Cardiopatía isquémica. Consideraciones para la atención odontológica / Ischemic heart disease. Considerations for dental treatment

La cardiopatía isquémica es un padecimiento que se caracteriza por la falta de oxígeno del músculo cardiaco y es la principal causa de infarto de miocardio. Existen múltiples factores que predisponen al desarrollo de ésta como la obesidad, la hiperlipidemia, el sedenta- rismo, tabaquismo, diabetes e hipertensión. Dadas las características que configuran la fisiopatología de la cardiopatía isquémica, existen diversas consideraciones que deben ser tomadas en cuenta toda vez que el estomatólogo brinde atención a un paciente con este padecimiento. El objetivo del presente artículo es conocer todo lo relacionado con la fisiopatología de la cardiopatía isquémica, sus manifestaciones clínicas, su tratamiento médico y lo más importante, las consideraciones que deben tomarse en el consultorio dental cuando se atienda a un paciente que padezca esta condición (AU)

Ischemic heart disease is a condition characterized by a lack of oxygen in the heart muscle and is the main cause of myocardial infarction. There are multiple factors that predispose to the development of this, such as obesity, hiyperlipidemia, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, diabetes and hypertension. Given the characteristics that make up the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease, there are various considerations that must be taken into account whenever the stomatologist provides care to a patient with this condition. The objective of this article is to know everything related to the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease, its clinical manifestation, its medical treatment and most importantly, the considerations that must be taken in the dental office when caring for a patient with this condition (AU)

Eficacia de la arginina al 8% y nitrato potásico al 5% en el tratamiento de la hipersensibilidad dentinaria: ensayo clínico aleatorio / Efficacy of 8% arginine and 5% potassium nitrate in dentin hypersensitivity therapy: a randomized clinical trial

RESUMEN: Objetivo: Comparar la eficacia clínica de dentífricos en base a arginina al 8%/ monofluorfosfato de sodio 1450 ppm versus nitrato de potasio al 5%/fluoruro de sodio 2500 ppm en la terapia de la hipersensibilidad dentinaria (HSD). Materiales y método: Ensayo clínico, aleatorio, controlado, doble ciego, de grupos paralelos. Treinta y cuatro voluntarios de 18 a 70 años, con HSD en escala Visual Análoga (EVA) ≥4 en 2 ó más dientes no molares, fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en 2 grupos: grupo T1 (n=16): dentífrico de Arginina al 8%/ monofluorfosfato de sodio 1450 ppm; y grupo T2 (n=18): dentífrico de nitrato de Potasio al 5%/fluoruro de sodio 2500 ppm. Se evaluó HSD en EVA con estímulos evaporativos y térmicos, y se compararon sus valores, así como el grado promedio de HSD y su reducción (∆HSD), intra e intergrupal, al inicio y a las 4 semanas de tratamiento. Resultados: Ambos dentífricos disminuyeron el grado promedio de HSD entre el inicio y las 4 semanas de tratamiento (T1: 5.03 ± 1.23 versus 2.60 ± 1.27, p<0.05; T2: 4.73 ± 1.51 versus 2.71 ± 1.17, p<0.05). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos dentífricos al comparar el grado promedio de reducción de HSD durante la terapia (∆HSD T1: -2.43 ± 1.22 versus ∆HSD T2: -2.27 ± 1.42). Los datos fueron analizados en Stata versión 11. Conclusiones: Ambos dentífricos fueron clínicamente eficaces en reducir la HSD a las 4 semanas, sin existir diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos.

