Hypertension Predisposition and Thermoregulation Delays in Adolescents with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder in which clinical, sonographic, and endophenotypic features have been underinvestigated or inconclusive, especially in the early stages of the disease (adolescence/young adulthood).

Objective: This prospective pilot study focused on the differences of multiple physiological functions between Greek adolescent/young adult females suffering from PCOS and age- and body mass index (BMI)- matched healthy controls.

Study Design: Nineteen PCOS patients and eighteen healthy controls (aged 13 to 23 years) were studied for: (i) biochemical and hormonal dysfunction by measuring circulating glucose, insulin, and androgen levels; (ii) arterial stiffness with pulse wave analysis (PWA) by Sphygmocord; (iii) intima-media thickness (IMT) by ultrasound; (iv) heart rate variability (HRV) by Task Force Monitor; and (v) QT, QRS, QT, P, QRSD by electrocardiogram (ECG).

Entropy in Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System of Adolescents with General Learning Disabilities or Dyslexia.

Heart rate variability (HRV) represents one of the two key markers of the autonomic nervous system. It is measured by the time variation in the beat-to-beat interval, while the period between successive beats is defined as the RR interval (RRI). Its components are classified as linear and non-linear.

Thyroid hormones and cardiac remodeling.

Thyroid hormones have many cardioprotective actions expressed mainly through the action of T3 on thyroid receptors α1 and β1. They are procontractile anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic, promote angiogenesis and regeneration, and have beneficial effects on microRNA profiles. They have proven to be anti-remodeling in numerous animal studies, mostly in rodents; a specific action on the border zone has been described.

Neurohormonal and cytokine fluctuations following transcatheter closure for an atrial septal defect.

Introduction: Inflammation and neurohormonal activation are considered to be involved in the development of earlier and/or later complications in congenital heart disease patients, even after a successful repair of the lesion. It is not yet clarified what is the role of the therapeutic interventions in the occurrence of such a response and how it could be associated with possible postoperative complications.

Aim: We sought to assess the inflammatory and neurohormonal response to transcatheter closure of secundum type atrial septal defects (ASD) over a six-month follow-up period.

Neurohormonal activity and vascular properties late after aortic coarctation repair.

Background: Coarctation of aorta (CoA) patients present cardiovascular complications late after repair the causes of which are not fully understood. Our study investigates the neurohormonal and immune activation and the elastic properties of the aorta and peripheral vessels in adult patients with coarctation of aorta (CoA), late after repair.

Methods: Nineteen adult patients with repaired CoA and 29 matched healthy controls underwent aortic distensibility, stiffness index, a study of the elastic properties of peripheral vessels proximal to the coarctation site and measurement of plasma cytokine and neurohormone levels.

Activity questionnaires; a useful tool in accessing heart failure patients.

Aim: The aim of the study was to correlate the score derived from Specific Activity Questionnaire (SAQ), Left Ventricular Dysfunction 36 (LVD 36) and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (LIhFE) with peak oxygen consumption measured during maximal treadmill exercise spirometry in patients with heart failure.

Methods: We prospectively studied 106 patients, average age 47+/-15.5 (mean+/-SD), with symptomatic heart failure.