Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-20T12:31:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jaime Arnez.pdf: 2202191 bytes, checksum: 2925f1eec50bb2ccb5e644dc0dad1780 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-30 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Heart failure (HF) affects approximately 2% of the world population. Ischemic cardiomyopathy accounts for two-thirds of cases of HF, which, when established, leads to physical limitations, multiple hospital admissions, declining quality of life, and increasing morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic alternatives range from pharmacological treatment to heart transplantation. Modern reperfusion strategies and advanced pharmacotherapeutic management have contributed to increase the survival of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, but none of these treatment strategies can reverse damage to cardiomyocytes or recover lost vasculature. Within this context, the concept of regenerative medicine, using stem cells (SC) for tissue repair, may become a reality. Mobilization and implantation of autologous, CD34+ hematopoietic SCs may improve myocardial function and perfusion. A total of 15 patients with severe ischemic cardiomyopathy, not eligible for other therapeutic alternatives, received autologous CD34+ cells collected from peripheral blood (PB) after G-CSF mobilization. SCs collected from PB were implanted in the myocardium using two routes (intracoronary and via the coronary sinus). All patients underwent clinical, laboratory, and imaging-based assessment to evaluate left ventricular function, perfusion and voltage. All patients were reevaluated after 4 months of post-implantation follow-up. Of the 15 initial patients, two died during follow-up (late post-implantation mortality). The different variables analyzed at 4-month follow-up showed improvement in functional classification (p=0.014), angina score (CCS) (p=0.006), the six-minute walk test (p=0.005), and quality of life (p=0.003). There was minor improvement in ejection fraction, as analyzed by echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging, without reaching statistical significance (p=0.062 and p=0.0397 respectively); myocardial perfusion scintigraphy showed a non-significant improvement in viability (20.79% to 27.14%, p=0.390). Electroanatomic mapping of the left ventricle did not show any significant changes in electrical activity (p=0.767). CD34+ SC implantation into the myocardium using two routes simultaneously is a safe procedure. At 4-month follow-up, patients experienced improvement in symptoms and quality of life, but without significant improvement in left ventricular function, perfusion and voltage. Key words: Cell therapy, G-CSF, CD34+, ischemic cardiomyopathy / A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) acomete aproximadamente 2% da população mundial. A cardiopatia isquêmica é responsável por 2/3 da IC, a qual, quando estabelecida, implica limitações físicas, repetidas internações hospitalares, piora da qualidade de vida e aumento da morbimortalidade. As alternativas terapêuticas variam desde o tratamento farmacológico até o transplante cardíaco. Modernas estratégias de reperfusão e avançadas condutas farmacológicas têm propiciado um aumento na sobrevida dos pacientes com cardiopatia isquêmica, porém nenhuma estratégia de tratamento recupera o dano aos cardiomiócitos e à vasculatura perdida; é nesse sentido que o conceito de medicina regenerativa utilizando células-tronco (CT) para o reparo de tecidos pode tornar-se realidade. A mobilização e implante autólogo de CT hematopoéticas CD34+ podem melhorar a função e perfusão. Um total de 15 pacientes com cardiopatia isquêmica grave, inelegíveis para outra alternativa terapêutica, receberam células autólogas CD34+ coletadas de sangue periférico (SP), previamente mobilizadas com fator de estimulação de colônias de granulócitos (G-CSF). As CT coletadas de SP foram implantadas no miocárdio utilizando duas vias (intracoronariana e seio coronariano). Realizou-se em todos os pacientes uma avaliação clínica, laboratorial e exames complementares de imagem para avaliar função, perfusão e voltagem do ventrículo esquerdo. Após 4 meses de seguimento pós-implante, todos os pacientes foram reavaliados. Dos 15 pacientes incluídos, dois foram a óbito durante o seguimento (pós-implante tardio). As diferentes variáveis analisadas no seguimento de 4 meses mostraram uma melhora na classe funcional (p = 0,014), escore de angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society) (p = 0,006), teste da caminhada de 6 minutos (p = 0,005) e qualidade de vida (p = 0,003). A fração de ejeção analisada por ecocardiograma e ressonância magnética mostrou uma discreta melhora, porém sem significância estatística (p = 0,062 e p = 0,0397); a cintilografia do miocárdio mostrou uma melhora da viabilidade, porém sem significância (20,79 para 27,14%; p = 0,390); a atividade elétrica do ventrículo esquerdo realizada através do mapeamento eletroanatômico não mostrou alterações significativas (p = 0,767). O implante de CT CD34+ no miocárdio utilizando duas vias simultâneas é seguro. No seguimento de 4 meses os pacientes apresentaram uma melhora em relação à sintomatologia e qualidade de vida, porém sem melhora significativa na função, perfusão e voltagem do ventrículo esquerdo

