Phytosterol supplementation does not affect plasma antioxidant capacity in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Several studies have observed decreased levels of lipophilic antioxidants after supplementation with phytosterols and stanols. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of phytosterol supplementation on plasma total antioxidant capacity in patients with metabolic syndrome. In a parallel arm, randomized placebo-controlled design, 108 patients with metabolic syndrome were assigned to consume yogurt beverage which provided 4 g of phytosterols per day or yogurt beverage without phytosterols.

Association of the 894G>T polymorphism in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene with risk of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: This study was designed to investigate the association of the 894G>T polymorphism in the eNOS gene with risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary angiography, and in-hospital mortality after AMI.

Methods: We studied 1602 consecutive patients who were enrolled in the GEMIG study. The control group was comprised by 727 individuals, who were randomly selected from the general adult population.

The prognostic value of a QRS score during exercise testing.

Background: Values of a QRS score have been positively related to the number of narrowed coronary arteries and to the extent of myocardial ischemia in radionuclide imaging techniques.

Hypothesis: This study was conducted to evaluate the potential prognostic information of abnormal values of this QRS score during treadmill exercise testing in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: In all, 309 patients (258 men, 51 women, mean age 56.

A QRS score versus ST-segment changes during exercise testing: which is the most reliable ischaemic marker after myocardial revascularisation?

Background: The diagnostic ability of exercise testing based on ST-segment changes is low for the detection of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or ischaemia after bypass surgery (CABG). The aim of this study was to improve the diagnostic accuracy of exercise testing in patients with a history of PTCA or CABG, with the implementation of a QRS score.

Methods: We studied 128 post-PTCA patients (aged 49 +/- 8 years) and 104 post-CABG patients (aged 54 +/- 8 years), who had either positive exercise tests with or without angina, or negative exercise tests with continuing angina-like symptoms, and underwent cardiac catheterisation.

Improved myocardial performance during repetitive exercise testing: the role of extracellular superoxide dismutase activity in a model of exercise-induced myocardial preconditioning.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether endogenous antioxidant defense is involved in adaptation to myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease and severe exercise-induced myocardial ischemia.

Methods: Fifty patients, aged 50 to 72 years (mean, 58 +/- 6 years), with positive exercise test results underwent 4 treadmill exercise tests. Thallium-201 scintigraphy was performed during the first and the fourth testing.

Significance of exercise-induced ST changes in leads aVR, V5, and V1. Discrimination of patients with single- or multivessel coronary artery disease.

Background: It is known that exercise-induced ST-segment elevation in lead V1 (V1-E) detects left anterior descending (LAD) stenosis. It was also postulated that ST elevation in aVR and simultaneous ST depression in V5 (aVR-E + V5-D) is a marker of ischemia due to significant stenosis of the LAD in patients with single-vessel disease.

Hypothesis: This study was undertaken to investigate the significance of the concomitant appearance of both electrocardiographic (ECG) ischemic markers, and of each of them alone during exercise, to detect either LAD stenosis as single-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD), or multivessel CAD involving LAD stenosis.

P wave analysis indices in young healthy men: data from the digital electrocardiographic study in Hellenic Air Force Servicemen (DEHAS).

P wave analysis from the 12-lead ECG is a recent contribution of noninvasive electrocardiology. P wave analysis indices (maximum and minimum P wave duration, P wave dispersion [Pdis = Pmax-Pmin], adjusted P wave dispersion [APdis = Pdis/square root of measured leads], summated P wave duration [Psum], standard deviation of P wave duration [Psd], mean P wave duration [Pmean]) can predict atrial arrhythmias. However, the definitions of all these indices are based on few studies.