Effects of growth hormone on heart structure and function in adolescence.

Until recently, growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were considered to control only linear growth. Apart from growth effect, GH has additional important physiological functions in the human body influencing several metabolic processes, body composition, muscle strength, and bone mineral density. In adolescence, where the majority of these physiological functions reach a zenith, GH plays a crucial role. The ability of GH to trigger cardiac muscle growth by direct and indirect effects plays a pivotal role in the physiology of the heart. Patients with childhood or adulthood onset of GH deficiency are exposed to increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity. GH treatment may have beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system in GH deficient adolescents. On the other hand discontinuation of GH treatment in these patients may result in the accumulation of relevant cardiovascular risk factors such as increase in body and abdominal fat and LDL and total cholesterol concentrations. No potential adverse cardiac effects of GH therapy have been so far demonstrated in short stature patients with normal GH secretion. Nevertheless, no evidence of heart hypertrophy or cardiomypathy has been documented in adolescents with GH excess has been reported in adults. Nonetheless, normalization of GH and IGF-1 levels in such patients is essential in order to arrest cardiovascular disease later in life.

An m-Health monitoring system for children with suspected arrhythmias.

Advances in wireless communications and networking technologies as well as computer and medical technologies, enable the development of small size, power efficient and more reliable medical multi-parameter recording systems, which can be used for continuous monitoring of patients. Through this paper we present the basic architecture and initial development steps of an m-Health monitoring system that will be used in order to monitor children with suspected cardiac arrhythmias. The proposed system will be based on sensor networks, in order to monitor a subject while being in a predefined area like his/her house; while a module based on PDAs and wearable ECG recorders will be used in order to extent the coverage outside the patient's house. The system will be based on a variable sampling rate to conserve power for the possible arrhythmia episode. The system design has been completed, the hardware specifications have been decided and currently the system is going through the development phase.

Selected eHealth applications in Cyprus from the training perspective.

OBJECTIVES: In this paper a review of selected eHealth applications in Cyprus is presented linked with their success or failure based on their training activities. METHODS: The eHealth systems presented and their training activities include an update of the health information system (HIS) in the public hospitals, a medical system for emergency telemedicine (AMBULANCE and EMERGENCY-112 projects), a home monitoring system for cancer patients (DITIS), a satellite-based network in healthcare applications (EMISPHER and HEALTHWARE projects), and the training activities of the Cyprus Society of Medical Informatics. Different methodologies for training were used ranging from classical approaches like train the trainers, using demo cases followed by personal training, group training, and workshops, to more recent methodologies based on eLearning sessions including teleconsultations. RESULTS: The training was carried out successfully in all cases. However, not all eHealth systems were put into practice successfully, mainly for reasons not related to training. CONCLUSIONS: It is anticipated that this paper will promote the importance of these applications and their training activities as well as help in the spin off of others thus enabling the offering of a better service to the citizen.