Air samples were collected in plastic bags simultaneously at various measuring points in the close range of streets. When examining the various bag materials, Teflon bags showed the smallest deviations in direct analyses and in analyses of up to two hours after the drawing of samples. The following methods were used for the analysis of the air samples collected in the bags: coulometry for CO and SO2, chemiluminescence for NO/NO2, chromotrophic acid for CH2O and flame ionization for hydrocarbons. The various components were measured close to a highway and near streets in residential and business areas. The simultaneously drawn samples showed a marked dependence on traffic frequency, type of built-up area along the streets as well as meteorological conditions. An opinion survey among adjacent residents on annoyance caused by air pollution and noise resulted in distinct differences between the sections with different traffic intensity.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of the cardiovascular effects of phentolamine, sodium nitroprusside and nitroglycerin in anaesthetized cats (comparison of vasodilators).

The effects of phentolamine (PH), sodium nitroprusside (NP) and nitroglycerin (GTN) were compared in experiments on anaesthetized cats. All three agents diminished vascular resistance and lowered blood pressure, although they differed in the intensity of their effects (NP greater than PH = GTN) and in the steepness of their dose-response curves (NP greater than PH greater than GTN). NP and GTN did not cause consistent changes in heart rate and dP/dt, whereas PH produced marked, dose-dependent increases in these two variables and in cardiac output, which was augmented to a lesser extent by NP and not affected by GTN. It is concluded that whereas the beneficial therapeutic effects of NP and GTN are presumably due exclusively to the reduction of preload and afterload, PH has an additional cardiostimulant action.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Conception and goals of sports for handicapped in Switzerland].

The main objective of sport for the handicapped is the maintenance and improvement of physical performance. Sport for the handicapped is also a social hygienic question. We cannot ignore what is happening to the handicapped during their whole life-time: whether they get more and more stiff, unflexible and clumsy, lose their ability to move and become a burden to the society too early. Regular physical activity can work wonders. Many of them find the relation to the public life and their lost self-confidence returned as a result of participating in physical activity programs. They become happier and motivated for their daily work. They discover a new sense of life in proving to themselves that, in spite of their handicap, they are able to achieve considerable performances, a healthier state, and are generally happier and more flexible up to an old age. In conclusion, sport for the handicapped should achieve the following: give pleasure of life, increase courage, promote comradeship, reinforce self-confidence, improve independence, and take away inhibitions and inferiority complexes.

Persons with Disabilities↗

PubMedDate not supplied

QTc interval and scintigraphically assessed myocardial perfusion in newly diagnosed and long-term type 1 diabetes mellitus.

In diabetes mellitus, heart rate corrected QT interval (QTc) has been suggested to be related to ischemic heart disease and increased risk of sudden cardiac death. The aim of the study was to analyze the length of QTc interval with regard to global and regional myocardial perfusion in type 1 diabetic patients. Myocardial perfusion was investigated in 20 newly diagnosed and 40 long-term type 1 diabetic patients without clinical evidence for coronary artery disease by means of Tc-99-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-99m-MIBI)-scintigraphy (myocardial uptake (MU) score: 1-6). Five consecutive RR and QT intervals of resting electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing were measured and corrected for the previous cycle length. ECG-based cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) was assessed with five cardiac reflex tests. Length of QTc interval was 423+/-29 ms in newly diagnosed and 433+/-26 ms in long-term type 1 diabetic patients. Nine (45%) newly diagnosed and 18 (45%) long-term diabetic patients demonstrated a prolonged QTc interval (>440 ms). Both newly diagnosed and long-term diabetic patients did not display significant global or regional myocardial perfusion defects (mean MU scores<3). In newly diagnosed diabetic patients, the length of QTc interval was related to global, posterior and septal Tc-99m-MIBI uptake (p<0.05, respectively). In long-term diabetic patients, the length of QTc interval was associated with apical Tc-99m-MIBI uptake (p<0.05). Two (10%) newly diagnosed and 19 (48%) long-term type 1 diabetic patients demonstrated ECG-based CAN. In long-term type 1 diabetic patients, global myocardial Tc-99m-MIBI uptake did not differ significantly between patients with and without CAN. QTc interval was not significantly different between diabetic patients with and without ECG-based CAN (433+/-19 ms vs. 428+/-17 ms). Long-term diabetic patients, of whom 10 (25%) patients had microalbuminuria and seven (18%) patients had macroalbuminuria, demonstrated an association between QTc interval and albuminuria (p<0.05). The results somewhat suggest an association between QTc interval and vascular factors in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Future investigations are required to analyze the role of QTc interval in the pathogenesis of abnormalities of myocardial perfusion.

Adult↗