The relationship between cardiovascular disease and hearing loss has already been proven. However literature does not provide information on the prevalence of hearing loss in adults with cardiovascular disease. Previous studies provide contradictory information regarding the audiological characteristics in this population. Data relating to the South African context is minimal. The objectives of this descriptive survey research study were to describe the prevalence of hearing loss in adults with this cardiovascular disease and determine the variables which may influence hearing thresholds in this population. Ninety two individuals diagnosed with coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy were recruited using a non-probability, purposive sampling strategy. This sample, with an average age of 48 years and five months, consisted of more males than females and more participants with coronary artery disease than cardiomyopathy. Participants underwent a comprehensive audiological evaluation including an otoscopic examination, immittance audiometry, pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, as well as distortion product otoacoustic emissions. Content analysis, descriptive statistics, t-tests and an analysis of covariance revealed a hearing loss prevalence of 5%. These participants presented with a low frequency sensorineural hearing loss with the right ear being more affected. It was found that duration of cardiovascular disease influenced hearing thresholds. Implications of this study include the importance of prevention and early identification of hearing loss. This highlights the need to establish the role of audiologists within a multi-disciplinary team and the management of individuals with this disease.

A irrigação cardíaca, tanto no homem quanto em outros mamíferos, é assunto relevante e tem sido pesquisado por diversos autores, entre os quais se destacam, em nosso meio, H. Rodrigues e os membros de sua equipe, procurando subsidiar a base biomorfológica de doenças vasculares do miocárdio. Relativamente aos músculos papilares, mesmo considerando sua destacada importância, as informações sobre o comportamento dos vasos arteriais a eles relacionados são, porém, incompletas e escassas na literatura médica. Objetivando estabelecer a origem destas artérias e sua distribuição nos músculos papilares do ventrículo esquerdo, fizemos nossa pesquisa com 30 corações de cães adultos, machos e fêmeas de raça não definida e de várias idades. Nestas espécies, após a doação de suas carcaças pelo Centro de Zoonose, logo em seguida ao óbito, o coração foi removido, isolado dos pulmões e do pericárdio parietal, lavado em água corrente e em seguida injetado através do óstio da artéria coronária esquerda com uma solução de acetato de vinil corado, neoprene látex 650 corado ou gelatina a 10%. Em alguns corações, a cor da solução variou segundo as subdivisões das artérias injetadas. Os músculos papilares em todas as técnicas utilizadas foram fixados com solução de formol a 10 %. A dissecação foi realizada para evidenciarmos a vascularização arterial e para tal utilizamos solução de ácido sulfúrico a 40 % de forma a acelerar o processo. Para realização das radiografias utilizamos injeção com mercúrio o que auxiliou a montagem dos esquemas da vascularização estudada. Assim como utilizamos a técnica de diafanização de Spalteholz para melhor visualizar a irrigação cardíaca. Evidenciamos que os músculos papilares subauricular e subatrial são irrigados pelos ramos da artéria coronária esquerda. O m. subauricular pelos ramos interventricular paraconal e circunflexo e o m. subatrial predominantemente pelo ramo circunflexo. Os sub-segmentos que suprem o m. subauricular do ramo interventricular paraconal são os ramos: colateral e ventriculares à esquerda, e do ramo circunflexo são os ramos: dorsais à esquerda e intermédio (marginal ventricular esquerdo) e mais raramente o ramo da borda ventricular esquerda (ramo diafragmático). Os sub-segmentos do ramo circunflexo que suprem o m. subatrial são os ramos: intermédio (marginal ventricular esquerdo), da borda ventricular esquerda (ramo diafragmático), ramos dorsais direito e ramo interventricular subsinuoso. Em alguns casos observamos o ramo colateral e o próprio ramo interventricular paraconal atingir a porção do vértice do m. subatrial. Em 100% dos casos foram observadas anastomoses entre os ramos que atingem o ápice cardíaco: interventricular paraconal e seu sub-segmento colateral, além dos sub-segmentos do ramo circunflexo: ramo intermédio (marginal ventricular esquerdo), ramo da margem ventricular esquerda e o ramo interventricular subsinuoso. / Cardiac irrigation, both in man and in other mammals, is a relevant subject that has been researched by several authors, among whom H. Rodrigues and his team, who have been seeking to subsidy the biomorphological base for myocardium vascular diseases. Information about the arterial vases related to papillary muscles is incomplete and scarce in the medical literature, in spite of their great importance. Aiming at establishing the origin of these arteries and their distribution through the papillary muscles in the left