Arterial compliance changes in diabetic normotensive patients after angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition therapy.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to cause increased arterial wall stiffness and increased cardiovascular risk, even in the absence of hypertension. This study was designed to investigate whether use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor may improve arterial stiffness in normotensive diabetics, using pulse wave velocity (PWV) as a surrogate marker.

Methods: We studied 42 patients (26 with type 2 DM, aged 56.

Degree of activity at the onset of myocardial infarction and thrombolysis outcome.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between the degree of physical activity at the onset of myocardial infarction and thrombolysis outcome.

Methods: A total of 351 consecutive patients, who underwent thrombolysis due to ST elevation acute myocardial infarction, were prospectively studied. Patients were classified into three groups according to a generally accepted scale: group I patients had experienced symptoms during exertion, group II when sitting and group III during sleep or when reclining.