[The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and serum lipoproteins in patients with essential hypertension]. / Systém renín-angiotenzín-aldosterón a sérové lipoproteíny u chorých s esenciálnou hypertenziou.

The authors investigated the relationship between the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and serum lipid levels in patients with essential hypertension (EH). They examined 72 patients with EH stage I and II WHO classification (group A, n = 72, age bracket 16-70 years). They investigated the plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone (PA) and total cholesterol (TCH), HDL, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (TG). They divided the group into three sub-groups according to the PRA into low (L), normal (N) and high renin groups (H) In the whole group they did not find significant differences in the lipid levels in relation to PRA. They selected from the group patients older than 40 years (group B) and in those they recorded significantly higher TCH levels in group H as compared with normal (N) (p < 0.05) and L (p < 0.05) and significantly higher LDL levels in group H as compared with L (p < 0.01). They found a significant direct relationship between PRA and TCH (p < 0.05) and between PRA and LDL (p < 0.01), a liminal relationship between PA and TCH (p = 0.05). They did not find a significant relationship between the RAAS activity and HDL or TG. The authors conclude that patients with EH above 40 years and high PRA a markedly greater hyperlipoproteinaemia as compared with the low- or normal-renin group. This may partly explain the higher incidence of cardiovascular complications in high-renin EH reported by some authors.

[Diagnostic sensitivity of 24-hour electrocardiographic Holter monitoring in indications for coronarography]. / Diagnostická citlivost' 24hodinového elektrokardiografického Holterovho monitorovania pre indikáciu na koronarografiu.

The authors evaluated 24-hour ECG monitoring (Holter monitoring) in 70 patients indicated for coronarography. They assessed the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of Holter monitoring. They compared the findings with data reported in the literature and with the sensitivity of the ergometric test for indication of patients for coronarographic examination. Although the sensitivity and specificity of Holter monitoring does not exceed generally reported values of sensitivity and specificity of bicycle ergometry, in the discussion the authors mention conditions where Holter monitoring is an asset for indication of patients for coronarographic examination.

[Transesophageal atrial stimulation in routine clinical practice]. / Transezofageálna stimulácia predsiení v beznej klinickej praxi.

The authors examined 90 patients by the method of transoesophageal atrial stimulation with different indications. They consider transoesophageal atrial stimulation a suitable method for basic examination of an impaired functional status of the sinoatrial node and atrioventricular conductivity. It is suitable for assessment of predisposition to supraventricular disorders of the rhythm and for testing the effectiveness of treatment of impaired supraventricular rhythm. The authors use it also for a modified loading test in patients with coronary heart disease. They evaluate transoesophagel al atrial stimulation as a simple, safe, non-invasive method, practically without contraindications, which extends our diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities, is not demanding from the technical and economic aspect and can be used in any hospital.

The role of endogenous digitalis-like factor in blood pressure regulation in essential hypertension.

We examined plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone (PA), atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and endogenous digitalis-like factor (DLF) in 15 healthy subjects and 15 patients with essential hypertension (EH) to obtain basal values and values after extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) expansion caused by infusion of isotonic saline solution over a period of 2 hours (20 mg/kg). A significant increase in diuresis and natriuresis accompanied by a decrease in PRA and PA and an increase in ANF was observed in both groups. No significant differences were observed in ANF levels between normotensive subjects and hypertensive patients. Hypertensive patients showed significantly higher basal values of DLF than normotensive subjects. However, an increase in plasma DLF following ECFV expansion was observed only in the group of healthy subjects. There was a positive correlation between ANF and natriuresis and a negative correlation between ANF and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP). Changes in DLF correlated positively with changes in diastolic BP in both groups, while in healthy subjects a negative correlation was recorded between PRA and DLF. We conclude that the increased diuresis and natriuresis in ECFV expansion is presumably accounted for not only by suppression of PRA and PA, but also by stimulated ANF secretion, while in healthy subjects stimulation of DLF may be involved as well. The insufficient DLF response to saline infusion may indicate an exhausted DLF reserve in hypertensive patients. As a vasoactive substance, DLF can participate in the regulation of blood pressure and play a role in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension.

[Levels of insulin and glucose in calves during the first 6 months of life]. / Hladina inzulínu a glukózy u teliat v prvých siestich mesiacoch zivota.

