Experimental gallop rhythm in sheep with Gousiekte: correlation of changes in amplitude with haemodynamic parameters.

To investigate the correlation of haemodynamic parameters with the intensity of the gallop sound (S3), use was made of right heart catheterization with a Swan-Ganz catheter to measure the pulmonary and right atrial pressures. The cardiac output was determined with the thermodilution method. A radiocardiogram was obtained after a bolus injection of technetium pertechnetate. The cardiopulmonary flow-index was obtained from the simultaneous recordings of the radiocardiogram and an electrocardiogram. With the haemodynamic parameters, heart sounds were recorded simultaneously and externally with a microphone. Eight Merino sheep were dosed with dried Pachystigma pygmaeum (Schltr) Robyns plant material through rumen fistulas until the clinical symptoms of heart failure such as gallop sounds, systolic murmurs and haemodynamic symptoms as well as increases in end diastolic pressure and decreases in stroke volume, appeared. After the appearance of the symptoms the sheep were treated symptomatically to delay the development of the cardiomyopathy. The changes in haemodynamic parameters before and after treatment were used and correlated with the intensity of the gallop sounds on a 6 point criterium scale. The results in brief show that, for gallop sound intensities between 0 and 6 on the criterium scale, most of the haemodynamic parameters correlate with the intensity of the gallop sounds, except the cardiac output, cardiopulmonary blood volume and the systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances. The haemodynamic parameters correlate better with the intensities of the gallop rhythm between 0 and 3. It is evident from this study that the model of heart failure in sheep is useful to study heart sounds and may also be valuable in the study of the genesis of the gallop sound.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of a habitual high egg intake on serum lipid levels in a rural coloured population.

The effect of a habitual high cholesterol intake on serum cholesterol and other lipid levels against the background of a moderate fat intake was investigated in 30 rural coloured volunteers (16 men, 14 women) working on an egg farm. Protein contributed approximately 11%, fat 31%, carbohydrate 58% (sucrose 21%) of energy intake. Daily cholesterol intake averaged 575 mg. In men, although not in women, cholesterol intake correlated negatively with serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, indicating that a high consumption of eggs in the study population did not prejudice lipid homeostasis. The population exhibited a high profile of coronary heart disease risk factors.

Ratio of cardiopulmonary blood volume to stroke volume as an index of cardiac function in animals in man.

A scintillation probe was used to record a radiocardiogram as 99mTc flowed through the heart with the first pass after an intravenous injection. The ratio of cardiopulmonary blood volume to stroke volume, which could be determined indirectly from the simultaneous recording of a radiocardiogram and an electrocardiogram, was found to be a very sensitive and reliable index to describe the efficiency of the pump function of the heart with the different models of heart disease induced in experimental animals. It was found that left ventricular, right ventricular and biventricular failures were reflected by a large increase and pulmonary emboli by a decrease in the value of this index, which was named the cardiopulmonary flow index (CPFI). The technique has also been tested on a number of control and heart patients. The general principles found for animals could also be applied to man. As this is a noninvasive bedside technique it may have an important implication for the diagnosis of heart disease.