Myocyte diameter, fractional area of collagen, intensity of myocarditis and parasite persistence (explored by immunohistochemistry and PCR) were evaluated in serial sections of endomyocardial biopsies from 29 outpatients with chronic chagasic cardiopathy. The patients, 25 males and four females with a mean (S.D.) age of 43 (9) years, were subsequently followed up for 3-2861 days (median=369 days). During this follow-up, 16 (55%) of the patients died. The biopsies revealed myocarditis in 25 (86%) of the patients and high-grade myocarditis in 14 (56%). Although immunohistochemistry failed to demonstrate Trypanosoma cruzi antigens in any of the samples, five (33%) of the 15 biopsies successfully tested in the PCR-based assay for T. cruzi DNA were found positive, indicating parasite persistence. There was a significant positive association between myocardial parasite persistence and high-grade myocarditis (P=0.014); five (71%) of the seven endomyocardial biopsies with high-grade myocarditis that were successfully tested in the PCR assays showed persistent T. cruzi DNA. The survival time of the patients was not, however, found to be significantly associated with myocardial parasite persistence, any of the morphometric measurements taken, or the presence or intensity of myocarditis.

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Sirtuin-1 (Sirt-1) and an endogenous secretory receptor for an advanced glycation end product (esRAGE) are associated with vascular protection. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of resveratrol (RSV) and caloric restriction (CR) on gene expression of Sirt-1 and esRAGE on serum levels of Sirt1 and esRAGE in healthy and slightly overweight subjects. The study included 48 healthy subjects randomized to 30 days of RSV (500 mg/day) or CR (1000 cal/day). Waist circumference (p = 0.011), TC (p = 0.007), HDL (p = 0.031), non-HDL (p = 0.025), ApoA1 (p = 0.011), and ApoB (p = 0.037) decreased in the CR group. However, TC (p = 0.030), non-HDL (p = 0.010), ApoB (p = 0.034), and HOMA-IR (p = 0.038) increased in the RSV group. RSV and CR increased serum levels of Sirt-1, respectively, from 1.06 ± 0.71 ng/mL to 5.75 ± 2.98 ng/mL (p < 0.0001) and from 1.65 ± 1.81 ng/mL to 5.80 ± 2.23 ng/mL (p < 0.0001). esRAGE serum levels were similar in RSV (p = NS) and CR (p = NS) groups. Significant positive correlation was observed between gene expression changes of Sirt-1 and esRAGE in RSV (r = 0.86; p < 0.0001) and in CR (r = 0.71; p < 0.0001) groups, but not for the changes in serum concentrations. CR promoted increases in the gene expression of esRAGE (post/pre). Future long-term studies are needed to evaluate the impact of these outcomes on vascular health.

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BackgroundCardiac-specific troponin detected with the new high-sensitivity assays can be chronically elevated in response to cardiovascular comorbidities and confer important prognostic information, in the absence of unstable coronary syndromes. Both diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are known predictors of troponin elevation. It is not known whether diabetic patients with coronary artery disease have different levels of troponin compared with diabetic patients with normal coronary arteries. To investigate this question, we determined the concentrations of a level 1 troponin assay in two groups of diabetic patients: those with multivessel coronary artery disease and those with angiographically normal coronary arteries.MethodsWe studied 95 diabetic patients and compared troponin in serum samples from 50 patients with coronary artery disease (mean age = 63.7, 58 % male) with 45 controls with angiographically normal coronary arteries. Brain natriuretic peptide and the oxidative stress biomarkers myeloperoxidase, nitrotyrosine and oxidized LDL were also determined.ResultsDiabetic patients with coronary artery disease had higher levels of troponin than did controls (median values, 12.0 pg/mL (95 % CI:10–16) vs 7.0 pg/mL (95 % CI: 5.9-8.5), respectively; p = 0.0001). The area under the ROC curve for the diagnosis of CAD was 0.712 with a sensitivity of 70 % and a specificity of 66 %. Plasma BNP levels and oxidative stress variables (myeloperoxidase, nitrotyrosine, and oxidized LDL) were not different between the two groups. In a multivariate analysis, gender (p = 0.04), serum glucose (0.03) and Troponin I (p = 0.01) had independent statistical significance.ConclusionTroponin elevation is related to the presence of chronic coronary artery disease in diabetic patients with multiple associated cardiovascular risk factors. Troponin may serve as a biomarker in this high-risk population.Trial registrationhttp://www.controlled-trials.com Registration number:ISRCTN26970041