Surface marker studies on activated peripheral blood lymphocytes in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor on peripheral blood lymphocytes after stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A) or anti-T3 monoclonal antibody was analyzed in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in order to clarify the abnormalities of lymphocyte activation mechanism in DCM. The expression of IL-2 receptor after the stimulation with either Con A or anti-T3 monoclonal antibody was found to be reduced in the patients with DCM when the results were compared with those of controls. A significant correlation was noticed between the expression of IL-2 receptor after Con A stimulation and T4+/T8+ cell ratio, and between the expression of IL-2 receptor after anti-T3 monoclonal antibody stimulation and the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). The results suggest that there are abnormalities of lymphocyte activation in DCM and that the alteration may be associated with the cause or clinical conditions of DCM.

[Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy manifesting different modes of illness: report of three cases]

Three cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) which presented with different modes of appearance of left ventricular hypertrophy are reported. Case 1: A 24-year-old man had three relatives with HCM. At 13 years of age, he showed no electrocardiographic or echocardiographic abnormalities characteristic of HCM. During the ensuing 11 years, he developed asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) and systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (SAM), with right bundle branch block and T-wave inversion. Cardiac catheterization confirmed the diagnosis of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy by demonstrating an intraventricular pressure gradient of 25 mmHg. These observations indicate that this case developed abnormal hypertrophy during adolescence on the basis of genetic predisposition of an autosomal dominant trait. Case 2: A 51-year-old woman had three proven and three possibly affected relatives. At 35 years of age, she had a normal electrocardiogram, although the echocardiogram was not available. Now, 16 years later, she had developed ASH with abnormal Q-waves and was diagnosed as having non-obstructive HCM. These suggest that ASH can be manifested as late as during middle-age, even in those with genetic predisposition. Case 3: A 47-year-old woman was diagnosed as having hypertension and her blood pressure was 190/100 mmHg at 40 years of age, though she had no abnormal electrocardiographic findings and heart murmurs. Now, at 47 years of age, she had developed T-wave inversion, ASH, SAM, and an intraventricular pressure gradient of 50 mmHg. Thus, her ASH appeared during middle-age, and was probably provoked by hypertension, though a complete family survey could not be conducted. These three patients' findings indicate that there may be various modes of appearance of left ventricular hypertrophy in HCM. In the majority of patients with genetic predisposition, abnormal hypertrophy may develop during adolescence as in Case 1. In others, it may develop in middle-age, as it did in Case 2. The disease spectrum of HCM may additionally include those who develop abnormal hypertrophy during middle-age, following provocation by hypertension, as in Case 3.

Quantitative evaluation of regional myocardial blood flow by videodensitometric analysis of digital subtraction coronary arteriography in humans

Videodensitometric analysis of digital subtraction coronary arteriography, a new approach for calculating contrast disappearance half-life (T1/2), was assessed in determining regional myocardial blood flow quantitatively. Forty-one patients with coronary artery disease and 12 with angiographically normal coronary arteries underwent digital subtraction coronary arteriography by manual injection of contrast medium into the left main coronary artery. The T1/2 was calculated from a time-density curve generated in the four sectors of the myocardium perfused by the left anterior descending coronary artery. The mean T1/2 value of the four sectors correlated inversely with the great cardiac vein flow measured by the thermodilution method (r = -0.89), and appeared to be a reliable index of myocardial blood flow. The relation of mean T1/2 with percent stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery was curvilinear (r = 0.88) and an abnormally high T1/2 occurred in patients with coronary stenosis greater than 75%. In patients with comparable stenosis of the left anterior descending artery, the apical T1/2 was significantly increased in those with impaired apical wall motion, while it was significantly decreased in those with coronary collateral vessels. These findings suggest that regional myocardial blood flow begins to decrease in vessels with greater than 75% stenosis, and that myocardial contraction and collateral flow are additional factors that modify regional myocardial blood flow. Thus, the contrast disappearance half-life (T1/2) derived by computerized washout analysis of digital subtraction coronary arteriograms proved useful as an index for quantitative evaluation of regional myocardial blood flow.

