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Biomedical subjects

J J Lynch

Publications and source records attributed to J J Lynch.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Antiarrhythmic actions of left stellectomy in digitalis-mediated malignant ventricular arrhythmias in the postinfarcted canine heart.

Recently, this laboratory has demonstrated an enhanced susceptibility toward the development of ischemia-related lethal ventricular arrhythmias in the presence of therapeutic serum concentrations of digoxin in conscious dogs after myocardial infarction. The present study was performed to assess the effect of the interruption of cardiac sympathetic influences, via subacute left stellate ganglionectomy (LSGX), on digitalis-mediated ischemic ventricular arrhythmias. Commencing 4-5 days after anterior myocardial infarction, 11 dogs with LSGX and 14 sham controls were administered digoxin (0.0125 mg/kg/day i.v.) for 5-7 consecutive days. At baseline testing, programmed ventricular stimulation failed to initiate ventricular tachycardia in any postinfarction dog entered into this evaluation. After treatment, 11/11 digoxin + LSGX (1.33 +/- 0.10 ng/ml serum digoxin) and 14/14 digoxin-treated sham (1.23 +/- 0.14 ng/ml serum digoxin) dogs remained nonresponsive to programmed stimulation testing. The incidence of arrhythmic mortality in response to subsequent ischemia at a site remote from the infarcted anterior region was greater in the digoxin-treated sham group (1.22 +/- 0.21 ng/ml serum digoxin) than in the digoxin + LSGX group (1.33 +/- 0.10 ng/ml serum digoxin); mortality was 6/10 (60%) digoxin sham vs. 1/10 (10%) digoxin + LSGX, p less than 0.005. The underlying anterior myocardial infarct sizes (% of left ventricle: 6.8 +/- 2.3 vs. 6.6 +/- 1.1) did not differ between the digoxin sham and digoxin + LSGX groups. However, the digoxin sham controls developed larger posterolateral myocardial infarctions than did the digoxin + LSGX animals (% of left ventricle: 27.4 +/- 3.0 vs. 16.7 +/- 2.7, p less than 0.05). Norepinephrine concentrations in posterolateral through posteroseptal ventricular sections were not altered by LSGX in a separate group of digoxin-treated postinfarct dogs. The results suggest that left stellate ganglionectomy may reduce the incidence of digitalis-mediated malignant ventricular arrhythmias during ischemia, possibly due to a reduction in the severity of ischemic injury.

Animals↗

Effects of pimobendan (UD-CG 115 BS), a new positive inotropic agent, on ventricular tachycardia and ischemic ventricular fibrillation in a conscious canine model of recent myocardial infarction.

Pimobendan (UD-CG 115 BS; 4,5-dihydro-6-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl]-5-methyl- 3(2H)- pyridazinone) is a newly developed, structurally novel compound with positive inotropic as well as coronary and peripheral vasodilator activities. In vitro, pimobendan has been reported to prolong the duration of the cardiac action potential of ventricular myocardial tissue, suggesting the potential for this agent to increase myocardial refractoriness and possibly exert antiarrhythmic activity in vivo. In the present study, the effects of pimobendan upon cardiac electrophysiologic parameters, the induction of ventricular tachycardia by programmed ventricular stimulation, and upon the development of ischemic ventricular fibrillation were assessed in 16 conscious dogs 3 to 5 days after experimental anterior myocardial infarction. The intravenous administration of 0.3 mg/kg pimobendan to postinfarction dogs significantly reduced the rate-corrected QTc and paced QT intervals, and reduced the relative and effective refractory periods in normal noninjured ventricular myocardium. Electrophysiologic parameters in infarcted ventricular myocardium were not altered by pimobendan. Ventricular tachycardia remained inducible early after anterior myocardial infarction in eight of eight pimobendan-treated postinfarction dogs tested. Six of the eight pimobendan-treated animals that had nonsustained tachyarrhythmias elicited as initial responses to baseline programmed stimulation testing had sustained tachycardias induced at postdrug testing, with a reduction in the number of programmed extrastimuli required to induce the postpimobendan tachyarrhythmias occurring in three animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Failure of thromboxane synthetase inhibition to protect the postinfarcted heart against the induction of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation in a conscious canine model of sudden coronary death.

