Strain Magnitude Assessed at Rest and During Stress Echocardiography in Patients with Normal Coronary Flow Reserve

Abstract Background Coronary flow and myocardial contractile performance assessed by strain magnitude increase during a dobutamine stress echocardiogram (DSE). Normal coronary flow reserve (CFR) can be attained upon completion of a DSE at age-predicted maximum heart rate (HR) (HRmax = 220 - age)] or submaximal HR [(0.85) HRmax] or before completion (early CFR). Objective To ascertain the association between delta strain and HR in patients with early normal CFR. Methods This prospective study included patients whose normal CFR was obtained before the DSE was completed. Percentage of resting HR (%HRrest) = [(HRrest ÷ HRmax) 100]% and %HR CFR = [(HR at the time of CFR attainment) ÷ (HRmax) 100]% were recorded. Strain was assessed in the left ventricular region of interest, and delta strain was calculated as the difference between the measures obtained at HRrest and after the DSE was completed. Strain agreement analysis for HRrest, %HRrest, and %HR CFR was performed using the kappa coefficient. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess data normality, and the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the groups. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Strain measured -23.3% ± 4.3% at baseline and -31.1% ± 4.9% during the DSE. In delta strain > 8 absolute points, the ROC curves showed an area under the curve of 0.874 ± 0.07 for %HRrest (p = 0.001) and an area under the curve of 0.862 ± 0.07 for %HR CFR (p = 0.001). In delta strain > 8 points, %HRrest ≤ 42.6% of HRmax and %HR CFR ≤ 62.5% of HRmax showed an accuracy of 82.9% and 79.8%, respectively. Conclusion In this study, lower HRrest and HR at the time of CFR attainment had a good association with better myocardial contractile performance, according to the change in strain magnitude.

Comparison of the apoptotic effects of topically applied papaverine, diltiazem, and nitroprusside to internal thoracic artery

Abstract Objective: To detect and to compare the apoptotic effects of intraoperatively topically applied diltiazem, papaverine, and nitroprusside. Methods: Internal thoracic artery segments of ten patients were obtained during coronary bypass grafting surgery. Each internal thoracic artery segment was divided into four pieces and immersed into four different solutions containing separately saline (Group S), diltiazem (Group D), papaverine (Group P), and nitroprusside (Group N). Each segment was examined with both hematoxylin-eosin and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method in order to determine and quantify apoptosis. Results: Apoptotic cells were counted in 50 microscopic areas of each segment. No significant difference was observed among the four groups according to hematoxylin-eosin staining. However, the TUNEL method revealed a significant increase in mean apoptotic cells in the diltiazem group when compared with the other three groups (Group S=4.25±1.4; Group D=13.31±2.8; Group N=9.48±2.09; Group P=10.75±2.37). The differences between groups were significant (P=0.0001). No difference was observed between the samples of the diabetic and non-diabetic patients in any of the study groups. Conclusion: The benefit of topically applied vasodilator drugs must outweigh the potential adverse effects. In terms of apoptosis, diltiazem was found to have the most deleterious effects on internal thoracic artery graft segments. Of the analyzed medical agents, nitroprusside was found to have the least apoptotic activity, followed by papaverine. Diabetes did not have significant effect on the occurrence of apoptosis in left internal thoracic artery grafts.

Antioxidant and Vasodilatory Action of Grape Juices Produced in Different Regions of Brazil

Grapes and its derivatives (wines and juices) are rich in polyphenols that have high antioxidant and vasodilator capacity. These biological activities may vary in the juices marketed and produced in different regions of Brazil. Objectives: To determine the antioxidant and vasorelaxant effects of grape juice samples produced in different regions of Brazil. Methods: The content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were evaluated by the methods of Folin-Ciocalteau, DPPH, ABTS and a new electroanalytical approach (differential pulse voltammetry - DPV). Vasodilator effects were analyzed in isolated aorta from rats in an organ bath. Results: The samples from RJ and SP presented respectively the higher and lower phenolic content and also antioxidant capacity by the methods used (ABTS and DPPH). The results of the electrochemical index corroborate to the other tests, with the best results to RJ (21.69 ± 3.15 µA/V) and worse to the SP sample (11.30 ± 0.52 µA/V). In the vascular reactivity studies, the relaxation induced by each sample presented more distinct differences, following the order: RJ (87.9 ± 4.8%) > RS1 (71.6 ± 8.6%) > GO (56.2 ± 7.2%) > SP (39.9 ± 7.8%) > PR (39.4 ± 9.5%) > RS2 (19.5 ± 6.2%). Inhibition of endothelial NO practically abolished (p < 0.001) the relaxation for all samples, except one. Conclusion: The phenolic content and antioxidant capacity vary greatly among samples. The results obtained for the order of antioxidant activity were: RJ > RS1 > GO > RS2 > PR > SP. The juices were able to induce vascular relaxation at quite varied levels, and the RJ sample the most effective. The L-NAME practically blocked all samples except one (RS2)

