New anticoagulants for the treatment of venous thromboembolism.

Worldwide, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is among the leading causes of death from cardiovascular disease, surpassed only by acute myocardial infarction and stroke. The spectrum of VTE presentations ranges, by degree of severity, from deep vein thrombosis to acute pulmonary thromboembolism. Treatment is based on full anticoagulation of the patients.

Pulmonary artery enlargement in schistosomiasis associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Schistosomiasis associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (Sch-PAH) might represent the most prevalent form of PAH worldwide. In Sch-PAH, the presence of aneurismal dilation of the pulmonary artery has been described, although it is still a matter of debate whether on average the pulmonary artery is more enlarged in Sc-PAH than IPAH.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with IPAH (n = 25) and Sch-PAH (n = 22) who underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiogram and right heart catheterization.

Impact of a program to promote health and quality of life of elderly.

Objective: To evaluate the effect on quality of life of elderly people enrolled in GAMIA - Multidisciplinary Care Group to Outpatient Elderly Subjects (Grupo de Assistência Multidisciplinar ao Idoso Ambulatorial) of the Geriatric Department, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2002, 83 elderly participants of GAMIA were assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-bref) at the beginning and the end of the program. Functionality was assessed by Katz and Lawton scales and sociodemographic data were obtained from medical charts.