The role of thromboxane as a contributor to the genesis of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation was examined in conscious dogs which had been subjected to myocardial infarction. CGS 12970, a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor was administered in a dose of 10 mg/kg (i.v.) every 12 h. Ex vivo thrombin-activated thromboxane synthesis, as determined by assay for thromboxane B2, was reduced to 15% of baseline 2 h after administration of CGS 12970. Drug administration was found to inhibit ex vivo platelet aggregation significantly in response to arachidonic acid, while aggregation to ADP and collagen was unaffected. CGS 12970 did not protect against the induction of ventricular tachycardia by programmed electrical stimulation of the postinfarcted heart. During provocative electrical stimulation, 9 of 11 (82%) animals continued to respond in the post-treatment period with the development of VT. Pretreatment with CGS 12970 failed to prevent the spontaneous development of ventricular fibrillation which occurred in 7 of 10 (70%) animals when a secondary ischemic event was superimposed in the region of the noninfarct-related circumflex coronary artery. The results suggest that the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, CGS 12970, when administered in the subacute phase of recovery from myocardial infarction, does not protect against the induction of ventricular tachycardia by programmed electrical stimulation or the spontaneous development of ventricular fibrillation in the postinfarcted canine heart. The findings suggest that thromboxane may not serve a critical role in the genesis of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation in the postinfarcted canine heart.

Animals↗

Effect of digoxin on the extent of injury and the severity of arrhythmias during acute myocardial ischemia and infarction in the dog.

Recently, this laboratory has demonstrated an enhanced susceptibility toward the development of lethal ventricular arrhythmias occurring in response to acute posterolateral ischemia in dogs with previous anterior myocardial infarction in the presence of therapeutic serum concentrations of digoxin. In the present study, acute posterolateral myocardial ischemia was produced in the absence of previous myocardial infarction in 15 digoxin-pretreated (1.19 +/- 0.21 ng/ml serum digoxin, 5-7 days pretreatment) and 11 vehicle-pretreated dogs. The incidences of sudden ventricular fibrillation and of 24 h arrhythmic mortality in response to posterolateral ischemia were 4/15 (27%) vs. 1/11 (9%) (p = 0.23) and 7/15 (47%) vs. 4/11 (36%) (p = 0.27) for digoxin- vs. vehicle-pretreated dogs, respectively. Ventricular ectopic activity at 24 and 48 h after the onset of posterolateral ischemia was reduced significantly by both intravenous lidocaine (1.0-5.0 mg/kg) and verapamil (50.0-500.0 micrograms/kg) in the vehicle-pretreated dogs, whereas neither antiarrhythmic agent significantly suppressed ventricular ectopy in the digoxin-pretreated dogs. The mean sizes for developing posterolateral myocardial infarctions (percentage of left ventricle) were greater for the digoxin-pretreatment group (31.9 +/- 2.8%) vs. vehicle-pretreatment group (14.8 +/- 2.0%, p less than 0.001). These findings suggest that uncomplicated acute myocardial ischemia in the presence of serum concentrations of digoxin that are considered clinically therapeutic may result in the development of larger areas of developing myocardial infarction and in the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias that are less sensitive to suppression with conventional antiarrhythmic agents.

Animals↗

Cardiac electrophysiologic and hemodynamic activity of pimobendan (UD-CG 115 BS), a new inotropic agent.

