Echocardiographic assessment of myocardial performance after prolonged strenuous exercise.

To determine the effect of strenuous prolonged exercise on systolic and diastolic left ventricular function, 11 non-elite marathon runners aged 37 +/- 7 years (mean +/- SD) were studied before and during early recovery from a marathon race. Cavity dimensions, wall thickness, and fractional shortening were computed from two-dimensionally guided M-mode echocardiograms. Doppler left ventricular inflow tract recordings were analysed for peak early and late velocities and their ratio.

[QT prolongation and induction of torsades de pointe by flecainide. Apropos of a case].

The authors report the case of a 68-year old woman treated since 1986 with flecaïnide acetate for atrial disease. She was admitted to hospital in January 1988 for syncopes due to torsades de pointe. The QTc interval reached 0.

[Apropos of a case of rupture of a posterobasal aneurysm of the left ventricle studied by echocardiography].

A 40-year old male patient developed inferior myocardial infarction followed by two rare mechanical complications: rupture of the posterior papillary muscle of the mitral valve, which was successfully repaired, and, a few months later, rupture of an early postero-basal aneurysm which proved lethal. On both occasions the diagnosis was provided by echocardiography. The broken aneurysmal area was visualized as being abnormally mobile.

Psychological factors in failure to wear the Milwaukee brace for treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.

Youngsters who fail to successfully adapt to a Milwaukee Brace displayed measurable psychological differences from those who do adapt satisfactorily to this treatment approach. The study did not encompass all conceivable variables which might affect orthotic wearing, however, use of logical and empirical approach to further delineate important variables seems feasible and desirable. In fact, one can hypothesize a predictive test battery which will detect high risk patients and thus afford the physician the option of alternative treatment modes, or intensified psychological intervention if the orthosis is preferred.