A method of left ventricular ejection fraction estimation from cineangiocardiograms employing a special-purpose calculator.

A special-purpose calculator is described which computes the left ventricular ejection fraction and end-diastolic volume (and thus stroke and end-systolic volumes) from single-plane cineangiocardiograms. A pair of manual callipers is used to convert the length information of angiographic projections into digital form for processing by the calculator. Volumes are estimated by means of a first order numerical integration method assuming circular cross-section.

Primary amyloidosis with cardiac involvement diagnosed by left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy.

A case of primary amyloidosis is described. The patient presented with the nephrotic syndrome and later developed heart failure. Left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy was performed and haemodynamic data were recorded.

The non-invasive recognition of left atrial enlargement: comparison of electro- and echocardiographic measurements.

The aim of this study was to compare the ability of electro- and echocardiography to detect enlargement of the left atrium. Seventy-four patients, divided into three groups (eighteen normal, thirty-six valvular disease, twenty hypertension and/or coronary artery disease) were studied. The P wave terminal force in lead V1 (PTF-V1) was measured from a standard 12 lead electrocardiogram, and the internal left atrial dimension (LAD) was measured from time-motion echocardiograms.

Haemodynamic effects of beta-adrenergic blockade in hyperthyroid patients with and without heart failure.

Haemodynamic studies were performed in 10 patients with uncomplicated thyrotoxicosis and seven with thyrotoxic cardiac failure. The cardiac output of those with uncomplicated hyperthyroidism was higher than normal at rest. After 2 mg of intravenous propranolol there was a 13% fall but the level was still higher than normal.

Heterogeneity of hepatitis B surface antigen-associated particles isolated from chimpanzee plasma.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was purified from approximately 8 liters of pooled plasma from a carrier chimpanzee. Precipitation of HBsAg with polyethylene glycol resulted in more than 20-fold purification, with about 80% recovery of antigenic activity. The sample was separated by further purification and fractionation into three populations of HBsAg-associated particles by column chromatography on hydroxylapatite: the first contained short filaments and 22- to 28-nm spheres, the second was composed of larger filaments and variable-sized spheres, and the third contained mostly 16- to 22-nm spherical particles.

A case of self-induced digoxin poisoning: with His bundle studies of the site of heart block.

A case of digoxin overdose was described. Despite vigorous gastric lavage, the serum digoxin which was 0.8 ng/ml on admission rose to 7 ng/ml four hours later.

Plasma zinc in acute myocardial infarction. Diagnostic and prognostic implications.

Zinc is a metal component of many important enzymes, and its availability controls the rate of synthesis of nucleic acids and protein. Serum zinc levels have been shown to fall after acute tissue injury, including myocardial infarction. The purpose of this clinical study was to examine the value of plasma zinc measurements in a coronary care unit.

Hepatitis B surface antigen in blood donors: further observations.

A survey of 128,000 volunteer blood donors from the Greater New York metropolitan area revealed that first-time male donors were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) 2.5 times more frequently than were first-time female donors; Negroes and Mongols were positive four to 20 times more frequently than Caucasians. The ratio of ad to ay seemed to be higher in non-Caucasian antigen carriers than in Caucasian carriers.

A new reversed passive hemagglutination test for detection of HBsAg.

A new reversed passive hemagglutination test for HBsAg, termed Raphadex B, has been developed using immunochemically purified chimpanzee anti-HBs bound to stabilized human erythrocytes. The test has been found to have equivalent sensitivity to the Ausria 125I radioimmunoassay, and detected a similar number of HBsAg-containing specimens in screening of volunteer blood donors. This method offers an economical approach to third generation methodology for hepatitis B screening of blood donors.

Clinical features of non-tuberculous constrictive pericarditis.

, , 204-208. This paper describes the clinical features of five cases of constrictive pericarditis of non-tuberculous aetiology. The findings in this syndrome are compared with those in tuberculous constrictive pericarditis.