Phenotypic Correlations of Testes Size with Semen Traits and the Productive Traits of Young Boars.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship of young boar testes size with semen traits and with productive traits. The dimensions (length, width and volume) of each testis and semen traits (semen volume, percentage of sperm with progressive motility, sperm concentration, total number of sperm in semen, percentage of sperm with normal acrosome, percentage of sperm with major and minor morphological defects, osmotic resistance test value and activity of aspartate aminotransferase in seminal plasma) were determined on 120 young boars aged 6 months. At 180 day of age, the boars backfat thickness and leanness (by ultrasonic apparatus) and body weight were also measured. The average daily gain was determined in the period from 70 to 180 days of age of the boars. The results showed that the sperm concentration, total number of sperm in semen and percentage of progressive motile sperm were a significantly positively correlated with width and volume of the left (p ≤ 0.01) and right testis (p ≤ 0.05) and with total volume of both testes (p ≤ 0.01). But the highest values of correlation coefficients were found between the width of the left testis and sperm concentration, total number of sperm in semen and percentage of progressive motile sperm. A correlations of dimensions (length and width) and volume of testes with other semen traits were very low and statistically non-significant. The volume of testes (left and right testis and total testes) was significantly positively correlated with body weight at 180 days of age and daily gain (p ≤ 0.01), but lower correlation coefficient was between left testis and daily gain (p ≤ 0.05), whereas correlations were low and non-significant with leanness and backfat thickness.

[Drug-induced heart failure]. / Leki wywolujace niewydolnosc serca.

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome caused mainly by cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and valvular disease, but several categories of drugs may potentially induce heart failure in patients without previous heart disease or precipitate revealing of heart failure symptoms in patients with preexisting left ventricle impairment. Pathophysiologically drugs that increase preload, afterload or have negative inotropic properties may be able to cause this adverse reaction. In the article the potential role in the occurrence of heart failure of cytostatics, immunomodulating drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, calcium channel blockers, beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, antiarrhythmics, anesthetics and antidepressants is reviewed.

[The role of endothelins in human cardiovascular disease]. / Udzial endotelin w schorzeniach ukladu krazenia.

Endothelin-1 was first identified by Yanagisawa in 1988 and shown to be a potent and sustained vasoconstrictor and pressure peptide. Endothelial cells line all blood vessels and are capable of generating endothelin-1; receptors for the endothelins are widely expressed, particularly in tissues involved in cardiovascular regulation, including the heart, blood vessels, kidney and brain. Endothelin-1 has potent vasoconstrictor properties and the coronary, renal and cerebral blood vessels appear particularly sensitive. Moreover, endothelin-1 has activity as co-mitogen, interacts with the sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin system. These properties indicate a likelihood that the endothelin system is of functional importance in human cardiovascular physiology and may play a role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. It is possible that endothelin antagonists might be effective in the treatment of diseases associated with intermittent or sustained vasoconstriction.

[Incidence of myocardial ischemia in patients with ischemic heart disease tested with 48-hour Holter monitoring]. / Wystepowanie incydentów niedokrwienia miesnia sercowego u chorych na chorobe niedokrwienna serca w 48-godzinnym badaniu holterowskim.

The aim of the work was to examine the frequency, duration and times of occurrence of painful and painless episodes of heart muscle ischaemia in patients suffering from ischaemic heart disease as well as to evaluate its variations during 24-hour period. Out of all 30 subjects, altogether 104 episodes of myocardial ischaemia were recorded in 18 patients. 67 episodes (in 16 patients) were recorded in the first 24-hour period, and 37 episodes (11 patients) were recorded in the second 24-hour period. 7 patients revealed the incidence of episodes only during the first 24-hour period and 2 patients recorded episodes only in the second 24-hour period. Out of 9 patients in whom ischaemic episodes were observed both in the first as well as in the second 24-hour period, more episodes occurred in the first 24-hour period in 5 patients, more episodes in the second 24-hour period were observed in 3 patients and the same number of episodes in both 24-hour periods was observed in 1 subject. Average duration of the episode was significantly longer in the first 24-hour period. Characteristic 24-hour distribution of ischaemic episodes was observed with peak incidence between 6.00:8.00, 8.00:10.00 and between 18.00:20.00. The times of occurrence of ischaemic episodes on 24-hour monitoring resemble these registered on 48-hour monitoring. Differences in occurrence of ischaemic episodes between first and second 24-hour period were observed, but they reached the level of statistical significance only in the time of their peak incidence, between 8.00 and 10.00 a.m. and 18.00 and 20.00 (p < 0.05). Characteristic pattern of distribution of the episodes of myocardial ischaemia was observed. The number of episodes of myocardial ischaemia is higher in the first 24-hour period of monitoring, although the level of statistical significance was achieved only for episodes occurring between 8.00:10.00 and 18.00:20.00. Duration of ischaemic episodes on 48-hour Holter monitoring is statistically significantly longer during the first 24-hours of monitoring. Majority of ischaemic episodes are painless.

