Association of postsystolic shortening on stress echocardiography and significant coronary artery stenosis: A single-centre retrospective cohort study.

Background: Postsystolic shortening (PSS) is one of the proposed quantitative measures to predict myocardial ischaemia in the stress echocardiographic (SE) evaluation. It is previously known that hypo-/akinesia (HA) correlates well with coronary stenosis. However, some patients undergoing SE only present with PSS, and their risk of significant coronary stenosis is less clear.

Individual reference values for 2D echocardiographic measurements. The Stockholm - Umeå Study.

Objectives: Improved reference values for 2D echocardiographic measurements are required, even when more recent echocardiographic technology is employed. In addition, it may be preferable to individualize reference values from age, gender and body characteristics of any subject.

Design: A material of 180 healthy subjects was collected and investigated, aiming for an even distribution of sex and age (from 20 to 80 years of age; the Stockholm material).

Lung function, arterial saturation and oxygen uptake in elite cross country skiers: influence of exercise mode.

Arterial desaturation during exercise is common in endurance-trained athletes, a phenomenon often more pronounced when the muscle mass engaged in the exercise is large. With this background, the present study monitored seven international-level cross country skiers performing on a treadmill while running (RUN), double poling (DP; upper body exercise) and diagonal skiing (DIA; arm and leg exercise). Static and dynamic lung function tests were performed and oxygen uptake was measured during submaximal and maximal exercise.

Myocardial velocities measured during adenosine, dobutamine and supine bicycle exercise: a tissue Doppler study in healthy volunteers.

Background: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) quantified by tissue Doppler (TVI) have improved the diagnostic capacity of the procedure. Quantification of other stress modalities, e.g.

The Maze operation for treatment of atrial fibrillation. Early clinical experience in a Scandinavian institution.

The Maze operation is a potentially curative surgical option in patients with disabling atrial fibrillation (AF) refractory to conventional treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial 4-year Maze experience in our institution. The study included 26 patients (19 males, mean age 55 years) who had undergone the Maze (III) operation between 1994 and 1998.