Phenotypic Correlations of Testes Size with Semen Traits and the Productive Traits of Young Boars.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship of young boar testes size with semen traits and with productive traits. The dimensions (length, width and volume) of each testis and semen traits (semen volume, percentage of sperm with progressive motility, sperm concentration, total number of sperm in semen, percentage of sperm with normal acrosome, percentage of sperm with major and minor morphological defects, osmotic resistance test value and activity of aspartate aminotransferase in seminal plasma) were determined on 120 young boars aged 6 months. At 180 day of age, the boars backfat thickness and leanness (by ultrasonic apparatus) and body weight were also measured. The average daily gain was determined in the period from 70 to 180 days of age of the boars. The results showed that the sperm concentration, total number of sperm in semen and percentage of progressive motile sperm were a significantly positively correlated with width and volume of the left (p ≤ 0.01) and right testis (p ≤ 0.05) and with total volume of both testes (p ≤ 0.01). But the highest values of correlation coefficients were found between the width of the left testis and sperm concentration, total number of sperm in semen and percentage of progressive motile sperm. A correlations of dimensions (length and width) and volume of testes with other semen traits were very low and statistically non-significant. The volume of testes (left and right testis and total testes) was significantly positively correlated with body weight at 180 days of age and daily gain (p ≤ 0.01), but lower correlation coefficient was between left testis and daily gain (p ≤ 0.05), whereas correlations were low and non-significant with leanness and backfat thickness.

Isolation of the homogeneous constituents from non-diffusible sugar-peptide (NSP) fraction originating from bovine plasma. IV. The influence on cell growth of REF and R-XC cells in vitro.

The effect of the NSP fraction and its four peptide constituents (A, C2, D and G) on the 3H-thymidine incorporation into REF and R-XC cells in vitro was described. Only peptide G (at concentration 5 micrograms/ml) affected the growth of the investigated cells, decreasing the 3H-thymidine uptake to 4-13% relative to untreated control, regardless of the kind of investigated cells. The effect of peptide G, added in concentration 10 ng-1 microgram, however was dependent on the type of investigated cells, suggests that neoplastic transformation changes the response of rat cells in vitro. The possible explanation of the differences in the biological response of the investigated cells to peptide G is proposed.

[Effect of long-term treatment with propranolol or hydrochlorothiazide on biochemical risk factors of coronary disease in patients with hypertension]. / Wplyw prezewleklego leczenia propranololem lub hydrochlorotiazydem na biochemiczne czynniki zagrozenia choroba wiencowa u chorych na nadcisnienie tetnicze krwi.

In 59 patients with mild or moderate essential hypertension effects of propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide on serum lipids, fibrynogen, glucose and uric acid concentrations as well as serum euglobulins fibrynolysis time were studied. 36 patients received propranolol and 23 subjects hydrochlorothiazide. Follow-up time was 1 year. Statistically significant increases of serum triglycerides, fibrynogen, levels and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol LDH/HDL indices in comparison with their initial values were stated in a propranolol group. Significant serum cholesterol increase after 6 month therapy was the most substantial metabolic change in a hydrochlorothiazide group. Alterations of lipids indices in both groups were especially intensive in patients with pretreatment stated disturbances of lipids metabolism.

[Studies of lymphocyte membrane transport of sodium in patients with essential hypertension]. / Badania nad blonowym transportem sodu w limfocytach u chorych na pierwotne nadcisnienie tetnicze.

The aim of this study was to investigate abnormalities in lymphocyte membrane sodium fluxes in patients with essential hypertension with and without familial history of hypertension and the influence of selected hypotensive drugs on these fluxes. 121 patients (pts) with positive family histories of primary hypertension (PFH) and 73 pts with negative family histories of primary hypertension (NFH) were examined. The total sodium efflux rate constant (wswc), ouabaine-sensitive (wswou) and furosemide-sensitive (wswf) were measured by the method of Heagerty et al. To examine the influence of selected hypotensive drugs on sodium fluxes wswc, wswou and wswf were measured before and after 7 days of treatment with hydrochlorothiazide (H) or propranolol (P). Wswou was decreased in 61% pts with PFH and in 19% pts with NFH, wswf was decreased in 38% pts with PFH and in 22% pts with NFH. Both, wswou and wswf, were decreased in 49% pts with PFH and only in 2.7% pts with NFH. Wswou and wswf rose significantly after 7 days of treatment with H or P only in pts with PFH and in pts with decreased wswou and wswf before treatment. These data suggest that abnormal lymphocytes membrane sodium transport often occurs in pts with PFH and has familial component. Changes in transport systems observed after 7 days treatment with H or P may contribute, at least in part, to its antihypertensive action in familial hypertension.

