风湿热活动性指标的初步探讨

目的：为了指导风湿热的防治并改善其预后，寻找特异性和敏感性较高的指标以探讨风湿热活动性。方法：采用最具生物活性的Ａ组链球菌壁多糖部分作包被抗原，以ＥＬＩＳＡ法测定抗链球菌壁多糖抗体（ＡＳＰ）ＩｇＧ、ＩｇＭ。结果：风湿性心脏病活动期ＡＳＰＩｇＧ、ＩｇＭ的水平（３６５２±２１９５和２６１９±０７４８）和阳性率（５６１％和７５６％）显著高于正常人、风湿性关节炎和风湿性心脏病静止期（Ｐ＜００５～００００１），后二者ＡＳＰ－ＩｇＧ、ＩｇＭ的水平和阳性率明显高于正常人（Ｐ＜００５～００１）；随治疗ＡＳＰ－ＩｇＭ下降较快（Ｐ＜０００１），ＡＳＰ－ＩｇＭ与反映风湿热活动的传统指标（血沉、Ｃ－反应蛋白等）之间具有正相关性，ＡＳＰ在风湿热活动中的阳性率（８５４％）明显高于ＥＳＲ、ＣＲＰ和ＡＣＬ。结论：ＡＳＰ在判断风湿热活动性方面具有较高的敏感性     

HLA-DQB1 基因与中国湖北汉族人 SLE 及其自身抗体的相关性研究

目的：探讨ＨＬＡＤＱＢ１等位基因与系统性红斑狼疮（ＳＬＥ）及其自身抗体的相关性。方法：采用ＰＣＲ／ＳＳＰ技术对５２例中国湖北地区汉族ＳＬＥ患者及１４３例正常对照者进行了ＨＬＡＤＱＢ１基因分型，并采用免疫印迹技术检测患者血清中自身抗体。结果：ＳＬＥ患者ＤＱＢ１０６０８（９６２％，χ２＝１０５１，Ｐ＜０００５）基因频率显著升高，ＤＱＢ１０３０２（５７７％，ＲＲ＝０２６Ｐ＜００５，ＰＦ＝０１４）和ＤＱＢ１０５０１（１９２％，ＲＲ＝０１１，Ｐ＜００１，ＰＦ＝０１３）基因频率显著降低，与正常对照组比较，ＤＱＢ１０６０８在伴抗Ｓｍ（１０３４％，Ｐ＜０００５）、抗ＲＮＰ（１１５４％，Ｐ＜０００５）、抗ｄｓＤＮＡ（２２２２％，Ｐ＜０００５）抗体阳性的ＳＬＥ患者中频率显著升高。结论：ＤＱＢ１０６０８与ＳＬＥ关联，并分别与抗Ｓｍ、抗ＲＮＰ、抗ｄｓＤＮＡ抗体的产生有相关性。而ＤＱＢ１０３０２、ＤＱＢ１０５０１等位基因对ＳＬＥ可能具有保护性。     

高血压病人白细胞流变性与细胞粘附分子表达的变化

目的探讨白细胞流变性和细胞粘附分子（ＣＡＭＳ）表达与高血压发生及病情严重程度的关系。方法采用红细胞变形能力测定仪、体外血栓血小板粘附两用仪和酶联免疫吸附法（ＥＬＩＳＡ），检测１４９例高血压病人和１１０例健康人外周血白细胞变形能力（ＬＤ）、白细胞粘附功能（ＬＡＦ）、白细胞ＣＤ１８表达及血清可溶性细胞间粘附分子－１（ｓＩＣＡＭ－１）浓度的变化。结果高血压病人白细胞滤过指数（ＬＦＩ）、白细胞粘附率（ＬＡＲ）、白细胞ＣＤ１８表达和ｓＩＣＡＭ－１浓度均明显增高，与对照组比较差异有极显著性（Ｐ＜０．００１），三期病人各指标之间比较差异也具有极显著性（Ｐ＜０．００１），且以第３期病人各指标增高最明显。高血压病人ＬＡＲ与ＬＦＩ呈正相关（ｒ＝０．５７９，Ｐ＜０．００１）；ＬＡＲ和ＬＦＩ与白细胞ＣＤ１８表达和ｓＩＣＡＭ－１浓度呈正相关（ｒ＝０．６６２～０．８０４，Ｐ＜０．００１）。结论ＬＤ降低、ＬＡＦ及白细胞ＣＤ１８表达和ｓＩＣＡＭ－１浓度增高参与高血压的发生，且与病情严重程度有密切关系。     

