This method is also technically demanding, because only a well aligned images and narrow sample area are eligible for analysis because of its angle and noise dependency. And the values of strain and strain rate of the LA are different according to the segments and there are no generally accepted normal values.10),14) Similarly, the normal reference values for LA strain and strain rate were only evaluated in a relatively small number of patients, so currently Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical there is no widely accepted consensus about normal values for the LA strain and strain rates. Second, the sample size in the present study was relatively small. This limitation

can be the cause of only the weak relationship that we found between deformation parameters and volumetric parameters. But both of the parameters consistently showed which components of the LA function were affected by diurnal BP variation. In conclusion, various LA functions showed differences in the never-treated non-dipper hypertensive patients, compared to

Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical dipper patients. The function of the LA was altered irrespective of the LV mass index or other echocardiographic parameters routinely measured for the evaluation Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of both systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle. Thus, the LA function, which modulates the diastolic phase, can be responsible for both functional and morphologic cardiac changes observed in the non-dipper patients. Both strain and strain rate of the LA, measured using CDTI, can be useful and simple parameters for the evaluation of the subtle changes and various LA functions in hypertensive patients. Acknowledgements This work was supported by a research grant of the Korean Society of Echocardiography.
REFER TO THE PAGE 176-182 Metabolic syndrome Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical (MetS) is a clustering Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of cardiovascular risk factors including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, which have been shown to increase cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality.1),2) In addition, it is well known that the association between the presence of MetS and

adverse CV outcomes is independent of diabetes mellitus (DM) and arterial hypertension.3),4) Since the MetS is a strong predictor of future CV events, the changes of left ventricular (LV) structure and function in patients with MetS are considered one of mechanisms explaining the link between the MetS and CV morbidity and mortality. The previous studies nearly have already reported the LV geometry and function by demonstrating increased LV mass and subclinical LV systolic and/or diastolic dysfunctionis impaired in the MetS patients.5-7) However, the most studies were conducted in the resting state, not during exercise. Considering that most patients with type 2 DM and/or hypertension have this website symptoms during exercise, the study by Ha et al.8) suggests that the patients with MetS might also have decreased LV functional reserve during dynamic exercise.