Livelli plasmatici di fibrinogeno in soggetti con infarto miocardico acuto: relazione con gli eventi nel follow-up a 42 mesi

Influence of climatic variables on acute myocardial infarction hospital admissions

BACKGROUND: Seasonal peaks in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) incidence have been widely reported. Weather has been postulated to be one of the elements at the basis of this association. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of seasonal variations and weather on AMI hospital admissions. METHODS: We correlated the daily number of AMI cases admitted to a western Sicily hospital over twelve years and weather conditions on a day-to-day basis. Information on temperature, humidity, wind force and direction, precipitation, sunny hours and atmospheric pressure was obtained from the local Birgi Air Force base. A total of 3918 consecutive patients were admitted with AMI over the perio…

Usefulness of QT dispersion in clinical practice

The measurement of QT dispersion in the surface electrocardiogram has been proposed as a non invasive method for assessing inhomogeneity of myocardial repolarization and has been linked to an increased risk of arrhythmic cardiac death. Several studies have evaluated the use of QTd in a wide variety of cardiac diseases and have reached conflicting conclusions regarding its clinical significance.

Effects of ambient temperature, humidity, and other meteorological variables on hospital admissions for angina pectoris.

Background: Seasonal peaks in cardiovascular disease incidence have been widely reported, suggesting weather has a role. Design The aim of our study was to determine the influence of climatic variables on angina pectoris hospital admissions. Methods: We correlated the daily number of angina cases admitted to a western Sicilian hospital over a period of 12 years and local weather conditions (temperature, humidity, wind force and direction, precipitation, sunny hours and atmospheric pressure) on a day-to-day basis. A total of 2459 consecutive patients were admitted over the period 1987–1998 (1562 men, 867 women; M/F – 1:8). Results: A seasonal variation was found with a noticeable winter pea…

Embolic stroke, sinus rhythm and left atrial mechanical function

A 64-year-old man manifested a stroke two years after restoration of sinus rhythm through a radiofrequency catheter ablation. Transesophageal echo- cardiography demonstrated the presence of a thrombus in the left atrial appendage. Left atrial volumes and different parameters of atrial emptying showed that, de- spite the persistence of the sinus rhythm, atrial mechanical function was severely impaired. After atrial ablation procedures echocardiography can be useful to stratify pa- tients according to their risk of developing embolic events and hence be of help in deciding whether or not discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy is the appropri- ate choice.

In-hospital complications of acute myocardial infarction in hypertensive subjects

Recent studies have shown a worse in-hospital outcome in hypertensive than in normotensive patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which has been attributed to more frequent complications. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical patterns, risk factors, and in-hospital complications in hypertensive and normotensive patients with AMI.Of 4994 consecutive patients with AMI admitted to the intensive care unit, hypertensive patients with first infarction (n = 915; mean age 68.8 +/- 11.4 years) and 915 gender- and age-matched normotensive subjects were retrospectively studied.In the univariate analysis, hypertensive subjects presented more frequently non-Q-wave infarction and ST…

Effects of green tea catechins and exercise training on body composition parameters

The impact of phytochemicals, as green tea catechins, on body composition measures has become a relevant topic as ongoing epidemiological evidence suggests their potential role in weight loss. Although catechins have been shown to modulate fat and energy metabolism, clinical effects of green tea consumption still remain controversial. Given the role played by physical exercise in weight management, it is important to determine whether the association of catechins and exercise is able to improve outcomes over and above the beneficial effects of exercise alone. Considering that scientific findings on this topic are not entirely consistent, aim of the present review was to assess the current s…

Physical exercise and Sport activities in patients with and without coronary heart disease

Background: The quantity and intensity of physical activity required for the primary prevention of coronary heart disease remain unclear. Therefore, we examined the association between physical activity and coronary risk. Methods: We studied 100 patients with chest pain, 78 men and 22 women, not older than 65 years, admitted to a coronary care unit. Patients were subdivided in 3 groups: the first group included patients with acute myocardial infarction, the second group included patients with chronic heart disease, the third included patients with non-ischemic chest-pain. A questionnaire on daily physical activity was filled by each patient. Results: A significantly higher percentage of pat…

Effects of Nebivolol versus Carvedilol on Left Ventricular Function in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Reduced Left Ventricular Systolic Function

Beta-adrenoceptor antagonist (beta-blocker) therapy results in a significant improvement in left ventricular (LV) systolic function and prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure. Both carvedilol and nebivolol produce hemodynamic and clinical benefits in chronic heart failure, but it is unknown whether their peculiar pharmacologic properties produce different effects on LV function.To assess the effects on LV function of nebivolol compared with carvedilol in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced LV systolic function.Seventy patients with a LV ejection fractionor=40% and in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II or III were randomly assigned to receive carvedil…

Intrahospital complications of acute myocardial infarction in hypertensive patients. A retrospective case-control study

Association between Tpeak-Tend/QT and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with Takotsubo syndrome

Background:Conflicting results have been described in the scientific literature regarding the relationship between electrocardiographic parameters and complications in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Aim of the present study was to investigate whether there is an association between markers of ventricular repolarization and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalisation. Methods:A retrospective chart review was conducted on a sample of patients with diagnosis of TTS, based on the fulfilment of the revised Mayo Clinic criteria. MACE included acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and death. The following…

IN-HOSPITAL COMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN HYPERTENSIVE SUBJECTS

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown a worse in-hospital outcome in hypertensive than in normotensive patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which has been attributed to more frequent complications. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical patterns, risk factors, and in-hospital complications in hypertensive and normotensive patients with AMI. METHODS: Of 4994 consecutive patients with AMI admitted to the intensive care unit, hypertensive patients with first infarction (n = 915; mean age 68.8 +/- 11.4 years) and 915 gender- and age-matched normotensive subjects were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, hypertensive subjects presented more frequen…