Clinical evaluation on combined administration of oral prostacyclin analogue beraprost and phosphodiesterase inhibitor cilostazol

Among various oral antiplatelets, a combination of a novel prostacyclin analogue beraprost (BPT) and a potent phosphodiesterase inhibitor cilostazol (CLZ) may result in untoward clinical effects due to possible synergistic elevation of intracellular cAMP (cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate). Thereby, a clinical study of the combined administration of the two agents was attempted. Twelve healthy volunteers were assigned to take BPT/CLZ in the following schedule; BPT: 40 micrograms at day 1 and 120 micrograms t.i.d. from day 7 to 14, CLZ: 200 mg t.i.d. from day 3 to 14. At various time intervals, physical examination and blood collection for ex vivo platelet aggregation and determination of intraplatelet cAMP were performed. Throughout the observation period, no significant alteration in vital signs was observed. Seven out of 12 subjects experienced headache of a short duration accompanying facial flush in one and nausea in one, especially after ingestion of CLZ. All of these symptoms, probably caused by the vasodilating effect of the two agents, were of mild degree and no special treatment was required. Intraplatelet cAMP content was gradually but significantly increased to 9.84 +/- 4.59 pmol per 10(9) platelets at day 14 in comparison with the initial value (6.87 +/- 2.25 pmol). The platelet aggregability was significantly suppressed at various time intervals but no additive or synergistic inhibitory effect by the combined administration was noted. In conclusion, the combined administration of BPT/CLZ is safe at doses used in the study, though the beneficial clinical effect of the combined administration has yet to be elucidated.

Cerebrospinal fluid edema associated with shunt obstruction

The authors report four hydrocephalic children with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) edema extending along the ventricular catheter of an obstructed CSF shunt. Three of the patients exhibited massive CSF edema along the ventricular catheter, yet they manifested neither ventricular enlargement nor apparent periventricular CSF edema despite increased intraventricular pressure. These findings suggested ventricular tautness. The remaining patient, who had dilated ventricles with periventricular CSF edema, displayed CSF edema in a limited area along the ventricular catheter. Replacement of the obstructed peritoneal catheter of the shunt resulted in rapid improvement of the edema in all patients. In the three patients with massive CSF edema, however, a small lesion remained in the subcortical white matter along the ventricular catheter as demonstrated by computerized tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging 3 to 5 years after shunt revision. It is concluded that shunt obstruction may result in massive CSF edema along the ventricular catheter in hydrocephalic children who have ventricular tautness after installation of the shunt causing irreversible although usually asymptomatic damage to the affected area of the brain.

Different target-site specificities of the hairpin ribozyme in cis and trans cleavages

The hairpin ribozyme cleaves a phosphodiester bond at the 5' side of a 5'GUC3' sequence of an RNA with high efficiency. An RNA having a 5'GUA3' sequence instead of the GUC sequence is a poor substrate for this ribozyme. Here, we show that this is indeed so in a trans-acting ribozyme system, but in a cis-acting ribozyme system this ribozyme cleaves the 5' side of a GUA sequence as efficiently as the wild-type cleaves the GUC sequence. One base substitution in the ribozyme also affected the target-site specificity in the cis-acting system.

The effects of calpeptin (a calpain specific inhibitor) on agonist induced microparticle formation from the platelet plasma membrane

Platelets activated by various agonists produce formation of vesicles shed from the plasma membrane (microparticles). However, the mechanism of microparticle (MP) formation has not been clarified yet. The aim of the present study was to determine the possibility of involvement of calpain (a Ca(2+)-dependent thiol protease) in MP formation. Washed platelets preincubated with calpeptin, a cell permeable calpain specific inhibitor, or with a vehicle were activated by thrombin plus collagen or by calcium ionophore A23187. Flow cytometry was used to detect the amount of microparticle formation by using murine monoclonal antibodies against GP IIb-IIIa or GP IIb and fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate labeled goat anti-mouse IgG. MP formation stimulated either by thrombin plus collagen or by A23187 was inhibited by calpeptin in a dose dependent manner. The microparticle formation from platelets activated by A23187 reached a plateau in approximately 5 min after activation, whereas that from platelets activated by thrombin plus collagen reached a plateau at 30 min following the stimulation. These time sequences corresponded well with those of degradation of actin-binding protein (ABP), a well known substrate of calpain, of platelets activated by these two stimulations. However, the inhibition of MP formation by calpeptin was more marked in the early stage (within 10 min) than in the late stage (after 30 min) of platelet activation. At 30 min after platelet activation by either two stimulations, a significant amount of microparticle formation was observed in the presence of 30 microM calpeptin, which inhibited hydrolysis of ABP almost completely. Our data suggest the involvement of calpain in the early stage (especially within 10 min) of microparticle formation.

Calyculin A inhibits the exposure of fibrinogen receptor in thrombin-stimulated platelets

Calyculin A (CLA) and okadaic acid (OA), specific and potent inhibitors of protein phosphatase 1/2A, inhibit platelet aggregation. However, their inhibitory mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated the effects of CLA on the exposure of fibrinogen receptor in thrombin-stimulated platelets, using flow cytometry with a monoclonal antibody against the fibrinogen receptor of activated glycoprotein(Gp)IIb/IIIa complex (PAC-1). CLA inhibited the exposure of fibrinogen receptor in a dose related manner when added either before or 3 min after thrombin stimulation. In contrast, CLA had no significant effect when the expression of GpIIb/IIIa complex was examined in resting platelets, using a monoclonal antibody recognizing non-activated GpIIb/IIIa complex (NNKY1-32). These results suggest that protein phosphatase 1/2A may be directly involved in the exposure of platelet fibrinogen receptor.

The possible involvement of protein phosphatase 1 in thrombin-induced Ca2+ influx of human platelets

Protein phosphatase 1 is considered to be involved in thrombin-induced platelet activation (Murata et al., Biochem Int 26:327-334, 1992). To clarify the mechanism, we examined the effects of protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitors (calyculin A, tautomycin, okadaic acid) on Ca2+ influx. In the presence of 1 mM Ca2+, thrombin- (0.1 U/ml) induced platelet aggregation and ATP release were inhibited by calyculin A, while this inhibitory effect was abolished in the absence of Ca2+ (EGTA 1 mM). Furthermore, thrombin-induced Mn2+ influx but not intracellular Ca2+ mobilization was inhibited by calyculin A in a dose-related manner. Calyculin A also blocked the ongoing Ca2+ influx when added 3 min after thrombin stimulation. Similar inhibitory effects were observed with okadaic acid and tautomycin in the same potency sequence as the reported one for protein phosphatase 1 (calyculin A > tautomycin > okadaic acid). These results suggest that the anti-platelet effects of phosphatase inhibitors are due to the inhibition of Ca2+ influx and that protein phosphatase 1 plays a key role in the regulation of receptor operated Ca2+ channel of human platelets.

