Left atrial remodelling in competitive adolescent soccer players.

Left atrial (LA) enlargement and improved myocardial diastolic properties are a component of athlete's heart. We performed a longitudinal study involving adolescent athletes to investigate the impact of training on LA remodelling and diastolic function. 21 competitive adolescent soccer players were enrolled and engaged in an 8-month training program. Echocardiographic analysis was performed at baseline, after 4 and 8 months. We assessed diastolic function by Doppler tissue imaging and we analyzed LA adaptations by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. After 4 months, LA mean volume index significantly increased (Δ=5.47 ± 4.38 mL/m2, p ≤ 0.0001). After 8 months, a further increase occurred (Δ=8.95 ± 4.47 mL/m2, p ≤ 0.0001). A higher E velocity (p=0.001; p=0.001), a greater E/A ratio (p=0.002; p=0.0009), a higher e' peak (p= 0.005; p=0.001), and a greater e'/a' ratio (p=0.01; p=0.0006) were observed at 4 and at 8 months, respectively. E/e' ratio significantly decreased after 8 months (p ≤ 0.005). Global peak atrial longitudinal strain and global peak atrial contraction strain values significantly decreased after 8 months (p=0.0004, p=0.01, respectively). An 8-month training program is associated with LA dimensional and functional training-specific adaptations in competitive adolescent soccer players. Myocardial diastolic properties can improve after training also in subjects already presenting with features of athlete's heart.

[Epithelial neoplasms of Vater's ampulla: anatomico-clinical and immunohistochemical study]. / Neoplasie epiteliali dell'ampolla di Vater: studio anatomo-clinico ed immunoistochimico.

3 adenomas and 5 carcinomas of the ampulla of Vater are studied to evaluate their histogenesis and diagnostic significance of the antigen defined by the monoclonal antibody CA 19/9. In the adenomas, some dysplastic glands show a faint positivity for CA 19/9 antigen, whereas in the ampullomas this antigen is present in adenomatous residue and in well differentiated adenocarcinomatous areas. The present observations indicate that the endoscopical and macro-microscopical examinations are fundamental to evaluate the location of the ampullary neoplasia. Moreover, the immunohistochemical finding of the CA 19/9 antigen in adenomas and carcinomas suggests their histogenetic relationship, but it is not useful in their differential diagnosis.