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Biomedical subjects

S Rubler

Publications and source records attributed to S Rubler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of cilazapril on exercise tolerance in congestive heart failure.

Cilazapril (C), an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor with effective antihypertensive efficacy, was examined for its ability to alter exercise tolerance testing (ETT) and respiratory oxygen uptake in 33 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). C was administered in capsules daily to patients with New York Heart Association Class II or Class III CHF for 12 weeks, in parallel double-blind treatment groups of 0 mg (n = 8), 0.5 mg (n = 8), 1.0 mg (n = 9), and 2.5 mg (n = 8). The blood pressure (BP) was reduced by 2.5 mg C: systolic BP (SBP) from 126 to 114 mm Hg; diastolic BP from 76 to 69 mm Hg. The maximum heart rate (MHR) during ETT was increased by 2.5 mg C from 137 to 143 bpm, as was the double product (MHR x maximum SBP x 0.01) from 237 to 251. There was an insignificant change in duration of exercise (548-610 s), anaerobic threshold (AT), and maximum oxygen uptake (14.1-15.7 ml/kg/min). The results suggest a positive effect of 2.5 mg C on energy utilization in CHF patients.

Aged↗

Arm exercise testing with myocardial scintigraphy in asymptomatic patients with peripheral vascular disease.

Arm exercise with myocardial scintigraphy and oxygen consumption determinations was performed by 33 men with peripheral vascular disease, 40 to 74 years of age (group 2). None had evidence of coronary disease. Nineteen age-matched male control subjects (group 1) were also tested to determine the normal endurance and oxygen consumption during arm exercise in their age group and to compare the results with those obtained during a standard treadmill performance. The maximal heart rate, systolic blood pressure, pressure rate product, and oxygen consumption were all significantly lower for arm than for leg exercise. However, there was good correlation between all these parameters for both types of exertion. The maximal heart rate, work load and oxygen consumption were greater for group 1 subjects than in patients with peripheral vascular disease despite similar activity status. None of the group 1 subjects had abnormal arm exercise ECGs, while six members of group 2 had ST segment changes. Thallium-201 scintigraphy performed in the latter group demonstrated perfusion defects in 25 patients. After nine to 29 months of follow-up, three patients who had abnormal tests developed angina and one of them required coronary bypass surgery. Arm exercise with myocardial scintigraphy may be an effective method of detecting occult ischemia in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Those with good exercise tolerance and no electrocardiographic changes or 201T1 defects are probably at lower risk for the development of cardiac complications, while those who develop abnormalities at low exercise levels may be candidates for invasive studies.

Adult↗

Predictive value of clinical and exercise variables for detection of coronary artery disease in men with diabetes mellitus.

Sixty-eight men with diabetes mellitus (mean age 53 +/- 10 years) and no symptoms of cardiac dysfunction enrolled in a long-range study for detection of latent coronary artery disease. The testing included maximal treadmill stress with thallium-201 scintigraphy and echocardiography. Radionuclide angiography was available in 35 men (52%), and 24 (35%) had gated scanning with exercise. Of the 68 patients, 14 (21%) had a mild (9 patients) or moderate (5 patients) decrease in ejection fraction on radionuclide angiography, echocardiography or both. Fifty-two men agreed to remain in the study and have been followed for 12 to 18 months (mean 41 +/- 19). Ten coronary events have occurred. Four of the men died (2 suddenly) and 6 have angina pectoris. Three patients have had vascular complications. Of the clinical and exercise variables studied, exercise duration effectively predicted an adverse outcome, while the odds ratio in favor of a coronary event increased by 36 times in those with thallium-201 defects and 7 times in those with ST-segment changes on exercise. Radionuclide angiographic responses during exercise were abnormal in 5 of 6 patients with events, but were also abnormal in 12 of 29 men (41%) who did not have coronary artery disease. Clinical variables such as blood pressure, cholesterol level and family history were not predictive of outcome, nor was maximal heart rate during exercise. Thus, diabetic mean who can exercise for 440 seconds on a treadmill using a bruce protocol are at low risk of a coronary event.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiography↗

Effect of orally administered celiprolol in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.

The heart rate increase induced by dynamic exercise in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation is competitively attenuated by beta-blockade. The influence of oral celiprolol on exercise induced tachycardia was evaluated in 23 patients with chronic stable atrial fibrillation in a dose-titration study. This was succeeded by a placebo-controlled double-blind, crossover multi-center trial. During the dose-titration phase each patient underwent a single-blind three week dose escalation period-taking celiprolol 200 mg once daily for one week, celiprolol 400 mg once daily for the third week. After a one week placebo washout, patients then entered a double-blind crossover phase, consisting of one week each of placebo or celiprolol according to a pre-determined randomization. After one week of placebo washout, each patient was crossed-over. In 21 patients celiprolol reduces exercise-induced increased heart rate by approximately 35% when compared with placebo. These results indicate that celiprolol should be effective in controlling the exercise-induced increase in heart rate in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. In addition, results of 24 h ambulatory ECG monitoring (Holtor monitoring) indicate that celiprolol reduces the ventricular premature contractions.

