Search results for "Cardiology"

Haemorheological components in the pre-geriatric and geriatric age range in a randomly selected Western Sicily population sample (Casteldaccia study)

1993

{Received 24.8.1992; accepted 7.12.1992} On a randomly selected western Sicily population sample (Casteldac­ cia Study: 600 subjects; 300 males and 300 females) of an age range from 40 to 79 years, were determined: Haematocrit (Htc) , blood vi­ scosity, plasma viscosity, filterability of whole blood and fibrinogen. Par­ ticipation was 97%, being 582 subjects (M = 287, F = 295). All the parameters measured showed a progressive increase with age and si­ gnificant differences were found between male and female subjects: Htc and blood viscosity were higher in male subjects (p < 0.01), while plasma viscosity, whole blood filterability and fibrinogen were higher in female subjects (p < 0.05). In …

Cigarette Smoking Is Related to Endothelial Dysfunction of Resistance, but Not Conduit Arteries in the General Population—Results From the Gutenberg …

2021

Aims: Cigarette smoking is one of the most complex and least understood cardiovascular risk factors. Importantly, differences in the tobacco-related pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction, an early event in atherogenesis, between circulatory beds remain elusive. Therefore, this study evaluated how smoking impacts endothelial function of conduit and resistance arteries in a large population-based cohort.Methods and results: 15,010 participants (aged 35–74 years) of the Gutenberg Health Study were examined at baseline from 2007 to 2012. Smoking status, pack-years of smoking, and years since quitting smoking were assessed by a computer-assisted interview. Endothelial function of conduit an…

The controversial relationship between exercise and atrial fibrillation: clinical studies and pathophysiological mechanisms

2015

Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinically significant arrhythmia observed both in the general population and in competitive athletes. The most important risk factors are all preventable by regular physical activity. However, although the benefits of moderate physical activity in controlling cardiovascular risk factors and decreasing the risk of atrial fibrillation have been extensively proved, concerns have arisen about the potential negative effects of vigorous exercise, particularly in endurance athletes. Furthermore, in a subset of patients with atrial fibrillation younger than 60 years, routine evaluation does not reveal any cardiovascular disease or any other known causal facto…

Ischemia in patients with no obstructive coronary artery disease: classification, diagnosis and treatment of coronary microvascular dysfunction

2020

Patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction represent a widespread population, and despite the good prognosis, many of them, because of the angina symptoms, have a poor quality of life with strong limitations in their daily activities. In 2017, a new classification of microvascular dysfunction as well as a new definition of ischemia in patients with no obstructive coronary artery disease became available. This new definition improves Kemp's initial work, where cardiac X syndrome was initially described. This work summarizes the last updates on the subject with particular attention to the new classification of microvascular dysfunction, with particular attention to microvascular and vas…

Evaluation of atrial function by 2D strain echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation

2012

Abstract Objectives To evaluate atrial function by 2D strain in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and normal or slightly increased atrial size and to verify whether lower atrial strain is associated with more frequent AF recurrences. Materials and methods We studied 50 patients with AF, mean age 59.6 ± 13 years and 50 age-and gender-matched controls. We analyzed left atrial function through 2Dstrain imaging, after the re-establishment of sinus rhythm (SR) and we investigated about the recurrences of the arrhythmia. Results Atrial strain (AS) was lower in AF patients vs controls (LA p Conclusions The assessment of atrial function by strain imaging might help to identify patients who nee…

Mental disorders and cardiovascular disease: what should we be looking out for?

2021

### Learning objectives Mental disorders are prevalent. They impair patients’ quality of life severely and are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and worse prognosis.1–4 Although these facts have been well established, there is still a gap in diagnostic awareness and treatment of mental disorders in patients with CVD.5–8 Therefore, we aim to educate cardiologists about the importance of mental disorders and how to address the widely unmet healthcare needs of patients with a mental disorder in their clinical practice. ### Mental disorders increase the risk for subsequent CVD All mental disorders are associated with an increased risk of developing CVD…

Cardiovascular Imaging Techniques in Systemic Rheumatic Diseases

2018

The risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality is significantly higher in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases than in the general population. Although CV involvement in such patients is highly heterogeneous and may affect various structures of the heart, it can now be diagnosed earlier and promptly treated. Various types of assessments are employed for the evaluation of CV risk such as transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) to investigate valve abnormalities, pericardial disease, and ventricular wall motion defects. The diameter of coronary arteries can be assessed using invasive quantitative coronarograp…

Association between the retinal vascular network, cardiovascular history and risk factors in the elderly

2017

IF 3.157; International audience; PurposeTo identify patterns summarizing the retinal vascular network in the elderly and to investigate the relationship of these vascular patterns with cardiovascular history.MethodsWe conducted a population-based study, the Montrachet study (Maculopathy Optic Nerve nuTRition neurovAsCular and HEarT diseases), in participants older than 75 years. History of cardiovascular disease and a score-based estimation of their 10-year risk of cardiovascular mortality (Heart SCORE) were collected. Retinal vascular network analysis was performed by means of Singapore “I” Vessel Assessment (SIVA) software. Principal component analysis was used to condense the informatio…

Determinants of arterial stiffness in pre- and postmenopausal women

2013

An overview of new pharmacological treatments for cerebrovascular dysfunction after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage

2004

Cerebral vasospasm and the resulting cerebral ischemia occurring after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are still responsible for the considerable morbidity and mortality in patients affected by cerebral aneurysms. Mechanisms contributing to the development of vasospasm, abnormal reactivity of cerebral arteries and cerebral ischemia after SAH have been intensively investigated in recent years. It has been suggested that the pathogenesis of vasospasm is related to a number of pathological processes, including endothelial damage, smooth muscle cell contraction resulting from spasmogenic substances generated during lyses of subarachnoid blood clots, changes in vascular responsiveness and inflamma…