New-onset angina preceding acute myocardial infarction is associated with improved contractile recovery after thrombolysis.

Background: Ischaemic preconditioning reduces myocardial infarct size in animal models. Clinical data suggest that episodes of angina immediately before acute myocardial infarction may be associated with smaller infarct size in man. However, it is unclear whether ischaemic episodes preceding acute myocardial infarction also affect contractile recovery in patients.

Propafenone in the conversion of atrial fibrillation in patients suffering from chronic renal failure.

Propafenone is a class Ic agent for the treatment of atrial arrhythmias with a main hepatic metabolism. This approach might play an important role in the management of atrial arrhythmias in patients with chronic renal failure. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of propafenone in patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic renal failure.

Relations between vasoactive hormones and diastolic function in hypertensive uraemic patients.

Background: Arterial hypertension is a significant risk factor for the high rate of cardiovascular disease in chronic uraemic (CU) patients. Any role that hypertension may play in CU patient outcomes assumes added significance. The elevation of some hormonal factors in early clinical stage could represent a valuable marker of cardiac disease in CU.

Atrial natriuretic factor and sympathetic activation in human heart failure.

The neurohormonal changes occur early, have important prognostic value, and may play a role in the evolution and progression of heart failure in man. Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a natriuretic and vasorelaxant peptide. Previous studies indicated that plasma ANF provides prognostic information and, ANF levels closely related to both severity of disease and catecholamine levels but, it is still unclear if high circulating levels of ANF, which are present in heart failure constantly, may be to correlate with sympathetic nervous activity in man.

[The relations between atrial natriuretic factor release and adrenergic activation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a potent natriuretic and vasoactive (vasorelaxant) peptide localized in the secretory-like atrial specific granules. The main peptide in this storage granules is the 126 amino acid proatrial natriuretic peptide, but the principal circulating form in human plasma is the 28 amino acid, alpha-human natriuretic peptide. Animal and in vitro studies have suggested that ANF modulates autonomic circulatory control, probably with a dose-dependent mechanism.

[Angiotensin II stimulates endothelin-1 release from human endothelial cells].

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor peptide isolated from the culture supernatant of porcine aortic endothelial cells. This 21 amino-acid residue peptide has potent vasoconstrictive properties in vitro and in vivo. ET-1 action involves phosphatidylinositol turnover, calcium mobilization and protein kinase C activation.

Role of arterial hypertension in plasma secretion of prostacyclin during renal failure in man.

Cardiac function and morphology in chronic hemodialyzed patients are modified in consequence of both vascular and neurohormonal factors. In the present study we investigate on the role of prostacyclin (PGI2) vasodilator agent, during hemodialytic (HD) treatment. Twenty-four patients (13 males and 11 females; 9 hypertensive and 15 normotensive) aged 58.

Intravenous propafenone for suppression of symptomatic atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter in a first aid hospital.

The efficacy and safety of propafenone (PPF) were prospectively evaluated in 20 patients (13 men and 7 women, age 39 +/- 14 years) with atrial arrhythmias (AA) (atrial fibrillation: n = 13; atrial flutter: n = 7). All patients had arrhythmias from 109 +/- 63 minutes, (iT) without clinical evidence of heart failure. Intravenous PPF was given as a 1 mg/kg bolus over 5 minutes, with a therapeutical possibility of a second bolus (1 mg/kg) after 10 minutes if sinus rhythm was not restored.

[Use of propafenone in emergency therapy].

15 patients (10 M, 5 F; age 24-55) with paroxysmal supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (onset: 0.5-4 hours; 8 atrial tachycardias, 5 atrial fibrillation, 2 atrial flutter) were treated with 1 mg/kg i.v.