ventricle, we conducted our research using 30 adult dog hearts, both male and female, of undefined breeds and of several ages. After these species´ carcasses were donated by the Zoonosis Center, immediately after death, the animals? hearts were removed, isolated from the lungs and from the parietal pericardium, washed in running water, and then injected through the left coronary artery ostium with a colored vinyl acetate solution, with colored latex neoprene 650, or with 10% gelatin. The solution color varied in a few hearts according to the injected artery subdivisions. The papillary muscles were fixed with a 10% formaldehyde solution in all techniques that were used. Dissection was performed to reveal arterial vascularization. During the procedure, we used a 40% sulfuric acid solution to accelerate the process. To perform the X-ray, we used a mercury injection to help us to assemble the studied vascularization schemes, and we also used the Spalteholz technique to view cardiac irrigation better. We found that subauricular and subatrial papillary muscles are irrigated by the left coronary artery branches: the m. subauricular by the paraconal interventricular and circumflex branches and the m. subatrial predominantly by the circumflex branch. The sub-segments that supply the m. subauricular of the paraconal interventricular paraconal branch are the collateral and left ventricular, while sub-segments that supply the circumflex branch are the left dorsal and intermediate (marginal left ventricular) and, more rarely, the left ventricular edge branch (diaphragmatic branch). The sub-segments of the circumflex branch that supply the m. subatrial are the following branches: intermediate (marginal left ventricular), the left ventricular edge (diaphragmatic branch), right dorsal branches and the sub-sinuous interventricular branch. In a few cases, we also observed the collateral branch and the paraconal interventricular branch itself reaching the vertex portion of the m. subatrial. In 100% of the cases, anastomosis was observed between the branches that reach the cardiac apex: paraconal interventricular and its collateral sub-segment, over and beyond the circumflex branch sub-segments: intermediate branch (marginal left ventricular), the left ventricular margin branch, and the sub-sinuous interventricular branch.

Gao Shan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-194). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract in English --- p.i / Abstract in Chinese --- p.iii / Acknowledgement --- p.v / Introduction --- p.vi / Contents --- p.viii / List of tables --- p.xiv / List of figures --- p.xv / Chapter Chapter One --- Literature Review / Chapter 1.1 --- Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) Stenos --- p.is / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Prevalence of atherosclerotic MCA stenosis --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Methods for diagnosis of MCA stenosis --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Possible mechanism and course of stroke with MCA stenosis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Treatment and prevention of stroke in patients with MCA stenosis --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2 --- Microembolic Signal (MES) Detection / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Introduction --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Technology --- p.9 / Characteristics of MES / Factors that affect MES detection / Problems of technology / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Clinical application --- p.15 / MES originating from atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis / MES detection in internal carotid endarterectomy (CEA) / MES detection in patients with MCA stenosis / Predicting value and application in therapeutic trial / References --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter Two --- General Methodology / Chapter 2.1 --- Transcranial Doppler (TCD) Diagnosis for Intracranial Artery Stenosis / Chapter 2.1.1 --- TCD spectrum and common parameters --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Emitting and receiving transducers --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Pulsitility index (PI) --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Insonation depth and flow direction --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Continuous wave (CW) and pulsed wave (PW) --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Normal intracranial arteries through temporal and suboccipital window --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Normal intracranial arteries through orbital window --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.8 --- Normal extracranial arteries --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.9 --- TCD diagnosis for intracranial artery stenosis --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.10 --- Example of multiple intracranial arteries stenosis --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2 --- Microembolic Signal (MES) Detection / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Device of MES monitoring --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Insonated