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-09-01T14:20:11Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Sandra Araujo Costa - 2016.pdf: 529840 bytes, checksum: 6bdc6db95202e88ef1d8d13ea39bd922 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-09-01T14:20:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Sandra Araujo Costa - 2016.pdf: 529840 bytes, checksum: 6bdc6db95202e88ef1d8d13ea39bd922 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-01T14:20:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Sandra Araujo Costa - 2016.pdf: 529840 bytes, checksum: 6bdc6db95202e88ef1d8d13ea39bd922 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-05 / Introduction: Heart failure represents a complex clinic syndrome in which several mechanisms are involved. Patient’s prognosis is bad and Chagas disease, between other etiologies, has the worse prognosis in heart failure. There are some controversies in relation to many factors that possibly identify the patients with especially high risk of death in heart failure. Although more than 40 variables have been identified as prognostic predictors in HF, there is no consensus about its applicability in clinical practice. Objectives: Identify the association between clinical and laboratory factors in chagasic heart failure with severe ventricular disfunction; analyze the association between prognostic factors and mortality rate; examine the global survival of this population in a 7 years and 6 months follow up. Methods: The present study is a cutting of the “Randomized, Multicenter Celular Therapy in Cardiopathies - Chagas Cardiopathy”, with retrospective analysis of the data collected prospectively. The following variables were analyzed: age, arterial pressure (AP) ejection fraction (EF), plasmatic sodium, creatinina, 6 minutes walking test (6MWT), nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT), electrocardiogram QRS width, echocardiogram indexed left atrium volume (iLAV) and functional class. Results: From the 60 participants, 53 (88,3%) died during the total follow up period (90 months) and 7 (11.7%) remained alive until the end of the period. The general accumulated survival probability of the severe Chagas etiology patients, identified in our study, was about 11%. The systolic arterial pressure did not correlate in a significant manner to the mortality outcome, although the increasing in 10 mmHg in systolic arterial pressure resulted in a reduction of 4% in the risk of death. There was no statistical significance to the variables age, ejection fraction, 6MWT and QRS width in relation to the outcome mortality. There was statistical significance in relation to plasmatic sodium and creatinina, with the outcome mortality, in the univariate analyses. However, after adjust to the multivariate analyses model, they lost significance. From the variables used in the Cox regression model, only NSVT and the indexed atrium volume remained as independent mortality predictors. Unsustained ventricular thachycardia presented a significant risk value – HR = 2,11 (95% CI, 1,04 – 4,31) p<0,05. iLAV values >72 ml/m2 were associated to a significant risk in mortality – HR = 3,51 (95% CI, 1,63 – 7,52), p<0,05. Conclusions: In Chagas etiology heart failure patients, with important ventricular function commitment, the presence of Holter NSVT and the iLAV > 72mL/m2 gives them a worse prognosis. This population prognosis is bad, with a cumulated survival probability of only 11% in 7.5 years. / Introdução: A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) representa uma síndrome clínica complexa em que vários mecanismos estão envolvidos. O prognóstico dos pacientes é ruim e a doença de Chagas, dentre as várias etiologias, possui o pior prognóstico na IC. Há controvérsia em relação aos fatores que possivelmente identificam os pacientes com risco especialmente alto de morte na insuficiência cardíaca. Apesar de mais de 40 variáveis terem sido identificadas como preditoras de prognóstico na IC, não há consenso sobre a sua utilidade na prática clínica. Objetivos: Identificar a associação de fatores clínicos e laboratoriais com o prognóstico na IC chagásica com disfunção ventricular grave, bem como analisar a associação de fatores prognósticos com a taxa de mortalidade e a sobrevida global desta populção, em um seguimento de 7 anos e seis meses. Métodos: Este é um recorte do “Estudo Multicêntrico, Randomizado de Terapia Celular em Cardiopatias (EMRTCC) – Cardiopatia Chagásica”, com análise retrospectiva de dados colhidos prospectivamente. Analisamos as seguintes variáveis: idade, pressão arterial (PA), fração de ejeção (FE), sódio plasmático, creatinina, teste de caminhada de 6 minutos (TC6M), taquicardia ventricular não sustentada (TVNS), largura do QRS, volume do átrio esquerdo indexado e classe funcional. Resultados: Do total de 60 participantes, 53 (88,3%) foram à óbito durante o período total de seguimento (90 meses) e 7 (11.7%) permaneceram vivos no final do mesmo. A probabilidade de sobrevida geral acumulada dos pacientes portadores de insuficiência cardíaca grave de etilogia chagásica, identificados neste estudo, foi de aproximadamente 11%. A pressão arterial sistólica não se correlacionou de uma maneira significante em relação ao desfecho de mortalidade, no entanto a cada incremento de 10mmHg resultou numa redução de 4% no risco de morte. Não houve significância estatística para as variáveis idade, fração de ejeção, TC6M e largura do complexo QRS, em relação ao desfecho de mortalidade. Houve significância estatística em relação ao sódio plasmático e a creatinina com o desfecho de mortalidade, na análise univariada. Entretanto, após o ajuste do modelo na análise multivariada, perderam significância. Das variáveis utilizadas no modelo de regressão de Cox, apenas a TVNS e o volume do átrio esquerdo indexado permaneceram como preditores independentes de mortalidade. A taquicardia ventricular não sustentada apresentou valor de risco significativo – HR = 2,11 (IC 95% 1,04 – 4,31) p < 0,05. Valores de VAEi >72 ml/m2 estavam associados a um aumento significativo na mortalidade HR = 3,51 (IC 95% 1,63 – 7,52), p<0,05. Conclusões: Em pacientes portadores de insuficiência cardíaca de etiologia chagásica com importante comprometimento da função ventricular, a presença de TVNS ao Holter e o VAEi > 72mL/m2 ao ecocardiograma conferem a eles um pior prognóstico. A probabilidade de sobrevida acumulada desta população é ruim, sendo de apenas 11% em 7.5 anos.