ABSTRACT: Aim: To compare the clinical efficacy of 8% arginine/1450ppm sodium monofluorophosphate and 5% potassium nitrate/2500 ppm sodium fluoride dentifrices in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity (DH). Methods: Parallel-design, double-masked, randomized controlled clinical trial. Thirty four volunteers aged 18 to 70 years, with DH and a visual analog scale (VAS) score ≥4 at least in two or more non-molar teeth, were randomized in two groups: T1 (n=16): 8% arginine/1450 ppm sodium monofluorophosphate dentifrice; and T2 (n=18): 5% potassium nitrate/2500 ppm sodium fluoride dentifrice. DH was assessed with evaporative and thermal stimuli; and their VAS measurements, mean DH value and DH reduction (∆DH) were compared, inside and between the groups at baseline and 4-week follow-up. Data were analysed through Stata® V11 program. Results: Both toothpastes decreased mean DH value between baseline and 4 weeks (T1: 5.03 ± 1.23 versus 2.60 ± 1.27, p<0.05; T2: 4.73 ± 1.51 versus 2.71 ± 1.17, p<0.05). There were no statistical differences between both dentifrices in mean DH reduction values during therapy (∆HSD T1: -2.43 ± 1.22 versus ∆HSD T2:-2.27 ± 1.42). Conclusions: Both dentifrices had clinical efficacy in decreasing DH in a 4- week therapy, without statistical differences between both of them.

A Multivariate Model for Prediction of Obstructive Coronary Disease in Patients with Acute Chest Pain: Development and Validation / Um Modelo Multivariado para Predição de Doença Coronariana Obstrutiva em Pacientes com Dor Torácica Aguda: Desenvolvimento e Validação

Abstract Background: Currently, there is no validated multivariate model to predict probability of obstructive coronary disease in patients with acute chest pain. Objective: To develop and validate a multivariate model to predict coronary artery disease (CAD) based on variables assessed at admission to the coronary care unit (CCU) due to acute chest pain. Methods: A total of 470 patients were studied, 370 utilized as the derivation sample and the subsequent 100 patients as the validation sample. As the reference standard, angiography was required to rule in CAD (stenosis ≥ 70%), while either angiography or a negative noninvasive test could be used to rule it out. As predictors, 13 baseline variables related to medical history, 14 characteristics of chest discomfort, and eight variables from physical examination or laboratory tests were tested. Results: The prevalence of CAD was 48%. By logistic regression, six variables remained independent predictors of CAD: age, male gender, relief with nitrate, signs of heart failure, positive electrocardiogram, and troponin. The area under the curve (AUC) of this final model was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 0.75 - 0.84) in the derivation sample and 0.86 (95%CI = 0.79 - 0.93) in the validation sample. Hosmer-Lemeshow's test indicated good calibration in both samples (p = 0.98 and p = 0.23, respectively). Compared with a basic model containing electrocardiogram and troponin, the full model provided an AUC increment of 0.07 in both derivation (p = 0.0002) and validation (p = 0.039) samples. Integrated discrimination improvement was 0.09 in both derivation (p < 0.001) and validation (p < 0.0015) samples. Conclusion: A multivariate model was derived and validated as an accurate tool for estimating the pretest probability of CAD in patients with acute chest pain.

Resumo Fundamento: Atualmente, não existe um modelo multivariado validado para predizer a probabilidade de doença coronariana obstrutiva em pacientes com dor torácica aguda. Objetivo: Desenvolver e validar um modelo multivariado para predizer doença arterial coronariana (DAC) com base em variáveis avaliadas à admissão na unidade coronariana (UC) devido a dor torácica aguda. Métodos: Foram estudados um total de 470 pacientes, 370 utilizados como amostra de derivação e os subsequentes 100 pacientes como amostra de validação. Como padrão de referência, a angiografia foi necessária para descartar DAC (estenose ≥ 70%), enquanto a angiografia ou um teste não invasivo negativo foi utilizado para confirmar a doença. Foram testadas como preditoras 13 variáveis basais relacionadas à história médica, 14 características de desconforto torácico e oito variáveis relacionadas ao exame físico ou testes laboratoriais. Resultados: A prevalência de DAC foi de 48%. Por regressão logística, seis variáveis permaneceram como preditoras independentes de DAC: idade, gênero masculino, alívio com nitrato, sinais de insuficiência cardíaca, e eletrocardiograma e troponina positivos. A área sob a curva (area under the curve, AUC) deste modelo final foi de 0,80 (intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%] = 0,75 - 0,84) na amostra de derivação e 0,86 (IC95% = 0,79 - 0,93) na amostra de validação. O teste de Hosmer-Lemeshow indicou uma boa calibração em ambas as amostras (p = 0,98 e p = 0,23, respectivamente). Em comparação com o modelo básico contendo eletrocardiograma e troponina, o modelo completo ofereceu um incremento na AUC de 0,07 tanto na amostra de derivação (p = 0,0002) quanto na de validação (p = 0,039). A melhoria na discriminação integrada foi de 0,09 nas amostras de derivação (p < 0,001) e validação (p < 0,0015). Conclusão: Um modelo multivariado foi derivado e validado como uma ferramenta acurada para estimar a probabilidade pré-teste de DAC em pacientes com dor torácica aguda.