artery and depth --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Axis length of the sample volume --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) time window overlap --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Distinguishing embolic signal and artifact with two-gate transducer --- p.45 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Measurements of embolic signal and threshold --- p.47 / References --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter Three --- Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Microembolic Signal (MES) in Patients with Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) Stenosis / Chapter 3.1 --- Abstract --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2 --- Introduction --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3 --- Methodology --- p.51 / Patients / Severity of stroke and clinical course / Diagnosis for middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis / Microembolic signal (MES) detection / Statistical analysis / Chapter 3.4 --- Results --- p.55 / Baseline information of patients / Prevalence of MES / Relationship between presence of MES and severity of MCA stenosis / Correlation between presence of MES and clinical course in 85 symptomatic patients / Correlation between the count of MES and clinical course in 85 symptomatic patients / Correlation between the presence of MES and further ischemic stroke / Chapter 3.5 --- Discussion --- p.63 / Prevalence of MES / Association between severity of stroke and presence or the number of MES / Predictive value of MES for further stroke / References --- p.66 / Chapter Chapter Four --- Mechanisms of Acute Cerebral Infarction in Patients with Cerebral Artery Stenosis: a Diffusion-weighted Imaging and Microemboli Monitoring study / Chapter 4.1 --- Abstract / Chapter 4.2 --- Introduction --- p.72 / Chapter 4.3 --- Methodology --- p.73 / Patients / Microembolic signal (MES) detection by transcranial Doppler (TCD) / "Magnetic resonance imaging (DWI, MRI and MRA)" / Statistical analysis / Chapter 4.4 --- Results --- p.77 / Severity of MCA stenosis on MRA and pattern of infarct on DWI / Frequency and count of MES and its relationship with multiple and borderzone infarction on DWI / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion --- p.79 / Frequency of MES / Pattern of cerebral infarcts on DWI / Relationship between MES and multiple infarcts on DWI / References --- p.83 / Chapter Chapter Five / Chapter Chapter Five-I --- Novel Observations of the Characteristics of Real Time Genesis of Thromboembolism in Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis Detected by Transcranial Doppler / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Abstract --- p.90 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Introduction --- p.91 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Methodology --- p.91 / Characteristics of patients / "MRA, DWI and conventional TCD data" / MES monitoring method and overall data / Neuroimaging and MES monitoring data in all five patients / Signal analysis in off-line / Confirmation test for the origin of MES / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Results --- p.104 / Frequency of three special phenomena / Characteristics of three special phenomena / Results of confirmation test for embolic source / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Discussion --- p.133 / Occurrence of MES with flow velocity change simultaneously / MES splatter / Bi-directional low frequency (S-velocity) vibration / Testing for source of MES detected from MCA stenosis / References --- p.139 / Chapter Chapter Five-II --- Characteristics of Microembolic Signals Detected near Its Origin from the Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Abstract --- p.143 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Introduction --- p.144 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Methodology --- p.144 / Patients / Microembolic signal (MES) detection / Classification of MES / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Results --- p.145 / Types of MES detected from MCA stenosis / Characteristics of three types of MES / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Discussion --- p.157 / Emboli moving from vessel wall to the center / Emboli vibration / About calculating the time delay between two channels / References --- p.160 / Chapter Chapter Five-III --- "Hemodynamic change,microembolic signal counts and use of antithrombotic treatments" / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Abstract --- p.163 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Introduction --- p.164 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Methodology --- p.164 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Results / "The relationship among flow velocity, the number of MES and time since symptom onset" --- p.165 / Patient one / Patient two / Patient three / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Discussion / Association between flow velocity or MES change and different anticoagulants in acute stage / Progression of MCA stenosis after acute stage / Stability of MCA