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C Aravanis

Publications and source records attributed to C Aravanis.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Risk factors for coronary heart disease in middle-aged men in Crete in 1982.

Risk factors for coronary heart disease were studied in healthy middle-aged Cretan men in order to compare them with the middle-aged men of a previous generation studied in 1960 as the Cretan cohort of the Seven Countries Study (1960). In the present cohort mean values for total cholesterol were 5.48 mmol/L, for HDL-cholesterol 1.26 mmol/L, for triglycerides 1.41 mmol/L, for systolic blood pressure 128 mmHg, and for diastolic blood pressure 77 mmHg. Serum cholesterol was higher and blood pressure slightly lower than the values observed in 1960. However, it is uncertain whether these changes were real or caused by changes in methodology. The mean body mass index has increased from 22.6 in 1960 to 26.9 kg/m2 in 1982, due to an increase in fatness. The percentage of smokers had increased from 57.4% to 74.1%. Upon multiple regression analysis the body mass index, the subscapular to triceps skinfold ratio and smoking were negatively and independently related with HDL-cholesterol. Body mass index correlated positively with serum triglycerides. Although the incidence of coronary heart disease is still low in Crete, it is concluded that there is nothing in the risk profile of these middle-aged men to suggest that they are at a low risk for coronary heart disease.

Blood Pressure↗

The diet and 15-year death rate in the seven countries study.

In 15 cohorts of the Seven Countries Study, comprising 11,579 men aged 40-59 years and "healthy" at entry, 2,288 died in 15 years. Death rates differed among cohorts. Differences in mean age, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and smoking habits "explained" 46% of variance in death rate from all causes, 80% from coronary heart disease, 35% from cancer, and 45% from stroke. Death rate differences were unrelated to cohort differences in mean relative body weight, fatness, and physical activity. The cohorts differed in average diets. Death rates were related positively to average percentage of dietary energy from saturated fatty acids, negatively to dietary energy percentage from monounsaturated fatty acids, and were unrelated to dietary energy percentage from polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and alcohol. All death rates were negatively related to the ratio of monounsaturated to saturated fatty acids. Inclusion of that ratio with age, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and smoking habits as independent variables accounted for 85% of variance in rates of deaths from all causes, 96% coronary heart disease, 55% cancer, and 66% stroke. Oleic acid accounted for almost all differences in monounsaturates among cohorts. All-cause and coronary heart disease death rates were low in cohorts with olive oil as the main fat. Causal relationships are not claimed but consideration of characteristics of populations as well as of individuals within populations is urged in evaluating risks.

Adult↗

Serum cholesterol and cancer mortality in the Seven Countries Study.

In the Seven Countries Study, carried out in Finland, Greece, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, the United States, and Yugoslavia, among 11,325 "healthy" men aged 40-59 years in 15 years, there were 594 cancer deaths. Among 477 cancer deaths five years after cholesterol measurement, there was a significant excess of lung cancer deaths in the bottom 20% of the cholesterol distributions in the populations. Age, blood pressure, smoking habits, occupation, and relative body weight did not help explain this. A U-shaped relationship between cancer and cholesterol was not seen in any population. Trend analysis with various cutting points indicated increasing risk of lung cancer death at cholesterol levels under 170 mg/dl. The 45 men dead from cancer in the first two years had lower cholesterol levels than their compatriots who died from cancer later but they did not differ in relative weight or fatness. In contrast to relationships for individuals within populations, the highest cancer death rates were in northern Europe, where the general level of cholesterol was also highest. Other characteristics of the populations--age, relative weight, smoking habits, blood pressure, physical activity, and vitamin A and ascorbic acid in the diet--did not help in the attempt to understand the regional differences in cancer mortality. There is no evidence that any of the observed cancer-serum cholesterol relationships among or within the populations involve an effect of serum cholesterol concentration on oncogenesis or cancer mortality but the possibility of such an effect cannot be denied.

Adult↗

The seven countries study: 2,289 deaths in 15 years.