TeleCondutas: cardiopatia isquêmica / TeleGuides: ischemic heart disease

Cardiopatia isquêmica é uma causa importante de morbimortalidade no Brasil. Visto sua importante prevalência, seus casos estáveis devem ser manejados na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). A principal etiologia é a aterosclerose, porém podem ocorrer eventos por espasmo coronariano, alteração da relação da oferta de oxigênio e demanda miocárdica ou trombose coronariana. A manifestação clínica mais comum é a angina pectoris (desconforto torácico em aperto, retroesternal, relacionado com esforços físicos ou emocionais e que alivia com repouso ou nitratos), mas podem ocorrer outras situações, como: infarto agudo do miocárdio, arritmia, insuficiência cardíaca, isquemia silenciosa e morte súbita. O papel do médico na APS é avaliar a probabilidade clínica da dor ser de origem cardíaca e iniciar investigação diagnóstica apropriada, continuar ou otimizar tratamento farmacológico em pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado, trabalhar no controle dos fatores de risco e coordenar o cuidado de pacientes que necessitam encaminhamento para o cardiologista ou serviço de emergência. Esta guia apresenta informação que orienta a conduta para casos de cardiopatia isquêmica no contexto da Atenção Primária à Saúde, incluindo: Classificação clínica da dor torácica, Probabilidade pré-teste na dor torácica, Classificação da angina, Exames complementares, Acompanhamento na APS, Tratamento farmacológico, Tabela com medicamentos, Manejo na APS da doença arterial aguda, Encaminhamento para serviço especializado.

Impact of Diltiazem Alone versus Diltiazem with Nitrate on Five-Year Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Significant Coronary Artery Spasm

PURPOSE: Calcium channel blockers diltiazem and nitrate have been used as selective coronary vasodilators for patients with significant coronary artery spasm (CAS). However, no study has compared the efficacy of diltiazem alone versus diltiazem with nitrate for long-term clinical outcomes in patients with CAS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2741 consecutive patients without significant coronary artery disease with positive CAS by acetylcholine (Ach) provocation test between November 2004 and May 2014 were enrolled. Significant CAS was defined as a narrowing of >70% by incremental intracoronary injection of 20, 50, and 100 µg of Ach into the left coronary artery. Patients were assigned to either the diltiazem group (n=842) or the dual group (diltiazem with nitrate, n=1899) at physician discretion. To adjust for potential confounders, a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed using the logistic regression model. After PSM analysis, two well-balanced groups (811 pairs, n=1622, C-statistic=0.708) were generated. RESULTS: At 5 years, there were similar incidences in primary endpoints, including mortality, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and recurrent angina requiring repeat coronary angiography between the two groups. Diltiazem alone was not an independent predictor for major adverse cardiovascular events or recurrent angina requiring repeat coronary angiography. CONCLUSION: Despite the expected improvement of endothelial function and the relief of CAS, the combination of diltiazem and nitrate treatment was not superior to diltiazem alone in reducing mortality and cardiovascular events up to 5 years in patients with significant CAS.