不同化疗方案治疗老年人急性髓系白血病疗效观察

４５例老年人急性髓系白血病经不同化疗方案治疗，ＨＡ方案剂量个体化组治疗１９例，完全缓解（ＣＲ）率５２６％；ＤＡ方案组治疗８例，ＣＲ率５０％；ＨＯＡＰ方案组治疗９例，ＣＲ率４４４％；小剂量阿糖胞苷（ＬＤＡｒａＣ）组治疗９例，ＣＲ率１１１％。ＨＡ方案剂量个体化组ＣＲ率显著高于ＬＤＡｒａＣ组（Ｐ＜００５）。骨髓抑制的发生率和治疗相关病死率分别为３６８％和５６％（ＨＡ）、７５％和３７５％（ＤＡ）、４４４％和２２２％（ＨＯＡＰ）、３３３％和１１１％（ＬＤＡｒａＣ），ＤＡ方案组治疗相关病死率显著高于ＨＡ方案剂量个体化组（Ｐ＜００２５）。联合化疗治疗３６例，ＣＲ率为５０％，高于单用ＬＤＡｒａＣ组（Ｐ＜００５），骨髓抑制发生率为４７２％（１７／３６），治疗相关病死率为１６７％（６／３６），同ＬＤＡｒａＣ组比较无显著性（Ｐ＞００５）。     

SLE 患者 PBMC 分泌IL-3 活性水平的初步研究

目的：为了研究ＳＬＥ患者ＰＢＭＣ分泌ＩＬ３的能力。方法：采用ＭＴＴ比色方法，用ＩＬ３依赖株（ＴＦ１）分别测定了１５例活动期、１５例缓解期ＳＬＥ患者和正常对照者ＰＢＭＣ培养上清中ＩＬ３的活性水平。结果：ＳＬＥ患者ＰＢＭＣ自发分泌ＩＬ３的活性水平显著高于正常人（Ｐ＜０００１），活动期和缓解期患者之间无显著性差异（Ｐ＞００５），经ＰＨＡ刺激后ＳＬＥ患者和正常人ＰＢＭＣ分泌ＩＬ３的活性水平均显著增加（Ｐ＜０００１），在ＳＬＥ病人中，以伴发显著血小板减少的５例患者ＰＢＭＣ分泌ＩＬ３的活性水平最低。结论：ＩＬ３可能参与ＳＬＥ的致病过程，且和ＳＬＥ患者血小板减少有关。     

SLE病人PBMC分泌IL—6活性水平的研究

为了研究了ＳＬＥ病人ＰＢＭＣ分泌ＩＬ－６的能力，我们采用ＭＴＴ比色法，用ＩＬ－６依赖细胞株（７ＴＤ１）分别测定了１５例活动期，１５例非活动期ＳＬＥ病人和１５例正常对照者ＰＢＭＣ培养上清ＩＬ－６的活性水平。结果表明ＳＬＥ患者ＰＢＭＣ自发分泌ＩＬ－６的水平显著高于正常人（Ｐ〈０．０２或Ｐ〈０．００１），活动期患者高于非活动期患者（Ｐ〈０．００１）。ｐＨＡ－Ｍ刺激培养体系后，ＳＬＥ患者及正常人ＰＢＭＣ培     

血脂康和辛伐他汀对高胆固醇血症调脂作用的比较

目的研究血脂康对高胆固醇血症患者的调脂作用并与辛伐他汀比较。方法２８例高胆固醇血症患者随机分为两组，服药前及服药后４、８周测定血脂。结果（１）服药后４周ＴＣ分别降低了２０７％和２２５％（Ｐ值均＜０００１）；血脂康降低血清低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（ＬＤＬＣ）作用与辛伐他汀相似，ＬＤＬＣ水平分别降低了２８２％和３３％（Ｐ值均＜００１）；（２）血脂康明显降低１７４％的血清ＴＧ水平（Ｐ＜００５）；（３）服血脂康和辛伐他汀４周后，载脂蛋白（Ａｐｏ）Ａ１却分别增加了１２７％和１３６％（Ｐ值均＜００１）；ＡｐｏＢ水平均下降了８％左右（Ｐ＜００５）；分别使脂蛋白（ａ）［Ｌｐ（ａ）］水平降低了３１３％（Ｐ＜００１）和２７８％（Ｐ＜００５）；（４）除了治疗８周后Ｌｐ（ａ）水平进一步下降外，两种药物治疗８周后的调脂作用与４周比较无明显差异。结论血脂康能显著降低Ⅱａ和Ⅱｂ型高胆固醇血症患者血清ＴＣ和ＬＤＬＣ，其作用与辛伐他汀相等；血脂康降低ＴＧ作用优于辛伐他汀     

柳氮磺胺吡啶对大鼠乙酸性溃疡性结肠炎肠组织中氧自由基的影响

目的探讨柳氮磺胺吡啶（ＳＡＳＰ）治疗大鼠乙酸性溃疡性结肠炎（ＵＣ）时清除氧自由基（ＯＦＲ）的特性．方法ＳＡＳＰ灌胃治疗大鼠乙酸性ＵＣ后，检测肠组织中的超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）、丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）含量，评价其炎症指数，并与生理盐水（ＮＳ）治疗对照组比较．结果ＳＡＳＰ组和ＮＳ组ＳＯＤ含量（Ｕ／ｇ）分别为７９９８±３４４１和６３６４±２４５５．ＳＡＳＰ组和ＮＳ组ＭＤＡ含量（ｎｍｏｌ／ｇ）分别为２１５６±２０８、３５２４±４４８．ＮＳ组和ＳＡＳＰ组炎症指数分别为１６５±５１９、６３０±１２５．ＳＡＳＰ组ＳＯＤ含量显著高于ＮＳ组（７９９８±３４４１对６３６４±２４５５，Ｐ＜００１），ＳＡＳＰ组ＭＤＡ含量明显低于ＮＳ组（２１５６±２０８对３５２４±４４８，Ｐ＜００１）．ＮＳ组炎症指数明显高于ＳＡＳＰ组（１６５±５１９对６３０±１２５，Ｐ＜００１）．结论ＳＡＳＰ为氧自由基清除剂，是治疗溃疡性结肠炎的主要机理之一．     

高血压病左室重量与血管紧张素Ⅱ、醛固酮的相互关系及培哚普利、美托洛尔对其影响

研究６２例高血压病（ＥＨ）血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡＴⅡ）、醛固酮（ＡＬＤ）水平及其与左室肥厚（ＬＶＨ）的关系，并与２０例正常人进行对照。根据左室重量指数（ＬＶＭＩ）将ＥＨ伴ＬＶＨ者４７例随机分为两组，投以培哚普利或美托洛尔治疗８周。结果显示，ＥＨ患者血浆ＡＴⅡ及ＡＬＤ浓度明显高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．００１），ＬＶＨ组高于非ＬＶＨ组（Ｐ＜０．００５），ＬＶＨ组的ＬＶＭＩ与ＡＴⅡ和ＡＬＤ正相关（ｒ分别为０．３４２和０．３５６，Ｐ＜０．０１），用药后两组ＬＶＭＩ、ＡＴⅡ和ＡＬＤ水平均显著降低，且８周后两组ＬＶＭＩ差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０５），ＬＶＭＩ下降值与血浆ＡＴⅡ、ＡＬＤ浓度下降值呈正相关（ｒ分别为０．６１２和０．６４７，Ｐ＜０．００１），提示ＡＴⅡ、ＡＬＤ是引起ＥＨ心肌肥厚重要的体液因素，培哚普利及美托洛尔短期治疗均可使ＬＶＨ逆转，培哚普利对ＬＶＨ的逆转可能优于美托洛尔。     

