The Mattis Dementia Rating Scale: normative data from 1,001 healthy volunteers.

We administered the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) to 1,001 healthy volunteers, aged 50 to 80 years, randomly selected from our community. Multivariate regression analysis revealed educational level (p = 0.000004) and age (p = 0.

[Toxoplasmosis peri-myocarditis as initial manifestation of highly malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

A case report of a 28-year-old mother of two children with FUO is presented. Physical examination revealed an anemic and febrile woman, who lost 10 kg of weight during the past 3 months. Furthermore, two lymphatic nodes with diameters below 1 cm were detected at the neck and inguinal region.

Autoantibodies to oxidized low density lipoproteins in restenosis following coronary angioplasty.

Oxidized low density lipoproteins (oLDL) play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Recently, elevated oLDL autoantibodies in serum were shown in patients with severe peripheral atherosclerosis. To evaluate their role in restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), oLDL autoantibodies were determined in a randomly selected series of 48 males following successful PTCA.

Seven coronary angioplasties of the left circumflex artery in a 68-year-old male.

In a 68-year-old male, seven coronary angioplasties of the left circumflex coronary artery were performed due to recurrent restenoses. Alternative approaches such as stent implantation or bypass surgery were refused by the patient.

[Physical activity at intermediate altitude by healthy probands and patients with coronary sclerosis].

For the majority of the population, exposure to altitudes higher than 2000 m above sea level constitutes a situation of pronounced stimulation of the organism. The question comes in of the health relevance of physical activity at intermediate altitudes for the healthy subjects, but above all for people with heart problems. At first, there is an acute adaption on the cardiovascular and the respiration system as well as the system of oxygen carriage, until the chronic adaption processes of the same systems are completed.

[Familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia in long-term amiodarone treated patients].

A serum sample of an outpatient, under long-term amiodarone (AM) treatment was submitted for routine checkup of thyroid function parameters. It revealed the pattern of euthyroid dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia. Since no results have been published so far covering the influence of amiodarone on the specific thyroxine binding proteins, we undertook a prospective study to investigate 28 amiodarone patients, comparing these with a series of age and sex matched euthyroid subjects.

[Coronary heart disease as the initial manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism].

Due to unstable angina pectoris coronary arteriography was performed in a 57 year-old female, showing diffuse 3-vessel disease; aortocoronary bypass surgery was recommended. During routine pre-operative examination hypercalcemia, as well as an elevated value of parathormone were observed. Ultrasonography of the parathyroid glands showed two enlarged cranial glands.

Assessment of cerebrovascular risk profiles in healthy persons: definition of research goals and the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study (ASPS).

The advent of new laboratory methods and noninvasive imaging modalities has extended the diagnostic possibilities in normal individuals. This article elaborates the new options for the assessment of stroke risk offered by these techniques. In this context we present the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study, which is the first prospective long-term investigation of normals that includes Doppler sonography, magnetic resonance imaging and single photon emission computed tomography.

[10-year-follow-up of patients with silent Cohn type 1 myocardial ischemia].

Prevalence of type 1 silent myocardial ischemia (SMI; completely asymptomatic patients) is reported to appear 2 to 4% of the general population. The prognosis of these patients is said to be similar to that of patients with angina pectoris. Our study investigated a 10-year follow up of silent myocardial ischemia detected by bicycle exercise testing in comparison to a comparable control group.

"Non-dipping" related to cardiovascular events in essential hypertensive patients.

About 1 third of all patients with essential hypertension reveal an impaired circadian pattern of blood pressure. This phenomenon called "non-dipping" (i.e.

[First aid measures by lay persons in cardiovascular arrest].

The efficiency of first aid resuscitation is affirmed by many publications. In a questionnaire of the division of Cardiology of the Department of Internal Medicine, Graz and the Styrian Heart Patient Society distributed during the course of the Graz spring fair 1993 the population was approached as to first aid in cardiac arrest. 550 subjects responded to answer this circular for assessment dividing the population statistically in 4 different age groups showing differences among male and female and country and city dwellers.

[ECG of the athlete's heart].

The athlete's heart is characterized by eccentric hypertrophy of all cardiac cavities and there is a close connection to increased tone of the vagal system. As a consequence, not only arrhythmias are observed in the ECG of healthy athletes, but also changes in the QRS complex and in the ST-T-segment. Left ventricular hypertrophy is diagnosed in ECG by a positive Sokolow-Lyon index.

Neuropsychologic correlates of MRI white matter hyperintensities: a study of 150 normal volunteers.

To determine the effects of MRI white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on cognitive functioning, we used neuropsychologic tests and MRI to study 150 elderly volunteers free of neuropsychiatric or general disease. There were 76 (50.3%) individuals without and 74 (49.

Giant dissecting aortic aneurysm with concealed perforation in an 81-year-old female.

This paper describes the history of an 81-year-old female suffering from a giant dissecting aortic aneurysm with concealed perforation within the thorax. The patient had suffered from arterial hypertension for about 10 years and had been treated with thiazide. Nine months prior to admission the patient was in a state of collapse, and ultrasound examination revealed an intra-abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Observations on plasma ANP levels during short-term transient myocardial ischemia produced by PTCA in patients with LAD stenosis.

Ten patients with coronary artery disease and stable angina (mean age fifty-seven) were included in the study. Five of the patients had normal left ventricular function, 5 had local hypokinesia or akinesia; 8 had one-stem and 2 had two-stem disease, but all had left anterior descending (LAD) lesions ranging from 75% to 100%. Ejection fraction varied between 35% and 75% (mean 59%).

Cerebrovascular risk factors in an elderly Austrian population: first year results of the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study (ASPS).

During the first year the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study enrolled 599 volunteers without clinical signs or symptoms of cerebrovascular disease aged 50 to 70 years. Study participants were randomly selected from the official register of the city of Graz. The rate of positive response was 26.

Fibrinogen: its role in the hemostatic regulation in atherosclerosis.

Numerous epidemiologic studies have clearly shown that high plasma fibrinogen levels are strongly correlated with the frequency of myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral atherosclerosis. These data indicate that measurements of fibrinogen should be included in cardiovascular risk factor profiles. Since thrombosis is recognized as the central mechanism of these atherosclerotic complications, it seems advisable to accept the predictive value of this protein.

Correlation between inflection of heart rate/work performance curve and myocardial function in exhausting cycle ergometer exercise.

The heart rate/work performance (fc/W) curve is usually S-shaped but a flattening at the top is not always seen. By means of radionuclide ventricular scintigraphy, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 15 sports students was investigated. The behaviour of the fc/W curve during cycle ergometry with increasing exercise intensities was examined.

Aortic dissection due to discontinuation of beta-blocker therapy.

beta-Blockers are known to protect a vulnerable aorta from acute dissection, as well as reducing the risk of recurrent dissection. This case presentation reports the history of a 60-year-old male suffering from acute aortic dissection following discontinuation of beta-blocker therapy. The patient has shown arterial hypertension for about 20 years treated solely by beta-blockers.

[Eating behavior of patients with metabolic diseases and metabolically healthy probands in Austria. Results of a questionnaire survey at the Graz Autumn Fair 1991].

Malnutrition as the cause of developing atherosclerosis is undoubtedly of major importance. For that reason, proper nutrition and eating habits among the population is of specific significance in preventive medicine. In order to establish a more pronounced food consciousness among the population of Styria, a questionnaire was issued to 1.