Effects of Nitrate Intake on Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Diabetic Rats / Efeitos do Consumo de Nitrato na Lesão de Isquemia-Reperfusão Miocárdica em Ratos Diabéticos

Abstract Background: Coronary artery disease is 2-3 times more common in diabetic individuals. Dietary nitrate/nitrite has beneficial effects in both diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also has protective effects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in healthy animals. However, the effects of nitrate on myocardial IR injury in diabetic rats have not yet been investigated. Objective: We examined the effects of dietary nitrate on myocardial IR injury in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. Method: Rats were divided into four groups (n=7 in each group): control, control+nitrate, diabetes, and diabetes+nitrate. Type 2 diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Nitrate (sodium nitrate) was added to drinking water (100 mg/L) for 2 months. The hearts were perfused in a Langendorff apparatus at 2 months and assessed before (baseline) and after myocardial IR for the following parameters: left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), minimum and maximum rates of pressure change in the left ventricle (±dP/dt), endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression, and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and NO metabolites (NOx). Results: Recovery of LVDP and ±dP/dt was lower in diabetic rats versus controls, but almost normalized after nitrate intake. Diabetic rats had lower eNOS and higher iNOS expression both at baseline and after IR, and dietary nitrate restored these parameters to normal values after IR. Compared with controls, heart NOx level was lower in diabetic rats at baseline but was higher after IR. Diabetic rats had higher MDA levels both at baseline and after IR, which along with heart NOx levels decreased following nitrate intake. Conclusion: Dietary nitrate in diabetic rats provides cardioprotection against IR injury by regulating eNOS and iNOS expression and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in the heart.

Resumo Fundamentos: A doença arterial coronariana é duas a três vezes mais comum em indivíduos diabéticos. O nitrato/nitrito dietético tem efeitos benéficos tanto para o diabetes quanto para a doença cardiovascular, assim como efeitos protetores contra a lesão de isquemia-reperfusão (IR) miocárdica em animais saudáveis. Porém, os efeitos do nitrato na lesão de IR miocárdica em ratos diabéticos ainda não foram investigados. Objetivos: Foram examinados os efeitos sobre a lesão de IR miocárdica da adição de nitrato à dieta de ratos com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 induzido por estreptozotocina-nicotinamida. Métodos: Os ratos foram divididos em quatro grupos (n = 7 em cada grupo): controle, controle+nitrato, diabetes e diabetes+nitrato. O diabetes foi induzido nos animais por injeção de estreptozotocina e nicotinamida. Nitrato (nitrato de sódio) foi adicionado à água de beber (100 mg/L) por 2 meses. Os corações foram perfundidos em sistema de Langendorff aos 2 meses e avaliados antes (basal) e após IR miocárdica em relação aos seguintes parâmetros: pressão desenvolvida no ventrículo esquerdo (PDVE), taxas máximas de variação positiva e negativa da pressão ventricular esquerda (±dP/dt), expressão do RNAm da óxido nítrico (NO) sintase (NOS) endotelial (eNOS) e da NOS induzível (iNOS), além de níveis de malondialdeído (MDA) e metabólitos do óxido nítrico (NOx). Resultados: A recuperação da PDVE e ±dP/dt foi inferior nos ratos diabéticos versus controles, mas quase normalizou após ingestão de nitrato. Ratos diabéticos apresentaram expressão diminuída de eNOS e aumentada de iNOS tanto no estado basal quanto após IR, e o consumo dietético de nitrato restaurou estes valores para o estado normal após a IR. O nível de NOx cardíaco foi menor nos ratos diabéticos em comparação aos controles no momento basal, mas foi superior após a IR. Ratos diabéticos apresentaram níveis mais elevados de MDA tanto no estado basal quanto após IR que, juntamente com os níveis cardíacos de NOx, reduziram após consumo dietético do nitrato. Conclusões: O consumo dietético de nitrato por ratos diabéticos ofereceu cardioproteção contra a lesão de IR através da regulação da expressão de eNOS e iNOS e inibição da peroxidação lipídica no coração.

