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Heart Size (heart + size)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Fabry disease: overall effects of agalsidase alfa treatment

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 12 2004
M. Beck
Abstract Background, Fabry disease is a rare X-linked disorder caused by deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme ,-galactosidase A. Progressive accumulation of the substrate globotriaosylceramide in cells throughout the body leads to major organ failure and premature death. The Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS) is a European outcomes database which was established to collect data on the natural history of this little-known disease and to monitor the long-term efficacy and safety of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alfa. This paper presents the first analysis of the FOS database on the effects of ERT on renal function, heart size, pain and quality of life. Design, The effects of 1 and 2 years of ERT with agalsidase alfa on renal function (assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate), heart size (assessed by echocardiography), pain (assessed by the Brief Pain Inventory) and quality of life (assessed by the European Quality of Life Questionnaire EQ-5D) were analyzed in a cohort of 545 patients, 314 of whom were receiving treatment (188 for at least 12 months and 92 for at least 24 months; mean duration of treatment, 17 months; maximum duration, 56 months). Results, Treatment with agalsidase alfa stabilized renal function in patients with a mild or moderate deterioration in renal function at baseline, reduced left ventricular size in patients who had an enlarged heart at baseline, and improved pain scores and quality of life. These improvements were similar in hemizygous men and heterozygous women with Fabry disease. Conclusions, Enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase alfa leads to significant clinical benefits in patients with Fabry disease, and treatment is likely to alter the natural history of this disorder. [source]

ACE and angiotensinogen gene genotypes and left ventricular mass in athletes

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 10 2001
F. Diet
Background Genetic factors may be important in modifying heart size due to long-term athletic training. The significance of polymorphisms of genes of the renin,angiotensin system in myocardial mass in a population of athletes participating in different disciplines is not known. Methods The angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism and angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene A1166C polymorphism were determined in 83 male Caucasian endurance athletes and associated with left ventricular mass. Results No association with left ventricular mass was found for the polymorphisms of angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene I/D, angiotensinogen gene M235T and angiotensin II type 1 gene A1166C when studied separately. However, combined analysis of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene I/D polymorphism and angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism genotypes suggested an association with left ventricular mass (g m,2) (P = 0·023). Athletes with the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene DD/angiotensinogen gene TT genotype combination had greater left ventricular mass compared with all other genotype combinations (179·8 ± 26·1 g m,2 vs. 145·2 ± 27·3 g m,2, P = 0·003). Conclusions These results suggest an association of combined angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene I/D polymorphism genotypes, and angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism genotypes with left ventricular hypertrophy due to long-term athletic training. A synergistic effect of angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene DD genotype and angiotensinogen gene TT genotype on left ventricular mass in endurance athletes appears to occur. [source]

Physiological Society Symposium , the Athlete's Heart

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2003
Athlete's heart, effect of age, ethnicity, sporting discipline
Regular physical training is associated with several physiological and biochemical adaptations which enable an increase in cardiac output and widening of the systemic arterio-venous oxygen difference. An increase in cardiac chamber size is fundamental to the generation of a sustained increase in cardiac output for prolonged periods. Echocardiographic studies have shown that the vast majority of athletes have modest cardiac enlargement although a small proportion exhibit substantial increases in heart size. Recognised determinants of cardiac size include age, sex, ethnicity and type of sport. Cardiac dimensions vary considerably amongst athletes, even when allowances are made for these variables, suggesting that genetic, endocrine and biochemical factors also influence heart size. This review discusses the effects of age, sex, ethnicity and sporting discipline on cardiac dimensions in athletic individuals. [source]

Effect of Maternal Protein Restriction During Pregnancy and Lactation on the Number of Cardiomyocytes in the Postproliferative Weanling Rat Heart

THE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
Kyungjoon Lim
Abstract Maternal protein restriction leads to a reduction in the number of cardiomyocytes in the rat heart at birth. However, in rats, cardiomyocytes continue to proliferate until about 2 weeks after birth. Hence, this study aimed to examine the effect of maternal protein restriction, on the number of cardiomyocytes in the young rat heart at a time point when the cardiomyocytes have ceased proliferating and are terminally differentiated. Female Wistar Kyoto rats were fed either a normal protein diet (NPD; 20% casein) or a low protein diet (LPD; 8.7% casein) during pregnancy and lactation. Offspring (seven males and seven females per group) were perfusion fixed at 4 weeks of age. Heart volume and total cardiomyocyte number were determined using stereological techniques. At 4 weeks of age, body weights in both male and female LPD offspring were significantly reduced compared with NPD controls whereas relative heart volumes were significantly increased in LPD offspring. Total number of cardiomyocytes was not significantly different between groups. In both groups, there was a significant linear correlation between cardiomyocyte number and heart volume. In conclusion, total cardiomyocyte number in the postproliferative rat heart does not appear to be affected by maternal protein restriction per se but is directly related to heart size. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]