Among adults undergoing noncardiac surgery, MINS is common and associated with substantial mortality.

Aim: To assess the effect of periodontal therapy (PT) on cardiovascular blood biomarkers. Materials and Methods: This single-blind, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial included patients with stable coronary artery disease and periodontitis. The test group (TG) received non-surgical PT, whereas the control group (CG) received one session of plaque removal. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), glycated haemoglobin, lipids and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFNγ and TNFα) were measured at baseline and after 3 months.Results: Eighty-two patients (74.4% women, mean age 59.6 years) were analysed. TG had significantly better periodontal parameters than CG after 3 months, but no significant differences in blood markers were observed between them. In a post hoc subgroup analysis in patients with baseline CRP <3 mg/L, a significant increase in CRP was observed in CG (1.44 ± 0.82 mg/L to 4.35 ± 7.85 mg/L, p = 0.01), whereas CRP remained unchanged in TG (1.40 ± 0.96 mg/L to 1.33 ± 1.26 mg/L, p = 0.85), resulting in a significant difference between groups at 3 months. In patients with CRP ≥3 mg/L, a significant reduction in CRP was observed only in TG (11.3 ± 12.8 mg/L to 5.7 ± 4.1 mg/L, p = 0.04). Levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly lower in TG than CG at 3 months. Conclusions:PT leads to lower levels of CRP, IL-6 and IL-8 in cardiovascular patients with high CRP levels.

Periodontal treatment did not provide better vasodilation in patients with coronary disease in a short-term follow-up period, although it maintained blood concentrations of markers of vascular inflammation.

The association between epistaxis and hypertension is still disputed. In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated this association in a sample of 1174 individuals older than 18 years, representative of inhabitants of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Epistaxis was defined as any episode of non-traumatic nosebleeding after 18 years of age. Hypertension was defined as the mean of two blood pressure readings > or = 160/95 mmHg or the use of antihypertensive drugs. The prevalence of epistaxis and hypertension were 14.7% (95% confidence interval, CI 12.7-16.7) and 24.1% (95% CI 21.7-26.6), respectively. History of epistaxis in the adulthood (risk ratio = 1.24, 95% CI 0.83-1.85), and in the previous 6 months (risk ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.40-1.56; p = 0.510) were not associated with hypertension after controlling for gender, age, race, history of allergic rhinitis or nasal abnormalities, alcohol abuse, smoking and years of study. History of epistaxis was positively associated with history of allergic rhinitis and inversely associated with years at school. In conclusion, we demonstrated that hypertension is not associated with history of epistaxis in the adulthood in free-living individuals.

BackgroundMany Brazilian patients with complex diseases who are treated in tertiary referral clinics have been stable for long periods. The main needs of these patients involve monitoring of risk factors and review of drug prescriptions, which could be satisfactorily done in primary care facilities. The goal of this protocol is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of telemedicine services to support the transition of patients with stable chronic coronary artery disease from the tertiary to the primary level of care.Methods/designWe designed a randomized non-inferiority protocol that will include 280 patients with stable coronary artery disease (for at least 12 months). Patients will be selected from the Ischemic Heart Disease Clinic in a tertiary care hospital in southern Brazil. Enrolled participants will be randomized into one of two groups: 12 months of follow-up at the same clinic; or 12 months of follow-up at a primary care facility with clinical support from a telemedicine platform including a toll-free line for physicians (intervention group). In the intervention group, decisions to refer patients to tertiary care during follow-up will be made jointly by primary physicians and medical teleconsultants. The groups will be compared in terms of the primary outcome—maintenance of baseline functional class 1 or 2 after 12 months. Secondary outcomes include control of risk factors and instability of the disease.DiscussionWe intend to determine the effectiveness of using telemedicine to qualify the transition of patients with chronic coronary disease from the tertiary to the primary level of care. This should facilitate the access of patients to the healthcare system, since care will be provided closer to their homes, and provide more opportunities for treatment of severe cases at tertiary care hospitals that are often overcrowded.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov # NCT02489565 – trial registration date May 13, 2015

Serum IL-18 levels in ACS patients were independent predictors of long-term cardiovascular events. These findings support the association between inflammation and prognosis of ACS patients, as well as the clinical impact of this biomarker.

In this sample of patients with stable CVD, current periodontal inflammation and tissue breakdown are associated with cardiovascular inflammatory markers, such as CRP and lipid profile.

Background. Cardiac troponin levels have been reported to add value in the detection of cardiovascular complications in noncardiac surgery. A sensitive cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assay could provide more accurate prognostic information. Methods. This study prospectively enrolled 142 patients with at least one Revised Cardiac Risk Index risk factor who underwent noncardiac surgery. cTnI levels were measured postoperatively. Short-term cardiac outcome predictors were evaluated. Results. cTnI elevation was observed in 47 patients, among whom 14 were diagnosed as having myocardial infarction (MI). After 30 days, 16 patients had major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Excluding patients with a final diagnosis of MI, predictors of cTnI elevation included dialysis, history of heart failure, transoperative major bleeding, and elevated levels of pre- and postoperative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Maximal cTnI values showed the highest sensitivity (94%), specificity (75%), and overall accuracy (AUC 0.89; 95% CI 0.80–0.98) for postoperative MACE. Postoperative cTnI peak level (OR 9.4; 95% CI 2.3–39.2) and a preoperative NT-proBNP level ≥917 pg/mL (OR 3.47; 95% CI 1.05–11.6) were independent risk factors for MACE. Conclusions. cTnI was shown to be an independent prognostic factor for cardiac outcomes and should be considered as a component of perioperative risk assessment.