2011;97(3) – ABC CARDIOL

Point of view

Attitudes in the doctor-patient relationship Jehovah's Witnesses

Max Grinberg et al. Graziela Chehaibar Zlotnik

POINT OF VIEW

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Case Report

Austrian Syndrome: case report

Márcio Estevão Midon et al. Fernando Goldoni Sylvian Greicy Rocha Souza Jan Norimitsu Schiemann Miyasato

In this report, we describe the case of a 64-year-old male patient, with no history of alcohol consumption, who presented the Osler’s triad, which is the association of endocarditis, pneumonia, and meningitis caused by a single agent. This syndrome is called Austrian syndrome, when the infection is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. We discuss the clinical manifestations, the pathophysiology, and the therapeutic approach to this condition. Given the rarity of the condition and its high morbidity and mortality, the importance of an early diagnosis and an appropriate treatment to reduce the complications associated with this disease will be emphasized.

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Review Article

Nutritional interventions in Metabolic Syndrome: a systematic review

Leila Sicupira Carneiro de Souza Leão et al. Milena Miranda de Moraes Giulia Xavier de Carvalho Rosalina Jorge Koifman

There is no consensus on the most appropriate nutritional strategy for treating metabolic syndrome (MS), such that cardiovascular risk is reduced. This study was designed to assess the strength of evidence of the benefits of various nutritional interventions in MS remission. Performed in Medline, Cochrane Library and PubMed databases, the virtual search consisted of randomized clinical trials published between 1999 and 2009 in any language, studies involving individuals aged 18 or older and diagnosed with MS, regardless of the criterion. The Boolean operator and was used in the combination of the MeSH terms “Metabolic Syndrome”, “Metabolic x Syndrome” and “Metabolic Syndrome X”, the entry terms “Dysmetabolic Syndrome X”, Metabolic Cardiovascular Syndrome,” “Metabolic X Syndrome” and “Syndrome X, Metabolic”, plus the terms “diet”, “intervention and diet”, “treatment and diet” and “supplementation”. For each study included in the review, we estimated the prevalence of MS and the calculation of effectiveness after the follow-up period. Relative risk measures for each study were described by Forest Plot. We identified 131 articles, which, after eligibility criteria, resulted in 15 studies. These studies were divided into four groups: normocaloric diet associated with exercise; isolated normocaloric diet, low-calorie diet combined with exercises; and isolated low-calorie diet. Tests with low-calorie diet associated with exercising revealed higher efficiency values, helping to emphasize the global aspects of lifestyle change in the treatment of MS, in which healthy and low-calorie diet should be complemented with the practice of physical activity.

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Letter to the Editor

Influenza immunization: universal or selected?

Jacira Pisani Zanettini et al. João Otávio Zanettini Marco Tulio Zanettini

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Influenza immunization: universal or selected?

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Case Report

Treatment of left main coronary artery lesion after late thoracic radiotherapy

Vera Maria Cury Salemi et al. André L. Dabarian Luciano Nastari Marcus Gama … José Soares Júnior Charles Mady

Prevention of late cardiovascular complications after radiation therapy (RT) for treatment of a malignant tumor is challenging. We report the case of a young male patient with Hodgkin’s lymphoma treated with RT, who developed ischemic heart disease during follow-up, although he had no cardiovascular risk factors. We conclude that patients undergoing RT who experience chest pain should be fully investigated for coronary artery disease.

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Letter to the Editor

Perioperative assessment guidelines and thyroid disease

Laura Sterian Ward

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Perioperative assessment guidelines and thyroid disease

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Research Article

ERRATUM

The number on the printed version of the Summary of Communications of the 23rd Brazilian Congress of Atherosclerosis was published incorrectly. For this reason, for the purposes of citation, please use the following reference with the correct number: Summary of Communications of the 23rd Brazilian Congress of Atherosclerosis. Arq Bras Cardiol 2011; 97 (2 suppl. 2):1-15.

