Abstract Cardiotoxicity is an important complication associated with chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer patients. Its diagnosis is based on serial assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), however the LVEF decrease occurs late in the evolution of this condition. Thus, alternative non-invasive methods for early diagnosis of cardiotoxicity have emerged with this purpose, specially in echocardiography and nuclear medicine. The assessment of cardiac sympathetic function using 123I-MIBG scan arises as a promising tool, since adrenergic damage appears to precede […]

Abstract The heart is controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), oscillating between sympathetic and parasympathetic predominance according to exogenous and endogenous stimuli. ANS activity can be assessed indirectly by heart rate variability (HRV). This review aimed to assess the impact of physical exercises on HRV in hypertensive patients. A literature review was performed, searching the PubMed, SciELO, LILACS and Google Scholar databases. 10 clinical trials, published in the last 5 years, were included. It is concluded that physical exercise […]

Abstract Since the 1990s, the hypothesis that reducing vagal action increased mortality in cardiac patients and healthy adults has been suggested. Based on this premise, studies came that evaluated the possibility of relating the reduction of HR in the phase of recovery of the exercise stress test (ET) with prognostic implication. This review aimed to perform a critical analysis of studies that evaluated the HR response after effort, and its correlation with cardiovascular outcomes. Pubmed’s virtual health library was available, […]

Abstract Postpartum depression is a major public health problem and is often overlooked. Knowing that regular physical activities can benefit the physical and mental state of women, several studies have analyzed the implications of physical exercise in postpartum. This article is a narrative review of the literature with a search on PubMed and LILACS, to evaluate the effect of physical exercise as an adjuvant treatment in postpartum depression.

Abstract During the last two decades, radionuclide myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) has become established as the main noninvasive cardiac imaging technique for the assessment of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Despite a growing number of alternative imaging techniques, MPS still remains the most widely used technique, with a wealth of literature supporting its usefulness in assessing IHD and predicting prognosis. The technique itself has evolved, making it more reliable and robust, with additional ventricular functional information that further defines the prognosis […]