Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in women with different manifestations of joint disease.

A comprehensive population study of women aged 44-46 was carried out in Göteborg, Sweden in 1974-75. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the rate of high ESR values (defined as ESR greater than or equal to 30 mm) were higher in women with manifestations of joint diseases than in other women, the differences being statistically significant for women with swollen or deformed finger joints and symptoms from the wrists. Women with manifestations of active joint disease at the time of the examination had even higher ESR values, the differences being statistically significant also for women with symptoms from the finger joints.

Schönlein-Henoch syndrome in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Ten episodes of Schönlein-Henoch purpura (SHP) in 8 patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) were observed. Five episodes developed 3-14 days after penicillin injections, suggesting an etiologic association. FMF and SHP have clear clinical similarities, and if the frequency of association of the 2 diseases is indeed high, perhaps a common etiologic factor should be sought.

The C-wave of the rabbit electroretinogram during dark-adaptation and the steady-state.

C-waves of the rabbit ERF under urethane anesthesia were elicited by a Grass photostimulator during dark adaptation and under steady-state conditions. After strong pre-adaptation with light, the amplitude and time-to-peak of the c-wave increased in parallel with the a- and b-waves, reaching a maximum of 90-130 min. In the dark-adapted steady-state, repetitive stimuli at intervals ranging from 15 sec to 5 min elicited a stable c-wave response except for a small dip in amplitude that occurred 2-6 min after initiating the shortest interval (15 sec) flashes.

Cross-sectional echocardiographic observations on the mechanism of preservation of the opening snap in calcific mitral stenosis.

Cross-sectional echocardiography (CSE) was performed on 19 patients with mitral stenosis (MS). Nine patients (group 1) had little or no mitral valve (MV) calcification; ten patients (group 2) had heavy MV calcification. An opening snap was present in each of the patients in group 1.

Familial thrombosis associated with antithrombin III deficiency in a young adult male. A case report.

Congenital antithrombin III deficiency is a rare but well-documented abnormality. A young man presented with pulmonary embolism and was found to be suffering from this condition. His family history revealed numerous members with venous disease and its complications.

Similarities between the c-wave and slow PIII in the rabbit eye.

The c-wave of the electroretinogram was recorded from the eyes of Dutch rabbits and compared with the slow PIII response isolated by intravenous infection of sodium iodate and intravitreal injection of sodium aspartate. Although opposite in polarity, the waveforms of the two responses were remarkably similar over a wide range of stimulus intensities and durations. Plots of time-to-peak vs.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia diagnosed in a middle-aged woman.

Short stature, severe hirsutism, an enlarged clitoris and lack of vaginal introitus were manifest in a 55-year-old female karyotype, male phenotype patient brough up as a female. The hormone profile suggested congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase adrenal enzyme deficiency. Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels were 122.

Regional distribution of the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase in the human heart.

Human myocardial tissue obtained at autopsy from ten patients was examined for content of the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB). We wished to determine whether this isoenzyme is distributed homogeneously throughout the heart. In eight cases, there was no history or pathological evidence of heart disease.

Ovarian teratoma with peritoneal gliomatosis and elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein.

An adolescent girl, had a grade 1 immature teratoma combined with a rare manifestation of glial peritoneal implants of grade 0. A unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Alpha-fetoprotein levels, which were elevated before the operation, returned to normal.

The effect of timolol vs placebo on angina pectoris.

The effect of timolol vs placebo on the frequency of anginal episodes, nitroglycerin consumption and exercise performance was investigated in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study in 23 patients with angina pectoris. The optimal dose of timolol (10-30 mg twice daily) for each patient was titrated by exercise studies. Compared with placebo, timolol decreased the weekly number of anginal attacks and the weekly number of nitroglycerin tablets consumed, reduced the resting heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and product of systolic blood pressure times heart rate, decreased the heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and product of systolic blood pressure times heart rate at the onset of angina pectoris or marked fatigue, prolonged exercise duration, and diminished electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial ischemia.

Healing of the operative fascial defect after repair of huge midline hernias with the reverse sheath method.

An experiment was carried out to ascertain the fate of the bared muscle following the repair of huge midline hernias with the "reverse sheath" method. Thirty-five patients have undergone operation by this method over the past five years, with excellent results. Experimental stripping of abdominal fascia was done on 35 rats.

Acebutolol in supraventricular arrhythmias.

The effect of intravenous acebutolol on supraventricular arrhythmias was evaluated in 20 patients, 5 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A rapid ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation was slowed greater than 15% in all of 10 patients by acebutolol and in none of 5 patients by saline. A rapid ventricular rate in atrial flutter was slowed greater than 15% in all of 6 patients by acebutolol and in none of 3 patients by saline.

Effect of prazosin vs placebo on chronic left ventricular heart failure.

The effect of the vasodilator prazosin vs placebo on exercise duration until marked dyspnea, and on left ventricular function measured by echocardiography, was evaluated in a double-blind, randomized study in 24 patients with chronic left ventricular failure despite digitalis and diuretic therapy. Compared with the double-blind placebo, prazosin reduced resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure times heart rate, improved clinical symptoms, decreased cardiothoracic ratio measured by chest roentgenography, decreased left ventricular and left atrial dimensions, improved ejection fraction and Vcf measured by echocardiography, and improved treadmill exercise duration. All 12 patients taking prazosin had greater than or equal to 20% improved treadmill exercise duration; none of 12 receiving placebo improved.

Treatment of premature ventricular complexes with acebutolol.

The effect of intravenous acebutolol versus saline solution on frequent premature ventricular complexes was evaluated in a double-blind, randomized study in 20 patients, including 3 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Frequent premature ventricular complexes were abolished or reduced by 75% or more in none of 12 patients given saline solution but in 18 of 20 patients (90%) given acebutolol (P less than 0.001).