Infection by CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strains in patients with ischemic heart disease: prevalence and association with exercise-induced electrocardiographic abnormalities.

The role of H. pylori infection in increasing the risk of ischemic heart diseases (IHD) is still debated. We determined serologically the prevalence of overall H.

[Heart involvement in Behcet's disease: a personal caseload en review of the literature].

Backgrounds: Various cardiac abnormalities have been described in patients with Behçet's disease. The number of reports remains small, but increasing awareness have widened the spectrum of manifestations. We report our evaluation of cardiac involvement in 15 patients affected by Behçet's disease, diagnosed according to the criteria for the International Study Group for Behçet's Disease.

[Therapy of arrhythmia induced by myocardial ischemia. Association of L-carnitine, propafenone and mexiletine].

To assess the anti-arrythmic effect of L-carnitina, propafenone and mexiletine, we tested the drugs in 50 patients with effort angina and ventricular ectopic beats (VEB). The patients were randomized in 5 groups: Group A: was treated with oral L-carnitine at the dose of 2 g x 3 for two weeks. Group B: oral propafenone at the dose of 300 mg x 3 for two weeks.

[Comparison of pravastatin and diet in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia].

Aim of this study is to point out a correct therapy for the treatment of poligenic hypercholesterolemia resistant to dietetic treatment. There have been studied 40 patients which, after repeated haematochemical controls, resulted affected by dyslipidaemia with prevalent increase of the cholesterol levels. After 30 days of standard hypo-caloric dietetic treatment were enrolled 23 patients, 13 males and 10 females, who presented a plasmatic cholesterol level superior to 250 mg% and LDL superior to 160 mg%.

Heparin treatment and resolution of left ventricular thrombosis.

In a 70-year-old man admitted to our hospital because of repeated episodes of transient disorientation, an ECG showed a recent inferior myocardial infarction. A two-dimensional echocardiography detected hypo-akinesia in the apex region, where a hyperechogenic oval and pedunculated mass with a maximum diameter of 1.5 cm, attributable to an organized thrombus, was located.