Biochemistry, Doppler echocardiography, and electrocardiography evaluation in captive owl monkeys (Aotus sp).

BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular system of owl monkeys has been studied due to frequent postmortem findings of heart disease in asymptomatic animals. The silent aspect and the difficulty of early diagnosis intensify the importance of studying the cardiovascular system in this species. METHODS: Echocardiogram evaluation was carried out on 60 animals, grouped into suspect or non-suspect of having heart diseases, and evaluated through electrocardiogram, hematology, and biochemical tests. RESULTS: Doppler echocardiography indicated two animals with suspicion of left ventricular hypertrophy and eight with dilated cardiomyopathy. Suspect animals had higher cardiac measurements and reduced shortening fraction. Troponin I was detectable in two animals (0.128 ng/mL and 0.584 ng/mL), and serum albumin concentration was significantly higher in non-suspect animals (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The importance of echocardiographic measurements of IVSd, IVSs, LVIDd, LVIDs, LVPWd, LVPWs, LA, EF, and FS in the cardiac evaluation of captive owl monkeys was evidenced.

Atherogenic cytokines and chemokines in chronic hepatitis C are not associated with the presence of cardiovascular diseases.

There appears to be an associative link between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the exact nature of the relationship between CHC and CVDs has not been elucidated. We investigated the presence of CVDs and the clinical and laboratory alterations associated with these diseases in CHC patients. Twenty-six CHC patients, 35 individuals with atherosclerosis (Athero) and 27 healthy individuals were examined for risk factors for CVD, lipid profile, atherogenic risk indexes, and insulin resistance (IR). Cardiac biomarkers and the chemokines and cytokines involved in atherosclerosis were also evaluated. A higher prevalence of prior acute myocardial infarction was found in the Athero group. Most CHC patients were infected with the hepatitis C virus genotype 1 and exhibited either no hepatic fibrosis or a mild to moderate liver fibrosis. The apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios and C-reactive protein levels were lower in CHC patients than in the Athero group. Further, IR was elevated in the CHC group and associated with the waist circumference. High GDF-15 levels were observed in the CHC group, which were inversely correlated with APOB levels. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from CHC patients produced more IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-6 than CAD PBMC but the production of IL-10 and IL-1ß was similar. CHC and CAD groups presented similar levels of IL-8, MCP-1 and LAP-TGF-ß1. Increased IR, elevated levels of GDF-15, and high production of atherogenic cytokines can be observed in Brazilian CHC patients without association with diabetes and clinical manifestation of cardiovascular diseases.