. The flow model was filled with a 0.25% corn starch/water suspension to improve Doppler imaging. A continuous flow pump transferred the liquid from the peripheral reservoir to another one connected to the "atrial" chamber. The dimensions of the flow model were designed to permit adequate imaging by Doppler echocardiography. Acoustic windows allowed placement of transducers distal and perpendicular to the valves, so that the ultrasound beam could be positioned parallel to the valvular flow. Strain-gauge and electromagnetic transducers were used for measurements of pressure and flow in different segments of the system. The flow model was also designed to fit different sizes and types of prosthetic valves. This pulsatile flow model was able to generate pressure and flow in the physiological human range, with independent adjustment of pulse duration and rate as well as of stroke volume. This model mimics flow profiles observed in patients with regurgitant prosthetic valves.

Blood Pressure↗

Factor XIII val34leu and the risk of myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested an association between a genetic variation in the coagulation factor XIII (FXIII Val34Leu) and decreased risk of vascular thrombosis. DESIGN AND METHODS: We investigated the frequency of the FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism in 150 consecutive, unrelated and relatively young (<55 years) survivors of myocardial infarction (MI) with angiographically-proven severe coronary atherosclerosis and in 150 age-, gender- and race-matched controls. RESULTS: FXIII Val34Leu was detected in 54/150 patients and 73/150 controls, yielding an overall odds ratio (OR) for MI of 0.6 (CI95: 0.4-0.9). Homozygosity for FXIII Val34Leu was found in 4/150 patients and in 12/150 controls, yielding an OR for MI of 0.26 (CI95: 0.08-0.9). The OR for heterozygotes was 0.65 (CI95: 0.4-1.1). FXIII Val34Leu carriership decreased the risk of MI related to metabolic risk factors (RF) (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity): non-carriers in the presence of a metabolic RF had a 13.9-fold higher risk of MI, whereas in carriers with a metabolic RF the risk was reduced to 6.8. FXIII Val34Leu also attenuated the risk of MI among smokers. Non-carrier smokers had a 6.1-fold higher risk (CI95: 3.1-11.9), whereas the risk among smokers carrying FXIII Val34Leu was 3.9 (CI95: 1.9-8.1). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: FXIII Val34Leu confers a significant protective effect against the occurrence of MI in relatively young patients. FXIII Val34Leu exhibits a gene dosage effect: the protective effect was particularly strong in homozygous carriers, and heterozygosity conferred moderate protection. Finally, FXIII Val34Leu seems to reduce the risk of MI related to major cardiovascular risk factors.

Adult↗

Thallium scintigraphy compared with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for assessing myocardial viability in patients with moderate versus severe left ventricular dysfunction.

Thallium-201 reinjection imaging and positron emission tomography provide concordant information regarding myocardial viability in many patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. It is unclear whether this concordance applies to patients with severe, as well as those with moderate, LV dysfunction. We studied 44 patients with chronic coronary artery disease and LV dysfunction, subgrouped on the basis of severity of dysfunction: 23 patients had moderate and 21 had severe dysfunction (ejection fractions 34 +/- 6% and 19 +/- 6%). Patients underwent exercise thallium single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 3- to 4-hour redistribution and reinjection imaging, as well as positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 18fluorodeoxyglucose and 15O-water. Data were analyzed quantitatively in aligned transaxial PET and SPECT tomograms. A myocardial region was considered nonviable by PET if 18fluorodeoxyglucose activity was <50% of that in a normal region, associated with proportional reduction in blood flow. Similarly, regions were considered nonviable by thallium if activity was <50% of activity in normal regions on redistribution and reinjection studies. Thallium SPECT and PET data were concordant regarding viability in 98% and 93% of myocardial regions, respectively, in patients with moderate and with severe LV dysfunction. Lower concordance was observed only when regions with severe irreversible thallium perfusion defects on redistribution images were considered in both groups: 86% and 78%, respectively (p <0.01). Thus, thallium SPECT with reinjection yields information regarding regional myocardial viability that is similar to that provided by PET in patients with severe as well as moderate LV dysfunction. However, there is discordance in >20% of regions manifesting severe irreversible thallium defects in patients with severely reduced LV function.

Aged↗