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar e comparar a valva mitral e a valva aórtica e em corações com cardiomiopatia dilatada (CMD) de etiologia isquêmica e idiopática, em relação aos corações humanos normais, buscando identificar variações que possam auxiliar em diagnósticos por imagem e para o tratamento cirúrgico das mesmas. Este estudo analisou 22 corações normais, 15 corações dilatados de etiologia isquêmica e 15 corações dilatados de etiologia idiopática, fixados em formaldeído a 10%. Foram obtidas medidas por meio de fotografias digitais dos corações e, posteriormente, utilizando-se software, foram analisados as distâncias e os perímetros da valva mitral e da valva aórtica, que foram comparadas por meio de testes estatísticos. Nos corações normais, a área da valva mitral foi de 5,44 ± 0,82 cm2 e o perímetro de 8,91 ± 0,57 cm, e nos corações com CMD de etiologia isquêmica e idiopática, a área foi de, respectivamente, 7,38 ± 1,76 cm2 e 7,03 ± 1,44 cm2, e o perímetro foi de, respectivamente, 10,41 ± 1,37 cm e 9,97 ± 1,23 cm. O perímetro de inserção da cúspide anterior da valva mitral, nos corações normais, foi de 3,68 ± 0,52 cm e nos corações com CMD de etiologia isquêmica e idiopática foi de, respectivamente, 3,99 ± 0,86 cm e 3,62 ± 0,78 cm. A menor distância perimetral entre os trígonos fibrosos (porção fibrosa), nos corações normais, foi de 2,06 ± 0,26 cm e nos corações com CMD de etiologia isquêmica e idiopática foi de, respectivamente, 2,64 ± 0,37 cm e 2,34 ± 0,37 cm. Nos corações normais, a área da valva aórtica foi de 3,46 ± 0,66 cm2 e o perímetro de 6,83 ± 0,66 cm. Nos corações com CMD de etiologia isquêmica e idiopática, a área da valva aórtica foi de, respectivamente, 5,22 ± 1,53 cm2 e 3,44 ± 1,33 cm2, e o perímetro de, respectivamente, 8,26 ± 1,24 cm e 6,82 ± 1,37 cm. Nos casos de CMD idiopática e isquêmica, a valva mitral apresentava-se aumentada, tanto na sua área e em seu perímetro, quanto na maior e na menor distância perimetral entre os trígonos fibrosos. Em relação à valva aórtica, apenas nos corações com CMD isquêmica houve aumento estatisticamente significante em sua área e em seu perímetro, enquanto que nos corações com CMD idiopática não houve diferença quando comparados aos corações normais. Há manutenção da proporcionalidade, dos corações normais para os com CMD idiopática e isquêmica, das distâncias entre os trígonos fibrosos. Há evidência de que o aumento da valva mitral e da valva aórtica, quando ocorrem na CMD, se dão de forma independente. / The objective of this work was to study and to compare mitral valve as well as aortic valve in the ischemic and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (CMD) in relation to the normal hearts, searching to identify variations that can assist in diagnostic for image and for the surgical treatment of the same ones. This study it analyzed 22 normal hearts, 15 dilated hearts of ischemic etiology and 15 dilated hearts of idiopathic etiology, fixed in formaldehyde 10%. They had been gotten measured through digitalized photographs of the hearts, and, through software, the distances and perimeters of the mitral valve and of the aortic valve had been analyzed, that later they had been compared through statistical tests. In the normal hearts, the area the mitral valve was 5.44 ± 0.82 cm2 and the perimeter of 8.91 ± 0.57 cm. In the hearts with ischemic and idiopathic CMD the area of the mitral valve were, respectively, 7.38 ± 1.76 cm2 and 7.03 ± 1.44 cm2, and to the perimeter it were, respectively, 10.41 ± 1.37 cm and 9.97 ± 1.23 cm. The perimeter of insertion of anterior cusp of mitral valve in the normal hearts was 3.68 ± 0.52 cm, in the hearts with ischemic and idiopathic CMD were, respectively, 3.99 ± 0.86 cm and 3.62 ± 0.78 cm. The lesser length enter the fibrous trigones (fibrous portion) in the normal hearts was 2.06 ± 0.26 cm and in the hearts with ischemic and idiopathic CMD were, respectively, 2.64 ± 0.37 cm and 2.34 ± 0.37 cm In the normal hearts the area of aortic valve was 3.46 ± 0.66 cm2 and the perimeter of 6.83 ± 0.66 cm. In the hearts with ischemic and idiopathic CMD the area of aortic valve were, respectively, 5.22 ± 1.53 cm2 and 3.44 ± 1.33 cm2, and the perimeter of, respectively, 8.26 ± 1.24 cm and 6.82 ± 1.37 cm. In the cases of idiopathic and ischemic CMD, mitral valve is presented increased, as much in its area and its perimeter, how much in the greater and the lesser perimetral distance between the fibrous trigones. In relation to aortic valve, only in the hearts with Ischemic CMD it had significant statistic increase in its area and its perimeter, whereas in the hearts with Idiopathic CMD it did not have difference when compared with the normal hearts. It has maintenance of the proportionality, the normal hearts for the ones with idiopathic and ischemic CMD, of the distances between the fibrous trigones. It has evidence of that the increase of mitral valve and aortic valve, when they occur in the CMD, occurs of independent form.

