Gender Inequalities in the Dental Workforce: Global Perspectives.

The aim of this review is to investigate the growth of diversity and inclusion in global academic dental research with a focus on gender equality. A diverse range of research methodologies were used to conduct this review, including an extensive review of the literature, engagement of key informants in dental academic leadership positions around the world, and review of current data from a variety of national and international organizations. Results provide evidence of gender inequalities that currently persist in dental academics and research. Although the gender gap among graduating dental students in North America and the two most populous countries in Europe (the United Kingdom and France) has been narrowed, women make up 30% to 40% of registered dentists in countries throughout Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa. In academic dentistry around the globe, greater gender inequality was found to correlate with higher ranking academic and leadership positions in the United States, United Kingdom, several countries in European Union, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. Further disparities are noted in the dental research sector, where women make up 33% of dental researchers in the European Union, 35% in North America, 55% in Brazil, and 25% in Japan. Family and societal pressures, limited access to research funding, and lack of mentoring and leadership training opportunities are reported as also contributing to gender inequalities. To continue advancing gender equality in dental academia and research, efforts should be geared toward the collection and public dissemination of data on gender-specific distributions. Such evidence-driven information will guide the selection of future strategies and best practices for promoting gender equity in the dental workforce, which provides a major pipeline of researchers and scholars for the dental profession.

Recurrence of rectal anastomotic leakage following stoma closure: assessment of risk factors.

AIM: In patients with a previous history of rectal anastomotic leakage (AL), the surgical indications and timing for closure of a diverting stoma have to be carefully judged. Even if AL has apparently healed before stoma closure, re-leakage may occur after closure. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for recurrent AL following stoma closure. We also examined the treatment strategies aiming to minimize the risk of recurrent AL. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2016, 1008 patients underwent sphincter-saving surgery [low anterior resection, all-sphincter-preserving rectal resection with hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis (CAA) and intersphincteric resection (ISR)] for primary rectal cancer with curative intent at our hospital. A total of 69 patients with AL with a Clavien-Dindo Grade III or more who subsequently underwent closure of a diverting stoma were retrospectively reviewed for this study. RESULTS: The incidence of recurrent leakage after stoma closure in this series was 13% overall with an incidence of 25% in the CAA/ISR group and 5% in the low anterior resection group. Significant risk factors included hand-sewn anastomosis (P = 0.0257) compared to stapled anastomosis, ischaemia at the anastomotic site as the cause of initial AL (P < 0.001) and a shorter interval between confirmation of healing and stoma closure (P = 0.00952). CONCLUSION: Ischaemia at the anastomotic site was the main risk factor for recurrent leakage, particularly after CAA/ISR. Additional treatment options before stoma closure should be considered to avoid re-leakage in such cases.

Peritoneal pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic target attainment of meropenem in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Although meropenem is commonly used for intra-abdominal infections, its penetration into the abdominal cavity is not well understood. Meropenem (500 mg) was administered intravenously to 8 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases undergoing laparotomy. The drug concentrations were analyzed and used for a Monte Carlo simulation with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data. Meropenem concentrations in peritoneal fluid (PF) and plasma were similar at 1 h after the end of a 0.5-h infusion. The probabilities of target achievement of drug concentrations over the MIC in PF for 40% of the dosing interval with 500 mg every 8 h and 1000 mg every 8 h, were 84% and 90% against Bacteroides spp., 98% and 99% against Escherichia coli , and 76% and 83% against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. In conclusion, meropenem penetrated PF well, and 500 mg every 8 h or 1000 mg every 8 h would be suitable for the therapy for intraabdominal infections.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meropenem in the cerebrospinal fluid of neurosurgical patients.

This study examined the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meropenem in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Meropenem (0.5 g every 8 h) was administered by 0.5-h infusion to six neurosurgical patients. Lumbar CSF and venous blood samples were obtained at 0.5-16 h after the start of the first infusion. Drug concentrations in the CSF and plasma were analyzed pharmacokinetically and used for a Monte Carlo simulation with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data of clinical isolates in Japan. Meropenem penetrated into the CSF with the area under the drug concentration-time curve ratio of 0.10 +/- 0.03 (mean +/- SD) and the repeated infusions caused the drug concentration in the CSF to accumulate slightly. Against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Escherichia coli isolates, 0.5 g q8h achieved a >90% probability of pharmacodynamic target (50% of the time above MIC) attainment, and 1 g q8h was needed for a >90% probability of target (100% of the time above MIC) attainment. However, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 2 g q8h achieved a lower probability of target attainment. These results should help us to better elucidate the pharmacokinetics of meropenem in the cerebrospinal space while also helping us to choose the appropriate drug dosages for the management of bacterial meningitis.