atherosclerotic stenosis / References --- p.173 / Chapter Chapter Six --- The Optimal Values of Flow Velocity on Transcranial Dopplerin Grading Severity of Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis in Comparison With Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Chapter 6.1 --- Abstract --- p.179 / Chapter 6.2 --- Introduction --- p.180 / Chapter 6.3 --- Methodology --- p.180 / Patients / TCD examination / Grading of MCA stenosis on MRA / Statistical analysis / Chapter 6.4 --- Results --- p.182 / Detection of >50% MCA stenosis according to flow velocity / Grading severity of MCA stenosis by flow velocity / Chapter 6.5 --- Discussion --- p.186 / Reliability of TCD diagnosis for MCA stenosis / Grading MCA stenosis according to flow velocity on TCD / References / Abbreviations --- p.189 / Publications --- p.191

Aortic stiffness underlies systolic hypertension, promotes heart failure and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is regarded as a primary driver of left ventricular hypertrophy and aortic aneurysms and is linked to the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment, stroke and renal failure. Like most cardiovascular traits, aortic stiffness is a complex trait and is moderately heritable, yet the precise molecular mechanisms that underpin the stiffening process remain poorly defined. This study aimed to employ multiple approaches to further identify the genetic basis of aortic stiffness in a large repository of human donor aortas that had undergone ex vivo pulse wave velocity (PWV) phenotyping. The first part of this work sought to investigate the molecular basis of Loeys-Dietz type 4 syndrome in a pedigree with multiple cases of aortic aneurysms and dissections. A missense variant p.(Arg320Cys) was identified in a highly evolutionary conserved region of TGFB2. There was striking upregulation of TGFB1, TGFB2 and pSMAD2/3 on imunocytochemical straining and western blotting of the aortic tissue from the index case confirming the functional importance of the variant. This case highlighted the striking paradox of predicted loss-of-function mutations in TGFB2 causing enhanced TGFβ signalling in this emerging familial aortopathy and underscored the significance of TGFβ signalling in aortic extracellular matrix biology. The second part of this work attempted to characterise the biological basis for the susceptibility locus identified in the most recent genome wide analysis of carotid-femoral PWV. While the locus lies within the 14q32.2 gene desert, it contains regulatory elements, with the transcriptional regulator B-cell CLL/lymphoma 11B (BCL11B) and non-coding RNA DB129663 representing potential targets for these enhancers. The association of five lead SNPs from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analysis was examined for ex vivo aortic stiffness and BCL11B and DB129663 aortic mRNA expression. Three of the five SNPs associated significantly with PWV and showed allele-specific differences in BCL11B mRNA. The risk alleles associated with lower BCL11B suggesting a protective role for BCL11B. Despite the strong association, BCL11B protein was not detected in the human aorta; however, qPCR for CD markers showed that BCL11B transcript correlated strongly with markers for activated lymphocytes. In contrast, DB129663 transcripts were detected in 55% of the samples, and of the five SNPs only one showed allele-specific differences in aortic DB129663 transcripts. No significant differences were observed in PWV between samples expressing or lack- ing DB129663, and therefore the implication of this lncRNA in aortic stiffness remains elusive. The BCL11B transcript detected in the human aorta may reflect lymphocyte infiltration, suggesting that immune mechanisms contribute to the observed association with PWV. For the final part of this work genetic associations with aortic stiffness were explored in a candidate gene-based study utilising tagging SNPs to effectively capture the genetic information from linkage disequilibrium blocks. Association analyses were performed in young, healthy ENIGMA study par- ticipants selected for high and low PWV values then validated in the remaining ENIGMA cohorts. The association of four lead SNPs was then examined for ex vivo aortic stiffness in human donor aortas. The tissue expression of these SNPs and their encoded proteins was also explored. Neither the aggrecan nor the fibulin-1 SNPs showed significant associations with ex vivo PWV in the donor aortas. The exonic aggrecan tagSNP rs2882676 displayed differential transcript abundance between homozygous allele carriers but this did not translate at the protein level. Both aggrecan and fibulin-1 were found in the aortic wall, but with marked differences in the distribution and glycosylation of aggrecan, reflecting loss of chondroitin-sulphate binding domains. These differences were age-dependent but the striking finding was the acceleration of this process in stiff versus elastic young aortas. These findings suggest that aggrecan and fibulin-1 have critical roles in determining the biomechanics of the aorta and their modification with age could underpin age-related aortic stiffening.

