Abstract Background Garlic is an herbal medicinal plant with several pharmacological properties used for the management of various ailments. However, its potential in the reversal of ischemic heart disease induced by combined oral contraceptive pills is not well reported. Objective This study investigated the cardioprotective potential of aqueous garlic extract against cardiotoxicity induced by oral contraceptive pills. Methods Forty-six rats were used for this study. Six were used to determine the lethal dose (LD50), and 40 rats were divided randomly into 5 groups of 8 rats each. Group A received feed and distilled water. Group B received 0.6 mg/kg of oral contraceptive pills. Group C received 500 mg/kg of garlic extract. Group D received 0.6 mg/kg of oral contraceptive pills + 500 mg/kg garlic extract. Group E received 0.6 mg/kg of oral contraceptive pills + 700 mg/kg garlic extract. The animals were sacrificed, and blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histological analysis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS, and p values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results The acute toxicity dose of combined oral contraceptive pills was 1.5 mg/kg for albino rats. Combined oral contraceptive pills induced ischemic necrosis as revealed by the photomicrographs, in addition to elevation of serum cardiac troponin-1, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and malondialdehyde levels. Treatment with garlic extract demonstrated significant reduction in cardiac troponin-1 (p = 0.000), lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.002), creatine kinase (p = 0.001), and malondialdehyde (p = 0.001) levels, as well as restoration of the cardiac cytoarchitecture changes caused by the combined oral contraceptive pills. Conclusion This study has demonstrated that aqueous garlic juice can reverse ischemic heart disease, lessen cytoarchitectural alterations of the heart caused by combined oral contraceptive pills, and thus ameliorate cardiac dysfunction.

Abstract Background Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious disease with a high mortality rate. Antibiotic prophylaxis for bacterial endocarditis before invasive procedures has been recommended in patients with predisposing cardiac conditions since 1960, but contemporary guidelines worldwide have proposed changes. Objective To evaluate the knowledge and pattern of prescription by cardiologists and dentists regarding antibiotic prophylaxis for bacterial endocarditis before risky oral procedures. Methods This is an observational and cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from an online questionnaire, sent to cardiologists and dentists linked to specialty societies, in the first semester of 2021. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, and comparisons between variables were done in an exploratory approach. The significance level adopted was 5%. Results From 613 responders, 82.5% of cardiologists and 79.5% of dentists reported prescribing antibiotic prophylaxis for patients at high and moderate risk for IE. Of dental procedures capable of generating bacteremia, all were correctly identified by more than 50.0% of the sample. As for the habits of daily living, flossing and toothbrushing had almost 50.0% of correct answers, chewing had only 17.3%, and 40.9% reported that none of the actions presented a risk of bacteremia. When comparing variables, the correct prescription of amoxicillin (2 g, 30–60 minutes before the procedure) was more prevalent among cardiologists and in responders with less than 20 years of graduation (p<0.01). Conclusion In the present study, the prescription of antibiotic prophylaxis for IE were frequent for high- and moderate-risk patients, before oral/dental procedures. Partial knowledge was found about endocarditis, which highlights the need for continuous medical/dental education.

Abstract Background Dental anesthetic management in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients with cardiac channelopathies (CCh) can be challenging due to the potential risk of life-threatening arrhythmias and appropriate ICD therapies during procedural time. Objectives The present study assessed the hypothesis that the use of local dental anesthesia with 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine or without a vasoconstrictor can be safe in selected ICD and CCh patients, not resulting in life-threatening events (LTE). Methods Restorative dental treatment under local dental anesthesia was made in two sessions, with a wash-out period of 7 days (cross-over trial), conducting with a 28h - Holter monitoring, and 12-lead electrocardiography, digital sphygmomanometry, and anxiety scale assessments in 3 time periods. Statistical analysis carried out the paired Student’s t test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In all cases, a significance level of 5% was adopted. All patients were in stable condition with no recent events before dental care. Results Twenty-four consecutive procedures were performed in 12 patients (9 women, 3 men) with CCh and ICD: 7 (58.3%) had long QT syndrome (LQTS), 4 (33.3%) Brugada syndrome (BrS), and 1 (8.3%) Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). Holter analysis showed no increased heart rate (HR) or sustained arrhythmias. Blood pressure (BP), electrocardiographic changes and anxiety measurement showed no statistically significant differences. No LTE occurred during dental treatment, regardless of the type of anesthesia. Conclusion Lidocaine administration, with or without epinephrine, can be safely used in selected CCh-ICD patients without LTE. These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in a larger population with ICD and CCh.

