Accuracy of auscultatory blood pressure measurement with a long cuff.

Intra-arterial blood pressure was compared with simultaneous auscultatory measurements in 37 subjects with a wide range of blood pressures and arm circumferences; six cuffs of various lengths and widths were used. Nineteen subjects had an arm circumference of 34 cm or more (mean 40 cm) and the other 18 were considered to be non-obese and had a mean arm circumference of 30 cm. With each larger cuff, in terms of bladder surface area, auscultatory blood pressure decreased a few mm relative to intra-arterial pressure both for systolic and for diastolic measurements.

Circulatory response to postural change in healthy male subjects in relation to age.

The initial heart rate (HR) response evoked by standing up and 70 degrees head-up tilt from the supine resting position, as well as the changes in HR and blood pressure after 1-2 min in the upright position, was analysed in teenage boys (aged 10-15 years) and healthy old men (aged 60-90 years). Standing up induced a characteristic temporary HR increase that lasted 20 s and far exceeded the gradual initial HR rise induced by head-up tilt. The main effect of age on the initial HR transients was a definite diminution of the response.

Acute dysautonomia associated with Hodgkin's disease.

A patient is described with acute dysautonomia associated with Hodgkin's disease. Testing of cardiovascular reflex control showed that this patient had a rare manifestation of autonomic cardiovascular neuropathy, namely intact parasympathetic heart rate control in combination with a sympathetic postganglionic lesion affecting the control of the vascular tree.

Effect of physical exercise on blood lipids and adipose tissue composition in young healthy men.

In a prospective, controlled study, the influence of strenuous physical exercise on plasma total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I, total triglycerides and fatty acid composition of adipose tissue was studied during 7 months of training in 15 senior oarsmen and 21 controls matched for age, smoking and drinking habits. Dietary intake was monitored. At the start of the study there were no differences in lipid parameters and adipose tissue composition between oarsmen and controls.

Mechanisms of initial blood pressure response to postural change.

The influence of supine rest on the blood pressure response to standing and 70 degrees head-up tilt was studied in detail for the first 30 s after the change of posture. Following 20 min of supine rest, the active transition to standing was accompanied by an immediate increase in systolic pressure of 29 +/- 6 mmHg (mean +/- SEM). This was followed by large fluctuations in systolic pressure: to -28 +/- 2 mmHg below control after 7 s and to 22 +/- 2 mmHg above control after 22 s (17 mmHg in excess of the systolic pressure level after head-up tilt).

Relationship between impaired parasympathetic and sympathetic cardiovascular control in diabetes mellitus.

We have investigated the relationship between vagal and sympathetic lesions in 62 diabetic patients and compared the results with those from 37 healthy subjects. Vagal function was assessed by heart rate changes with forced breathing. Sympathetic control was measured by the heart rate and blood pressure changes after standing and the concomitant plasma catecholamine response.

Testing for autonomic neuropathy: heart rate changes after orthostatic manoeuvres and static muscle contractions.

1. The initial heart rate (HR) response evoked by standing, 70 degrees head-up tilt, handgrip and contraction of abdominal and leg muscles was analysed in diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy and in matched controls. 2.

Mechanisms of initial heart rate response to postural change.

We explored in 43 healthy subjects the afferent mechanisms of the initial heart rate response to standing by comparing free standing, 70 degrees head-up tilt, handgrip, and contraction of abdominal and leg muscles. The results indicate the following. 1) Standing evokes an immediate, large, bimodal increase of heart rate (HR) of about 20 s duration that far exceeds the gradual HR rise induced by 70 degrees head-up tilt.

Reflex control of heart rate in normal subjects in relation to age: a data base for cardiac vagal neuropathy.

We examined the heart rate changes induced by forced breathing and by standing up in 133 healthy subjects in the age range 10-65 years in order to establish a data base for studies on parasympathetic heart rate control in autonomic neuropathy. Test results declined with age. Log-transformation was used to define the lower limit of normal (P0.

Echocardiographic dimensions and maximal oxygen uptake in oarsmen during training.

We studied nine freshmen and 14 senior oarsmen undergraduates during seven months of training and compared them with 17 age and sex-matched sedentary control subjects in order to assess the influence of heavy physical exercise on cardiac dimensions and maximal oxygen uptake. Standard M-mode echocardiographic techniques were used. At the start of the season senior oarsmen had a greater left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, and a thicker interventricular septum and posterior left ventricular wall than control subjects and freshmen oarsmen.

Myocardial perfusion imaging with thallium-201 to assess left ventricular hypertrophy and regional ischaemia in hypertensive patients.

The increase in mortality from cardiovascular disease in the presence of electrocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been ascribed to ischaemic changes in the hypertrophied left ventricle even in the absence of overt coronary artery disease. To test this hypothesis and to investigate the usefulness in the detection of LVH myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with thallium-201 and echocardiography was performed in thirty-three hypertensive patients. Sixteen had had electrocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy.