Cancer and cardiovascular disease are the two main causes of death worldwide in both men and women. In the past decades, survival rate in cancer patients has substantially improved due to new treatments and developments in radiation therapy (RT). In women, breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer death and thoracic RT is a main component of the treatment in many cases. Nevertheless, despite new techniques that limit the area receiving RT, cardiac damage is still an important concern in BC patients. In this review, the following aspects will be addressed: pathophysiology of postradiotherapy heart damage in women with BC; mechanisms, diagnosis and prevention/management of heart damage; and future areas of potential research for radiotherapy injury in women.

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares constituyen la primera causa de muerte en Cuba y la mayoría de los países desarrollados. La ecocardiografía con speckle tracking bidimensional (ST 2D) es una técnica reciente en la evaluación de la función cardíaca. Determinar la relación entre la deformación miocárdica medida por ST 2D y el estado de la circulación coronaria en pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica, en el CIMEQ, durante un año. Se realizó un estudio analítico y transversal con 55 pacientes con indicación de coronariografía sometidos a ecocardiograma bidimensional y estudio de ST 2D con medición de la deformación longitudinal (DLG). Se crearon dos grupos: enfermedad coronaria significativa (ECS = 32) y no significativa (ECNS = 23). Se utilizó SSPS para análisis de los resultados. La edad promedio fue mayor en la ECS (55.6 ± 9.3 vs. 61.8 ± 8.8; p = 0.014). Predominaron los hombres con ECS (47.3%), los hipertensos (ECS = 90.6% y ENCS = 65.2%; p = 0.02) y los fumadores (ECS = 59.4% y ENCS = 17.4%; p = 0.002). El diagnóstico más frecuente fue la angina crónica estable (87%). En la ECS predominó la enfermedad de tres vasos (75%). La DLG fue menor en la ECS [(-20.0 ± 3.2 vs. -22.1 ± 3.6; p = 0.035); AUC = 0.458]. No hubo diferencias en la DLG según el número de vasos significativamente afectados. Los resultados encontrados no justifican el empleo del ST 2D para diferenciar la ECS. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Cuba and most of the developed countries. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D ST) is a recent technique in the evaluation of cardiac function. To determine the relationship between myocardial deformation measured by 2D ST and coronary circulation in patients with ischemic heart disease, in the CIMEQ, for 1 year. An analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out with 55 patients with an indication for coronary angiography who underwent 2D echocardiography and 2D ST study with longitudinal strain measurement (LSM). Two groups significant coronary disease (SCD = 32) and not significant (NSCD = 23) were created. SSPS was used to analyze the results. The average age was higher in SCD (55.6 ± 9.3 vs. 61.8 ± 8.8, p = 0.014). Men with SCD (47.3%), hypertensive (SCD = 90.6% and NSCD = 65.2%, p = 0.02) and smokers (SCD = 59.4% and NSCD = 17.4%, p = 0.002) predominated. The most frequent diagnosis was chronic stable angina (87%). Three-vessel disease (75%) prevailed in SCD. The LMS was lower in SCD ([−20.0 ± 3.2 vs. −22.1 ± 3.6, p = 0.035]; AUC = 0.458). There were no differences in LSM according to the number of significantly diseased vessels. The results found do not justify the use of 2D ST to discriminate SCD.

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a hemoflagellate protozoa. CD is diagnosed by epidemiologic history and two positive serological tests. The infection has two main clinical phases: acute, early after acquiring the infection, and chronic. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is the first tool to diagnose chronic Chagas heart disease after CD serological diagnosis. In addition, the different cardiac imaging modalities, including chest X-ray, echocardiography, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computed tomography (CT), [...] Abstract Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a hemoflagellate protozoa. CD is diagnosed by epidemiologic history and two positive serological tests. The infection has two main clinical phases: acute, early after acquiring the infection, and chronic. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is the first tool to diagnose chronic Chagas heart disease after CD serological diagnosis. In addition, the different cardiac imaging modalities, including chest X-ray, echocardiography, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computed tomography (CT),

Introducción: La hipertensión pulmonar tromboembólica crónica es una variante potencialmente curable de hipertensión pulmonar. Las técnicas de imagen no invasiva resultan esenciales para el diagnóstico y seguimiento. El retraso en el diagnóstico conlleva a daño funcional cardiopulmonar, más allá de la propia obstrucción trombótica. Caso clínico: Paciente con disnea progresiva e insuficiencia cardiaca, sin tromboembolia pulmonar previa conocida, que muestra en imágenes diagnóstico de tromboembolismo pulmonar crónico con signos de hipertensión pulmonar, asociado a aneurisma de la arteria pulmonar y compromiso vascular de estructuras vecinas.

INPLASY202580075 Prognostic value of left atrial function in cardiac amyloidosis: protocol for a systematic review and meta‑analysis Keywords: Atrial Function, Left; Heart Atria; Amyloidosis. Read …

Amyloidosis is characterized by the tissue deposition of insoluble fibrils derived from misfolded proteins. This case report describes a Hispanic man diagnosed with both monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) cardiac amyloidosis. The diagnosis was made using a combination of serological tests and multimodality cardiac imaging. The report highlights the importance of multimodality imaging in diagnosing cardiac amyloidosis, especially in cases where MGUS is also present. The patient presented with shortness of breath and was found to have cardiac abnormalities through electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). A technetium-99m pyrophosphate (Tc-99m PYP) scan confirmed the presence of ATTR cardiac amyloidosis. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed MGUS. The patient was treated with diuretics and remained asymptomatic during follow-up. The report emphasizes the need for accurate diagnosis to differentiate between AL, ATTR, and MGUS due to their distinct clinical courses and treatments.