Comparable effects of oral diltiazem and verapamil in the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Double-blind crossover study

The effects of oral diltiazem, 180 mg/day, were compared with those of oral verapamil, 240 mg/day, in 32 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), using a double-blind crossover study design. In the first treatment period, diltiazem and verapamil improved subjective complaints in 83% and 71% of those who were symptomatic in the baseline period. Maximal oxygen consumption on exercise stress test increased with verapamil by 2.9 +/- 4.2 ml/Kg/min (p less than 0.05), and tended to increase with diltiazem. Verapamil also reduced the amplitude of negative T wave. In the statistical analysis based on the crossover design, diltiazem and verapamil did not differ in global improvement, overall safety and global utility ratings. In addition, both drugs showed comparable effects on electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables and exercise tolerance except for minor differences in diastolic blood pressure, T wave amplitude and peak exercise heart rate. On the other hand, verapamil tended to induce more serious side effects, forcing the discontinuation of medication in 3 patients. Therefore, the present study indicates that diltiazem is essentially equally as effective as verapamil and is preferable in the treatment of patients with HCM since it may exhibit fewer serious side effects.

Relationship of exercise or pacing induced ST segment depression and myocardial lactate metabolism in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

To elucidate a mechanism and clinical implications of chest pain and ST segment depression during exercise in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), we investigated myocardial lactate metabolism during atrial pacing in 18 patients with HCM and 7 control subjects with normal coronary arteriograms. At an average peak pacing rate of 146 beats/min, 11 patients with HCM showed the lactate extraction ratio decreasing to less than 5%, and 6 of them produced lactate, suggesting the development of myocardial ischemia. These 11 patients with abnormal lactate metabolism demonstrated ST segment depression (82%) and chest pain (73%) during pacing and also presented abnormal results (55%) on an exercise stress test. These abnormal findings were not observed in the other 7 patients who had ratios of 5% or more at peak pacing. These observations suggest that ST segment depression and chest pain are manifestations of myocardial ischemia even in patients with HCM who have normal coronary arteriograms, and that patients with pacing induced abnormal lactate metabolism are at an increased risk of developing myocardial ischemia during exercise.

Lymphocyte subsets in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and perimyocarditis

Lymphocyte subsets were analyzed in patients with DCM, arrhythmias following influenza symptoms and acute perimyocarditis, respectively by an automated laser flow cytometry system with the use of monoclonal antibodies. A lower percentage of OKT8+ cells and a high OKT4/OKT8 ratio were found in the DCM and arrhythmias groups. No phenotypic abnormalities in the lymphocyte subsets were found in patients with acute perimyocarditis who were favorably progressing in clinical features. The results suggest that an immunological disturbance thought to play a part of the pathogenesis of DCM or heart failure may cause the abnormality of lymphocyte subsets.

The role of drinking and cigarette smoking in the excess deaths from liver cancer

A long-term cohort study of 639 males in a farming area and 677 males in a fishing area in Kyushu, Japan, has been conducted to evaluate risk factors for ischemic heart disease. The present investigation utilized this long-term cohort study to assess the role of drinking and cigarette smoking habits in the causation of liver cancer. The O/E ratio (ratio of the observed to expected number of deaths) of liver cancer was 7.5 (P less than 0.001) among shochu drinkers in the fishing area. Further, a clear dose-response relationship of O/E ratio was noted: 5.7 (P less than 0.001), 7.5 (P less than 0.001) and 20.0 (P less than 0.001) for drinkers of less than 1, 1-2, and 2 or more units of shochu (a distilled alcoholic beverage made in Japan; about 25% alcohol). Although no excess risk was found among shochu drinkers in the farming area, observed and expected numbers were too small to make valid judgements. Among sake drinkers, the observed and expected numbers were very similar in both areas. Cigarette smokers in the fishing area appeared to have a high risk for liver cancer, the O/E ratio being 4.8 (P less than 0.001). However, there was no clear dose-response relationship and O/E ratios among cigarette smokers according to their drinking habits indicated no excess risk among nondrinkers. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed an insignificant effect of cigarette smoking on the development of liver cancer after adjustment for shochu drinking. These findings suggest a significant involvement of shochu drinking in the etiology of liver cancer, at least in this fishing area.

