Effect of Telemedicine Interventions on Heart Failure Hospitalizations: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Telemedicine interventions (TMIs) for heart failure (HF) can reduce hospitalizations and deaths. It is unclear if low literacy and limited access to technology in low- and middle-income countries affect these benefits. We evaluated whether TMIs added to usual care could reduce HF-related rehospitalizations in patients discharged from hospitals in Brazil.

Echocardiographic prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Brazilian schoolchildren: Data from the PROVAR study.

Background: Accurate estimates of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) burden are needed to justify improved integration of RHD prevention and screening into the public health systems, but data from Latin America are still sparse.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of RHD among socioeconomically disadvantaged youth (5-18years) in Brazil and examine risk factors for the disease.

Methods: The PROVAR program utilizes non-expert screeners, telemedicine, and handheld and standard portable echocardiography to conduct echocardiographic screening in socioeconomically disadvantaged schools in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Efficacy of a Standardized Computer-Based Training Curriculum to Teach Echocardiographic Identification of Rheumatic Heart Disease to Nonexpert Users.

The ability to integrate echocardiographic for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) into RHD prevention programs is limited because of lack of financial and expert human resources in endemic areas. Task shifting to nonexperts is promising; but investigations into workforce composition and training schemes are needed. The objective of this study was to test nonexperts' ability to interpret RHD screening echocardiograms after a brief, standardized, computer-based training course.

Stable angina and ST-segment depression: diagnostic value in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Background: Clinical history and exercise testing (ET) are the main methods used to screen for coronary artery disease (CAD). Correct interpretation of such data is essential in determining diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic value of stable angina (SA) and ET in patients with suspected CAD undergoing coronary angiography and to compare results between the sexes.

[Carotid intimal-medial thickening and endothelial function in coronary artery disease].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the endothelial function and the carotid intimal-medial thickening (IMT) in a population of patients with coronary artery disease, as well as that between the endothelial function and carotid IMT with the severity of the coronary lesions.

Methods: Forty-three patients aged 60.5+/-9.