Detailed heart rate variability analysis in athletes.

Objective: Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis has been used to evaluate patients with various cardiovascular diseases. While the vast majority of HRV studies have focused on pathological states, our study focuses on the less explored area of HRV analysis across different training intensity and sports. We aimed to measure HRV in healthy elite and masters athletes and compare to healthy, but non-athletic controls.

Breech presentation: its predictors and consequences. An analysis of the Hungarian Tauffer Obstetric Database (1996-2011).

Introduction: Breech presentation is linked to abnormal pregnancy outcomes. However, the causality of this association is unknown. We aimed to investigate predictors of term breech presentation and pregnancy outcomes of breech presentation.

Prevalence of physiological and pathological electrocardiographic findings in Hungarian athletes.

Unlabelled: In Hungary, ECG is a keystone of routine athletic screening. Its significance is based on simplicity, quickness and high informative value as well as the fact that appearance of pathological ECG signs can precede the formation of structural heart diseases. During screening of healthy athletes, we studied the incidence of athletic ECG changes and pathological ECG abnormalities.

Self-rated health is associated with the length of stay at the intensive care unit and hospital following cardiac surgery.

Background: Recently, a considerable amount of evidence suggested that anxiety, depression and other psychosocial variables might influence the outcomes of cardiac surgery. This study investigated the relationship between length of stay at the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital after surgery and different psychosocial variables (e.g.

Heart rate variability is severely impaired among type 2 diabetic patients with hypertension.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to evaluate the relative effect of diabetes and hypertension on heart rate variability.

Research Design And Methods: Four age-matched groups including type 2 diabetic patients with and without hypertension, non-diabetic patients with essential hypertension and healthy control subjects were studied. Autonomic function was evaluated by the standard cardiovascular reflex tests and 24-hour heart rate variability measurement.

A morphological study of retinal changes in unilateral amblyopia using optical coherence tomography image segmentation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible structural changes of the macula in patients with unilateral amblyopia using optical coherence tomography (OCT) image segmentation.

Patients And Methods: 38 consecutive patients (16 male; mean age 32.4±17.

Evaluation of continuous 24-hour intraocular pressure monitoring for assessment of prostaglandin-induced pressure reduction in glaucoma.

Purpose: To evaluate 24-hour continuous intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring with a telemetric contact lens sensor (CLS) to detect prostaglandin-induced IOP reduction.

Methods: In this prospective interventional study 9 ocular hypertensive and primary open-angle glaucoma patients were washed out from IOP-lowering medication for 6 weeks. One study eye per patient underwent 3 baseline 24-hour measurement curves 4 days apart: 2 curves with Sensimed Triggerfish CLS and 1 curve with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT).

Accuracy of macular ganglion-cell complex thickness to total retina thickness ratio to detect glaucoma in white Europeans.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of macular ganglion-cell complex (GCC) thickness to total retinal thickness ratio (G/T ratio), a parameter found particularly accurate in Japanese eyes to detect glaucoma and recently proposed for the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (RTVue-100 OCT), and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of this parameter to that of parameters provided by the instrument software in European eyes.

Methods: Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and macular GCC thickness parameters of 1 randomly selected eye of 177 white European patients (50 healthy, 28 ocular hypertensive, 33 preperimetric glaucoma, and 66 perimetric glaucoma eyes) were measured with an RTVue-100 OCT.

Results: The RNFLT and GCC parameter values of the healthy group were significantly higher than those of the various other groups (P<0.

Association of lean and fat body mass, bone biomarkers and gonadal steroids with bone mass during pre- and midpuberty.

Background/aims: The association of bone mass with body composition, bone turnover markers and gonadal steroids was examined in Hungarian children during pre- and midpuberty.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-seven 7- to 16-year-old subjects (56% girls) were investigated. Bone mineral density (BMD), fat mass and total and appendicular lean mass were estimated with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar Prodigy).

Structure-function relationship between the octopus perimeter cluster mean sensitivity and sector retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured with the RTVue optical coherence tomography and scanning laser polarimetry.

Purpose: To determine structure-function relationship between each of 16 Octopus perimeter G2 program clusters and the corresponding 16 peripapillary sector retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) values measured with the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (RTVue OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation (GDx-VCC) and enhanced corneal compensation (GDx-ECC) corneal compensation.

Methods: One eye of 110 white patients (15 healthy, 20 ocular hypertensive, and 75 glaucoma eyes) were investigated. The Akaike information criterion and the F test were used to identify the best fitting model.

Detection of early glaucomatous progression with different parameters of the RTVue optical coherence tomograph.

Purpose: To investigate the ability of different parameters of the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomograph (RTVue-OCT) to detect early glaucomatous progression.

Methods: One eye of 17 healthy and 51 perimetric glaucoma patients was imaged prospectively at 6-month intervals for 1.5 to 3 years.

Comparison of long-term variability of retinal nerve fiber layer measurements made with the RTVue OCT and scanning laser polarimetry.

Purpose. To compare long-term variability of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) measurements made with the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomograph (RTVue-OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry with variable (GDx-VCC) and enhanced (GDx-ECC) corneal compensation. Methods.

Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of the RTVue Fourier-domain OCT and the GDx-VCC/ECC polarimeter to detect glaucoma.

Purpose: To compare sensitivity and specificity of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) measurements made using RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (RTVue-OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry with variable (GDx-VCC) or enhanced compensation (GDx-ECC).