A doença de Chagas ainda permanece como um importante problema de saúde em regiões endêmicas na América Latina, onde se estima 8 a 10 milhões de infectados. A isquemia microvascular é frequente na cardiomiopatia chagásica crônica (CCC) e pode estar envolvida nos processos fisiopatogênicos que levam à disfunção sistólica ventricular esquerda (DSVE). Lança-se a hipótese que a redução da isquemia microvascular possa atenuar a progressão da DSVE na CCC. Desta forma, nosso objetivo foi avaliar os efeitos do uso prolongado do dipiridamol (DIPI), um agente vasodilatador da microcirculação coronária, sobre a perfusão miocárdica e sobre a função sistólica do ventrículo esquerdo mediante emprego de métodos de imagem in vivo. Foram utilizados 60 hamsters fêmeas adultas divididas em: animais infectados com T. cruzi e tratados com DIPI (Chagas + DIPI, n=15); infectados tratados com placebo (Chagas + Placebo, n=15); animais não infectados, tratados com DIPI (Controle + DIPI, n=15) e tratados com placebo (Controle + placebo, n=15). Após 6 meses de infecção (condição basal), os animais foram submetidos a ecocardiograma e a cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica por SPECT com Sestamibi-Tc99m. Em seguida, foram tratados com injeções intraperitoneais de DIPI (4mg/Kg) duas vezes ao dia ou igual volume de salina, durante 30 dias. Após o tratamento, os animais foram reavaliados com os mesmos métodos de imagem e a seguir sofreram eutanásia e o tecido cardíaco foi preparado para análise histológica quantitativa para extensão de fibrose (coloração de picrosírius vermelho) e do infiltrado inflamatório (coloração de hematoxilinaeosina). Na condição basal os animais do grupo Chagas + placebo e Chagas + DIPI apresentaram maior área de defeito de perfusão (19,2 ± 5,4% e 20,9 ± 4,2%, respectivamente, quando comparados aos grupos controle + placebo e controle + DIPI (3,8 ± 0,7% e 3,6 ± 0,9%, respectivamente), p=0<0,05, mas valores semelhantes de fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE), p=0,3, e de diâmetro diastólico do ventrículo esquerdo (DdVE,), p=0,2. Após o tratamento, observou-se redução significativa dos defeitos de perfusão somente no grupo Chagas + DIPI (p=0,02). Quando comparados os valores basais e após tratamento, os animais dos grupos Chagas + DIPI e Chagas + placebo apresentaram redução da FEVE (65,3 ± 2,5% para 53,6 ± 1,9% e 69,3 ± 1,4% para 54,4 ± 2,5%, respectivamente (p<0,001), e aumento do DdVE de 0,68 ± 0,5 cm para 0,76 ±0,17 cm e 0,64 ± 0,01 cm para 0,71 ± 0,23 cm, respectivamente (p<0,002). Na análise histológica quantitativa, observou-se maior número de núcleos de células inflamatórias mononucleares nos grupos Chagas + DIPI (998,1 ± 116,0 cel/mm²) e Chagas + Placebo (1191,4 ± 133,2 cel/mm²) quando comparados aos grupos Controle + DIPI (396,5 ± 28,3 cel/mm²) e Controle + Placebo (257,1 ± 21,6 cel/mm²), p=0,05. A porcentagem de fibrose foi maior nos grupos Chagas + DIPI (4,7 ± 0,4%) e Chagas + Placebo (5,4 ± 0,2%) quando comparados com o grupo controle + Placebo (3,2 ± 0,3%). Não houve diferença entre os grupos Chagas + DIPI e Chagas + Placebo em ambas as variáveis da histologia. Conclusões: O uso prolongado de DIPI em animais com CCC associou-se à significativa redução dos defeitos de perfusão miocárdica avaliados in vivo. Contudo, a resolução da isquemia microvascular mediante emprego de DIPI não impediu a progressão da disfunção ventricular esquerda. Esses resultados sugerem que a isquemia microvascular não seja um mecanismo lesivo miocárdico central no complexo fisiopatogênico neste modelo de CCC. É plausível supor que a isquemia microvascular seja um marcador da presença de processo lesivo subjacente, provavelmente de natureza inflamatória. / Chagas disease continues to be an important public health problem in endemic regions of Latin America, where 8 to 10 million infected people are estimated to live. Microvascular ischemia is frequent in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) and may be involved in the physiopathogenic processes that lead to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). The hypothesis is raised that reduction of microvascular ischemia may attenuate the progression of LVSD in CCC. Thus, our objective was to assess the effects of prolonged use of dipyridamole (DIPY), a coronary microvascular dilator agent, on myocardial perfusion and on left ventricular systolic function using imaging methods in vivo. A total of 60 adult female hamsters were divided into the following groups: T. cruzi-infected animals treated with DIPY (Chagas + DIPY, n=15); infected animals treated with placebo (Chagas + Placebo, n=15); uninfected animals treated with DIPY (Control + DIPY, n=15) and treated with placebo (Control + placebo, n=15). After 6 months of infection (baseline condition), the animals were submitted to an echocardiogram and to rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy by SPECT with SestamibiTc99m. Next, the animals were treated with intraperitoneal injections of DIPY (4 mg/kg) twice a day or with an equal volume of saline for 30 days. After treatment, the animals were reevaluated by the same imaging methods and euthanized. Cardiac tissue was prepared for quantitative