Lívia Nascimento de Matos

Impact of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on left atrial volume and function in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea assessed by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been reported as a predictor of left ventricle (LV) diastolic dysfunction and left atrium (LA) remodelling. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of OSA treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP) on the LA volume and function, as well as on the LV diastolic function. Methods: In total, 56 OSA patients were studied. All patients underwent real-time three-dimensional (RT3DE) and two-dimensional echocardiogram with tissue Doppler evaluation in order to estimate LA volumes, function and LV diastolic performance. A total of 30 patients with an apnoea-hypopnoea index greater than 20 were randomly selected to receive sham CPAP (n = 15) or effective CPAP (n = 15) for 24 weeks. They underwent echo examination on three different occasions: at baseline, after 12 weeks and 24 weeks of CPAP or sham CPAP. Results: In the effective CPAP group we observed the following changes from the baseline to the 24-week echo evaluation: (a) a reduction in the E/E′ ratio (10.3 (1.9) to 7.9 (1.3), p = 0.03); (b) an increase in the LA passive emptying fraction (28.8% (11.9%) to 46.8% (9.3%), p = 0.01); and (c) a reduction in the LA active emptying fraction (42.7% (11.5%) to 25.7 (15.7), p<0.01). In the sham group, there were no changes from the baseline to the 24-week echo. We found a positive correlation between 24 week/baseline LA active emptying volume and 24 week/baseline E/E′ ratios (r = 0.40, p<0.05) and a negative correlation between 24 week/baseline LA passive emptying volume and 24 week/baseline E/E′ ratios (r = −0.53, p<0.05). No significant changes were found on LA total emptying fraction. Conclusion: CPAP improved LV diastolic function and LA passive emptying, but not LA structural variables in OSA patients. Trial registration number: NCT00768807.

Rede de infarto com supradesnivelamento de ST: sistematização em 205 casos diminui eventos clínicos na rede pública

BACKGROUND: The major cause of death in the city of Sao Paulo (SP) is cardiac events. At its periphery, in-hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction is estimated to range between 15% and 20% due to difficulties inherent in large metropoles. OBJECTIVE:To describe in-hospital mortality in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) of patients admitted via ambulance or peripheral hospitals, which are part of a structured training network (STEMI Network). METHODS: Health care teams of four emergency services (Ermelino Matarazzo, Campo Limpo, Tatuape and Saboya) of the periphery of the city of Sao Paulo and advanced ambulances of the Emergency Mobile Health Care Service (abbreviation in Portuguese, SAMU) were trained to use tenecteplase or to refer for primary angioplasty. A central office for electrocardiogram reading was used. After thrombolysis, the patient was sent to a tertiary reference hospital to undergo cardiac catheterization immediately (in case of failed thrombolysis) or in 6 to 24 hours, if the patient was stable. Quantitative and qualitative variables were assessed by use of uni- and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: From January 2010 to June 2011, 205 consecutive patients used the STEMI Network, and the findings were as follows: 87 anterior wall infarctions; 11 left bundle-branch blocks; 14 complete atrioventricular blocks; and 14 resuscitations after initial cardiorespiratory arrest. In-hospital mortality was 6.8% (14 patients), most of which due to cardiogenic shock, one hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident, and one bleeding. CONCLUSION: The organization in the public health care system of a network for the treatment of STEMI, involving diagnosis, reperfusion, immediate transfer, and tertiary reference hospital, resulted in immediate improvement of STEMI outcomes.

Correlation of anthropometric indicators for identifying insulin sensitivity and resistance

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES Early detection of reduced insulin sensitivity (IS) and insulin resistance (IR) is desirable. The aim here was to evaluate correlations of anthropometric indicators for identifying IR or IS and determine the cutoff points of the most effective indicators. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional study in the city of São Paulo. METHODS Sixty-one individuals with normal fasting plasma glucose (NFPG) and 43 overweight women were analyzed. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), conicity index and the HOMA-IS and HOMA-IR indices were determined. The correlations between the anthropometric indices and IS and IR were determined. ROC analysis was used to determine the areas under the curve (AUC) and cutoff points. RESULTS Among the NFPG individuals, BMI (r = -0.50; P = 0.002) and WHtR (r = -0.45; P = 0.007) showed correlations with HOMA-IS (homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity). The ROC curve demonstrated statistical significance for BMI (AUC = 0.769; P = 0.005), WHtR (AUC = 0.764; P = 0.01) and WC (AUC = 0.702; P = 0.04), and the best cutoff points were 33.3 kg/m², 0.67 and 100 cm, respectively. Among the overweight women, the best correlation with HOMA-IR was demonstrated by WHtR (r = 0.37; P = 0.01), and the best cutoff point was 0.70 (AUC = 0.61; P = 0.25). CONCLUSION The most promising indicators for showing IS among the NFPG individuals were BMI, WHtR and WC. Among the overweight women, WHtR demonstrated greater correlation with IR.