[Drug-induced heart failure]. / Leki wywolujace niewydolnosc serca.

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome caused mainly by cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and valvular disease, but several categories of drugs may potentially induce heart failure in patients without previous heart disease or precipitate revealing of heart failure symptoms in patients with preexisting left ventricle impairment. Pathophysiologically drugs that increase preload, afterload or have negative inotropic properties may be able to cause this adverse reaction. In the article the potential role in the occurrence of heart failure of cytostatics, immunomodulating drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, calcium channel blockers, beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, antiarrhythmics, anesthetics and antidepressants is reviewed.

[The role of endothelins in human cardiovascular disease]. / Udzial endotelin w schorzeniach ukladu krazenia.

Endothelin-1 was first identified by Yanagisawa in 1988 and shown to be a potent and sustained vasoconstrictor and pressure peptide. Endothelial cells line all blood vessels and are capable of generating endothelin-1; receptors for the endothelins are widely expressed, particularly in tissues involved in cardiovascular regulation, including the heart, blood vessels, kidney and brain. Endothelin-1 has potent vasoconstrictor properties and the coronary, renal and cerebral blood vessels appear particularly sensitive. Moreover, endothelin-1 has activity as co-mitogen, interacts with the sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin system. These properties indicate a likelihood that the endothelin system is of functional importance in human cardiovascular physiology and may play a role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. It is possible that endothelin antagonists might be effective in the treatment of diseases associated with intermittent or sustained vasoconstriction.

[Idioventricular rhythm in patients with acute myocardial infarction: an indicator of perfusion or ischemic symptom]. / Rytm idiowentrykularny u chorych na swiezy zawal miesnia serca--wskaznik reperfuzji czy objaw niedokrwienia.

Episodes of idioventricular rhythm occur frequently during the first hours of myocardial infarction. In patients receiving thrombolytic therapy, idioventricular rhythms may be an indicator of successful reperfusion--called "reperfusion arrhythmia". The aim of our study was to assess an incidence of idioventricular rhythm and other ventricular arrhythmias and their relations to thrombolytic therapy and reperfusion in a relatively large group of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study included 100 patients with AMI, divided into three groups: with anterior, inferior and inferior with right ventricle infarction. Sixty six patients were treated with thrombolysis. 24-hour Holter recordings were obtained in every patient and reperfusion was assessed clinically. Episodes of idioventricular rhythm and other ventricular arrhythmias were more frequent in the thrombolytic group but not in patients with clinically established reperfusion. The main conclusion from our study is, that accelerated idioventricular rhythm is not specific for reperfusion but rather for myocardial ischaemia. The higher incidence of the ventricular arrhythmias in the thrombolytic group partially depends of their earlier hospitalization, and time-dependent inclusion into treated group.

[Effect of coffee on blood pressure and activity renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system and catecholamines concentration in patients with essential hypertension]. / Wplyw kawy na cisnienie tetnicze i aktywnosc ukladu renina-angiotensyna-aldosteron oraz stezenie amin katecholowych w surowicy chorych na pierwotne nadcisnienie tetnicze.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity RAAA or plasma catecholamines concentrations and blood pressure are related to distinct patterns of drinking one cup of coffee in hypertensive patients with low or normal plasma renin activity. Plasma renin activity and enzyme converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II activity and serum concentration of aldosterone and catecholamines were measured by radioimmunoassay. Blood pressure was measured by ambulatory monitoring. Our data suggest that drinking one cup of coffee caused after 60 min, to 2 hours elevated systolic and after 60 min diastolic pressure, only in hypertensive patients, with low RAAA habitually drinking coffee. Hypertensive patients with normal RAAA, habitually drinking coffee, after drinking one cup of coffee had elevation only of diastolic blood pressure from 60 min to 120 min after drinking, but systolic blood pressure did not elevate. Plasma catecholamines and aldosterone concentrations, blood renin activity and enzyme converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II activity were not elevated in hypertensive patients with low or normal RAAA after drinking one cup of coffee.

[Time of occurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in Holter monitoring in patients with coronary heart disease and in patients with hypertension]. / Pory dnia a wystepowanie napadowego migotania przedsionków u chorych na chorobe niedokrwienna serca i nadcisnienie tetnicze w obserwacji holterowskiej.

