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Biomedical subjects

D Burckhardt

Publications and source records attributed to D Burckhardt.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[Atenolol in the treatment of angina pectoris].

18 patients with angina pectoris participated in a double blind trial with atenolol (100 mg and 200 mg once daily, or 100 mg twice daily) and propranolol (80 mg twice daily). The number of anginal attacks (NAP), the number of days free of pain (NAFT), consumption of sublingual nitroglycerin (NNT) and bicycle ergometry data (EFE) were recorded. Atenolol given in a dose of 100 g twice daily significantly reduced NAP and NNT as compared with the other dose schedules for atenolol and propranolol. There was, however, no difference between NAFT and EFE under any of the treatment schedules mentioned above. Only with 100 mg atenolol twice daily was it possible to reduce heart rate at rest and immediately after exercise testing, and also diastolic blood pressure (at rest, upright and after stress testing). In spite of the long plasma T 1/2 (= 24 hours) reported by others, atenolol given twice daily seems to be the most effective schedule. It is concluded that atenolol (100 mg twice daily) has a more potent anti-anginal effect than propranolol (80 mg twice daily). In addition, atenolol has the advantage of being cardioselective.

Aged↗

Progression of mild mitral stenosis and incidence of restenosis after open commissurotomy: a study using echocardiography.

Thirteen patients with mild mitral stenosis and 21 asymptomatic patients after commissurotomy were studied by echocardiography in order to assess the rate of progression of mitral stenosis and the incidence of restenosis after successful open mitral commissurotomy. In the group with mitral stenosis there was a decrease of the diastolic closing velocity (E-F slope) from 35.7 to 29.5 mm./sec. (p less than 0.0005) over a period of 37 months. In 23% of the patients the stenosis increased significantly (p less than 0.0005) by echocardiographic parameters. Forty-eight months after commissurotomy we noted a significant over-all slowing of the diastolic closing velocity (from 52.6 to 44.8 mm./sec., p less than 0.0005) and a decrease of the mitral valve closure index DE/MAIC (from 1.7 to 1.5, p less than 0.0025). Five of 21 patients (24%) showed a change in one or both of these parameters which was greater than 2 standard deviations of the mean change. Based on echocardiographic criteria, we conclude that patients with mild mitral stenosis and asymptomatic patients following successful commissurotomy need only be checked approximately every 3 years.

Adult↗

Evaluation of aortocoronary venous bypass grafting for prevention of cardiac arrhythmias.

The influence of ACB on cardiac arrhythmias was examined in 27 patients. Eight-hour Holter monitoring was performed 8 days preoperatively and 100 days postoperatively. Arrhythmias were divided into 3 groups (Class I: NSR +/- occasional APBs; Class II: less than five unifocal VPBs per minute; Class II: more than five VPBs per minute, multifocal VPBs, VPBs in a row or VT). Preoperative classification disclosed that 13 patients (48.1 per cent) were in Class I, six patients (22.2 per cent) were in Class II, and eight patients (29.6 per cent) were in Class III. The corresponding values after surgery were 10 patients (37.0 per cent), 13 patients (48.1 per cent), and four patients (14.8 per cent). These differences were not statistically significant (p less than 0.1). In view of the tendency of arrhythmias of Class III to improve after ACB, we feel that further investigations in this area are needed. At the present time ventricular arrhythmias alone constitute no indication for bypass surgery.

Adult↗

Noninvasive assessment of myocardial function in young patients with mitral valve prolapse.

To evaluate myocardial function in patients with documented mitral valve prolapse (MVP) 14 patients (six men and eight women with a mean age of 28 +/- 6.3 years) were examined noninvasively. Systolic time intervals were recorded at rest (in the supine and upright position) and after bicycle ergometry (upright position) and were compared with 10 healthy control subjects of similar age. Tracings were coded with random numbers and were evaluated by two blinded investigators. Contractility indices such as pre-ejection period index (PEPc) and ratio pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time (PEP/LVET) revealed no significant differences between patients and controls both at rest and after exercise. We conclude that young patients with MVP have no evidence for impaired myocardial function, provided there is no significant mitral incompetence or associated heart disease.

Adult↗

Effect of intravenous glibornuride and tolbutamide on myocardial contractility.

The acute effects of therapeutic doses of intravenous tolbutamide and glibornuride on the systolic time intervals (QS2c, LVETc, PEPc and PEP/LVET) were examined in 5 healthy volunteers. Blood sugar was maintained constant throughout the study. No significant changes of these intervals as well as of heart rate and blood pressure were observed. Therefore, it is concluded that tolbutamide and glibornuride have no acute positive inotropic action.

