Familial idiopathic congestive cardiomyopathy in three generations: a family study with eight affected members

Idiopathic congestive (dilated) cardiomyopathy with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern affected eight individuals (four males) in three of four generations of a 63-member kindred of non-consanguineous ancestry. Average age at presentation was 39.5 years (range 32-54). A malignant course with relentless cardiac failure occurred in six cases; one member who died suddenly had been asymptomatic and the eighth is alive but in cardiac failure 44 months after initial presentation. Average time course to death from onset of symptoms suggestive of cardiomyopathy in six affected members was 16 months (range three to 55 months). In three cases, sudden death occurred and was the mode of presentation in one. Myocardial histological examination, available from three cases, showed variation in muscle fibre size with interstitial fibrosis. Forty-two family members in two generations including the propositus (19 males), age range three to 46 years (mean 17.9) when first assessed were prospectively evaluated. Two had basal systolic murmurs and two had right bundle branch block. Excluding the propositus, three members showed Doppler echocardiographic evidence of regurgitation without associated structural anomalies and three had valve prolapse with Doppler echocardiographic evidence of regurgitation. Cardiac chamber dimensions were within normal limits in all members and no cardiac arrhythmias were seen. Among the various therapeutic approaches now available cardiac transplantation, especially in younger patients with unremitting disease, is a potential option which should be considered.     

Bleeding peptic ulcer: An evolving role for surgical intervention

Abstract Early surgical intervention was previously advocated in patients > 60 years with bleeding peptic ulcer presenting with haemodynamic instability or ongoing transfusion requirements. It is, however, well recognized that emergency surgical intervention with its inherent risks must be reserved for highly selected patients in whom endoscopy initially fails to control exsanquinating haemorrhage or in whom life-threatening bleeding recurs. Therapeutic endoscopy for bleeding ulcer has led to a remarkable decline in rebleeding rates, the need for emergency surgery and mortality. Octogenarians are at risk, particularly when ulcer size exceeds 2 cm. Poor surgical candidates make up two-thirds of patients with major ulcer bleeding and operation is to be avoided if at all possible. Medical therapy with proton pump inhibitor and subsequent eradication of Helicobacter pylori following endoscopic treatment has been shown to be beneficial to outcomes. Should surgery be deemed necessary, it is likely that laparoscopic techniques to control bleeding, with or without the addition of an acid-reducing procedure, will find a role in haemodynamically stable patients undergoing operation on an early elective basis.     

Iopamidol and meglumine diatrizoate: comparison of effects on patient discomfort during aortofemoral arteriography

Iopamidol was compared with Renografin-60 (meglumine diatrizoate, Squibb) in a controlled, randomized double-blind study of 40 patients undergoing peripheral arteriography for arteriosclerotic occlusive disease to determine which agent caused less discomfort. Each patient was evaluated for objective signs of discomfort and subjective feelings of pain and heat. Monitoring was achieved by multiple physical examinations, chemical tests, electrocardiograms, and intra-arterial pressure recordings. It is concluded that iopamidol is safe and causes significantly less patient discomfort than Renografin-60.     

Effect of theophylline on blood level of catecholamines

Translated from Khimiko-farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 22, No. 11, pp. 1311–1313, November, 1988.