A special course for premeds and biology majors at Hofstra University.

Three years ago the biology department at Hofstra University began to offer an innovative course for premeds and biology majors. "Applications of Basic Science to Cardiovascular Medicine," taught by a practicing cardiologist, demonstrates why students must master basic science in order to understand the mechanisms and treatment of disease.

Fuzzy cluster analysis--a new method to predict future cardiac events in patients with positive stress tests.

Several studies have shown that combining the change in the ST-segment with another exercise variable improves the predictive value of stress testing. However, no method has been able to combine many stress test variables with the ST-segment change simultaneously and help the clinician better predict future cardiac events. Fuzzy Cluster Analysis (FCA) was used to combine 5 stress test variables with ST-segment deviation to classify each of 232 positive outpatient stress tests as mildly, moderately, or severely abnormal.

Fuzzy cluster analysis of positive stress tests, a new method of combining exercise test variables to predict extent of coronary artery disease.

Fuzzy set theory is useful in the analysis of data having a graded degree of abnormality. Previous studies using sharp cutoff points between normality and abnormality have resulted in general guidelines for the interpretation of positive stress tests, but do not enable the clinician to simultaneously combine several stress test variables, each having a range of abnormality. In this study, positive stress test results from 109 patients were reviewed.

Functional and anatomic correlates of markedly abnormal stress tests.

The functional state and coronary anatomy of 120 patients evaluated primarily because of a markedly positive ischemic exercise stress test (greater than 2 mm ST depression) is presented. Twenty-seven patients were asymptomatic (group A), 36 patients (group B) had type I angina (Canadian classification) and 57 patients (group C) had angina with only minor limitations (type II angina). All patients underwent exercise stress testing (Bruce protocol) within 2 months of cardiac catheterization.