老年人不同体质对心脏结构、血流、功能及血压的影响

目的观察体重对老年人心血管系统的影响。方法６２３例老年人根据体质指数（ＢＭＩ）分为肥胖、超重、正常及消瘦４组，检测血压、空腹血糖（ＢＳ）、胆固醇（ＴＣ）、甘油三酯（ＴＧ）及超声心动图。结果肥胖及超重组较正常体重及消瘦组收缩压（ＳＢＰ）及舒张压（ＤＢＰ）均增高（均为Ｐ＜０．０５），主动脉径（ＡｏＤ）、左房径（ＬＡＤ）、左室舒张及收缩末径（ＥＤＤ及ＥＳＤ）及心肌质量（ＬＶＭ）增加（均为Ｐ＜０．０５）。ＳＢＰ、ＤＢＰ均与体重、ＢＭＩ、ＴＣ、ＬＶＭ及心房收缩期与舒张早期充盈峰值流速（ＡＰＦＶ与ＥＰＦＶ）之比值（Ａ／Ｅ）呈明显正相关（Ｐ＜０．０５、０．０１或０．００１），ＤＢＰ与年龄呈明显负相关（Ｐ＜０．００１）。多元逐步回归分析证实ＬＶＭ、ＡＰＦＶ及ＬＡＤ均与ＢＭＩ呈正相关（均为Ｐ＜０．０１），ＥＰＦＶ与ＢＭＩ呈负相关（Ｐ＜０．０５）；射血分数（ＥＦ）、年龄、ＢＳ与ＳＢＰ呈正相关（Ｐ＜０．０５、０．００１及０．０１），与ＤＢＰ呈负相关（Ｐ＜０．０５或０．００１）。结论体重是影响心脏结构、血流、功能及血压的重要因素；ＥＦ、年龄、ＢＳ是分别影响ＳＢＰ及ＤＢＰ的独立因素。     

Problems of older adults living alone after hospitalization

OBJECTIVE: To describe functional deficits among older adults living alone and receiving home nursing following medical hospitalization, and the association of living alone with lack of functional improvement and nursing home utilization 1 month after hospitalization. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive sample of patients age 65 and over receiving home nursing following medical hospitalization. Patients were excluded for new diagnosis of myocardial infarction or stroke in the previous 2 months, diagnosis of dementia if living alone, or nonambulatory status. Of 613 patients invited to participate, 312 agreed. MEASUREMENTS: One week after hospitalization, patients were assessed in the home for demographic information, medications, cognition, and self-report of prehospital and current mobility and function in activities of daily living (ADLs) and independent activities of daily living (IADLs). One month later, patients were asked about current function and nursing home utilization. The outcomes were lack of improvement in ADL function and nursing home utilization 1 month after hospitalization. RESULTS: One hundred forty-one (45%) patients lived alone. After hospital discharge, 40% of those living alone and 62% of those living with others had at least 1 ADL dependency (P=.0001). Patients who were ADL-dependent and lived alone were 3.3 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.4 to 7.6) times less likely to improve in ADLs and 3.5 (95% CI, 1.0 to 11.9) times more likely to be admitted to a nursing home in the month after hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Patients who live alone and receive home nursing after hospitalization are less likely to improve in function and more likely to be admitted to a nursing home, compared with those who live with others. More intensive resources may be required to continue community living and maximize independence. This work was supported by grants from the American Physical Therapy Foundation, the Dean Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin Medical School and Graduate School. Dr. Mahoney was the recipient of a Clinical Investigator Award from the NIA (K08AG00623).     