histological analysis of the extent of fibrosis (picrosirius red staining) and of the inflammatory infiltrate (hematoxylin-eosin staining). At baseline, the group Chagas + placebo and Chagas + DIPY showed a larger area of perfusion defect (19.2 ± 5.4% and 20.9 ± 4.2%, respectively) compared to control + placebo and control + DIPY (3.8 ± 0.7% e 3.6 ± 0.9%, respectively), p<0.05, but similar left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), p=0.3, and left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVdD), p=0.2. After treatment, a significant reduction of perfusion defects was observed only in the Chagas + DIPY group (p=0.02). When the values after treatment were compared to baseline values, Chagas + DIPY and Chagas + placebo animals showed a reduction of LVEF (from 65.3 ± 2.5% to 53.6 ± 1.9% and from 69.3 ± 1.4% to 54.4 ± 2.%5, respectively), p<0.001, and an increase of LVdD from 0.68 ± 0,15 cm to 0.76 ± 0.17 cm and from 0.64 ± 0.01 cm to 0.70 ± 0,02 cm, respectively, p<0.002. Quantitative histological analysis revealed a larger number of nuclei of mononuclear inflammatory cells in the Chagas + DIPY (998.1 ± 116.0 cel/mm²) and Chagas + Placebo (1191.4 ± 133.2 cells/mm²) groups compared to the Control + DIPY (396.5 ± 28.3 cells/mm²) and Control + Placebo (257.1 ± 21.6 cells/mm²) groups, p=0.05. The percentage of fibrosis was higher in the Chagas + DIPY (4.7 ± 0.4%) and Chagas + Placebo (5.4 ± 0.2%) groups compared to the Control + Placebo group (3.2 ± 0.3%). There was no difference between the Chagas + DIPY and Chagas + Placebo groups regarding the two histological variables. Conclusions: The prolonged use of DIPY in animals with CCC was associated with a significant reduction of myocardial perfusion defects assessed in vivo. However, the resolution of microvascular ischemia with the use of DIPY did not prevent the progression of left ventricular dysfunction. These results suggest that microvascular ischemia may not be a central myocardial injury mechanism in the physiopathogenic complex of this CCC model. It is plausible to assume that microvascular ischemia may be a marker of the presence of an underlying injury process probably of an inflammatory nature.

A doença de Parkinson (DP) é uma doença neurodegenerativa caracterizada pela progressiva depleção dos neurônios dopaminérgicos da substância negra (pars compacta). A DP não ocasiona apenas uma desordem motora, mas também pode provocar uma disautonomia cardiovascular. A DP com sintomas similares aos que ocorrem em humanos pode ser experimentalmente induzida em ratos e camundongos com a administração das neurotoxinas 1-metil-1-4-fenil-1,2,3,6-tetrahidropirimidina (MPTP), 6-hidroxidopamina (6-OHDA) e rotenona. Mais, na década de 90, camundongos transgênicos que expressam altos níveis de alfa-sinucleína mutante humana têm sido produzidos e utilizados para investigar a possível relação entre a agregação da proteína alfa-sinucleína e a DP, uma vez que em humanos, a alta expressão dessa proteína está relacionada ao desenvolvimento do parkinsonismo associado à desnervação cardíaca simpática. No entanto, a desnervação cardíaca e suas conseqüências no miocárdio na DP não estão claramente caracterizadas, pois na literatura os métodos quantitativos empregados para tal finalidade têm sua confiabilidade e acurácia questionáveis. Desta forma, avaliou-se, no modelo de indução neurotóxico (MPTP), o miocárdio de camundongos C57/BL aplicando-se métodos morfoquantitativos tridimensionais (estereológicos). Neste trabalho, observamos que o volume da parede ventricular, o volume e a densidade de volume do interstício cardíaco foram, respectivamente, 0,8%, 5,3% e 2,4% maior no grupo MPTP. O volume do lúmen ventricular, o volume ventricular, o volume das fibras musculares cardíacas e a sua densidade de volume foram, respectivamente, 11,7%, 0,9%, 2,3% e 1,7% maior no grupo controle. O número total de núcleos de cardiomiócitos foi 14,8% menor no grupo MPTP bem como o número total de cardiomiócitos que foi 19% menor também neste grupo. Houve diferença estatística significativa entre os grupos para o parâmetro número de cardiomiócitos. Não houve, porém, diferença estatística significativa para os outros parâmetros avaliados. / Parkinson´s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder mostly characterised by a profound reduction of dopamine in the striatum due to a dramatic loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (pars compacta). The disease is not only characterised by a motor disorder but also present cardiovascular dysautonomia. The disease has been chemically induced in rats and mice using neurotoxins such as 1-metyl-1-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidina (MPTP), 6-OHDA and rotenone. In the nineties, transgenic &alpha;-synuclein mice have recently been used as a model of PD and alpha-synuclein aggregation, because the overexpression of this protein is related to the development of parkinsonism associated to the sympathetic cardiac denervation. Although, the cardiac denervation in PD and its consequences in myocardium is not well defined because the literature reports no reliable quantitative methods. Therefore, the myocardium of the C57/BL mice was investigated