Review
Microbiology
German J. Medina-Rincon, Sebastian Gallo-Bernal, Paula A. Jimenez, Lissa Cruz-Saavedra, Juan David Ramirez, Maria Juliana Rodriguez, Ramon Medina-Mur, Gustavo Diaz-Nassif, Maria Daniela Valderrama-Achury, Hector M. Medina
Summary: Chagas disease presents as disabling and life-threatening conditions mainly affecting the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. Despite progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying infection and host-parasite interactions, prompt diagnosis and treatment remain a challenge in developing countries and those where the disease is not considered endemic.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Isis G. Montalvo-Ocotoxtle, Gustavo Rojas-Velasco, Olivia Rodriguez-Morales, Minerva Arce-Fonseca, Luis A. Baeza-Herrera, Arturo Arzate-Ramirez, Gabriela Melendez-Ramirez, Daniel Manzur-Sandoval, Mayra L. Lara-Romero, Antonio Reyes-Ortega, Patricia Espinosa-Gonzalez, Erika Palacios-Rosas
Summary: Chagas cardiomyopathy, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a significant cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality rates in developing countries. It is considered a Neglected Tropical Disease by the World Health Organization, and early detection and treatment is crucial in both endemic and non-endemic regions. This review provides an overview of the current incidence and prevalence of Chagas disease, as well as the main pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of Chagas cardiomyopathy.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Maria Carmo P. Nunes, Lewis F. Buss, Jose Luiz P. Silva, Larissa Natany A. Martins, Claudia Di Lorenzo Oliveira, Clareci Silva Cardoso, Bruno Oliveira de Figueiredo Brito, Ariela Mota Ferreira, Lea Campos Oliveira, Ana Luiza Bierrenbach, Fabio Fernandes, Michael P. Busch, Viviane Tiemi Hotta, Luiz Mario Baptista Martinelli, Maria Carolina F. Almeida Soeiro, Adriana Brentegani, Vera M. C. Salemi, Marcia M. Menezes, Antonio Luiz P. Ribeiro, Ester Cerdeira Sabino
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive description of the natural history of T. cruzi seropositivity in a contemporary patient population, highlighting the central importance of anti-T. cruzi antibody titer as a marker of Chagas disease activity and risk of progression.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Sindhu Chadalawada, Anis Rassi Jr, Omar Samara, Anthony Monzon, Deepika Gudapati, Lilian Vargas Barahona, Peter Hyson, Stefan Sillau, Luisa Mestroni, Matthew Taylor, Maria Da Consolacao Vieira Moreira, Kristen DeSanto, Nelson I. Agudelo Higuita, Carlos Franco-Paredes, Andres F. Henao-Martinez
Summary: The study found that the annual mortality risk in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy is significant, with cardiovascular causes being the main contributor. Patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction and those classified as AHA stages C and C/D have an increased mortality risk.
Article
Immunology
Sergio Alejandro Gomez-Ochoa, Paula Katherine Bautista-Nino, Lyda Z. Z. Rojas, Lukas Hunziker, Taulant Muka, Luis E. E. Echeverria
Summary: The study found an association between miR-223-5p and clinical parameters of CCM, with signaling pathways related to receptor tyrosine kinases as a potential mechanism linking low levels of miR-223-5p with CCM worsening.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Sindhu Chadalawada, Anis Rassi, Omar Samara, Anthony Monzon, Deepika Gudapati, Lilian Vargas Barahona, Peter Hyson, Stefan Sillau, Luisa Mestroni, Matthew Taylor, Maria Da Consolacao Vieira Moreira, Kristen DeSanto, Nelson I. Agudelo Higuita, Carlos Franco-Paredes, Andres F. Henao-Martinez
Summary: The annual mortality risk in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy is high, primarily due to cardiovascular causes. Patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction and those classified as AHA stages C and C/D have a higher risk of mortality.
