Association of depression and stress in acute myocardial infarction: a case-control study / La relación de la depresión y el estrés con el infarto del miocardio: un estudio de casos y controles

Background. Psychosocial factors have been reported to be independently associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). However the stress variable is still sub detailed and there are few studies that used coronary angiography (CA) to assess CAD. Objectives. To compare levels of depression, stress and stressful life events in three groups of individuals: post-MI (Myocardial Infarction) patients; patients presenting symptoms and no previous MI who underwent cardiac catheterization and had non-significant obstructive CAD and individuals with no symptoms of cardiac disease or others diseases. Methods. We conducted a case-control study, with two cases groups and one control group. The study included 105 patients with recent Myocardial Infarction (MI group), 101 patients with cardiac symptoms and normal CA (CS group), and 100 patients without symptoms of disease (NS group). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess stress and vital events with an Odds Ratio of 95% confidence interval (CI), controlling for age, sex, education level, income, social support group, Body Mass Index (BMI), sedentary lifestyle and family history of MI or sudden death. Results. MI patients group showed depression with an OR= 4.47(95% CI, 2:36 to 8:46, p<.001), and stress OR= 5.37(95%CI, 2.94-9.78, p<.001) whereas CS group showed depression: OR= 6.95(95%CI, 3.64-13.28, p<.001) and stress: OR=9.18 (95%CI, 4.73-17.82, p<.001) compared to patients without symptoms. After adjusting the groups for the following risk factors: age, sex, education, income, social support, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history of MI or sudden death, the OR showed the following variation: in the MI group, depression OR=2.51 (95%CI, 1:05 to 5:98, p=.038), stress, OR=8.76(95%CI, 3:48 to 22:01, p<.001), while the CS group showed: depression OR=3.25(95%CI, 1.40-7.55,p<01) and stress OR=12.24 (95%, CI, 4.81-31.14, p<.001). The raised effect of variable stress after adjustment was promoted by age, sex and physical inactivity variables, and did not affect the significance level (p<.001). Conclusions. This study has demonstrated that subjects with cardiac symptoms without overt CAD show similar depression and/or stress levels than post-MI patients, and that post-MI patients and CS patients experience more stress and depression than control patients, even when they adjusted in terms of age, sex, education level, family income, social support, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and family history of MI and / or sudden death.

Antecedentes. Factores psicosociales han demostrado asociación independiente con la enfermedad arterial coronaria (EAC); sin embargo, la variable estrés sigue siendo sub detallada y hay pocos estudios que utilizaron la angiografía coronaria (CA) para evaluar EAC. Objetivos. Comparar los niveles de depresión, el estrés y los acontecimientos vitales estresantes en tres grupos de personas: en pacientes post-IM (infarto de miocardio), en pacientes que presentan síntomas cardiacos y cateterismo cardíaco normal y en individuos sin síntomas de enfermedades cardíacas. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles -dos grupos de casos y un grupo control-. El estudio incluyó a 105 pacientes con infarto de miocardio reciente (grupo MI), 101 pacientes con síntomas cardíacos y CA normal (grupo CS), y 100 pacientes sin síntomas de la enfermedad (grupo NS). Se utilizó multivariante de regresión logística para evaluar el estrés y los acontecimientos vitales con una odds ratio de intervalo de confianza del 95% (IC), controlando por edad, sexo, nivel educativo, ingresos, grupo de apoyo social, el indice de masa corporal (IMC), el sedentarismo y los antecedentes familiares de infarto de miocardio o muerte súbita. Resultados. Los pacientes del grupo MI mostraron depresión con una OR=4.47 (IC del 95%, 02:36-08:46, p<0.001), y el estrés OR=5.37 (IC 95%, 2.94-9.78; p<0,001) mientras que el grupo CS mostró depresión OR=6.95 (95% CI, 3.64 a 13.28, p<0.001) y el estrés OR=9.18 (95% CI, 4.73 a 17.82, p<0.001) en comparación con los pacientes sin síntomas. Después de ajustar por factores de riesgo: edad, sexo, educación, ingresos, apoyo social, obesidad, sedentarismo, antecedentes familiares de infarto de miocardio o muerte súbita, el OR mostró la siguiente variación: en el grupo de MI, depresión OR=2.51 (IC del 95%, 1:05 a 5:98, p=0.038), el estrés, OR=8.76 (IC del 95%, 3:48-22:01, p<0.001), y CS grupo, depresión OR=3.25 (95% CI, 1.40 a 7.55, p<01) y el estrés OR=12.24 (95%, IC, 4.81 a 31.14, p<0.001). El efecto de elevación de la variable estrés después del ajuste fue promovida por las variables de edad, sexo e inactividad física, y no afectó el nivel de significación (p<0.001). Conclusiones. Este estudio ha demostrado que los sujetos con síntomas cardíacos sin EAC presentan similares niveles de depresión y / o estrés a los de los pacientes post-IM. También se demostró que los pacientes post-IM y los pacientes CS tienen más estrés y depresión que los controles, incluso cuando se ajustan por edad, sexo, nivel de educación, ingreso familiar, apoyo social, obesidad, sedentarismo y antecedentes familiares de infarto de miocardio y / o muerte súbita.