[A case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma successfully treated with hyperthermic chemotherapy]

Continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion (CHPP) with cisplatin (CDDP) was performed for a 65-year-old female with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Ascites disappeared after CHPP, and she has survived 3 years and 3 months after the diagnosis. CHPP might be a useful therapy for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

Sub-acute toxicity of piperonyl butoxide in F344 rats

Piperonyl butoxide, alpha-[2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-4,5-methylenedioxy- 2-propyltoluene, is a pesticide synergist. F344 rats of both sex were maintained on diets containing 0, 0.6, 1.2 or 2.4% of piperonyl butoxide for 13 weeks. At the end of experimental period, they were necropsied. Selected organs were weighted and serum was analyzed by clinical chemistry. In male and female rats of the 2.4%-group, body weight gains were depressed, macroscopically, hepatomegaly was marked and liver weights were significantly higher than those of the control group. In male and female rats of all treated groups, relative kidney weights were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner. Rats of the 2.4%-group had increased levels of albumin, cholesterol, urea nitrogen and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Examination of livers of the male 2.4%-group by light microscopy showed enlarged hepatocytes with glassy cytoplasm and fatty deposition. On occasion, there was coagulative necrosis of a few hepatocytes in the periportal area and oval cell proliferation. The kidney of treated rats showed atrophy of epithelium in the proximal convoluted tubules. These results indicated that toxicity of piperonyl butoxide in rats was directed primarily to the liver and kidney.

Post transplanted infective endocarditis

The patient, a 51-year-old man, was receiving immunosuppressants for 2 yr after renal allotransplantation. He had heart failure with aortic regurgitation, fever, anemia and a history of odontectomy on admission. He was resistant to medical treatments and died from cerebral emboli. On autopsy, vegetation of the aortic valve was identified. Progression of atherosclerosis, which may have been due to steroids and chronic rejection, was prominent. This report is the first case of infective endocarditis following organ transplantation in Japan. Such complications as infective endocarditis and atherosclerosis will be on the rise with the increase of numbers or organ transplantations.

Surgical treatment of the retethered spinal cord after repair of lipomyelomeningocele

In a series of 75 patients with surgically treated lipomyelomeningoceles, the neurological condition of six patients deteriorated 6 months to 14 years after the operation due to repeat tethering of the spinal cord. The tethering resulted from postoperative dense adhesion between the cord and the overlying dura mater. Two of the six patients underwent conventional repeat untethering procedures, and the remaining four were successfully treated with a new surgical technique developed by the authors to prevent such dural adhesion. For this procedure, after complete untethering of the spinal cord, the lumbosacral cord is retained in the center of the dural sac by fine stay sutures between the pia mater of the conus medullaris and the ventral dura mater. In addition, the dura mater is tacked to the posterior arch which is reconstructed with bone grafts at one or two bifid vertebral levels. During a postoperative follow-up period of 1 to 3 years, no further deterioration has been observed and magnetic resonance studies have demonstrated a space filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the lumbosacral cord. The authors conclude that long-term observation, both neurological and radiological, is essential even after successful repair of a lipomyelomeningocele. This new surgical procedure can maintain a CSF bath around the lumbosacral cord, thus preventing dural adhesion. Application of this technique will hopefully be beneficial in lipomyelomeningocele patients with a high risk of cord retethering after initial repair.

Effects of intermittent coronary sinus occlusion on experimental myocardial infarction and reperfusion hemorrhage

The effects of intermittent coronary sinus occlusion (ICSO) on the size of myocardial infarction and reperfusion hemorrhage was evaluated. In Protocol 1, 8 dogs with ICSO and 8 controls underwent 4h of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The same number of dogs underwent 4h of occlusion followed by 1h reperfusion in Protocal 2. The ICSO was started 1h after the ligation and continued through the occlusion period. There was no difference between the ICSO and the control group in hemodynamics and regional myocardial blood flow using hydrogen clearance method. However, ICSO did accelerate the rate of decline in intramyocardial CO2 tension. The half life of CO2 tension was 256 +/- 106 min in the control group but 139 +/- 34 min in the ICSO group (p less than 0.01). Lactate extraction rate showed the improving tendency during ICSO period. The ICSO resulted in a 50% and 80% reduction on an average in the size of infarct and reperfusion hemorrhage, respectively. We conclude that ICSO has prospective effects on myocardial ischemia with promise for clinical application.

Inhibitors of skin-tumor promotion. VIII. Inhibitory effects of euglobals and their related compounds on Epstein-Barr virus activation. (1)

Twelve euglobals from Eucalyptus globulus and their twenty-six related compounds were examined for their inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus activation by a short-term in vitro assay. The results showed that most of the euglobals having monoterpene structures, and euglobal-III (8) had strong inhibitory activity. Grandinol (18), homograndinols (19 and 20), and compounds 26, 27, 28, and 32 showed stronger inhibitory effects. Based on the results, the structural requirements for the activity of these compounds were discussed.

Positive indium-111 leukocyte imaging in post myocardial infarction syndrome

The diagnosis of post myocardial infarction syndrome (PMIS) is sometimes difficult because of the absence of a specific test. We report a 68-year-old man with PMIS who had a persistent accumulation of indium-111 oxine labeled leukocytes in the infarcted myocardium for 1 month. The uptake of leukocytes preceded the appearance of the main symptoms and disappeared with the clinical improvement after the therapy with steroids. Leukocyte imaging has a potential as a useful tool for early diagnosis, evaluation of therapy and assessing the mechanism of PMIS.

[Indication for coronary revascularization in patients without redistribution on 201Tl myocardial scintigraphy]

To determine the indication for coronary revascularization (A-C bypass and PTCA), we performed thallium(Tl)-201 scintigraphy and contrast left ventriculography (LVG) in 25 cases who had A-C bypass surgery and 22 cases who had PTCA. The Tl uptake in the delayed image (Tl score = normal: 3, mild hypoperfusion: 2, severe hypoperfusion: 1, defect: 0), the presence of redistribution, and regional wall motion by LVG (LVG score = normal: 3, reduced: 2, none: 1, dyskinesis: 0), were compared with each other before and after revascularization. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of myocardial viability as evaluated by each index were; the presence of redistribution; 96%, 35%, and 60%; Tl score much greater than 2; 83%, 33%, and 66%; Tl score much greater than 1; 81%, 75%, and 81%; LVG score much greater than 2; 80%, 29%, and 63%; and LVG score much greater than 1; 79%, 33%, and 74%; respectively. It was difficult to evaluate the myocardial viability only by the presence of redistribution. However, any case with redistribution was a prime candidate for coronary revascularization. The Tl score much greater than 1 was the most reliable indication using the individual index. Although the diagnostic accuracies of the Tl and LVG scores were superior to the presence of redistribution, there was no individual index of myocardial viability common to all cases. If there were clinical necessity and angiographic indication, coronary revascularization could be tried in all cases except those whose Tl and LVG scores were both 0. In conclusion, myocardial viability can be evaluated scintigraphically only by the delayed image and by the presence of redistribution. As a conventional indication for coronary revascularization, the Tl score is relatively useful for predicting improvement after revascularization.