Sustained ventricular arrhythmias and mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction: results from the GUSTO-III trial

Background In many patients, ventricular arrhythmias will develop early after acute myocardial infarction. We studied the incidence, timing, and outcomes of such arrhythmias in the international Global Utilization of Streptokinase and TPA (alteplase) for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO)-III trial. Methods We identified independent predictors of inhospital ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) and compared 30-day and 1-year mortality rates of patients who did (n = 1121) and did not (n = 13,921) have these arrhythmias during the index hospitalization. Results Significant independent predictors of inhospital VF were higher Killip class, lower baseline systolic pressure, intravenous preenrollment lidocaine use, shorter time to thrombolysis, and β-blocker use <2 weeks before enrollment; independent predictors of inhospital VT were lower baseline systolic pressure, intravenous lidocaine use before enrollment, higher Killip class, faster baseline heart rate, and advanced age. The 30-day mortality rate was 31% in patients with VF, 24% in those with VT, 44% in those with both, and 6% in those with neither (P = .001). The corresponding 1-year mortality rates were 34%, 29%, 49%, and 9% (P = .001). The 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were higher for patients with late (>48 hours after enrollment) versus early arrhythmias (≤48 hours after enrollment). Conclusions Despite thrombolysis, inhospital ventricular arrhythmias are associated with higher 30-day and 1-year mortality rates after acute myocardial infarction, particularly when occurring later during the initial hospitalization. Better therapies are needed to improve outcomes of these arrhythmias. (Am Heart J 2003;145:515-21.)     

Survival of patients with acute renal failure requiring dialysis after open heart surgery: early prognostic indicators

We analyzed pre- and postoperative data from 36 consecutive patients, who developed acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis after open heart surgery, to determine which factors predicted survival. Seventeen patients (47%) survived. Age, sex, preoperative renal dysfunction, severity of underlying heart disease, perioperative myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and oliguria did not influence outcome (by univariate analysis). However, the number and type of postoperative complications, before the first hemodialysis and 48 hours thereafter, were found to be significant predictors of outcome. Univariate as well as multivariate analysis showed that the highest mortality rate was associated with the presence of respiratory failure, central nervous system dysfunction, hypotension, and infection (48 hours after first hemodialysis). Thirty-three (92%) of the 36 patients were correctly classified as survivors or nonsurvivors based on the presence or absence of any one of three prognostic indicators (three or more complications before the first hemodialysis and persisting 48 hours later; hypotension before the first dialysis and persisting 48 hours later; or central nervous system dysfunction 48 hours after hemodialysis was initiated). We conclude that an assessment of prognosis can be made in such patients as early as 48 hours after the first hemodialysis based on the number and type of complications.     

Prognosis after cardiac arrest due to ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation associated with acute myocardial infarction (the MILIS Study). Multicenter Investigation of the Limitation of Infarct Size

Previous studies have reached conflicting conclusions about whether cardiac arrest due to ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is of long-term prognostic significance. The mortality rate in 849 patients with confirmed AMI was analyzed. The mortality rate during the initial hospitalization was higher for patients in whom VT/VF occurred (27% vs 7%, p less than 0.001). The in-hospital mortality rate for patients with primary VT/VF, that is, VT/VF occurring in the absence of hypotension or heart failure, was similar to that of patients who did not have VT/VF (8% vs 7%, difference not significant), whereas the rate for patients with secondary VT/VF was significantly greater than that for patients with no VT/VF (51% vs 7%, p less than 0.001). The timing of occurrence of VT/VF also influenced mortality: Patients in whom VT/VF occurred more than 72 hours after admission had a higher in-hospital mortality rate than did patients in whom it occurred within 72 hours (57% vs 20%, p less than 0.05). All cases of primary VT/VF occurred within the first 72 hours of admission. The long-term mortality rate for hospital survivors was not significantly different for patients who had had VT/VF during acute infarction compared with those who had not (19% vs 21%) (mean follow-up 32 months). Thus, cardiac arrest due to ventricular tachyarrhythmia was associated with a higher in-hospital mortality rate but was not a prognostic factor among hospital survivors. Patients resuscitated from primary VT/VF, which characteristically occurs early after AMI, do not have an adverse prognosis.     

