Publications by authors named "Statters D"

A computer-assisted analysis of the TU-complex morphology was employed to characterize repolarization abnormalities in LQTS and to assess arrhythmic risk. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were collected from 14 idiopathic LQTS patients (seven without symptoms and seven with a history of syncope or cardiac arrest) and from 14 sex- and age-matched normal subjects. Digitized TU-wave patterns from V2-V6 precordial leads were analyzed.

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Background: The absence (deletion allele [D]) of a 287-base pair marker in the ACE gene is associated with higher ACE levels than its presence (insertion allele [I]). If renin-angiotensin systems regulate left ventricular (LV) growth, then individuals of DD genotype might show a greater hypertrophic response than those of II genotype. We tested this hypothesis by studying exercise-induced LV hypertrophy.

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The independent predictive role of ventricular premature complex (VPC) frequency in the stratification of mortality risk after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was established in the prethrombolytic era by extensive multicenter trials. Thrombolysis has lead to important changes in the natural history of patients after AMI, so that reassessment of established risk factors is now required. The prognostic significance of VPCs was assessed in 680 patients, of whom 379 received early thrombolytic therapy.

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It has been shown that tilt and exercise elicit significant changes in autonomic activity in normal subjects and that submaximal exercise causes a greater reduction in heart rate variability (HRV) in animals susceptible to ventricular fibrillation (VF). Whether there is an abnormal HRV response to tilt and exercise in patients at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains unknown. Short-term HRV before and during passive tilt and exercise was studied in 12 survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with documented VF and compared with 12 age- and sex-matched normal controls.

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Objectives: This study aimed to assess heart rate variability immediately before the onset of episodes of spontaneous ventricular tachycardia.

Background: It has been shown that decreased heart rate variability may be associated with a propensity to ventricular tachyarrhythmias. However, it is still disputed whether there is an abrupt change in heart rate variability immediately before the onset of these arrhythmias.

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Because of technical difficulties in analyzing heart rate variability (HRV) from ambulatory Holter recordings over 24-hour periods, short-term recordings are more practical for the clinical application of HRV. However, the relationship between short- and long-term recordings is unclear. In this study, short-term (10 min) electrocardiograms were assessed in the supine position, during passive head-up tilt and on standing in 15 patients (aged 39 +/- 14 years) with ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation not associated with coronary artery disease.

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QT dispersion is defined as the difference in QT interval between the different leads of the surface 12-lead ECG. This may provide an indirect measure of the underlying inhomogeneity of myocardial repolarization, which is believed to be important in arrhythmogenesis. Methodology for determining QT dispersion varies significantly between studies, and the results of these studies need to be interpreted in light of the methodology used.

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Correcting the QT interval for heart rate may mask ventricular repolarization abnormalities and may lead to a misinterpretation of the physiologic and pathophysiologic findings. In this study the QT/R-R relationship was studied in eight sudden cardiac death (SCD) survivors without overt structural heart disease and compared with eight age- and sex-matched normal subjects. All patients were in a drug-free state.

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Background: It has been shown that heart rate variability is decreased in patients with congestive heart failure and that depressed heart rate variability is associated with a propensity to ventricular arrhythmias. Little is known, however, about heart rate variability in patients with both congestive heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias.

Methods: Spectral heart rate variability was analysed from 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiograms in 15 controls, 15 patients with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia associated with clinically normal hearts (NHVT group), and 40 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF group) secondary to either ischaemic heart disease (n = 15) or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 25).

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It has been shown that alterations in QT/RR relationship may be associated arrhythmogenesis in several clinical settings. In the present study the QT/RR relationship was studied in 20 patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (12 men and 8 women, aged 41 +/- 14 years) compared to 20 normal subjects (9 men and 11 women, aged 39 +/- 13 years). All the patients were off any antiarrhythmic drugs and had no evidence of intraventricular conduction defects.

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Background: Although heart rate variability has already been studied in survivors of sudden cardiac death secondary to coronary artery disease, an assessment of heart rate variability in survivors of sudden cardiac death not associated with coronary artery disease has not been made.

Methods: 10 patients with aborted sudden cardiac death not associated with coronary artery disease (seven patients with primary ventricular fibrillation and three with unclassified mild cardiomyopathy) underwent two channel 24 hour Holter monitoring in a drug free state. All subjects were in sinus rhythm and had normal atrioventricular conduction and normal cardiac function.

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The clinical findings of scurvy have been known for well over 3,000 years. In 1753, Sir James Lynd demonstrated the efficiency of citrus fruit in the prevention of this condition. Scurvy still occurs from time to time in this country, notably in the elderly, particularly in bachelors who live alone and eat a poor diet.

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