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Atualização

Coronary angioplasty versus CABG: review of randomized

Pedro José Negreiros de Andrade et al. Marta Maria das Chagas Medeiros Antonio Thomaz de Andrade Antonio Augusto Guimarães Lima

We carried out a review that included results of randomized trials that made a comparison between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The 25 selected trials involved 12,305 patients, 11,103 of whom were from studies in patients with multi-vessel disease and 1,212 were from studies in patients with single lesion of the left anterior descending (LAD). In the studies of multi-vessel disease patients, the PCI showed a trend towards lower early mortality (1.2% versus 2%) and lower incidence of stroke: 0.7% versus 1.65%. There was no difference in the intermediate mortality (3.8% versus 3.8%). There was a trend towards the superiority of CABG in late mortality (10.5% versus 9.6%). The difference was exclusively due to “balloon era” studies, with a trend towards an inversion in the “stent era” (9.6% versus 9.9%). In studies of single lesion of LAD, there was no significant difference in any endpoint. The aggregation of results from nine studies that assessed late mortality in diabetic patients showed a difference in favor of surgery (21.3% versus 15.9%). Two studies that evaluated main coronary artery disease did not show a significant difference in mortality at one year (3.9% versus 4.7%). The incidence of repeat revascularization was consistently higher in PCI, despite the progressive improvement in results in the stent era.

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Correlação Clínico-Radiográfica

Case 5/2011 – Infant of 17 months of age with tetralogy of fallot in open heart failure due to hemodynamic dominance of the ventricular septal defect

Edmar Atik

CLINICO RADIOLOGICAL SESSION

Case 5/2011 – Infant of 17 months of age with tetralogy of fallot in open heart failure due to hemodynamic dominance of the ventricular septal defect

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Point of view

Right atrial mass assessment by transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance

Viviane Tiemi Hotta et al. James Alberton

CLINICAL UPDATE

Right atrial mass assessment by transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance

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Editorial

2D and 3D echocardiography to assess reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy: what is its real application? Did 3D echocardiography improve 2D echo evaluation?

Vera Marcia Gimenes

EDITORIAL

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Artigo Original

Electrocardiogram sensitivity in left ventricular hypertrophy according to gender and cardiac mass

Ana P. Colossimo et al. Francisco de Assis Costa Andrés R. P. Riera Maria T. N. Bombig … Valter C. Lima Francisco A. H. Fonseca Maria C. O. Izar Bráulio L. Filho Dilma Souza Rui M. S. Povoa

BACKGROUND: Several factors are known to interfere with electrocardiogram (ECG) sensitivity when diagnosing Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH), with gender and cardiac mass being two of the most important ones OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of gender on the sensitivity of some of the criteria used to detect LVH, according to the progression of ventricular hypertrophy degree. METHODS: According to gender and the degree of LVH at the echocardiogram, the patients were divided in three groups: mild, moderate and severe LVH. ECG sensitivity to detect LVH was assessed between men and women, according to the LVH degree. RESULTS: Of the 874 patients, 265 were males (30.3%) and 609, females (69.7%). The [(S + R) X QRS], Sokolow-Lyon, Romhilt-Estes, Perugia and strain criteria showed high discriminatory power in the diagnosis of LVH between men and women in the three groups with LVH, with a superior performance in the male population and highlighting the importance of the [(S + R) X QRS] and Perugia scores. Conclusion: The diagnostic sensitivity of the ECG increases with the cardiac mass. The examination is more sensitive in men, highlighting the importance of the [(S + R) X QRS] and Perugia scores. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic sensitivity of the ECG increases with the cardiac mass. The examination is more sensitive in men, highlighting the importance of the [(S + R) X QRS] and Perugia scores.

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Special Article

Profile and Scientific Production of CNPq Researchers in Cardiology

Eduardo Araujo de Oliveira et al. Antonio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro Isabel Gomes Quirino Maria Christina Lopes Oliveira … Daniella Reis Martelli Leonardo Santos Lima Enrico Antonio Colosimo Thais Junqueira Lopes Ana Cristina Simões Silva Hercílio Martelli-Junior

BACKGROUND: Systematic assessments of the scientific production can optimize resource allocation and increase research productivity in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile and scientific production of researchers in the field of Cardiology who have fellowship in Medicine provided by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico. METHODS: The curriculum Lattes of 33 researchers with active fellowships from 2006 to 2008 were included in the analysis. The variables of interest were: gender, affiliation, tutoring of undergraduate, masters and PhD students, and scientific production and its impact. RESULTS: : There was predominance of males (72.7%) and of fellowship level 2 (56.4%). Three states of the Federation were responsible for 94% of the researchers: SP (28; 71.8%), RS (4; 10.3%), e RJ (3; 9.1%). Four institutions are responsible for about 82% of researchers: USP (13; 39.4%), UNESP (5; 15.2%), UFRGS (4; 12.1%) e UNIFESP (3; 9.1%). During all academic careers, the researchers published 2.958 journal articles, with a mean of 89 articles per researcher. Of total, 55% and 75% were indexed at Web of Science and Scopus databases, respectively. The researchers received a total of 19648 citations at the database Web of Science, with a median of 330 citations per researcher (IQ = 198-706). The average number of citations per article was 13.5 citations (SD = 11.6). CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that researchers in the field of cardiology have a relevant scientific production. The knowledge of the profile of researchers in the field of Cardiology will probably enable effective strategies to qualitatively improve the scientific output of Brazilian researchers.