in the neurotoxin animal model (MPTP) applying tridimensional morphoquantitative methods (stereological). In this study, we observed an increase of 0,8%, 5,3% and 2,4% in ventricular wall volume, in cardiac interstitial volume and in cardiac interstitial volume density, respectively, in the MPTP group. The lumen ventricular volume, the ventricular volume, the cardiac muscle fibre and their volume density were, respectively, 11,7%, 0,9% , 2,3% and 1,7% larger in control group. The total number of cardiomyocyte nuclei was 14,8% lower in MPTP group as well as the total number of cardiomyocyte that was 19% lower for this group too. Significant difference was observed between the groups to the total number of cardiomyocyte. No significant difference, however, was detected for the others estimated parameters.

The correct function of cardiac sarcomeric proteins allow for people to maintain quality of life. However, mutations of the cardiac sarcomeric proteins can result in remodeling of the heart which typically results in death. I present a full atomistic cardiac thin filament model that I have developed and three studies that I conducted while at the University of Arizona, while pursuing my doctoral degree in chemistry The goal was to develop the model to be able to study the effects of the mutations on the thin filament proteins. First, I present the long process of developing the model that is still evolving as new information is available. Second, I present the study of two mutants, the troponin T R92L mutant and the tropomyosin D230N mutant. Molecular dynamics was used to simulate the wild–type and mutant versions of the model which resulted in a visualization of the change of interaction between the tropomyosin and troponin, specifically at the overlap region. Third, I present the study of calcium release which is the "gatekeeper" to cardiac contraction. Steered molecular dynamics was utilized to find a previously unseen molecular mechanism that alters the rate of calcium release depending on the mutant. Fourth, I present the study of the mechanism of the tropomyosin transition across the actin filament, in which a longitudinal transition is favored. The studies helped to provide an atomistic level understanding of the cardiac thin filament as well as the methodology to which the mutations disrupt the natural functions of the sarcomeric proteins. The new results of the research can provide new insight into how the effects of the disease causing mutations can be mitigated, potentially extending the life of people with the conditions.

Bakgrund: Takotsubo kardiomyopati är ett akut tillstånd för vårdsökande personer som symtommässigt liknar hjärtinfarkt men i själva verket är en reversibel hjärtsvikt. I det akuta skedet har sjuksköterskan en viktig roll i att inhämta anamnes, vilket är avgörande för att kunna vidta adekvata omvårdnadsåtgärder. Syfte: Att beskriva vårdsökande personers erfarenheter av att drabbas av takotsubo kardiomyopati. Metod: Integrativ litteraturöversikt vilken sammanfattar 13 vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultat: Litteraturöversikten visar tre huvudkategorier: Utlösande faktorer, Akuta skedet och Dagligt liv. De som drabbas av takotsubo kardiomyopati främst är kvinnor samt personer med liknande personlighetsdrag, där oro, ångest och stress är en stor del av vardagen. Emotionella eller fysiska stressorer är de främsta bakomliggande orsakerna till att drabbas av takotsubo kardiomyopati. Symtomen är främst dyspné och bröstsmärta som flera av de drabbade till en början ignorerar. Slutsats: Takotsubo kardiomyopati medför existentiella frågor och oro för framtiden där stresshantering och sjuksköterskans personcentrerade förhållningssätt är avgörande för att återfå god hälsa. Det krävs ytterligare forskning för att utforma strategier för väl anpassad personcentrerad omvårdnad för de drabbade. / Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a critical condition for the care recipient that is symptomatically similar to myocardial infarction but in fact is a reversible form of heart failure. In the critical stage, the nurse has an important role in acquiring anamnesis, which is crucial in order to be able to perform adequate nursing actions.Aim: To describe care recipients experience of suffering from takotsubo cardiomyopathy.Method: Integrative literature review of 13 scientific articles.Result: Common findings lead to three main categories: Triggering factors, Critical stage and Everyday life. Those affected by takotsubo cardiomyopathy are mainly women and have similar personality traits, where uneasiness, anxiety and stress are major parts of the everyday life. An emotional or physical stressor are often the underlying cause of the person being affected by takotsubo. The symptoms are mainly dyspnoea and chest pain, symptoms that several of the affected initially ignore. Conclusion: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy brings up existential concerns and questions about the future where stress management and the nurse’s person centered approach are crucial for regaining good health. Further research is needed to obtain strategies to form well-adjusted person centered care for those affected.