Tratamento medicamentoso atual / Current drug treatment

A elevada prevalência populacional de doença arterial coronária crônica propiciou a melhora dos métodos preventivos, diagnósticos e terapêuticos. A confirmação de isquemia, com ou sem sintomas, trouxe tratamento inovadores visando à redução de eventos agudos, melhora na qualidade de vida e aumento de sobrevida Estudos recentes comparam os resultados do tratamento clínico com outras intervenções e concluíram que o sucesso da intervenção clínica está embasado na otimização terapêutica. Definida a influência dos fatores de risco e os mecanismos fisiopatológicos da doença, o tratamento medicamentoso constitui a base e a sequência de todas as intervenções na doença arterial coronária crônica.

The high prevalence of patients with chronic coronary artery disease has led to the improvement of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Confirmation of ischemia with or without symptoms, brought innovative treatment aimed at reducing acute events, improvement in quality of life and increased survival. Recent studies have compared the results of clinical treatment with other interventions and concluded that the success of clinical intervention is based on therapeutic optimization. Once established the inluence of risk factors and physiopathological mechanisms of the disease, drug treatment constitutes the basis and the sequence of all interventionns in chronic artery disease.

The influence of desensitizing dentifrices on pain induced by in-office bleaching

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the use of desensitizing dentifrices used 15 days prior to and after in-office tooth bleaching could eliminate or reduce tooth sensitivity. After institutional review board approval and informed consent, 45 subjects were selected and divided into 3 groups according to the dentifrice selected: Colgate Total (CT), Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief (CS) or Sensodyne ProNamel (SP). The subjects used toothpaste and a toothbrush provided to them for 15 days prior to bleaching. They were then submitted to two in-office bleaching sessions (Whiteness HP Blue Calcium). Their tooth sensitivity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for a week after each session. Their tooth shade alteration was measured with a Vitapan Classical shade guide to determine if the dentifrices could influence the effectiveness of the bleaching agent. The data were submitted to Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (α = 0.05). The use of desensitizing dentifrices did not affect the bleaching efficacy. In regard to tooth sensitivity, there was a statistically significant difference between the results of the Control Group and Group T2 after the first session (p = 0.048). There was no statistically significant difference in the results for the other groups after the first session. In regard to the second session, there was no statistically significant difference in the results for all the groups. The use of a desensitizing dentifrice containing nitrate potassium reduced tooth sensitivity during the bleaching regimen. Dentifrices containing arginine and calcium carbonate did not reduce tooth sensitivity. Color change was not influenced by the dentifrices used.

Atenuação da remodelação ventricular após infarto agudo do miocárdio / Attenuation of ventricular remodeling after myocardial acute infarction

Após o infarto agudo do miocárdio podem ocorrer complexas alterações da arquitetura ventricular, envolvendo tanto a região infartada como a região não infartada. Há alguns anos, essas alterações passaram a ser designadas como remodelação ventricular pós-infarto. Do ponto de vista clínico, a remodelação está associada ao pior prognóstico após a oclusão coronária. Assim, a remodelação predispõe o coração infartado à ruptura ventricular e é o substrato fisiopatológico para a posterior formação do aneurisma ventricular. Cronicamente, a remodelação está associada com maior prevalência de arritmias malignas, principalmente a taquicardia ventricular sustentada e a fibrilação ventricular. O aspecto mais relevante da remodelação pós-infarto, no entanto, é que esse processo desempenha papel fundamental na fisiopatologia da disfunção ventricular. Aspecto a ser considerado refere-se ao fato de que a evolução do processo de remodelação pode ser modificado por meio de diversas intervenções terapêuticas. Entre as estratégias para atenuar a remodelação ventricular destacam-se: terapia de reperfusão, inibidores da enzima conversora da angiotensina e antagonistas da angiotensina II, betabloqueadores, antagonistas da aldosterona e dispositivos de assistência circulatória.

