Depression, heart rate variability, and exercise training in dialysis patients.

Background: Functional limitations, altered cardiac autonomic activity, and psychological distress are known disorders in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients, relating to increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of an exercise training program on emotional parameters and heart rate variability (HRV) indices, as well as to determine whether emotional stress contributes to autonomic dysfunction in these patients.

Methods: Forty-four HD patients were randomly assigned into group A (24 patients, aged 46.

The effect of rosiglitazone on novel atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. An open-label observational study.

Thiazolidinediones are antidiabetic agents that decrease insulin resistance. Emerging evidence indicates that they present beneficial effects for the vasculature beyond glycemic control. The aim of this open-label observational study was to determine the effect of the thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone on novel cardiovascular risk factors, namely, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine, and fibrinogen in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Association between hyperhomocysteinemia and ultrasonographic atherosclerotic indices of carotid arteries in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular events are a major cause of morbidity and the main cause of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Hyperhomocysteinemia--which is a consistent finding in uremic patients--is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship between plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations and atherosclerotic CVD has not been extensively investigated.

The effect of rosiglitazone on urine albumin excretion in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Background: Thiazolidinediones are antidiabetic agents that improve insulin sensitivity (IS). Accumulating data indicate that these agents provide beneficial effects beyond glycemic control, such as improvement in vascular function. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of rosiglitazone on urine albumin excretion (UAE) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension.