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Introduction. Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a distinct condition in diabetes and is independent of atherosclerotic coronary disease, having as an effect over time the onset of heart failure. Objective/Aims: This paper aims to analyze, based on the existing data in the specialized literature, the main myocardial structural changes in the diabetic patients as well as the specific electrophysiological changes and their clinical impact Materials and Methods: The study is based on articles published in MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar. Results. Discussion. It has been shown that even from the pre-diabetic stage there is cardiometabolic damage followed by myocardial hypertrophy and progression to heart failure. However, in the early stage of diabetes, myocardial damage is discrete. As the metabolic disease progresses, the myocardial structural damage becomes irreversible Conclusion: The active self-monitoring of glycemic values as well as the imaging evaluation by cardiac ultrasonography of all patients with metabolic syndrome even in the presence of normal glycemic values, in order to initiate the early initiation of specific antidiabetic therapy in order to prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular complications specific to this metabolic pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate diseases represent approximately 8-10% of unsterilized male dogs, presented to doctors for veterinary medical evaluation. Diseases from this category differ in type of involvement, severity, and frequency, from prostatic hyperplasia and cystic changes to more rare and more severe conditions such as prostatitis, prostate abscesses, and prostate tumors. The different causes of prostate disease cannot always be identified by a thorough clinical examination, as the clinical signs do not have a characteristic level of expression, registering similarities for different organ diseases. Developing and recommending diagnostic methods to confirm prostate disease is essential to establish a correct diagnosis that allows an early and appropriate treatment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the sleep-disordered breathing, with a pediatric prevalence between 1% and 5%. Adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy, along with obesity are the most common causes in children. OSA should not be neglected because the potential impact on cardiovascular, neurocognitive, behavioral and metabolic systems is significant. It differs from adult disorder by epidemiology, risk factors, diagnostic criteria and therapy approach. The gold standard evaluation for diagnosis is polysomnography. However, this is difficult to perform in young children, so that alternative diagnostic methods are used. Polysomnography is reserved for selected patients. This paper summarizes some of the clinical aspects, risk factors, diagnostic methods and treatment principles underlying OSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoking is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Left ventricular hypertrophy frequently appears in high blood pressure (HBP) and left heart valvulopathies. Objectives. We aimed establishing the bond between smoking and left ventricular hypertrophy on patients with normal blood pressure. Material and method. We have conducted a retrospective study on a period of 52 weeks on 48 patients aged between 28 and 83 years, chronic smokers, without any personal history of HBP or any type of cardiovascular disease. The cases were selected from the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Clinic. The patients were clinically and paraclinically evaluated. The methods we used for detecting the left ventricle dysfunction were electrocardiography and echocardiography; we calculated Sokolov-Lyon index and we measured ultrasonographic. Results. Our criteria were satisfied by 48 patients. 43 of them (89.6%) were males, from which 18 drink alcohol (37,5%), 28 have a normal glucose value (58,3%) and 41 a normal uric acid value (85,4%). From the patients that were enrolled, 14 are obese as it follows: 11 patients (22,9%) - first degree obesity, 2 patients (4,2%) - second degree and 1 patient (2,1%) with third degree. The distribution on age groups is: 9 patients under 44 years (18,8%), 30 with ages between 45 and 64 (62,5%) and 9 with ages over 65 years (18,8%). Conclusion. We established a positive correlation between smoking and the development of left ventricular hypertrophy in normotensive patients. Thus, smoking cessation decreases the risk of developing a ventricular dysfunction, ischemic heart disease or stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current medical practice, nasal congestion is one of the most frequent symptoms that bring the patients at doctor. One of the most common causes of chronic nasal obstruction is inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Surgical therapy is reserved for those patients who remain symptomatic despite proper medical therapy. The authors bring into question a number of procedures and surgical techniques addressed to the inferior turbinate hypertrophy, choosing one or another depending on the surgeon's personal experience, the existing pathology and, not at least, the patient's wish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterial hypertension (AHT) is currently considered one of the most common pathologies of the cardiovascular system and one of the risk factors of atherosclerosis and chronic myocardial dysfunctions. Essential hypertension is accompanied by metabolic disorders, hypercatecholaminemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperinsulinemia, excessive