The hemodynamic and cardiac electrophysiologic properties of pimobendan, a new pyridazinone-benzimidazole type inotropic agent, were studied in urethane-anesthetized dogs. The cumulative i.v. administration of 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/kg pimobendan caused a dose-dependent decrease in mean arterial pressure and an increase in sinus heart rate. When heart rate was maintained constant by overdrive atrial pacing, hemodynamic changes in response to pimobendan consisted of dose-related increases in right ventricular isometric contractile force (P less than .05 at 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg), left ventricular +dP/dt (P less than .05 at 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg), and left circumflex coronary artery blood flow (P less than .05 at 1.0 mg/kg). Increases in each of the aforementioned hemodynamic parameters were sustained for up to 4 hr after the i.v. administration of 1.0 mg/kg pimobendan. The cardiac electrophysiologic changes associated with pimobendan administration included decreases in the atrial (P less than .05 at 1.0 mg/kg), ventricular (P less than .05 at 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg), and atrioventricular nodal functional (P less than .05 at 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) and effective (P less than .05 at 1.0 mg/kg) refractory periods. Atrioventricular conduction velocity was enhanced after pimobendan, as indicated by a shortening of the AH (P less than .05 at 0.3 mg/kg and at 1.0 mg/kg) and PR intervals (P less than 0.05 at 1.0 mg/kg). Pretreatment with propranolol (0.5 mg/kg i.v.) attenuated the pimobendan-induced decrease in the ventricular refractory period and the increase in heart rate, whereas the decrease in arterial pressure was enhanced. These results indicate that the i.v. administration of pimobendan to anesthetized dogs produces a dose-related positive inotropic effect, coronary and peripheral vasodilation, and cardiac electrophysiologic effects that include decreases in atrial, atrioventricular, and ventricular refractoriness as well as a facilitation of atrioventricular conduction. The observed electrophysiologic changes may be mediated, in part, by a baroreceptor-mediated increase in sympathetic nervous system activity.

Animals↗

Cardiovascular response to speaking in schizophrenics.

Cardiovascular responses to speaking are compared in schizophrenic and nonschizophrenic psychiatric patients. Schizophrenics show a significantly smaller mean arterial pressure (MAP) response to speaking than nonschizophrenics, and a trend toward significantly smaller heart rate (HR) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) responses. Previous studies found that normal individuals consistently increase MAP when they speak. Nonschizophrenic psychiatric patients resemble normals, but a significant number of schizophrenics do not increase MAP when they speak. This difference is not explained by baseline differences between the two groups (Law of Initial Value effects). Effects of neuroleptic use cannot be excluded entirely, but the pattern of response is not consistent with a neuroleptic-induced attenuation of response.

Adult↗

Effect of flecainide acetate on prevention of electrical induction of ventricular tachycardia and occurrence of ischemic ventricular fibrillation during the early postmyocardial infarction period: evaluation in a conscious canine model of sudden death.

The antiarrhythmic and antifibrillatory effects of flecainide acetate during the early postinfarction period were evaluated in a conscious canine model of sudden cardiac death. Ventricular tachycardia remained inducible early after infarction in eight of nine dogs receiving an intravenous loading dose of flecainide (2.0 mg/kg body weight) and seven of eight dogs receiving saline vehicle. In both the drug and vehicle groups, there was no significant change in the ventricular refractory period or in the cycle length of the induced ventricular tachycardia. With a maintenance intravenous infusion of flecainide, 1.0 mg/kg per h for 4 hours, the subsequent occurrence of acute posterolateral ischemia resulted in the development of ventricular fibrillation and sudden death in seven of eight flecainide-treated and eight of eight vehicle-treated dogs. Seven additional postinfarction dogs with noninducible tachycardia during pretreatment programmed stimulation, and thereby considered to be at "low risk" for the development of ischemic ventricular fibrillation, were also given flecainide in an intravenous loading and maintenance dosing regimen. The subsequent occurrence of posterolateral ischemia resulted in the development of ventricular fibrillation in three of these seven dogs. These findings suggest that flecainide acetate may not possess pharmacologic properties useful in managing ventricular tachycardia or in preventing ischemic ventricular fibrillation in the presence of recent myocardial damage.

