A randomized controlled trial of an educational programme to improve self-care in Brazilian patients following percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aims: To test an educational programme with telephone follow-up to improve self-care in Brazilian patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention has been established as a treatment for coronary disease. However, additional intervention is needed to improve self-care for individuals who undergo this procedure to reduce further disease.

Participation of Na(+) channels in the potentiation by Tityus serrulatus alpha-toxin TsTx-V of glucose-induced electrical activity and insulin secretion in rodent islet beta-cells.

The effects of TsTx-V, an alpha-toxin isolated from Tityus serrulatus venom, on electrical activity and insulin secretion by rodent pancreatic islet cells were studied. TsTx-V (5.6 microg/ml) depolarized mouse pancreatic beta-cells, diminished the membrane input resistance and increased the duration of the active phase of glucose-induced electrical activity.