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Artigo Original

Factors associated with increased radial augmentation index in hypertensive individuals

Renan Oliveira Vaz-de-Melo et al. Adriana Giubilei Pimenta Luiz Tadeu Giollo Júnior Débora Dada Martinelli … Carolina Neves Cosenso Sacomani Juan Carlos Yugar-Toledo José Paulo Cipullo Marco Antônio Mota Gomes Heitor Moreno Júnior José Fernand Vilela-Martin

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness is a variable predictor of morbidity and mortality and a possible marker of vascular injury. Its non-invasive assessment by radial tonometry and analysis of the augmentation index (r-AI) allows identifying patients exposed to higher cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of r-AI on clinical-biochemical variables and its influence on the prevalence of target-organ damage in hypertensive patients. METHODS: 140 consecutive hypertensive patients, followed-up in an outpatient clinic, were analyzed in a cross-sectional study. Blood pressure (BP) levels and r-AI were obtained by applanation tonometry of the radial artery (HEM-9000AI, Onrom). The patients were allocated into r-AI tertiles (r-AI < 85%; 85< r-AI 97%). RESULTS: The sample was predominantly composed of women (56.4%), mean age of 61.7 ± 11.7 years and body mass index 29.6 ± 6.1 Kg/m². The highest tertile showed higher proportion of women (p = 0.001), higher systolic BP (p = 0.001) and pulse pressure (p = 0.014), and lower weight (p = 0.044), height (p < 0.001) and heart rate (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that weight (β = -0.001, p = 0.017), heart rate (β = -0.001, p = 0.007) and central pressure (β = 0.015, p < 0.001) correlated independently with r-AI. In logistic regression analyses, the 3rd r-AI tertile was associated to lower levels of diabetes (DM) (OR = 0.41; 95% CI 0.17-0.97; p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that weight, heart rate and central BP were independently related to r-AI.

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Artigo Original

Cone reconstruction in Ebstein's anomaly repair: early and long-term results

José Pedro da Silva et al. Luciana da Fonseca da Silva Luiz Felipe P. Moreira Lilian Maria Lopez … Sônia Meiken Franchi Alessandro Cavalcante Lianza José Francisco Baumgratz Glaucia Maria P. Tavares

BACKGROUND: The main Ebstein anomaly (EA) repairs are based on the monocusp reconstruction of the tricuspid valve and are limited by the frequent need for replacement or the high recurrence of valve regurgitation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and effects of anatomical repair of Ebstein’s anomaly using the cone reconstruction technique on patients’ clinical evaluation, tricuspid valve function and right ventricular morphology. METHODS: We compared the clinical, echocardiographic and radiological data of 52 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 18.5 ± 13.8 years, submitted to the cone reconstruction technique, obtained in the preoperative, early postoperative (EPO) and long-term (LPO) periods. RESULTS: There were two in-hospital deaths (3.8%) and two more during the follow-up. Mean functional class of pre-operative heart failure improved from 2.2 to 1.2 after 57 months of mean follow up of 97% of patients (p <0.001). The mean degree of preoperative tricuspid regurgitation decreased from 3.6 to 1.6 in the EPO (p 0.05). The indexed RV functional area increased from 8.53 ± 7.02 cm2/m2 preoperatively to 21.01 ± 6.87 cm2/m2 in the EPO (p 0.05). The mean cardiothoracic ratio was decreased from 0.66 ± 0.09 to 0.54 ± 0.06 (p <0.001) in the long term. CONCLUSION: The cone technique showed low in-hospital mortality, resulting in an effective and long-lasting repair of tricuspid regurgitation, restoring the functional area of the right ventricle and allowing reverse remodeling of the heart and clinical improvement in most patients in the long term.

