Systemic effects of controlled exposure to diesel exhaust: a meta-analysis from randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Ambient air pollution is associated with adverse cardiovascular events. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the short-term association between air pollution and cardiovascular effects on healthy volunteers. METHODS: We searched databases to identify randomized trials with controlled human exposures to either of two models for studying ambient particulate matter: diesel-exhaust or concentrated ambient particles. Estimates of size effect were performed using standardized mean difference (SMD). Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. Outcomes were vascular function estimated by forearm blood flow (FBF), blood pressure, heart rate, and blood analysis. RESULTS: Database searches yielded 17 articles (n = 342) with sufficient information for meta-analyses. High levels of heterogeneity for the some outcomes were analyzed using random-effects model. The pooled effect estimate showed that short-term exposure to air pollution impaired FBF response from 2.7 to 2.5 mL/100 mL tissue/min (SMD 0.404; p = .006). There was an increase in 5000 platelet/mm3 following pollution exposure (SMD 0.390; p = .050) but no significant differences for other outcomes. CONCLUSION: Controlled human exposures to air pollution are associated with the surrogates of vascular dysfunction and increase in platelet count, which might be related to adverse cardiovascular events. Given the worldwide prevalence of exposure to air pollution, these findings are relevant for public health. KEY MESSAGES Controlled exposure to air pollution impairs vasomotor response, which is a surrogate for adverse cardiovascular events. This is the first meta-analysis from randomized clinical trials showing short-term association between air pollution and cardiovascular effects on healthy volunteers. Given the worldwide prevalence of exposure to air pollution, this finding is important for public health.

Dexmedetomidine use in the setting of cocaine-induced hypertensive emergency and aortic dissection: a novel indication.

Aortic dissection is a potentially fatal but rare disease characterized by an aortic intimal tear with blood passing into the media creating a false lumen and with resultant high mortality depending on the location of dissection if not aggressively treated. Cocaine users are known to have a higher incidence of aortic dissection. We report here aortic dissection in a patient with cocaine abuse which did not respond to traditional medication regimes used currently in this setting. Worth mentioning is the use of an alpha-2 receptor selective agonist named Dexmedetomidine as a treatment modality to control hypertension in this patient, which is approved only for sedation of intubated and mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care settings and for sedation during invasive procedures. This paper illustrates the practical beneficial role of Dexmedetomidine in controling blood pressure in the settings of cocaine-induced sympathetic surge when other treatment modalities fail.

Correlacionando icterícia, resultados de exames laboratoriais e diagnósticos de doenças / Correlating jaundice, laboratory test results and diagnosis of diseases

Para descobrir quais as doenças que mais comumente cursam com a icterícia em pacientes internados no Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro (HUAP) e correlacioná-las com marcadores bioquímicos foram utilizados dados extraídos de prontuários de pacientes internados durante os anos de 2005 a 2007. 0s dados foram analisados usando métodos estatísticos como qui-quadrado e teste Z. Utilizamos a análise das dosagens de aspartato-aminotrans ferase (AST), alanina-aminotransferase (ALT), fosfatase alcalina (FA), gama-glutamiltransferase (gama-GT), bilirrubina (Bb) total e suas frações direta e indireta. Os sinais e sintomas mais comuns na amostra estudada foram: dor abdominal, vômitos e colúria, que estão presentes em cerca de 60% das queixas dos pacientes estudados. Na população entre nove e 85 anos de idade, a análise sugere que AST e ALT nos chamam atenção para uma possível lesão hepática associada aos casos de icterícia. Enquanto que FA e GGT são marcadores de colestase. A bilirrubina direta tem média mais elevada no grupo de pacientes entre nove e 85 anos e a bilirrubina indireta atinge níveis maiores no grupo com até dois meses de vida. As dosagens bioquímicas são armas muito importantes na pesquisa etiológica dos casos de icterícia.

To find out which diseases most commonly lead to jaundice in hospitalized patients in HUAP and correlate them with biochemical markers. We used data from medical records of patients hospitalized during the years 2005 to 2007. The data were analyzed using statistical methods to test and chi-square-Z. We used the analysis of the strengths of AST, ALI, FA, GGT, Bb and its fractions total direct and indirect. The most common signs and symptoms in the sample studied were abdominal pain, vomiting and choluria that are present in about 60% of complaints from patients. In the population between nine and 85 years of age, the analysis suggests that AST and ALT in calling attention to a possible liver damage linked to cases of jaundice. While FA and gamma-GT are markers of cholestasis. The direct bilirubin is highest average in the group of patients between nine and 85 years and indirect bilirubin levels higher in the group with up to two months of life. The biochemical doses are very important weapons in the etiological research of cases of jaundice.

Óxido nítrico: inibição das plaquetas e participação na formação do trombo / Nitric oxide: inhibition of platelets and participation in thrombus formation

Neste artigo faremos uma revisão bibliográfica de modo que entendamos como o óxido nítrico (NO) atua sobre as plaquetas, compreendendo assim mais um mecanismo antiplaquetário. Nos últimos 25 anos a função do NO na biologia evoluiu do seu reconhecimento como poluente ambiental para substância endógena envolvida em comunicação intracelular e intercelular e na transdução de sinais. O NO é uma molécula polivalente que exerce um papel na regulação da hemostasia, sendo responsável pela inibição das plaquetas em todos os seus níveis de atuação, desde adesão até agregação, impedindo, dessa forma, posterior formação de trombo. Inúmeras desordens clínicas têm sido reportadas em que a insuficiência da produção de NO endógeno e, portanto, a ausência de inibição de ação plaquetária, parece contribuir para os eventos trombóticos.

