Sex-Related Differences in Heart Failure Development in Patients After First Myocardial Infarction: The Role of Galectin-3.

Galectin-3 (gal-3) is upregulated in remodeling, and failing myocardium and gal-3 levels are increased in hypertrophy, fibrosis and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of sex-related differences in the following: risk factors, left ventricular (LV) structural and functional changes, coronary angiography, expression of the gal-3 encoding gene and plasma gal-3 levels in heart failure (HF). : This prospective study included 137 men and 44 women with first MI who underwent Doppler echocardiography within 2-4 days of MI and after 6 months.

Blood-pressure variability is associated with left-ventricular mechanics in patients with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

We aimed to investigate short- and long-term blood-pressure (BP) variability and left-ventricular (LV) structure, function, and mechanics in women with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, as well as the relationship between BP variability and LV mechanics. This cross-sectional study included 140 pregnant women (45 normotensive controls, 50 patients with gestational hypertension and, 45 patients with preeclampsia) after 20 weeks of gestation. All participants underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring and echocardiographic examination, as well as regular clinical BP measurements during each visit.

Blood pressure variability correlates with right ventricular strain in women with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term blood pressure (BP) variability and right ventricular (RV) remodeling in women with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, as well as their association. This cross-sectional study included 161 pregnant women (56 normotensive controls, 55 patients with gestational hypertension, and 50 patients with preeclampsia) after 20 weeks of gestation. All women underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring and echocardiographic examination.

Functional capacity and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: The study sought to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with different levels of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (LVDD).

Methods: This investigation included 55 controls and 85 uncomplicated diabetic patients, who underwent laboratory analysis, echocardiographic evaluation and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. All DM subjects were separated into 3 groups using the level of LV diastolic function as main criterion: normal, intermediate and LVDD.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and right ventricular mechanics in uncomplicated diabetic patients: Is there any relationship?

Aims: This study investigated the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and right ventricular (RV) strain in uncomplicated diabetic patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 70 controls and 61 uncomplicated patients with type 2 diabetes, who underwent laboratory analysis, comprehensive echocardiographic study and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Results: RV endocardial and mid-myocardial longitudinal strains were significantly reduced in diabetic subjects (- 27.

Influence of circadian blood pressure patterns and cardiopulmonary functional capacity in hypertensive patients.

We sought to assess functional capacity in recently diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients with different 24-hour blood pressure (BP) patterns (dipping, non-dipping, extreme dipping, and reverse dipping). This cross-sectional study involved 164 untreated hypertensive patients who underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Our findings showed that 24-hour and daytime BP values did not differ between four groups.

Is there association between left atrial function and functional capacity in patients with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes?

We sought to investigate the relationship between phasic left atrial function (LA) and functional capacity in the patients with type 2 diabetes (DM). This cross-sectional investigation included 72 controls and 64 uncomplicated DM subjects. All participants underwent echocardiographic examination and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

The relationship between functional capacity and left ventricular strain in patients with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the association between functional capacity and left ventricular (LV) mechanics in the patients with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes.

Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 80 controls and 70 uncomplicated diabetic patients. These participants underwent laboratory analysis, comprehensive echocardiographic examination and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Association between functional capacity and heart rate variability in patients with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes.

Objective: We sought to investigate functional capacity, heart rate variability (HRV), as well as their relationship in the patients with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 62 controls and 53 uncomplicated diabetic patients. Included subjects underwent laboratory analysis, 24-h ECG Holter monitoring and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

An improved design of optical sensor for long-term measurement of arterial blood flow waveform.

We present here the improved design and development of optical sensor for non-invasive measurements of arterial blood flow waveform. The sensor is based on a physical principle of reflective photoplethysmography (PPG). As the light source we used serially connected infrared diodes whereas NPN silicon phototransistors were used as light detectors.

The relationship between right ventricular deformation and heart rate variability in asymptomatic diabetic patients.

Objective: To investigate heart rate variability (HRV) and right ventricular (RV) remodeling in asymptomatic diabetic patients, as well as the relationship between HRV indices and RV structure, function and deformation.

Method: This cross-sectional study included 59 asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes and 45 healthy controls without cardiovascular risk factors. All study subjects underwent 24-h Holter monitoring, laboratory analyses and complete two-dimensional echocardiography examination (2DE).

Left atrial phasic function and heart rate variability in asymptomatic diabetic patients.

Aims: We evaluated left atrial (LA) phasic function and heart rate variability (HRV) in asymptomatic diabetic patients, and the relationship between HRV indices and LA phasic function assessed by volumes and speckle tracking imaging.

Method: This cross-sectional study included 55 asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes and 50 healthy controls without cardiovascular risk factors. All study subjects underwent laboratory analyses, complete two-dimensional echocardiography examination (2DE) and 24-h Holter monitoring.

The relationship between heart rate variability and left ventricular layer-specific deformation in uncomplicated diabetic patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate heart rate variability (HRV) and left ventricular (LV) remodeling in uncomplicated diabetic patients. Furthermore, we sought to investigate the association between HRV indices and LV structural, functional and mechanical parameters. This cross-sectional study included 50 uncomplicated patients with type 2 diabetes and 40 healthy controls without cardiovascular risk factors.

Chromatin Fractal Organization, Textural Patterns, and Circularity of Nuclear Envelope in Adrenal Zona Fasciculata Cells.

