Cardiovascular monitoring in the coronary care unit.

The present status of cardiovascular monitoring in the coronary care unit is reviewed. Major emphasis is placed on electrocardiographic monitoring, the only form of monitoring used on most patients who have suffered recent myocardial infarction. The capabilities and limitations of computer systems to perform electrocardiographic monitoring are reviewed, as are present techniques for hemodynamic monitoring and computerized integration of electrocardiographic, hemodynamic, and other patient data.

Acetate levels in human plasma.

We have developed a gas liquid chromatographic assay for plasma acetate which detects 0.01 mM and has a standard deviation of less than 16% of the mean at 0.05 mM.

Vectorial characteristics of ventricular extrasystoles stimulated during cardiac catheterization.

Ventricular extrasystoles (VES) from different areas of the ventricular muscle mass were obtained by mechanical stimulation of inflow and outflow regions of the right ventricle (RV) and apical and basal portions of the left ventricle (LV) during cardiac catheterization. Cube system vectorcardiogram (VCG) patterns of VES from each location were analyzed to determine the specificity of vector orientation from each site. Transverse plane VCG distinguished between nonseptal LVES and RVES, while a combination of transverse and either sagittal or frontal planes permitted further localization of septal VES to inflow or outflow regions of the RV and apical and basal areas of the LV.

Ventricular premature beats and mortality of men with coronary heart disease.

Frequency and qualitative characteristics of ventricular premature beats (VPB) are determined from 1 hour of electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring of men with coronary heart disease in a continuing study among members of the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York. Mortality among 924 such men during an average observation period of 10 months was higher among men with VPB than among those free of VPB. In comparison with the routine 12-lead ECG, the hour of ECG monitoring increased the proportion of men identified as showing ectopic activity from 15% to 52%.

Decreased premature ventricular contractions through use of the relaxation response in patients with stable ischaemic heart-disease.

To determine whether decreased sympathetic-nervous-system activity achieved by the relaxation response could decrease premature ventricular contractions (P.V.C.

Variation of Cesium in the Ocean.

Samples of sea water from several oceans and several depths were analyzed for natural cesium by flame photometry with precision of about 3.5 percent. The average of 16 assays of surface water from four oceans was 0.