Les Entérovirus humains du groupe B (EV-B) et plus spécifiquement les virus Coxsackie B sont considérés comme une cause majeure des myocardites infectieuses aigues et chroniques dont 10% peuvent évoluer vers la cardiomyopathie dilatée (CMD). Les mécanismes moléculaires viraux impliqués dans la progression de la myocardite aiguë vers le stade de la CMD ne sont pas élucidés.L’analyse par séquençage NGS a montré chez 8 (33%) des 24 patients atteints de CMD inexpliquée l’existence de populations majoritaires tronquées de 19 à 50 nucléotides associées à des formes virales minoritaires complètes. La proportion de populations tronquées s’est révélée négativement corrélée au ratio ARN+/ARN- et à la charge virale. Des études immuno-histologiques et par hybridation in situ des tissus cardiaques ont montré que le clivage de la dystrophine était uniquement retrouvé dans les cardiomyocytes infectés par les EV-B. Pour étudier les activités de réplication des populations d’EV-B persistants, un réplicon (CVB3-emGFP) a été généré à partir d’une souche cardiotrope (CV-B3/28). La transfection d’ARN de synthèse complets et tronqués (d50) dans des cultures de cardiomyocytes humains primaires a mis en évidence des mécanismes de recombinaison et/ou de trans-complémentation entre ces 2 formes virales induisant de faibles activités de réplication.Nos résultats démontrent l’existence de mécanismes de coopération moléculaire entre des populations d’EV-B tronquées et complètes qui pourraient expliquer la mise en place du mécanisme de persistance virale observée au cours de la phase clinique de CMD. Ces résultats pourraient contribuer au développement de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques pour prévenir et traiter les infections cardiaques à EV-B. / Enteroviruses group B (EV-B) and more specifically Coxsackievirus B are recognized as major causes of acute and chronic infectious myocarditis, which 10% may progress towards dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Viral molecular mechanisms involved in the progression from acute myocarditis to the clinical stage of DCM remain unknown.Deep sequencing analysis showed in 8 (33%) of 24 unexplained DCM patients the existence of major CVB3 populations with deletions of 19 to 50 nucleotides associated with a minority of complete viral forms. The proportion of deleted viral populations was negatively correlated with RNA+/RNA- ratio and the viral load levels. Immuno-histological and in situ hybridization assays of DCM cardiac tissues demonstrated that the cleavage of dystrophin was found only in cardiomyocytes infected with EV-B. To study the replication activities of persistent EV-B populations, a replicon (CVB3-emGFP) was generated from a cardiotropic strain (CV-B3/28). Transfection of synthesized complete and truncated (d50) viral RNAs in primary human cardiomyocytes cultures revealed mechanisms of recombination and / or trans-complementation between these two viral forms inducing low replication activities.In conclusions, our original results demonstrated the existence of new molecular mechanisms of cooperation between EV-B deleted and complete viral populations that could explain the development of a viral persistence mechanism observed during the clinical phase of DCM. These findings may contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat persistent heart EV-B infections.

La cardiomyopathie dilatée (CMD) est caractérisée par une fraction d’éjection (FE) réduite, une fonction systolique altérée, une désorganisation de la matrice extracellulaire et des défauts métaboliques. Dans différents modèles de CMD, le niveau d’expression de la nicotinamide riboside kinase 2 (Nmrk2) impliquée dans la synthèse du NAD, un coenzyme majeur du métabolisme énergétique et une molécule de signalisation, est augmenté. NMRK2 est identique à « Muscle Integrin Binding Protein » se liant à l’hétérodimère intégrine β1/α7. Le rôle de Nmrk2 dans le cœur n’est pas connu. Les souris Nmrk2-KO jeunes développent une réponse hypertrophique concentrique normale en réponse à l’angiotensine II et à la constriction aortique. Les échocardiographies jusque 8 semaines post-TAC et au cours du vieillissement à l’état basal, montrent une diminution plus sévère de la FE et un développement de CMD. Les RT-QPCR montrent une augmentation du niveau d’expression de l’isoforme lente β de myosine. NMRK2 n’est pas requise pour maintenir le taux de NAD dans le cœur en réponse aux traitements pro-hypertrophiques et à un âge jeune. Par contre, au cours du vieillissement, les niveaux d’expression de Nmrk1 et Nampt sont diminués et à 24 mois, le NAD myocardique est réduit de 50% chez les souris Nmrk2-KO. A ce même âge, le complexe α7β1 est réduit. Les analyses histologiques montrent un défaut du dépôt de la laminine, la présence d’une fibrose et un élargissement de l’espace intercellulaire chez le mutant Nmrk2-KO. NMRK2 est requise pour préserver la fonction et la structure cardiaque et l’homéostasie du NAD à un âge avancé. Des composants moléculaires modulant sa voie pourraient être une option thérapeutique. / Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a severe heart disease characterized by reduced ejection fraction, altered systolic function, extracellular matrix disorganization and metabolic defects. In different mice models of DCM, the expression of the nicotinamide riboside kinase 2 (Nmrk2) implicated in the synthesis of NAD, a major coenzyme in energy metabolism and a signaling molecule, is increased. NMRK2 is similar to the muscle integrin binding protein (MIBP) that