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Biomedical subjects

H Douard

Publications and source records attributed to H Douard.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Normal blood pressure profiles during exercise according to age, sex and protocols].

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure profiles of 2,808 healthy subjects are reported according to age, sex and exercise protocols. The rates of increase of systolic pressures are expressed with respect to the heart rate and decrease with age. For a given sub-maximal effort the systolic blood pressure is lower in males and in the younger age groups: the diastolic blood pressure only increases significantly on exercise after 50 years of age. These variations according to age and sex were confirmed on treadmill exercise but the peak pressure values were lower. These quantitative results differ from those of previously reported studies and suggest that the diagnostic criteria of hypertension of effort should be redefined.

Adult↗

[Measurement of cardiac output by CO2 rebreathing technique. A study of reproducibility in the normal subject; application to cardiac insufficiency].

A feasibility and reproducibility study of cardiac output measurement by CO2 rebreathing was performed in normal subjects and in patients with compensated cardiac failure. The measurements were performed at rest and at the second stage of the Bruce protocol in normal subjects (N = 12) with a good reproducibility (r = 0.81) after an interval of two days. In patients with stable cardiac failure (N = 17), the cardiac outputs were 9.4 +/- 3.9 l/min and 9.3 +/- 3.1 l/min by measuring the arterial pCO2 and end-expiratory CO2 compared with the theoretical value of 9.9 +/- 2 l/min. The non-invasive measurement of cardiac output by the CO2 rebreathing method was well tolerated by patients and is reliable and reproducible.

Adult↗

[Triangular or rectangular rehabilitation after myocardial infarction. Comparative study by drawing of lots evaluating performance and respiratory gas exchange].

Triangular and rectangular rehabilitation techniques were assessed by comparative exercise performance and respiratory evaluation in twenty six phase II post-myocardial infarction patients. Patients all performed a standard exercise test with measurement of VO2, before and after 40 rehabilitation sessions. Clinical, exercise and ventilatory parameters were identical in the two groups before rehabilitation (triangular--n = 13; rectangular--n = 13). Exercise capacity was increased by 18% and 19% respectively after rehabilitation. Maximum aerobic capacity nevertheless remained unchanged (27.6 +/- 7.1 before; 28.3 +/- 6.7 ml/kg/min after) in all patients. Analysis of variance failed to reveal superiority of one of the two rehabilitation techniques over the other.

Humans↗

[Role of physical effort in the monitoring of coronary disease: under medical treatment, after bypass, after angioplasty].

Exercise tests must be performed only in hospitals and private clinics equipped for intensive care. Electrocardiographs must be fitted with a computer-assisted system for averaging and smoothing. In all but special cases it would be preferable to interrupt or delay the anti-angina treatment, so that the degree of ischaemia can be quantified. In this way, the severity of coronary lesions, the risk of arrhythmia and the prognosis for life can be predicted with good statistical certainty. In addition, the patient's fitness for work can easily be evaluated. As years go by, the ischaemia may be found to have become worse, and it might be decided to revascularize the myocardium in due course. Following revascularisation exercise tests are used to evaluate its benefits and follow their persistence. In addition, exercise tests are a very useful means of adjusting the antianginal treatment. Finally, exercise tests create a special link between patients and their medical team since they participate, both physically and psychologically, in their own diagnosis and evaluation of treatment.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

The benefit of graded physical exercise in chronic heart failure.

A new program of rehabilitation is less demanding on cardiac output than standard programs. Twenty-five patients with chronic heart failure (ejection fraction [EF]: 0.26 +/- 0.10) were randomized into 2 groups: a control group with 13 patients and a rehabilitation group of 12 patients. In the control group, 2 did not complete the study (cancer, cardiac transplantation). For the 11 others, the different parameters studied were comparable at day 0 with group R and did not significantly change over 3 months outside of a spontaneous improvement in endurance performance by 22%. In the rehabilitation group (40 sessions over 90 days; specialized equipment) there were no incidents. Tolerance was excellent (heart rate during sessions less than 115 bpm) and all functional parameters improved. Training did not modify the isotopic ejection fraction. The quality of life score increased respectively by 52% (p less than 0.0001 in comparison with the control group) and by 63% (p less than 0.0001); 80% of the patients requested that training be prolonged. The functional improvement obtained by purely peripheral effect had no adverse effect on the heart.

Chronic Disease↗

[How to and why evaluate the ischemic risk after myocardial infarction?].