Administration, Oral↗

Blood pressure and heart rate responses during 24-hour ambulatory monitoring and exercise in men with diabetes mellitus.

The heart rate (HR) variation of 25 normotensive and asymptomatic men, mean age 58 +/- 7 years, with diabetes mellitus (group I) was studied during deep respiration. Thirteen subjects (52%) had a variation of 10 beats/min or less, consistent with an autonomic neuropathy (AN) (group IA); 12 had variation in HR of more than 10 beats/min and were considered to have no neuropathy (group IB). The 24-hour ambulatory HR and systolic blood pressure (BP) values of group I were compared with those of 13 healthy men, mean age 48 +/- 8 years (group II). The mean of 5 maximal HR measurements during the 24-hour period was higher for group IA (106 +/- 11 beats/min) than for group IB (100 +/- 13 beats/min) or for group II (92 +/- 9 beats/min) (p less than 0.01). The mean of 5 maximal BP measurements was greater for group I (149 +/- 28 mm Hg) than for group II (128 +/- 13 mm Hg) (p less than 0.01), but no difference was observed between groups IA and IB. Maximal treadmill exercise was performed with 22 of the patients (11 with and 11 without AN), and no difference in HR was observed between the 2 groups during all stages of exercise or at maximal exertion. The increase in systolic BP and duration of exercise in these 2 groups were also similar. Seventeen of 25 diabetic men had peripheral neuropathy (PN). Of 13 patients with AN, 10 had PN; of 12 without AN, 7 had PN and 5 did not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

The significance of repeated exercise testing with thallium-201 scanning in asymptomatic diabetic males.

This study was conducted with asymptomatic middle-aged male subjects with diabetes mellitus to detect latent cardiac disease using noninvasive techniques. One group of 38 diabetic males (mean age 50.5 +/- 10.2 years) and a group of 15 normal males (mean age 46.9 +/- 10.0 years) participated in the initial trial; 13 diabetic patients and 7 control subjects were restudied 1-2 years later. Maximal treadmill exercise with a Bruce protocol and myocardial scintigraphy with thallium-201(201Tl) were used. Diabetic subjects on initial examination and retesting achieved a lower maximal heart rate and duration of exercise than control subjects. Abnormal electrocardiographic changes, thallium defects, or both were observed in 23/38 diabetic males (60.5%) on the first study and only one 65-year-old control subject had such findings. On retesting, the control subjects had no abnormalities while 76.9% of diabetic subjects had either 201Tl defects or ECG changes. We conclude that despite the fact that none of diabetic males had any clinical evidence or symptoms of heart disease, this high-risk group demonstrated abnormalities on exercise testing that merit careful subsequent evaluation and followup and could be an effective method of detecting early cardiac disease.

Adult↗

The role of aortic valve calcium in the detection of aortic stenosis: an echocardiographic study.

One hundred fifty-three men (mean age 67.0 +/- 10.0 years) with basal systolic murmurs and aortic valve calcium on the echocardiogram (group II) were studied to assess the relationship between the grade of calcium and severity of aortic valve obstruction. Patients were subdivided into group IIA (hypertension, no coronary artery disease), group IIB (coronary artery disease, no hypertension), group IIC (hypertension and coronary artery disease) and group IID (neither hypertension nor coronary artery disease). Group I consisted of 21 normal age-matched men (mean age 60.5 +/- 10.9 years). Aortic valve calcium was graded as 1+ (63 patients), 2+ (54 patients), or 3+ (36 patients) according to the degree of involvement. Left ventricular wall thickness was greater in group II than in group I, and close correlation between wall thickness parameters and grade of aortic valve calcium was observed for group IID. Of 31 catheterized patients, none of seven with 1+ aortic calcium and 11 of 14 with 3+ calcium had gradients greater than or equal to 50 mm Hg. With 3+ calcium the valve area was 0.8 +/- 0.4 cm2, and with 1+ calcium it was 2.8 +/- 0.7 cm2 (f = 0.0006). The presence of 3+ calcium or grade 2+ calcium combined with a left ventricular ejection time index greater than 433 msec and a left ventricular mass greater than 300 gm was highly suggestive of severe aortic stenosis and could be used to separate patients to be considered for invasive studies from those with benign aortic valve sclerosis.

Age Factors↗

Left ventricular ejection times during exercise testing with scintigraphy. Their use in the detection of ischemic heart disease.