Efeito do tratamento com benazepril e carvedilol administrado de forma isolada e em associação com treinamento físico supervisionado sobre a evolução clínica de cães com insuficiência mitral crônica naturalmente adquirida / Effect of benazepril and carvedilol treatment alone and in association with a supervised physical training in the development of naturally acquired chronic mitral valve regurgitation in dogs

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes com insuficiência mitral crônica apresentam aumento da atividade simpática mesmo quando assintomáticos. Contudo, pouco se sabe sobre o efeito de drogas beta bloqueadoras ou de um programa de treinamento físico supervisionado como moduladores desta atividade simpática durante a evolução da doença. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do carvedilol e de um programa de treinamento físico aeróbico regular sobre a evolução da insuficiência mitral crônica num modelo da doença em cães. Além disso, objetivou-se analisar as principais variáveis que atuam como preditoras de óbito. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados 10 cães hígidos para padronização dos parâmetros normais. Outros 36 cães com diagnóstico de insuficiência mitral crônica foram divididos em 3 subgrupos (I, II e III). Do início do estudo (T0) até os 6 meses (T2), todos receberam tratamento clínico convencional (benazepril e digoxina, codeína, diurético quando necessário), sendo que no II (n=10) e III (n=13) associou-se o carvedilol durante todo o período, e no I (n=13) e II, após os 3 meses iniciais (T1), associou-se o treinamento físico supervisionado. As principais variáveis clínicas (número de intercorrências, peso, qualidade de vida avaliada pelo questionário FETCH, freqüência e ritmo cardíacos, classe funcional de insuficiência cardíaca e pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica); laboratoriais (norepinefrina, troponina I, sódio, uréia e creatinina) e ecodopplercardiográficas foram avaliadas. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença de sobrevida entre os 3 subgrupos. Em relação às variáveis clínicas, observou-se melhora da qualidade de vida (FETCH) nos três subgrupos: I (T0= 5,56±4,67 vs T2=2,67±3,12; p<0,05), II (T0= 11,29±5,12 vs T2= 3± 3,32; p,0,05); III (T0= 15,50±9,94 vs T1=5 ±3,21 e T0 vs T2=4,25± 2,82; p<0,05)...

INTRODUCTION: Sympathetic activation is present in patients having chronic mitral valve regurgitation even in asymptomatic ones. However, the effect of beta- blockers and a physical training program to modulate this sympathetic activation during this valve disease is unknown. The objective of this study has been to evaluate the effect of carvedilol and a physical aerobic training in the development of chronic mitral valve regurgitation in an experimental model of the disease in dogs. Moreover, the objective sought for some death predict variables in these dogs. METHODS: 10 healthy dogs were selected to evaluate the normal parameters. The other 36 chronic valve mitral regurgitation dogs were divided into 3 sub-groups (I, II e III). From the beginning of the study (T0) to 6 months (T2) all of them received the conventional treatment (Benazepril and Digoxine, codeine, diuretic when necessary). In the sub-group II (n=10) and III (n=13) the carvedilol was added to the treatment during all the study. In the sub-group I (n=13) and II, after the first 3 months (T1) the physical supervised training was added. The main clinical variables (number of interoccurrences, body weight, quality of life estimated by FETCH questionnaire, heart rate, cardiac rhythm, functional classification of heart failure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure), laboratory variables (norepinephrine, troponin I, sodium, urea, creatinine) and echodopplercardiographic variables were evaluated. RESULTS: The analyzes of the clinic variables showed an improvement in the quality of life (FETCH) in all the sub-groups: (T0= 5,56±4,67 vs T2=2,67±3,12; p<0,05), II (T0= 11,29±5,12 vs T2= 3± 3,32; p,0,05); III (T0= 15,50±9,94 vs T1=5 ±3,21 e T0 vs T2=4,25± 2,82; p<0,05). The heart rate (beats/min) results showed differences (p=0,023) in the sub-groups I (T0=139,44±22,97 vs T2=126,67±12,25), II (T0=128,57±31,32 vs T2=117,14± 25,63) and III (T0=142,50±53,39 vs T2=117,75±28,92)...