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Raffaele Calabrò

Publications and source records attributed to Raffaele Calabrò.

94 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Effects of different training protocols on left ventricular myocardial function in competitive athletes: a Doppler tissue imaging study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to analyze the differences in myocardial function in case of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy induced by either endurance or strength training in top-level athletes. METHODS: Standard Doppler echo and pulsed Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) of the interventricular septum and of the LV inferior wall were performed in 26 competitive endurance athletes (long-distance swimmers) (group A) and in 20 strength-trained athletes (short-distance swimmers) (group B). By means of DTI, the following parameters of myocardial function were assessed: the systolic peak velocities (Sm), the pre-contraction time, the contraction time, the early (Em) and late (Am) diastolic velocities, the Em/Am ratio and the relaxation time. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable for age and sex, but at rest group B showed a higher heart rate, systolic blood pressure and body surface area. The LV mass index and fractional shortening did not significantly differ between the two groups. However, group B showed an increased sum of the wall thicknesses (septum + posterior wall) (p < 0.001) and of the relative wall thickness, while the LV stroke volume and LV end-diastolic diameter (p < 0.001) were greater in group A. All transmitral Doppler indexes were higher in group A, with an increased E/A ratio. DTI analysis showed, in group A, a higher Em and Em/Am ratio as well as a longer relaxation time both at the septal and at the inferior wall levels, with comparable Sm, pre-contraction and contraction times. Distinct multiple linear regression models revealed an independent positive association between the inferior peak Em velocity and the LV end-diastolic diameter (p < 0.001) in group A, and an independent direct correlation of the inferior peak Sm velocity with the sum of the wall thicknesses (p < 0.001) and with the end-systolic stress in group B. CONCLUSIONS: The early diastolic myocardial function is positively influenced by the preload increase in group A, while an increased afterload and LV wall thickness in group B mainly seem to induce an enhancement of the regional myocardial systolic function.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk factors and underlying cardiovascular diseases in incident ESRD patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and of CVD on admission to hemodialysis. METHODS: Data were collected in 31 Italian clinics belonging to a clinic network using a prospective database (EuCliD), the main purpose of which is the support of quality assurance. Six hundred and thirty-six patients, mean age 63.9+/-15.4 years, admitted between January 1, 2000 and September 30, 2003, were separated into two groups on the basis of presence of CVD and observed for a median follow-up period of 16 months. RESULTS: In the CVD group, patients were significantly older and the percentage of diabetics and smokers was significantly greater than in the CVD-free group. There were no significant differences between the groups in term of uremia-related risk factors. According to logistic regression analysis evaluating the impact of traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors, only smoking habit (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.25-2.79) and diabetes (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.19-2.95) were associated with a higher relative risk for the presence of CVD at baseline. At the time of admission, CVD was present in 27% of patients. The following de novo development of CVD was observed: hypertensive disease (0.28 new cases/100 pt-years), ischemic heart disease (0.71 new cases/100 pt-years), other forms of heart disease (1.57 new cases/100 pt-years), disease of arteries, arterioles, etc. (1.85 new cases/100 pt-years) and cerebrovascular disease (0.71 new cases/100 pt-years). The rate of developing de novo CVD events was 3.70 per 100 patient-years. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is already high at admission to dialysis. Despite the care provided to dialysis patients, a significant proportion of patients develop de novo CVD.

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