An advanced form of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy showing massive myocardial fibrosis with intramural small arterial thickening. An autopsy case

An autopsy case of an advanced form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) showing marked fibrosis with intramural small arterial abnormalities is presented in this report. A 52-year-old woman, who had a positive family history of HCM, was admitted because of palpitations. The chest roentgenogram showed a mildly enlarged cardiac silhouette and the electrocardiogram revealed abnormal Q waves and R wave and T wave abnormalities. The echocardiogram revealed hypokinesis with thinning of the interventricular septum and the anterior wall of the left ventricle. Percutaneous right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies demonstrated moderate interstitial fibrosis with small arterial thickening. At necropsy, the anterior and posterior walls of the left ventricle and the interventricular septum were markedly thinned and showed a massive transmural fibrosis. Moreover, the intramural small arteries, 50-300 microns in diameter, showed marked intimal and medial hypertrophy with proliferation of elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells. From these findings, it is suggested that this was originally a case of HCM which progressed to a decompensated stage because of the abnormal intramural small arteries. The significance of small arterial lesions in HCM is discussed.

Increased cardiovascular response to epinephrine in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

To study the role of catecholamines in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), hemodynamic responses to low and high dose infusions of epinephrine (0.037 and 0.074 micrograms/Kg/min) were compared between 21 patients with nonobstructive HCM and 21 healthy controls, matched for age and sex. During low dose infusion, patients with HCM showed significantly greater responses (p less than 0.05) than controls in echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) end-systolic dimension (-8 +/- 1% vs -4 +/- 1%, mean +/- SEM), fractional shortening (12 +/- 2% vs 7 +/- 1%) and peak systolic velocity of the LV posterior wall (32 +/- 5% vs 15 +/- 4%), but the differences disappeared during high dose infusion. Thus, patients with HCM started to respond to epinephrine earlier than controls and seemed to have an increased sensitivity of beta-adrenergic receptors in the cardiovascular system. As the augmented responses were more evident in younger patients (less than 35 years) who manifested frequent familial occurrences of HCM, the increased sensitivity to catecholamine was postulated to be genetically determined and to be related to the abnormal myocardial hypertrophy of HCM.

[Dysfunction of Carpentier-Edwards porcine mitral bioprosthesis causing a musical systolic murmur: a report of two cases]

Two patients with disruption of Carpentier-Edwards porcine mitral bioprosthesis presenting with a musical systolic murmur were reported. The two patients noted sudden development of a loud musical murmur 4 (Case 1) and 6.5 (Case 2) years after surgery. Case 1 had associated heart failure. Phonocardiogram disclosed a loud musical systolic murmur with regular vibrations at 230-240 Hz in Case 1, and 250-260 Hz in Case 2. In Case 1, echocardiography demonstrated fine fluttering of the porcine mitral valve at the same frequency as the murmur. Doppler echocardiography revealed characteristic Doppler signals from the porcine valves at a frequency of 250-300 Hz with several harmonics above and below the baseline. In addition, in Case 2, similar Doppler signals were obtained from the aortic walls, ventricular septum and posterior wall of the left ventricle. In both cases, left ventriculograms demonstrated grade 3 mitral regurgitation without paravalvular leakage, and at surgery, the porcine bioprosthesis showed a tear in one of markedly thinned cusps, without evidence of calcification. It was considered that a torn cusp was the source of the murmur, and this, in association with the resonance of the entire heart, produced the loud musical murmur. Thus, a musical systolic murmur is suggested to be one of important signs of dysfunction of porcine bioprosthesis.

Termination of ventricular tachycardia by an implantable atrial pacemaker and external pacemaker activator

An atrial pacemaker was implanted in a patient who had dilated cardiomyopathy, sinus node dysfunction, and drug-resistant ventricular tachycardia (VT). VT episodes were terminated by atrial overdrive pacing using an implanted pacemaker and a newly developed hand-held external programmer/transmitter. Although successful cases of termination of intractable VT by ventricular pacing have recently been reported, the ventricular method might increase the risk of accelerating VT. Atrial overdrive pacing is a safer method since it minimizes the possibility of tachycardia acceleration and, combined with antiarrhythmic drugs, it appeared to be a unique and useful approach for the treatment of drug-resistant VT.