A ultrassonografia é um método de diagnóstico que aproveita o eco produzido pelo som para ver, em tempo real, as sombras produzidas pelas estruturas e órgãos. Os aparelhos de ultrassom em geral utilizam uma frequência próxima de 1MHz. A ultrassonografia permite ainda, pelo modo Doppler, conhecer o sentido e a velocidade de fluxos sanguíneos. Por não utilizar radiação, ionizante, é um método inócuo e barato. A avaliação da circulação nos tecidos corpóreos pode indicar o tipo de lesão ou, nos casos de cirurgia, mostrar a posição de artérias presentes na região. Neste trabalho foi de finalidade apresentar a espessura óssea ideal para a captação do sinal Doppler, utilizando uma amostra de 10 mandíbulas suínas maceradas, avaliando-se a região dos terceiros molares (de ambos os lados, direito e esquerdo, totalizando 20 hemimandíbulas). As mandíbulas suínas foram preparadas para receber e adaptar tubos de CFlex conectados a um capilar de vidro e a uma bomba propulsora, por onde passava o líquido, simulando a vascularização sanguínea. Foram tomadas diferentes medidas de espessura óssea, sendo possível, em algumas hemimandíbulas, captarmos sinais. Na dependência da espessura da cortical óssea, que em nosso trabalho estudamos no intervalo de 0,2 a 1,0mm, possibilitou-se a captação de sinais, no modo B e Doppler, referentes ao simulador da vascularização. A ultrassonografia é um recurso imaginológico com aplicabilidade cada vez maior na área da Saúde, em particular no estudo da vascularização intraóssea. / Ultrasound is an image diagnostic method that takes advantage of the echo produced by sound to see in real time, the shadows produced by the structures and organs. Ultrasound machines typically use a frequency of about 1MHz. The ultrasound also enables, by the Doppler mode, to read the direction and velocity of blood flow. As we do not use radiation, ionizing radiation, it is a harmless and inexpensive method. The evaluation of the circulation in body tissues may indicate the type of injury, or in cases of surgery, it shows the position of the arteries in the region. This study aimed to present the ideal bone thickness to capture the Doppler signal using a sample of 10 macerated pig jaws, assessing the region of the third molars (on both sides, right and left, totaling 20 hemijwas). The pig jaws were prepared to accept and adapt CFlex tubes connected to a glass capillary and a pump, through which liquid flowed, simulating the blood vasculature. Different measures of bone thickness, were taken and in some hemijaws signals were possible to be taken. Depending on the thickness of cortical bone, which in our work we have studied in the range 0,2 to 1,0 mm, made it possible to capture signals in B mode and Doppler simulator for the vasculature. Ultrasound is a resource imaginologic increasing applicability in healthcare, particularly in the study of intraosseous vascularity.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease in which pulmonary vascular resistance increases. The cell membrane of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) in PAH patients is depolarised, resulting in disrupted Ca2+ signalling leading to smooth muscle constriction and PASMC proliferation and migration. In rat pulmonary artery (PA) smooth muscle the KV7 K+ channels, encoded by the KCNQ genes, have been proposed to contribute to the resting K+ current, promoting low resting tone by maintaining a negative membrane potential and low intracellular Ca2+. KV7 channel activating drugs have the potential to counteract the dysfunctional signalling during PAH by causing hyperpolarisation. This study set out to determine if the KV7 channels are expressed in human PA and if so whether they can alter vascular tone, PASMC proliferation and/or migration due to their ability to reduce intracellular Ca2+ indirectly. The effects of KV7 K+ channel modulators on human PA tone were measured using myography, while KCNQ gene expression was examined with quantitative PCR. Markers of proliferation (5-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine (BrdU) and Ki67 antigen), were used to measure PASMC proliferation, while migration was assessed using the scratch-wound assay. Human PASMCs express all KCNQ genes, except KCNQ2. The KV7 channel blockers XE991, linopirdine and (-)chromanol 293B, constricted PAs. The KV7 channel activators retigabine and zinc pyrithione (ZnPy) relaxed PAs