Despite previous research efforts in the fields of histology and cell physiology, the relationship between chromatin structural organization and nuclear shape remains unclear. The aim of this research was to test the existence and strength of correlations between mathematical parameters of chromatin microarchitecture and roundness of the nuclear envelope. On a sample of 240 nuclei of adrenal zona fasciculata cells stained using the DNA-specific Feulgen method, we quantified fractal parameters such as fractal dimension and lacunarity, as well as textural parameters such as angular second moment (ASM), entropy, inverse difference moment, contrast, and variance.

The relationship between blood pressure variability, obesity and left atrial phasic function in hypertensive population.

We sought to investigate the relationship between blood pressure (BP) variability and left atrial (LA) phasic function assessed by volumetric and speckle tracking method in normal-weight, overweight and obese hypertensive patients. This cross-sectional study included 164 untreated hypertensive subjects who underwent a 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring and complete two-dimensional echocardiographic examination (2DE). All the patients were separated into three groups according to their body mass index (BMI): normal-weight patients (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)), overweight patients (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m(2)), and obese patients (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)).

Insights into body composition adaptation: should we reconsider the use of Body Mass Index in some sports?

Background: The purposes of this study were to indentify the under/overweight/obese frequencies by Body Mass Index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) in athletes within groups of sport and to investigate the accuracy of the BMI as a measure of BF%.

Methods: Cross-sectional design study on elite male athletes (N.=2234, aged 22±4 years) from 51 sports disciplines who were classified according to two different sport classifications: predominant characteristic of training (four group model) and type and intensity of exercise (nine group model).

Respiratory adaptations in different types of sport.

Objective: Recent studies demonstrated that current European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society spirometric reference equations, used in general population, may not be applicable in population of elite athletes. Althought it is well known that physical activity may affect lung volumes, the effect of sporting activity on pulmonary function testing indices was never examined. The aim of this study was to examine the differences in functional respiratory parameters in various types of sports by measuring lung volumes and to extend the existing factors as well as sport disciplines which affect respiratory function the most.

Heart rate recovery in elite athletes: the impact of age and exercise capacity.

There is compelling evidence that postexercise heart rate recovery (HRR) is a valid indicator of sympaticovagal balance. It is also used in prescription and monitoring of athletic training. The purpose of our study was to determine HRR after maximal exercise among elite athletes with respect to age.

History of sports medicine in East European countries.

The purpose of this article is to provide a historical background of medicine, science and sports with the focus on the development of modern sports medicine in European countries, with an accent on Eastern European countries that have a long sports medicine tradition. The development of modern sports medicine began at the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th century, and it has been associated with social and cultural changes in the world of medicine, science and sports. Advanced medical knowledge, skills and practices, and the progress of scientific achievements enabled sports people to improve their performance level.

Respiratory parameters in elite athletes--does sport have an influence?

Introduction: Unlike large population studies about cardiovascular components and how they adapt to intensive physical activity, there is less research into the causes of enlargement of the respiratory system in athletes (e.g. vital capacity, maximum flow rates and pulmonary diffusion capacity).

The impact of elevated blood pressure on exercise capacity in elite athletes.

Objectives: Hypertension is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular disorders in athletes. The aims of our study were to assess the impact of elevated blood pressure (BP) on exercise capacity in athletes and evaluate the differences in left ventricular structure and function.

Methods: Elite male athletes (n=517, aged 23±5years) underwent Doppler echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging.

Left ventricular diastolic performance at rest is essential for exercise capacity in patients with non-complicated myocardial infarction.

Introduction: In patients with recent myocardial infarction (MI) limited exercise capacity during physical activity is an important symptom and the base for future treatment. The myocardial injury after MI leads to both systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relevance of systolic and diastolic LV function for cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in patients with prior MI.

Two- and three-dimensional speckle tracking analysis of the relation between myocardial deformation and functional capacity in patients with systemic hypertension.

The purpose of this study was to investigate left ventricular (LV) mechanics in hypertensive patients by 2- and 3-dimensional (3D) speckle tracking imaging, and determine the relation between the LV mechanics and functional capacity in this population. This cross-sectional study included 51 recently diagnosed, untreated, hypertensive patients, 49 treated subjects with well-controlled arterial hypertension, 52 treated participants with uncontrolled hypertension, and 50 controls adjusted by gender and age. All the subjects underwent 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, complete 2-dimensional and 3D examination, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Is there a relationship between right-ventricular and right atrial mechanics and functional capacity in hypertensive patients?

Background: We sought to assess right-ventricular and right atrial deformation in patients with arterial hypertension by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging and three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE), and define the relationship between right-ventricular mechanics and exercise capacity in the study population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included recently diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients, well controlled hypertensive patients, treated patients with unsatisfactory controlled blood pressure and control individuals adjusted by sex and age. All the patients underwent complete two-dimensional echocardiography and 3DE examination, as well as cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Beta blockers therapy is associated with improved left ventricular systolic function and sustained exercise capacity in elderly patients with heart failure. CIBIS-ELD sub-study.

Background: Exercise capacity is critical for therapy and prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). Effect of beta-blockers (BB) on exercise capacity in elderly patients with HF remains unclear.

Objectives: To assess contribution of BB to functional capacity and left ventricular (LV) function in the elderly with HF.