[Left ventricular peak filling velocity and its relevant factors in hypertrophic hearts]

To evaluate the relevant factors of left ventricular peak filling velocity, M-mode echocardiograms showing the left ventricular cavity were recorded and digitized for 81 patients with hypertrophic hearts (HTH) due to hypertensive heart disease (HHD, n = 30), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n = 25), aortic valve stenosis (AS, n = 9), and HHD and HCM with congestive heart failure (HHD and HCM with CHF, n = 17). Peak rates of increase or decrease in dimension (Vf and Ve, respectively) and peak values of instantaneous circumferential fiber lengthening and shortening velocities (Vf/D and Ve/D, respectively) were determined by computer analysis of left ventricular internal dimensions. Systolic excursion (SE), percent fractional shortening (%FS), mean circumferential fiber shortening velocity (mVcf), thickness of the interventricular septum and posterior wall at end-diastole and the sum of them (WThivs, WThpw, and WThivs + pw, respectively) were also calculated. Their variables were compared with those of normal subjects (n = 24). The results obtained were as follows: Systolic functions in HTH without CHF were similar to those of the normal subjects, but Vf and Vf/D were significantly decreased. Differences in Vf and Vf/D between various HTH without CHF were not significant. In AS and HTH with CHF, Vf and Vf/D were significantly decreased together with systolic function. Vf correlated significantly with WThivs + pw, SE, Ve, and WThivs, and Vf/D with %FS, SE, Ve/D, and Ve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Medical management of infective endocarditis; limitations and indication for surgery

Problems and limitations of medical management for infective endocarditis were studied and surgical indications were discussed based on the retrospective analysis of 55 episodes. Since perioperative complications still occur during highly active infection, antibiotic treatment was suggested as the primary management. Intractable or progressing heart failure appeared to be a definite indication for emergency surgery, but medical therapy was recommended for mild to moderate heart failure. For uncontrolled infection of more than one month duration despite the best available antibiotics, surgical debridement of the infected tissue was indicated. Occurrence of peripheral or fatal emboli was difficult to predict from clinical features and echocardiogram and therefore presented a therapeutic dilemma. Since major or fatal emboli frequently occurred during highly active infection, early initiation of effective antibiotic therapy was considered to be of primary importance. Demonstration of vegetation by echocardiography alone did not seem to justify urgent surgery. In addition, disseminated intravascular coagulation appeared to be a serious complication and thus sedimentation rate should be followed carefully. In the healed stage, prophylactic surgery seemed unnecessary for prevention of recurrent infection or embolization, as they were relatively rare.

Research on cardiomyopathy in Japan

Many experimental and clinical studies have been performed in Japan, since the Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy Research Committee sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan was organized in 1974. Much interest has been focused on myocarditis as a possible pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy and extensive experimental studies have been performed as well as histopathologic assessment at autopsy or biopsy. In the clinical field, suspected cases of myocarditis are not uncommon, but determination of etiological viruses is quite difficult in most patients except at the acute stage. Therefore, endomyocardial biopsy has been recently introduced in more than 13 institutes in Japan in an effort to obtain more accurate diagnosis. In 1983, the Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy Research Committee performed a study on the prognosis of cardiomyopathy in 1255 patients (786 hypertrophic and 469 dilated). The prognosis of dilated cardiomyopathy was poor, with a 5-year survival rate of only 54.3%. This figure contrasted with the better prognosis in those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (92%).

Serum N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in a large population--a useful index of cardiovascular impairment

Serum N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) levels were measured in 1080 residents in Tanushimaru, Fukuoka, aged 20 to 84 years old, during a periodical epidemiological survey performed in 1982. Thirteen pregnant women were excluded from this study. Serum NAG levels showed an increase with age, but were not different between sexes. We found high serum NAG values in those with high blood pressure, high serum total cholesterol, low serum HDL-cholesterol, or reduced creatinine clearance rate, and women with high serum uric acid, increased skinfold thickness, or high hematocrit. Multiple regression equation was as follows: NAG = 3.53 + 0.07 (age) + 0.14 (hematocrit) + 0.03 (total skinfold thickness) + 0.04 (systolic blood pressure) - 0.03 (HDL-cholesterol) - 0.04 (mean blood pressure) - 0.01 (creatinine clearance). The multiple correlation coefficient was 0.37 (F = 24.4). We suggest that NAG may be a useful index in screening cardiovascular impairment and for cardiovascular risk factors.