Penetration and exposure of cefotiam into the peritoneal fluid of abdominal surgery patients after intravenous administration.

The present study aimed to examine the peritoneal pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic exposure of intravenous cefotiam. One gram of cefotiam was administered to eight patients before abdominal surgery. Venous blood and peritoneal fluid (PF) samples were obtained at the end of infusion (0.5 h) and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h afterwards. The drug concentrations in the plasma and PF were determined, analyzed pharmacokinetically, and used for a stochastic simulation with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data. Cefotiam penetrated well into the PF with the area under the drug concentration-time curve ratio of 0.88 +/- 0.18 (mean +/- SD, n = 8). Regarding the pharmacodynamic exposures against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species, the probabilities of attaining the bacteriostatic target (40% of the time above MIC) in the PF using 0.5 g every 12 h, 1 g every 12 h, and 2 g every 12 h were 88.3-93.6%. However, 1 g every 8 h was needed for 89.7 and 91.6% probabilities of attaining the bactericidal target (70% of the time above MIC). These results should help us to understand better the peritoneal pharmacokinetics of cefotiam while also helping us to choose the appropriate dosage for intra-abdominal infections.

Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of biapenem in paediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a population pharmacokinetic model for biapenem in paediatric patients and to use the parameter estimates to assess pharmacodynamic exposure of common bacterial populations. METHODS: Biapenem plasma concentrations (n = 125) from 25 paediatric patients were analysed using nonmem. The parameter estimates were used in a Monte Carlo simulation to predict the exposure time during which the drug concentration remains above the minimum inhibitory concentration. RESULTS: A two-compartment model fitted the data, and creatinine clearance (CL(cr)) and total body weight (TBW) were the most significant covariates. The final model was CL (L/h) = 0.0458 x CL(cr), V(c) (L) = 0.162 x TBW, Q (L/h) = 2.05, V(p) (L) = 1.73, where CL is the clearance, V(c) is the volume of distribution of the central compartment, Q is the intercompartmental clearance and V(p) is the volume of distribution of the peripheral compartment. Biapenem regimens of 5 mg/kg q8h and 10 mg/kg q8h provided sufficient pharmacodynamic exposures to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumoniae in most typical patient populations. CONCLUSION: These results better define the pharmacokinetics of biapenem and help in the choice of the appropriate dosage regimens for paediatric.

The validity of a hyperventilation test for an investigation of autonomic failure: assessment in patients with multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease.

Although heart rate (HR) responses to hyperventilation (HV) have been used as a cardiovascular autonomic function test, autonomic involvement during HV remains uncertain. To clarify the relationship between autonomic activity and cardiovascular changes during HV, we compared cardiovascular responses during HV among subjects with different autonomic function, namely 16 patients with probable multiple system atrophy (MSA), 16 with possible MSA, 28 with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 28 healthy controls. Abnormalities of cardiovascular responses to head-up postural change and the Valsalva maneuver were definitely present in the order of probable MSA, possible MSA and PD, and abnormal HR and blood pressure (BP) responses during HV were observed in probable MSA and possible MSA, but not in PD. Unlike the significant difference in standard cardiovascular autonomic function tests, the HR and BP responses during HV were equivalent between probable and possible MSA. These findings suggest that cardiovascular control during HV may be affected not only by autonomic activity but also by other factors.

The value of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology for thyroid nodules: an assessment of its diagnostic potential and pitfalls.