[Ischemic heart disease evaluated by exercise stress thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy: a comparison of SPECT and bull's eye display]

T1-201 stress myocardial scintigraphy was performed in 35 cases of ischemic heart disease (angina pectoris and myocardial infarction) to assess the accuracy of SPECT and bull's eye display in the quantitative diagnosis of coronary artery lesions. We evaluated the sites of ischemic heart disease using the following methods: 1. SPECT (visual): visual evaluation by myocardial SPECT images. 2. SPECT +bull's eye (visual): visual evaluation by stress, delayed and washout images of bull's eye display. 3. bull's eye (quantitative): quantitative evaluation by the washout rate and % uptake. The diagnostic accuracy of method 2 was higher than that of method 1 in all coronary arterial vessels; LAD (74% vs 80%), LCX (60% vs 63%) and RCA (57% vs 60%). The diagnostic accuracy of method 3 was approximately equal to that of method 2. The diagnostic accuracy of method 2 was higher than of method 1 in patients with three-vessel disease (43% vs 67%), while there was no such difference in patients with both single and two-vessel disease. Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy of method 3 was approximately equal to that of method 2 in patients with three-vessel disease. In some cases the redistribution was recognized only by using washout images or by calculating the washout rate as a quantitative evaluation. In conclusion, the bull's eye display improved the diagnostic accuracy of T1-201 scintigraphy, but the quantitative analysis did not further improve the accuracy. However, there were some possibilities of evaluating the redistribution in some cases by using quantitative analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Elevated pulmonary arterial pressure in pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (LAM) is characterized by proliferation of smooth muscles around lymphatics and bronchovascular bundles, presenting clinical manifestations of obstructive or restrictive lung disease with greatly impaired gas exchange. To date, little attention has been paid in the literature to the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension related to this disorder. A case of a 39-year-old woman with the characteristic clinical and histological features of pulmonary LAM is presented. She was found to have moderate pulmonary hypertension. Possible mechanisms for the development of pulmonary hypertension are discussed.

[Precordial ST segment depression in acute inferior myocardial infarction: the importance of posterolateral wall infarction]

To determine whether precordial ST segment depression during acute inferior myocardial infarction indicates posterolateral wall ischemia, anatomical predominance of coronary circulation was examined by coronary angiography and evaluated in 43 patients who experienced first acute inferior myocardial infarction. Among patients who underwent intracoronary thrombolysis within six hours from the onset of symptoms, the infarct-related artery was the right coronary artery (RCA) in 35. In addition, their early 12-lead electrocardiographic features were compared with those in eight patients having the infarct-related left circumflex coronary artery (group Cx). Thirty-five patients with RCA obstruction were categorized in four groups: Four patients with left predominant type (group L), 10 with balanced type (group B), five with right super-predominant type (group SR), and 16 with right intermediate type (group RI). Seventeen of the 21 patients in groups SR and RI demonstrated precordial ST segment depression, whereas it was present in only six of the 14 patients in groups L and B (p less than 0.05). Of the 29 patients in groups SR, Cx and RI, total ST segment depression in leads V1 through V4 (sigma ST) was greater in the 14 patients in groups L and B (p less than 0.05) than in other groups. Furthermore, in these 29, all patients in groups SR and Cx had greater sigma ST than did the patients in group RI (p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in sigma ST between groups SR and Cx. Precordial ST segment depression did not correlate with concomitant disease of the left anterior descending artery and was not a mirror image of ST segment elevation in inferior leads. On thallium-201 scintigraphy, additional perfusion defects of the posterolateral wall were present in all eight patients in group Cx and in ten of the 21 patients in groups SR and RI. Thus, precordial ST segment depression during acute inferior myocardial infarction seemed to be affected by the pattern of coronary circulation. It was concluded that this ST depression represents more extensive involvement of the posterolateral wall in patients with right predominant coronary circulation as well as in those with left circumflex artery obstruction.

Inotropic effects of (+/-)-higenamine and its chemically related components, (+)-R-coclaurine and (+)-S-reticuline, contained in the traditional sino-Japanese medicines "bushi" and "shin-i" in isolated guinea pig papillary muscle

(+/-)-Higenamine (Hig. demethylcoclaurine) is a cardiotonic principle from aconite root. (+)-R-Coclaurine (Coc) and (+)-S-reticuline (Ret) are compounds contained in the dried buds of Magnolia salicifolia MAXIM. All of these alkaloids possess a common chemical structure: tetrahydroisoquinoline. Coc and Ret showed negative inotropic effects in contrast to the positive inotropic effects of Hig in papillary muscles of guinea pigs. Coc and Ret shifted to the right the concentration-contraction curves of Hig. Hig shifted in parallel to the left the Ca2+ curve, and it tended to shift to the left the isoproterenol (Isp)-induced response curve. In contrast, Coc and Ret inhibited the Ca2+ curve and the low concentration range of the Isp-induced curve, and it potentiated the high concentration ranges of Ca2+ and Isp. Coc and Ret showed actions that were reversed in direction to those of Hig, as clearly demonstrated in the Ca2+ curve.

[Factors influencing exercise tolerance in patients with myocardial infarction as elucidated by Tl-201 myocardial scintigraphy]

Measurements of O2 consumption during treadmill exercise tests and Tl-201 myocardial scintigraphy were performed in 17 cases of myocardial infarction to elucidate O2 consumption at an anaerobic threshold ATVO2 as an adequate index of exercise tolerance, and the scintigraphic indices influencing the exercise tolerance. ATVO2 was obtained using the method of Wasserman and Davisand corrected by body weight. The scintigraphic indices such as the location, extent (residual myocardium), and severity (% uptake) of myocardial infarction were obtained from SPECT and bull's eye displays on Tl-201 myocardial scintigraphy. ATVO2 was correlated with theoretical VO2max as obtained by the predicted maximal heart rate (r = 0.56, p less than 0.01) and with left ventricular ejection fraction as obtained by radionuclide left ventriculography (r = 0.59, p less than 0.01). There was no significant difference between ATVO2 in cases of anterior wall infarction and those of inferior (and/or lateral wall) infarction. There was no significant correlation between % uptake and ATVO2. However, the residual myocardium showed a significant correlation with ATVO2 (r = 0.61, p less than 0.01). In conclusion, 1) ATVO2 is an adequate index of exercise tolerance and reflects cardiac function. 2) The extent of the residual myocardium is most strongly influenced by ATVO2 among the indices of myocardial damage as obtained by Tl-201 myocardial scintigraphy.

