[Open foramen ovale in patients with arterial vascular occlusions of the retina and optic nerve].

Background: We examined the frequency and significance of persistent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with ocular circulatory disturbance.

Patients And Methods: Forty patients with acute arterial occlusions of the posterior bulb segment were investigated by means of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The parallel presence of cerebral ischemia was clarified on the basis of existing CCT findings and by additional HMPAO-SPECT investigation.

Acute influence of beta-adrenergic antagonists on left ventricular diastolic function: contrasting results after administration of celiprolol and metoprolol.

Various beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists have different effects on myocardial function. A clinical study was performed in 30 patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease and systemic hypertension to compare the effects of single intravenous doses of 0.15 mg/kg celiprolol (n = 16) (third generation beta-blocking agent) and metoprolol (n = 14) (second generation) on left ventricular diastolic function.

Celiprolol exerts microvascular dilatation by activation of beta 2-adrenoceptors.

In order to clarify the question whether the beta 1-selective adrenoceptor antagonist celiprolol possesses vasodilating properties, isolated vascular networks were perfused with increasing concentrations of celiprolol (in a cumulative manner) ranging from 10(-8) to 10(-4) mol/l. The study was carried out using the isolated mesenteric vascular bed of the guinea pig mesenterium coli. Vascular diameters of four different vascular regions [vessels classified as G1 (585 +/- 30 microns), G2 (403 +/- 25 microns), G3 (282 +/- 27 microns) and G4 (197 +/- 13 microns)] were assessed by means of microscopic videoangiometry.

Distinct pathways for beta-adrenoceptor-induced up-regulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and inhibitory G-protein alpha-subunits in chicken cardiomyocytes.

Exposure of cardiomyocytes from chicken embryos for 3 days to the beta-adrenoceptor agonist, isoproterenol, lead to a down-regulation of beta-adrenoceptors by about 70% and to a decrease in isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity by about 40% (homologous desensitization). In addition, the isoproterenol treatment induced an increase in the level of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors by about 30% and an increase in pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of two about 40 kDa proteins, most probably alpha-subunits of the inhibitory G-protein (Gi), by about a factor of two (heterologous desensitization). The purpose of the present study was to characterize the role of beta-adrenoceptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms in heterologous desensitization of adenylyl cyclase.

Acute haemodynamic profile of celiprolol in patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension: a double-blind comparison with metoprolol.

Celiprolol is a 'third generation' beta-blocking agent which is claimed to avoid problems associated with simpler beta-blockers, such as vasoconstriction, bronchoconstriction and myocardial depression. A double-blind randomized study was undertaken in 30 patients with coronary artery disease and hypertension to compare the haemodynamic effects of single intravenous doses of 0.15 mg kg-1 celiprolol (N = 16) and metoprolol (N = 14).

[Ultrastructural morphometric studies of the myocardium of cardiomyopathic hamsters of the BI0 8262 strain].

Tissue of myocardium from (8262) hamsters, 2, 6 and 27 weeks of age, were analyzed with quantitative microscopic techniques. Besides alterations of some other structures, we found the most evident changes in the mitochondrial abnormalities exist at all ages. They may be related to defective energetic mechanism.

[Surgical therapy of bacterial endocarditis].

On the basis of an own clinical material of 26 patients and in comparison to the literature indications and results of the operative therapy in bacterial endocarditis were discussed. The progressive, conservatively not controllable cardiac insufficiency is the most frequent indication for operation. Without valve replacement it causes death in 60-90% of the patients.

[Coronarography findings following systemic short-term lysis of acute myocardial infarct].

In 50 patients with acute infarction who were admitted within 6 hours after the beginning of the complaints randomizedly an intravenous streptokinase short-term lysis or a conventional heparin phenprocoumon treatment was performed and 4 weeks later the results were objectified by coronarography and ventriculography. The patients were subdivided into 3 groups: 1. control group (without fibrinolysis), 2.

Epicardial image analysis using a desk top computer. Comparison of epicardial flow distribution and NADH-fluorescence pattern.

In isolated coronary-ligated rabbit hearts, quantification of epicardial flow distribution pattern and of ischemic area was performed from flow indicator and endogenous NADH-fluorescence pictures, respectively, after UV-flash photography. After being digitized (256 X 256 pixels), the fluorescence photos were analyzed by an Apple desk computer using self-written software (fast machine routines called from BASIC programs). The ischemic area (= sum of pixels with enhanced NADH fluorescence) corresponds to the area with disturbed coronary perfusion (= sum of pixels with diminished indicator fluorescence).

[ECG changes in the late postoperative course of patients following alloplastic heart valve replacement].

Based upon a total of 50 patients with alloplastic heart valve substitute an attempt was made to verify postoperative retrogression of the signs of hypertrophy in the ECG and to correlate them with the clinical findings. In accordance with the pertaining literature, the essential criterion for assessing left hypertrophy is the Sokolow index. In corrected aortic lesions there is a close relation between retrogression of electrocardiographic signs of hypertrophy and the clinical degree of severity.

[Upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhages following heart surgery].

The clinical histories of 612 patients who underwent an operation of the heart were evaluated. Eight times a more severe haemorrhage from the upper gastrointestinal tract was described, i.e.

[Indication for alloplastic heart valve prosthesis].

The indication for the alloplastic substitution of the cardiac valve results from the expectation of life with natural course of the disease on the one hand and with the operative risk and late results on the other. For the diagnosis of heart diseases intracardial methods are necessary in much cases. Contraindications result from heavy myocardial and coronary changes which increase the operative risk considerably and no postoperative improvement is to be expected.

[Catamnestic studies on the prodomal phase of myocardial infarct].

In a retrospective study by means of a half-standardized method of interview in 154 patients with acute myocardial infarction and in a control group of the same age (n = 100) anamnestic data were established, particularly taking into consideration the preinfarction phase. 27% of the patients were surprised by an acute myocardial infarction without prodromal symptoms, in 32% the first occurrence of complaints of angina pectoris was during the last two months before the infarction. 41% had a preexisting angina pectoris which usually showed a crescendo-course with increasing approximation to the infarction.