This study was conducted to assess the diagnostic potential and pitfalls of performing fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for thyroid nodules. We retrospectively analyzed 1,012 aspirated samples obtained from 806 thyroid nodules by the ultrasound (US)-guided method. Of these 806 nodules, 226 (31%) had been surgically treated, 152 (67%) of which were histologically diagnosed as malignant. The rate of sufficient aspirate was 82%, being lower in nodules with a diameter of less than 5mm (73%, P = 0.10); either calcified (77%, P = 0.043) or benign (72%, P = 0.0002). The accuracy of FNAC was 75%, the rate of indeterminate diagnosis was 16%, the false negative rate was 13%, and the positive malignancy rate was 99%. The rate of indeterminate diagnosis was higher in adenomatous goiter, follicular carcinoma, and malignant lymphoma, at P = 0.015, P = 0.0008, and P = 0.035, respectively. The accuracy was lower in follicular carcinoma and malignant lymphoma (both at P = 0.013). Sufficient aspirate was finally obtained from 701 (87%) of the 806 nodules by repeated aspiration. Of 152 malignant nodules, 28 (18%) were diagnosed after two or more aspirations, and the accuracy was improved to 81% by repeating the procedure. These findings indicated that repeated aspiration may be a simple and effective method of improving the diagnostic potential of FNAC.

Quantitative assessment of the pharyngeal airway by dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Dynamic changes in the pharyngeal airway of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) were evaluated by quantitating the findings of real-time imaging performed during wakefulness and spontaneous sleep by means of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Six patients with OSAS and 3 non-OSAS subjects, selected prospectively and randomly, underwent polysomnography and dynamic MRI. The cross-sectional areas of the soft palate and oropharynx and the anterior-posterior airway dimensions seen during wakefulness and spontaneous sleep were calculated by US National Institutes of Health imaging software. On the basis of a case control study, comparisons were made with age-matched and body mass index-matched obese non-OSAS snorers. Spontaneous sleep caused significant obstruction and narrowing of various sites of the pharyngeal airway in the OSAS patients, but not in the non-OSAS subjects. During wakefulness, the non-OSAS subjects showed no marked narrowing of the pharyngeal airways, whereas a transient but significant narrowing was observed in the OSAS patients. The mean values of both the cross-sectional area and the anterior-posterior diameter at the soft palate were significantly reduced by spontaneous sleep in the OSAS patients. Dynamic MRI in awake OSAS patients shows promise as a routine diagnostic tool for localizing the upper airway collapse for appropriate selection of surgical therapy.

[Assessment of colorectal cancer patients exhibiting bilobular multiple hepatic metastases].

We assessed 23 patients who underwent surgical therapy of hepatectomy or microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) for bilobular multiple hepatic metastatic foci following curative resection of the primary lesion of colorectal cancer. Hepatectomy was the first surgical therapy for 10 patients, and 6 of them received combined intra-arterial chemotherapy. All 13 patients in the MCT group received intra-arterial chemotherapy, and 8 of them underwent combined hepatectomy. The two-year survival rate of the hepatectomy group, classified according to the first surgical therapy, was 40% against 52% in the MCT group. In comparison with the H2 (2-5 foci) patients in the hepatectomy group, there were 7 H2 patients in the MCT group, and the two-year survival rate of these 7 patients was 50%. No significant difference was observed between hepatectomy and the MCT as the first surgical therapy. The survival rates of the 5 patients who received treatment for recurrence after the first surgery and of the 18 patients without any recurrence treatment were 80% and 40%, respectively. No significant difference existed between the two groups, but a p value of 0.06 was noted. MCT was considered to be useful local therapy for cancer as the first therapy and as a therapy following recurrence.

Assessment of in vivo oxidative stress in hypertensive rats and hypertensive subjects in Tanzania, Africa.

Oxidative stress has been reported to be involved in not only cardiovascular diseases but in hypertension, which is a major risk for cardiovascular diseases. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) has been recognized as a sensitive biomarker of oxidative DNA damage and also of oxidative stress. In the present study, we assessed the oxidative stress in human subjects with hypertension and in hypertensive rats. In stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats at the age of 14 weeks, the excretion of urinary 8-OHdG was significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared with that in age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. Next, we investigated the relationship between oxidative DNA damage and cardiovascular risk factors among Tanzanians aged 46-58 years in a population study carried out in 1998 in at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, according to the WHO-CARDIAC Study Protocol. Sixty subjects (male/female, 28/32) were selected by SPSS Base 8.0 from those who completed a 24-h urine collection. The 24-h urinary 8-OHdG of the hypertensive subjects (SBP > or =140 mmHg and/or DBP > or =90 mmHg) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of the normotensive subjects (SBP <140 mmHg and DBP <90 mmHg) after adjusting for age and gender (Hypertensives: 17.31 +/- 2.0 ng/mg creatinine, n=38; Normotensives: 10.10 +/- 2.64 ng/mg creatinine, n=22). Oxidative stress was thought to be involved in hypertensive subjects and in hypertensive rats.