binds to the integrin α7β1 heterodimer. The role of Nmrk2 in the heart is unknown. Young Nmrk2-KO mice develop a normal cardiac hypertrophic response to angiotensin-II exposure and transverse aorta constriction (TAC) but follow-up echocardiography until 8 weeks post-TAC and during aging from 5 to 24 months revealed a more severe decrease in the EF and the development of a DCM phenotype. RT-qPCR analysis of cardiac mRNAs showed an increase in the slow, cardiac, β myosin heavy chain isoform starting at 12 months. NMRK2 was not essential to maintain myocardial NAD levels in response to pro-hypertrophic treatments and in young adults. However Nmrk1 and Nampt expression level declined strongly with aging and Nmrk2-KO mice displayed a 50% reduction in myocardial NAD levels at 24 months. The α7β1 integrin complex was repressed at this age. Immunofluorescent analyses and electron microscopy revealed a defect in laminin deposition and enlarged intercellular space in the Nmrk2-KO heart. The Nmrk2 gene is required to preserve cardiac function and structure during aging and becomes indispensable for maintaining NAD at late age. Molecular characterization of compounds modulating this pathway could give future therapeutic prospect.

There are different conformational states of proteins characterized by different Gibbs free energy levels, manifested in folding-unfolding dynamics, for example. Recently, a set of protein states, which require relatively small amount of folding energies, emerged as subjects of intensive research, and proteins or regions characterized by the presence of these states have been termed as ‘Intrinsically Disordered Proteins’ (IDP) and ‘Intrinsically Disordered Protein Regions’ (IDPR), respectively. Predisposition for intrinsic disorder of a query protein is encoded in its amino acid sequence and composition, and can be rather accurately predicted using several intrinsic disorder algorithms. Since pathology of many human diseases can be driven by proteins characterized by high intrinsic disorder scores, research on various disease-associated proteins is often started with the analysis of their intrinsic disorder propensities. In this work, I utilized computational approaches based on the concept of intrinsic disorder to address three health-related issues. To this end, I developed a novel computational platform for disorder-based drug discovery and applied this tool for finding inhibitors of the cancer-related MBD2-NuRD complex, utilized molecular dynamic simulations to explain the effects of mutations on the functionality of the X-linked protoporphyria-related protein ALAS, and used bioinformatics tools to examine the effects ofcardiomyopathy-related mutations in cardiac troponin. Since the complex between the Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 (MBD2) and the Nucleosome Remodeling Deacetylase complex (NuRD) specifically binds to the mCpG-island and blocks tumor suppressor gene expression, finding an inhibitor of this MBD2-NuRD complex is hypothesized to be important for the development of novel anti-cancer drugs. I found that the site, which is responsible for the MBD2 interaction with thetranscriptional repressor p66-α (p66α, which is a part of the NuRD complex), is characterized by a specific disorder-to-order transition pattern, this pattern showed a remarkable similarity to the disorder-to-order pattern of the Myc transcription factor binding site for the Max transcription factor. Importantly, several inhibitors of the Myc-Max interaction targeting the disorder-to-order transition site of Myc were previously described. By applying molecular docking at the disorder-to-order transition site of MBD2, two compounds were identified and further evaluated through molecular dynamics simulations. Anti-leukemia and anti-metastasis effectiveness of these compounds was demonstrated in dedicated in vitro and in vivo experiments conducted by our collaborators. In relation to the defective protein associated with the X-linked protoporphyria (XLPP), the hepta-variant of mouse erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase (mALAS2), previously shown to be characterized by a remarkable acceleration of the reaction rate, was investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. In this study, a loop to β-strand transition was observed, and this observation was crucial for a better understanding of the previously described rate-enhancing effects of seven simultaneous variations in the active loop site of this protein. Finally, a wide spectrum of bioinformatics tools was applied to carefully analyze a potential role of intrinsic disorder in a set of cardiomyopathy-related mutations in the components of human cardiac troponin. This analysis revealed that, in comparison with the wild type troponin, chains containing the disease-associated mutations were typically characterized by a local decrease in intrinsic disorder propensity. These mutations affected some disorder-based protein-protein interaction sites and caused remarkable rearrangements of the complex pattern of post-translational modifications. Therefore, this work illustrates that inclusion of the protein intrinsic disorder analysis into the arsenal of techniques used by the biomedical researchers represents an important and promising approach that provides novel inputs for the better understanding of protein behavior in relation to human disease at the molecular level. Techniques and methods developed and utilized in this study will significantly contribute to future biomedical research.