19th report of performance statistics of heart catheterization laboratories in Germany. Results of a collaborative survey by the Committee of Clinical Cardiology and the Interventional Cardiology (for ESC) and Angiology Study Groups of the German Society of Cardiology--Heart and Cardiovascular Research in 2002

Ohne ZusammenfassungDie Autoren danken allen Kolleginnen und Kollegen, die für diese Umfrage ihre Daten zur Verfügung gestellt haben. Wir bitten die Leiter aller zukünftig neu eingerichteten Herzkatheterlabore um die Meldung ihrer Dienstanschrift an die Korrespondenzadresse.     

Baseline characteristics in relation to electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients: the Losartan intervention for endpoint reduction (LIFE) in hypertension study. The Life Study Investigators

The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint (LIFE) reduction in hypertension study is a double-blind, prospective, parallel group study designed to compare the effects of losartan with those of atenolol on the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A total of 9194 patients with hypertension and ECG left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by Cornell voltage-duration product and/or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria were enrolled in the study, with baseline clinical and ECG data available in 8785 patients (54% women; mean age, 67+/-7 years). ECG LVH by Cornell voltage-duration product criteria was present in 5791 patients (65.9%) and by Sokolow-Lyon voltage in 2025 patients (23.1%). Compared with patients without ECG LVH by Cornell voltage-duration product criteria, patients with ECG LVH by this method were older; more obese; more likely to be female, white, and to have never smoked; more likely to be diabetic and have angina; and had slightly higher systolic, diastolic, and pulse blood pressures. In contrast, patients with ECG LVH by Sokolow-Lyon criteria were slightly younger; less obese; more likely to be male, black, and current smokers; less likely to have diabetes; more likely to have angina and a history of cerebrovascular disease; and had higher systolic and pulse blood pressure but slightly lower diastolic blood pressure than patients without ECG LVH by this method. By use of multivariate logistic regression analyses, presence of ECG LVH by Cornell voltage-duration product criteria was predominantly associated with higher body mass index, increased age, and female gender, whereas presence of ECG LVH by Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria was predominantly related to lower body mass index, male gender, and black race. Thus, hypertensive patients who meet Cornell product and Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria are associated with different, but potentially equally adverse, risk factor profiles.     

Sex-related difference in regression of left ventricular hypertrophy with antihypertensive treatment: the LIFE study

While left ventricular (LV) structure and function differ between hypertensive women and men, it remains unclear whether sex affects regression of LV hypertrophy with antihypertensive treatment. We analysed paired echocardiograms in 500 men and 347 women enrolled in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study at baseline and after 12 months of antihypertensive treatment with either losartan or atenolol. At enrollment, 177 women and 242 men were randomized to losartan-based treatment and 161 women and 247 men were randomized to atenolol-based treatment (sex difference=NS). After 12 months of antihypertensive treatment, blood pressure was lowered similarly in women (152/83 from 174/97 mmHg) and men (149/85 from 173/99 mmHg; both P<0.001, sex difference=NS), without significant change in body weight in either sex. Cardiac output and pulse pressure/stroke volume were equivalently reduced in both sexes (-0.2 vs -0.1 l/min and both -0.20 mmHg/ml/m(2), respectively; both P=NS). Absolute LV mass change after 12 months of antihypertensive treatment was greater in men than in women (-30 vs -24 g, P=0.01). However, after adjusting for baseline LV mass and randomized study treatment, LV mass reduction was greater in women than in men (-33 vs -23 g, P=0.001). LV mass regression was greater in women, by 8.0+/-2.8 g, after adjusting for baseline LV mass and randomized study treatment. After consideration of baseline LV mass and randomized study treatment, antihypertensive treatment regressed LV hypertrophy more in women. Further studies are needed to identify the mechanisms and prognostic implications of this sex-related difference.     

地方性克汀病人听觉传导路中神经元胞体的形态定量研究

对地方性克汀病人大脑的听觉传导路进行了病理检查，对上橄榄核，内侧膝状体及颞横回中神经元胞体进行了体视学的测量。发现部分神经元变性坏死，并可见卫星现象，神经元胞体的体积密度和数密度均比正常人明显减少，证实地克病人听觉传导路存在病变。     

Left ventricular mass regression in the LIFE study: effect of previous antihypertensive treatment

BACKGROUND: Whether to include only those patients who have not had prior hypertension treatment in clinical trials of left ventricular (LV) mass reduction is controversial. Accordingly, our aim was to study the relationship between prior treatment and both baseline and 1-year echocardiographic LV mass in subjects enrolled in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction (LIFE) study. METHODS: We studied clinical and baseline echocardiographic data on 960 patients with electrocardiographically confirmed left ventricular hypertrophy enrolled in the electrocardiographic substudy of the LIFE study, 847 of whom had LV mass remeasured after 1 year of blinded treatment. The majority (75%) of these patients had prior medical treatment for hypertension. RESULTS: In multivariable regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, blood pressure (BP), body mass index, and indices of pump and myocardial function, prior antihypertensive treatment was not associated with either greater LV mass or relative wall thickness on the baseline study. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the 637 subjects who were previously treated and the 210 who were not treated with regard to the mean reduction in systolic or diastolic pressures (-25 +/- 17 v -24 +/- -16 and -13 +/- 9 mm Hg v -12 +/- 9 mm Hg), LV mass (-27 +/- 38 v -29 +/- 34 g), or LV mass/body surface area (-14 +/- 20 v -15 +/- 18 g/m(2)), all P >.05. CONCLUSIONS: Prior treatment is not associated with either greater LV mass or greater relative wall thickness when age, body mass index, sex, systolic BP, heart rate, or indices of LV volume load and systolic function are taken into account. In addition, prior treatment is not associated with lesser degrees of LV mass reduction. For design of future clinical trials, restriction of inclusion criteria to only previously untreated patients does not appear to be necessary when the selection criterion is electrocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy.     

The course of depressive symptoms in primary care patients with type 2 diabetes: results from the Diabetes,Depression, Type D Personality Zuidoost-Brabant (DiaDDZoB) Study

Aims/hypothesis  

The aim of the study was to examine the course (incidence, recurrence/persistence) of depressive symptoms in primary care patients with type 2 diabetes and to identify significant predictors of these different course patterns.     

Salivary secretion in children after fractionated or single-dose TBI

The incidence of long-term oral complications after hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) varies between 60 and 100%. The aim of this study was to compare the salivary secretion rate and the contribution of known risk factors for a low salivary secretion rate 1 year after HSCT in children conditioned with fractionated TBI (fTBI) and in children conditioned with single-dose TBI (sTBI). The study involved 44 patients, 27 conditioned with sTBI and 17 conditioned with fTBI. The unstimulated and stimulated salivary secretion rates (USSRs and SSSRs) were estimated before HSCT and at 1-year follow-up. Risk factors that may have influenced the salivary secretion rate were recorded. An SSSR of ≤0.5?mL/min and a USSR of ≤0.1?mL/min were chosen as cut-off points for salivary dysfunction. The median reduction in stimulated salivary flow 1 year after HSCT was 56% in the sTBI group and 12% in the fTBI group (P=0.003). The median reduction in unstimulated salivary flow 1 year after HSCT was 74% in the sTBI group and 33% in the fTBI group (P=0.003). In the multivariate model, a significant correlation between both sTBI (odds ratio (OR)=6.49, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.40-30, P=0.014) and seropositivity of the recipient for 3-4 herpesviruses (OR=6.57, 95% CI=1.26-34, P=0.021) and a low stimulated salivary secretion rate (<0.5?mL/min) was found 1 year after HSCT.