[Because of the high prevalence of heart failure in the general population, its prevention and treatment should be part of every clinicians’ knowledge base. The author summarizes lifestyle and dietary advices, as well as general medication considerations that might have a preventive effect on the development or progression of heart failure. ]

[From pathophysiological point of view, the kidney is an integral part of the cardiovascular system. Renal diseases adversely affect the cardiac functions, and disturbances of the cardiovascular system affect adversely renal functions, causing either the decrease of left ventricular functions or manifesting in overt chronic heart failure. Regarding the cardiac manifestations of renal diseases, characteristic features are the symptoms of left ventricular volume and pressure overload, the metabolic effects of the ”uremic toxins” and the frequent infections associated with dialysis and compromised immunologic state, the secunder hyperparathyreosis, as well as the associated conditions like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary atherosclerosis. All these can be the explanation for the frequent cardiovascular death of chronic kidney disease patients. It also stresses the outstanding importance of the decrease of cardiovascular hazard of chronic renal disease patients. The strategy should comprise of an adequate antihypertensive treatment (ACE-inhibitor, AT-II blocking and calcium antagonist), strong antidiabetic control of diabetic patients and the adequate treatment of dyslipidaemia (if exists), as well as antithrombotic aspirin treatment.]

[Recent advances in the care of acute myocardial infarction have resulted in more patients surviving myocardial infarction than earlier. However, heart failure is a common complication in these patients, which in turn is associated with substantial mortality, primarily due to a remodelling of the left ventricle that already starts in an early stage of the myocardial infarction. The aim of this review article is to present the pathomechanism of this remodelling and to discuss related therapeutic options. Current guidelines recommend the use of an angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitor combined with or followed by an angiotensin receptor blocker, a beta-blocker, and an aldosterone antagonist in post-infarction patients with concomitant heart failure.]

[Beta-blockers are among the most widely used drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In the mid-90’s, these drugs were recommended as first-line therapies of hypertension. With the introduction of new drugs, the list of first-choice drugs has been extended. The results of recently published major hypertension trials, which compared conventional agents (beta blockers and/or diuretics) with newer agents (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, Caantagonists, angiotensin receptor blockers), raised concerns regarding the role of beta blockers in cardiovascular primary prevention. Subsequently, a metaanalysis of 13 trials has shown that compared with other drug types, beta-blocker therapy is less beneficial in patients with hypertension who do not have heart disease. Nevertheless, in cardiovascular indications other than hypertension (acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and arrhythmias), betablockers retain their dominant position.]

[Background: The maintenance of tissue integrity is an essential part of qualitative nursing. There is a wide scale of products serving the prevention of Incontinence-associated Dermatitis (IAD). However, there is little evidence nurses know about them, making their choice of strategy difficult. Aim: To produce an evidence based publication about the preventive products of IAD, helping nurses in their choice of strategy. Method: In our meta analysis we examined the content of the Medline and Scopus database with special focus on English and Hungarian publications from the last ten years. From the 17459 articles relevant in this topic we analyzed and included 9 studies serving our criteria. Records: We found several methods of prevention; Washing without water, special absorbent pants, protocols and a study about the ’perineal pouch’. The studies were compared from the aspect of IAD prevalence, severity and cost effects. The 3in1 products and protokolls are should be used is the hungarian nursing practice.]