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) often accompany coronary heart disease (CHD), and primary hypertension (PH). The aim of the study was to evaluate the time of occurrence and duration of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) identified from Holter recordings in 63 patients (27 women and 36 men) with CHD (n = 45) and PH (n = 18). No pharmacological treatment was applied before and during the examination. All patients were in sinus rhythm at the start and the end of the recording which lasted for 24 hours. PAF were defined as the occurrence of at least four beats of supraventricular origin, with no visible P or flutter waves. The time of onset, duration, ventricular rate and symptoms of each PAF were noted. There were 219 paroxysms recorded in 63 patients which occurred more often by day than by night, the time of duration was 0.9-240 s. Of the total, 16.3% of episodes with CHD and 9.5% episodes in patients with PH occurred between the hours 8:00-10:00 and between 16:00 and 18:00; 9.1% and 21% respectively. We concluded that in patients with CHD and with H most of the episodes (95%) are silent, they occurred more often during the day activity (particularly between the hours of 8:00 and 10:00 and 16:00-18:00 in both groups). In patients with CHD we observed the third peak of occurrence of PAF between the hours 22:00-0:00.

[Ventricular arrhythmias in patients with mitral valve prolapse and spurious cords in heart ventricles]. / Wystepowanie komorowych zaburzen rytmu serca u chorych z wypadaniem platka zastawki dwudzielnej i strunami rzekomymi w komorach serca.

The aim of the work to assess the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with isolated mitral valve prolapse isolated spurious cords in heart ventricles as well as in those patients who had both, mitral valve prolapse and spurious cord in heart ventricle. Out of 4156 successive electrocardiographic investigations carried out at the Department and Clinic of Cardiology, Medical Academy in Wroclaw, coexistence of spurious cords in heart ventricle and mitral valve prolapse was diagnosed in 32 patients (0.8% of all subjects), isolated mitral valve prolapse--in 184 patients (4.4%) and presence of isolated spurious cords not accompanied by mitral valve prolapse--in 91 patients (2.2%). In 20 patients with coexistence of spurious cords in heart ventricles and mitral valve prolapse, ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 12 subjects (60.0%) and in 5 of them they were significant. In the group of 29 patients with isolated spurious cords, disturbances of the ventricular rhythm occurred in 13 subjects (44.8%), while significant ventricular arrhythmias were found in 6 patients (20.7%). Out of 60 subjects with isolated mitral valve prolapse disturbances of the ventricular rhythm were found in 20 patients (33.3%) and significant arrhythmias--in 12 subjects (20.0%). The observations did not reveal increased prevalence of significant ventricular disturbances of the heart rhythm in patients with coexisting mitral valve prolapse and spurious cords in the heart ventricles.

[Frequency of silent ischemic heart disease in patients with diabetes mellitus]. / Czestosc wystepowania bezbólowej postaci choroby niedokrwiennej serca u chorych na cukrzyce.

Early detection of silent ischaemia plays an important role in prevention of sudden cardiac death and acute myocardial infarction. More frequent occurrence of silent ischaemia in patients with diabetes mellitus and manifestations of ischaemic heart disease has been relayed in several studies. No studies aimed at frequency of occurrence of silent ischaemia in diabetic patients without clinical symptoms of ischaemic heart disease have been performed yet. Objectives of this study were the examination of the latter case. This study involved 67 patients with diabetes mellitus without clinical symptoms of ischaemic heart disease. The average duration time of diabetes mellitus was 11 years. The patients were divided in two groups. The first group included 26 patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The second group included 41 patients with non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The first control group consisted of 35 non diabetic patients with ischaemic heart disease, and the second control group consisted of 22 healthy volunteers. 24-hours ambulatory Holter monitoring and ECG exercise test were performed in all subjects. The diagnosis of silent ischaemia was established in patients with positive results of both examinations in ECG-records without any following pain. In case of only one positive results the dipyridamole stress echocardiography test with ECG was carried out to prove the diagnosis. It was proved, that silent ischaemia occurs in 19.2% of patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and in 22% non insulin diabetic patients. No statistic differences between frequency of silent ischaemia occurrence in both groups were revealed. The application of 24-hours Holter monitoring combined with ECG-exercise stress test seems to be the best method in early recognition of silent ischaemia in diabetic patients.

[Incidence of myocardial ischemia in patients with ischemic heart disease tested with 48-hour Holter monitoring]. / Wystepowanie incydentów niedokrwienia miesnia sercowego u chorych na chorobe niedokrwienna serca w 48-godzinnym badaniu holterowskim.

