Metabolic syndrome and carotid artery intima-media thickness in military pilots.

Background: The common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCAIMT) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and diabetes mellitus in apparently healthy men. The relationship between features of metabolic syndrome (MS) and CCAIMT is not fully understood. We conducted this study to assess the cross-sectional relationship between CCAIMT and MS parameters in military pilots during their regular annual medical physical examinations.

[Effect of iron supplementation on maximal oxygen uptake in female athletes].

Background/aim: Iron is a vital constituent of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and some mitochondrial enzymes; therefore, body iron deficiency may result in reduced aerobic capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of daily oral iron supplementation on body iron status, and the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in female athletes with latent iron deficiency, as well as with iron-deficiency anemia.

Methods: A total of 37 female volleyball players were included in the study.

[Significance of QT dispersion in the onset of ventricular arrhythmia in patients with heart failure].

Unlabelled: Prolonged QT dispersion which has been proposed as a marker of repolarisation inhomogeneity, may predispose to ventricular arrhythmias in a variety of cardiac disorders. The aim of this study was to compare some indices of QT dispersion in patients with heart failure compared to normal subjects. We have also tested the hypothesis that QT dispersion is a useful method for identifying the patients at high risk for ventricular arrhythmias.

Evaluation of asynchronous left ventricular relaxation by Doppler echocardiography during ventricular pacing with AV synchrony (VDD): comparison with atrial pacing (AAI).

The effect of right ventricular pacing on left ventricular relaxation was studied in 13 patients (age 62 +/- 3 years), with the atrial sensing ventricular pacing mode (VDD). A control group of similar age (64 +/- 4 years) consisted of 11 patients with atrial pacing (AAI). The timing of events was determined in both groups at similar R-R intervals (921 +/- 77 ms vs 967 +/- 37 ms).