Twenty-four calves of the Holstein-Friesian breed were included into a trial. The trial was performed from April (when the calves were born) to October. The objective of the study was to investigate variations in insulin and glucose levels over a longer time period of the postnatal development of calves. The blood was sampled by the jugular vein puncture at the age of 1, 2, 3, 5, 14, 21, 28, 35, 49, 63, 91, 118, 147 and 175 days. The calves were housed in a prophylactorium calf-house till the age of 21 days: till the age of 14 days they were housed individually and then in groups of 2-3 calves in a small pen. The calves were fed milk till the age of 26 or 28 days, after a fortnight the feed intake was increased from the previous 3 litres to 5-6 litres per head/day. At the age of 21 days the calves were transferred to pens in the calving room. At the age of 26 days twelve calves were transferred to a barn for young cattle rearing, the remaining twelve calves were transferred at the age of 28 days; here they were housed by 10-12 head per pen and they were fed a commercial milk replacer diluted at a 1:10 ratio, the feed intake being 6-8 litres a day, and a commercial pelleted calf starter TKS at the amount of 1.0-1.1 kg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The effect of Fenbion, an anthelmintic, on blood in heifers]. / Vplyv antihelmintického preparátu Fenbion na krvný obraz jalovíc.

The complex effects of the anthelminthic Fenbion (prepared on the basis of fenbendazole, Bioveta Nitra) were investigated; its effects on the blood picture were studied in heifers with the liveweight of 400 kg, until the sixth day after its single application at doses of 15 and 30 mg per kg liveweight. The haemoglobin (Hb) content decreased in keeping with the physiological standard. The haematocrit (Hk) value decreased below the reference standard from 0.31 and 0.32 l per l on days five and six to 0.28-0.29 l per l. The total leucocyte counts increased from 8.60-9.64 G per l to 10.54-11.0 G per 1. This means that on the first days after administration Fenbion has negative effects on erythropoiesis, and as a stressor it evokes defense reactions of the organism. Differential blood counting: leucocyte counts increased to 0.71-0.73 arb. u. on days three to four. The increase in lymphocyte counts in the blood after Fenbion administration is likely to be related to the cellular immunobiological defense reaction of the organism. The counts of segmented leucocytes decreased, the counts of eosinophils increased irregularly, those of basophils and monocytes were highly variable, and the counts of monocytes increased irregularly in a large span, or they decreased.

[Plasma renin activity and aldosterone in patients with essential hypertension]. / Plazmatická renínová aktivita a aldosterón u chorých s esenciálnou hypertenziou.

The authors examined the plasma renin activity (PRA) in 80 patients and plasma aldosterone (PA) in 27 patients with essential hypertension (EH). They confirmed the significant drop of stimulated PRA with age. The PA levels of hypertonic patients did not change with age and did not change significantly in relation to PRA. In obese hypertonic patients a satisfactory response of PRA to stimulation was lacking, while PA reacted adequately. The PA levels are thus in older age groups as well as in obese subjects much higher, as compared with relatively low PRA levels. In relation to the stage of EH the authors did not find any significant differences of PRA levels.

[Plasma renin activity, creatinine and uric acid in the serum of patients with essential hypertension]. / Plazmatická renínová aktivita, kreatinín a kyselina mocová v sére u chorých s esenciálnou hypertenziou.

The authors examined the plasma renin activity (PRA), serum uric acid and creatinine in 53 patients with essential hypertension (EH). They recorded low renin EH in 28%, normorenin EH in 53% and high-renin EH in 19% of the hypertensive patients. Assessment of basal PRA levels does not suffice for the classification of EH because the PRA response after stimulation is not related to its basal values. The authors found significantly higher levels of serum creatinine in low-renin EH. They did not confirm a relationship between PRA and the uric acid serum level in any form of EH.

[Blood levels of nitrogenous substances in dairy cows with high and low production]. / Uroven niektorých dusíkatých látok v krvnom sére dojníc s vysokou a nízkou úzitkovostou.

In blood serum of dairy cows of the Slovak Pied breed with high and low performance, the levels of total protein, urea, amino nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen and uric acid were studied over the period of four to six weeks after calving. Total protein was determined by the Bio-La-test, amino nitrogen by means of ninhydrin, non-protein nitrogen by Berthelot agent and uric acid by Benedict agent. In comparison with dairy cows with low performance, the dairy cows with high performance had a statistically significantly higher level of total protein, urea, amino nitrogen and non-protein nitrogen. The differences in uric acid content were statistically insignificant.