Cardiac rehabilitation in Austria: long term health-related quality of life outcomes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The goal of cardiac rehabilitation programs is not only to prolong life but also to improve physical functioning, symptoms, well-being, and health-related quality of life (HRQL). The aim of this study was to document the long-term effect of a 1-month inpatient cardiac rehabilitation intervention on HRQL in Austria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients (N = 487, 64.7% male, age 60.9 ± 12.5 SD years) after myocardial infarction, with or without percutaneous interventions, coronary artery bypass grafting or valve surgery underwent inpatient cardiac rehabilitation and were included in this long-term observational study (two years follow-up). HRQL was measured with both the MacNew Heart Disease Quality of Life Instrument [MacNew] and EuroQoL-5D [EQ-5D].</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All MacNew scale scores improved significantly (p < 0.001) and exceeded the minimal important difference (0.5 MacNew points) by the end of rehabilitation. Although all MacNew scale scores deteriorated significantly over the two year follow-up period (p < .001), all MacNew scale scores still remained significantly higher than the pre-rehabilitation values. The mean improvement after two years in the MacNew social scale exceeded the minimal important difference while MacNew scale scores greater than the minimal important difference were reported by 40-49% of the patients.</p> <p>Two years after rehabilitation the mean improvement in the EQ-5D Visual Analogue Scale score was not significant with no significant change in the proportion of patients reporting problems at this time.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings provide a first indication that two years following inpatient cardiac rehabilitation in Austria, the long-term improvements in HRQL are statistically significant and clinically relevant for almost 50% of the patients. Future controlled randomized trials comparing different cardiac rehabilitation programs are needed.</p

Uptake and distribution of S-35-sulfate in needles and roots of spruce seedlings as affected by exposure to SO2 and H2S

The interaction between pedospheric and atmospheric sulfur nutrition was studied in seedlings of Norway spruce. Spruce was grown on a 25% Hoagland nutrient solution containing S-35-sulfate and simultaneously exposed to 250 nl 1(-1) atmospheric SO2 or H2S. A 6-day exposure to SO2 and H2S resulted in a substantial increase in the total sulfur concentration of the needles. This increase could be ascribed to increased needle concentrations of sulfate, water-soluble non-protein thiols and organic sulfur. SO2 and H2S exposure resulted in slight but significant increases in the concentration of sulfur compounds in roots. In all sulfur fractions, except sulfate, there was a substantial decrease in the level of S-35 in needle and root sulfur fractions upon SO2 and H2S exposure, demonstrating that spruce was able to switch from pedospheric sulfate to atmospheric sulfur as a source for growth. In needles, the amount of S-35 decreased in total organic S and glutathione fraction, whereas it increased in sulfate. This supports continued import of S taken up by the roots into the needles in spite of a decreased channeling of S-35 into synthesis in needles. A greater part of total sulfate increase was due to unlabeled S, which points towards metabolic oxidation of H2S and SO2 to sulfate. Increased concentrations of S compounds (including sulfate) in roots were mainly due to unlabeled S, indicating an import of sulfur from the foliage. The significance of glutathione in the translocation of reduced sulfur from the needles to the roots is discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Validation of a field test for the non-invasive determination of badminton specific aerobic performance

Aim: To develop a badminton specific test to determine on court aerobic and anaerobic performance. Method: The test was evaluated by using a lactate steady state test. Seventeen male competitive badminton players (mean (SD) age 26 (8) years, weight 74 (10) kg, height 179 (7) cm) performed an incremental field test on the badminton court to assess the heart rate turn point (HRTP) and the individual physical working capacity (PWC(i)) at 90% of measured maximal heart rate (HR(max)). All subjects performed a 20 minute steady state test at a workload just below the PWC(i). Results: Significant correlations (p<0.05) for Pearson's product moment coefficient were found between the two methods for HR (r = 0.78) and velocity (r = 0.93). The HR at the PWC(i) (176 (5.5) beats/min) was significantly lower than the HRTP (179 (5.5) beats/min), but no significant difference was found for velocity (1.44 (0.3) m/s, 1.38 (0.4) m/s). The constant exercise test showed steady state conditions for both HR (175 (9) beats/min) and blood lactate concentration (3.1 (1.2) mmol/l). Conclusion: The data indicate that a valid determination of specific aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance for the sport of badminton is possible without HRTP determination