[Idioventricular rhythm in patients with acute myocardial infarction: an indicator of perfusion or ischemic symptom]. / Rytm idiowentrykularny u chorych na swiezy zawal miesnia serca--wskaznik reperfuzji czy objaw niedokrwienia.

Episodes of idioventricular rhythm occur frequently during the first hours of myocardial infarction. In patients receiving thrombolytic therapy, idioventricular rhythms may be an indicator of successful reperfusion--called "reperfusion arrhythmia". The aim of our study was to assess an incidence of idioventricular rhythm and other ventricular arrhythmias and their relations to thrombolytic therapy and reperfusion in a relatively large group of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study included 100 patients with AMI, divided into three groups: with anterior, inferior and inferior with right ventricle infarction. Sixty six patients were treated with thrombolysis. 24-hour Holter recordings were obtained in every patient and reperfusion was assessed clinically. Episodes of idioventricular rhythm and other ventricular arrhythmias were more frequent in the thrombolytic group but not in patients with clinically established reperfusion. The main conclusion from our study is, that accelerated idioventricular rhythm is not specific for reperfusion but rather for myocardial ischaemia. The higher incidence of the ventricular arrhythmias in the thrombolytic group partially depends of their earlier hospitalization, and time-dependent inclusion into treated group.

[Studies of arrhythmia incidence and heart rate variability in patients with stable angina pectoris]. / Badania nad czestoscia wystepowania zaburzen rytmu serca i zmiennoscia rytmu serca u chorych na dusznice bolesna wysilkowa.

Continuous Holter ECG monitoring is a valuable, easy to perform, non-invasive method of assessing not only cardiac arrhythmias but also heart rate variability and autonomic nervous system function. The aim of the study was to determine cardiac arrhythmias and HRV in patients with stable angina with and without previous myocardial infarction. 156 patients, 92 with and 64 without previous myocardial infarction, were examined. The control group consists of 50 healthy volunteers of the same age and sex. No pharmacological treatment except nitroglycerin was applied 2 days before and during examination, blood electrolytes were normal and 24-hour activity was the same in both examined groups. Heart rate variability was assessed by calculation of indices based on statistical operations on RR intervals (time-domain analysis). As a result of the study it was found out that in patients with stable angina pectoris cardiac arrhythmias occur more often and 24-hour heart rate variability is depressed as well as during daily activity and night resting than in healthy persons. In patients without previous myocardial infarction it was found out that 24-hour heart rate was slower than in patients with previous myocardial infarction, which depended mainly on slower heart rate during night, heart rate variability was not significantly different between these groups.

[Studies of lymphocyte membrane transport of sodium in patients with essential hypertension]. / Badania nad blonowym transportem sodu w limfocytach u chorych na pierwotne nadcisnienie tetnicze.

The aim of this study was to investigate abnormalities in lymphocyte membrane sodium fluxes in patients with essential hypertension with and without familial history of hypertension and the influence of selected hypotensive drugs on these fluxes. 121 patients (pts) with positive family histories of primary hypertension (PFH) and 73 pts with negative family histories of primary hypertension (NFH) were examined. The total sodium efflux rate constant (wswc), ouabaine-sensitive (wswou) and furosemide-sensitive (wswf) were measured by the method of Heagerty et al. To examine the influence of selected hypotensive drugs on sodium fluxes wswc, wswou and wswf were measured before and after 7 days of treatment with hydrochlorothiazide (H) or propranolol (P). Wswou was decreased in 61% pts with PFH and in 19% pts with NFH, wswf was decreased in 38% pts with PFH and in 22% pts with NFH. Both, wswou and wswf, were decreased in 49% pts with PFH and only in 2.7% pts with NFH. Wswou and wswf rose significantly after 7 days of treatment with H or P only in pts with PFH and in pts with decreased wswou and wswf before treatment. These data suggest that abnormal lymphocytes membrane sodium transport often occurs in pts with PFH and has familial component. Changes in transport systems observed after 7 days treatment with H or P may contribute, at least in part, to its antihypertensive action in familial hypertension.

