A diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy on ECG is associated with a high cardiovascular risk: findings from a 40- to 69-year-old cohort in general practice.

OBJECTIVE: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent cardiovascular (CV) risk factor in both sexes. We studied if a diagnosis of LVH on electrocardiogram (ECG) was associated with a 'high CV risk condition' among 40- to 69-year-old individuals cared for by GPs. METHODS: We studied 4250 individuals, 5.4% of whom had LVH. Cross-sectional frequencies, and age- and gender-adjusted statistical differences have been calculated. RESULTS: All the study variables were significantly worse for 'LVH' than 'non-LVH' individuals (except smoking). The 'LVH' had both a mean '5-year CV risk' significantly greater than 'non-LVH' individuals (27.0% versus 8.6%), and a significantly higher prevalence of a '5-year CV risk >15%' (89% versus 15%). CONCLUSIONS: A diagnosis of LVH on ECG among the adult individuals of an opportunistic cohort from general practice was associated with a 6-fold greater prevalence of a 'high CV risk condition'.

[Electromyography and electroneurography in the follow-up study of carpal tunnel syndrome patients]. / Elektromyographie und Elektroneurographie in der Nachuntersuchung von Karpaltunnelsyndrom-Patienten.

Electromyography is an useful method for the postoperative follow-up of carpal tunnel syndrome. In patients without sensory and motor signs EMG is able to differentiate those still suffering from subjective symptoms such as pain and paraesthesias.

[Value of neurophysiologic methods in the follow-up of Cloward's multiple cervical vertebral fusion]. / Wertigkeit neurophysiologischer Methoden in der Nachuntersuchung der multiplen zervikalen Halswirbelkörperfusion nach Cloward.

In 11 patients suffering from radicular and in some cases also medullary symptoms anterior spinal fusion at 2 or 3 cervical levels was performed. At follow-up radicular pain had disappeared, and no clinical deficits were found with the exception of one previously tetraparetic patient. Neurophysiological studies including needle electromyography, conduction velocity studies and somatosensory evoked potentials showed, however, that denervation potentials persisted frequently in the C7-C8-T1 innervated muscles, while those innervated by the upper cervical roots were normal in all patients. Somatosensory evoked potentials could not detect medullary compression due to "angulation deformity", a frequent complication of multiple spinal body fusion.

Brain stem auditory evoked potentials in early evaluation of cerebral concussion.

In 37 patients brainstem auditory evoked potentials were recorded within 48 hours from a mild head injury. About half of the patients had at least one abnormal neurophysiological parameter pointing to dysfunction of brainstem structure.