Sustained ventricular tachycardia is associated with regional myocardial sympathetic denervation assessed with 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

UNLABELLED: Cardiac sympathetic denervation and ventricular arrhythmia are frequently observed in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC). This study quantitatively evaluated the association between cardiac sympathetic denervation and sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) in patients with CCC. METHODS: We prospectively investigated patients with CCC and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 35% with SVT (SVT group: n = 15; mean age ± SD, 61 ± 8 y; LVEF, 51% ± 8%) and patients without SVT (non-SVT group: n = 11; mean age ± SD, 55 ± 10 y; LVEF, 57% ± 10%). Patients underwent myocardial scintigraphy with (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) for the evaluation of sympathetic innervation and resting perfusion with (99m)Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI) for the evaluation of myocardial viability. A visual semiquantitative score was attributed for regional uptake of each radiotracer using a 17-segment left ventricular segmentation model (0, normal; 4, absence of uptake). A mismatch defect was defined as occurring in segments with a (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake score of 0 or 1 and a (123)I-MIBG score of 2 or more. RESULTS: Compared with the non-SVT group, the SVT group had a similar (99m)Tc-MIBI summed score (6.9 ± 7.5 vs. 4.4 ± 5.2, respectively, P = 0.69) but a higher (123)I-MIBG summed score (10.9 ± 7.8 vs. 22.4 ± 9.5, respectively, P = 0.007) and a higher number of mismatch defects per patient (2.0 ± 2.2 vs. 7.1 ± 2.0, respectively, P < 0.0001). The presence of more than 3 mismatch defects was strongly associated with the presence of SVT (93% sensitivity, 82% specificity; P = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: In CCC, the amount of sympathetically denervated viable myocardium is associated with the occurrence of SVT. Myocardial sympathetic denervation may participate in triggering malignant ventricular arrhythmia in CCC patients with relatively well-preserved ventricular function.

Exacerbação da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica / Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) é altamente prevalente e permanece como grande problema de saúde pública em todo o mundo. Exacerbações são eventos característicos da história natural desta doença e estão associados com significante morbidade e mortalidade. A presente revisão aborda aspectos diagnósticos e terapêuticos da exacerbação aguda da DPOC.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highly prevalent and remains a major public health problem worldwide. Exacerbations are characteristic events in the natural course of this disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This article reviews diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of acute exacerbations of COPD.

Manejo da hiperglicemia no paciente hospitalizado não crítico / Management of hyperglycemia in non critical hospitalized patients

Vários estudos observacionais apontam forte associação entre hiperglicemia nos pacientes hospitalizados e desfechos clínicos desfavoráveis, incluindo tempo de internação prolongado, infecção, incapacidade após alta hospitalar e morte. A Associação Americana de Endocrinologistas Clínicos (AACE) e a Associação Americana de Diabetes(ADA) sugerem que a insulinoterapia seja iniciada para o tratamento de hiperglicemia persistente a partir de níveis de glicemia de 180 mg/dL. Para a maioria dos pacientes não críticos internados, a metaglicêmica pré-prandial é <140 mg/dL e a casual <180mg/dL. O esquema de insulinização basal-bolus em associação com doses corretivas ou suplementares para o controle da hiperglicemia pré-prandial é a abordagem recomendada. O plano de alta, a educação do paciente durante a internação e a comunicação clara com os cuidadoressão fundamentais para garantir transição segura para o manejo ambulatorial da glicemia.

Several observational studies suggest a strong association between inpatient hyperglycemia (with or without diabetes) and adverse clinical outcomes, including prolonged hospitalization, infection, disability after hospital discharge and death.The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggest that insulin therapy is initiated for the treatment of persistent hyperglycemia from glucose levels of 180mg/dL. For most noncritically inpatients, usually the goal of premeal blood glucose should be<140mg/dL and random blood glucose < 180mg/dL. The scheme of basal-bolus insulin, in combination with corrective or additional doses to control premeal hyperglycemia is the recommended approach. Discharge planning, patient education and clear communication with outpatient providers are critical forensuring a safe transition to outpatient glycemic management.