Effects of left ventricular dysfunction on left atrial performance in previous myocardial infarction and during pacing-induced myocardial ischemia in angina pectoris

This study aimed to evaluate acute and chronic response of left atrial function to left ventricular dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease. We studied simultaneous measurements of left atrial volume by biplane cineangiography and left ventricular pressure at rest and after pacing in 59 patients with coronary artery disease and 11 normal subjects. At rest, 35 patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI group) had low left ventricular filling rate of the first third in diastolic time, large left atrial volume before contraction (LA pre-ACV) and large left atrial ejection volume (LAEV), compared with control group. Left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF), the ratio of LAEV to LA pre-ACV, was similar between both groups. LAEF was maintained within a wide range of values in accordance with left ventricular peak A pressure, except for 3 patients who had high values of left ventricular peak A pressure and low values of LAEF. After a right atrial pacing stress test, time constant was prolonged and mean emptying rate of left atrial volume during early diastole decreased in 11 patients with angina pectoris who had an increase greater than 5 mmHg in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure after pacing. In these group, LA pre-ACV increased, LAEF decreased and LAEV was unchanged. These results suggest that left atrial performance responds differently to acute and chronic left ventricular dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease.

Pulsed Doppler echocardiographic assessment of transmitral flow in pacing-induced angina pectoris

We analyzed transmitral flow using pulsed Doppler echocardiography during anginal attack provoked by atrial pacing in 11 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Left ventricular (LV) filling period was divided into 4 time intervals (Tr1: the time interval to peak velocity of rapid filling (peak R), Tr2: the time interval from peak R to the end of rapid filling, Ts: the time interval of slow filling, Ta: the time interval of atrial contraction). The velocity in each interval was integrated by planimeter as IR1, IR2, IS or IA which indicates relative filling volume in each interval. During angina, IR1 was unchanged due to prolongation of Tr1 (82 +/- 21 to 102 +/- 23 msec, p less than 0.02), despite a decrease in peak R (54 +/- 11 to 43 +/- 11 cm/sec, p less than 0.005), while IR2 decreased (5.8 +/- 1.9 to 4.3 +/- 1.4 cm, p less than 0.005) and IA increased (6.7 +/- 1.4 to 7.3 +/- 1.3 cm, p less than 0.005). In conclusion, these results suggested that in acute myocardial ischemia in CAD a decrease in transmitral flow from the time of peak R to the end of rapid filling (IR2) reflected the impairment of the LV rapid filling, which was incompletely compensated by an increase in atrial contraction.

[Clinical significance of precordial ST segment depression during acute inferior myocardial infarction]

To investigate the mechanisms and clinical significance of precordial (V1-V4) ST segment depression during acute inferior myocardial infarction, stress thallium-201 scintigrams and coronary angiograms were obtained within four to eight weeks after the onset of myocardial infarction in 37 patients experiencing their first acute inferior myocardial infarction. Among 18 patients with precordial ST depression (group 1), 11 with concomitant disease of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) had positive results on exercise test, whereas in seven patients without LAD lesion, only two had positive exercise test (p less than 0.01). In 19 patients without precordial ST depression (group 2), 11 had severe stenosis in the LAD. However, among these 11 patients, only two had positive exercise tests. Patients with precordial ST depression demonstrated a higher frequency of positive exercise tests than those without it (p less than 0.01). On stress thallium-201 scintigraphy, a perfusion defect involving the inferior wall was present in all patients, but additional anterior wall ischemia was present in only five of the 18 patients in group 1. These five patients had chest pain on exercise tests and a severe stenosis greater than 90% in the LAD. There was no significant difference in the frequency of additional posterolateral wall infarction between groups 1 and 2. In 18 patients in group 1, sigma ST (total degrees of ST segment depression in leads V1, V2, V3, and V4 in the acute stage) was significantly greater in 11 patients with LAD lesion than in seven without (p less than 0.05), and sigma ST greater than five mm was observed in 12 of 13 patients who had additional anterior wall ischemia and posterolateral wall infarction on stress thallium-201 scintigraphy (p less than 0.05). Myocardial revascularization, such as aortocoronary bypass surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), was performed in six of the 18 patients in group 1 in the chronic stage, but in only one of the 19 patients in group 2. Thus, in patients with initial acute inferior myocardial infarction, those with precordial ST depression seemed to be a high-risk group. It was suggested that, during the early stage of myocardial infarction, this abnormality on electrocardiograms is related to the summation of effects of anterior wall ischemia and posterolateral wall infarction. Furthermore, the sigma ST evaluation is useful in differentiating a mirror image of inferior wall infarction from anterior wall ischemia and posterolateral wall infarction as the mechanism of precordial ST depression.

Structure-activity relationships of 4'-O-substituted 1-benzylisoquinolines with respect to their actions on the cell membrane of blood platelets and erythrocytes

4'-O-Substituted 1-benzyl-2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines inhibited the collagen-induced activation (aggregation and ATP secretion) of rabbit platelets and transformed the shape of human erythrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Both effects increased with increasing number of carbon atoms of the 4'-substituted hydrocarbon moiety. The incorporation of these compounds into the erythrocyte membrane was also dependent on the number of carbon atoms of the 4'-substituted radical. The most potent phenoxy derivative suppressed arachidonic acid release from membrane phospholipids but had no effect on arachidonic acid metabolism in platelets. This indicated that the effects are comparable to those of a natural bisbenzylisoquinoline, cepharanthine. These effects appear to be due to a perturbing action on the membrane lipid bilayer.