After uncomplicated myocardial infarction, clinical and ergometric data before hospital discharge allow identification of patients at high risk of further cardiac events. These relate to the necrosed myocardium (left ventricular dysfunction, sometimes latent, and arrhythmia risk), and also to the jeopardized myocardium: the moderate sensitivity and specificity of classical exercise stress testing for the detection of this often silent ischaemia are much improved by stress radionuclide and echocardiographic techniques (exercise, dipyridamole, dobutamine. . .), the large scale indications of which remain to be validated.

Coronary Angiography↗

[Return to work after myocardial infarction: evaluation and decision].

Working capacity after myocardial infarction depends on the physical and cardiovascular status, psychological repercussions and conditions of work. The latter two are much more important than the first two factors. Cardiovascular functional status is readily assessed by the large number of available investigations which leave little unknown. Exercise stress testing during the second week is the most cost-efficient investigation, providing reliable and sufficiently quantifiable data about the possible sequellae of cardiac failure on effort, ischemia and arrhythmias: an idea of the patient's functional capacity and circulatory responses (athletic, hyperkinetic) may also be obtained allowing adjustment of treatment to improve exercise capacity which goes much further than the statistical hope of prolonging survival. However, it would be naive to think that a satisfactory exercise stress test guarantees the patients' capacity to return to work. Psychological and sociological factors are more important by far. The dominant trait of the post-infarction psychological syndrome must be identified (anxiety, depression, negation): the positive and negative influences of the family, social and professional environment must be evaluated. A good knowledge of the patient's working conditions is essential to go against a number of taboos hindering the return to work (stress, stairs, restaurant meals, etc...). Finally, the medico-legal relationship between the infarct and work should not be neglected: the management of myocardial infarction when an occupational disease must respect the legislative and judicial texts which do not always correspond with everyday clinical practice. There is a lack of structures for cardiac function testing for assessing physical aptitude: we suggest that in the context of the proposed hospital reforms, departmental heads should consider setting up such units which would have a specific task respecting the spirit of these reforms. Nevertheless, cardiologists should pay more attention to the convalescent phase of infarction. This is the time when many social catastrophes can be avoided.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

[Which coronary investigation should be performed in patients with peripheral arterial diseases?].

In the context of peripheral vascular disease, the clinical history provides a means of evaluating coronary risk. The key features are: age, previous myocardial infarction especially when recent (under 6 months), anginal pain, smoking, diabetes and ventricular arrhythmias. Treadmill testing, often limited by symptoms of claudication, may reveal severe coronary ischemia and thereby the patients at very high risk. Upper limb exercise stress testing gives results similar to standard protocols of non-atherosclerotic patients when correctly performed and a reliable detection and evaluation of coronary lesions. Thallium dipyridamol myocardial scintigraphy is a very useful diagnostic method but requires special radionuclide facilities. This technique demonstrates the site of ischemia. Coronary angiography should be reserved for special cases because the risks of the procedure are always greater in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

Coronary Angiography↗

[Computerized analysis of ST segment during exercise. Interpretation of "saw tooth" appearance].

The authors report original appearances (sinusoid or "saw tooth" aspect) of computerised analysis of the ST segment in 3 cases, corresponding to ST changes during exercise stress testing. This is due to alternating ST elevation and depression probably related to abnormal vasomotor tone given the fact that the recording was normalised by coronary vasodilator therapy.

Angina Pectoris, Variant↗

[Severe ischemic ventricular arrhythmia during dipyridamole scintigraphy].

A case of severe myocardial ischaemia complicated by syncopal ventricular tachycardia during injection of Dipyridamole for stress Thallium myocardial scintigraphy in a coronary patient is reported. Myocardial ischaemia (chest pain, ECG changes) is classically rare (30% of cases) and usually benign during Dipyridamole injection, and either regress spontaneously or after administration of Theophylline. However, the possibility of serious complications such as this justifies the same criteria of strict surveillance as for classical exercise stress testing.

Aged↗

[Brucella endocarditis of bicuspid aortic valve. Surgical treatment with successful result].

The authors report a case of Brucella Melitensis endocarditis of a bicuspid aortic valve which caused rapid progression of the hemodynamic signs of aortic stenosis, and was associated with a para-aortic abscess and a pericardial effusion. Surgery resulted in correction of the hemodynamic abnormalities and cured the infection: the results were sustained 10 months after operation. This case illustrates the precision of the Doppler, echocardiographic diagnosis of the lesions, which was confirmed at surgery so that potentially dangerous cardiac catheterisation could be avoided.

Adult↗

[Treatment of cardiac insufficiency in ischemic heart disease].