Assessment of a new ventricular contractile index obtained with transoesophageal echocardiography before and after cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgical patients.

We have compared a new contractile index "left ventricular end-systolic wall stress-heart rate-corrected velocity of circumferential fibre shortening (vcfc)" with conventional contractile indices in 13 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. We generated the slopes of the "end-systolic wall stress-vcfc", "end-systolic wall stress-area" and "peak arterial pressure-area" relationships by altering arterial pressure before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In all patients, significant correlations were obtained for end-systolic wall stress-area and peak arterial pressure-area relationships before and after CPB. In all patients, significant inverse linear correlations were obtained for the end-systolic wall stress-vcfc relationship before CPB; however, inverse linear correlation was absent in eight patients after CPB. It may be that the increased afterload had less influence on left ventricular systolic function after CPB as a possible mechanism of loss of the inverse linear correlation in the end-systolic wall stress-vcfc relationship.

A neuropathologic study of long-term, Economo-type postencephalitic parkinsonism with a prolonged clinical course.

In this report, the neuropathologic features of five autopsied cases of postencephalitic parkinsonism of the Economo-type (PEPE) with a mean age of 66.6 years and a mean duration of the illness of 53.6 years are described. All five patients had presented with personality changes and severe parkinsonism. In addition, four patients had also had ocular symptoms. A pronounced chronic progression of the symptoms characterized all five cases. Active degenerating lesions were found in the substantia nigra (patients 3, 4 and 5) and the oculomotor nucleus (patient 5) which might explain the clinical observation of chronic active disease in these patients. We found that the intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) were immunoreactive to paired helical filaments (PHF), tau and ubiquitin; but ghost tangles demonstrated immunoreactivity only to glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP). The ghost tangles consisted of dispersed bundles of abnormal tubules, and electron-dense glial filaments would surround and occasionally invade the ghost tangles. The present study suggests that NFT in PEPE are similar in their immunohistochemistry and ultrastructure to those observed in the case of Alzheimer-type dementia.

Anti-tau-positive glial fibrillary tangles in the brain of postencephalitic parkinsonism of Economo type.

Tau-immunoreactive astrocytes have been reported in the brain of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and are referred to as glial fibrillary tangles (GFTs). We found a number of GFTs in the heavily degenerated brain region in four cases of postencephalitic parkinsonism of Economo (PPE) with a clinical history of over a half-century. GFTs had the appearance of tufts of spider-like radiating fibers or small thorn-like feature by Gallyas-Braak method and also by anti-tau immunostaining.

[Vertical transmission human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I)--genetic diagnosis and assessment of the probable routes of HTLV-I infection].

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) provirus DNA from peripheral lymphocyte of 39 infants delivered by 26 pregnant carriers was detected by the nested double polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to identify vertical transmission (VT) of HTLV-I. The 39 infants included 12 breast-fed and 27 bottle-fed infants. Particle agglutination (PA) assay and indirect immunofluorescence (IF) test with 467 cells were performed to detect anti-HTLV-I antibody. In breast-fed infants, two (16.7%) cases were both seropositive and PCR-positive and others were both negative, so there was perfect agreement between seropositivity and PCR-positivity. In bottle-fed infants, two (7.4%) cases were seropositive but PCR-negative. This seropositivity was supposed to be due to the transplacental maternal anti-HTLV-I antibody. In 25 seronegative bottle-fed infants, 4 (14.8%) cases were PCR-positive. No significant difference was found in the PCR-positivity rate between the breast-fed and bottle-fed groups. Our study showed the usefulness of the PCR method in identifying VT, the existence of silent carriers especially in bottle-fed infants and the possibility of transplacental or birth canal routes of HTLV-I infection.

Assessment of the variability in coupling intervals of ventricular premature contractions.

