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Evidence for parasympathetic impairment, not enhanced sympathetic activity, in patients with cardiac syndrome X
No full textStudio del controllo neurovegetativo in pazienti con angina pectoris e coronarografia negativa (sindrome X)
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Evidence of parasympathetic impairment in some patients with cardiac syndrome X
No full textObjectives: Cardiac syndrome X (SX) is a clinical condition characterised by angina, positive exercise stress test and negative coronary angiography it has often been attributed to sympathetic hyperactivity. Here we tested the hypothesis that a parasympathetic, rather than a sympathetic, dysfunction could be the cause of the autonomic imbalance observed in SX. Methods: In 20 subjects with diagnosed SX and in 12 age-matched controls, we studied autonomic function by performing spectral analysis of RR interval and finger arterial pressure (SAP), in supine position and during head-up tilting. We also carried out a set of tests of parasympathetic function. Results: The group of SX patients did not differ significantly from control subjects in any of the variables tested. In a subgroup of 13 SX, however, tilting increased the low-frequency power of SAP, but did not induce the expected increase in low-frequency and decrease in high-frequency power of RR. These patients, in supine position, had significantly lower sinus arrhythmia and a higher ratio of low to high frequency of RR, in comparison with control subjects. We interpreted these differences as signs of reduced parasympathetic, but essentially normal sympathetic, activity. The parasympathetic tests confirmed vagal impairment in the same SX subjects. On the other hand, all the tests indicated normal parasympathetic functions in the control subjects and in those SX patients who displayed the expected spectral changes in tilting. Conclusions: In about two thirds of the patients with SX, the pathophysiological mechanism causing the symptoms could be related to the reduced parasympathetic tone, rather than to an augmented sympathetic activity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved
Integrated Echocardiographic Imaging of Giant Atrial Myxoma
No full textUse of innovative and integrated non invasive imaging techniques to reach a preoperative diagnosis of cardiac myxoma
Fully-automated, chemiluminescence IgA and IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibodies serum assays for the screening of celiac disease
No full textCeliac disease (CD) is a systemic immune-mediated enteropathy sustained by gluten ingestion in genetically susceptible subjects. The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) has recently revised the diagnostic criteria, emphasizing the crucial role of serological testing in the diagnosis of this condition. This study was hence aimed to evaluate a new chemiluminescence assay for measuring anti-transglutaminase (tTG) and anti-endomysium (EMA) antibodies in a general population of unselected outpatients
Parasympathetic impairment and reduced coronary reserve in some patients with cardiac syndrome X
No full textSample stability for complete blood cell count using the Sysmex XN haematological analyser
No full textBACKGROUND: Sample stability is a crucial aspect for the quality of results of a haematology laboratory. This study was conducted to investigate the reliability of haematological testing using Sysmex XN in samples stored for up to 24 h at different temperatures.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Haematological tests were performed on whole blood samples collected from 16 ostensibly healthy outpatients immediately after collection and 3 h, 6 h or 24 h afterwards, with triple aliquots kept at room temperature, 4 °C or 37 °C.RESULTS: No meaningful bias was observed after 3 h under different storage conditions, except for red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and platelet count (impedance technique, PLT-I) at 37 °C. After 6 h, meaningful bias was observed for mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) at room temperature, red blood cell (RBC) count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), MCH, MCV and PLT-I at 4 °C, and RBC, RDW, MCHC, MCH and PLT-I at 37 °C. After 24 h, a meaningful bias was observed for MCHC, MCV, platelet count (fluorescent technique, PLT-F) and mean platelet volume (MPV) at room temperature, MCHC, MCV, PLT-I and MPV at 4 °C, and all parameters except RBC count and MPV at 37 °C.DISCUSSION: Great caution should be observed when analysing results of haematological tests conducted more than 3 h after sample collection
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