Clinical physiology and functional imaging
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Clin Physiol Funct Imaging · Nov 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialThe influence of a fast ramp rate on peak cardiopulmonary parameters during arm crank ergometry.
The influence of a very fast ramp rate on cardiopulmonary variables at ventilatory threshold and peak exercise during a maximal arm crank exercise test has not been extensively studied. Considering that short arm crank tests could be sufficient to achieve maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂), it would be of practical interest to explore this possibility. Thus, this study aimed to analyse the influence of a fast ramp rate (20 W min⁻¹) on the cardiopulmonary responses of healthy individuals during a maximal arm crank ergometry test. ⋯ There was no other difference in ventilatory threshold and peak exercise variables when 1st and 2nd fast protocols were compared. Fast protocol seems to be useful when healthy young individuals perform arm cardiopulmonary exercise test. The usefulness of this protocol in other populations remains to be evaluated.
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Clin Physiol Funct Imaging · Nov 2010
Multicenter StudyANP, BNP and D-dimer predict right ventricular dysfunction in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.
The aim of this study was to predict right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) using plasma concentration of D-dimer, pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (pro-ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and cardiac troponin I (TNI) in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). ⋯ Because measurements of cardiac biomarkers are inexpensive and easily obtained they may prove useful in the clinical diagnosis of RVD. However because of the small sample size, the results need to be confirmed in larger studies.