Left ventricular mass behaviour in hemodialysis patients during 17 years.

Introduction: Ventricular hypertrophy is frequent in dialysis patients and is associated with an ominous prognosis. It is not knowledge if this ventricular change is growing or decreasing in hemodialysis patients.

Objective: To assess left ventricular hypertrophy behaviour during 17 years in patients of a university dialysis center, as well as to verify the possible causes of this behavior.

Total body water and failure to control blood pressure by medication in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Volume overload is the main factor responsible for the pathogenesis of hypertension in dialysis patients. Few studies have evaluated the interpretation of the parameters obtained by bioelectrical impedance (BIA) to manage these patients. The aim of this study was to assess the best cutoff level of volume overload obtained by BIA able to predict the absence of hypertension control in hemodialysis patients.

Ventricular hypertrophy and cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients with low educational level.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy is a strong predictor of mortality in chronic kidney patients. A previous study of our group has shown that chronic kidney patients with low educational level has more severe ventricular hypertrophy.

Objective: To extend a previous study and to assess whether left ventricular hypertrophy can explain the association between schooling and cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Influence of educational level on myocardial hypertrophy of hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Chronic renal disease is associated with a high cardiovascular risk. Data from the general population associate cardiovascular diseases with low educational level, but no study has evaluated this association in patients on hemodialysis.

Objective: This study aimed at evaluating the association between educational level, hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients on chronic hemodialysis.

Characteristics of smokers enrolled in a public smoking cessation program.

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of smokers seeking treatment in a public smoking cessation program.

Methods: This was a retrospective evaluation of data collected during the interview for enrollment in the smoking cessation program of the Smoking Outpatient Clinic of the Paulista State University School of Medicine in the city of Botucatu, Brazil, between April of 2003 and April of 2007. Demographic variables; previous use of the behavioral approach, medications or alternative treatments for smoking cessation; degree of nicotine dependence; and history of comorbidities were evaluated in 387 smokers.

Smoking cessation program as a tool for the early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underestimation as a result of underdiagnosis and undertreatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether using spirometry to evaluate smokers enrolled in smoking cessation programs facilitates early diagnosis of COPD.

Methods: The medical records of 158 smokers enrolled in the smoking cessation program at the Botucatu School of Medicine (Botucatu, Brazil) between January of 2003 and November of 2005 were evaluated retrospectively.