AMILOIDOSE CARDÍACA: SUPERANDO A LACUNA ENTRE O RECONHECIMENTO E O MANEJO EFETIVO

Introduction: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a rare condition caused by the accumulation of amyloid proteins in the heart, resulting in impaired cardiac function. CA is often underdiagnosed due to its nonspecific clinical presentation and lack of awareness about the disease. This article aims to understand the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of CA. Methodology: A systematic review was conducted using databases such as Scielo and PubMed, with the descriptors "Amyloidosis" AND "Cardiovascular System," yielding 3306 studies, of which 23 were selected for better addressing the chosen topic and being published in English or Portuguese. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to ensure the quality of the selected studies. Results: CA can be caused by different types of amyloidosis, with light-chain amyloidosis (AL) and transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) being the most common. Symptoms are nonspecific and include dyspnea, fatigue, and edema, often leading to diagnostic errors. Diagnosis involves a combination of methods, including imaging tests and tissue biopsy. Treatment aims to slow disease progression and alleviate symptoms, tailored according to the type and stage of CA. Conclusion: CA represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to its varied clinical presentation and complexity. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease is crucial for early diagnosis and better patient management. Continuous development of clinical and therapeutic approaches is necessary to optimize outcomes for patients affected by this debilitating condition.Introdução: A amiloidose cardíaca (AC) é uma condição rara causada pelo acúmulo de proteínas amiloides no coração, resultando em comprometimento da função cardíaca. A AC é frequentemente subdiagnosticada devido à sua clínica inespecífica e à falta de conscientização sobre a doença. Este artigo visa compreender a fisiopatologia, diagnóstico e manejo da AC. Metodologia: Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática utilizando bases de dados como Scielo e Pubmed, utilizando os descritores “Amyloidosis” AND “Cardiovascular System”, obtendo-se 3306 estudos, dos quais 23 foram selecionados por abordarem melhor o tema escolhido e serem publicados em inglês ou português. Os critérios de inclusão e exclusão foram aplicados para garantir a qualidade dos estudos selecionados. Resultados: A AC pode ser causada por diferentes tipos de amiloidose, sendo a amiloidose de cadeia leve (AL) e a amiloidose associada à transtirretina (ATTR) as mais comuns. Os sintomas são inespecíficos e incluem dispneia, fadiga e edema, levando frequentemente a erros diagnósticos. O diagnóstico envolve uma combinação de métodos, incluindo exames de imagem e biópsia tecidual. O tratamento visa retardar a progressão da doença e aliviar os sintomas, sendo personalizado de acordo com o tipo e estágio da AC. Conclusão: A AC representa um desafio diagnóstico e terapêutico devido à sua apresentação clínica variada e complexidade. A conscientização sobre os sinais e sintomas da doença é crucial para um diagnóstico precoce e um melhor manejo dos pacientes. O desenvolvimento contínuo de abordagens clínicas e terapêuticas é necessário para otimizar os resultados para os pacientes afetados por essa condição debilitante

Central bank digital currencies and the international payment system: the demise of the US dollar?

The international monetary system is marked by a hierarchical relationship between currencies, where the US dollar is widely used. Recently, central banks have started to launch Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which, in contrast to cryptocurrencies, are issued by monetary authorities. The purpose of this paper is (i) to analyse and explain domestic retail CBDCs in detail, and (ii) to assess whether the creation of CBDCs poses a threat to the US dollar as the key currency of the international monetary and financial system. It will be argued that, despite the innovations a CBDC may bring, the role of the US dollar will not be affected by the introduction of multiple CBDCs (mCBDCs) alone. Although mCBDC arrangements might decentralise the international payment system, the underlying structures supporting today's unipolar system would not automatically change. It is crucial that central banks work together to establish an alternative international monetary system

Etiologic heterogeneity among non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes : the InterLymph non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes project

Background: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) comprises biologically and clinically heterogeneous subtypes. Previously, study size has limited the ability to compare and contrast the risk factor profiles among these heterogeneous subtypes. Methods: We pooled individual-level data from 17 471 NHL cases and 23 096 controls in 20 case-control studies from the International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium (InterLymph). We estimated the associations, measured as odds ratios, between each of 11 NHL subtypes and self-reported medical history, family history of hematologic malignancy, lifestyle factors, and occupation. We then assessed the heterogeneity of associations by evaluating the variability (Q value) of the estimated odds ratios for a given exposure among subtypes. Finally, we organized the subtypes into a hierarchical tree to identify groups that had similar risk factor profiles. Statistical significance of tree partitions was estimated by permutation-based P values (PNODE). Results: Risks differed statistically significantly among NHL subtypes for medical history factors (autoimmune diseases, hepatitis C virus seropositivity, eczema, and blood transfusion), family history of leukemia and multiple myeloma, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and certain occupations, whereas generally homogeneous risks among subtypes were observed for family history of NHL, recreational sun exposure, hay fever, allergy, and socioeconomic status. Overall, the greatest difference in risk factors occurred between T-cell and B-cell lymphomas (PNODE < 1.0 x 10⁻⁴), with increased risks generally restricted to T-cell lymphomas for eczema, T-cell-activating autoimmune diseases, family history of multiple myeloma, and occupation as a painter. We further observed substantial heterogeneity among B-cell lymphomas (PNODE < 1.0 x 10⁻⁴). Increased risks for B-cell-activating autoimmune disease and hepatitis C virus seropositivity and decreased risks for alcohol consumption and occupation as a teacher generally were restricted to marginal zone lymphoma, Burkitt/Burkitt-like lymphoma/leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and/or lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Conclusions: Using a novel approach to investigate etiologic heterogeneity among NHL subtypes, we identified risk factors that were common among subtypes as well as risk factors that appeared to be distinct among individual or a few subtypes, suggesting both subtype-specific and shared underlying mechanisms. Further research is needed to test putative mechanisms, investigate other risk factors (eg, other infections, environmental exposures, and diet), and evaluate potential joint effects with genetic susceptibility.15 page(s