Significance of an abnormal response during pituitary desensitization in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program

From January 1972 to June 1990, 112 patients (39 to 83 years old), 67 males and 45 females were submitted to surgery for sever calcified aortic stenosis. 68 patients were in NYHA III (60.72%) and 44 in NYHA IV. Early mortality included 8 patients (7.14%), 6 died for cardiac reasons. Late mortality was 27.67%. Actuarial survival rate (including postoperative mortality) was 88.39%, 77.67%, 67.85% and 65.17% at one year, five, ten and fifteen years, respectively. Results were significantly correlated to left branch block on preoperative EKG, episodes of complete heart failure, significant coronary stenosis, the cardioplegia technique and the association with coronary bypass.     

Teaching Rwandan families to care for people with AIDS at home

AIDS causes disabling symptoms during its chronic and terminal phases. Families throughout the world, whether related to the patient by blood or affection, provide most of the personal care for him or her at home during these phases. Whether the family has access to advanced medical care or not, they can be taught simple comfort measures and nursing care skills that will improve the well-being of the patient. In Rwanda, a small country in east-central Africa, Red Cross volunteers were trained to teach these skills. The volunteers then returned to their villages to help local families. Six months later, 24 of these families were interviewed about the impact of the volunteers' visits. Families indicated they had benefited from being taught the caregiving skills. They also appreciated the emotional support attendant to the volunteers' visits. In summary, the training course enabled volunteers both to enhance family nursing care skills and to provide emotional support to families caring for people with AIDS at home. This training can also be used by volunteers to assist families caring for members ill with other endemic chronic infectious diseases.     

The effects of propranolol, practolol and metoprolol on exercise-induced tachycardia in relation to plasma levels in man

1. The effects of single oral doses of propranolol, practolol and a new cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug, metoprolol, on exercise-induced tachycardia in relation to plasma levels were studied in six normal volunteers. 2. Exercise undertaken on treadmill was submaximal which, under control conditions, increased the heart rate from 74-3 (s.e.m. = 6-8) to 153-8 (s.e.m. = 9.8) beats/min. 3. Plasma concentrations of propranolol and practolol were assayed fluorometrically and of metoprolol by electron-capture gas liquid chromatography, the details of which are described. 4. Between 1-5 and 2 h after drug ingestion 80 mg of propranolol associated with plasma level of 50-60 ng/ml (half-life 2-75 h), reduced the exercise-induced tachycardia by 27%, 250 mg of practolol with plasma levels of 1050-1100 ng/ml reduced it by 28% and 100 mg of metoprolol with plasma concentrations of 140-150 ng/ml (half-life 1-7 h), reduced it by 30%. 5. The resting heart rates were reduced significantly by propranolol and metoprolol but not by practolol. 6. Metoprolol is a potent short-acting beta-adrenoceptor antagonist; its advantages as a cardioselective agent over practolol in therapeutic use are discussed.