[Effect of coffee on blood pressure and activity renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system and catecholamines concentration in patients with essential hypertension]. / Wplyw kawy na cisnienie tetnicze i aktywnosc ukladu renina-angiotensyna-aldosteron oraz stezenie amin katecholowych w surowicy chorych na pierwotne nadcisnienie tetnicze.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity RAAA or plasma catecholamines concentrations and blood pressure are related to distinct patterns of drinking one cup of coffee in hypertensive patients with low or normal plasma renin activity. Plasma renin activity and enzyme converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II activity and serum concentration of aldosterone and catecholamines were measured by radioimmunoassay. Blood pressure was measured by ambulatory monitoring. Our data suggest that drinking one cup of coffee caused after 60 min, to 2 hours elevated systolic and after 60 min diastolic pressure, only in hypertensive patients, with low RAAA habitually drinking coffee. Hypertensive patients with normal RAAA, habitually drinking coffee, after drinking one cup of coffee had elevation only of diastolic blood pressure from 60 min to 120 min after drinking, but systolic blood pressure did not elevate. Plasma catecholamines and aldosterone concentrations, blood renin activity and enzyme converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II activity were not elevated in hypertensive patients with low or normal RAAA after drinking one cup of coffee.

[Time of occurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in Holter monitoring in patients with coronary heart disease and in patients with hypertension]. / Pory dnia a wystepowanie napadowego migotania przedsionków u chorych na chorobe niedokrwienna serca i nadcisnienie tetnicze w obserwacji holterowskiej.

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) often accompany coronary heart disease (CHD), and primary hypertension (PH). The aim of the study was to evaluate the time of occurrence and duration of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) identified from Holter recordings in 63 patients (27 women and 36 men) with CHD (n = 45) and PH (n = 18). No pharmacological treatment was applied before and during the examination. All patients were in sinus rhythm at the start and the end of the recording which lasted for 24 hours. PAF were defined as the occurrence of at least four beats of supraventricular origin, with no visible P or flutter waves. The time of onset, duration, ventricular rate and symptoms of each PAF were noted. There were 219 paroxysms recorded in 63 patients which occurred more often by day than by night, the time of duration was 0.9-240 s. Of the total, 16.3% of episodes with CHD and 9.5% episodes in patients with PH occurred between the hours 8:00-10:00 and between 16:00 and 18:00; 9.1% and 21% respectively. We concluded that in patients with CHD and with H most of the episodes (95%) are silent, they occurred more often during the day activity (particularly between the hours of 8:00 and 10:00 and 16:00-18:00 in both groups). In patients with CHD we observed the third peak of occurrence of PAF between the hours 22:00-0:00.

[Studies of arrhythmia incidence and heart rate variability in patients suffering from cerebral stroke]. / Badania nad czestoscia wystepowania zaburzen rytmu serca i zmiennoscia rytmu serca u chorych na udar mózgu.

Patients with cerebral stroke develop electrocardiographic changes concerning the period of ventricular muscle repolarization and cardiac arrhythmias, which may results in the possibility of acute circulatory arrest. ECG monitoring by means of Holter method provides not only information concerning arrhythmias, episodes of ischaemia of the cardiac muscle, but it is also a recognised and generally accepted method of investigation of the autonomic system. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of arrhythmias and heart rate variability in patients suffering from recent cerebral stroke. The studies involved 36 patients, in that 22 women (mean age 67.7 +/- 7.2 years) and 14 men (mean age 66.5 +/- 11.3 years) within first 24 hours after cerebral stroke confirmed by computerised tomography (CT). One the basis of CT scan haemorrhagic stroke was diagnosed in 7 patients and ischaemic stroke, after ruling out haemorrhagic stroke and neurological consultations, in 29 patients. Moreover, all patients revealed hypertension, 12 of them mild degree (1 degree), and 21 of moderate degree (2 degrees), and 3 of severe degree (3 degrees). The control group comprised 65 patients suffering from primary hypertension without concomitant cerebral stroke, matching the study group as to sex and age as well as the degree of hypertension. All of them were submitted to 24-hour Holter monitoring on tape by means of 3-channel registrator MR45, analysis of ECG tracings was carried out according to Optima Jet system manufactured by Oxford. In order to facilitate further analysis, the automatic recording was verified visually and next heart rate variability (HRV) was estimated within 24 hours and separately for day hours 6:00-22:00 and night hours 22:00-6:00. In comparison to patients with hypertension, but without stroke, subjects with hypertension and accompanying cerebral stroke more often reveal premature supraventricular beats, pairs of ventricular beats as well as episodes of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia; they also reveal lower 24-hours heart rate variability.

[Frequency of silent ischemic heart disease in patients with diabetes mellitus]. / Czestosc wystepowania bezbólowej postaci choroby niedokrwiennej serca u chorych na cukrzyce.