Impaired right ventricular filling in old myocardial infarction

To evaluate ventricular filling and interactions between right and left ventricles in patients with old myocardial infarction, right and left ventricular time-volume curves were analyzed from a cineangiographic study of 10 normal subjects (Group 1), 10 patients with old anterior myocardial infarction (Group 2) and 10 patients with old inferior myocardial infarction (Group 3). Volumes of both ventricles were calculated from each frame over an entire cardiac cycle using Simpson's method. From time-volume curves, peak ejection rates, peak filling rates and atrial kick rates were obtained for both ventricles and these parameters were normalized by end-diastolic volume. All patients were in sinus rhythm with heart rates less than 80 beats/min. There were no significant differences among the 3 groups in end-diastolic pressure of both ventricles and mean pulmonary artery pressure. Left ventricular ejection fractions were significantly lower in Groups 2 and 3 than in Group 1 (p less than 0.001, p less than 0.005, respectively), although there were no significant differences in end-diastolic volume indexes of either ventricle among the 3 groups. Peak left ventricular ejection rate and peak filling rates of the left and right ventricles were lower in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01, respectively) and peak filling rate of the right ventricle in Group 2 correlated with the peak filling rate of the left ventricle and left ventricular ejection fraction (r = 0.64, r = 0.64, respectively). Peak filling rate of the right ventricle in Group 2 correlated inversely with left ventricular peak negative dp/dt (r = -0.72), but no correlation was found between peak filling rate of the right ventricle and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index or mean pulmonary artery pressure. Peak ejection rate of the left ventricle and peak filling rates of both ventricles in Group 3 were lower than in Group 1 (p less than 0.02, p less than 0.02, p less than 0.01, respectively) and no correlation was found between peak filling rates of both ventricles. Wall motion of the right ventricular septal portion was slightly reduced in 5 patients in Group 2. In all patients in Group 3, right ventricular wall motion centering around the right ventricular diaphragmatic portion was reduced. These results suggest that in old inferior myocardial infarction, right ventricular wall motion abnormality results in impaired right ventricular filling, whereas in old anterior myocardial infarction, right ventricular filling is reduced indirectly due to impaired left ventricular filling.

Noninvasive demonstration of underlying severe coronary disease in patients with vasospastic angina

Dipyridamole test, isoproterenol test, and treadmill exercise test were performed in two groups of patients with vasospastic angina (Group 1: 10 patients with 70% or greater coronary narrowings, Group 2: 8 patients with narrowings less than 70%. The results were correlated with coronary anatomy. In Group 1, vasodilation of resistance vessels by dipyridamole elicited ischemic episodes in 9 patients and an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption by isoproterenol caused anginal attacks in 7 patients. None of patients of Group 2 showed positive responses to either drug. All patients of Group 1, and 3 patients of Group 2 gave positive responses to treadmill test. These observations show that several different mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia in patients with vasospastic angina. Pharmacological interventions have higher specificity than exercise tests in predicting coronary anatomy and are useful for the choice of therapy in the patients.

[Hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy assessed by dipyridamole thallium single photon emission computed tomography: comparisons with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with a dilated heart]

Thallium-201 (Tl) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) after dipyridamole infusion (0.56 mg/kg) was performed in 23 patients with hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy (HNCM) and in seven patients with HCM simulating dilated cardiomyopathy (HCM-DCM) to clarify the mechanism and clinical significance of decreased coronary vasodilatory reserve. The coronary vasodilatory reserve in the hypertrophied area assessed by SPECT was compared with the findings of echocardiography, left ventriculography and endomyocardial biopsy. 1. Eleven patients with HNCM had no perfusion defects in the hypertrophied area (group I), but the other 12 patients (52.2%) had such defects (group II). All seven patients with HCM-DCM had perfusion defects in the anterior or septal walls (group III). Redistribution was observed in 11 of the 12 patients in group II and in three of the seven patients in group III. 2. The regional washout rate was relatively low in the upper septum in group II and in the anterior wall and upper septum in group III. Thus, coronary vasodilatory reserve in the hypertrophied area was decreased in groups II and III. 3. Echocardiographically, the degree of hypertrophy did not differ between groups I and II, but the latter had significantly greater left ventricular diastolic dimension (42.3 mm vs 49.5 mm: p less than 0.05) and lower percent fractional shortening (%FS) (43.7% vs 35.6%: p less than 0.05). However, group III showed thinner left ventricular wall, much greater diastolic dimension (60.9 mm vs 49.5 mm: p less than 0.05), and lower %FS (24.0% vs 35.6%: p less than 0.05) than did those of group II. 4. On left ventriculography, those in group II showed larger left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (93.9 ml/m2 vs 79.7 ml/m2: p less than 0.05) than that of group I. Left ventricular ejection fraction showed the same tendency, but this was not statistically significant. 5. On endomyocardial biopsy, the specimens of the patients in group II had significantly higher percent fibrosis than did those of group I (11.4% vs 6.8%: p less than 0.05). These findings suggest that the mechanism of decreased coronary vasodilatory reserve in the hypertrophied area may be related to myocardial fibrosis, and this decrease may induce left ventricular dysfunction and compensatory dilatation.

Hemodynamic effects of digoxin on congestive heart failure

To assess the hemodynamic effects of digoxin (0.01 mg/kg) on congestive heart failure, we evaluated 19 patients with decreased contraction force of left ventricle (old myocardial infarction n = 9, and dilated cardiomyopathy n = 10, group 1) and 8 patients with mechanical impaired left ventricular filing (mitral stenosis n = 8, group 2). In groups 1 and 2, heart rate and pulmonary capillary pressure significantly decreased (p less than 0.05). In group 1, stroke volume increased, but not significantly. In group 2, stroke volume increased significantly (p less than 0.05). There were no significant changes in blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance in either group. We divided group 1 into two groups (group 1A: cardiac index increased more than 15%, group 1B: cardiac index increased less than 15%). In group 1A, cardiac index and % fractional shortening before digoxin administration were lower than in group 1B (1.97 + 0.27 vs 2.80 + 0.481/min/m2, p less than 0.001, and 10.9 + 8.0 vs. 19.5 +11.9%, p less than 0.05, respectively). These data suggested that digoxin exerted a positive inotropic effect with decreased pulmonary capillary pressure but cardiac index did not always increase in congestive heart failure.

[Infantile optic glioma involving the whole optic pathway--a case report]

A case of infantile optic glioma involving the whole optic pathway is reported. The patient was a 4-month-old female. The mother noticed that the baby could not follow the object, although her physical development had been apparently normal only until three months after birth. On admission, she was lethargic, although no definite motor weakness was identified. The ophthalmological check revealed delayed bilateral pupillary light reaction and choked disks. Skull X-ray film showed the J-shaped sella and the enlarged bilateral optic canals. CT scan also revealed an isodensity mass in the suprasellar cistern and enlarged bilateral optic nerves. The lesions were enhanced homogeneously with contrast medium and extended toward both optic radiations. Lateral ventricles were mildly dilated. Cerebral angiography showed the upward shift of A1-portion of the bilateral anterior cerebral arteries and the backward shift of the basilar artery. No abnormal vessels were visible. A bifrontal craniotomy was performed to partially remove the suprasellar tumor. The histological diagnosis was optic glioma. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficits except poor visual acuity. Four months later, she suddenly fell into generalized convulsion. CT scan revealed the significant enlargement of residual tumor and ventricular dilatation. Surgical treatment of VP shunt was immediately performed on, and then irradiation of 4,000 rad of total dose to the tumor followed. The tumor size became definitively small. On a follow-up term of 15 months, the patient has been doing well.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Malignant familial cardiomyopathy with sudden death, typical asymmetric septal hypertrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy-like features]

