Testosterone-induced hypertrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis of cardiac cells--an ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study.

Background: Androgen abuse is an increasing problem amongst professional and amateur athletes. Moreover, testosterone, apart from its widely accepted indications, is used for a variety of other indications such as aging and ischemia. Its actions are mainly attributed to a specific genomic mechanism through the androgen receptor, but emerging evidence reveals non-genomic effects as well.

Respirophasic Variations in the QRS Complex and Echocardiographic Equivalent in Pulmonary Embolism.

A respirophasic variation of the QRS complex was observed in a patient with bilateral pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension. An analogous variation of the Sa systolic velocity of the tricuspid annular tissue Doppler imaging was also noticed. Both phaenomena persisted until the clinical and haemodynamic improvement of the patient.

Calculating the respiratory flow velocity fluctuations in pericardial diseases.

An excessive respiratory fluctuation (RTFV) in transmitral early diastolic velocity E is a pivotal Doppler echocardiographic sign of haemodynamic compromise, in constrictive pericardial diseases. RTFV is expressed as a percentage and 25% is considered a threshold value. Unfortunately there is no unanimity in calculating RTFV.