P wave duration changes and dispersion. A risk factor or autonomic dysfunction in stroke?

Objective: To investigate the P wave duration and P wave dispersion in stroke patients, and to compare those with healthy subjects.

Methods: We measured maximum and minimum P wave durations, and dispersion on the 12-lead surface ECG in 67 consecutive patients with first ever-acute ischemic stroke and 58 controls at the neurology wards of the Medical School, Duzce, Turkey, between May 2005 and October 2006. The subjects were not included if there were a history of atrial fibrillation, cardiac problem, and using drugs related to cardiovascular diseases or psychiatric problems.

Helicobacter pylori infection in epileptic patients.

It is well known that there might be an epidemiological association between Helicobacter pylori infection and extraintestinal diseases. This study aimed at determining H. pylori infection in epileptic patients.