Brain magnetic resonance imaging, aerobic power, and metabolic parameters among 30 asymptomatic scuba divers.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of cerebral lesions in asymptomatic scuba divers and explain the causes of them: potential risk factors associating cardiovascular risk factors, low aerobic capacity, or characteristics of diving (maximum depth, ascent rate). Experienced scuba divers, over 40 years of age, without any decompression sickness (DCS) history were included. We studied 30 scuba divers (instructors) without any clinical symptoms.

[Asthma and diving with a cylinder].

Undersea diving is an activity that is practised more and more in holiday clubs. There is no precise legislation on the causes of unfitness of the amateur, in contrast to the professional diver, where the medical criteria are strict and controlled. When diving with a cylinder, on descent, the ventilatory load increases with increase of the ambient pressure and dynamic resistance in the airways increases.

[Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by cytochrome-oxidase deficiency].

Mitochondrial cytopathies are due to genetic anomalies in the oxidative phosphorylation enzymes (excepting Krebs cycle, pyruvate and certain other mitochondrial enzymes). Recently discovered, these diseases have a characteristic heterogeneous clinical expression because of the ubiquitous nature of this intracellular organelle. We observed a case in a 16-year-old girl who had cytochrome C oxidase deficiency.

Effect of a protein-sparing diet on responses to exercise in obese subjects.

We have studied muscular work efficiency and VO2 peak in seven obese individuals (body mass index: 38.9 +/- 5.8 kg.

[Prognostic value after 1 year of post-infarction exercise test with measurement of oxygen consumption].

A symptoms-limited exercise stress test with measurement of myocardial oxygen consumption (VO2) was carried out in 56 patients on the 44th +/- 16 days after infarction and in 48 patients on the 119th +/- 31 days. Analysis of the expired gases was performed by mass spectrography, cycle by cycle. The second test was coupled with an exercise gamma-angiography in 40 cases.

[Medical treatment of hypertrophic myocardiopathy. Comparison of propranolol and verapamil].

It remains difficult to make a reasoned choice between betablockers and calcium antagonists in the medical treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In order to help in making this choice, we compared the effects of 320 mg of propranolol and 480 mg of verapamil, prescribed in a random order for an average period of 2.5 months in 24 patients.

[Exercise testing in probable primary hypokinetic cardiomyopathies].

50 patients with primary congestive cardiomyopathy underwent one or several exercise tests at yearly intervals in order to evaluate exercise capacity and to assess the prognosis. Three parameters were studied: the workload, the elevation of the systolic blood pressure (SBP) on exercise and the appearance of premature ventricular beats (PVB) on exercise or during the recovery phase. The results show that when the work loads > 120 watts, an elevation of SBP greater than or equal to 50 mmHg and the appearance of less than 3 PVB per minute were compatible with a moderate degree of physical exertion.