Cigarette smoking and ventricular arrhythmia in coronary heart disease

With use of 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring, the effect of 1 hour of cigarette smoking on cardiac rhythm in 73 patients with coronary heart disease was studied. Fifteen subjects had no arrhythmia; 37 subjects had fewer than 2 atrial or ventricular premature complexes (APCs or VPCs)/hour, with APCs possibly related to smoking in 2 and VPCs related to smoking in 1. Nineteen subjects had more than 2 VPCs/hour (range 4 to 368) and had 16 ± 29 VPCs/hour (± standard deviation) less during than before smoking (p <0.05), associated with an increase in heart rate of 4.6 ±6.8 beats/min (p <0.01). In none of the 9 subjects with unifocal VPCs did multiform beats develop during or after smoking, whereas 3 of 10 subjects with multiform VPCs had only unifocal beats during and immediately after smoking. In 1 of these 19 subjects, frequent APCs developed during smoking. One other subject had frequent APCs unaffected by smoking and another had sinoatrial block, which disappeared during smoking on 1 of 3 monitorings. In conclusion, no sustained or high-grade ventricular arrhythmia was provoked by smoking; although APCs may have been related to smoking in a few persons, the frequency and complexity of VPCs tended to be reduced in these subjects with coronary artery disease.     

Tetanus in patients three years of age and up: A personal series of 230 consecutive patients

My experience with 230 patients with tetanus who were admitted to the intensive care unit of the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer during a period of four years and four months is presented. We have observed a male predominance and the prognostic importance of age. The survival rate of over 84 per cent that we have achieved has resulted from the dedicated care of our nursing personnel and the collaboration of colleagues of various specialties. Tetanus antitoxin, 10,000 units, is sufficient. Diazepam provides adequate relaxation and sedation. Gastrostomy and tracheostomy play a considerable role.     

Relationship of plasma HDL-cholesterol to testosterone, estradiol, and sex-hormone-binding globulin levels in men and women

The significance of sex hormone levels in determining variation in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations was studied in healthy Seventh Day Adventists (vegetarians) and Mormons. These groups were selected to avoid the confounding effects of alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking on HDL-C concentrations. Multivariate analysis showed that testosterone has a strong negative association with HDL-C in men (t = 3.99, P less than 0.001) and women (t = 2.04, P less than 0.05) when controlled for other variables including the concentration of sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Sex-hormone-binding globulin showed an independent positive association with HDL-C in men (P less than 0.001) and women (P less than 0.001). We postulate that the sex hormones affect HDL-C levels by regulating the activities of two important enzymes involved in the production and catabolism of HDL, namely, lipoprotein lipase and hepatic endothelial lipase. Other factors contributing independently to variation in HDL-C levels in this study were, in men, age and triglyceride, and in women, apoprotein-HDL, triglyceride, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index, and triceps skinfold thickness. Plasma estradiol concentrations were not significantly associated in either sex.     

Update on the Kabi International Growth Study, April 1989

International Board, Kahi International Growth Study (Kahi, Stockholm, Sweden). Update on the Kahi International Growth Study, April 1989. Acta Paediatr Scand [Supp] 356: 173, 1989.
The efficacy and safety of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment is under prospective evaluation in children with various short stature conditions. Of the 987 children enrolled up to April 1989, 836 (84.7%) had classic growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and 151 (15.3%) non-GHD. There was a predominance of idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (IGHD), with a ratio of IGHD to secondary or organic GHD (OGHD) of 2.2:l. There were more boys than girls in both the IGHD and OGHD groups. Isolated GHD was more common than multiple pituitary hormone deficiency except in some of the groups with OGHD. About half of the OGHD patients had GHD secondary to treatment for CNS tumours. Idiopathic short stature and Turner's syndrome were the most common diagnoses in the non-GHD group. The median age at onset of treatment in IGHD was 8.2 years for boys and 8.6 years for girls. The corresponding figures for OGHD were 14.0 years and 12.2 years, respectively. The height SDS for chronological age at the start of treatment was -3.0 for IGHD and slightly less for children with OGHD. Approximately one-third of the children had already reached puberty at the start of hGH treatment.     

A novel (CA)n polymorphism on 6p21.1-21.2

Summary A novel highly polymorphic CA repeat locus D6S2213 was identified on human chromosome 6p21.1–21.2. It should be a useful marker for linkage studies on chromosome 6 and also in forensic use.     

丙泊酚复合芬太尼在人工流产中的疗效观察

目的　探讨丙泊酚复合芬太尼在人工流产中的疗效。方法　对 6 6例早孕妇女 ,术前静脉注射芬太尼 1μg/kg ,丙泊酚 2mg/kg。观察麻醉效果、宫口松弛、人工流产综合征 (RAAS)发生率及出血量。并分别记录推药前、入睡中、手术时、清醒后BP、P、SPO2 等参数。结果　丙泊酚复合芬太尼用于人工流产术 ,起效快 ,镇痛效果明显 ,有效率达 10 0 % ,无一例发生RAAS。与对照组比较 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 0 1)。苏醒早 ,血压、心率无明显变化。出血量与对照组比较差异无显著性。结论　丙泊酚复合芬太尼静脉麻醉是人工流产术中的适宜麻醉方法之一 ,可达到无痛人工流产的良好效果。     

Pharmacokinetics of finrozole (MPV-2213ad), a novel selective aromatase inhibitor, in healthy men

AIMS: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of finrozole (MPV-2213ad), a novel competitive aromatase enzyme inhibitor, in healthy male volunteers. METHODS: The study was an open, partly randomized cross-over study including 23 volunteers receiving single doses of 3, 9 mg or 30 mg of finrozole as tablets or solution with 14 days between the administrations. The highest dose was given as tablets only. Serum concentrations of finrozole were determined using high performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean time to peak serum concentration ranged from 2.5 to 3.1, and 0.6-0.7 h after tablets and solution, respectively. The Cmax values increased as the dose increased. The calculated apparent mean elimination half-life (t(1/2,z)) was approximately 3 h after the solution, and approximately 8 h after the tablet. The AUC(0,infinity) after finrozole tablets increased proportionally from 3 mg to 9 mg and from 3 to 30 mg. The calculated relative mean bioavailabilities (AUC(0,infinity)-ratio) for the 3 mg and 9 mg doses of finrozole as tablets were 89% and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The absorption of finrozole from the tablet formulation was relatively rapid, and the apparent elimination half-life was longer after the tablet than after the solution, probably reflecting overlap of the absorption with the elimination phase.     

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Neighborhood Residency and Satisfaction,and Social Network Characteristics among Underserved Women in Baltimore,Maryland

Background

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence is high, but not well-understood, among women living in urban, impoverished areas. Although previous studies have established social support as an important factor in PTSD development and maintenance, little is known about how perceptions of neighborhood are linked to PTSD. This study examined the relationship between PTSD and social network and neighborhood factors among women with a low socioeconomic status.