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Artigo Original

Trimetazidine on ischemic injury and reperfusion in coronary artery bypass grafting

Gerez Fernandes Martins et al. Aristarco Gonçalves de Siqueira Filho João Bosco de Figueiredo Santos Claudio Roberto Cavalcanti Assunção … Francisco Bottino Káttia Gerúndio de Carvalho Alberto Valência

BACKGROUND: The ischemia and reperfusion ischemia is a common physiopathological mechanisms, which has difficult control during Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass, the critical moment of which happening by the end of surgery, when there is declamping of aorta and release of hyperoxic radicals causing the injury. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate, in a randomized double-blind prospective study, controlled with placebo, the effects of Trimetazidine (Tmz) on ischemic injury and myocardial reperfusion, identifying the change in plasma markers of a myocardial aggression (troponin T and CPK-MB), and echocardiographic changes of ventricular function. METHODS: We studied 60 patients divided in two groups (placebo and Tmz) with mild ventricular dysfunction at the most, stratified by echocardiography and receiving medication/placebo at a dose of 20 mg/3x/day, starting from 12 to 15 days after pre-operative period up to 5 to 8 days after post-operative period. Troponin T and Cpk-Mb were measured preoperatively without medication, 12 to 15 days of medication/placebo taken five minutes after aortic declamping, and at subsequent 12, 24 and 48 hours. RESULTS: Both Troponin T and Cpk-Mb reached highly significant values (p = 0.0001) in the treated group compared to the control group at the four moments analyzed – 5 min, 12h, 24h and 48h. The echocardiographic variables did not show evolutive changes in each group severally considered and when compared among themselves. CONCLUSION: Trimetazidine was effective in reducing ischemic injury and reperfusion, had no effect on left ventricular function, and no side effects were observed.

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Artigo Original

Impact of hypertension on ventricular remodeling in patients with aortic stenosis

João Carlos Hueb et al. João T. R. Vicentini Meliza Goi Roscani Daniéliso Fusco … Ricaro Mattos Silméia Garcia Zanatti Katashi Okoshi Beatriz B. Matsubara

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a marker of increased cardiovascular risk and is frequently associated with both arterial hypertension (AH) and aortic stenosis (AoS). Also, these two maladies may co-exit in a same patient. However, in these cases, it is not clear the impact of each one in LVH. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate LVH and ventricular geometry in patients with AS associated or not with arterial hypertension. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational and transversal study, including 298 consecutive patients with echocardiographic diagnosis of AoS. LVH was defined as myocardial mass > 224g for men and > 162g for women. Patients were classified as having mild (peak gradient 50 mmHg) AoS and separated into two subgroups: with and without hypertension. RESULTS: AH was associated with increased ventricular mass in all three levels of aortic stenosis (mild AS: 172 ± 45g vs 223 ± 73g, p < 0.0001 moderate AoS: 189 ± 77 g vs 245 ± 81g, p = 0.0313 severe AoS: 200 ± 62g vs 252 ± 88g, p = 0.0372), and increased risk of LVH (OR = 2.1 CI95%:1.2-3.6 p = 0.012). Regarding to geometric remodeling, hypertensive patients with severe AS presented a significant increase in frequency of concentric hypertrophy, when compared with those without hypertension (p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Hypertension is an additional factor of increased left ventricular mass in patients with AS. Also, hypertension was influential in ventricular geometry.

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Artigo Original

Diagnostic value of myocardial radionuclide imaging in patients with multivessel coronary disease

Maria Eduarda Menezes de Siqueira et al. Erly Medeiros Vieira Segundo Neto Juliana Fernandes Kelendjian Paola Emanuela Pogio Smanio

BACKGROUND: Myocardial perfusion radionuclide imaging (MPRI) is a noninvasive method extremely useful for evaluating ischemia in patients with coronary disease. However, the idea that this method would not be effective for patients with multivessel coronary disease is still entertained. OBJECTIVE: Assess the value of MPRI with gated-SPECT for tracing pharmacological stress-induced ischemia in patients with multivessel obstructive coronary disease. METHODS: We evaluated 68 patients with multivessel obstructive coronary disease applying coronary angiography for performing MPRI under pharmacologic stress with dipyridamole. The tests were analyzed by two nuclear medicine physicians without prior knowledge of the result of the coronary angiography. RESULTS: Gated-SPECT revealed that, out of the patients, 64 (92.8%) showed images of perfusion abnormalities and 4 (7.2%) showed normal perfusion, given that three of the latter showed functional changes. CONCLUSION: MPRI has shown high value for identifying patients with multivessel coronary disease, since most patients had perfusion abnormalities indicative of ischemia.

