[Metabolic syndrome in workers in a university hospital].

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a major health problem, and has economic effects on enterprises. The workplace is thus an important environment for primary prevention of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of MS and variables related to its development in hospital workers.

Construction and validation of the CADE-Q for patient education in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Background: Being aware of the coronary artery disease can be considered the first step to reduce the risk of cardiac complications.

Objective: Building and validating a tool to assess and describe coronary patients' awareness in cardiac rehabilitation programs, with the purpose of education.

Methods: For the construction, we analyzed articles and field studies to submit items to multidisciplinary team associated to cardiac rehabilitation.

Metabolic abnormalities, antiretroviral therapy and cardiovascular disease in elderly patients with HIV.

One of the most recent phenomena related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the emergence of a new vulnerable population: the elderly. One of the factors that account for this increase is the development of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), which has provided better quality of life and life expectancy for HIV-positive patients. However, ART is associated with adverse effects such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Peculiarities of ischemic heart disease treatment in the elderly.

Considering that the world's population average age is increasing and the proportions of those over the age of 80, the fastest growing population worldwide, new approaches to health care and treatment will be necessary. Due to the development of new drugs and by means of transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft, many elderly patients had their lives prolonged and their quality of life improved. We carried out a bibliography review to search for evidence to support the best treatment choice according to the clinical manifestation of the patient.

Alcohol consumption, cardiovascular health, and endothelial function markers.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the worldwide leading causes of shorter life expectancy and loss of quality of life. Thus, any influence of diet or life habits on the cardiovascular system may have important implications for public health. Most world populations consume alcoholic beverages.

Hemodynamic effects of sildenafil in patients with stable ischemic heart disease.

Background: Recently the new specific phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil was introduced into therapy for erectile dysfunction. The hemodynamic effects of sildenafil may be potentially hazardous for patients with cardiac disease. Sildenafil has been reported to augment the hypotensive effects of nitrates.

Acute myocardial infarction: the first manifestation of ischemic heart disease and relation to risk factors.

Objective: To assess the association between cardiovascular risk factors and acute myocardial infarction as the first manifestation of ischemic heart disease, correlating them with coronary angiographic findings.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study of 104 patients with previous acute myocardial infarction, who were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of angina prior to acute myocardial infarction. We assessed the presence of angina preceding acute myocardial infarction and risk factors, such as age >55 years, male sex, smoking, systemic arterial hypertension, lipid profile, diabetes mellitus, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and familial history of ischemic heart disease.

The need for pedagogical qualifications for teaching cardiology to undergraduate students.

Objective: To report a training program in cardiology emphasizing changes in its pedagogical practice. These changes were put into practice by some teachers at the Medical School of Porto Alegre of the University of Rio Grande do Sul (FAMED/UFRGS) aiming to make faculty and student activities more dynamic and to promote more efficacious learning. The training program is directed at 5th semester medical students and aims at a behavioral change in teachers and students to promote more interaction, to favor exchanges, and to make the teaching-learning process easier, always maintaining the patient in the center of the medical activity.