Left ventricular ejection times ( LVETs ) were obtained in a group of 20 control subjects (group 1) during maximal treadmill exercise testing, using a Bruce protocol, and in conjunction with myocardial scintigraphy. Heart rates (HRs) and LVETs were recorded during standing rest, each minute of exercise, and for eight minutes in the postexercise period. A linear regression equation was constructed and separate correction factors of 1.04 X HR + observed LVET (correlation coefficient, -.86) for the exercise period and 0.73 X HR + LVET (correlation coefficient, -.71) for the postexercise period were derived. The LVETs were also recorded in 31 subjects with positive ECGs and defects on myocardial scanning with thallous chloride TL201 (group 2) during a similar exercise protocol. Comparison of groups 1 and 2 disclosed that the former had a higher HR and shorter LVET than the latter at peak effort (consonant with the significantly longer duration of exercise achieved by the control subjects). The LVETs in group 1 remained significantly shorter than that of group 2 through the fifth minute postexercise. In the postexercise period, the LVET indexes were significantly shorter in group 1 than group 2 at 1, 3, and 5 minutes. Subjects with presumptive coronary disease (positive ECG and defects on thallium 201 scanning) not only have a decreased exercise tolerance and HR, but after exercise, their ejection times are substantially longer than in normal subjects. This may be attributed to a slower rate of ejection in patients with coronary disease when venous pooling on quiet standing after exercise delivers a smaller volume to the heart. In normal subjects, the lesser volume may be ejected more rapidly.

Adult↗

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in diabetic males: a method for detecting blood pressure elevations undisclosed by conventional methods.

Twenty-one diabetic males, ages 20 to 61 years (mean 48.4 +/- 10.5) and 14 healthy males, 22 to 59 years (mean 42.5 +/- 10.4) consented to participate in a study during which 24-h recordings of systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rates, and rhythm were obtained. The diabetic subjects were considered normotensive except for two patients, who had been observed to have rare insignificant elevations in blood pressure and were untreated. Diabetic subjects had a higher mean maximal systolic blood pressure (160.7 +/- 49.8 mmHg) than the normal controls (132.4 +/- 12.1 mmHg) (p less than 0.05). They also had a higher frequency (15.1%) of systolic blood pressure readings greater than or equal to 150 mmHg compared to normal men (0.2%) (p less than 0.01). The frequency of diastolic blood pressure readings greater than or equal to 90 mmHg was 22.1% in the former and 9.2% in the latter group (p less than 0.01). Of 21 diabetic males, 14 (66.7%) had systolic pressures greater than or equal to 150 mmHg, diastolic pressures greater than or equal to 100 mmHg, or both. In the normal men, 3 (21.4%) of the 14 had such pressures. Twenty-four hour monitoring of ambulatory blood pressures revealed elevations not detected by routine casual readings in patients with diabetes.

Adult↗

Cardiac hypertrophy in response to dynamic conditioning in female athletes.

Ten female field hockey players were studied to determine if prolonged dynamic conditioning results in an increased left ventricular internal dimension at end diastole (LVIDD) and if this increase correlates with maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). At peak season, echocardiograms were obtained and VO2max determined during maximal treadmill exercise. VO2max, LVIDD index (LVIDD/body surface area (BSA)), and ventricular septal and posterior wall thickness were compared to agematched nonathletic women. Mean LVIDD index was significantly greater in athletes than in controls: 29.3 +/- 0.9 mm/m2 vs. 26.3 +/- 0.6, P less than 0.005. Echocardiographic wall measurements did not differ significantly in the two groups. Mean VO2max for the athletes was significantly greater than controls: 51.7 +/- 4.0 ml O2.kg-1.min-1 vs. 41.2 +/- 2.1, P less than 0.001. VO2max correlated significantly with LVIDD index; r = 0.92, P less than 0.001. Female athletes show an increased LVIDD in response to dynamic conditioning similar to that seen in male athletes. The proficiency of athletic performance as measured by VO2max may be related to the heart's ability to increase LVIDD since there is a high correlation between VO2max and LVIDD index.

Adult↗

Isovolumic relaxation time in normal subjects and patients with cardiac disease: comparison of determinations made with echocardiographic techniques and apex cardiography.

Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) was determined in 17 controls and 41 patients. Nine patients had ischemic heart disease (IHD), 7 mitral prolapse (MVPS), 13 hypertension (HPB), 7 pregnancy (P), and 5 cardiomyopathy (CM). Echocardiographic measurements of IVRT were made from the aortic second sound to the rapid opening of the mitral valve (A2D1). Determinations by apexcardiography were made from the aortic second sound to the 0 point (A2O). The IVRT was distinctly shorter when assessed by A2D1 than by conventional apexdardiography in conventional apexcardiography in controls (69.2 +/- 16.4 msec vs 118.7 +/- 16.5 msec) and in patients with cardiac disease. The IVRT in 9 older normal controls (mean age 47.7 years) was longer than in 8 younger ones (age 26.3 +/- 4.9 years). Patients with myocardial disease (IHD, HBP, and CM) had prolonged IVRTs when compared to normal subjects. Pregnant subjects had shortened intervals. IVRT may be a sensitive indicator of disturbances in myocardial contractility and may be shortened and enhanced contractility.

Adolescent↗