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia, and its prevalence increases with age. The management of AF in the elderly is challenging, as it is normally associated with comorbidities and frailty. AF catheter ablation (CA) is a safe and superior alternative to antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) for the maintenance of sinus rhythm. Objectives To evaluate the rate of complications associated with CA for AF across different age groups. Methods A retrospective analysis of 219 patients who underwent CA for AF between 2016 and 2020 were divided into 3 age groups: less than 60 years, 60 to 70 years, and > 70 years. All the included patients underwent radiofrequency ablation using an electroanatomic mapping system. Categorical variables were evaluated with chi-square and Fisher’s test, and continuous variables were evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis and post-hoc Tamhane’s T2. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results We found an overall total complication rate of 4.6%. The total complication rate was 3.3% in patients < 60 years of age, 5.7% in patients between 60 and 70 years, and 5.2% in patients > 70 years (p = 0.742). No deaths occurred. Conclusion There was no significant difference in the AF CA-related complications when comparing the patients by age group.

Abstract Background In view of the absence of effective therapy for COVID-19, many studies have been conducted seeking to identify determining factors for the development of severe forms, aiming to direct efforts to avoid the worst outcomes in patients susceptible to severe conditions. One of the main comorbidities associated with complicated forms of the disease is systemic arterial hypertension (SAH). Objective To assess aspects of the clinical, demographic, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of hypertensive patients with COVID-19 to contribute to the knowledge of the relationship between the presence of this comorbidity and the severity of the disease. Methods A total of 380 patients with a diagnosis of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized between June and August 2020 were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a previous diagnosis of hypertension. For comparison between groups, a significant difference was established if p < 0.05. Results Of the total of 380 patients, 202 (53.16%) had a clinical diagnosis of SAH. Hypertensive patients were significantly older (p < 0.01) and had more comorbidities (p < 0.01) than the non-hypertensive group. In laboratory tests, hypertensive patients had higher levels of blood glucose (p = 0.014), creatinine (p = 0.002), and urea (p = 0.003), while values for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p = 0.006), and sodium (p = 0.024) were lower. There was no difference between groups in radiographic parameters. Conclusions This study showed that, although the hypertensive group had some laboratory alterations that elicited severe disease, these patients did not have worse outcomes.

Abstract Background Literature is scarce on echocardiographic characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Objectives To describe echocardiographic characteristics of ICU COVID-19 patients and associate them with clinical signals/symptoms, laboratory findings and outcomes. Methods Patients with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19, admitted to the ICU, who underwent echocardiography were included. Clinical characteristics associated with an abnormal echocardiogram (systolic ventricular dysfunction of any degree — left and/or right ventricle — and/or high filling pressures and/or moderate to severe pericardial effusion) were analyzed. Groups were compared using the Student’s t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 140 patients met inclusion criteria, and 74 (52.9%) had an abnormal echocardiogram. A low number of left and right ventricular systolic dysfunction was observed, and 35% of the population had a normal diastolic function. In the univariate analysis, characteristics associated with abnormal echocardiogram were age, chronic kidney disease, elevated troponin, previous heart failure, and simplified acute physiology score 3 (SAPS 3). In the regression model, troponin and SAPS3 score were independent markers of abnormal echocardiogram. An abnormal echocardiogram was associated with a higher prevalence of in-hospital death (RR 2.10; 95% CI 1.04-4.24) and orotracheal intubation (RR 2.3; 95% CI 1.14-4.78). Conclusions COVID-19 has little effect on ventricular function, but it is common to find increased filling pressures. Elevated serum troponin level and SAPS3 score were the independent markers of an abnormal echocardiogram. In addition, the prevalence of in-hospital death and need for mechanical ventilation were higher in patients with abnormal echocardiogram.

