549 research outputs found
CLINICAL AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NEW-ONSET ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE AND SINUS RHYTHM: A SUB-ANALYSIS OF THE WARCEF TRIAL
Evidence for tidal interaction and merger as the origin of galaxy morphology evolution in compact groups
We present the results of a morphological study based on NIR images of 25
galaxies, with different levels of nuclear activity, in 8 Compact Groups of
Galaxies (CGs). We perform independently two different analysis: a isophotal
study and a study of morphological asymmetries. The results yielded by the two
analysis are highly consistent. For the first time, it is possible to show that
deviations from pure ellipses are produced by inhomogeneous stellar mass
distributions related to galaxy interactions and mergers. We find evidence of
mass asymmetries in 74% of the galaxies in our sample. In 59% of these cases,
the asymmetries come in pairs, and are consistent with tidal effects produced
by the proximity of companion galaxies. The symmetric galaxies are generally
small in size or mass, inactive, and have an early-type morphology. In 20% of
the galaxies we find evidence for cannibalism. In 36% of the early-type
galaxies the color gradient is positive (blue nucleus) or flat. Summing up
these results, as much as 52% of the galaxies in our sample could show evidence
of an on going or past mergers. Our observations suggest that galaxies in CGs
merge more frequently under ``dry'' conditions. The high frequency of
interacting and merging galaxies observed in our study is consistent with the
bias of our sample towards CGs of type B, which represents the most active
phase in the evolution of the groups. In these groups we also find a strong
correlation between asymmetries and nuclear activity in early-type galaxies.
This correlation allows us to identify tidal interactions and mergers as the
cause of galaxy morphology transformation in CGs.[abridge]Comment: 64 pages, 35 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
LEFT VENTRICULAR LONGITUDINAL STRAIN BY SPECKLE-TRACKING ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY FOR THE DETECTION OF TREATMENT-REQUIRING REJECTION IN CLINICALLY ASYMPTOMATIC HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Control and Subclinical Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Treated Hypertensive Subjects
Blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive patients is crucial for reducing the risk of heart failure development and may be particularly important in elderly subjects, who have an especially high prevalence of hypertension and risk of heart failure (1). Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) is an echocardiographic measure of LV systolic function that can be an indicator of early subclinical cardiac dysfunction, even when LV ejection fraction is normal. The association of BP control with early subclinical LV dysfunction according to GLS has not been extensively studied, and it is also unknown whether assessing BP control with ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring is superior to using office BP measurements in this regard. Therefore, we investigated the association of BP control with GLS by using ABP and office BP criteria in a community-based, predominantly elderly cohort with normal LV ejection fraction
Higher Ambulatory Blood Pressure Is Associated With Aortic Valve Calcification in the Elderly: A Population-Based Study
Aortic valve calcification (AVC) without outflow obstruction (stenosis) is common in the elderly and increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although high blood pressure (BP) measured at the doctor’s office is known to be associated with AVC, little is known about the association between 24-hour ambulatory BP (ABP) and AVC. Our objective was to clarify the association between ABP variables and AVC. The study population consisted of 737 patients (mean age, 71±9 years) participating in the Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesions study who underwent 24-hour ABP monitoring. Each aortic valve leaflet was graded on a scale of 0 (normal) to 3 (severe calcification). A total valve score (values 0–9) was calculated as the sum of all leaflet scores. Advanced AVC (score ≥4) was present in 77 subjects (10.4%). All of the systolic ABP variables (except systolic BP nocturnal decline) and mean asleep diastolic BP were positively associated with advanced calcification, whereas normal dipping status and diastolic BP nocturnal decline were negatively associated. Multiple regression analysis indicated that mean awake diastolic BP (odds ratio, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.01–1.71]) and asleep diastolic BP (odds ratio, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.04–1.72]) remained independently associated with advanced calcification after adjustment for age, sex, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, serum creatinine, and any degree of aortic insufficiency. Diastolic ABP is independently associated with advanced calcification. This finding may have important implications in gaining further insight into the mechanism of AVC
Anxiety and Expressed Emotion in a Sample of Obese Patients
INTRODUCTION Expressed Emotion (EE) is a measure of the intensity of the affective family climate and
plays a role in disease course and outcome. Especially in urban settings, obesity is a severe problem with
serious implications as far as health risks are concerned. Having a high EE caregiver has been suggested
to correlate with a worse treatment compliance in obese patients.
OBJECTIVES To measure level of EE, stressful events and anxiety in obese patients and their caregivers;
to investigate the possible correlations between compliance with treatment and emotional temperature of
families.
METHODS We have already recruited more than 150 obese patients and their caregivers. Assessment
included: Level of Expressed Emotion Scale (LEE), one version for patients and one for relatives in order to
evaluate 4 dimensions: intrusiveness, emotional response, attitude toward disease, tolerance and
expectation; the Paykel\u2019s Interview for Recent Life Events; STAI Y1 concerning state anxiety and STAI Y2
concerning trait anxiety. Furthermore we collected demographic characteristics and BMI (Body Mass Index).
RESULTS Data collection and analyses are still ongoing. Preliminary results suggest a correlation between
obesity and level of anxiety. We expect to find a correlation between level of EE and variation of BMI.
CONCLUSIONS Levels of EE and anxiety should be considered when planning treatment interventions to
enhance compliance in obese patients and to support change in their life-style
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Alcohol Consumption and Ambulatory Blood Pressure: A Community-Based Study in an Elderly Cohort
BACKGROUND Although heavy alcohol consumption is associated with hypertension, the impact of lighter consumption on blood pressure (BP) is controversial. The protective effect of light alcohol consumption on cardiovascular disease described in previous studies could be, in part, mediated by effects of alcohol on BP. However, only a few studies investigating the association between alcohol and BP included elderly subjects, despite their higher risk of hypertension sequelae. Accordingly, we evaluated the relationship between alcohol consumption and 24-hour ambulatory BP in a community-based elderly cohort.
METHODS Among the participants in the Cardiac Abnormalities and Brain Lesion study, 553 subjects (mean age = 70.6±9.6 years) who underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring were examined. Alcohol consumption was categorized as (i) none (reference; 1 drink/day). Former drinkers were excluded.
RESULTS After adjustment for relevant covariables, mean values of daytime diastolic BP (DBP), nighttime DBP, and 24-hour DBP were significantly higher in moderate-to-heavy drinkers than in the reference group, whereas systolic BP parameters were not significantly different across consumption groups. Daytime systolic BP and DBP variability (SD of the measurements) were significantly lower in very light drinkers than in the reference group, independent of potential confounders.
CONCLUSIONS Moderate-to-heavy alcohol consumption was associated with higher DBP values. Very light alcohol consumption was associated with reduced daytime BP variability. The latter association may contribute to the known beneficial cardiovascular effects of light alcohol consumption
No correlation among expressed emotion, anxiety, stress and weight loss in patients with overweight and obesity
The onset of some types of obesity may correlate with specific familial relational patterns, and expressed emotion (EE). The aim of this study is to address the current gap in the literature about EE and obesity, assessing EE in a sample of patients with overweight or obesity and their relatives. A further objective is to assess patients' weight loss, patients' and relatives' anxiety, perceived stress and their possible correlation with EE and diet compliance. A total of 220 patients with overweight or obesity and 126 relatives were recruited. Patients' baseline body mass index (BMI) was negatively correlated with educational level, but we failed to find any correlation between BMI and the other variables assessed. We found a positive correlation between EE median and stressful life events, as well as between median EE and state and trait anxiety. Our results seem to suggest that other factors than the psychological ones we investigated may play a role in treatment adherence and outcome in patients with overweight and obesity
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