Early detection of silent ischaemia plays an important role in prevention of sudden cardiac death and acute myocardial infarction. More frequent occurrence of silent ischaemia in patients with diabetes mellitus and manifestations of ischaemic heart disease has been relayed in several studies. No studies aimed at frequency of occurrence of silent ischaemia in diabetic patients without clinical symptoms of ischaemic heart disease have been performed yet. Objectives of this study were the examination of the latter case. This study involved 67 patients with diabetes mellitus without clinical symptoms of ischaemic heart disease. The average duration time of diabetes mellitus was 11 years. The patients were divided in two groups. The first group included 26 patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The second group included 41 patients with non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The first control group consisted of 35 non diabetic patients with ischaemic heart disease, and the second control group consisted of 22 healthy volunteers. 24-hours ambulatory Holter monitoring and ECG exercise test were performed in all subjects. The diagnosis of silent ischaemia was established in patients with positive results of both examinations in ECG-records without any following pain. In case of only one positive results the dipyridamole stress echocardiography test with ECG was carried out to prove the diagnosis. It was proved, that silent ischaemia occurs in 19.2% of patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and in 22% non insulin diabetic patients. No statistic differences between frequency of silent ischaemia occurrence in both groups were revealed. The application of 24-hours Holter monitoring combined with ECG-exercise stress test seems to be the best method in early recognition of silent ischaemia in diabetic patients.

[Ventricular arrhythmias in patients with mitral valve prolapse and spurious cords in heart ventricles]. / Wystepowanie komorowych zaburzen rytmu serca u chorych z wypadaniem platka zastawki dwudzielnej i strunami rzekomymi w komorach serca.

The aim of the work to assess the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with isolated mitral valve prolapse isolated spurious cords in heart ventricles as well as in those patients who had both, mitral valve prolapse and spurious cord in heart ventricle. Out of 4156 successive electrocardiographic investigations carried out at the Department and Clinic of Cardiology, Medical Academy in Wroclaw, coexistence of spurious cords in heart ventricle and mitral valve prolapse was diagnosed in 32 patients (0.8% of all subjects), isolated mitral valve prolapse--in 184 patients (4.4%) and presence of isolated spurious cords not accompanied by mitral valve prolapse--in 91 patients (2.2%). In 20 patients with coexistence of spurious cords in heart ventricles and mitral valve prolapse, ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 12 subjects (60.0%) and in 5 of them they were significant. In the group of 29 patients with isolated spurious cords, disturbances of the ventricular rhythm occurred in 13 subjects (44.8%), while significant ventricular arrhythmias were found in 6 patients (20.7%). Out of 60 subjects with isolated mitral valve prolapse disturbances of the ventricular rhythm were found in 20 patients (33.3%) and significant arrhythmias--in 12 subjects (20.0%). The observations did not reveal increased prevalence of significant ventricular disturbances of the heart rhythm in patients with coexisting mitral valve prolapse and spurious cords in the heart ventricles.

[Comparative study to assess the efficacy and adverse effects of amlodipine and nifedipine retard in patients with stable exertional angina and hypertension]. / Badania porównawcze skutecznosci i dzialania niepozadanego amlodypiny i nifedypiny retard u chorych na dlawice piersiowa stabilna z wspólistniejacym nadcisnieniem tetniczym.

The purpose of the study was to compare the antianginal and hypotensive efficacy and tolerability of 8 weeks of treatment with amlodipine taken once daily and nifedipine taken twice daily in patients with stable exertional angina pectoris and mild-to-moderate hypertension. Following a 2-week placebo run-in-period 13 patients were randomized to receive amlodipine (5 to 10 mg once daily) and 8 patients to receive nifedipine (20 or 40 mg twice daily) in an 8-week treatment phase. Antianginal efficacy was assessed with angina diares, investigators, and patients global evaluations and with treadmill exercise test during placebo run-in-period and after 8 weeks of the therapy. Amlodipine significantly reduced both weekly anginal attacks and consumption of glyceryl trinitrate tablets. This effect was more pronounced compared to efficacy of nifedipine. Exercise tolerance was also improved more markedly after amlodipine than after nifedipine treatment. Amlodipine treatment resulted in significant increase in total exercise time, increase the exercise time to angina onset, increase time to ST segment depression, decrease in ST segment depression, decrease in total duration of ST segment depression and decrease in duration of pain. In patients treated with nifedipine only favourable effect was significant decrease in total duration of ST segment depression, without significant changes of other examined parameters. Both drugs decreased blood pressure with no significant change in heart rate. No serious adverse events occurred in any patients during therapy with amlodipine as well as with nifedipine. The results of the study demonstrate that amlodipine has markedly better anti-anginal efficacy than nifedipine with respect to the most of the parameters examined. However both drugs showed comparable antihypertensive action and both were well tolerated by angina patients. The good anti-anginal and hypotensive efficacy and safety of amiodipine with once daily dosage regimen makes this drug an excellent choice of treatment for hypertensive patients with severe coronary artery disease.