Abstract Background Controlling blood pressure and glycemic levels is a challenge that requires innovative solutions. Objective To assess the feasibility of implementing a text message intervention among low-income primary care patients, as well as to assess self-reported behavioral change. Methods A set of 200 text messages was developed on healthy eating, physical activity, adherence, and motivation. Participants from Vale do Mucuri, MG, Brazil diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension or undergoing screening for those diseases, received 5 to 8 messages per week for 6 months. They answered a questionnaire to report their satisfaction and behavioral changes. Results Of the 136 patients, 117 (86.0%) answered the questionnaire. Most reported that the messages were very useful (86.3%), easy to understand (90.6%), and were very helpful for behavioral change (65.0%); 84.6% reported that they had started eating healthier. The most frequent reported lifestyle changes were: improved diet quality (85.5%), reduced portions (65.8%), and weight loss (56.4%). The majority of patients shared the messages (60.7%) with family or other acquaintances, considered the number of messages to be adequate (89.7%) and would recommend the program to others (95.7%). Conclusion An intervention based on text messages to promote behavioral change in patients with hypertension or diabetes in primary care is feasible in low-resource settings. Future studies are needed to assess the program’s long-term effects on clinical outcomes.

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. The main cause of death among diabetics is cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is a precursor to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Approximately 30% of diabetic patients with AMI require myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS). Objective To evaluate the prevalence of MRS in diabetic and non-diabetic patients after AMI in a hospital in the city Criciúma, Brazil, during the period from 2016 to 2019. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out with secondary data collection, with analysis of 215 medical records of diabetic and non-diabetic patients with AMI, submitted or not to MRS during the study period. For statistical analysis, the Shapiro-Wilk test, Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used, with a significance level of α = 0.05. Results The frequency of diabetic AMI patients with hypertension (88.1%) was significantly higher (p<0.01) than of diabetic AMI patients without hypertension. Although no statistically significant differences were found in the other variables between the groups, smoking, hypertension and dyslipidemia were more prevalent in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients with AMI undergoing MRS. Conclusion The prevalence of MRS after AMI in diabetic patients was higher than in non-diabetic patients.

Abstract Introduction Nurses from the night shift are exposed to sleep deprivation, which is associated with circadian rhythm alteration, lifestyle changes, psychosocial stress, and, consequently, increased risk of blood pressure (BP) deregulation and hypertension. Objective To analyze risk factors associated with elevated BP levels in nursing workers. Methods A transversal, quantitative study was conducted with 172 nursing professionals of a large hospital in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The following data were collected: anthropometric and BP measurements, sociodemographic characteristics, clinical variables, and lifestyle habits. Results were evaluated by bivariate analysis and logistic regression. The level of significance adopted in the statistical analysis was 5%. Results Participants’ average age was 42.7 ± 9.6 years old; 86.6% (n = 149) were female, and 20.3% (n = 35) had previous diagnosis of hypertension. Overweight and obesity (odds ratio [OR]: 2.187, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.060 – 4.509) and night shift (OR: 2.100, CI 95%: 1.061 – 4.158) were statistically significant (p < 0.05) for increased risk of elevated BP level. Conclusion Excessive weight and night shift were significant factors for increased BP in nursing workers.

