Evaluation of the quality of life after surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

Objective: Pain is the main symptom of chronic pancreatitis. However, in addition to an improvement in pain symptoms, an increase in the quality of life also influences therapeutic success. The present paper evaluates the influence of surgery on chronic pancreatitis, and the early and late postoperative quality of life.

The aging process of the heart: obesity is the main risk factor for left atrial enlargement during aging the MONICA/KORA (monitoring of trends and determinations in cardiovascular disease/cooperative research in the region of Augsburg) study.

Objectives: This prospective study evaluated the association of obesity and hypertension with left atrial (LA) volume over 10 years.

Background: Although left atrial enlargement (LAE) is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation, stroke, and death, little information is available about determinants of LA size in the general population.

Methods: Participants (1,212 men and women, age 25 to 74 years) originated from a sex- and age-stratified random sample of German residents of the Augsburg area (MONICA S3).