Article
Immunology
Pauline Brochet, Barbara Ianni, Joao P. S. Nunes, Amanda F. Frade, Priscila C. Teixeira, Charles Mady, Ludmila R. P. Ferreira, Andreia Kuramoto, Cristina W. Pissetti, Bruno Saba, Darlan D. S. Candido, Fabricio Dias, Marcelo Sampaio, Jose A. Marin-Neto, Abilio Fragata, Ricardo C. F. Zaniratto, Sergio Siqueira, Giselle D. L. Peixoto, Vagner O. C. Rigaud, Paula Buck, Rafael R. Almeida, Hui Tzu Lin-Wang, Andre Schmidt, Martino Martinelli, Mario H. Hirata, Eduardo Donadi, Virmondes Rodrigues Junior, Alexandre C. Pereira, Jorge Kalil, Lionel Spinelli, Edecio Cunha-Neto, Christophe Chevillard
Summary: This study proposes two sets of DNA methylation biomarkers that can predict the occurrence and stage of Chagas disease cardiomyopathy. Using machine learning algorithms, predictions in a test cohort achieved an accuracy of over 95%. These biomarkers are also associated with immune response, nervous system, ion transport, and ATP synthesis pathways.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Martha Lucia Diaz, Fredy A. Delgado, Ruth A. Martinez, Mayra Alejandra Jaimes, Luis Eduardo Echeverria, Sergio Alejandro Gomez-Ochoa, Julio Cesar Mantilla-Hernandez, Clara Isabel Gonzalez
Summary: This study compared the histopathological findings and inflammatory cell phenotypes in myocardial tissue of end-stage heart failure patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) and non-Chagas cardiomyopathies (NCC). The results showed that CCC patients had more severe fibrosis, inflammatory infiltrates, and a predominance of memory T cells.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marcus Vinicius Accetta Vianna, Matheus Ribeiro Avila, Pedro Henrique Scheidt Figueiredo, Vanessa Pereira Lima, Liliany Mara Silva Carvalho, Paulo Henrique da Cruz Ferreira, Lucas Frois Fernandes de Oliveira, Whesley Tanor Silva, Igor Lucas Geraldo Izalino de Almeida, Ana Cristina Rodrigues Lacerda, Vanessa Amaral Mendonca, Sanny Cristina de Castro Faria, Mauro Felippe Felix Mediano, Manoel Otavio da Costa Rocha, Henrique Silveira Costa
Summary: The end-tidal carbon dioxide at peak exercise (PETCO2 peak) has prognostic value in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC). Reduced PETCO2 peak is an independent predictor of poor outcome in ChC patients.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Karen Sliwa, Charle Andre Viljoen, Babar Hasan, Ntobeko A. B. Ntusi
Summary: This article provides an overview of recent research on cardiomyopathies and nutritional heart disease that are more prevalent in tropical regions. The development of these diseases is complicated by poverty, fragmented healthcare systems, and limited access to healthcare due to socioeconomic inequalities. This review proposes an approach for diagnosing and caring for patients with suspected or confirmed tropical cardiomyopathies and nutritional heart disease.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Artur Santos-Miranda, Alexandre D. Costa, Julliane Joviano-Santos, Paula Rhana, Alexandre Santos Bruno, Peter Rocha, Stefany Bruno Cau, Leda Q. Vieira, Jader S. Cruz, Danilo Roman-Campos
Summary: This study demonstrated the potential therapeutic value of targeting the Ca2+/CaM-CaMKII pathway in preventing and treating Chagasic cardiomyopathy. Inhibition of this pathway reversed arrhythmic profiles and restored cardiac function in experimental models, suggesting a promising strategy for managing this condition.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Luis E. Echeverria, Sergio Alejandro Gomez-Ochoa, Lyda Z. Rojas, Karen Andrea Garcia-Rueda, Pedro Lopez-Aldana, Taulant Muka, Carlos A. Morillo
Summary: The study aimed to analyze the correlation of six biochemical markers with diastolic function echocardiographic markers and DD diagnosis in patients with Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCM). Results showed that higher levels of NT-proBNP, Hs-cTnT, NGAL, and Cys-C were associated with an increased odds of having diastolic dysfunction in multivariate analyses. NT-proBNP had the highest AUC value for discriminating DD presence.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ana Flavia Vieira Trindade, Whesley Tanor Silva, Vanessa Pereira Lima, Vanessa Amaral Mendonca, Ana Cristina Rodrigues Lacerda, Matheus Ribeiro Avila, Lucas Frois Fernandes de Oliveira, Igor Lucas Geraldo Izalino de Almeida, Keity Lamary Souza Silva, Luciano Fonseca Lemos de Oliveira, Liliany Mara Silva Carvalho, Paulo Henrique da Cruz Ferreira, Sanny Cristina Castro de Faria, Mauro Felippe Felix Mediano, Pedro Henrique Scheidt Figueiredo, Henrique Silveira Costa
Summary: The study aimed to validate the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLwHFQ) in assessing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC). The results showed that MLwHFQ correlated with most SF-36 HRQoL domains, depressive symptoms, physical activity, and systolic function, suggesting its validity in assessing the HRQoL of ChC patients.
TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Clara Salles Figueiredo, Rodrigo Morel Vieira de Melo, Taina Teixeira Viana, Aline Grimaldi Queiroz de Jesus, Tainara Cerqueira da Silva, Vitor Mamedio da Silva, William Neves de Carvalho, Daniela Nascimento Valame da Silva, Luiz Carlos Santana Passos
Summary: A study in Brazil evaluated a case series of Chagas heart disease patients using sacubitril/valsartan, finding symptomatic improvement after 6 months but no changes in ventricular remodelling, with high mortality and hospitalization rates. These results highlight the importance of studying the effectiveness of sacubitril/valsartan in Chagas heart disease to better understand its impact on these individuals.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Emanuelle de Souza Santos, Dahara Keyse Carvalho Silva, Bruna Padilha Zurita Claro dos Reis, Breno Cardim Barreto, Carine Machado Azevedo Cardoso, Ricardo Ribeiro dos Santos, Cassio Santana Meira, Milena Botelho Pereira Soares
Summary: Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi can lead to Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) with severe complications like arrhythmias, heart failure, and death. Despite over a hundred years of discovery, there is still no effective treatment, especially for CCC. Immunomodulatory agents are considered a rational alternative due to the systemic inflammation causing cardiac tissue damage, showing potential in modulating inflammation and improving myocarditis in CCC models.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)