Animals↗

Lack of concordance between the antiarrhythmic and antifibrillatory actions of UM-424, a quaternary ammonium analogue of propranolol.

UM-424, 1-dimethyl isopropylamino-3-(2-phenylphenoxy)-propan-2-ol chloride, is a quaternary ammonium derivative of propranolol. Previous studies have demonstrated UM-424 to suppress the development of ventricular arrhythmias in a variety of experimental canine models, while lacking significant beta-adrenergic blocking and cardiodepressant actions. In the present studies, slight and transient reductions in heart rate, coronary flow, and indices of cardiac force and pressure developed only after the intravenous administration of 10.0 mg/kg UM-424. The positive inotropic response to intravenous isoproterenol was not altered significantly by 1.0-10.0 mg/kg UM-424. In conscious dogs 4-7 days after anterior myocardial infarction, UM-424 administered intravenously in a single (5.0 mg/kg) or multiple (5.0 mg/kg q 6 h for 24 h) dose schedule increased the ventricular refractory period from 146 +/- 4 to 180 +/- 3 ms (p less than 0.01), and suppressed the initiation of ventricular tachycardia by programmed ventricular stimulation in six of nine postinfarction dogs tested. However, the incidence of subsequent ventricular fibrillation developing in response to acute ischemia at a site remote from previous myocardial infarction was 100% in both UM-424 (n = 8)- and vehicle (n = 8)-treated postinfarction dogs. These findings suggest UM-424 is ineffective in preventing the development of ischemic ventricular fibrillation in the presence of previous myocardial injury, despite the efficacy of this agent in suppressing other experimentally induced ventricular arrhythmias.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Alpha-adrenergic influences in canine ischemic sudden death: effects of alpha 1-adrenoceptor blockade with prazosin.

The antiarrhythmic and antifibrillatory actions of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin were evaluated in conscious dogs 4-7 days after anterior myocardial infarction. Both the intravenous (i.v.) low single dose administration of 100 micrograms/kg and the higher multiple dose administration of 500 micrograms/kg every 6 h for 24 h failed to alter electrocardiographic intervals, ventricular effective refractory periods, or the induction of ventricular tachycardia (VT) by programmed ventricular stimulation. During the first 30 min of a subsequent episode of acute posterolateral ischemia, the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) was reduced from 13 of 16 (81%) in vehicle-pretreated control animals to 2 of 8 (25%, p less than 0.05) in animals pretreated with 100 micrograms/kg prazosin and 3 of 8 (37%, p less than 0.05) in animals pretreated with 500 micrograms/kg prazosin every 6 h for 24 h. The continued administration of prazosin in the higher dose regimen, every 6 h for 24 h, significantly enhanced survival at 24 h after the onset of posterolateral ischemia in postinfarction dogs relative to the vehicle group [24-h survival: 1 of 16 (6%) vehicle v 4 of 8 (50%) in higher dose prazosin group, p less than 0.05]. These findings suggest that the blockade of alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation may be efficacious in preventing lethal ventricular arrhythmias associated with acute ischemia, despite the lack of effect on electrophysiologic parameters and induction of VT in the postinfarction setting.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Electrophysiologic and antiarrhythmic actions of sulphinpyrazone and its sulfide metabolite G25671.

In anesthetized dogs, the cumulative intravenous administration of 1.0-40.0 mg/kg sulphinpyrazone failed to alter the ventricular excitation threshold, ventricular refractory period and ventricular fibrillation threshold determined during nonobstructed coronary blood flow. Sulphinpyrazone, however, did attenuate the reduction in the ventricular fibrillation threshold occurring during transient myocardial ischemia. G25671, the sulfide metabolite of sulphinpyrazone, failed to alter ventricular refractoriness and 'nonischemic' ventricular fibrillation thresholds, and was minimally effective in reducing the decrease in 'ischemic' fibrillation thresholds when administered in cumulative intravenous doses of 5.0-20.0 mg/kg. In conscious dogs in the subacute phase of anterior myocardial infarction, the administration of a cumulative 10.0-40.0 mg/kg sulphinpyrazone failed to alter the mode of induction, rate or morphology of ventricular tachyarrhythmias initiated by programmed ventricular stimulation. These data suggest that neither sulphinpyrazone nor its sulfide metabolite possess primary electrophysiologic properties which might contribute directly to significant antiarrhythmic or antifibrillatory activity.

