Comparison of left and right ventricular adaptation in endurance-trained male athletes.

Characteristics of the athlete's heart have been investigated mostly in the left ventricle (LV); reports referring to the right ventricle (RV) have only appeared recently. The aim of the present study was to compare the training effects on RV and LV in elite male endurance athletes. To this end, echocardiography was conducted in 52 elite endurance athletes (A) and in 25 non-athletes (NA). Differences between A and NA in the morphology was more marked in the RV (body-size-matched (rel.)) long axis diastolic diameter (RVLADd): 63.4 ± 6.3 vs. 56.4 ± 6.3; rel. short axis diastolic diameter (RVSADd): 27.3 ± 3.6 vs. 23.6 ± 2.7 mm/m, RV diastolic area 28 ± 5.0 vs. 21.3 ± 4.3 cm2 in all cases, p < 0.001) than in the LV (rel. LVLADd: 63.8 mm/m ± 5.6 vs. 60.7 mm/m ± 6.6, p < 0.05, rel.LVSADd 37.8 ± 3.1 vs. 35.3 ± 2.4, no difference). In the athletes ratios of peak early to late diastolic filling velocity (2.07 ± 0.51 vs. 1.75 ± 0.36, p < 0.01), the TDI-determined E'/A' ratio in the septal (1.89 ± 0.55 vs. 1.62 ± 0.55, p < 0.05) and lateral (2.62 ± 0.72, vs. 2.18 ± 0.87, p < 0.001) walls were significantly higher than in NA only in the LV. Results indicate that in male endurance athletes morphologic adaptation is similar or slightly stronger in the RV than in the LV, functional adaptation seems to be stronger in the LV.

Use of Doppler's echocardiography for the examination of Nitromint spray in coronary disease patients and in patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery.

The changes of "E" and "A" waves of mitral inflow have been measured before, and 1,2,3,5 and 10 minutes after the use of Nitromint spray (EGIS) in coronary disease patients (14 cases), and in patients who had undergone bypass surgery (7 cases), by pulsatile wave Doppler's echocardiography. The "E" wave gave more information on the preload decreasing effect of the drug, than the "A" wave (significant decrease in minutes 1,2,3,5 and 10 following spraying). On the basis of the changes of the "E" wave compared in the two patient groups a difference in the responses to Nitromint spray could be revealed: the non-operated coronary disease patients responded with a more marked decrease of preload to Nitromint spray than the revascularize patients.

Computer evaluation of human circulation based on non-invasive methods.

A discriminating program was developed on the basis of time, dynamic and simply calculated parameters of non-invasive tracings recorded in the supine position. Data were derived from ECG, PCG and the indirect carotid pulse curve. The optimal program, formed after 40 experimental processes, was in 85% agreement with the clinical diagnosis. To improve the decision process, we created a new 'test again' group, in addition to the healthy and sick groups. The 'test again' group included 16.5% of the examined subjects. At the same time, there was 75.6% agreement with the clinical diagnosis, and 7.9% disagreement. The risk factors, which could be demonstrated as part of the 'errors' called attention to undetected heart failure. The descriminating function found to be best, was fed into a small computer (R-10). Records for evaluation were entered on magnetic tape to the computer which measured automatically the necessary parameters and printed out the 'decision': 'healthy', 'test again!', or 'cardiac patient', as well as other data, such as systolic time intervals, etc. There is a wide potential application for automated computer system based on non-invasive parameters.