The aim of the work was to examine the frequency, duration and times of occurrence of painful and painless episodes of heart muscle ischaemia in patients suffering from ischaemic heart disease as well as to evaluate its variations during 24-hour period. Out of all 30 subjects, altogether 104 episodes of myocardial ischaemia were recorded in 18 patients. 67 episodes (in 16 patients) were recorded in the first 24-hour period, and 37 episodes (11 patients) were recorded in the second 24-hour period. 7 patients revealed the incidence of episodes only during the first 24-hour period and 2 patients recorded episodes only in the second 24-hour period. Out of 9 patients in whom ischaemic episodes were observed both in the first as well as in the second 24-hour period, more episodes occurred in the first 24-hour period in 5 patients, more episodes in the second 24-hour period were observed in 3 patients and the same number of episodes in both 24-hour periods was observed in 1 subject. Average duration of the episode was significantly longer in the first 24-hour period. Characteristic 24-hour distribution of ischaemic episodes was observed with peak incidence between 6.00:8.00, 8.00:10.00 and between 18.00:20.00. The times of occurrence of ischaemic episodes on 24-hour monitoring resemble these registered on 48-hour monitoring. Differences in occurrence of ischaemic episodes between first and second 24-hour period were observed, but they reached the level of statistical significance only in the time of their peak incidence, between 8.00 and 10.00 a.m. and 18.00 and 20.00 (p < 0.05). Characteristic pattern of distribution of the episodes of myocardial ischaemia was observed. The number of episodes of myocardial ischaemia is higher in the first 24-hour period of monitoring, although the level of statistical significance was achieved only for episodes occurring between 8.00:10.00 and 18.00:20.00. Duration of ischaemic episodes on 48-hour Holter monitoring is statistically significantly longer during the first 24-hours of monitoring. Majority of ischaemic episodes are painless.

[Barlow's syndrome--personal studies]. / Zespól Barlowa--badania wlasne.

Symptoms of Barlow's syndrome were analysed in 60 patients. The diagnosis is described as a plenty of disturbances in the circulatory system. Observed arrhythmias were often one of the important symptoms.

[Arterial hypertension and arrhythmia]. / Nadcisnienie tetnicze a zaburzenia rytmu serca.

In patients with hypertension and presence of left ventricular hypertrophy arrhythmias of ventricular origin occur more frequently than in hypertension without this hypertrophy. Ventricular arrhythmias predispose to sudden death. It is accepted presently that left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension should be regarded as an additional risk factor for sudden death. The use of hypotensive drugs reducing the mass of the myocardium may be justified.

[Comparative study to assess the efficacy and adverse effects of amlodipine and nifedipine retard in patients with stable exertional angina and hypertension]. / Badania porównawcze skutecznosci i dzialania niepozadanego amlodypiny i nifedypiny retard u chorych na dlawice piersiowa stabilna z wspólistniejacym nadcisnieniem tetniczym.

The purpose of the study was to compare the antianginal and hypotensive efficacy and tolerability of 8 weeks of treatment with amlodipine taken once daily and nifedipine taken twice daily in patients with stable exertional angina pectoris and mild-to-moderate hypertension. Following a 2-week placebo run-in-period 13 patients were randomized to receive amlodipine (5 to 10 mg once daily) and 8 patients to receive nifedipine (20 or 40 mg twice daily) in an 8-week treatment phase. Antianginal efficacy was assessed with angina diares, investigators, and patients global evaluations and with treadmill exercise test during placebo run-in-period and after 8 weeks of the therapy. Amlodipine significantly reduced both weekly anginal attacks and consumption of glyceryl trinitrate tablets. This effect was more pronounced compared to efficacy of nifedipine. Exercise tolerance was also improved more markedly after amlodipine than after nifedipine treatment. Amlodipine treatment resulted in significant increase in total exercise time, increase the exercise time to angina onset, increase time to ST segment depression, decrease in ST segment depression, decrease in total duration of ST segment depression and decrease in duration of pain. In patients treated with nifedipine only favourable effect was significant decrease in total duration of ST segment depression, without significant changes of other examined parameters. Both drugs decreased blood pressure with no significant change in heart rate. No serious adverse events occurred in any patients during therapy with amlodipine as well as with nifedipine. The results of the study demonstrate that amlodipine has markedly better anti-anginal efficacy than nifedipine with respect to the most of the parameters examined. However both drugs showed comparable antihypertensive action and both were well tolerated by angina patients. The good anti-anginal and hypotensive efficacy and safety of amiodipine with once daily dosage regimen makes this drug an excellent choice of treatment for hypertensive patients with severe coronary artery disease.

[Time of day and occurrence of myocardial ischemia]. / Pory dnia a wystepowanie niedokrwienia miesnia sercowego.

A 24-hour Holter ECG was registered in 130 patients with the ischemic heart disease with or without the history of myocardial infarction treated in out-patient clinic. Two hundred thirty seven episodes of myocardial ischemia were detected. These episodes developed between 6.00 and 8.00 a.m., 12.00 and 4.00 p.m., and 6.00 and 8.00 p.m.