Rapid infusion of streptokinase standard dose in acute myocardial infarction is followed by a higher rate of coronary reperfusion than standard protocol.

There are several opinions asserting that the accelerated t-PA is more efficient than the standard protocol of streptokinase (SK) administration in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). One hundred patients admitted within the first 6 hrs after the onset of the symptoms revealing AMI were divided in two subgroups, as follows: subgroup A (50 patients) in whom a dose of 1.5 M.U. SK was infused in 20 min (accelerated protocol) and subgroup B (50 patients) in whom the same dose was infused in 60 min (standard protocol). In order to assess the efficiency of thrombolytic therapy (TT), we used three noninvasive criteria: the rapid resolution of the chest pain, the rapid decreasing of the ST segment elevation by more than 50% from the initial value, and the rapid increasing of enzymes revealing necrosis. Using the above-mentioned criteria, we considered that coronary reperfusion appeared in 40 patients from subgroup A (80%) and in 29 patients from subgroup B (58%). The speed of coronary reperfusion was 40 +/- 26 min in patients with accelerated SK and this time was significantly shorter than the time of 60 +/- 24 min registered in the control group. No major hemorrhagic events appeared in both subgroups. Although hypotension appeared more frequently in subgroup A, this minor complication was well supported by our patients. The rapid infusion of the standard dose of SK was followed by a higher rate and speed of coronary reperfusion as compared to the standard protocol.

Comparative behaviour of antithrombin III antigen and antithrombin III activity in cardiovascular patients.

Antithrombin III-functional (AT III F) and immunoprotein (AT III I) assessed by two comparative methods in various cardiovascular conditions, showed significant differences between the two parameters, namely: a simultaneous decrease of both AT III F and AT III I during acute embolic episodes of only AT III F in transient ischemic attacks (with normal level of AT III I) and increase of AT III I (with apparently normal AT III F) in patient with mitral valve prosthesis. It is considered that in condition of "hypercoagulability" various patterns of AT III F/AT III I ratio can be obtained: decompensated, compensated and hypercompensated consumption.

Decrease in ventilatory capacity between ages of 50 and 54 in representative sample of Swedish men.

The ventilatory capacity, including flow-volume curves of 313 men, all 50 years old, was examined in 1963 and 1967. The group as a whole, which included persons with chronic bronchitis, with "other respiratory symptoms," and without respiratory symptoms, showed the same absolute decrease in ventilatory capacity.Vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, and maximum expiratory flow all dropped more for the smokers than for either the non-smokers or the ex-smokers. In those who had stopped smoking for four years or less, however, ventilatory capacity did not decline significantly less than in those who continued to smoke.