Changes of left ventricular pressure-diameter-velocity relations by alterations of heart rate in conscious dogs

Changes of left ventricular (LV) pressure-diameter-velocity relations by alterations in heart rate (HR) were investigated in 6 conscious dogs, instrumented with a pair of ultrasonic crystal probe, a micromanometer in LV and pacing electrodes on the left atrium. By atrial pacing the following four stages of HR were produced: stage (S)-I 112, S-II 134, S-III 158 and S-IV 179 bpm (mean HR). These alterations in HR were repeated before and during acute pressure loadings by methoxamine infusion. LV pressure-diameter and pressure-velocity relations were evaluated by the slope value of LV peak systolic pressure (LVSP)-end-systolic diameter, E (D) max, and by the ratio of changes in mV cf (mean velocity circumferential fiber shortening) and LVSP before and during pressure loading, delta mVcf/delta LVSP, respectively. The average of E(D) max at each stage of HR was 9.45, 12.63, 12.59, 11.22 mmHg/mm, and delta mVcf/delta LVSP was -0.009, -0.006, -0.007, -0.009 circ./sec.mmHg, respectively. E(D) max increased more at S-II and S-III than at S-I, and reversely, E(D) max decreased more at S-IV than at S-II. Similarly, delta mVcf/delta LVSP increased more at S-II than at S-I and decreased more at S-IV than at S-II, while delta LVSP and delta EDD (end-diastolic diameter) were not different between stages. These changes in E(D) max and delta mVcf/delta LVSP presented the mountainous pattern effected by alterations in HR, whose changes were almost similar to that of LV peak positive dp/dt and mVcf before pressure loading. Thus, E(D) max is augmented by an increase in HR, which suggests the Bowditch-effect. Reversely, a decrease in E(D) max at a higher rate indicates a depressed inotropic state. E(D) max is dependent on HR and is a sensitive indicator of the contractility of LV.

Reconsideration of heart rate-cardiac output relationships and resting cardiac function in patients with brady-arrhythmias

Different types of heart rate (HR)-cardiac output (COP) relationships were compared with their clinical features and hemodynamic findings in 56 patients with brady-arrhythmias (BA). HR was raised by increments of 10 beats per minute (bpm) at 3 min intervals, from spontaneous rates to 100 or 110 bpm by right ventricular pacing. Cardiac and left ventricular (LV) functions at BA were evaluated by intra-cardiac pressures, COP measured by the thermo-dilution method and echocardiographic data. HR-COP relationships were divided into the following 3 types: 24 patients of flat (F), 18 of peaked (P) and 14 of increased (I) type. There were more patients with complete atrio-ventricular block, particularly His-ventricular block, and cardiomyopathic patients with the "P" type than with the other types. Cardiac index, stroke index, stroke work index and systemic vascular resistance were greater in "I", but these differences were not significant. LV peak systolic pressure (LVSP) and end-diastolic pressure (EDP) in "I" increased more than in "F". EDP, LV end-diastolic and end-systolic dimension (ESD) in "P" increased more than in "F". Systolic excursion and LVSP/ESD ratio in "I" increased more than in the other types. Heart failure prior to implantation of pacemaker (PM) and post-PM occurred more frequently in "P". "F" and "I" patients showed comparatively good clinical courses after PM. Thus, cardiac and LV function during BA are maintained in "F" and are impaired in "P", as reported previously. On the other hand, cardiac functions are maintained in "I" as they are in "F", mainly due to contributions of the Frank-Starling mechanism and partly due to maintenance or slight augmentation of contractility.

[Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with ventricular septal hypertrophy localized to the apical region of the left ventricle (apical ASH)]

Clinical and morphologic features are described in a subgroup of 22 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, who showed ventricular septal hypertrophy localized to the apical region (apical asymmetric septal hypertrophy: apical ASH). All patients had ventricular septal thickness of 17 mm or less with an average of 13 +/- 3 mm in the M-mode echocardiograms. In contrast, the two-dimensional echocardiograms demonstrated septal hypertrophy localized to the apical region, with an average septal thickness of 20 +/- 3 mm at the mitral valve and papillary muscle levels. On the left ventriculogram, 82% of patients with apical ASH showed inward concavity of the right-inferior wall of the left ventricle, indicating hypertrophy of the ventricular septum. However, no patient showed spade-like appearance of the left ventricle and only two showed giant T wave inversion exceeding 10 mm. Echocardiographic examination performed in eight affected relatives revealed typical asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) in four relatives, one of them showing a resting pressure gradient of 30 mmHg in the left ventricle. The remaining four relatives showed similar apical ASH. When compared with patients of typical ASH, patients with apical ASH demonstrated significantly greater cardiac size, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left atrial and left ventricular diameters and significantly lower percent fractional shortening. Atrial fibrillation, B bump of the mitral echogram and heart failure were more frequent in this subgroup of patients. Thus, apical ASH appeared to be a part of the morphologic spectrum of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with ASH and to be a separate disease entity from apical hypertrophy previously described in Japan. Severely impaired diastolic performances associated with mild to moderately depressed systolic function of the left ventricle were the characteristic clinical features of the subgroup of patients with apical ASH.

Prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

One hundred thirty-six patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were followed up for 1 to 17 years. Twenty-one patients had died, 14 of them suddenly, two from heart failure, two from cerebral embolism, and three from noncardiac causes. Life table analysis revealed that sudden death was significantly associated with young age less than 20 years (relative risk [rr] = 8.63, when compared with those greater than 40 years) and with positive Master's single two-step test (rr = 3.55). Heart failure was more frequent in patients with positive Master's single test (rr = 4.27) and with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure greater than 20 mm Hg (rr = 2.58). Atrial fibrillation, observed in 15 patients, was a poor prognostic sign, resulting in five cardiac deaths and seven heart failures. In contrast, prognosis was favorable in patients with apical hypertrophy with giant negative T wave. Thus Japanese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy showed a prognosis consistent with Western patients, except for excellent outcome of apical hypertrophy.

[Mechanism of exercise-induced ST segment deviation in myocardial infarction: a 201T1-myocardial scintigraphic study]

Exercise-induced ST segment deviation was investigated using thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy and correlated with coronary artery lesions in 25 patients with old myocardial infarction. Seven of eight patients without ST deviation showed no reversible perfusion defect by near maximal exercise, and six had no significant stenosis in the coronary arteries perfusing the non-infarcted area. During exercise, ST segment depression was induced in 12 patients and six of them developed a reversible perfusion defect in the non-infarcted area, associated with significant stenosis of the corresponding coronary arteries. Remaining six patients, however, did not show a reversible perfusion defect and four of them had no significant stenosis of the coronary arteries perfusing the non-infarcted area. In nine patients with exercise-induced ST segment elevation in leads with Q waves, a reversible perfusion defect was not detected in seven (78%) and five (71%) of them had no significant coronary artery stenosis as well. Four patients developed both ST segment elevation in leads with Q waves and ST segment depression in other leads. One patient who had significant coronary artery stenosis in the non-infarcted area and showed a reversible perfusion defect developed 1.5 mm ST elevation in II, III, a VF leads and 4 mm ST depression in precordial leads. In the remaining three patients who did not show a reversible perfusion defect and significant coronary artery stenosis in the non-infarcted area, ST depressions were less than 2 mm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiac hypertrophy in surgically denervated dogs with aortic stenosis

Left ventricular cell hypertrophy in dogs with aortic stenosis was accelerated by surgical denervation of the left ventricle. We conclude that there are neural mechanisms which, when present, inhibit cardiac cell hypertrophy.

Aneurysm of the left aortic sinus causing acute myocardial infarction

A 30-year-old female had an acute myocardial infarction complicated by congestive heart failure. Angiography demonstrated an aneurysm in the area of the left aortic sinus. The aneurysm compressed and displaced the main trunk of the left coronary artery and the proximal portion of the left anterior descending artery. This aneurysm was considered to be the cause of the infarction. Aortic valve replacement and removal of the aneurysm were performed. Postoperative studies revealed good function of the replaced valve, good antegrade filling of the left coronary artery, and improved left ventricular function.

Increased left ventricular function as an adaptive response in vibration disease

Vibration disease results from the long-term use of vibrating tools. Vibration, noise, and cold are stressors that impair the human body, inducing vibration disease. From echocardiographic methods, the left ventricular ejection fraction in vibration disease was 79 +/- 4%, a significantly higher value than that in control subjects (75 +/- 6%) (p less than 0.01). The increase in ejection fraction appeared to be due mainly to an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension. The value of the ejection fraction was proportional to the activity of the autonomic nerves. The stroke volume index in patients with vibration disease was also significantly larger than that in the control subjects (p less than 0.001). Electrocardiograms revealed a significantly lower heart rate at rest and an increase in the ratio of T waves to R waves in precordial lead V6. These data suggest that the cardiovascular system in patients with vibration disease provides an adaptive response to the stressors.