Abstract Background: Monocytes are essential components in inflammatory signaling, and their recruitment is crucial in the signaling pathway, which directs and determines cell adhesion to the activated endothelium. A better understanding of the correlation between monocyte subsets and inflammatory signaling in patients with atherosclerotic disease in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is essential for the development of more effective therapies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Objective: To analyze differences between biomarkers and monocyte activation in the setting of ischemic heart disease. Methods: This was a case-control study comparing biomarkers and monocyte subsets between patients with ACS with and without ST-segment elevation and individuals without coronary stenosis. The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess differences between groups, and Dunn's post hoc test was used to identify which groups were different. Cuzick's test for ordered group trends was used to assess falling or rising trends. Participants were classified into 3 groups: control (0); non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (1); ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) D1 (2). Results: Forty-seven patients with ACS and 19 controls with no obstructive lesions on coronary angiography were recruited. Monocyte profile assessment was statistically different regarding time of symptom onset and the presence or absence of atherosclerotic disease (Kruskal-Wallis, p = 0.0009). Dunn's post hoc test showed a significant difference between the control group and the STEMI D1 (p = 0.0014), STEMI D3 (p = 0.0036), and STEMI D7 (p = 0.0195) groups, corresponding to a 2-fold increase in classical (p = 0.0022) and nonclassical (p = 0.0031) monocytes compared with controls. For classical monocytes, there was a difference between the control group and all STEMI groups and between the NSTEMI group and the STEMI D1, D3, and D7 groups. For nonclassical monocytes, there was a difference between the control group and the STEMI D7 group (p = 0.0056) and between the NSTEMI group and the STEMI D7 group (p = 0.0166). Conclusion: This study found that there was an increase in total and classical monocyte mobilization at the time of acute myocardial infarction in patients with ACS.

Abstract Background: Stroke is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the Southeast Region of Brazil, and it is impacted by socioeconomic conditions and the age of the population in the region. Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the burden of stroke in the adult population, for both sexes, in different age groups, in the Southeast Region of Brazil, in the year 2019. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with secondary data on stroke, obtained from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), to calculate years of life lost (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD), and disability-adjusted life years (DALY). Results: In the year 2019, in the Southeast Region of Brazil, a total of 713,132 DALY were estimated, 80% from YLD and 20% from YLL. The highest values were from the state of São Paulo, as it is the most populous state; in the female sex, due to the greater number of female inhabitants; and in the age group between 40 and 59 years. However, when adjusted to a rate of 100,000 inhabitants, the greatest impact was for the male sex in the state of Minas Gerais, mainly in the age group between 70 and 79 years. Conclusions: YLD were more relevant in the composition of DALY, due to higher stroke morbidity than mortality, and high stroke DALY burdens impact the economically active population in this region.

Abstract Background: Children and adolescents should be encouraged to participate in sports; however, physicians should screen for cardiac abnormalities that can lead to sudden death. The European Society of Cardiology, the Brazilian Society of Cardiology and the Brazilian Society of Sports Medicine indicate performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) in evaluating athletes, while the American Heart Association indicates complementary exams only when there is a personal or family history of cardiovascular diseases or changes in clinical examination. Objectives: To evaluate the need for an ECG in evaluating children and adolescents before starting physical activities. Methods: We recruited 983 children and adolescents who practiced physical activities for anthropometric assessment, clinical examination and conventional ECG at rest. Variables were analysed using the Goodman test with a significance level of 5%. Results: Participants had a higher incidence of overweight, obesity and severe obesity compared to standard World Health Organization (WHO) values. The most common finding in clinical examination was heart murmur (18.5% of participants). Electrocardiographic changes were found in 3.3% of participants, including paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and pre-excitation syndrome, which may be responsible for sudden death, even in asymptomatic individuals with no personal or family history of heart disease and no abnormality on clinical examination. Conclusions: ECG revealed arrhythmias that were not detected by clinical examination and may precede sudden death in individuals subjected to physical exertion, indicating its role in the assessment of children and adolescents before starting regular physical exercise.