BACKGROUND: The coupling interval of ventricular premature contraction is relatively constant in some patients, while it varies in others. The clinical implications of this variability in the coupling intervals of ventricular premature contractions remains to be clarified. METHODS: Ambulatory electrocardiograms were recorded in 48 patients who had 2000 or more ventricular premature contractions per day. In each subject, 24 h ambulatory electrocardiograms were recorded in the absence of antiarrhythmic drug (control), and during treatment with various antiarrhythmic drugs. Data on R-R intervals were obtained using a Marquette 8000T, and transmitted to a personal computer. For each of the control recording, an R-R interval scatterplot was constructed by plotting the coupling intervals of ventricular premature contractions as a function of the preceding R-R intervals of normal sinus beats. The standard deviation of the coupling intervals (SDNV), that of the preceding R-R intervals (SDNN), and their ratio (SDNV/SDNN) were calculated. RESULTS: At control recording, two primary R-R scatterplot patterns were recognized; 1) Fixed, where the coupling intervals remained constant at various preceding R-R intervals (SDNV/SDNN < 0.5 and SDNV < 50 msec) (n = 29), and 2) Variable, where the coupling intervals showed a much greater (n = 19). The prevalence of organic heart disease was higher in the Variable group than in the Fixed group (47% vs 14%, p < 0.05). SDNV/SDNN was higher in patients with organic heart disease than in those without (0.62 +/- 0.34 vs 0.44 +/- 0.23, p < 0.05). The efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs was compared between the two groups. A reduction of 80% or more in the total number of ventricular premature contractions was considered effective. Class Ia, Ib, and Ic drugs had almost the same efficacy in the Fixed and Variable groups (Ia, 43% and 41%; Ib, 36% and 22%; Ic, 64% and 63%, respectively). Class II drugs (beta-blockers) were more effective in the Fixed group than in the Variable group (50% vs 0%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The R-R interval scatterplot of ambulatory electrocardiograms was useful in exploring the variability in the coupling intervals of ventricular premature contractions, and may help to predict the efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs.

Comparison of effects of sevoflurane/nitrous oxide and enflurane/nitrous oxide on myocardial contractility in humans. Load-independent and noninvasive assessment with transesophageal echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have been reported on the direct depressive effects of sevoflurane on myocardial contractility in humans. Direct assessment of contractile state is possible by examining the slope of left ventricular end-systolic wall stress (LVESWS) versus velocity of circumferential fiber shortening with heart rate corrected (Vcfc) relationship with echocardiography. Using this contractile index, the effects of sevoflurane/nitrous oxide were compared with that of enflurane/nitrous oxide on myocardia contractility in humans. METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects were studied during either sevoflurane/nitrous oxide or enflurane/nitrous oxide anesthesia. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and transesophageal echocardiographic data were determined at 0.9 MAC and 1.35 MAC of sevoflurane or enflurane, both with 60% N2O, and at 1.6 MAC of sevoflurane with 60% N2O. Furthermore, another 28 awake subjects were studied with transthoracic echocardiography to examine the contractile state at awake state, and echocardiograms, heart rate, and arterial blood pressure were recorded. RESULTS: Heart rate did not changed significantly in either group. Enflurane/nitrous oxide produced significantly greater decrease in arterial blood pressure than did sevoflurane/nitrous oxide. The Vcfc at each anesthetic dose in both anesthetic groups was significantly less than that in the awake subjects group. Sevoflurane/nitrous oxide produced no significant change in Vcfc at 1.5 MAC, whereas enflurane/nitrous oxide caused significant dose-related decrease in Vcfc. Vcfc produced by sevoflurane/nitrous oxide was significantly greater than that produced by enflurane/nitrous oxide. There was no significant difference in LVESWS (index of afterload) between the groups. With respect to the LVESWS-Vcfc relationship, myocardial contractility was significantly depressed in both the sevoflurane and the enflurane groups compared to the awake subjects group. However, myocardial contractility produced by enflurane/nitrous oxide was significantly less than that by sevoflurane/nitrous oxide at equiMAC concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that sevoflurane has fewer depressant effects on cardiac function than does enflurane.

Effect of prostaglandin E1 on myocardial contractility in dogs anesthetized with halothane: load-independent and noninvasive assessment using transesophageal echocardiography.

