Research lines
Research lines in the “Biomedical Sciences” concentration area
“Physiology of the cardiovascular system and hydroelectrolytic balance”
Faculty: Armenio Aguiar dos Santos, Camila Ferreira Roncari, José Xavier Neto, and Richard Boarato David.
The aim of this research line is to study the effects on gastrointestinal motility of extracellular volume rearrangements, whether due to acute myocardial infarction, loss of renal function, the establishment of aortocaval fistula or passive postural changes (tilt up and tilt down). In addition, this line of research also investigates the central mechanisms involved in the regulation of blood pressure, renal excretion of water and sodium, and control of thirst and sodium appetite. In particular, the interaction of neural and humoral mechanisms to control ingestive behavior in animal models of hypertension, hypovolemia and plasma hyperosmolarity. The projects related to this line of research will be conducted in 2 laboratories (Laboratório de neurofisiologia e comportamento ingestivo e Laboratório Escola Prof. Luiz Capelo) who have adequate infrastructure and equipment to carry out scientific research on these subjects.
“Pharmacology of the cardiovascular system”
Faculty: Alexandre Havt Bindá, Mohammed Saad Lahlou, and Rodrigo José Bezerra de Siqueira.
This research line aims to discover new drugs of synthetic or natural origin that may be used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, such as renovascular hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension, as well as to identify natural products, most of which from Brazilian flora, that can be used to reduce or avoid the harmful impact of clinical drugs or animal venoms that have cardio or nephrotoxic effects. The projects related to this research will be conducted in 2 laboratories (Laboratório de farmacologia cardiovascular and Laboratório de toxinologia molecular) who have adequate infrastructure and equipment to carry out scientific research on these subjects.
Research lines in the “Clinical Cardiology” concentration area
“Epidemiology and clinical manifestations of cardiovascular diseases”
Faculty: Carlos Roberto Martins Rodrigues Sobrinho, Eduardo Arrais Rocha, Fábio Rocha Fernandes Tavora, and Ricardo Pereira Silva.
According to the IV Brazilian Guideline on Dyslipidemias and Atherosclerosis Prevention of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC), in the last thirty years, there has been a decrease in mortality due to cardiovascular causes in developed countries, while a relatively rapid and substantial increase has occurred in developing countries, including Brazil. In this context, atherosclerotic lesions in the thoracic aorta have been recognized as an important cause of stroke and peripheral embolization, which can result in severe neurological damage as well as multiple organ failure and death. This disease is chronic inflammatory with a multifactorial origin that occurs in response to endothelial aggression, affecting mainly the intimate layer of medium and large-caliber arteries. As a result, embolic events can occur spontaneously or be induced by interventions including cardiac catheterization, arteriography, peripheral interventions, intra-aortic balloons, and cardiac or vascular surgery.
“Applied cardiovascular physiotherapy”
Faculty: Camila Ferreira Leite and Rafael Barreto de Mesquita.
This research line aims to conduct clinical studies involving evaluation and intervention of the cardiorespiratory physiotherapy. Specifically, studies to investigate the effects of physical exercise on musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems function applied to clinical situations as a preventive or treatment strategy for subjects with cardiovascular diseases through rehabilitation programs. Additionally, this research line also proposes to study measurement instruments that allow to estimate the functional profile of cardiac patient, including in the scientific approach, studies on validation of functional performance instruments for populations with specific cardiovascular disorders.