fat storage in adipocytes in obese patients as well as other factors. To assess the degree and prognosis of arterial hypertension, it is important to use early diagnosis, first of all the signs of heart remodeling, metabolic and neurohomonal disorders, and changes in the arterial wall. Objectives of the study. Indices evaluation of neurohomonal biomarkers in arterial hypertension diagnosis in adolescents. Material and methods. The hemodynamic parameters of cardiac performance and neurohormonal biomarkers have been evaluated in this study of 113 children, divided in two groups. The first group included 52 patients, having chronic heart failure secondary to arterial hypertension and the second control group included 85 children. Obtained results. The EcoCG parameters in patients with arterial hypertension detected left myocardial hypertrophy and the septum myocardial hypertrophy, and the modification of the LVEF, LVSF. The determination of specific biochemical tests assessing myocardial damage biomarkers in patients with congestive heart failure secondary to arterial hypertension confirmed a statistically significant increase in serum content epinefrine in comparison with the control group (p<0.001), of the conclusive norepinefrine the control (p<0.05) and increase in urine content catecolamine in activity significance compared to the control group (p<0.001), with further increase concentrational level in the dynamic therapy (p<0.001). Conclusions. The investigation performed shows that the patients with chronic heart failure develop hypoxic and ischemic processes, that lead to modified of hemodynamic parameters and metabolic and neurohormonal biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete obstruction of upper respiratory airways which appear during sleep and lead to the decrease of oxygen saturation and numerous awakenings. The symptomatology in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is very different from the adult type in many aspects. The gold standard examination for diagnosis and evaluation of severity is polysomnography. The authors present their experience in the surgical tratament of children with obstructive sleep apnea. It is outlined a group of patient enrolled during a period of 5 years (2010-2014) who had their tonsils reduced through coblation and radiofrequency techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The aim of the study is to evaluate daytime, nighttime and 24 hour blood pressure variability (BPV) in inefficient treated grade 1-3 hypertensive patients, calculation of blood pressure variability and to quantify its relation to left ventricular hypertrophy. Design and method. Observational study conducted between January- November 2012.30 patients were enrolled in the study with blood pressure more than 140/90 mmHg. Resting ECG and echocardiography were done to assess left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Using left ventricular mass index (LVMI), the patients were classified into two groups: Group I included 15 patients with LVH and Group II included 15 patients without left ventricular hypertrophy. We performed ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) with a validated device (Medtronich-ABPM05). Based on 24 hour blood pressure values, we calculated blood pressure variability using read-to-read average real variability (ARV) parameter, standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CoV). Results. Patients in Group I, with LVMI > 131 g/m2 showed 24-hour systolic blood pressure variability 13,8±2.1 mmHg versus 12,2 ±1.9 mmHg (p=0.03) in Group II. In the group with left ventricular hypertrophy, daytime systolic blood pressure variability was 13,8 ±2.5mmHg, vs. 11,7 ±2 mmHg (p<0.01) in Group II with LVMI<130 g / m2. Nighttime systolic average real variability showed statistically significant difference between the two groups (p<0.01). SD and CoV did not differ significantly between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusions. There was a greater daytime, nighttime and 24-hour blood pressure variability in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Greater blood pressure variability may be an independent cardiovascular risk factor, and may promote target organ damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The goal of the current study was to assess the spectrum of changes in hand and wrist on patients with Psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Material and methods. A prospective study conducted on 28 hospitalised patients with PsA (fulfilling 2006 CASPAR criteria), with poly-articular disease. The evaluation was done according to a predefined protocol: (1) rheumatology domain (individual activity scores); (2) laboratory inflammation markers (3) ultrasound (US) evaluation Grey scale and Doppler of both hands and wrists for each patient, cumulating 840 scanned joints; Statistics. SPSS-17 was used for statistical analysis (descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test), p < 0.05. Results. We found synovial hypertrophy on 14.28% joints with different degrees of vascularisation, the highest frequency of synovitis was found on metacarpophalangeal joints followed by proximal interphalangeal, distal iterphalangeal joints and wrist. We identified tenosynovitis of flexors on eight patients while bone erosions were present on 57.1 % cases. We found a significant correlation between total count of joints presenting US synovitis with Doppler signal and laboratory inflammatory markers and individual activity parameters such as morning stiffness, visual analogue scale for pain, general health assessment. Conclusions. US examination depicted both synovial and extra synovial morphological changes in PsA with suggestive evidence supporting the relevance of this technique in regular protocol evaluation of patients diagnosed with PsA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premises. Obesity and metabolic syndrome represent diagnoses found with an increasing frequency in the 21st century,entailing high rates of morbidity and mortality in the general population. Aim. In this study we propose to identify the predictive factors of cardiovascular disease in obese and overweight patients, by widely accessible laboratory examinations. Material and methods. 