[Left ventricular performance during exercise in patients with constant heart rate]

In order to evaluate the response of left ventricular (LV) performance in pacemaker implanted patients (PMI pts) with constant heart rate during exercise, supine bicycle ergometer exercise was performed simultaneously in 21 PMI pts and 4 age-matched normal subjects. PMI pts were classified into two groups; Group I consisted of 16 pts with relatively good physical work capacity (maximal load: male; 80 watt or more, female; 60 watt or more), and Group II consisted of 14 pts with depressed physical work capacity (maximal load: male; 60 watt or less, female; 40 watt or less). During dynamic exercise LV end-diastolic dimension (EDD), stroke excursion (SE), percent fractional shortening (%FS) and posterior wall velocity (PWV) showed a significant increase and LV end-systolic dimension (ESD) showed a significant decrease in Group I in contrast with Group II and normal subjects. Systolic blood pressure (sBP) and sBP/ESD ratio significantly increased in Group I and normal subjects than in Group II. Furthermore, resting cardiac parameters were more impaired in Group II than Group I. Thus, it was suggested that Group I adapted to exercise according to Frank-Starling mechanism (increased EDD) and contractility due to probably increasing circulatory catecholamine (increased PWV and decreased ESD). On the other hand, Group II did not adapt sufficiently to exercise because of the limitation of preload-reserve and contractility-reserve on exercise and also at rest.

Noninvasive assessment of the autonomic nervous tone in angina pectoris: an application of digital plethysmography with auditory stimuli

To assess the relationship between autonomic nerve activity and the anginal attack, we examined the daily variation of the autonomic tones employing digital plethysmography with auditory stimuli, and also tested the daily variation of exercise capacity. Thirteen of 45 cases (28.9%) of spontaneous angina, excluding Prinzmetal's angina, complained of typical chest discomfort or pain especially in the morning. They manifested an augmented level of the autonomic nerve activity and positive stress testing. The remainder did not demonstrate these abnormal findings in the morning. For the 13 cases, calcium antagonists were given orally immediately after awakening. This resulted in the complete relief from chest discomfort or pain. These findings suggest that an autonomic imbalance plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this type of anginal attack. Thus, the estimation of the daily variation of autonomic nervous tone would be valuable for the diagnosis and treatment of angina pectoris.

[Cross-sectional echocardiographic visualization of the infarcted site in myocardial infarction: correlation with electrocardiographic and coronary angiographic findings]

Three dimensional assessment of the site of myocardial infarct was performed using cross-sectional echocardiography in 68 patients with old myocardial infarction. Patients with a history or electrocardiographic findings suggestive of double or multiple infarctions were excluded from the study. In patients with abnormal Q waves in V1 to V3, a regional wall motion abnormality (asynergy) was observed in the anterior portion of the interventricular septum (IVS) and the anterior free wall of the left ventricle (LV) which was extended from the base to apex. Most of them had a significant stenosis in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) distal to the first diagonal branch. Patients with Q waves in V1 to V5 or V6 showed extensive asynergy in the anterior IVS, anterior and lateral free walls of the LV extended from the base to apex. LAD stenosis proximal to the first diagonal branch seemed to be the corresponding coronary lesion. In patients with Q waves in V3 to V5 or V6, asynergy was limited to the apical half of the anterior wall of the LV. In patients with Q waves in II, III and a VF, asynergy was observed in the basal half of the posterior wall and the posterior portion of the IVS.

Analysis of organic acids in the hearts of patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Organic acids in the hearts of patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy, obtained by biopsy, were studied using gas chromatography--mass spectrometry. The profiling of organic acids was compared among eight cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, three cases of congestive cardiomyopathy, and nine cases of other heart diseases, which were regarded as controls. It was found that almost all organic acids, especially deoxyaldonic acids of 2-deoxytetronic acid, 2,3-dideoxypentonic acid, 3-deoxy-2-C-(hydroxymethyl)tetronic acid, 3-deoxyerythropentonic acid and 3-deoxy-2-C-(hydroxymethyl)erythropentonic acid, were accumulated in large amounts in the heart in congestive cardiomyopathy, while these acids were decreased in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It was therefore suggested that deoxyaldonic acid metabolism in the heart in congestive cardiomyopathy is quite different from that in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

[Exercise two-dimensional echocardiography: correlation between exercise induced asynergy and coronary artery lesions]

