Our results showed that the great majority of the population that seeks for medical support in a Brazilian university hospital wishes to be informed on this health condition, even in case of serious illness. In addition, there are intense familiar bonds that make patients want to have their families also informed.

Here we report on the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), which refers to the morphology of mitochondria whose inner membrane has lost its selective permeability. In all types of apoptotic cells so far examined, we found outer mitochondrial membranes that had been ruptured. These mitochondria present a swollen matrix covered by an inner membrane herniating into the cytoplasm through the breached outer membrane. Similarly ruptured outer mitochondrial membranes have been reported in studies on mitochondrial fractions induced to undergo MPT, carried out by others. Our observations were made on five types of rat tissue cells and six different cultured cell lines in the early stages of apoptosis. Samples from the cell lines HL-60, HeLa, WEHI-164, and a special batch of PC-12 cells were subjected to various apoptogenic agents and analyzed morphometrically. Nonapoptotic companion cells with unaltered nuclear structure (CUNS) were also analyzed. The mitochondrial volume in m 3 and the volume fraction of the cytoplasm occupied by mitochondria in cells with typical nuclear signs of apoptosis and also in CUNS were evaluated. The volume of the mitochondria with ruptured membrane represents at least 69% (47-89%) of the total mitochondrial volume of the apoptotic cells. Thus, a considerable fraction of the cellular mitochondrial mass is or was in the state of permeability transition and probably involved in enhancement of the apoptotic program. In all samples, a fraction of the cells with normal nuclei possessed mitochondria with breached outer membranes as described above. In these cells, MPT occurred before the appearance of the typical nuclear phenotype of the apoptotic cells.

PURPOSE:To find out the prevalence of hypertension in employees of the Hospital and relate it to social demographic variables.METHODS: Blood pressure measurement was performed with a mercury sphygmomanometer, using an appropriate cuff size for arm circumference, weight, and height in a population sample of 864 individuals out of the 9,905 employees of a University General Hospital stratified by gender, age, and job position.RESULTS: Hypertension prevalence was 26% (62% of these reported being aware of their hypertension and 38% were unaware but had systolic/diastolic blood pressures of ≥140 and/or ≥90 mm Hg at the moment of the measurement). Of those who were aware of having hypertension, 51% were found to be hypertensive at the moment of the measurement. The prevalence was found to be 17%, 23%, and 29% (P <.05) in physicians, nursing staff, and "others", respectively. The univariate analysis showed a significant odds ratio for the male gender, age ≥50 years, work unit being the Institute of Radiology and the Administration Building, educational level ≤elementary school, length of work ≥10 years, and body mass index ≥30 kg/m 2 . The multivariate logistic regression model revealed a statistically significant association of hypertension with the following variables: gender, age, skin color, family income, and body mass index.CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension prevalence was high, mainly in those who were not physicians or members of the nursing staff. High-risk groups (obese, non-white, men, low family income) should be better advised of prevention and early diagnosis of hypertension by means of special programs.

Resumo: Médicos e pacientes podem mostrar proximidade na percepção dos atributos da relação médico-paciente. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar frases que melhor definissem tais atributos. Procura bibliográfica e entrevistas com 30 pacientes de ambulatório ou internados no Hospital das Clínicas (HC da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) e 30 médicos entre residentes, assistentes e pós-graduandos identificaram esses possíveis atributos, separados para: competência técnica, apresentação pessoal, empatia, habilidades da comunicação e compromisso/responsabilidades. Para cada um foi confeccionada uma pergunta e formuladas 14 possíveis respostas. Pacientes, estudantes de internato do curso médico da FMUSP e médicos assistentes do HC da FMUSP escolheram cinco que melhor respondessem à pergunta. As respostas mais escolhidas estão em posições bastante parecidas tanto entre médicos, quanto estudantes de Medicina e pacientes. As respostas mais concordantes ocorreram entre médicos e pacientes (teste Wilcoxon para dados não paramétricos). Os grupos escolheram de forma bastante aproximada frases que resumem cada atributo da relação médico-paciente