[Management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the Umbria region: results from the observational prospective Umbria-STEMI registry].

Background: In the last few years, advances have been made in the diagnosis and management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Recent guidelines have been developed to improve outcome of STEMI patients by implementation of the recommendations into clinical practice. In order to assess the disease burden, the treatment modalities and the mid-term outcome of STEMI in the Umbria region, Italy, we performed a prospective observational study of all patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of STEMI from October 14, 2006 to April 14, 2008 (Umbria-STEMI registry).

Day-to-day variability of electrocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients. Influence of electrode placement.

Objective: Although electrocardiography (ECG) is recommended in all subjects with hypertension, no information is available on the influence exerted by random changes in the placement of electrodes on the day-to-day variability of ECG criteria for diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Methods: In a multicentre, randomized study, two standard 12-lead ECG were recorded, 24 h apart, from 276 consecutive hypertensive patients (mean age 65 +/- 12 years, 49.6% men).