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The article discusses a study on cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction and chemotherapeutic agents. Topics covered include an echocardiogram protocol focusing on valvular disease, pericardial disease and diastolic function, evaluation of the left ventricular diastolic function and right ventricular function, and the use of imaging modalities multi-gated blood pool imaging and cardiac magnetic resonance. Also mentioned is the coordination between cardiologists and oncologists.

Examines how party controlled redistricting in 1991-1992 affected the fortunes of the US House incumbents in the 1992 election. Differences between the `partisan' redistricting plans implemented by one party and `bipartisan' plans implemented as the result of party compromise; Benefits of incumbents from party controlled redistricting.

Presents a study which discussed the impact of adolescent perceptions of the president to socialization research in the United States in early 1960s. Hypothesis on the effect of childhood attitudes toward the president; Approach to the study of political socialization; Relationships between perceptions of the president and attitudes toward the political process.

This study assessed left atrial (LA) dimension as a potential predictor of outcome in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). From the Italian Registry for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, 1,491 patients (mean age 47 ± 17 years; 61% men; 19% obstructive), followed for 9.4 ± 7.4 years after the initial echocardiographic evaluation, constituted the study group. The mean LA transverse dimension was 43 ± 9 mm and was larger in patients with severe symptoms (48 ± 9 mm for New York Heart Association classes III and IV vs 42 ± 9 mm for classes I and II, p <0.001), atrial fibrillation (47 ± 9 vs 42 ± 8 mm in sinus rhythm, p <0.001), and left ventricular outflow obstruction (46 ± 9 mm for ≥30 mm Hg at rest vs 42 ± 9 mm for <30 mm Hg at rest, p <0.001). On univariate analysis, each 5-mm increase in LA size was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.2 for all-cause mortality (p <0.0001). On multivariate analysis, a LA dimension >48 mm (the 75th percentile) had a HR of 1.9 for all-cause mortality (p = 0.008), 2.0 for cardiovascular death (p = 0.014), and 3.1 for death related to heart failure (p = 0.008) but was unassociated with sudden death (p = 0.81). Similar results were obtained after the exclusion of patients with atrial fibrillation (HR 1.7, p = 0.008) or outflow obstruction (HR 1.8, p = 0.003). The predictive power of LA dimension >48 mm was also validated in an independent HC cohort from the United States, with similar HRs (1.8 for all-cause mortality, p = 0.019). In conclusion, in a large cohort of patients with HC from a nationwide registry, a marked increase in LA dimension were predictive of long-term outcome, independent of co-existent atrial fibrillation or outflow obstruction. LA dimension is a novel and independent marker of prognosis in HC, particularly relevant to the identification of patients at risk for death related to heart failure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]