Methods: One eye of each of 177 consecutive patients was imaged. Healthy (n=50) and ocular hypertensive (n = 28) eyes were defined as structurally undamaged, preperimetric (n=33) and perimetric (n=66) glaucoma eyes as diseased.

Nonpopulation-based glaucoma screening exercise in an osteoporosis patient organization: can elderly persons with advanced health awareness identify their risk for glaucoma?

Purpose: To investigate whether osteoporosis patient organization members with advanced health awareness can identify their risk for glaucoma.

Methods: Members of an osteoporosis patient organization group were provided with structured written information on risk factors for glaucoma. Later, the participants completed questionnaires on their risk for glaucoma (average vs.

Diagnostic accuracy of nerve fibre layer, macular thickness and optic disc measurements made with the RTVue-100 optical coherence tomograph to detect glaucoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and optic disc measurements made with the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect glaucoma in a Caucasian referral population.

Methods: One randomly selected eye of 286 Caucasian patients (93 healthy, 36 ocular hypertensive, 46 preperimetric glaucoma, and 111 perimetric glaucoma eyes) was evaluated.

Results: Using the software-provided classification, for the total population sensitivity did not exceed 73.

Automatic, operator-adjusted, and manual disc-definition for optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer measurements with the RTVue-100 optical coherence tomograph.

Purpose: To evaluate the repeatability and between-methods differences of optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) measurements as made with the automatic, operator-adjusted, and manual disc-definition functions of the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomograph.

Methods: One eye of each of 126 persons (72 glaucomatous, 10 ocular hypertensive, 44 healthy control eyes) was analyzed with all 3 disc-definition functions. Thirty-three eyes were imaged 5 times for the determination of measurement repeatability.

Reproducibility of retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness measurement with the RTVue-100 optical coherence tomograph.

Purpose: To evaluate the reproducibility of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) measurements made with the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) device (Optovue, Inc., Fremont, CA) and to determine the influence of 4 factors: pupil dilation, subject age, experience in imaging examinations, and glaucoma severity.

Design: Prospective study for evaluation of a diagnostic test.

Comparison of repeatability of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurement made using the RTVue Fourier-domain optical coherence tomograph and the GDx scanning laser polarimeter with variable or enhanced corneal compensation.

Purpose: To compare repeatability of measurements of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) made using the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomograph against repeatability of those made using scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation or enhanced corneal compensation (GDx-VCC and GDx-ECC, respectively).

Methods: One eye of each of 37 participants (14 normal and ocular hypertensive subjects, 11 patients with moderate, and 12 with severe glaucoma; groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively) was imaged using the RTVue Optic Nerve Head Map scan, GDx-VCC, and GDx-ECC, each 5 times on the same day. The coefficient of variation (CV) were compared.

Influence of pupil dilation on repeatability of scanning laser polarimetry with variable and enhanced corneal compensation in different stages of glaucoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of pupil dilation on repeatability of scanning laser polarimetry with variable (GDx-VCC) and enhanced (GDx-ECC) corneal compensation, in different stages of glaucoma.

Methods: One eye of each of 37 Caucasian participants [14 healthy and ocular hypertensive subjects with mean deviation (MD) <2 dB, 11 glaucoma patients with MD 6 to 12 dB, and 12 glaucoma patients with MD >15 dB] was imaged 5 times with both GDx-VCC and GDx-ECC, before and after pupil dilation.

Results: No statistically significant alteration was found for any parameter or most coefficients of variation in any group, or in the total study population, due to pupil dilation.

Health anxiety in a non-population-based, pre-publicised glaucoma screening exercise.

Objective: To investigate whether anxiety plays a role in self-recruitment for non-population-based glaucoma screening.

Methods: In a non-population-based pre-publicised trial, self-recruited Caucasian participants were screened for glaucoma, and also completed the Trait Anxiety Inventory and Shortened Health Anxiety Inventory questionnaires. In pre-publicity for the trial, information on risk factors for glaucoma was given.

Personality traits, depression, and objectively measured adherence to once-daily prostaglandin analog medication in glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of personality traits, depression, and training on objectively measured adherence to once-daily prostaglandin analog medication.

Methods: Adherence was measured with the Travalert Dosing Aid on 58 consecutive, regularly followed-up glaucoma patients already on self-administered travoprost. Before the 3-month data-collection period all patients received training on use of the device.

Risks and predictors of blood transfusion in pediatric patients undergoing open heart operations.

Background: Blood transfusion in adults is associated with increased mortality and morbidity after cardiac operations. The aim of this study was to identify the main predictors of blood transfusion and explore the relationship between blood transfusion and adverse outcomes in a pediatric population.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a prospectively collected database (January 2002 to December 2003) of 657 consecutive pediatric patients undergoing open heart procedures in a tertiary pediatric cardiac center.

Relationship between autonomic neuropathy and hypertension--are we underestimating the problem?

Background: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in diabetes and the risk is even greater in those with hypertension.

Aims: The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between CAN and 24-h blood pressure profile in normoalbuminuric patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Seventy patients with Type 2 diabetes (31 without CAN, 39 with CAN), who had no history of hypertension, and 29 healthy volunteers underwent five standard cardiovascular reflex tests to assess autonomic function and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Aprotinin and renal dysfunction after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Background: Aprotinin is a potent antifibrinolytic drug, which reduces postoperative bleeding and transfusion requirements. Recently, two observational studies reported increased incidence of renal dysfunction after aprotinin use in adults. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the safety of aprotinin use in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.