After acute myocardial infarction (AMI), complex changes in ventricular architecture may occur involving the infarcted and the non-infarcted region. This set of adaptations, which includes changes in the composition, mass, volume and geometry of the heart, is known as myocardial remodeling. In relation to clinical significance, the intensity of the ventricular remodeling process is directly associated with worse prognosis, due to the higher incidence of aneurysm formation, ventricular rupture and arrhythmia, and is also associated with the progression of ventricular dysfunction. A relevant aspect to be considered is that a number of strategies have been employed to prevent or mitigate the process of ventricular remodeling following AMI, for instance: reperfusion therapy, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II antagonists, beta-adrenergic receptor blockade, aldosterone antagonists, and left ventricular assist devices.

Angina de pecho estable / Stable angina

Los pacientes con dolor torácico representan una causa común de consulta y en ellos el diagnóstico de angina de pecho se establece con una buena anamnesis. La causa subyacente es una obstrucción > 70 por ciento de uno o más vasos coronarios en la mayoría de los casos. El pronóstico individual es muy variable y es necesario una estratificación con pruebas de provocación de isquemia para decidir tratamiento médico o de revascularización ya sea percutánea o quirúrgica. El tratamiento médico tiene como objetivo el alivio del dolor (nitratos, bloqueadores beta adrenérgicos y antagonistas del calcio) y la mejoría del pronóstico (Aspirina, clopridogel, estatina, inhibidores del eje renina, angiotesina aldosterona). Existen nuevos agentes farmacológicos cuyo rol en la terapia habitual no está bien definido (ranolazina, nicorandil, ivabradina, trimatazidina). En relación a la terapia de revascularización, la angioplastía coronaria percutánea y la quirúrgica tienen mejor efecto en los síntomas comparados con la terapia médica en pacientes con angina de pecho estable y la terapia quirúrgica tiene una mejoría en el pronóstico por la reducción de eventos isquémicos posterior al procedimiento.

Patients with chest pain are a common cause of visiting the doctor, and with a good anamnesis you can diagnose the angina. The underlying cause, most of the time, is an obstruction over 70 percent of one or more coronary vessels. The individual prognostic is variable, and it must be stratified by tests for detecting coronary artery disease, and then decide a medical treatment or percutaneous revascularization, surgical revascularization. The aim of medical treatment is to relief the pain (nitrates, beta adrenergic blockers and calcium antagonists), and the prognostic improvement ( aspirin, clopridogel, statins, rennin inhibitors). There are new pharmacological agents for individual therapy, but there role is not well define yet (ranolazine, nicorandil, ivabradine, trimatazidine). To relief the symptoms, the revascularization therapy, the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and the surgical one, have better effect, than the medical treatment. The surgical therapy may have better prognostic reducing later ischemic events post procedure.

Role of cardiac biomarkers (troponin I and CK-MB) as predictors of quality of life and long-term outcome after cardiac surgery.

Perioperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac surgery affect both the outcome and quality of life. Markers such as troponin effectively predict short-term outcome. In a prospective cohort study in a University Hospital we assessed the role of cardiac biomarkers, also as predictors of long-term outcome and life quality after cardiac surgery with a three-year follow-up after conventional heart surgery. Patients were interviewed via phone calls with a structured questionnaire examining general health, functional status, activities of daily living, perception of life quality and need for hospital readmission. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis were performed. Out of 252 consecutive patients, 8 (3.2%) died at the three years follow up: 7 for cardiac complications and 1 for cancer. Thirty-six patients (13.5%) had hospital readmission for cardiac causes (mostly for atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias (9.3%), but none needed cardiac surgical reintervention; 21 patients (7.9%) were hospitalised for non-cardiac causes. No limitation in function activities of daily living was reported by most patients (94%), 92% perceived their general health as excellent, very good or good and none considered it insufficient; 80% were NYHA I, 17% NYHA II, 3% NYHA III and none NYHA IV. Multivariate analysis indicated preoperative treatment with digitalis or nitrates, and postoperative cardiac biomarkers release was independently associated to death. Elevated cardiac biomarker release and length of hospital stay were the only postoperative independent predictors of death in this study.