Over 30 per cent of coronary patients die of cardiac failure excluding the acute phase of myocardial infarction. With the exception of preexisting hypertension, there is no compensatory hypertrophy in ischemic heart disease. However, hypertrophy is a costly adaptation in terms of myocardial oxygen demand and, therefore, coronary flow. Fibrous zones are unresponsive to inotropic drugs and so the treatment of cardiac failure due to ischemic heart disease consists in limiting or preventing episodes of ischemia. Each mechanism of ischemia has an appropriate treatment: the preload is reduced by trinitrin and its derivatives and by molsidomine; the after-load by calcium antagonists and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors; tachycardia and hypercontractile states by betablockers. The risk of arrhythmia, aggravated by many inotropic therapies, constitutes the major danger to ischemic heart failure; amiodarone, betablockers and preventive nitrate therapy are the most effective and least dangerous antiarrhythmics. Revascularisation is effective for permanently ischemic segments or for ischemia on effort but does not improve large plaques of fibrosis which sometimes require surgical ablation or plastic procedures. But these measures are incomplete if all aspects of the disease are not taken in consideration: loss of excessive body weight, exercise rehabilitation by modern techniques, limitation of bed rest at the ultimate stage of the disease allowing patients with ischemic cardiac failure a better quality of life without aggravating the prognosis.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

Anti-ischemic effects of celiprolol in patients with exercise-induced angina pectoris.

The anti-ischemic properties of the new cardioselective beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist celiprolol were investigated in an open study of 12 men (mean age: 58 +/- 6.6 years) with exercise-induced angina pectoris. After all previous anti-anginal medication had been withdrawn for at least 5 half-lives, the patients received placebo, single doses of nitroglycerin buccal spray, sublingual nifedipine, celiprolol alone, and then in association with nitroglycerin and nifedipine. Exercise tests were performed on a bicycle ergometer, with continuous electrocardiographic monitoring. Significantly more work was completed after treatment with celiprolol than at baseline (5280 +/- 2500 versus 4005 +/- 1792 kpm; P less than 0.01). There were further improvements in work completed after the addition of nitroglycerin and nifedipine. Celiprolol reduced the mean resting heart rate from a baseline value of 77.1 beats/min to 69.2 beats/min (P less than 0.01). In contrast, nifedipine induced tachycardia (82.6 beats/min). At rest, all treatments significantly reduced systolic blood pressure, but only nifedipine significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure. At the completion of the exercise protocol, celiprolol reduced the maximal systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P less than 0.05) with further decreases after the addition of nifedipine. The double product was significantly decreased by celiprolol compared with control, nitroglycerin and nifedipine. There was a further improvement of the double product after the addition of nitroglycerin to celiprolol, but the further increase after addition of nifedipine was not significant. In conclusion, it is clear that celiprolol, both alone and in combination with nitroglycerin or nifedipine, can significantly increase the work capacity of patients with exercise-induced angina pectoris and significantly reduce myocardial oxygen consumption.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Comparison of the anti-anginal efficacy of nicardipine and nifedipine in patients receiving atenolol: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study.

The effects of oral nicardipine (40 mg) and nifedipine (20 mg) in combination with atenolol (100 mg) were compared with those of placebo, oral nitroglycerin (0.4 mg) and atenolol alone (100 mg) in 17 patients with stable effort angina. Patients performed symptom-limited, multistage, upright bicycle ergometric exercises with computer-assisted ECG analysis in bipolar lead CM5. Nicardipine and nifedipine were given double blind and in randomized order. In comparison with placebo (4818 +/- 2021 kpm), patients exercised longer and with a greater work load with nitroglycerin (5748 +/- 1711 kpm, P less than 0.001), the combinations of atenolol and nifedipine (6120 +/- 2274 kpm, P less than 0.05), and atenolol and nicardipine (6671 +/- 2339 kpm, P less than 0.01), but not with atenolol alone (5305 +/- 1524 kpm, P = NS). The magnitude of ST-segment depression at peak exercise with placebo (3.22 +/- 1.72 mm) was dramatically reduced with nitroglycerin (1.39 +/- 1.87 mm) but less with atenolol alone (2.95 +/- 1.83 mm, P less than 0.05) or the combinations of atenolol and nicardipine (3.05 +/- 1.51 mm, P = NS), and atenolol and nifedipine (2.45 +/- 1.25 mm, P less than 0.001). Compared to the combination of atenolol and nifedipine, that of atenolol and nicardipine produced a significantly (P less than 0.05) greater exercise tolerance (6671 +/- 2339 versus 6120 +/- 2274 kpm) but with a greater ST-segment depression at peak exercise (3.05 +/- 1.51 versus 2.45 +/- 1.29 mm, P less than 0.01).

Angina Pectoris↗

[Prediction of true and false positive responses to exertion by a second exercise under sublingual nitroglycerin. Multivariate analysis].

