Oral contraceptives versus physical exercise on cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although oral contraceptives (OCs) are one the most widespread therapy in young polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women and physical exercise represents a crucial first step in the treatment of overweight and obese PCOS, no studies were performed to compare the effects on cardiovascular risk (CVR) of OCs and physical exercise in PCOS.

Objective: To compare the effects of OCs administration and physical exercise on the CVR, clinical, hormonal and metabolic parameters in PCOS women.

Methods: One hundred and fifty PCOS women were enrolled and were randomized to OCs (3 mg drospirenone plus 30 μg ethinyloestradiol), structured exercise training programme (SETP) or polyvitamin tablets.

Serum uric acid is associated with non-dipping circadian pattern in young patients (30-40 years old) with newly diagnosed essential hypertension.

Background: We aimed at evaluating the relationship between the circadian blood pressure rhythm and UA level in young patients (30-40 years old) with newly diagnosed essential hypertension.

Methods: The study included 62 essential hypertensive patients and 29 healthy controls (20 men, 35 ± 3 years) divided into two groups according to 24-hour ABPM results: 30 dippers and 32 nondippers.

Results: Nondippers showed significantly higher both serum UA levels compared to dippers and controls (6.

[Evaluation of heart rate changes in the aged. An ambulatory electrocardiography study. Arrhythmias in the aged].

The Holter examinations of 111 subjects aged more than 65 who then underwent dynamic ecg were investigated in order to assess the clinical significance of cardiac arrhythmias in geriatric age. Group A was formed of 53 patients with no clinical signs of cardiovascular diseases. Thirty-two patients with clinical evidence of ischaemic cardiopathy made up Group B and 26 with arterial hypertension formed Group C.