97 patients, 71 females (73.2%) and 26 males (26.8%) were included in this study. For the studied patients we noted: sex, age, personal history of diseases, BMI, waist circumference, arterial tension value, glycaemia, HDL-cholesterol, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, used drugs, smoking habit, left ventricle mass, electrical modifications, intima-media thickness. The patient population was divided into 3 body mass index (BMI) classes: normal BMI, 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m-2; overweight, BMI 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m-2; and obese, BMI > or =30.0 kg/m-2. Results. The obese patients presented significantly more frequent (p<0.001) hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia. The left ventricle mass was increased in both obese and overweight groups, with significantly statistical difference (p<0.001) between normal weight vs overweight vs obese patients and also between overweight vs obese patients. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were recorded regarding RR and QT intervals, QTc, T wave. Analysing the relation between intima-media thickness and weight status, we observed significantly statistical difference (p<0.001) between normal weight vs overweight patients and normal weight vs obese patients. Conclusions. Obesity is linked to increased left ventricular mass, which is known like an important risk factor in cardiovascular disease. Electrical changes, especially prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) and T wave's abnormalities, have been described in obese and with metabolic syndrome subjects. A well-known marker of subclinical atherosclerosis is intima-media thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long time seen as some rare forms, hypertension due to adrenal are certainly underdiagnosed in many parts of the world. In hypertensive patients with pheochromocytoma accurate diagnosis is often a challenge for general practitioner (and sometimes for cardiologist too) and the evolution and complications are often dramatic. Our group of 42 patients with pheochromocytoma generally confirmed the literature data, in terms of demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics. Hypertension was the central element in pheochromocytoma, with different relations between hypertensive profile and catecholamines levels. Regardless of the form (paroxysmal or permanent), hypertension was directly involved in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac/cerebrovascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As response to a large variety of stimuli the myocardium adapts through the hypertrophy of muscle cells. The mechanisms involved in physiological hypertrophy are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the electrical and mechanical changes associated with physiological hypertrophy. Methods - 40 Wistar rats were randomly assigned into control group (CONT) and the group trained by swimming (PHYS) - 90 min/day, 5 days/week, 8 weeks. The following parameters were measured: action potential duration (APD) to 90, 75, 50 and 25% of complete repolarization, peak tension (PT), time to peak tension (TPT) and time to half relaxation (T1/2R). Results - The APD recorded from PHYS was substantially longer than that recorded from CONT: APD90 (89.1±0.4 vs 75.4±1.1(msec), p<0.001), APD75 (54.5±0.6 vs 45.4±0.7(msec), p<0.001), APD50 (29.9±0.5 vs 21.1±0.6(msec), p<0.001) şi APD25 (21.4±0.5 vs 13.1±0.8(msec), p<0.0001). PT was also greater for PHYS (746.1±2.7 vs 485.1±2.3(mN), p<0.001), same as TPT (110.1±0.5 vs 87.9±2.3(msec), p<0.001) and T1/2R (194.1±0.6 vs 126.1±2.8(msec), p<0.001). Conclusions - For PHYS we obtained a significant prolongation of all APD phases, based especially on the prolongation of depolarization, and increased PT. The duration of membrane depolarization could influence con traction by regulating the release and uptake of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterial hypertension in old age is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, its frequency being on the rise due to the aging of the population and modern means of treatment. The kidney's intervention as a central pivot in the ethiopathogenesis of arterial hypertension through the secretion of renin, pressure natriuresis and volemic shock, as well as the intervention of the cardiovascular system through increased vascular resistance, endothelial disfunctions and myocardic hypertrophy allow the condition to be addressed by general physicians, cardiologists and nephrologists. Given the associated comorbidities, arterial hypertension in old age remains a poorly defined entity, open to speculations regarding both the pathogenic mechanisms involved and the possibilities of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on medical topics including the assessment of myocardial systolic velocities in asymptomatic patients, mechanical and electrical changes in the association of left ventricular hypertrophy, and the cardiovascular risk factors of subclinical atherosclerosis in young adults.

