Left Ventricular Non-Compaction in Athletes: To Play or Not to Play.

Isolated left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) has usually been viewed as a rare cardiomyopathy in athletes. However, with advances in diagnostic imaging techniques and increased use of pre-participation screening electrocardiograms (ECGs), apparent LVNC is being recognized in an increasing number of athletes. Given the lack of a true gold standard for diagnosis, significant debate continues regarding optimal diagnostic criteria.

Effectiveness of a federal healthy start program in reducing the impact of particulate air pollutants on feto-infant morbidity outcomes.

We sought to assess (1) the relationship between air particulate pollutants and feto-infant morbidity outcomes and (2) the impact of a Federal Healthy Start program on this relationship. This is a retrospective cohort study using de-identified hospital discharge information linked to vital records, and air pollution data from 2000 through 2007 for the zip codes served by the Central Hillsborough Federal Healthy Start Project in Tampa, Florida. Mathematical modeling was employed to compute minimal Euclidean distances to capture exposure to ambient air particulate matter.

The impact of birth spacing on subsequent feto-infant outcomes among community enrollees of a federal healthy start project.

Numerous studies have shown an association between shorter birth intervals, and several adverse fetal outcomes, including low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and small for gestational age (SGA). However, there is little evidence on the effectiveness of interconception care on fetal outcomes associated with sub-optimal interpregnancy interval (IPI). The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of the Federal Healthy Start's interconception care services on IPI and fetal growth outcomes.