• B-type natriuretic peptide in reversible myocardial ischaemia.

      Chatha, K.; Alsoud, M.; Griffiths, M.J.; Elfatih, A.; Abozguia, K.; Horton, R.C.; Dunmore, Simon J.; Gama, R. (BMJ Publishing, 2006)
      BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease is associated with increased B-type natriuretic peptides (BNPs), and, although controversial, may cause exaggerated exercise-induced BNP secretion. We investigated BNP in relation to reversible myocardial ischaemia. Materials and methods: Serum N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) was measured before and after an exercise electrocardiogram test (ETT) in 14 patients with and 45 patients without exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia. Statistical analysis was carried out on logarithmically transformed data. Results, however, are pre-transformed data. RESULTS: NT-proBNP increased with exercise both in ETT-positive patients (mean (SD) 71.4 (41.2) v 76.8 (44.0) ng/l; p<0.001) and ETT-negative patients (54.0 (61.2) v 60.1 (69.0) ng/l; p<0.001). Pre-exercise and post-exercise NT-proBNP were higher (p<0.05) in ETT-positive than in ETT-negative patients. Incremental NT-proBNP was similar in ETT-positive (4.7 (4.2) ng/l) and ETT-negative (6.2 (8.6) ng/l) patients. CONCLUSION: Serum NT-proBNP concentrations are higher in patients with exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia than in those without. Exercise-induced electrocardiographic myocardial ischaemia, however, is not associated with exaggerated BNP secretion.
    • Electrocardiography and Echocardiography Findings in Contemporary Dancers

      Whyte, Gregory P.; George, Keith; Redding, Emma; Wilson, Mathew; Lane, Andrew M.; Firooz, Sam (International Association for Dance, Medicine and Science, 2003)
      Alterations in cardiac structure and function as a result of chronic training have been extensively reported in the literature. To date, there is limited data on dancers. This study attempts to define cardiac electrical, structural, and functional characteristics of the heart in female contemporary dancers. Forty-four female full-time contemporary dance students (age: 23.0 ± 5.6 years, height: 165.2 ± 7.9 cm, body mass: 59.2 ± 7.2 kg) volunteered for the study and underwent 12-lead electrocardiography and twodimensional echocardiography. Echocardiographic results were compared with 30 age-matched and gendermatched controls. Sixteen percent (7/ 44) of dancers presented with sinus bradycardia (< 60 bpm) and seven percent (3/44) demonstrated shortened PR intervals (< 120 ms). Sokolow voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy was observed in only 4% (2/44). Fourteen percent of dancers (6/44) demonstrated right axis deviation and nine percent (4/44) had incomplete right bundle branch block. One dancer exhibited nodal rhythm. Minor ST segment elevation (< 0.2 mV) was present in 7% (3/ 44) of dancers, and equally minor ST segment depression (£ 0.2 mV) was present in 7% (3/44). Negative T waves and large T waves (>1.0mV) were observed in 14% (6/44) and 4% (2/44) of the dancers respectively. QRS and QT duration were within normal limits for all dancers. Echocardiography revealed no significant differences between dancers and controls for all structural and functional indices. It is concluded that contemporary dancers demonstrate limited cardiac structure and function changes compared to matched controls.