Differential risk factors for early and later hospital readmission of older patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aimed at analyzing rates and factors associated with early and later readmission (0-1 month and 2-3 months after discharge, respectively) of older people after index hospitalization. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in two teaching hospitals. People 70 years and over were interviewed within 48 h of emergency admission. Socio-demographic and medical factors were collected, together with functional factors including Activities of Daily Living (basis and instrumental), cognitive state, and geriatric syndromes. Medical diagnosis, length of stay, and destination were collected at discharge, and patients were followed up by phone 1 and 3 months after discharge. During these interviews, outcomes on readmission, institutionalization, need for help, and death were evaluated. RESULTS: The population of 625 patients had a mean age of 80.0 years. The rate of early readmission (01 month) was 10. 7% and the overall rate within 3 months was 23.1%. Logistic regression analysis showed that variables predicting early readmission were previous hospitalization within 3 months, a longer length of stay, and a discharge diagnosis in chapter 8 (respiratory system) and chapter 10 (genito-urinary system) of the ICD-9-CM. Variables predicting later readmission were previous hospitalization within 3 months, a discharge diagnosis in chapter 7 (circulatory system) of the ICD-9-CM, and a poor pre-admission IADL score. CONCLUSIONS: In a medicalized population of older people, several risk factors may be identified for 0-1 month and 2-3 month readmission. Besides severe morbidities at discharge, diagnoses and previous hospitalization, pre-admission IADL was an independent risk factor for 2-3 month readmission.     

梗塞前48小时内心绞痛发作对初次心肌梗塞近期预后的影响

本文对３９７例初次心肌梗塞患者根据其发病前４８小时内有无心绞痛分组，比较其并发症和近期转归。有心绞痛组（ＰＡＰ组）１７４例，无心绞痛组（对照组）２２３例，两组基本临床情况类似，ＰＡＰ组入院４８小时内及住院期间心衰与严重心律失常发生率明显低于对照组；入院４８小时内血浆ＣＰＫ峰值及住院期病死率亦低于对照组，可能与心脏缺血预适应有关。     

Prognostic significance and natural history of left ventricular thrombi in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction: a two-dimensional echocardiographic study

Fifty-eight patients with transmural anterior myocardial infarction were prospectively studied with serial two-dimensional echocardiography to determine the clinical implications and prognostic significance of detection of left ventricular thrombus during acute myocardial infarction, the incidence of systemic embolization, and the possible occurrence of spontaneous regression of left ventricular thrombi. Patients were not treated with anticoagulants or platelet inhibitors during the acute phase of infarction or during follow-up. Two-dimensional echocardiograms were obtained within 24 hr of myocardial infarction, every 24 hr until day 5, every 48 hr until day 15, and every month for a follow-up of 2 to 11 months (mean 7), in the surviving patients; a total of 774 echocardiograms were obtained. Left ventricular thrombi were identified in 24 (41%) of the 58 study patients, and developed within 48 hr of infarction in 11 of these patients. Ten (91%) of the 11 patients with early thrombus formation died during hospitalization or during follow-up, while only two (15%) of the 13 who developed a thrombus after 48 hr of infarction died (p less than .005). Incidence of Killip class III or IV, total lactic dehydrogenase values, and extent of wall motion abnormalities were significantly higher in patients who developed a thrombus within 48 hr of infarction than in patients without thrombus. On the other hand, in patients who developed a thrombus after 48 hr of infarction, these parameters were not significantly different from those in patients who did not develop a thrombus. Spontaneous regression of thrombi was documented in three (20%) of the 15 patients who survived the acute phase of myocardial infarction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Results of high dose intravenous urokinase for acute myocardial infarction