Effects of ezetimibe on markers of synthesis and absorption of cholesterol in high-risk patients with elevated C-reactive protein

AIMS High-risk subjects with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) are at high risk for cardiovascular events and frequently require potent statins or combined lipid-lowering therapy to achieve lipid targets and decrease inflammation. Our study aimed at evaluating the effects of three lipid-modifying therapies on LDL-cholesterol, CRP levels and markers of cholesterol absorption and synthesis. MAIN METHODS A prospective intervention study was performed in high cardiovascular risk individuals receiving atorvastatin 10mg daily for four weeks. Those with CRP≥2.0mg/L were randomized to another four-week treatment period with atorvastatin 40mg, ezetimibe 10mg or the combination of atorvastatin 40mg / ezetimibe 10mg. Lipids, markers of cholesterol absorption (campesterol and β-sitosterol), and synthesis (desmosterol), as well as CRP were quantified at baseline and end of study. KEY FINDINGS One hundred and twenty two individuals were included. Atorvastatin alone or combined with ezetimibe reduced both LDL-cholesterol and CRP (P<0.002 vs. baseline; Wilcoxon); ezetimibe did not modify CRP. Ezetimibe-based therapies reduced absorption markers and their ratios to cholesterol (P<0.0001 vs. baseline, for all; Wilcoxon), whereas atorvastatin alone increased campesterol/cholesterol and β-sitosterol/cholesterol ratios (P<0.05 vs. baseline; Wilcoxon). In addition, ezetimibe also increased desmosterol and desmosterol/cholesterol ratio (P<0.0001 vs. baseline; Wilcoxon). SIGNIFICANCE These results contribute to understanding the link between cellular cholesterol homeostasis, inflammation and lipid-modifying therapies. Our findings highlight the broader benefit of combined therapy with a potent statin and ezetimibe decreasing inflammation, and preventing increase in cholesterol biosynthesis, an effect not observed with ezetimibe alone.

No association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and prediabetes in Brazilian patients. A cross-sectional study

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Several studies have evaluated the role of low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD3) in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and have presented controversial results. The metabolic processes that culminate in T2DM begin under prediabetic conditions. Our aim was to analyze the association between 25OHD3 and glucose metabolism in individuals who were free from but at elevated risk of diabetes. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional study at a tertiary hospital. METHODS Anthropometric and laboratory profiles were determined in patients with one or more of the following risk factors: hypertension; body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2; waist circumference > 80 cm for women and > 94 cm for men; first-degree relatives with diabetes; women with large-for-gestational-age newborns or with gestational T2DM; HDL-cholesterol (high density lipoprotein) < 35 mg/dl; and triglycerides > 250 mg/dl. The patients were divided into two groups: one with prediabetes (abnormal fasting plasma glucose or oral glucose tolerance test) and the other with normal glucose (euglycemic). RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between the prediabetic group (n = 38) and euglycemic group (n = 15) regarding age (66.4 ± 10.6 versus 62.6 ± 9.1 years), gender (52.6 versus 73.3% female) and BMI (30.1 ± 4.61 versus 27.9 ± 4.7 kg/m2). Low serum levels of 25OHD3 were found in both groups, without any statistically significant difference between them (29.1 ± 11.8 versus 26.87 ± 9.2 ng/dl). CONCLUSION There was no association between 25OHD3 levels and the clinical or laboratorial variables analyzed.

Complicações vasculares em pacientes submetidos a intervenção coronária percutânea precoce por via femoral após fibrinólise com tenecteplase: registro de 199 pacientes

BACKGROUND: Fibrinolysis is often used in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes with ST segment elevation (STEMI). Major cardiac outcomes were reduced with antiplatelet therapy intensification, but with increased risk of bleeding. Our objective was to assess the risk of vascular bleeding in patients undergoing early percutaneous coronary intervention after thrombolysis. METHODS: Between February 2010 and December 2011, five public emergency rooms in the city of Sao Paulo and the Emergency Health Care Service (Servico de Atendimento Movel de Urgencia - SAMU) used tenecteplase (TNK) to treat patients with STEMI. Patients were referred to a single tertiary hospital and were submitted to early cardiac catheterization during hospitalization. All examinations were performed via the femoral artery and BARC criteria were used to classify bleeding. RESULTS: We evaluated 199 patients, of whom 193 had no bleeding of vascular origin (group 1) and 6 (3%) developed this complication (group 2). The median time between the administration of the fibrinolytic agent and catheterization was 24 hours in group 1 and 14.7 hours in group 2. According to BARC criteria, 1 patient had type 3a bleeding (hematoma in the inguinal region with a hemoglobin decrease of 3-5 g/dL), 2 patients had type 3b bleeding (1 not related to vascular access and 1 retroperitoneal hematoma with a hemoglobin decrease ≥ 5 g/dL) and the remaining patients had type 1 bleeding (small inguinal hematomas). Blood transfusions were required in 2 patients. None of the patients died due to vascular complications after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, early catheterization via the femoral artery as part of a pharmaco-invasive strategy, using TNK as a fibrinolytic agent, had a low vascular bleeding rate, comparable to that of elective angioplasties.