Adult↗

Effects of smoking and inhalation of carbon monoxide on systolic time intervals and blood pressure. Differences between two types of cigarettes and a cigar.

The effects of smoking and inhalation of carbon monoxide on the systolic time intervals and blood pressure were examined in ten healthy smokers with a mean age of 24.3 years. Each subject smoked a low-nicotine cigarette with a ventilated filter (0.1 mg nicotine, 1.1 vol percent CO), and a high-nicotine plain cigarette (2.6 mg nicotine, 4.5 vol percent CO), as well as a cigar in random sequence and in a standardized way. Cigar smoke was not inhaled. The product heart rate x blood pressure was increased and the left ventricular ejection time index (LVETc) prolonged following smoking the high-nicotine cigarette, whereas changes after smoking the low-nicotine cigarette and the cigar were not as pronounced. These changes are presumably caused by nicotine-induced catecholamine release. Inhalation of CO did not affect cardiac performance acutely as shown by unchanged systolic time intervals. When a high-nicotine cigarette was smoked after the subject received a beta blocker, a significant prolongation of the pre-ejection period index (PEPc) occurred as a result of the increased afterload. Thus, the effects of catecholamines on parameters of myocardial contractility (PEPc, PEP/LVET) were presumably offset by the increased afterload. We conclude that the acute hemodynamic changes of smoking in healthy subjects depend upon the amount of nicotine absorbed.

Adult↗

Cardiovascular effects of tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants.

Cardiovascular effects of therapeutic doses of tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants (TCA) were examined in 66 patients. After three weeks of therapy, heart rate and PR interval were increased (P less than .02, P less than .05), while prolongation of the QTc time and the QRS interval did not reach significant levels. We observed significant flattening of T waves (P less than .05), which was not associated with changes in the serum potassium level. These changes were reversible after treatment was discontinued. When therapy was maintained for 13 months, only the heart rate continued to be increased, whereas all other ECG values had returned to normal. The TCA therapy led to a significant prolongation of the preejection period (P less than .01) and slight shortening of the left ventricular ejection time, indicating a decrease in myocardial contractility. There was no difference of effects on the values studied between tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants.

Adult↗

[Contribution to the effect of tri and tetracyclic antidepressive agents on the heart and blood circulation].

In 47 patients ECG tracings were recorded and cardiovascular values determined before therapy, during treatment with antidepressive agents after it had been in progress for at least 3 weeks, and 4 weeks after withdrawal of therapy. In a further 19 patients in whom antidepressive therapy could not be withdrawn, the same test battery was repeated after an average period of 13 months. No serious disturbances of cardiac rhythm were detected and certain changes in ECG criteria (prolongation of PR interval, widening of QRS complex, prolongation of QTc time and T-wave flattening) proved to be reversible. There was no difference between tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressive agents. We are nevertheless of the opinion that ECG and cardiac function should be carefully monitored in elderly patients and in those on prolonged therapy with high doses of antidepressives. The results of this study are discussed and compared with previously published findings.

Adolescent↗

[The systolic time intervals in functional disorders of the thyroid: a simple and fast screening test].

The systolic time intervals (LVET, PEP, and ratio LVET/PEP) were determined in 53 patients presenting with signs or symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Patients with clinical evidence of congestive heart failure, with arterial hypertension or old myocardial infarction, and patients receiving cardioactive drugs, were excluded from the study. Thyroid function was evaluated by means of T3-RIA, serum thyroxin and TRH stimulation test.

Adult↗

[Echocardiography as a method for the determination of the severity of aortic insufficiency].

4 groups of patients with different degrees of aortic regurgitation (mild n = 7, moderate n = 3, severe n = 21, and aortic regurgitation combined with organic mitral stenosis n = 5) were examined by means of echocardiography and compared with a control group of 10 healthy subjects. The purpose was to determine what information echocardiography may provide in regard to the severity of aortic regurgitation and whether patients with organic mitral stenosis can be distinguished from patients with Austin Flint murmur. Patients with mild or moderate aortic regurgitation could not be clearly distinguished by echocardiographic features from subjects with normal cardiac findings. However, patients with severe aortic regurgitation were likely to show the following characteristic changes: (1) early mitral valve closure, (2) diastolic flutter, (3) absence of the a-wave. If a premature mitral valve closure, i.e. a negative QC time or a diastolic flutter or absent a-wave are found, the aortic regurgitation is likely to be of severe degree. This finding will be particularly useful in patients with acute aortic regurgitation, no left ventricular enlargement and no left ventricular hypertrophy in the ECG. Being a noninvasive method, echocardiography may also be used in follow-up examinations. Furthermore, organic mitral stenosis can be distinguished from Austin Flint murmur.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