pre-constricted with agonists. The retigabine response was enhanced in PAs constricted with Bay K 8644, abolished in ionomycin constricted PAs and reduced in the presence of 90 mM K+, suggesting inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ influx. Similar experiments on rat PAs suggest that only part of the ZnPy-induced relaxation can be attributed to KV7 channel activation. The KCNQ5 gene remained in cultured PASMCs while no KV7 channel modulator altered proliferation or migration. Thus KV7.5 channels could possibly be a marker of differentiated PASMCs and/or be involved in the regulation of cell phenotype. The results imply that KV7 channels play a role in regulating PA tone and Ca2+ signalling in PA smooth. It is concluded that although KCNQ5 transcripts are preserved in proliferating PASMC, it is unlikely they play a role in PASMC proliferation or migration. In summary, KV7 channel activators may be useful in the treatment of PAH since they can prevent vasoconstriction.

Resumo: A doença arterial coronariana (DAC) é uma das principais causas de óbito e de perda de qualidade de vida ao longo do tempo. Seu tratamento pode ser clínico ou por meio de técnicas como a angioplastia percutânea ou a revascularização cirúrgica do miocárdio. Multidimensional, a DAC exerce fortes impactos físicos, emocionais e sociais. Por isso, além das avaliações clínicas, são indispensáveis as informações sobre a qualidade de vida e funcionalidade dos pacientes para uma análise mais precisa de suas condições após o tratamento. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a percepção da qualidade de vida e a funcionalidade em pacientes com DAC nos momentos antes da revascularização cirúrgica ou da angioplastia, na alta hospitalar e 60 dias após a intervenção. Foram avaliados 90 pacientes divididos em grupos por procedimento. Utilizou-se uma ficha com perfil demográfico, questionário genérico de avaliação da qualidade de vida "The Medical Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey" (SF-36) e escala de "Medida de Independência Funcional" (MIF). Observou-se, no perfil demográfico, a predominância do gênero masculino (58,9%), escolaridade com o ensino fundamental incompleto (64,4%) e índice de massa corporal (IMC) acima do ideal (37,8% sobrepeso e 25,6% obesidade). O grupo de angioplastia apresentou os melhores escores de qualidade de vida antes do procedimento nos domínios "aspectos físicos", "dor", "vitalidade", "aspectos sociais" e na questão de avaliação da saúde anterior. Na alta isso se manteve com o acréscimo do domínio "capacidade funcional". No momento 60 dias após o procedimento, a angioplastia obteve melhores escores em "aspectos físicos" e "aspectos sociais". Na comparação entre os momentos, os domínios "capacidade funcional" e "dor" pioraram na alta para o grupo cirurgia, e melhoraram após 60 dias... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death and loss of quality of life over time. The treatment is clinical in early stages of disease or the technique is percutaneous angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting. The DAC is a multidimensional disease, which has strong physical, emotional and social impacts. Besides to clinical assessments, information about the quality of life and functionality of patients are essential for a more precise analysis of their condition after treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perceived quality of life and functionality in patients with CAD in the moments before surgical revascularization or angioplasty, at discharge and 60 days after the intervention. We evaluated 90 patients divided into groups by procedure. We used a form with demographic profile, generic questionnaire for assessing quality of life "The Medical Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and scale of" Functional Independence Measure (FIM). It was observed in the demographic, the predominance of males (58.9%), schooling and incomplete primary education (64.4%) and body mass index (BMI) above the ideal (37.8% overweight and 25.6% obese). The angioplasty group had the best scores of quality of life before the procedure in the domains "physical aspects", "pain," "vitality" and "social aspects" and the issue of evaluation of previous health. These results remained at hospital discharge with the addition of domain "functional capacity". At present 60 days after the procedure, angioplasty had higher scores in "physical aspects" and "social aspects". Comparing the times, the domains "physical functioning" and "pain" got worse at the group of discharge for surgery and improved after 60 days for both groups. In the domains "general health" and "vitality", both groups improved in the third stage of evaluation. Angioplasty only group showed improvement... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Marcos Augusto de Moraes Silva / Coorientador: Juliana Bassalobre Carvalho Borges / Banca: Antonio Sérgio Martins / Banca: Reinaldo Ayer de Oliveira / Mestre

