Murphy JG, Sydó N, Nkomo VT, Kane GC, Sarano ME, Merkely B, Allison TG

(2015) What is the prognostic significance of tricuspid regurgitation in aortic stenosis? Eur Heart J, 36 (suppl 1): 163-508.

36. Czimbalmos Cs, Vágó H, Tóth A, Suhai FI, Csécs I, Kiss O, Sydó N, Simor T, Becker D, Merkely B. (2015) Differentiation of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and athlete’s heart using cardiac magnetic resonanace imaging. Eur Heart J, 36 (suppl 1): 1-161.

37. Vágó H, Tóth A, Czimbalmos Cs, Kecskés K, Csécs I, Suhai FI, Kiss O, Sydó N, Becker D, Merkely B. (2015) Differentiation of physiological sport adaptation from pathological left ventricular hypertrophy with the help of trabeculae quantification using cardiac magnetic resonanace imaging. Eur Heart J, 36 (suppl 1): 1-161.

38. Sydó N, Merkely B, Murphy JG, Allison TG. (2014) Significance of impaired hr response to exercise in diabetes. Eur Heart J, 35 (suppl 1): 513-850.

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39. Murphy JG, Sydó N, Allison TG. (2014) Chronotropic incompetence detected on screening exercise treadmill testing is a strong predictor of long-term mortality even when present in individuals on a beta blocker or calcium channel antagonist. Eur Heart J, 35 (suppl 1): 851-1187.

40. Kiss O, Sydó N, Horváth D, Merkely P, Vágó H, Czimbalmos Cs, Sydó T, Merkely B. (2015) Sportadaptáció vagy patológiás eltérések? A sportolói EKG elemzése az új kritériumrendszerek tükrében. Cardiol Hung, 45:D114.

41. Czimbalmos Cs, Vágó H, Tóth A, Suhai FI, Kiss O, Sydó N, Becker D, Merkely B.

(2015) Arrhythmogén jobb kamrai cardiomyopathia és sportszív elkülönítése szív mágneses rezonanciás vizsgálat segítségével. Cardiol Hung, 45:D7.

42. Csécs I, Czimbalmos Cs, Tóth A, Suhai FI, Szűcs A, Sydó N, Pozsonyi Z, Vágó H, Merkely B. (2015) Szív mágneses rezonanciás vizsgálat szerepe a bal kamrai falvastagság növekedéssel járó cardiomyopathiák diagnosztikájában. Cardiol Hung, 45:D83.

43. Sydó N, Kiss O, Molnár L, Király Á, Bartykowszki A, Vágó H, Szelid Zs, Bárczi Gy, Merkely B. (2014) Differential diagnosis of chest pain with ST-elevation in a young elite athlete. Cardiol Hung, 44: E6.

44. Kiss O, Sydó N, Vágó H, Tóth A, Apor A, Kovács A, Kováts T, Merkely B. (2014) Repolarisation ECG changes in athletes: physiological adaptation or predictors of suddenc cardiac death? Hungarian Review of Sport Science, 1:55; 12.

45. Kiss O, Sydó N, Merkely B. (2014) Physiological and pathological bradyarrhythmias and conduction disorders in athletes. Cardiol Hung, 44: E8.

46. Sydó N, Abdelmoneim SS, Allison TG. (2014) The Relationship Between Exercise HR and Age in Men versus Women. J Am Coll Cardiol, 63(12_S).

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47. Sydó N, Kiss O, Apor A, Vágó H, Tóth A, Nagy A, Édes E, Vargha P, Merkely B.

(2013) Analysis of physiological and pathological ECG changes in athletes. Cardiol Hung, 43: B117.

48. Kiss O, Sydó N, Apor A, Vágó H, Tóth A, Kováts T, Édes E, Vargha P, Merkely B.

(2013) Athlete’s heart and repolarization changes: physiological or pathological adaptation? Cardiol Hung, 43: B117.

49. Sydó T, Györe I, Sydó N. (2013) Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in junior and senior female handball players. Hungarian Review of Sport Science, 2:54; 52.

50. Kiss O, Sydó N, Merkely B. (2012) Favorable effects of omega-3 supplementation in athletes. Cardiol Hung, 42: 15-20.

51. Kiss O, Sydó N, Édes E, Vargha P, Merkely B. (2012) Heart rate variability and turbulence analysis in athletes: subgroup analysis by sport intensity and different sports. Cardiol Hung, 42: A131.

