[The influence of controlled ethanol consumption on whole blood and plasma viscosity]. / Wplyw kontrolowanego spozycia etanolu na lepkosc krwi i osocza.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to establish whether the single controlled ethanol consumption changes hemorrheological parameters. It has not been clear whether single alcohol intake in well controlled experimental conditions has had an influence on hemorrheological parameters. Twenty nine healthy men volunteers aged 20-30 have been examined. All volunteers have showed normal renal and hepatic function tests and have not suffered from hematological or cardiovascular diseases. The examined men have been randomly divided in two groups: the examined one: 19 persons aged 21-30 years, and the control group aged 20-28 years. The examined group has been treated with ethanol in quantity of one gram per kg of body weight during ten minutes. After one and half, three and five hours after the alcohol consumption fast venous blood samples with K2EDTA as an anticoagulant have been drown from anticubital vein. The following parameters have been determined before drinking ethanol and after at one and half, three and five hours: whole blood viscosity at 1s-1 divided by 300s-1, the plasma viscosity, the corrected--for--hematocrit 45% viscosity of blood, yield stress--calculated from Casson's equation on the basis of flow curve, blood morphology, arterial pressure and heart rate. The hematocrit-corrected viscosity has been remarkably elevated after 1.5 and 3 hours at all shear rates (e.g. from 20.6 +/- 2.0 mPas before to 25.1 +/- 2.5 mPas after 1.5 h from ethanol consumption; p < 0.001). Yield stress of blood has been increased after ethanol consumption too. Plasma viscosity has been significantly higher after five hours. In controls there have not been any time depended changes in rheological and hematological parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The controlled consumption of ethanol in quantity of 1 gram per 1 kg of body weight has caused the following changes in hemorheological parameters: increase of corrected--for--45% hematocrit--whole blood viscosity, increase of plasma viscosity and increase of yeald stress.

Effect of controlled ethanol intake on arterial blood pressure, heart rate and red blood cells deformability.

UNLABELLED: Although blood pressure is in most cases determined genetically, environmental factors such as obesity or alcohol consumption are implicated in the development of hypertension. On the other hand it is well known that alcohol drinking and hypertension are associated with reduction of red blood cells deformability. AIM: To compare the effect of ethanol on arterial pressure and red cell deformability in well controlled experimental conditions. METHODS: Five healthy volunteers, men with age range between 26-38 underwent ethanol consumption 1.0 g per kg of body weight during 10 min period. Before and 90 min, 3 h and 5 h after ethanol consumption arterial pressure, heart rate, blood morphology, alcohol and acetaldehyde blood level and deformability index by Rheodyn SSD were measured. RESULTS: After ethanol consumption rise in ethanol and acetaldehyde blood levels and no changes in blood pressure, but significant increase in heart rate were observed. Elongation index of red blood cells at low shear rates has not been changed. At shear stresses of 12.0, 30.0 and 60 Pa significant increase in elongation index of erythrocytes after 1.5 hour of ethanol intake had occurred.

The antioxidant enzymes activity in the conditions of systemic hypersilicemia.

The effect of an excessive inorganic silicon oral intake on the activity of basic antioxidant enzymes was studied in rats. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were measured in liver and kidney tissues of animals receiving per os sodium metasilicate nonahydrate (Na2SiO3.9H2O) (Sigma, [St. Louis, MO]) dissolved in their drinking water. A decrease of the activity of all the studied enzymes was found in the samples derived from the experimental group. The results obtained indicate the free oxygen radicals participation in the potential pathologic events in the conditions of systemic hypersilicemia.

[Long-term mexiletine treatment of ventricular arrhythmia in patients after myocardial infarction]. / Meksyletyna w dlugotrwalym leczeniu dysrytmii komorowych u chorych po zawale serca.

Eighty two patients with ventricular extrasystole (VES) after myocardial infarction had been treated with antiarrhythmic drugs in the half (41 patients) with mexiletine (M) and in the half (41 patients) with other ones. The mortality rate in the M-group was twice time lower than in the other, however this difference was statistically not significant. M was mostly effective in VES of III and IVb degree after Lown's classification and did not cause any deterioration of the left ventricle function.