To determine the outcome of patients after treatment with high-dose intravenous urokinase (3 million U) 102 patients were prospectively evaluated in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. The first 61 patients received intravenous urokinase as a continuous infusion and the last 41 patients were treated with an initial 1.5 million U intravenous bolus. Sixty-two percent of all patients had patent infarct-related arteries by the time of immediate angiography (median time 2.2 hours), which was performed in all patients. There was no significant difference in patency rates between patients treated with or without an initial intravenous bolus. Twenty-eight (28%) patients developed clinical evidence of recurrent ischemia (death, reocclusion, emergency angioplasty, urgent bypass surgery) during hospitalization, whereas only 7 (7%) developed angiographically documented reocclusion. Of 28 patients who failed to achieve successful reperfusion at the time of immediate catheterization, rescue angioplasty was technically successful in establishing reperfusion in all but 1 patient. No significant improvement in median global left ventricular function was seen between immediate (48%) and follow-up catheterization (48%). Significant bleeding complications were unusual except in 1 patient who experienced an intracranial hemorrhage. Eight (8%) patients died during hospitalization. Therefore, the use of high-dose intravenous urokinase in patients with acute myocardial infarction is associated with a 62% patency rate, a low incidence of reocclusion and bleeding complications and a high technical success rate with rescue angioplasty at the time of immediate catheterization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Patterns of left ventricular dilation during the six months after myocardial infarction

Changes in left ventricular volume after a first myocardial infarction were studied in 50 patients. Serial radionuclide angiograms were obtained 48 h, 10 days and 1 and 6 months after infarction and left ventricular volume measured by a nongeometric method. Left ventricular dilation (greater than or equal to 20% increase in end-diastolic volume) occurred within 10 days of infarction in 11 patients, who had a mean volume increase of 34 +/- 15% (p = 0.002 versus 48 h) at 10 days and 61 +/- 43% (p = 0.01 versus 10 days) at 6 months. Ten other patients manifested left ventricular dilation between 10 days and 6 months with a lesser volume increase of 42 +/- 18% by 6 months. Among the 21 patients with ventricular dilation, progressive dilation (serial volume increases greater than or equal to 20% on two or more occasions) occurred in 8 patients, who all had a large anterior infarct. Mean volume increases at 10 days and 1 and 6 months were 27 +/- 20%, 49 +/- 40% (p = 0.03 versus 10 days) and 79 +/- 37% (p = 0.006 versus 1 month), respectively, in this group. In patients with progressive dilation, left ventricular ejection fraction decreased from 35 +/- 6% at 48 h to 24 +/- 10% at 1 month (p less than 0.001) and 27 +/- 10% (p = 0.006) at 6 months. Between 1 month and 2 years after infarction six patients died, of whom four had progressive dilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Urinary incontinence after stroke: a prospective study

During one year 151 patients with 154 strokes were studied prospectively to determine the occurrence and outcome of urinary incontinence after a stroke. Seventeen per cent had pre-existing urinary incontinence. At 1, 4 and 12 weeks, 60%, 42% and 29% of the survivors, respectively, were not continent. Cystometry was performed in those with moderate or severe urinary incontinence persisting 4 weeks after the stroke. Detrusor instability was present in 85% of those who had been continent prior to their stroke. Factors associated with urinary incontinence at 4 weeks were moderate or severe motor deficit, impaired mobility and mental impairment (P less than 0.001). Two-thirds of patients with mild urinary incontinence at 4 weeks regained continence by 12 weeks.