52. Sydó T, Györe I, Sydó N. (2012) Metabolic and ion concentration changes during exercise testing in junior female handball players. Hungarian Review of Sport Science, 2: 63.

53. Sydó T, Györe I, Sydó N, Pucsok J. (2012) Comparing minerals and Q10 concentrations of senior and junior female handball players Hungarian Review of Sports Medicine, 2.

54. Kiss O, Sydó N, Édes E, Vargha P, Merkely B. (2011) Sports cardiology screening:

Holter analysis. Cardiol Hung, 41: F1.

55. Kiss O, Sydó N, Édes E, Vargha P, Merkely B. (2010) ECG in pre-participation screening of athletes. Cardiol Hung. 40: O8.

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Acknowledgement

I would like to extend thanks to the many people, in many countries, who so generously contributed to the work presented in this thesis.

Special mention and gratitude goes to my enthusiastic supervisor,

Prof. Dr. Béla Merkely, who has been supporting me from the very beginning, ever since my 3rd year as a medical student. My PhD has been an amazing experience and I thank Professor Merkely wholeheartedly, not only for his tremendous academic support, but also for giving me so many wonderful opportunities. We have carried out several research projects together and presented our work at prestigeous Hungarian and International Conferences around the world. He has trained me not only in research but also handed over clinical knowledge. Inspiring me with his valuable ideas and giving me advice, he has driven me both on the road of research and in real life, proving an unmatched professional mentor and becoming one of my best friends ever.

Similarly, most humble, wholehearted and profound gratitude goes to

Prof. Thomas G. Allison from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, who has been my truly dedicated mentor. I am particularly indebted to him for his constant faith in my research work, and for his valuable support when so generously hosting me in Rochester and accompanying me to renowned conferences in the U.S. and overseas. The work with Professor Allison at Mayo Clinic has revolutionarily changed my medical and academic thinking, and has influenced deeply my entire stance and attitude towards the medical profession. The time spent at Mayo, at one of the world’s best clinics, and together with the most highly trained professional medical staff, has offered me the opportunity to profess my skills and assist the patients in a way I have never experienced before. I have very fond memories of my work and research time at Mayo Clinic, where the assistance of the American colleagues proved most beneficial. I am crediting Professor Allison for having welcomed me into his family, having treated me with thoughtfulness and having made Rochester my second home^.

I am also hugely appreciative to Dr. Dávid Becker, for supervising my thesis and for sharing his academic expertise so willingly, and for being so dedicated to his role as my secondary supervisor.

Special mention goes to my students Julia Érdi, Dávid Major, Csaba Bognár and Máté Babity for their assistance in my research, their enthusiasm and dedications, as well as the most enjoying and motivating team spirit and atmosphere.

I am also very grateful to Dr. Violetta Kékesi for the helpful guidance, encouragement and patience during my learning curve and for her help in organizing and proceeding my PhD studies.

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I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Orsolya Kiss, Head of Sports Cardiology Research Group at Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center for having given me the possibility to carry out my research.

I gratefully acknowledge the ardent support and assistance received from my colleagues in the Sports Cardiology Research Group at Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center, especially to

Dr. Csilla Czimbalmos, Dr. Ibolya Csécs, Dr. Bálint Lakatos, Dr. Attila Kovács, Dr.

Hajnalka Vágó, Dr. Attila Tóth, Dr. Ferenc Suhai, Dr. György Bárczi, Dr. Zsolt Szelid, Dr. Tímea Kováts,

and from all the medical assistants and nurses, especially from

Beáta Tóthné Szépréti, Csilla Holesné Juhász, Anikó Nagy, Ildikó Hrna, Melinda Sarusi, Edit Nagy, Aranka Rónaszékiné Szabó, Anikó Pataki, Magdolna Dzodzogluné, Margaréta Németh, Dorottya Ajvazov, Gyöngyi Treszkai, Erzsébet Bokrosné Magyar, who all have helped me to carry out my research.

Lastly but not least, I would like to thank my family for all their love and encouragement.

To my parents, who raised me with a love of science and supported me in all my pursuits, and especially to my father, Dr. Tibor Sydó, cardiologist and sports cardiologist, who has always been supportive, encouraging and helpful whenever I have needed it and who served as a role model in my life.