Curso de atualização em cardiologia: aula 9: angina instável e infarto sem supradesnível do segmento ST / Updating cardiology course: class 9: instable angina and non ST element elevation infarction

A doença arterial coronariana é altamente prevalente na população e uma das principais causas de óbito em nossa sociedade. O reconhecimento precoce e o adequado tratamento desta síndrome clínica podem evitar complicações e minimizar os riscos. Em 2007, o American College of Cardiology e a American Heart Association revisaram o Guideline de Manejo de Pacientes com AI e IAM SSST, produzido em 2002, com o intuito de facilitar o reconhecimento, diagnóstico e tratamento desta importante síndrome clínica. O presente artigo tem como objetivo salientar as características principais dessas síndromes clínicas, assim como transmitir os principais aspectos abordados pelo Guideline publicado em 2007 pelo American College of Cardiology e a American Heart Association.

Coronary artery disease is highly prevalent in general population and one of the main causes of death in our society. Early recognition and proper therapy of this syndrome can avoid complications and curtail risks. In 2007 the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association reviewed the Guidelines for Patient Management with UA and non-STMI, published in 2002, in order to ease the recognition, diagnosis and therapy of this important clinical condition. This paper aims to give a clear picture of the main characteristics of these syndromes, as well as the highlights of the Guideline published in 2007 by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

Dentinal hypersensitivity?--Can this agent be the solution?

AIM: To test the efficacy of desensitizing tooth paste containing EMS salts in alleviating dentinal hypersensitivity, reducing plaque accumulation, and reducing gingivitis. METHODS: A randomised, single blind, parallel placebo controlled study was conducted in 40 cases. The cases were randomly assigned to test and control groups. The test group was instructed to use the test tooth paste (containing EMS salts) and control group a placebo tooth paste (without any therapeutic agents) for a period of 6 weeks. The hypersensitivity levels were measured with scratchometer and verbal rating scale. Student t test and wilcoxon's Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the test and control groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results indicated that both the test as well as the control toothpastes were effective in alleviating dentinal hypersensitivity as well as reducing gingivitis. However, the test toothpaste was superior in alleviation of dentinal hypersensitivity.

Remodelación ventricular post infarto agudo al miocardio: caso clínico / Ventricular remodeling post acute infarct to myocardium: clinical case

Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 64 años que tras sufrir un IAM, sufre un proceso de remodelación ventricular en un período menor 7 meses que la conduce a una insuficiencia cardíaca severa.

Management of acute myocardial infarction in the public sector in the Bahamas

In 1996 and 1997, 52 patients were admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas, with a confirmed diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The average time to presentation after the onset of symptoms was 18 hours, with 56 percent of patients presenting within 12 hours. Risk factors identified for ischaemic heart disease were hypertension (77 percent), obesity (62 percent), diabetes mellitus (35 percent), tobacco smoking (25 percent), a family history of coronary heart disease (17 percent) and hypercholesterolaemia (8 percent). Medications administered in the treatment of AMI included oral nitrates (96 percent), intravenous heparin (90 percent), beta-blockers (65 percent), morphine (15 percent) thrombolytic agents (8 percent) and lignocaine (4 percent). In hospital post myocardial infarction complications were angina (23 percent), arrhythmias (12 percent) and cardiac failure (10 percent). The average hospital stay was eight days, with a mortality rate of 19 percent. These results show that there is considerable room for improvement, particularly in the use of thrombolytic therapy, to ensure that all patients receive optimal acute and post myocardial infarction care.