Among 11,579 men ages 40-59 without evidence of cardiovascular disease, 2,289 died in 15 years, 618 from coronary heart disease. The 15 cohorts in seven countries (four regions) differed in all-causes death rate, mainly reflecting great differences in coronary mortality. Among characteristics of entry, only mean blood pressure helped to explain cohort differences in all-causes death rate. Three-quarters of the variance in coronary death rate was accounted for by differences in mean serum cholesterol and blood pressure of the cohorts. The mortality risk for individuals was examined in each of the regions. For coronary death, age, serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and smoking were highly significant in all regions except Japan, where coronary deaths were too few for evaluation. Relative weight was not significant anywhere. Physical activity was significant only in southern Europe, where differences are associated with socioeconomic status. For all-causes death, age and blood pressure were highly significant risk factors in all regions as was smoking habit, except in Japan. Relative body weight tended to be a negative risk factor everywhere, significantly so in southern Europe. Expectations for coronary death from the experience in the United States and northern Europe greatly exceeded observed deaths in southern Europe for men of their age, serum cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking habits, physical activity, and relative weight. The reverse, prediction of coronary deaths in America and in northern Europe from the southern European experience, greatly underestimated the deaths observed. Similar cross-predictions between the United States and northern Europe were good for all-causes deaths, excellent for coronary deaths. Analysis of time trends in relationships of mortality to entry characteristics showed continued importance of age, blood pressure, and smoking and a tendency for the importance of cholesterol to fall in the last 5 years of follow-up.

Adult↗

The classic risk factors for coronary heart disease: experience in Europe.

This article is based on the follow-up of 9,182 men from 13 cohorts of five European countries (Finland, Greece, Italy, Holland, and Yugoslavia). Its purpose is to explore the associations of known risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). A significant positive association was found between age and 10-year mortality from CHD (10-MCHD), between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 10-MCHD (steeper for the Finns than for men from Mediterranean countries), and between serum cholesterol and 10-MCHD (more pronounced in northern than southern European men). Age-standardized 10-MCHD was found to increase with degree of smoking; the regression slope of this correlation was steeper for men from northern than from southern Europe. Although death from all causes tended to be inversely related to relative body weight, no consistent evidence of a relation between relative body weight or body fatness and CHD was found. Incidence rate of CHD was not consistently related to physical activity characteristics of the groups. Resting pulse rate was an important risk factor for all causes of death in 10 years, but of less consequence for MCHD. Regression slopes were steeper for northern than for southern Europeans. Vital capacity was a significant risk factor for MCHD for Italian but not for Finnish, Greek, or Serbian men. The 10-year adjusted MCHD was correlated with total fat in the diet; the correlation with saturated fatty acids was much more significant.

Blood Pressure↗

Acute myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accident in a young girl after a viper bite.

A 17-year-old girl developed an acute myocardial infarction immediately after being bitten by a viper and four days later she had a cerebrovascular accident. The close clinical and laboratory follow-up of this case suggested that myocardial damage could be attributed to a direct cardiotoxic effect of the venom, while the brain injury that subsequently appeared was probably the result of a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, possibly in conjunction with vasculitis.

Adolescent↗

Recurrent pericarditis due to cystic teratoma of the mediastinum: a case report.

A case of a benign cystic teratoma of the anterior mediastinum and recurrent pericarditis is presented. The clinical, angiocardiographic, surgical, and pathologic findings are described. The cardinal clinical picture of long-standing recurrent pericarditis and the excellent surgical results make this case noteworthy.

Dermoid Cyst↗

[The high frequency components of the heart sounds in normal subjects (author's transl)].

A technical set up for recording high frequency components of the cardiac vibrations is described. This was based on the use of several amplifiers, taking the third derivative of the displacement tracing, and using a high pass filter with a sharp slope. The tape-recorded high frequency tracing, at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, or higher, was replayed at slower speed for accurate recording of the high speed signals. A study of the first and second hearts sound at 500 Hz and 1000 Hz was made in 14 young, normal volunteers. The high frequency vibrations of these sounds are analyzed and discussed.

Adult↗