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Background and Objective: To identify the predictors of successful outcome in a telephone smoking cessation program., Patients and Methods: Observational study in the context of clinical practice in a smoking cessation clinic. The smoking cessation program was carried out by phone over a period of 3 months and follow-up for 6 months. Sociodemographic variables were analyzed, dependence, and comorbidity and the main variable was continuous abstinence at 24 weeks., Results: 743 smokers, 43% male and 57% female, mean (SD) age: 41.9 (9.8) years. The continuous abstinence rate at 24 weeks was 37.3% (IC 95% 34.9-40.0).The multivariable model showed three variables with predictive value: no current psychiatric diagnosis, social support and the first item of Fagerström test (time to first cigarette in the morning)., Conclusions: Treatment outcomes of this smoking cessation program was influenced by the following variables: nicotine dependence, psychiatric disorders and social support., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: To assess an intensive proactive telephone smoking cessation program and compare it with a similar group in face to face treatment., Design: A prospective, controlled, observational study performed during daily clinical practice., Participants: 383 smokers, 176 in telephone treatment and 207 in face to face group treatment, aged greater than 18 years old. They smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day and both groups were recruited between April and November 2003. The study was performed between April 2003 and May 2004. Treatment technique: 11 congnitive-behavioral interventions for six months plus 24 hour nicotine patches in standard doses and 2 mg nicotine gum on demand. Main variable: Prolonged abstinence self-professed at 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12, weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks., Results: In the first and second week, abstinence was significantly higher in the face to face group than in telephone treatment (1st. week 80.2% vs. 65.9% p = .001; 2nd. week 77.3% vs 65.3% p = .007). Subsequently, the difference was not significant, and at 24 weeks abstinence remained similar for the two treatment methods, 54.6% in the face to face group treatment and 54.5% in telephone treatment., Conclusions: Intensive smoking cessation treatment programs, with nicotine replacement therapy, are equally effective if performed by proactive telephone or in face to face treatment sessions.

A myopathy basically involving proximal respiratory muscles can develop in uremia. To evaluate respiratory muscle force in uremia, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) was measured in 27 patients with renal failure. MIP was very limited in patients with a creatinine clearance (Crc) lower than 10/ml/min 1.73 m2 not treated with hemodialysis (HD) and in patients on HD who were not treated with 1.25 (OH)2D3 (45 +/- 9 and 43 +/- 5 cm H2O, respectively), moderately reduced in patients on HD treated with 1.25 (OH)2D3 (58 +/- 5 cmH2O) and normal in patients with Crc higher than 10 ml/min 1.73 m2 (86 +/- 6 cmH2O). The treatment with 1.25 (OH)2D3 during 3 months promoted a significant increase in MIP and serum calcium level and a reduction in parathyroid hormone in patients with Crc lower than 10 ml/min. It was concluded that, in uremia, a respiratory muscle weakness partially reversible with vitamin D therapy may be found.