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Artigo Original

Nutritional intervention and the impact on adherence to treatment in patients with metabolic syndrome

Fernanda Michielin Busnello et al. Luiz Carlos Bodanese Lúcia Campos Pellanda Zilda Elizabeth de Albuquerque Santos

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events disease and type 2 diabetes. Treatment includes modifications on life style, diet and physical activity. Treatment adherence plays a crucial role in the successful treatment of this disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate two models of dietary intervention, and the relationship with adherence to treatment and impact on clinical improvement of patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Randomized clinical trial, lasting four months. Participants were randomized assigned to the intervention or control group. Both groups were instructed to follow a diet for 4 months. Subjects in the intervention group additionally received an intervention package, with metabolic syndrome manual book, telephone counseling and nutrition education leaflets. In both groups nutritional anamnesis, anthropometric assessment, dietary assessment, individualized dietary and biochemical tests were done. RESULTS: Patients who arrived more motivated were those who has the greatest reduction in the values of body mass index, which decreased from 31.7 kg/m² (SD ± 3.9) to 30.9 kg/m² (SD ± 3.8), reduction in waist circumference was 108.1 cm (SD ± 9.8) to 105.9 cm (SD ± 9.5). The statistically significant associations were in the correlation between body mass index, blood glucose and triglycerides, reducing the consumption of whole milk, increased consumption of whole grains and skimmed milk and between the increase in vegetable intake and reducing triglycerides. CONCLUSION: Both groups showed significant improvement in all clinical parameters that was significantly associated with the previous motivation. Patients who arrived more motivated were those who responded better to treatment.

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Research Article

Impact of renal failure on in-hospital outcomes after coronary artery bypass surgery

Roberto Ramos Barbosa et al. Priscila Feitoza Cestari Julhano Tiago Capeletti Gustavo Magnus T. L. S. R. Peres … Tania L. Pozzo Ibañez Patrícia Viana da Silva Jorge A. Farran Vivian Lerner Amato Pedro Silvio Farsky

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a predictor of increased mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics and predictors of increased mortality in the CKD population submitted to CABG. To compare in-hospital outcomes between patients with and without CKD, and with and without development of acute renal failure (ARF). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospective database of all isolated CABG performed in a single public tertiary hospital from 1999 to 2007. CKD was considered when creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl. Clinical characteristics, mortality and post-operative complications were evaluated according to renal function. RESULTS: Of 3,890 patients, 362 (9.3%) had CKD. This population was older, presented grater prevalence of hypertension, left ventricular dysfunction, previous stroke, peripheral vascular disease and three-vessel disease. In-hospital outcomes revealed greater incidence of stroke (5.5% vs 2.1%), atrial fibrillation (16 vs 8.3%), low cardiac ouput syndrome (14.4% vs 8.5%), longer stay in intensive care unit (4.04 vs 2.83 days), and greater mortality (10.5% vs 3.8%). Logistic regression: female gender, smoking, diabetes and peripheral vascular disease were associated with higher in-hospital mortality within the CKD group. Patients who did not develop post-operative ARF presented 3.5% mortality; non-dialytic ARF: 35.4%; dialytic ARF: 66.7% mortality. Mortality was directly related to the stage of CKD, according to glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSION: CKD patients submitted to CABG represent a high risk population, with increased incidence of complications and mortality. Post-operative ARF is a strong in-hospital mortality predictor. Glomerular filtration rate was inversely related to mortality.

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Artigo Original

Myocardial dysfunction and abnormalities in intracellular calcium handling in obese rats

Ana Paula Lima-Leopoldo et al. André S. Leopoldo Mário M. Sugizaki Alessandro Bruno … André F. Nascimento Renata A. M. Luvizotto Silvio A. de Oliveira Júnior Edson Castardeli Carlos R. Padovani Antonio C. Cicogna

BACKGROUND: Several mechanisms have been proposed to contribute to cardiac dysfunction in obesity models, such as alterations in calcium (Ca2+) handling proteins and β-adrenergic receptors. Nevertheless, the role of these factors in the development of myocardial dysfunction induced by obesity is still not clear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether obesity induced by hypercaloric diets results in cardiac dysfunction. Furthermore, it was evaluated whether this functional abnormality in obese rats is related to abnormal Ca2+ handling and the β-adrenoceptor system. METHODS: Male 30-day-old Wistar rats were fed with standard food (C) and a cycle of five hypercaloric diets (Ob) for 15 weeks. Obesity was defined as increases in body fat percentage in rats. Cardiac function was evaluated by isolated analysis of the left ventricle papillary muscle under basal conditions and after inotropic and lusitropic maneuvers. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the obese rats had increased body fat and glucose intolerance. The muscles of obese rats developed similar baseline data, but the myocardial responsiveness to post-rest contraction stimulus and increased extracellular Ca2+ were compromised. There were no changes in cardiac function between groups after β-adrenergic stimulation. CONCLUSION: Obesity promotes cardiac dysfunction related to changes in intracellular Ca2+ handling. This functional damage is probably caused by reduced cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2) activation via Ca2+ calmodulin kinase.

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