Twenty-one members of a family were traced for three generations including the propositus, who had typical dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)-like features. Clinical, radiological, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic examinations were performed for 13 of 16 still living. Five of 21 members died including three of sudden death. Among living 16 members, five had congestive heart failure, greater than grade III of the NYHA, and cardiomegaly on chest radiography in five. Left ventricular hypertrophy, abnormal Q waves, and ST-T changes were observed on electrocardiography in two, five and eight members, respectively. Echocardiography revealed asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) in four, two of whom had systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve. Two had features simulating DCM, and five had mitral valve prolapse. Among six patients with ASH or features simulating DCM, four had cardiac catheterization, coronary angiography and endomyocardial biopsy. None had significant coronary stenosis, but all had high left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (23 +/- 7 mmHg). Endomyocardial biopsy showed moderate myocardial cellular hypertrophy, interstitial myocardial fibrosis, nuclear changes and myocardial disarrangement, with features characteristic of HCM. In this family with malignant HCM, patients had various clinical features including typical HCM, simulated DCM, DCM coexisted with mitral valve prolapse, and sudden death occurred frequently.

A comparison of two exponential models of the time constant during left ventricular isovolumic pressure decay in coronary artery disease

To make a comparison of two exponential models of the time constant (Tw: Weiss's method, Tc: exponential analysis with a variable asymptote) during left ventricular (LV) isovolumic relaxation, we assessed LV pressure decay in 104 patients with coronary artery disease (CADpts) and 21 normal subjects at rest and after pacing, and investigated the hemodynamic determinants of these two models using forward-backward stepwise multiple regression analysis. At rest, Tw was prolonged as the left ventricular minimal pressure (LVPmin), the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and the end-systolic volume (ESV) increased (multiple regression coefficient: R = 0.87), whereas Tc was prolonged as ESV and regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) increased (R = 0.72). Pacing-induced changes in Tw were augmented as LVPmin and RWMA increased (R = 0.75), whereas changes in Tc were augmented as RWMA increased (R = 0.63). Thus, the changes in Tw may be due to an increase in LVPmin rather than to any direct effect of ischemia on the relaxation rate. The relaxation rate can be evaluated more reliably by Tc than by Tw, irrespective of associated pressure changes during ischemia in CADpts.

[Hypertensive heart disease simulating dilated cardiomyopathy]

Echocardiography was performed for 246 patients with hypertension. Among the 246 patients, echocardiographic features simulating dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) were observed in 12. These patients had past history of hypertension and prominent left ventricular dilatation with reduced left ventricular contractility, but no left ventricular wall thickening. To elucidate the mechanism producing DCM-like features in patients with hypertension, the clinical and echocardiographic findings of the 12 hypertensive patients (HT-DCM) were compared with those of 50 hypertensive patients without dilated left ventricles and of 31 patients with DCM. On admission, all patients with HT-DCM had congestive heart failure (CHF) without high blood pressure and their echocardiograms revealed the abnormal findings described above. There were no differences of the clinical and echocardiographic findings on admission between HT-DCM and DCM. Following medical treatment, relatively early improvement of CHF was noted in all patients with HT-DCM; the LV dimension decreased and diffuse wall motion abnormality improved steadily with gradual elevation of blood pressure during the follow-up periods. The LV function of most patients with HT-DCM improved markedly but never reached normal levels. There were no significant differences the right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy findings of between DCM and HT-DCM. It was suggested the DCM-like features in these cases are caused, not only by hypertension, but by other factors, as well.

[Right ventricular dysplasia: clinical characteristics of five patients]

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the clinical features of right ventricular (RV) dysplasia, a recently described clinical entity characterized by RV myopathic changes and ventricular tachycardia of left bundle branch block morphology. Five cases were reported, in which the diagnosis was established according to the criteria of Marcus. Case 1, a 33-year-old man, was referred to us for evaluation of his paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia of five years duration. Case 2, a 38-year-old man, was admitted because of shock caused by ventricular tachycardia. In both cases, the QRS configurations during ventricular tachycardia were those of the left bundle branch block pattern, and electrocardiograms during sinus rhythm showed T wave inversions in the right precordial leads and late ventricular potentials. Two-dimensional echocardiography, radionuclide angiography and contrast angiography disclosed RV dilatation and dysfunction with normal left ventricular (LV) function. The biopsied myocardium from the right and left ventricles in Case 2 revealed myocytolysis, a paucity of myofibrils and proliferation of collagen fibers. Case 3, a 73-year-old woman began to experience exertional dyspnea since 16 years of age. Her treatment consisted of bed rest, diuretics and digitalis. In December 1983, her New York Heart Association functional class was III, and physical examinations disclosed a Levine III/VI systolic murmur suggestive of tricuspid regurgitation, jugular vein dilatation, hepatomegaly, and pretibial edema. Electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation, incomplete right bundle branch block and T wave inversions in the precordial leads. Chest radiograph revealed marked cardiomegaly (cardiothoracic ratio of 92%). Echocardiography, radionuclide angiography and contrast angiography revealed marked RV dilatation, depressed ejection fraction (RV end-diastolic volume index of 342 ml/m2, and RV ejection fraction of 28%). Case 4, a 20-year-old man, was admitted with a chief complaint of palpitation. Case 5, a 19-year-old man, was referred to us for the evaluation of asymptomatic cardiomegaly, and his cardiothoracic ratio was 54%. A 12-lead electrocardiogram showed right bundle branch block and T wave inversions in the right precordial leads. Ambulatory electrocardiography revealed frequent premature ventricular complexes of the left bundle branch block pattern. Echocardiography, radionuclide angiography, and contrast angiography disclosed RV dilatation and dysfunction in both cases, and mild LV dilatation and dysfunction (LV end-diastolic volume index of 149 ml/m2, LV ejection fraction of 48%) in Case 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effects of left ventricular asynchrony on time constant and extrapolated pressure of left ventricular pressure decay in coronary artery disease

