Relation of hematocrit values to coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, and respiratory impairment in occupational and population groups of the Athens area.

Hematocrit values (Hct) were studied in relation to clinical and electrocardiographic (ECG) manifestations of coronary heart disease (CHD), arterial hypertension (AH), and respiratory impairment (RI) in 2901 adults (2033 men, 868 women) thirty to seventy years old, who comprised selected groups of large occupational (8611 workers) and population (5573 individuals) samples of the Athens area. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The women of the population sample with high Hct values had a significantly greater frequency of CHD (14.6%) as compared with women of the same sample with low Hct values (7.4%) (chi 2 = 12.778 P < 0.005). 2. Subjects of both sexes in the population sample with high Hct values had significantly higher mean levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure as compared with subjects of the same population sample with low Hct values (F:4.61, P < 0.01). 3. In the women of the population sample with RI, the mean Hct values were significantly higher than those in the normal population (t:1.994, P < 0.05). It is concluded that high Hct values as an indirect measure of increased blood viscosity seem to be related to CHD and AH. Moreover, RI is correlated with high Hct values.

[Cardiac mortality among working middle aged Frenchmen according to their socio-economic class and geographic region (author's transl)]. / La mortalité cardiaque des Français d'âge moyen selon leur catégorie socio-professionnelle et leur région de domicile.

The cardiac mortality of working Frenchmen aged 44-65 is studied from the national mortality statistics in 1968. Cardiac mortality causes are joined into four categories according to their a priori precision. The distribution of mortality rates for cardiac causes is analysed according to the socio-economic classes (9 classes) and the geographic regions (19 regions). Important differences of the cardiac mortality are put into evidence according these two sampling schemes and particularly high rates are observed in the class of employees and the North East part of France. The cardiac fraction of the global mortality and the ischaemic fraction of the cardiac mortality augment according to the usual hierarchy of the socio-economic classes but are less variable among the geographic regions. Disparities in the notification of mortality causes may partly explain these results.

[Achillean reflexogram : its measurement and its correlations with various clinical and biological factors in 2 working male populations]. / Le réflexogramme achilléen : sa mesure et ses corrélations avec divers facteurs cliniques et biologiques dans deux populations masulines actives

The achillean reflexogram has been recorded according to Gilson's photo-electric technique among two male populations during routine cardio-vascular screening. The first population concerns 706 men aged 21 to 55 and the second one 4 437 subjects aged 46 to 52. The frequency of bilateral areflexy increases with age (from 3% before 30 to 6% after 40); it is significantly associated with the presence of angina pectoris. However, no relation is observed with diabetes or clinical suspicion of myocardial infarction. Whereas fat body mass is positively associated with the reflex duration the latter is reduced with heart rate, systolic blooc pressure and number of blood erythrocytes and leucocytes increased. These results and the interest of systematic reflexogram recording during health check up are discussed.

Digital and palmar dermatoglyphics in Greeks.

The present study presents the dermatoglyphic frequencies of two samples from Greece. The first was obtained from adult male and female inhabitants of the island of Salamis. The second is a sample of school children from various parts of Greece. Comparisons of the dermatoglyphic frequencies of the two sample showed no differences among males. Female comparisons resulted in significant differences in digital pattern frequencies, modal types of the D line and Sydney creases. These three significant differences among females only, were not considered sufficient to provide dermatoglyphic discrimination between the two to provide dermatoglyphic discrimination between the two samples and therefore were pooled into one Greek Sample. In general the dermatoglyphic frequencies of the present Greek sample fell within the range of, and very close to the mean of, other Caucasian populations. Notable differences were observed, however, in the frequencies of accessory axial triradii and complete Sydney creases in both of which the Greeks had higher frequencies.