In this article we make a review above the way that nitric oxide (NO) influence platelets over the past 25 years. The role of NO in biology has evolved from being recognized as an environmental pollutant to an endogenously produced substance involved in intracellular and intercellular communication and signal transduction. NO is a multifunctional molecule that plays a role in the regulation of hemostasis. It is responsible for platelets inhibition in all levels of its action, from adhesion to aggregation, preventing in this manner, thrombus formation. Several clinical disorders have been reported in which endogenous NO production insufficiency and, as a consequence, the absence of platelets action inhibition, seems to contribute to thrombotic events.

Avaliação da função endotelial e da cinética de quilomícrons em homens saudáveis com redução isolada do HDL-Colesterol: efeitos da niacina / Endothelial function and chylomicron-like kinetics assessment in helthy men with isolated low HDL-cholesterol: niacin's effect

Cerca de 35 per cent dos coronariopatas não têm fatores de risco convencionais. Estudamos o HDL-C baixo e sua relação com a função endotelial utilizando ultra-som de alta resolução para avaliação da dilatação mediada por fluxo (DMF) da a. braquial e o clearence de quilomícrons artificiais(CQA). / Almost 35 per cen of CAD patients do not have conventional risk factors. We have studied the low HDL-C and its relationship with the endothelial function using high resolution ultra-sound to evaluate the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and the chylomicron-like emulsion clearence...

Caracteristicas clínicas de indivíduos jovens com infarto agudo do miocárdio / Clinical characteristics of young peoplo with acute myocardial infarction

A prevalência do infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) em indivíduos jovens é baixa 4-8( por cento) e não dispomos de trabalhos que avaliem as características do IAM em um grande número de pacientes dessa população. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar os fatores de risco, caracteristicas angiográficas, tratamento e evolução hospitalar de indivíduos com IAM, com idades até 40 anos. Foram estudados 76 pacientes(61 homens e 15 mulheres), com idade média 36,9 mais ou menos 3,57 anos, admitidos no Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de São Paulo, entre janeiro de 1996 e julho de 1999. O infarto foi de parede anterior em 35,5(por cento), inferior em 50 (por cento) e 14,5 ( por cento) tiveram IAM sem supradesnivelamento do segmento ST. O tabagismo foi o fator de risco ponderante ( 72,4 por cento). História de infarto prévio foi relatada em apenas 9,7 ( por cento). Artérias coronárias normais à cinecoronariografia ocorreram em 22,7(por cento) dos pacientes; 42,4(por cento) eram uniarteriais: 22,7(por cento), biarteriais e 12(por cento)triarteriais. Não houve lesões no tronco de coronária esquerda e a fração de ejeção média foi de 0,62 mais menos 0,16. A mortalidade hospitalar foi 2,6(por cento) (dois pacientes) e reinfarto ocorreu em quatro (5,2 por cento) doentes. Estes dados sugerem que pacientes jovens com IAM frequentemente são fumantes, têm incidência elevada de coronárias normais ou lesões uniarteriais e fração de ejeção normal, e bom prognóstico a curto prazo.

Comparison between young males and females with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the differences between young males and females after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 236 patients (54 females and 182 males) after acute myocardial infarction and during hospital stay assessed the following parameters: risk factors; the treatment used; the pattern of coronary artery obstruction; left ventricular ejection fraction; complications; and, using a logistic regression model, the factors related to the occurrence of reinfarction and death. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the sexes in risk factors, pattern of coronary artery obstruction, and left ventricular function. The time interval between symptom onset and treatment was longer in females (p=0.03), who underwent thrombolysis (p=0.01) and angioplasty (p=0.03) less frequently than males did, but not myocardial revascularization. Female sex (OR = 5.98) and diabetes (OR = 14.52) were independent factors related to the occurrence of reinfarction and death. CONCLUSION: Young males and females after acute myocardial infarction did not differ in coronary risk factors, and clinical and hemodynamic characteristics. Females had their treatment started later, and they underwent chemical thrombolysis and angioplasty less frequently than males did. Female sex and diabetes were related to the occurrence of reinfarction and death.

Comparaçäo entre homens e mulheres jovens com infarto agudo do miocárdio / Comparison between young males and females with acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE - To assess the differences between young males and females after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS - We retrospectively studied 236 patients (54 females and 182 males) after acute myocardial infarction and during hospital stay assessed the following parameters: risk factors; the treatment used; the pattern of coronary artery obstruction; left ventricular ejection fraction; complications; and, using a logistic regression model, the factors related to the occurrence of reinfarction and death. RESULTS - No significant difference was observed between the sexes in risk factors, pattern of coronary artery obstruction, and left ventricular function. The time interval between symptom onset and treatment was longer in females (p=0.03), who underwent thrombolysis (p=0.01) and angioplasty (p=0.03) less frequently than males did, but not myocardial revascularization. Female sex (OR = 5.98) and diabetes (OR = 14.52) were independent factors related to the occurrence of reinfarction and death. CONCLUSION - Young males and females after acute myocardial infarction did not differ in coronary risk factors, and clinical and hemodynamic characteristics. Females had their treatment started later, and they underwent chemical thrombolysis and angioplasty less frequently than males did. Female sex and diabetes were related to the occurrence of reinfarction and death

Fibrilaçäo atrial: abordagem farmacológica atual / Atrial fibrilation: current pharmacologic approach

Os autores destacam a abordagem farmacológica atual da fibrilaçäo atrial, enfatizando o controle da resposta ventricular, a cardioversäo química e a conduta na prevençäo de eventos troboembólicos de uma anticoagulação adequada