To elucidate the effects of ventricular asynchrony with or without myocardial ischemia on the time constant of left ventricular pressure decay and asymptote, that is, the level to which pressure would decrease if isovolumic pressure decrease continued infinitely, left ventriculography and pressure measurements were investigated in 14 normal subjects and 25 patients with coronary artery disease. Ventricular asynchrony was quantitated by the segmental area-time curve. This study consisted of two parts. 1) After a right atrial pacing stress test, the time constant and asymptote remained unchanged in eight normal subjects. In 18 patients with coronary artery disease and pacing-induced angina, asynchrony increased, the time constant was prolonged (64 +/- 13 to 94 +/- 17 ms, p less than 0.01) and the asymptote decreased (-22 +/- 10 to -46 +/- 20 mm Hg, p less than 0.01) after the pacing. 2) During right ventricular pacing at 80, 100 and 120 beats/min in the patients, asynchrony increased and the time constant was prolonged (55 +/- 7 versus 70 +/- 10, 47 +/- 11 versus 66 +/- 19, 36 +/- 7 versus 53 +/- 13 ms, respectively, p less than 0.01 versus right atrial pacing), whereas the asymptote was unchanged in six normal subjects compared with the value during right atrial pacing at each pacing rate. In seven patients with coronary artery disease, right ventricular pacing at 80, 100 and 120 beats/min also produced an increase in the time constant, while the asymptote was unchanged. Thus, prolongation of the time constant of left ventricular pressure decay may result from ventricular asynchrony even in the absence of myocardial ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The relation between left ventricular asynchrony, relaxation, outward wall motion and filling characteristics during control period and pacing-induced myocardial ischaemia in coronary artery disease

To assess the relation between left ventricular asynchrony, relaxation, outward wall motion and filling in patients with coronary artery disease and normal systolic function, pressure measurements and left ventricular angiography were performed at rest and after pacing. Asynchrony and outward wall motion were quantified by segmental area-time curves. At rest, there were no differences in asynchrony and time constant between 10 patients with coronary artery disease and 10 normal subjects, while the early-filling rate was less in patients with coronary artery disease than in normal subjects. Six coronary artery disease patients with isolated left anterior descending disease displayed anterior outward wall motion which was less than that of normal subjects. In 10 coronary artery disease patients with pacing-induced angina, asynchrony increased, time constant prolonged and the early-filling rate decreased. In 6 coronary artery disease patients with isolated left anterior descending disease, anterior outward wall motion decreased after pacing. Thus, impaired early diastolic filling at rest in patients with coronary artery disease and normal systolic function may result not from asynchrony nor impaired relaxation, but from reduced regional outward wall motion of the affected area supplied by diseased coronary artery during early diastole. However, during ischaemia temporal asynchrony and impaired relaxation possibly add to left ventricular filling impairment in patients with coronary artery disease.

Effects of diltiazem and nitroglycerin on left ventricular diastolic properties in patients with coronary artery disease

To determine the effects of diltiazem (DTZ) and nitroglycerin (NTG) on left ventricular (LV) diastolic relaxation and filling in patients with cornary artery disease (CADpts), LV graphy and time constant (Tc) of LV isovolumic pressure decay were studied before and 5 min after intravenous DTZ (10 mg) in 16 CADpts and sublingual NTG (0.3 mg) in 11 CADpts. Diastolic regional ventricular filling dynamics were quantitated by segmental area-time curves during early-, mid- and late-filling periods. After NTG, LV systolic pressure (LVSP), end-diastolic pressure (EDP) and end-diastolic volume (EDV) decreased. Early-filling rate (EFR) decreased (165 +/- 82 to 122 +/- 61 ml/sec/m2) due to a decrease in the regional early-filling rate in the normokinetic area and late-filling rate (LFR) increased (95 +/- 38 to 145 +/- 45 ml/sec/m2), while LV peak positive dp/dt, peak LVSP/end-systolic volume (ESV) ratio, Tc and mid-filling rate (MFR) were unchanged. After DTZ, LVSP decreased and EDV increased. EFR increased. EFR increased (127 +/- 54 to 166 +/- 60 ml/sec/m2) due to an enhanced regional early-filling rate in the mildly hypokinetic area, while EDP, LV peak positive dp/dt, peak LVSP/ESV ratio, Tc, MFR and LFR were unchanged. From these results, it was postulated that NTG caused a decrease in LV early filling and an increase in LV late filling, probably due to LV preload reduction. In contrast, DTZ caused significant improvement of LV early filling particularly in the mild hypokinetic area. Thus, DTZ but not NTG was able to relieve local myocardial dysfunction secondary to a stenosed coronary artery during the filling period, resulting in clinical improvement in CADpts.

Hemodynamic effects of digoxin on congestive heart failure in old myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, acute myocardial infarction and mitral stenosis

The hemodynamic effects of digoxin (0.01 mg/Kg) on congestive heart failure were compared in 32 patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI) (n = 9), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (n = 10), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (n = 5) and mitral stenosis (MS) (n = 8). The responses of heart rate (HR) and pulmonary capillary pressure (PCP) to digoxin in OMI, DCM and MS were marked but different in each of these groups and no significant changes were found in patients with AMI. The responses of cardiac index (CI) to digoxin in patients with OMI and DCM in whom left ventricular myocardial contractile force was impaired were divided into 2 groups (Group 1: CI increased more than 15% and Group 2: less than 15%). In Group 1, both CI and percent fractional shortening (%FS) before digoxin administration were lower than in Group 2, i.e., 1.97 +/- 0.27 vs 2.80 +/- 0.48 L/min/m2 (p less than 0.001) and 10.9 +/- 8.0 vs 19.5 +/- 11.9% (p less than 0.05), respectively. In MS, CI increased after digoxin administration only in the 2 patients with low CI and rapid HR in the control state. These results indicate that the mode of hemodynamic response to digoxin is considerably different in various diseases. They further suggest that digoxin should not be used in the early phase of AMI, although digoxin was of great clinical benefit in patients with OMI and DCM through such mechanisms as its positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects and lowering of PCP.

Exercise capacity correlating to exercise hemodynamics in coronary artery disease

Forty-seven patients with coronary artery disease characterized by angina pectoris and/or old myocardial infarction underwent two maximal exercise tests, the supine ergometer test and the upright treadmill test, to study the relationship between exercise capacity and exercise hemodynamics. Subjects were divided into 3 groups: Group I (n = 19) achieved 25 or 50 watts, Group II (n = 15) achieved 75 watts and Group III (n = 13) achieved 100 or 125 watts. During ergometer exercise, the mean pulmonary capillary pressure elevated by 25.3 +/- 8.3 mmHg in Group I, 20.8 +/- 8.8 mmHg in Group II and 12.0 +/- 8.4 mmHg in Group III; the Group III value was significantly smaller than the other groups. The stroke volume index decreased by 3.6 +/- 8.8 ml/m2 in Group I, and increased by 10.9 +/- 8.7 ml/m2 in Group II and 10.7 +/- 14.7 ml/m2 in Group III. Thus, the impaired exercise capacity correlated with the abnormal exercise hemodynamics and its severity. In addition, the exercise capacity in the treadmill test was comparable to that in the ergometer test. It was concluded that the impaired exercise capacity in the both supine and upright exercise tests was well related to the development of abnormal exercise hemodynamics in patients with coronary artery disease.

