Outcomes in a Community-Based Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: Comparison with Hospital-Based and Academic Programs.

Background: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a community-based intensive cardiac rehabilitation program could produce positive changes in risk factor profile and outcomes in an at-risk population.

Methods: Participants seeking either primary or secondary coronary artery disease prevention voluntarily enrolled in the 12-week intensive cardiac rehabilitation program. Data were obtained at baseline and 6-12 months after completion of the program.

Effects of changes in airway pressure on the left ventricle and left atrium of dogs.

The effects of negative and positive airway pressure were examined in eight closed chest, chronically instrumented dogs to determine beat to beat changes in left ventricular pressure, left ventricular dP/dt, left ventricular dimensions, and oesophageal pressure. As an index of afterload, systolic transmural pressure was calculated by subtracting oesophageal pressure from left ventricular pressure. With each change in airway pressure left ventricular end systolic minor axis diameter and left ventricular end diastolic minor axis diameter increased significantly.

Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm by acute intravenous procainamide infusion.

We evaluated the efficacy of an intravenous infusion of procainamide in 26 consecutive candidates for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Procainamide was administered at a rate of 15 to 20 mg/min up to a maximum of 1000 mg. The treatment was considered effective only if cardioversion occurred during the procainamide infusion.

Acute pseudogout in chronic renal failure.

Acute pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease [CPPD disease]) developed in two patients with chronic renal failure. The disease had atypical features. The calcification of the involved joints was more diffuse than the usual linear stippled calcification.