Alcohol consumption, cardiovascular health, and endothelial function markers.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the worldwide leading causes of shorter life expectancy and loss of quality of life. Thus, any influence of diet or life habits on the cardiovascular system may have important implications for public health. Most world populations consume alcoholic beverages. Since alcohol may have both protective and harmful effects on cardiovascular health, the identification of biochemical mechanisms that could explain such paradoxical effects is warranted. The vascular endothelium is the target of important mediating pathways of differential ethanol concentrations, such as oxidative stress, lipoproteins, and insulin resistance. Alcohol-induced endothelial damage or protection may be related to the synthesis or action of several markers, such as nitric oxide, cortisol, endothelin-1, adhesion molecules, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and haemostatic factors. The expression of these markers is consistent with the J-shaped curve between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular health. However, there is genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in alcohol response, and despite the apparent beneficial biochemical effects of low doses of ethanol, there is not enough clinical and epidemiological evidence to allow the recommendation to consume alcoholic beverages for abstemious individuals. Considering the potential for addiction of alcoholic beverage consumption and other negative consequences of alcohol, it would be worthwhile to identify substances able to mimic the beneficial effects of low doses of ethanol without its adverse effects.

O polimorfismo 894G>T do gene da óxido nítrico sintase endotelial e sua associação com doença coronária / The 894G>T polymorphism of the endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase gene and its association with coronary artery disease

O endotélio cumpre um papel fundamental na vasodilatação fisiológica e na proteção da parede arterial frente aos processos de trombose e aterosclerose, assim como na resposta à lesão provocada pela angioplastia ou implante de stent intracoronário. Essa função protetora é exercida, entre outros mecanismos, através da síntese e liberação de óxido nítrico (NO) pela célula endotelial. O NO inibe a adesão e a agregação plaquetária, assim como provoca a desagregação de agregado plaquetário. Inibe também a mitogênese e a proliferação de células de músculo liso vascular, assim como a quimiotaxia e a adesão de polimorfonucleares neutrófilos ao endotélio. O NO é sintetizado na célula endotelial, a partir da L-Arginina, pela NO sintase endotelial constitutiva (NOSec), uma enzima constitutiva codificada por um gene localizado no cromossomo 7q35-36, contendo 26 éxons que ocupam 21 quilobases. Foram descritos alguns polimorfismos deste gene, entre os quais, o polimorfismo 894G>T, presente no éxon 7 do gene da NOSec. Este polimorfismo consiste na substituição de uma base guanina por uma timina no nucleotídeo 894 do gene; esta mutação resulta na substituição de um aminoácido glutamato por aspartato na posição 298 da NOSec (Glu298Asp). Nesta revisão, descreve-se a possível associação desse polimorfismo com a doença coronária, destacando algumas contribuições de nosso grupo de pesquisa.

The endothelium plays a major role in the physiological vasodilatation, in the protection of the arterial wall against atherosclerotic and thrombotic process, as well as in the response to vessel injury after coronary angioplasty and stenting. This protective function is mediated, among others, by the synthesis and release of nitric oxide (NO) by endothelial cells. The NO has been shown to inhibit platelet adhesion and aggregation, and also to stimulate disaggregation of preformed platelet aggregates. It also inhibits mitogenesis and the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, as well as polymorphonuclear adhesion and chemotaxis. The NO is synthesized in the endothelial cell from L-arginine, by endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS), which is a constitutive enzyme codified by a gene located in locus 7q35-36, containing 26 exons that occupy 21 kilobases. Some polymorphisms in this gene have been described. Among these, the 894G>T polymorphism present in the exon 7 of the ecNOS gene. This polymorphism consists of the substitution of a guanine base by a thymine at nucleotide 894 of the gene; this mutation results in the substitution of the glutamate amino acid by aspartate at the 298th position of the ecNOS protein (Glu298Asp). In this review, we describe the possible association of this polymorphism with coronary artery disease and the contributions of our research group.