[Three-dimensional evaluation of mitral regurgitation by pulsed Doppler echocardiography: analysis of the amount and direction of regurgitant flow]

Pulsed doppler echocardiography (PDE) was used to evaluate mitral regurgitation (MR) non-invasively and quantitatively in 156 patients including 51 of rheumatic valvular disease, 57 of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) or chordal rupture of the mitral valve (RCT), and 48 of ischemic heart disease (IHD) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The severity of MR was estimated three-dimensionally by a MR scoring system as follows: As an index of direction and extent of regurgitation, nine sampling sites were selected in the left atrium at the level of the mitral annulus. These include the anterior, mid, and posterior parts of each portion of the postero-medial, middle, and antero-lateral sides. The depth of regurgitation was graded by three degrees in the long-axis projection of the left ventricle; grade 1; MR signals localized within the level of the mitral annulus, grade 2; MR detected beyond the mitral annulus but not reaching the aortic valve level; and grade 3; MR detected beyond the aortic valve level in the left atrium. The MR score was comprised of the products of numbers of points at which MR signals were detected and the grades of the maximum depth. The MR scores correlated well with the severity of MR as determined by the left ventriculogram (LVG); the MR score was 4.0 +/- 1.6 (mean +/- S.D.) points in grade 1; 9.6 +/- 2.6 points in grade 2; 18.0 +/- 3.2 points in grade 3; and 23.0 +/- 1.7 points in grade 4 by LVG. Doppler mapping of the left atrium at the level of the mitral annulus suggested that the directions of MR varied with each disease and valvular lesion. Thus, these observations were helpful in the investigation of MR by PDE. We concluded that the above-mentioned MR scoring system proves a very useful method for quantitatively evaluating MR non-invasively.

Clinical features, problems in medical management and therapeutic planning in severe valvular heart disease

Clinical features and pathological findings were reviewed in 90 postmortem cases of valvular heart disease (VHD) to clarify the problems and limitations of medical management. The clinical features of severe mitral valve disease included congestive heart failure (CHF), with tricuspid regurgitation in many cases, atrial fibrillation, frequent ventricular premature beats, ventricular hypertrophy, cardiomegaly, increased pulmonary arterial pressure and abnormal hepatorenal function. The most common causes of aortic valve disease (AVD) were rheumatic fever and infective endocarditis, and the major causes of death were sudden death and intractable CHF. Autopsy in cases of AVD revealed marked left ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation, vegetations, thickening, adhesion and calcification in the aortic valve. Some patients died of cardiogenic shock due either to severely impaired cardiac function or to associated myocardial or pulmonary infarction. Abrupt onset of embolism was also related to death of the patients. The management of VHD must include the treatment of CHF and arrhythmias and the prevention of embolism. Appropriate timing for surgery and close follow-up by cardiologists is mandatory.

Assessment of left ventricular function in ischemic heart disease. The relation between pressure decay during the isovolumic relaxation phase and regional wall motion abnormality

We examine whether regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) could contribute to the slowed relaxation rate of the left ventricle (LV) in patients with coronary artery disease (CADpts). Simultaneous observations were made on the time constant (Tc) of the isovolumic pressure decay and left ventriculography at the control period and after right atrial pacing. Subsequently, the subjects investigated were divided into 3 groups, i.e. normal subjects (Group I, n = 8), CADpts with normal wall motion during the control period (Group II, n = 21), and CADpts with RWMA during the control period (Group III, n = 28). The latter two groups were further divided into two subgroups according to the presence (Group IIa and IIIa) or absence (Group IIb and IIIb) of pacing-induced RWMA. We measured Tc by a method of exponential analysis that could estimate the asymptote. During the control period, Tc was significantly prolonged in Group III (82 +/- 26 msec) than that in Group I (60 +/- 6 msec) and Group II (63 +/- 12 msec). Tc was prolonged in proportion to the extent of RWMA during the control period. Immediately after right atrial pacing, Tc was markedly prolonged in Group IIa (from 61 +/- 12 to 90 +/- 20 msec, p less than 0.001) and in Group IIIa (from 73 +/- 26 to 95 +/- 34 msec, p less than 0.001). The post-pacing prolongation of Tc was closely correlated with the extent of post-pacing RWMA. From these results, it is postulated that RWMA may play an important role as a causes of the altered LV relaxation in CADpts.

[Regional myocardial contraction in ischemic heart disease: evaluation of regional myocardial thickening by two-dimensional echocardiography]

There were many studies concerning the evaluation of regional wall motion in ischemic heart disease by left ventriculography (LVG) and two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), but only a few observations on the regional myocardial thickening have been reported. In a survey of 48 cases of old myocardial infarction, we selected 21 cases with adequate 2DE images for the evaluation of regional wall motion and thickening. In all cases the 2DE examinations were performed within seven days before or after LVG examinations. The left ventricular wall on 2DE was divided into 11 segments and wall motion and thickening in each segment were graded to three classes, i.e. none, reduced and normal. The results on 2DE were then compared with the grade of wall motion of the corresponding segment on LVG. The sensitivity and specificity of 2DE wall motion were 50% and 89% in none, 59% and 48% in reduced, and 89% and 84% in normal, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of 2DE myocardial thickening were 81% and 93% in none, 82% and 70% in reduced, and 92% in normal, respectively. These results indicated that the regional myocardial thickening by 2DE has a higher sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, observation of both myocardial thickening and wall motion will be necessary for the proper evaluation of regional myocardial contraction in ischemic heart disease.

The effect of isosorbide dinitrate on exertional hypotension in old myocardial infarction

Four patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI) revealed exertional hypotension in the treadmill exercise test. All had a multivessel disease, severe left ventricular dysfunction and exercise-induced ST depression or angina to indicate additional myocardial ischemia. After 5 mg of oral isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), the response of blood pressure was improved with a delayed onset of ST depression or angina. To confirm the effect of ISDN on the pressure response to exercise, 26 patients with OMI were further studied. In patients without ST depression and angina (Group I), the systolic blood pressure (SBP) at the matched work load was significantly decreased after ISDN. However, in patients with ST depression or angina (Group II), SBP at the matched work load was not altered after ISDN. The increment of change in SBP due to ISDN, namely from the resting level to the matched work load, was significantly larger in Group II than in Group I. In addition, the patients with marked left ventricular dysfunction in Group I revealed a more change in SBP due to ISDN than the others in Group I. It was concluded that exertional hypotension or suppressed pressure response of OMI could be corrected by 5 mg of oral ISDN due to its favorable effects on the exercise-induced myocardial ischemia and preexisting left ventricular dysfunction.