The authors consider that the diagnostic value of exercise tests could be improved by a multivariate analysis integrating the ergometric data of two exercise tests: a reference test and a test performed under nitroglycerin. 109 patients without previous myocardial infarction who suffered from angina-like chest pain were explored. All had an ischaemic-type ST depression on the CM5 lead during the first exercise test and were tested again after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin. Both tests were continued until the theoretical maximum heart rate was reached or symptoms were no longer bearable. Coronary arteriography showed that 27 patients had normal coronary vessels and 82 had a coronary disease. At univariate analysis, two parameters were significant in predicting coronary disease. These were an in increase, between the two tests, of maximal work performed (from 95 +/- 1578 kpm to 2085 +/- 1662 kpm, p less than 0.001) and of the double product, i.e. maximum heart rate x maximum systolic arterial pressure (from 181 +/- 5289 to 3826 +/- 4245 mmHg.b.min-1, p less than 0.001). Five variables were selected by logistic regression analysis, viz.: change in ST depression between the two tests, double product during the first test, sex, modification of work performed between the two tests and occurrence of chest pain during the first test. By using a threshold analysis (less than 20 p. 100, greater than 80 p. 100), 76 p. 100 of the population was correctly classified; 82.9 p. 100 of coronary disease patients and 53 p. 100 of normal subjects were well classified, whereas 2.7 p. 100 of the population studied (all normal subjects) were erroneously classified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Sublingual↗

[Discrimination attempt between stenoses of the left trunk and tritroncular involvement using univariate and multivariate analysis of the variables of the exercise test].

One hundred and fifty patients with more than 70 p. 100 three vessel (3V) stenosis and 69 patients with more than 50 p. 100 left main (LM) coronary artery stenosis underwent an exercise test at maximum or symptom-limited level, after discontinuing all anti-ischaemic therapies. Three comparative statistical methods were used: 1. Univariate analysis. Among the mean values of the 17 variables studied, 6 differed significantly (p less than 0.05), viz.: cardiac work performed until the appearance, on the CM5 lead, of an ST depression (STd) of 1 mm (W1) (LM = 1,002 Kpm; 3V = 1,461 Kpm) and of 2 mm (W2) (LM = 2,445 Kpm; 3V = 2,904 Kpm); maximum STd/maximum heart rate ratio; rise of systolic pressure during exercise and rise of heart rate associated with a 2 mm STd less pronounced with LM; maximum exercise capacity (W3) (LM = 2,445 +/- 1,514; 3V = 2,904 +/- 2,095 Kpm). 2. Linear discriminant function analysis. No discriminant variable could be obtained (subjects well classified 53 p. 100, ill-classified 47 p. 100). 3. Multivariate analysis, Cox's model. This method demonstrated that stenosis of the LM coronary artery is characterized by the early appearance of ischaemia rather than by its severity. After 4 minutes of exercise, 62 p. 100 of LM patients and only 28 p. 100 of 3V patients had a 1 mm ST depression. It is concluded that exercise tests do not provide a certainty of LM stenosis, but they identify patients with severe ischemia who most probably have this type of stenosis. Such patients can then be selected for coronary arteriography and operated upon as soon as possible.

Aged↗

[Contribution of Doppler echocardiography and thallium in cases of major ST segment depression in athletes].

False-positive responses to exercise tests have been reported as been more frequent in athletes than in the general population and attributed to physiological hypertrophy of the athlete's heart. In this study, we have investigated the significance of major ST depression (-3.55 +/- 1.8 mm) in a group of 13 athletes aged 40 +/- 9 years who had normal coronary angiography. All subjects underwent a standard exercise test followed by a second one after administration of nitroglycerin; the post-test probability of coronary was evaluated by multivariate analysis of the results. Myocardial perfusion was studied in 9 subjects by stress thallium 201 scintigraphy, and the data obtained were compared with those of angiography. Left ventricular hypertrophy was systematically looked for by calculating the myocardial mass index at echocardiography. The subjects were also investigated for possible alteration of the diastolic function, using doppler ultrasound. The mean follow-up period was 5 +/- 2 years. The mean performance at exercise tests was 238 +/- 118 watts. The Q wave significantly increased at exercise (-0.61 +/- 0.8; p less than 0.05), whereas the R wave remained constant (-0.95 +/- 4.5 mm; N.S.). The mean probability or coronary disease was 0.49 +/- 0.41, which justified the thallium scintigraphy test. This test was abnormal in 8 out of 9 cases. The myocardial mass index was slightly increased up to 138 +/- 25 g/m2, reflecting a very moderate physiological hypertrophy, as testified by the normality of diastolic function related to age in 8/9 cases. There was no obvious correlation between ST depression amplitude and myocardial mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiomegaly↗