Exercise two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography was performed in patients with suspected coronary artery disease, and exercise induced left ventricular asynergy was evaluated qualitatively and was compared with the coronary artery stenosis and electrocardiographic ST changes. Subjects were 12 patients with angina of effort, 8 patients with spontaneous angina, 8 patients with chest pain syndrome with the normal coronary artery, and 7 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Cases with myocardial infarction were excluded from this study. 1) Left ventricular asynergy during exercise was observed in 10 and ST depression in 11 of 12 patients with angina of effort. In patients with spontaneous angina, left ventricular asynergy and ST depression during exercise were observed in 2 of 8 patients without anginal pain, and both patients had coronary artery stenosis of 90% or more. 2) Exercise induced asynergy was also observed in 4 of 7 patients with HCM without coronary artery stenosis. It seemed likely that the markedly hypertrophied myocardium and impairment of left ventricular compliance and relaxation may induce relative myocardial ischemia.

[Diastolic murmur in non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]

Diastolic murmur (DM) in patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (non-obst HCM) was studied regarding incidence, phonocardiographic disposition, mechanism, and also clinical characteristics of patients with DM. The results were as follows: 1) DM was recorded in 17 of 115 patients with non-obst HCM (15%), and was classified into three types of a mid-diastolic murmur, presystolic murmur, presystolic murmur and these combination. Mid-diastolic murmur showed low-pitched character mimicking a flow rumble around apical area in most patients. On the other hand, a presystolic murmur was relatively medium-pitched and spindle-shaped over the 4th left sternal border. Additionally, there were 7 patients of mitral opening sound coincided with the "O" point of the apex cardiogram, and 3 patients of an undefined sound or vibration during atrial contraction. 2) Impaired left ventricular (LV) compliance by pressure-volume analysis and decreased diastolic descent rate (DDR) in the mitral echocardiogram observed in patients with DM suggested that mechanism of these DM is mainly attributed to the disturbance of LV filling. Furthermore, mitral regurgitation was detected by LV angiography in a half of patients, indicating that DM might be partially related to increased mitral flow. 3) Clinically, DM was more common in younger patients of familiar occurrence and death, and with impaired physical work capacity. Therefore, auscultatory or phonocardiographic assessment of DM was clinically useful in the evaluation of patients with non-obst HCM.

Asymmetric ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension

We attempted to clarify the pathogenesis of asymmetric ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients, especially regarding sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin system. Subjects were divided in 3 groups by echocardiographic findings; 1) 15 patients with non-hypertrophy (NH), 2) 14 patients with symmetric hypertrophy (SH), and 3) 10 patients with asymmetric hypertrophy (ASH). Subjects with ASH showed following features. Age (53.7 +/- 1.6 yr) was older than NH (43.7 +/- 1.4 yr) but not different from SH (49.7 +/- 2.3 yr). Mean arterial pressure (119.0 +/- 3.9 mmHg) was higher than NH (107.5 +/- 1.4 mmHg) but not different from SH (122.4 +/- 2.8 mmHg). End-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions were smaller and ejection fraction was larger than those of NH and SH. Cardiac index (3.90 +/- 0.37 L/min/M2) was largest among 3 groups. UNE (19.5 +/- 2.5 micrograms/day) was lower than SH (31.2 +/- 2.5 micrograms/day). PRA (0.44 +/- 0.16 ng/ml/h) was lower than SH (1.53 +/- 0.20 ng/ml/h) and NH (1.62 +/- 0.28 ng/ml/h). Ejection fraction was correlated with UNE (r = 0.835) and PRA (r = 0.736). We suggest that the heart of hypertensives with ASH is in hyperdynamic state due to the hyperresponsiveness to sympathetic stimuli, although they have a decrease of sympathetic nervous activity, and the renin-volume axis may have no important role on the pathogenesis of ASH.

Changes of organic acids in rat heart muscle under ischemic-like conditions

Gas chromatographic--mass spectrometric analysis demonstrated the presence of organic acids such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, compounds related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle., fatty acids, and deoxyaldonic acids in rat heart muscle. The variation of these organic acids was examined over a range of time elapsed after decapitation. The results showed that lactic acid, glycolic acid and deoxyaldonic acids of 3-deoxy-2-C-(hydroxymethyl)-tetronic acid, 3-deoxyerythropentonic acid and 3-deoxy-2-C-(hydroxymethyl)erythropentonic acid increased until 4 min after decapitation, but then decreased from 6 min after decapitation. On the other hand, 2-deoxytetronic acid and dideoxypentonic acid markedly increased and unknown peaks appeared on the gas chromatogram from 6 min after decapitation.