Impact of hypertension on postreperfusion left ventricular recovery in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel coronary artery disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of admission systolic blood pressure (ASBP) and left ventricular (LV) mass on the postreperfusion LV recovery in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and concomitant coronary multivessel disease (MVD).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 12-month postreperfusion LV recovery was performed in 104 patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Patients with elevated ASBP (>140mmHg) were assigned to the first group (n=58); with normal ASBP (<140mmHg), to the second group (n=46); with increased myocardial mass index (MMI) (>100g/m(2)), to the third group (n=70); and with normal MMI (<100g/m(2)), to the fourth group (n=34).

Effectiveness of a new exercise program after lower limb arterial blood flow surgery in patients with peripheral arterial disease: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a supervised exercise program (SEP) plus at home nonsupervised exercise therapy (non-SET) on functional status, quality of life (QoL) and hemodynamic response in post-lower-limb bypass surgery patients.

Results: One hundred and seventeen patients were randomized to an intervention (n = 57) or a control group (n = 60). A new individual SEP was designed for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and applied to the studied subjects of the intervention group who also continued non-SET at home, whereas those assigned to the control group received just usual SEP according to a common cardiovascular program.

The impact of complex cardiac rehabilitation on manifestation of risk factors in patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: Each year more than 4.3 million people in Europe will die of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the implementation of simple interventions such as smoking cessation, weight loss, improved diets, and increased exercise is the top priority in prevention and rehabilitation programs.

Strongmen sport is associated with larger absolute heart size and impaired cardiac relaxation.

This study was carried out to compare cardiac structure and function and blood lipids among Strongmen, sedentary controls, and marathoners. Echocardiography was performed, and endothelial function, blood lipids and maximal oxygen uptake were measured in 27 Caucasian adult men (8 Strongmen, 10 marathoners, 9 controls). Absolute cardiac size parameters such as left ventricular (LV) diameter and wall thickness of Strongmen were higher (p < 0.

[The effectiveness of long-term rehabilitation in patients with cardiovascular diseases].

Background: Screening results of EuroAspire III study have revealed the failure of effective correction of cardiovascular risk factors in all 22 participating EU countries. How long should cardiac rehabilitation programs last to impact motivation for lifestyle change?

Aim And Objectives: To compare the impact of long-term (6 months) rehabilitation versus short-term (4 weeks) rehabilitation on the reduction of risk factors and cardiac events, as well as on the use of cardioprotective drugs.

Methods: Study contingent of 150 patients, suffering from functional class III-IV (NYHA) chronic heart failure caused by ischemic and hypertensive cardiomyopathy, was subjected to complex rehabilitation: exercise training, dietary corrections, and smoking cessation.

[Impact of a long-term complex rehabilitation on chronic fatigue and cardiorespiratory parameters in patients with chronic heart failure].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a long-term rehabilitation on chronic fatigue and cardiorespiratory parameters in patients with chronic heart failure.

Material And Methods: One hundred seventy patients with class III-IV (NYHA) chronic heart failure were examined. The study population was divided into two groups: long-term rehabilitation group and control group.

[Return to work after coronary artery bypass surgery].

The aim of this study was to assess the possible reasons for not returning to work after coronary artery bypass surgery. A total of 134 patients (aged 65 years and younger) who underwent coronary bypass surgery in 2003 were examined. The analysis was performed in three groups of the patients: Group I, patients who were employed before surgery and returned to work after it (n=51); Group II, patients who were employed before surgery but did not return to work after surgery (n=55); and Group III, patients who were unemployed before and remained unemployed after surgery due to health problems (n=28).

[Evaluation of a chronic fatigue in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic heart failure].

The Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the chronic fatigue and its relation to the function of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III-IV chronic heart failure.

Material And Methods: A total of 170 patients with NYHA functional class III-IV chronic heart failure completed MFI-20L, DUFS, and DEFS questionnaires assessing chronic fatigue and underwent echocardiography. Blood cortisol concentration was assessed at 8:00 am and 3:00 pm, and plasma N-terminal brain natriuretic pro-peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration was measured at 8:00 am.

Exercise training after coronary angioplasty improves cardiorespiratory function.

Aim: The aim of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate the impact of long-term aerobic exercise training on respiratory function, left ventricular systolic function and remodeling in patients with coronary heart disease and ischemic heart failure after successful angioplasty.

Design: Patients (n=185) have undergone Doppler echocardiography and ergospirometry. Ninety-five patients practiced 6 month-term aerobic exercise training, less by 10% to their anaerobic threshold.

[Left ventricular remodeling in ischemic heart disease patients with signs and symptoms of chronic heart failure: an impact of the long-term exercise training].

Our study aimed at determining the effects of long-term exercise training on cardiorespiratory function and left ventricular remodeling in ischemic heart disease patients with the evidence of chronic heart failure, who had undergone a successful coronary angioplasty. One hundred thirty-five patients were entered into one-year study: 70 patients were assigned to the long-term exercise training group, and the remaining 65 persons--to the control group. All the patients were subjected to ergospirometry and echocardiography at study entry and at 6 and 12 months.

Development of structural cardiac adaptation in basketball players.

Background: As specific features of the basketball player's myocardial structure and function are still rather poorly investigated, we aimed at comparing left ventricular (LV) echocardiographic indices in players of different age groups.

Methods: Male basketball players aged 8-13 years (n=31), 14-17 years (n=31) and 18-28 years (n=31) were examined using standard echocardiography. End-diastolic LV posterior wall thickness and internal diameter, as well as interventricular septum thickness, were measured by M-mode.

Impact of a correct breathing stereotype on pulmonary minute ventilation, blood gases and acid-base balance in post-myocardial infarction patients.

Study Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a long-term (6-month) correct breathing stereotype on minute ventilation, capillary blood gases and acid-base balance in post-myocardial infarction patients.

Methods: Fifty-five men (age 57.2 +/- 12.

[Spiroveloergometry parameters and parameters of blood gases and acid-base equilibrium at rest and during exercise in athletes].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to evaluate spiroveloergometric and blood gases data and compare them among swimmers and basketball players. Examinations were performed for swimmers and basketball players (n=85). Spirometry at rest and spiroveloergometry, analysis of blood gases and acid-base equilibrium at rest and during exercise were performed.