[Cellular polarization]. / Polarización celular.

The principal ideas of Dr. Santiago Ramón y Cajal are commented. 1. Theory of the dynamic polarization. 2. Transmission of electric signals in the neuronal synapsis. 3. The static description is guided by a dynamic concern. 4. In cancer patients without hope, the positive effect of our metabolic treatment is impressive. 5. Two cases are presented that could avoid cardiac transplantation with our treatment. 6. The nice poem of Alfonso Camín, entitled "We went to bury him to a mountain" is presented.

Electrocardiographic patterns resulting from improper connections of the right leg (ground) cable.

The patterns resulting from improper connections of the right leg (ground) cable to the right arm, left arm, and left leg electrodes (hardly ever discussed in books dealing with electrocardiography) are presented and their genesis is explained. Knowledge about this technical error is important because it: (1) may be misinterpreted as resulting from switching the right arm and left arm cables; and, worse, (2) may not be recognized, which, in patients with abnormal electrocardiograms, can lead to clinically significant errors in interpretation.

[Protective effect of glucose-insulin-potassium solutions in myocardial damage caused by emetine]. / Efecto protector de la solución glucosa-insulina-potasio en el daño miocádico producido por emetina

This study was carried out on 170 dogs. Cardiotoxic effects of doses of 15 mg/kg of emetine hydrochloride were studied in 20 dogs. 20 mg/kg of emetine hydrochloride were administered intravenously over 60 min. to the remaining 150 animals. These dogs were distributed in groups of 25. One group received emetine alone. Phleboclyses with saline serum, glucose-insulin-potassium, glocose-insulin, glucose-potassium and glucose serum alone, respectively, were administered to the other 5 groups during the emetine infusion and cardial contraction and several electrograms were recorded. Mean systolic blood pressure was measured continuously in the femoral artery. Observations covered a 4 hour period. During the infusion of emetine alone, ventricular myocardial contraction and systemic arterial pressure decreased abruptly. Intra-atrial, atrio-ventricular and intraventricular conduction disorders, as weel as primary ventricular repolarization changes, were also observed. At the end of this infusion, the Q-T interval increased 25% and the heart rate decreased 26% of the control values. In the group also receiving glucose-insulin-potassium solution, the fall of the ventricular contraction amplitude was significantly less than in animals given emetine alone. Primary ventricular repolarization changes were less evident. The mortality rate reached only 4 per cent. In conclusion, the doses of emetine hydrochloride employed here have depressive cardiocirculatory effects. Glucose-insulin-potassium solution, administered simultaneously with emetine, seems to have a favorable metabolic effect against the emetine cardiotoxicity. This protective action of the G-I-K solution is superior to that obtained with each component, administered separately, and with saline serum.

Experimental bases for diagnosis of left bifascicular and trifascicular block.

It seems to be justified to establish the diagnosis of fascicular blocks, in clinical tracings, on the basis of experimental findings. For this, we produced left bifascicular block as well as trifascicular block in the heart of 20 mongrel dogs. Because of left bifascicular block, the activation process is unequally delayed in high lateral and in posterior aspects of the free left ventricular wall. Nevertheless, it begins at normal time in middle left septal mass via intermediate strands of the left bundle. Consequently, left bifascicular block which resembles intermediate degree left truncular block, is recognizable by unequally delayed onset of intrinsicoid deflection in aVL, aVF and V6 and often by the manifestation of the first septal vector. Vectorcardiographic curves are diphasic and show initial and terminal slurrings. Trifascicular block delays the activation process in both ventricles. For this, the asynchronism between the electromotive forces of ventricles is lessened. The said conduction disturbance can be diagnosed by electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic features suggesting intermediate degree RBBB as well as left bifascicular block.