The presence of an inotropic action of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in vivo is controversial, and there are conflicting results obtained by various indices of myocardial contractility. In this study, a direct effect of PGE1 on contractility was investigated in dogs by use of a load-independent contractile index: left ventricular end-systolic wall stress (LVESWS) versus the velocity of circumferential fiber shortening with rate-corrected (Vcfc) relationship using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Hemodynamics, arterial blood gas, and TEE data were obtained before PGE1 infusion (control), and with a 10%, 20%, and 30% decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) following intravenous PGE1 administration. PGE1 infusion rates were 0.19 +/- 0.03 at 10%, 0.82 +/- 0.17 at 20%, and 2.32 +/- 0.36 micrograms/kg/min at a 30% decrease in MAP. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, systemic vascular resistance index, and left ventricular stroke work index significantly decreased, and heart rate, cardiac index, and stroke volume index were not significantly altered. Analysis of the TEE data showed LVESWS (index of afterload) significantly decreased from 92.0 +/- 11.2 g/cm2 to 72.7 +/- 7.8 at 10%, 59.3 +/- 7.8 at 20%, and 44.6 +/- 6.2 at a 30% decrease in MAP, and Vcfc significantly increased from 0.595 +/- 0.065 circ/sec of control value to 0.670 +/- 0.056 at 10%, 0.824 +/- 0.049 at 20%, and 0.939 +/- 0.070 at a 30% decrease in MAP. In the LVESWS versus Vcfc relationship, no significant difference could be detected between the control state and the 10%, 20%, and 30% decrease in MAP, and no inotropic effect was found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dipyridamole electrocardiography test for the assessment of the severity of coronary artery disease.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of dipyridamole-induced ST changes to the severity of coronary artery disease. The subjects were 100 patients without myocardial infarction who underwent coronary arteriography for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. The dipyridamole injection test (D) (0.568 mg/kg/4 min), and symptom-limited treadmill exercise test (T) were performed separately. Body surface electrocardiographic mapping of 87 leads was performed in both tests. The incidences of significant ST depression greater than or equal to 0.10 mV, number of leads showing significant ST depression (nST) and the maximal voltage of ST depression (maxST) in D and T were compared to the number of diseased coronary arteries. In patients without significant coronary stenosis (0VD group), the incidence of ST depression in the dipyridamole test was significantly lower than that in the treadmill test (D 9% vs T 47%, p less than 0.01). While, in one vessel disease (1VD), two vessel disease (2VD), and three vessel disease (3VD) groups, there was no significant difference in the incidence of ST depression between the dipyridamole test and the treadmill test (in 1VD, D 44% vs. T 65%; in 2VD, D 67% vs. T 93%; and in 3VD, D 93% vs. T 96%). In the dipyridamole test, nST was 0.6 +/- 2.4 in 0VD, 4.5 +/- 6.9 in 1VD, 4.1 +/- 4.5 in 2VD, and 10.6 +/- 8.1 in 3VD. Significant differences were found between 0VD and 1VD (P less than 0.05), 0VD and 3VD (P less than 0.01), 1VD and 3VD (P less than 0.01), and 2VD and 3VD (p less than 0.01). The maxST in the dipyridamole test was 0.02 +/- 0.04 mV in 0VD, 0.10 +/- 0.12 mV in 1VD, 0.13 +/- 0.11 mV in 2VD, and 0.22 +/- 0.11 mV in 3VD. Significant differences were found between 0VD and 1VD (p less than 0.01), 0VD and 2VD (p less than 0.01), 0VD and 3VD (p less than 0.01), 1VD and 3VD (p less than 0.01), and 2VD and 3VD (P less than 0.01). For the diagnosis of 3VD, the dipyridamole ECG test had as high a sensitivity (93% vs 96%), higher specificity (68% vs 38%, p less than 0.01), and higher predictive accuracy (75% vs 54%, p less than 0.01) than the treadmill test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Signal-averaged body surface mapping for the assessment of low-amplitude potentials. Detailed maps during early ventricular activation in normal subjects.

Body surface isopotential maps around early ventricular activation were investigated in 30 normal subjects by the use of the authors' signal-averaged body surface mapping system. The number of beats averaged was 96-154 (mean, 127). Two distinct patterns were recognized in the appearance of a maximum at the onset of ventricular activation: the maximum in the first type (n = 16) was located on the right anterior chest; the maximum in the second type (n = 14) was on the central or left anterior chest. The site of the earliest ventricular activation was considered to be different in each of these types. During early ventricular activation, 25 subjects (83%) had two minima: one was on the left lateral chest and the other was on the left back. The two minima probably reflect two different receding activation fronts in the ventricles. The data in the present study are important to the understanding of the early ventricular activation process, as well as the diagnosis of heart diseases in which this process is disturbed.