Condutas no paciente com insuficiência cardíaca internado em enfermarias de medicina interna / Management of the inpatient with heart failure inan internal medicine ward

A crescente prevalência da Insuficiência Cardíaca na população, e a constante má-aderência aos tratamentos propostos em nível ambulatorial, fazem com que o quadro de descompensação desta doença esteja entre as recordistas em número de internações, causando grande impacto na saúde pública do Brasil. O propósito deste estudo é o de estabelecer um protocolo de condutas a ser aplicado em pacientes com Insuficiência Cardíaca internados em enfermaria de Clínica Médica Geral, como o Hospital Estadual de Ribeirão Preto (SP, Brasil), com o objetivo de garantir a recuperação de um quadro de descompensação recente, assim como reorientar o paciente quanto à importância da aderência ao tratamento instituído. Para tanto, serão propostas a utilização e otimização de ferramentas farmacológicas, além de reintrodução de medidas não-farmacológicas, de modo que se reduza o tempo de internação,o número de recorrências, e favoreça o melhor seguimento ambulatorial destes pacientes.

The increasing prevalence in heart failure and associated non adherence of patients to the proposed ambulatory-treatment regimen cause the decompensate clinical picture to be the cornerstone of the high incidence of hospitalization found in such disorder, which brings a greater impact in public health. The purpose of the present study is to establish a protocol to be applied to heart failure in patients at an internal medicine ward, such as the Hospital Estadual de Ribeirão Preto (SP, Brazil), in order to guarantee complete recovery from acute decompensated heart failure, as well as to reassure that patients understand the importance of following the proposed treatment protocols. Accordingly, pharmacological therapy and non pharmacological strategies will be either reintroduced or optimized, in order to reduce the period of hospitalization, rate of infirmary readmission, and also to favor a better ambulatory follow-upof these patients.

Detection of mutations in GATA1 gene using automated denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and direct sequencing in children with Down syndrome.

Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) was developed to screen DNA variations by separating heteroduplex and homoduplex DNA fragments by ion-pair reverse-phase liquid chromatography. In this study, we have evaluated the dHPLC screening method and direct sequencing for the detection of GATA1 mutations in peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirates samples from children with Down syndrome (DS). Cases were ascertained consecutively as part of an epidemiological study of DS and hematological disorders in Brazil. A total of 130 samples corresponding to 115 children with DS were analysed using dHPLC and direct sequencing methods to detect mutations in GATA1 exons 2, 3 and 4 gene sequences. The overall detection rate of sequencing and dHPLC screening methods was similar. Twenty mutations were detected in exon 2 and one mutation in exon 3 (c.231_232 dupGT) sequences of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia and transient leukemia samples. Four GATA1 mutations were newly described [c.155C > G; c.156_178 del23 bp; c.29_30 del GG; c.182C > A and c.151A > T,c.153_162 del 10 bp). Out of four, three had single nucleotide change. In conclusion, our results indicate that dHPLC is an efficient and valuable tool for GATA1 mutational analysis.

Acute left ventricular dysfunction of severe scorpion envenomation is related to myocardial perfusion disturbance.

BACKGROUND: Scorpion envenomation (SE) may present severe cardiac dysfunction with acute pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock. The pathophysiology of this acute heart failure is still controversial. We aimed at assessing the contribution of the myocardial ischemia to the left ventricular dysfunction in SE by using 99mTc-Sestamibi myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS). METHODS: Twelve children (7 males, 1-12 years old) presenting severe Tityus serrulatus envenomation were prospectively submitted to MPS within 72 h (acute) and 15 days (follow-up) after the event. MPS images were interpreted using a visual semi-quantitative uptake score (0 = normal, 4 = absent). Echocardiography was used for the assessment of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and regional wall motion (WM) by using a semi-quantitative score (0 = normal, 4 = akinesia). A 16-segment LV model was used. RESULTS: Initial echocardiography showed marked WM abnormalities with a mean score of 31.4+/-13.9, and a reduced EF (36+/-16%). All patients exhibited myocardial perfusion (MP) defects. The mean MP uptake score was 14.6+/-7.8. A significant topographic association between MP and WM changes was obtained (p<0.0001, Fischer exact test). A positive correlation was obtained between the summed WM and MP scores (R=0.68, p=0.016). Follow-up evaluation showed a significant improvement of LVEF (65+/-10%) and WM score (3.9+/-4.2), parallel to the normalization of MP. CONCLUSIONS: These observations strongly support the participation of transitory myocardial ischemia in the mechanism of the acute cardiac dysfunction caused by severe scorpion envenoming. Micro vascular spasm related to the catecholamine over stimulation may be the pathophysiologic link triggering the myocardial perfusion disturbance in this syndrome.