[Renal hemodynamics in patients with short-lasting diabetes mellitus type I]. / Hemodynamika nerek u chorych z krótkotrwala cukrzyca typu 1.

Parameters of renal hemodynamics have been determined in 30 male patients with diabetes mellitus, lasting for 1-24 months (mean 0.9 +/- 0.7 year), and in 19 healthy men of the same age. Patients' age ranged from 17 to 33 years (mean 27.5 +/- 5.0). All examined subjects have been normotensive (according to WHO criteria). Glomerula filtration rate with the aid of 51CrEDTA, and ERPF with 125I-hippurate have been determined. Mean GFR values have been significantly higher in diabetics than that in healthy men (142.9 +/- 29 vs 118 +/- 20 ml/min per 1.73 m2). Hyperfiltration (GFR over 140 ml per minute) has been found in 15 patients (50%). ERPF has also been higher in diabetic patients (929.2 +/- 230 vs 821.5 +/- 192 ml/min). This difference has been insignificant. No correlation between arterial blood pressure and GFR, ERPF, filtration fraction (FF), and RVR has been found.

Studies on the risk of ischaemic heart disease in fishermen, seafarers and dockers.

To assess the risk of ischaemic heart disease, the following examinations were conducted in 350 seafarers, 480 deep-sea fishermen and 500 dockers: physical examination, chest X-ray, standard 12-lead electrocardiogram, exercise stress test, echocardiography, laboratory tests. A complete medical history aimed at detection the coronary risk factors was collected from each man. The mean age of persons examined was as follows: 47.6 years - fishermen, 44.8 - seamen, and 42.9 - dockers. It was estimated that the main risk factors found both in fishermen and seamen were cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia and overweight. The incidence rates of high serum cholesterol level and overweight in the above occupational groups were higher as compared with the prevalence of these factors in the general male population in Poland. The study data argue for the need for adequate dietary change, habit modification and promotion of recreational physical activities among seafarers.

The use of submaximal exercise stress testing in early detection of ischaemic heart disease in seamen.

50 seamen aged 19-66 years (mean age 41.5 +/- 10.9), with nonspecific pains in the chest but no changes in the resting ECG, were subjected to the submaximal exercise test. The examinations were carried out at the Clinic of the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia. The positive exercise test was recorded in 42% of persons examined. Observed was an increasing prevalence of the positive test with the growing age and period of employment at sea, especially in the group with the risk factors of the heart ischaemic disease present. Introduction of this test in seafarers, aged over 40 years might be considered; it would help to early diagnose this disease. In the presence of several risk factors of the heart ischeamic disease, the exercise test could be recommended for seafarers as early as at the age 30-40.

The effect of dietary sodium loading on the kinetics of sodium excretion and blood pressure regulation in essential hypertensive men.

The kinetics of urinary sodium excretion defined as the rate of urinary sodium excretion during five-days oral sodium loading was investigated in 12 male patients with essential hypertension. The change in blood pressure under oral 200 mmol/24 h NaCl intake correlated inversely with the rate of urinary sodium excretion (r = -0.60, p less than 0.05), but did not significantly depend on the change in the absolute amount of excreted sodium. The rate of sodium excretion correlated directly with preload glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (r = 0.63, p less than 0.05), effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) (r = 0.78, p less than 0.01) and inversely with renal vascular resistance (RVR) (r = 0.67, p less than 0.01). The fall of renal plasma flow at moderate increment in the filtration fraction under sodium loading correlated directly with the rate of urinary sodium excretion (r = 0.73, p less than 0.01). The results suggest that: 1) the rate of sodium excretion is a more important factor in blood pressure regulation than the ability of the kidney to excrete the entire sodium load; 2) renal haemodynamics plays an indirect role in blood pressure regulation.