[Barlow's syndrome--personal studies]. / Zespól Barlowa--badania wlasne.

Symptoms of Barlow's syndrome were analysed in 60 patients. The diagnosis is described as a plenty of disturbances in the circulatory system. Observed arrhythmias were often one of the important symptoms.

[Incidence of painless ischemic heart disease]. / Czestosc wystepowania bezbólowej choroby niedokrwiennej serca.

A 24-hour ECG monitoring was carried out in 130 patients with stable exercise angina pectoris and history of myocardial infarction. A diagnosis of ischemic heart disease was based on anamnesis, positive result of exercise test and dipyridamole test, and the result of coronary angiography in some patients. Patients with unchanged repolarization period in ECG were classified to the study. Electrocardiogram was registered with Holter technique in patients performing their usual activities. Recorded ECG was analysed with visual technique in Medilog 3000 system. Two hundred thirty seven ischemic episodes were shown in the examined patients, including 69% of painless ischemic attacks and 31% of ischemic attacks with anginal pain. Duration of painless ischemic attacks with anginal pain. Duration of painless ischemic attacks was longer, heart rate slower, and ST segment elevation did not differ in both types of myocardial ischemia.

[Time of day and occurrence of myocardial ischemia]. / Pory dnia a wystepowanie niedokrwienia miesnia sercowego.

A 24-hour Holter ECG was registered in 130 patients with the ischemic heart disease with or without the history of myocardial infarction treated in out-patient clinic. Two hundred thirty seven episodes of myocardial ischemia were detected. These episodes developed between 6.00 and 8.00 a.m., 12.00 and 4.00 p.m., and 6.00 and 8.00 p.m.

[Time of regression of the Q wave in patients with myocardial infarction]. / Szybkosc cofania sie zalamka Q u chorych po przebytym zawale serca.

A rate of Q wave regression was assessed in 72 patients with ischaemic heart disease, including 46 patients after the infarction of the inferior wall and 26 patients after anterior wall infarction. All patients were followed-up for two years. Complete regression of Q wave was noted in 19 patients (41.3%) after inferior wall infarction and in one patient (3.8%) after anterior wall myocardial infarction. Partial regression of Q wave was seen in 9 patients (19.6%) after inferior wall, and in 2 patients (7.6%) of patients with anterior wall myocardial infarction. It seems that the regression of Q wave in ECG does not improve prognosis in these patients. Six out of 10 deaths which occurred in the followed up group of patients involved those in whom no electrographic features of the past myocardial infarction were seen.

[Arterial hypertension and arrhythmia]. / Nadcisnienie tetnicze a zaburzenia rytmu serca.

In patients with hypertension and presence of left ventricular hypertrophy arrhythmias of ventricular origin occur more frequently than in hypertension without this hypertrophy. Ventricular arrhythmias predispose to sudden death. It is accepted presently that left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension should be regarded as an additional risk factor for sudden death. The use of hypotensive drugs reducing the mass of the myocardium may be justified.

[Hormonal and hemodynamic changes caused by whole body cooling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Zmiany hormonalne i hemodynamiczne wywolane schladzaniem calego ciala chorych na reumatoidalne zapalenie stawów.

A limited number of experiments have shown that treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by means of cooling the entire body in cryogenic chamber reduces the pain in joints affected by inflammatory process and increases their mobility. The aim of the present thesis was to try explain the mechanisms responsible for the observed improvement of the patients' condition, and an investigation of the treatment's effect on selected hemodynamic indices. Tests were carried out on 63 patients with rheumatoid arthritis mainly in the 3rd and 4th stage of illness, all of whom had been treated for 14 days, once daily, by cooling the body for two-minute periods in cryogenic chamber with temperatures ranging from -110 degrees C to -160 degrees C, followed by kinesitherapy. It was demonstrated that after a single session in the cryogenic chamber, after 7 and 14 days the level of ACTH, cortisol and beta-endorphins in blood serum rises. The level of TSH, T4, T3, GH and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha+, however, remains unchanged. The cryogenic chamber treatment does not affect the heart rate, arterial blood pressure nor the value of the left ventricle fractional shortening index and its ejection, neither does it cause of arrhythmias and ischemic changes of the heart.