Animals↗

Effects of flecainide acetate on ventricular tachyarrhythmia and fibrillation in dogs with recent myocardial infarction.

The antiarrhythmic and antifibrillatory actions of the class IC antiarrhythmic agent flecainide acetate were examined in urethane-anesthetized dogs with recent myocardial infarction. The intravenous administration of flecainide in a loading dose of 1.0 mg/kg (n = 7) or 2.0 mg/kg (n = 6), followed by a maintenance infusion of 1.0 mg/kg/h to achieve plasma drug concentrations considered clinically therapeutic, failed to significantly elevate the electrical threshold current required to provoke ventricular fibrillation at infarct zone, border zone and non-infarct zone stimulation sites in postinfarction dogs. In 8 dogs which responded to baseline programmed stimulation with inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia, flecainide administered as 1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg loading doses followed by a 1.0 mg/kg/h maintenance infusion failed to prevent ventricular tachycardia initiation in any animal tested, although the post-treatment ventricular tachycardia cycle lengths were prolonged compared to baseline values (pre: 178 +/- 11 ms vs post: 202 +/- 17 ms, p less than 0.05). Flecainide administration apparently facilitated the induction of newly sustained ventricular tachycardia in 3 previously noninducible postinfarction dogs. The development of acute posterolateral ischemia at a site remote from previous anterior myocardial infarction resulted in the development of ventricular fibrillation in 4 of 11 (36%) saline-treated postinfarction dogs vs a cumulative 10 of 12 (83%) flecainide-treated, baseline noninducible postinfarction dogs (p less than 0.05 vs saline-treated). The incidence of sudden ischemic ventricular fibrillation was 7 of 7 (100%) among flecainide-treated baseline inducible postinfarction dogs. These data suggest that flecainide acetate may have only limited efficacy in preventing ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation soon after myocardial infarction.

Animals↗

Antifibrillatory efficacy of concomitant beta adrenergic receptor blockade with dilevalol, the R,R-isomer of labetalol, and muscarinic receptor blockade with methylscopolamine.

The antiarrhythmic and antifibrillatory actions of dilevalol, the R,R-isomer of labetalol, were evaluated in conscious dogs 4 to 6 days after anterior myocardial infarction. The administration of dilevalol in a lower dose of 0.3 mg/kg i.v. q 8 hr or a higher dose of 3.0 mg/kg i.v. q 8 hr over a period of 24 hr failed to alter electrophysiologic parameters or significantly suppress the induction of ventricular tachycardia by programmed ventricular stimulation (incidence of ventricular tachycardia suppression: 4 of 25 [16%] dilevalol vs. 1 of 14 [7%] vehicle). Pretreatment with dilevalol failed to reduce arrhythmic death in response to the subsequent development of ischemia at a site distant to the area of previous infarction (mortality: 8 of 10 [80%] dilevalol vs. 14 of 14 [100%] vehicle), but did alter the nature of the lethal ischemic arrhythmia from ventricular fibrillation (incidence of ventricular fibrillation: 14 of 14 [100%] vehicle vs. 2 of 8 [25%] dilevalol, P less than .05) to bradyarrhythmia with eventual sinoatrial arrest (6 of 8 [75%] dilevalol). The administration of methylscopolamine, 0.01 mg/kg both i.v. and i.m., to postinfarction animals pretreated with dilevalol, 3.0 mg/kg i.v. q 8 hr for 24 hr, reduced significantly mortality in response to subsequent posterolateral ischemia (mortality: 4 of 10 [40%] dilevalol plus methylscopolamine vs. 14 of 14 [100%] vehicle, P less than .05). However, methylscopolamine alone failed to suppress the development of ischemic ventricular fibrillation in 5 of 6 (83%) postinfarction dogs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Electrophysiologic effects of prazosin during acute myocardial ischemia.

