Novos biomarcadores inflamatórios e de disfunção endotelial: predição de risco cardiovascular / Novel biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction: prediction of cardiovascular risk

Em consequência do avanço das pesquisas no campo da biologia molecular e celular, ampliou-se o entendimento dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos das doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) e, como consequência, uma nova série de biomarcadores tem emergido como promissoras ferramentas para refinar o diagnóstico, prognóstico e guia terapêutico, associado à análise individual do contexto clínico de cada paciente. Em recente publicação, o professor Eugene Braunwald apresentou a Classificação Braunwald de Biomarcadores para Insuficiência Cardíaca. A utilização desta estratégia de multimarcadores na abordagem das DCV permite a detecção da disfunção ventricular e coronariana sob a ótica dos diversos mecanismos fisiopatológicos envolvidos. O desenvolvimento rápido nas técnicas de identificação de centenas de proteínas de aplicabilidade potencial como marcadores prognósticos propiciou a incorporação de uma abordagem com multibiomarcadores na rotina clínica do atendimento de pacientes com suspeita de DCV. Este procedimento possibilita ao clínico identificar com mais precisão pacientes com alto risco e que devem demandar estratégias de um manejo de cuidados intensivos (AU)

As a result of the advancement of research in molecular and cell biology, our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiovascular disease (CV ) was expanded and, as a result, a new set of biomarkers have emerged as promising tools to refine the diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic course, associated with the individual analysis of each patient's clinical context. In a recent publication, Professor Eugene Braunwald presented the Braunwald classification of Biomarkers for Heart Failure. The use of this strategy of multiple markers in addressing CVD allows detection of ventricular and coronary dysfunction from the perspective of the different pathophysiological mechanisms involved. The rapid technical development in the identification of hundreds of proteins of potential applicability as prognostic markers allowed incorporating an approach with multiple biomarkers in the clinical routine of care of patients with suspected CVD. This procedure allows the clinician to identify more accurately patients at high risk and who should require strategies of intensive care management (AU)

Prolonged visual memory enhancement after direct current stimulation in Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Immediately after patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) receive a single anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) session their memory performance improves. Whether multiple tDCS sessions improve memory performance in the longer term remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to assess memory changes after five consecutive sessions of anodal tDCS applied over the temporal cortex in patients with AD. METHODS: A total of 15 patients were enrolled in two centers. Cognitive functions were evaluated before and after therapeutic tDCS. tDCS was delivered bilaterally through two scalp anodal electrodes placed over the temporal regions and a reference electrode over the right deltoid muscle. The stimulating current was set at 2 mA intensity and was delivered for 30 minutes per day for 5 consecutive days. RESULTS: After patients received tDCS, their performance in a visual recognition memory test significantly improved. We found a main effect of tDCS on memory performance, i.e., anodal stimulation improved it by 8.99% from baseline, whereas sham stimulation decreased it by 2.62%. tDCS failed to influence differentially general cognitive performance measures or a visual attention measure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that after patients with AD receive anodal tDCS over the temporal cerebral cortex in five consecutive daily sessions their visual recognition memory improves and the improvement persists for at least 4 weeks after therapy. These encouraging results provide additional support for continuing to investigate anodal tDCS as an adjuvant treatment for patients with AD.

C-Reactive protein predicts acute myocardial infarction during high-risk noncardiac and vascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein predicts cardiovascular events in a wide range of clinical contexts. However, the role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a predictive marker for perioperative acute myocardial infarction during noncardiac surgery is not yet clear. The present study investigated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels as predictors of acute myocardial infarction risk in patients undergoing high-risk noncardiac surgery. METHODS: This concurrent cohort study included patients aged ≥ 50 years referred for high-risk noncardiac surgery according to American Heart Association/ACC 2002 criteria. Patients with infections were excluded. Electrocardiograms were performed, and biomarkers (Troponin I or T) and/or total creatine phosphokinase and the MB fraction (CPK-T/MB) were evaluated on the first and fourth days after surgery. Patients were followed until discharge. Baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were compared between patients with and without acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, including 33 vascular procedures (17 aortic and 16 peripheral artery revascularizations), were studied. Sixty of the patients were men, and their mean age was 66 years. Baseline levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were higher in the group with perioperative acute myocardial infarction than in the group with non-acute myocardial infarction patients (mean 48.02 vs. 4.50, p = 0.005). All five acute myocardial infarction cases occurred in vascular surgery patients with high CRP levels. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing high-risk noncardiac surgery, especially vascular surgery, and presenting elevated baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels are at increased risk for perioperative acute myocardial infarction.

C-Reactive protein predicts acute myocardial infarction during high-risk noncardiac and vascular surgery

BACKGROUND: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein predicts cardiovascular events in a wide range of clinical contexts. However, the role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a predictive marker for perioperative acute myocardial infarction during noncardiac surgery is not yet clear. The present study investigated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels as predictors of acute myocardial infarction risk in patients undergoing high-risk noncardiac surgery. METHODS: This concurrent cohort study included patients aged >50 years referred for high-risk noncardiac surgery according to American Heart Association/ACC 2002 criteria. Patients with infections were excluded. Electrocardiograms were performed, and biomarkers (Troponin I or T) and/or total creatine phosphokinase and the MB fraction (CPK-T/MB) were evaluated on the first and fourth days after surgery. Patients were followed until discharge. Baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were compared between patients with and without acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, including 33 vascular procedures (17 aortic and 16 peripheral artery revascularizations), were studied. Sixty of the patients were men, and their mean age was 66 years. Baseline levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were higher in the group with perioperative acute myocardial infarction than in the group with non-acute myocardial infarction patients (mean 48.02 vs. 4.50, p = 0.005). All five acute myocardial infarction cases occurred in vascular surgery patients with high CRP levels. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing high-risk noncardiac surgery, especially vascular surgery, and presenting elevated baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels are at increased risk for perioperative acute myocardial infarction.