Cardiac function, myocardial fat deposition, and lipid profile in young smokers: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There is a possibility that cardiac morphometric characteristics are associated with the lipid profile, that is, the composition and concentration of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and others lipoproteins in young smokers without comorbidities. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the association of cardiac morphometric characteristics, myocardial fat deposition, and smoking cessation with the lipid profile of young smokers.

Methods: A clinical and laboratory evaluation of lipids and the smoking status was performed on 57 individuals, including both a smoker group and a control group.

Different Clusters in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Two-Center Study in Brazil.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a functional definition. However, differences in clinical characteristics and systemic manifestations make COPD a heterogeneous disease and some manifestations have been associated with different risks of acute exacerbations, hospitalizations, and death.

Objective: Therefore, the objective of the study was to evaluate possible clinical clusters in COPD at two study centers in Brazil and identify the associated exacerbation and mortality rate during 1 year of follow-up.

Comparison of morphometry and ventricular function of healthy and smoking young people.

Background: Tobacco smoke is one of the most significant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and damages in the myocardial tissue directly. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has been used and is a promising tool to evaluate morphometry and cardiac function in humans. The objective of this study was to evaluate associations of smoking with morphometry and cardiac function by CMR technique in young adult smokers.

Pressure-Induced Alopecia: Presence of Thin Hairs as a Trichoscopic Clue for the Diagnosis.

Pressure-induced alopecia (PA) is an unusual pattern of circumscribed hair loss that occurs after ischemic changes on the scalp. Trichoscopic findings described in the literature are scarce, nonspecific, and include black dots, broken hairs, circle hairs, and erythema. However, we report 3 cases of PA in which trichoscopy also showed many vellus and thin hairs.

Evaluation of smoking cessation treatment initiated during hospitalization in patients with heart disease or respiratory disease.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking cessation program, delivered by trained health care professionals, in patients hospitalized for acute respiratory disease (RD) or heart disease (HD).

Methods: Of a total of 393 patients evaluated, we included 227 (146 and 81 active smokers hospitalized for HD and RD, respectively). All participants received smoking cessation treatment during hospitalization and were followed in a cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation program for six months after hospital discharge.

Smoking and Early COPD as Independent Predictors of Body Composition, Exercise Capacity, and Health Status.

The effects of tobacco smoke, mild/moderate COPD disease and their combined effect on health status (HS), body composition (BC), and exercise capacity (EC) impairment are still unclear. We hypothesized that smoking and early COPD have a joint negative influence on these outcomes. We evaluated 32 smokers (smoking history >10 pack/years), 32 mild/moderate COPD (current smokers or former smokers), and 32 never smokers.

Preventing smoking during pregnancy: the importance of maternal knowledge of the health hazards and of the treatment options available.

Objective: To examine the pattern of tobacco use and knowledge about tobacco-related diseases, as well as to identify popular types of electronic media, in pregnant women, in order to improve strategies for the prevention or cessation of smoking among such women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 61 pregnant women, seen at primary care clinics and at a university hospital, in the city of Botucatu, Brazil. For all subjects, we applied the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Parenteral fish oil as a pharmacological agent to modulate post-operative immune response: a randomized, double-blind, and controlled clinical trial in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Background: Fish oil-based lipid emulsions (FOLEs) have shown post-operative immunological and clinical benefits in parenteral nutrition.

Aim: To assess post-operative immune response after short-term pre-operative parenteral infusion of isolated FOLE in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

Methods: The patients (n = 63) received pre-operative peripheral infusion (0.

Screening of microorganisms producing cold-active oxidoreductases to be applied in enantioselective alcohol oxidation. An Antarctic survey.

Several microorganisms were isolated from soil/sediment samples of Antarctic Peninsula. The enrichment technique using (RS)-1-(phenyl)ethanol as a carbon source allowed us to isolate 232 psychrophile/psychrotroph microorganisms. We also evaluated the enzyme activity (oxidoreductases) for enantioselective oxidation reactions, by using derivatives of (RS)-1-(phenyl)ethanol as substrates.

Patient-provider communication and reproductive health among HIV-positive women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Objective: To qualitatively assess the influence of patient-provider communication on contraceptive choice among HIV-positive women in the context of universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) access.

Methods: Focus group discussions (FGD; n=3), in-depth (IDI; n=15) and freelist interviews (FLI; n=36) were conducted with HIV-positive women aged 18-40 years recruited from public health units in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil.

Results: Of 70 participants, 49 used ART and the median time since HIV diagnosis was 6 years (range: 1-18).