Prazosin, 100 micrograms/kg, had no effect on baseline refractoriness or intraventricular conduction in anesthetized dogs. During 1 h of coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion, prazosin significantly blunted the shortening of the ventricular effective refractory periods within ischemic myocardial region relative to vehicle-treated animals. Prazosin treatment also prevented the delayed conduction of paced ventricular complexes entering and exiting the ischemic zone. These effects may be associated with the blockade of alpha 1-adrenoceptor activation during the acute phase of myocardial ischemia.

Animals↗

Electrophysiologic actions of pirmenol in dogs with recent myocardial infarction.

The electrophysiologic actions of pirmenol, an investigational class I antiarrhythmic agent, were evaluated in eight anesthetized dogs, 5 to 10 days after anterior myocardial infarction. Before administration of the drug, programmed ventricular stimulation failed to initiate nonsustained or sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT) in any of the postinfarction dogs. After the cumulative administration of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/kg pirmenol, programmed stimulation initiated sustained VT in six of the eight postinfarction dogs tested, with one additional dog responding with reproducible nonsustained VT (15 to 20 monomorphic complexes) after pirmenol administration. Only one of eight postinfarction dogs tested remained noninducible throughout the pirmenol dosing schedule. Administration of pirmenol tended to increase ventricular excitation thresholds, relative (p less than 0.05 after 10 mg/kg) and effective refractory periods in ischemically injured ventricular myocardium, and increased the difference or disparity in relative (p less than 0.05 after 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) and effective (p less than 0.01 after 2.5, 5, and 10, mg/kg) refractory periods between ischemically injured and normal noninjured ventricular myocardium. These findings suggest a potential for the provocation or aggravation of ventricular arrhythmias by pirmenol in the setting of recent myocardial infarction.

Animals↗

Facilitation of lethal ventricular arrhythmias by therapeutic digoxin in conscious post infarction dogs.

The proarrhythmic potential of digoxin, administered in a therapeutic dosage regimen, was evaluated in conscious dogs in the subacute phase of myocardial infarction. In this evaluation, digoxin (0.0125 mg/kg/day intravenously) or vehicle were administered to conscious dogs for periods of 5 to 7 days, commencing 4 to 5 days after anterior myocardial infarction. Before treatment, programmed ventricular stimulation failed to initiate ventricular tachycardia in 26 post infarction dogs. After treatment, programmed stimulation initiated ventricular tachyarrhythmias in only 1 of 13 digoxin-treated dogs (1.36 +/- 0.17 ng/ml serum digoxin) and in 0 of 13 vehicle-treated dogs. However, the incidences of early ventricular fibrilation (4 of 10 digoxin vs 0 of 12 vehicle; p less than 0.05) and of 24-hour mortality (6 of 10 digoxin vs 2 of 12 vehicle; p less than 0.05) occurring in response to the development of posterolateral ischemia in the presence of previous anterior myocardial infarction was significantly greater in digoxin-treated (1.47 +/- 0.19 ng/ml serum digoxin) than in vehicle-treated animals. These findings suggest an enhanced susceptibility toward the development of ischemia-related lethal arrhythmias in the presence of therapeutic digoxin serum concentrations early after myocardial infarction, which is not predicted by programmed ventricular stimulation testing.

Animals↗

Standards and guidelines for occupational health recordkeeping.

Several associations have developed guidelines and standards for the occupational health record. Generally, these guidelines and standards reflect health record content and formats found in other health delivery settings. Overall, the guidelines and standards offer only a minimal introduction to occupational health records. They provide some insight into a health record system that has not been explored, as of yet, to any great depth. A more comprehensive investigation into the state of the art of occupational health records is long overdue.

Abstracting and Indexing↗