Inverse relationship between scores on the quality of life questionnaire SF-12 and on the Aging Males' Symptoms scale in Italian men.

Objectives: To analyse the relation between results of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) questionnaire for aging males, and of quality of life (QOL) questionnaire SF-12 and cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: 1,927 men aged 55-85 years were interviewed by 56 general practitioners. During the interview the men were asked to fill in the AMS scale and the QOL questionnaire SF-12.

Diastolic abnormalities in systemic sclerosis: evidence for associated defective cardiac functional reserve.

Objective: To investigate the pattern of diastolic abnormalities in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the relationship between impaired ventricular filling and systolic function.

Methods: Twenty four patients with SSc underwent M-mode and two dimensional echocardiography using echo-Doppler and gated blood pool cardiac angiography, both at rest and after exercise.

Results: An impaired diastolic relaxation of the left ventricle was detected in 10 of the 24 patients with SSc.

Alterations in ultrasonic backscatter during exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in humans.

Background: Experimentally induced myocardial ischemia in animals causes tissue modifications that alter characteristics of the ultrasonic beam backscattered from the myocardial muscle. Alterations of backscatter parameters have been evidenced in human subjects with acute or remote myocardial infarction and during ischemia induced by angioplasty balloon occlusion or pharmacological stimuli. The effects of transient effort ischemia in humans have not been reported.