The transfer factor (diffusing capacity) as a predictor of hypoxaemia during exercise in restrictive and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Thirty patients (17 with restrictive, eight with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and five with combined pulmonary changes) were studied. Ordinary pulmonary function tests were made and in addition the transfer factor (diffusion capacity) was measured at rest and compared to the arterial oxygen tension at rest and during maximal exercise. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.

Catecholamine release after physical exercise. A new provocative test for early diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.

A simple and practical provocative test is needed for early asymptomatic pheochromocytoma, which is a major risk for patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN-2). We measured plasma catecholamines before and after submaximal exercise in 26 MEN-2 gene carriers, eight of whom with asymptomatic pheochromocytoma, nine with medullary thyroid carcinoma and 10 after uni- or bilateral adrenalectomy. Seventeen clinically healthy individuals and 11 patients with neurovegetative lability and symptoms mimicking pheochromocytoma served as controls.

Effect of metoprolol on "non-specific" ST-segment and T-wave changes.

Metoprolol, a cardio-selective beta-adrenergic blocking agent, was studied in 25 patients to assess its effect on "non-specific" ST-segment and T-wave changes both at rest and during exercise. In two thirds of the patients with ST-T-abnormalities at rest, the changes disappeared completely after beta-blockade but reappeared during exercise in some of them. Only in 9 patients were the changes eliminated also during exercise implying that they were "functional", i.

Reference values for exercise tests with continuous increase in load.

Reference values for exercise tests with continuous increase in load are presented. The exercise tests were performed on an electrically braked bicycle ergometer by 188 randomly selected Swedes of both sexes who were between 20 and 79 years of age. The reference values are related to sex, age (in decades) and weight and classified in decreasing levels of exercise capacity.

Venous volume in offspring of hypertensive patients.

Twenty normotensive healthy male offspring of hypertensive patients were compared to 20 adequate controls regarding venous volume, the effect of ouabain on venous volume and signs of left ventricular hypertrophy. Among offspring there were slightly increased amplitudes in the orthogonal ECG as compared to controls but the differences were not statistically significant. Using a plethysmographic technique we found a significantly lower venous volume of the forearm in the offspring than in controls.

Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis with 99Tcm-plasmin.

The diagnostic efficiency of 99Tcm-plasmin test was evaluated by X-ray contrast phlebography in 110 consecutive patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The test was positive in 50 of 55 patients with DVT (sensitivity 91%) and negative in 18 of 55 without DVT (specificity 33%). The positive plasmin test in patients without DVT was in most cases due to another inflammatory process or a post-thrombotic state.

Effects of a new beta1-selective beta-blocker H 87/07 in angina pectoris.

The efficacy and toleration of a new beta1-selective beta-blocker, H 87/07, was compared with placebo in 33 patients with angina pectoris. The efficacy was evaluated using subjective assessments of attack rate and nitroglycerin consumption as well as objective assessments of exercise tolerance on a bicycle ergometer. H 87/07 significantly reduced the attack rate and the nitroglycerin consumption compared with placebo.

Diagnosis of ventricular septal defect in acute myocardial infarction without cardiac catheterization.

Five patients with acute myocardial infarction and a systolic murmur suggestive of ventricular septal rupture or mitral regurgitation have been examined by external vascular isotope dilution curves over the chest after i.v. injection of 125I-hippuran.