Renal artery stenosis represents the most frequent cause of secondary arterial hypertension. The atherosclerotic disease, which mainly affects all the proximal third of the main artery, is encountered mostly in the elders. The fibromuscular dysplasia affects most of all the distal two-thirds and the renal arteries branches and is met mostly in young women. The renovascular disease is an important and most of the time unknown cause of renal insufficiency, refractory hypertension and global cardiovascular mortality. As long as the severe renal artery disease can cause renal dysfunction, the identification and the treatment of important renal artery stenoses can have major benefits on the state of health. We present an interesting case that falls into this pathology encountered in our medical practice. There are multiple particularities of the case: the appearance of a severe hypertension (Systolic TA over 260mmHg, diastolic BP over 150mmHg) in a 19 year-old male patient, absence of symptoms, renal arteries anomaly, concordances and discordances of the imagistic investigations, early appearance of complications of the arterial hypertension, and of the left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricle diastolic dysfunction, respectively; the association at the hypertensive cardiopathy of the ventricular septal defect of and the basal interventricular septal aneurysm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterial hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal disease, being a considerable public health problem of our society. Even though when we're considering hypertensive heart disease we are used to think in left ventricle modifications (ventricular hypertrophy) there's growing evidence of both atrial and large vessels pathophysiological changes, too. The early recognition of cardiovascular fibrotic modifications requires a rigorous control of associated risk factors as well as the intensification of medical treatment given the exposure of this patients to an increased number of ischemic events, heart failure, stoke or arrhythmias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sindromul Roviralta reprezintă asocierea dintre stenoza hipertrofică de pilor şi hernia hiatală. Autorii prezintă cazul unui copil de sex masculin în vârstă de 2 luni internat în Clinica a V-a de Pediatrie a Spitalului de Urgență pentru Copii „Sfânta Maria“, Iaşi pentru vărsături postprandiale şi pierderea progresivă în greutate. Tranzitul esogastroduodenal baritat relevă hernie hiatală, canal piloric îngustat şi reflux gastroesofagian prezent inconstant. Ecografia a confirmat hipertofia olivei pilorice şi pH-metria, refluxul gastroesofagian. Tratamentul medical cu antispastice, rehidratarea, inhibitori de pompă de protoni şi prokinetice a avut succes, iar evoluția a fost bună. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure is one of the most common cardiac disease that affects people of all ages worldwide. Mechanisms that cause the disease began to be increasingly well understood. Te most important are: Frank-Starling mechanism, myocardial hypertrophy and neurohormonal mechanisms. The most common cause of heart failure is the acute coronary syndrome. In fact, they say that almost any heart disease left untreated can lead to heart failure. The NYHA classification is used to determine the clinical evaluation of the disease. Echocardiography is the most frequently used imaging method to assess heart failure and B-type natriuretic peptide determination is becoming a routine laboratory examination used in this disease. Treatment of heart failure is trying to improve the patients' life, to slow disease progression and reduce mortality [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary artery disease is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in hypertensive patients. Myocardial infarction or severe ischemia are the most common causes of let ventricular kinetic abnormalities, which may reduce its pump function. However, there are limited data about frequency and correlation with kinetic abnormalities in hypertensive patients. Two dimensional ultrasound can semiquantitatively assess the left ventricular kinetic abnormalities, which are pathophysiologically associated with ischemic heart disease. Assessment of the frequency of global and segmental let ventricular kinetic abnormalities and their correlations with ECG and echocardiographic data is useful for identifying patients with higher risk of cardiovascular events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cirrhosis induces cardiac alterations. The hyperdinamic circulatory syndrome of patients with portal hypertension in sassociation with a variety of cardiovascular alterations. The heart in patients with cirrhosis present with structural and functional abnormalities that have been termed cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

În cadrul CMH au fost descrise anomalii ale morfologiei şi dinamicii valvelor mitrale, asociate cu deplasarea anterioară sistolică ce are drept rezultat atât obstrucţia subaortică, cât şi regurgitarea mitrală. Există variaţii mari individuale la aceşti pacienţi în ceea ce priveşte predominanţa unuia sau a altuia din fenomene. Material şi metodă: am luat în studiu un lot de 15 copii cu vârsta între 2 şi 16 ani diagnosticaţi cu CMH la Clinica II Pediatrie. Dintre aceştia, monitorizarea ecocardiografi că a surprins SAM intermitent la 6 cazuri. Rezultate şi discuţii: nu am putut stabili o corelaţie între gradul obstrucţiei şi mărimea regurgitării mitrale. Lungimea şi motilitatea valvei mitrale posterioare a determinat în mod invers proporţional mărimea fluxului de regurgitare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]