archives@tulane.edu / Background Ankle brachial index (ABI) is a noninvasive measure of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and atherosclerosis of the lower extremities. Low and high levels of ABI are associated with cardiovascular mortality and vascular calcification in dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, the association of the spectrum of vascular calcification with low and high ABI is not well studied in pre-dialysis CKD patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of both low and high ABI with the risk of vascular calcification in CKD patients. Methods We recruited 243 patients with pre-dialysis CKD from the great New Orleans area between 2010 and 2012. Our study used a cross-sectional design with ABI and CAC measured at the same visit. Continuous ABI measurements were taken and further classified into four categories : <=0.9 (low ABI) >0.9-<1.0 (borderline), 1.0-<1.4 (normal), >=1.4 (high). Level of vascular calcification were considered as the outcome and calculated by agatston score. Three categories of CAC is defined as: CAC agaston score=0, 0-100, >100. Three cumulative logit models were applied to the data. The first is an unadjusted univariate model, the second adjusts for baseline demographics, and the third adjusts for baseline demographics and covariates that are associated with CAC. Logistic regression methods were used to calculate the odds ratio of having a higher CAC score for CKD patients. Results We found a significant association between ABI and vascular calcification. All three models returned consistently significant result (p=0.0005, 0.0005, 0.0037, respectively) for the association between ABI and CAC. In addition, low ABI (ABI≤0.9) is also associated with an increased risk of CAC and severe CAC (OR=6.183, 95%CI(1.085, 35.228)). High ABI (>1.4) is also associated with an increase in CAC and severe CAC (OR=5.064, 95%CI (1.696, 15.122)). Borderline ABI (0.9<ABI<1.0) is not associated with an increase in CAC or severe CAC (OR=2.704, 95% CI (0.702, 10.418). Conclusion Compared to normal ABI level, low and high ABIs are both significantly associated with an increased risk of coronary artery calcification and severe coronary artery calcification in CKD patients. / 1 / Shuo Bai

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects 8 to 10 million Americans, and the incidence of PAD is expected to increase as the population ages. A high percentage of the PAD is undiagnosed prior to the onset of a serious cardiovascular event; therefore, the inability to screen and diagnose for PAD in the early stages could hinder efforts to decrease adverse consequences of cardiovascular disease. Individuals with PAD have a 3 to 5 times increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality when compared to people without PAD. Guided by the Stetler model, the purpose of this project was to evaluate the relationship between level of PAD, as measured by skin perfusion pressure, and HbA1c using secondary data obtained from charts of patients within the clinic setting. Data included patient gender, age, degree of PAD, and HbA1c. A Pearson's correlation investigated the relationship between the patients' HbA1c and level of PAD. There was a significant relationship between HbA1c and LT PAD (r = .21, p =.009). There was no relation in RT PAD (r =.01, n = 149, p = .90). There was a significant relationship between HbA1c and age (r = .34, p = .00). Ultimately, the goal of this study was to improve PAD recognition, encourage early intervention, and facilitate effective preventive methods. Critical limb ischemia might be delayed or prevented if it is identified earlier by screening methodologies. Early identification and treatment of PAD can improve the quality of life and care for individuals suffering with PAD.

Abstract not available