Hemodynamic effects of sildenafil in patients with stable ischemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Recently the new specific phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil was introduced into therapy for erectile dysfunction. The hemodynamic effects of sildenafil may be potentially hazardous for patients with cardiac disease. Sildenafil has been reported to augment the hypotensive effects of nitrates. There is sparse information regarding the systemic and pulmonary hemodynamic effects of a single oral dose of sildenafil in patients with stable angina. METHODS: Male patients referred for coronary angiography with diagnosis of chronic stable angina were enrolled in this study to assess the acute hemodynamic effects of sildenafil. Patients receiving long-acting or sublingual nitrates for the last 6 h before the study were excluded. Hemodynamic measurement were taken during right and left heart catheterization in the basal state and 60 min after 50 mg of oral sildenafil. RESULTS: Twelve patients (age 53+/-7 years) were studied. All had stable angina CCS class II or III. Four had previous myocardial infarction. By coronary angiography, seven patients had at least one coronary artery with >70% stenosis, four had at least one with 50-70% stenosis, and one had only intimal irregularities. There were no significant effects of sildenafil on systemic or pulmonary arterial pressure, left ventricle end diastolic pressure, cardiac output, and systemic or pulmonary vascular resistance (P>0.05 for all). No adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: A single oral dose of sildenafil had no significant hemodynamic effect in supine patients with stable angina. Isolated administration of sildenafil does not appear to be associated to adverse cardiovascular effects.

Substituiçäo isolada da valva aórtica em pacientes com funçäo ventricular deprimida / Isolated aortic valve replacement in patients with depressed ventricular function

Para avaliar o valor prognóstico da fraçao de ejeçao do ventrículo esquerdo, entre 210 pacientes com lesoes da valva aórtica operados, consecutivamente, entre maio de 1981 e outubro de 1988 e que receberam as próteses Omniscience e Meditronic-Hall, foram selecionados 112 e divididos, de acordo com a fraçao de ejeçao do ventrículo esquerdo, em dois grupos: o Gl = FE > 40 por cento, ficou com 52 pacientes com médias de idade 39 ñ 12 anos, FE = 58 + 10 por cento e classe funcional (NYHA) = 2,8; o GE = FE ( 40 por cento ficou com 60 pacientes com médias de idade 48 + 17 anos, FE = 27 + 13 por cento e (NYHA) = 3,6. Nas cirurgias, foram utilizados hipotermia e hemodiluiçao moderadas, oxigenador de bolhas, infusao cardioplégica St. Thomas. As médias dos tempos de circulaçao extracorpórea e parada cardíaca foram: no Gl = 82 ñ 18 e 49 ñ 7 minutos, e 96 ñ 11 e 55 ñ 6 minutos, no Grupo 2; o tamanho das próteses foi 25,2 ñ 1,8 milímetros. No Grupo 1, a mortalidade imediata foi 3,8 por cento no Gl e 5,8 no G2, e a tardia 4 por cento no Gl, e no G2 foi 8,7 por cento. No Gl houve significante associaçao entre a mortalidade e a funçao ventricular sistóiica. Clínicamen,te, no Gl, 65 por cento dos pacientes estao na (NYHA) I, 28 por cento na II, 5 por cento na III e 2 por cento na IV. No G2, 46 por cento estao na (NYHA) I, 25 por cento na II, 13 por cento na III, e 16 por cento na IV. A sobrevida atuarial em sete anos foi 88 ñ 2 por cento no Gl e 76 ñ 4 por cento no G2. Portanto, os pacientes com FE ( 40 por cento apresentaram mortalidade mais elevada, menor sobrevida a curto e longo prazo e resultados clínicos menos satisfatórios. Para obtermos melhores resultados, devemos operar antes que a FE em repouso e exercício se torne deprimida, ou que apareça intolerância ao exercício moderado.