OBJECTIVES We sought to determine whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with an improved prognosis in women with advanced heart failure (HF) and systolic dysfunction. BACKGROUND There are about two million postmenopausal women in the U.S. with HF. However, limited data are available to assess the effects of HRT on survival in this large group of patients. METHODS A retrosp...

Studies have shown that estrogen replacement therapy and estrogen plus progestin replacement therapy alter serum levels of total, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. However, HDL cholesterol levels in women vary considerably in response to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). A significant portion of the variability of these levels has been attributed to genetic factors. Therefore, we investigated th...

BACKGROUND Heart rate turbulence (HRT) assessment is used as noninvasive method based on physiological sinus node response to the premature ventricular beat. Blunted HRT may indicate the autonomic nervous system impairment and can be helpful in identifying high-risk patients. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) leads to cardiovascular complications. Autonomic nervous system and baroreflex d...

This consensus statement has been compiled on behalf of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrophysiology. It reviews the topic of heart rate turbulence (HRT) and concentrates on technologies for measurement, physiologic background and interpretation, and clinical use of HRT. It also lists suggestions for future research. The phenomenon of HRT refers to sinus rhythm cycle-l...

BACKGROUND A recent report suggested that women who had been taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) experienced significantly decreased survival after a lung cancer diagnosis. Given the large cohort of women who have received HRT, it is important to try to confirm that association. METHODS We reviewed female patients diagnosed with lung cancer at our institution between January 1999 and Dec...

BACKGROUND Postmenopausal hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) increases breast-cancer risk. The influence of HRT on the biology of the primary tumor, however, is not well understood. METHODS We obtained breast-cancer gene expression profiles using Affymetrix human genome U133A arrays. We examined the relationship between HRT-regulated gene profiles, tumor characteristics, and recurrence-free su...

BACKGROUND Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the past has been used in one of five women but not without significant short-term and long-term consequences. Objective. The aim of the study is to assess the prescription of HRT in general practice to women consulting with menopausal symptoms, before and after publication of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study (2002), the Million Women Stu...

OBJECTIVE Carotid arterial compliance is reduced with age in sedentary estrogen-deficient women, contributing to the development of cardiovascular disorders. We determined the effects of regular aerobic exercise, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and their interaction on carotid arterial compliance using a combination of cross-sectional and intervention study designs. METHODS Cross-sectional...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the variability and reproducibility of confocal tomography (HRT), scanning laser polarimetry (GDx) and optical coherence tomography (OCT-Cirrus) to determine the thickness of the layer of ganglion fibers. METHOD A total of 75 normal eyes were examined twice. Inter-individual variability was analyzed after standardizing the results. The coefficient of variation was used t...

BACKGROUND It has been hypothesized that postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may increase levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation associated with increased risk of future cardiovascular events. However, data evaluating this hypothesis are sparse and limited to older women. METHODS AND RESULTS CRP levels were evaluated in a cross-sectional survey of 493 health...