[Cholecystokinin--hormone and neuromodulator]. / Cholecystokinina--hormon i neuromodulator.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a polipeptide having many functions in digestive system (regulating motor activity and secretion) and acting as a neuromodulator in central and peripheral nervous systems. Recent research shows that CCK increases insulin and glukagon secretion and activates hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. It also plays a role in cardiovascular system (CCK has a positive inotropic effect). The aim of this study is to show some recent knowledge in the subject of CCK structure and its function in human body.

[The role of vasoactive intestinal peptide in human body]. / Rola wazoaktywnego peptydu jelitowego w organizmie czlowieka.

The quick progress of medical sciences changed somewhat our point of view on the role of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in human body. In the following article we have tried to gather all the latest information concerning VIP and its regulatory function. The role in menstrual cycle regulation, in prolactine and in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis secretion as well as in pancreas' hormones secretion has been described. We also emphasized the role in maintaining the blood pressure. The influence on the digestion, hematopoiesis, cell growth and differentiation was also discussed.

[Transesophageal echocardiography--our preliminary experience]. / Echokardiografia przezprzelykowa--wstepne doswiadczenia wlasne.

This study presents the initial experience of our department with transesophageal echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were performed simultaneously in 31 clinical patients (16 to 76 years old). 13 pts with aortic (9) and mitral (4) valve disease, 10 pts with ischemic heart disease (including 7 AMI), 3 pts with congestive cardiomyopathy, 2 pts with aortic aneurysm and 3 pts with other heart diseases. The investigations were performed with use of Aloka SSD 650 machine and 7.5 MHz transesophageal convex transducer. The patients were prepared for the examination in the typical way by local anesthesia, administration of sedatives and heart monitoring. The following projections were used: basic short- and long-axis view, four chamber view, and transgastric view. These investigation confirmed the usefulness TEE for evaluation of aortic and mitral valves, especially their morphology, atrial septum and atrial cavities. Contractility and other heart structures were difficult to be evaluated by TEE. It seems to be possible to estimate the proximal sections of the coronary arteries. Only few complications were found: supraventricular (2) and ventricular extrasystoles (8), transient supraventricular tachycardia (3), and bradycardia (3). Late complications were not found.

[Ventricular arrhythmias and QT/QS2 index in patients with ischemic heart disease]. / Arytmie komorowe, a wskaznik QT/QS2 u chorych z choroba niedokrwienna serca.

This multicenter study comprised a group of 900 patients (207 females and 693 males, aged 23-68 years, mean 53) with ischaemic heart disease. Go medications other than nitrates, nifedipine and diuretics were administered at the time of study. In all patients a simultaneous standard 12-lead ecg and a phonocardiogram was registered. QT and QS2 intervals were then measured, and the QT/QS2 index calculated. QT/QS2 ratio 1.0 was considered as a normal one. A 24-h Holter ecg monitoring was performed in each patients, and ectopic ventricular activity was graded according to the Lown's classification. For patients with each class of arrhythmia the mean value of QT/QS2 was calculated. All means were similar, with values 1.0. Proportion of patients with abnormal values of QT/QS2 index was similar in patients showing different Lown classes of arrhythmia. Since a 24-hour monitoring does not give a full information about the arrhythmic events, patients with the history of VT/VF were analyzed separately. In this group an increase of QT/QS2 index was observed significantly more frequently than in other patients (37% vs 19%, p = 0.016). It is concluded that no close relationship exists between QT/QS2 index and the type of ventricular arrhythmia found on the Holter monitoring. However, pathologic QT/QS2 values seem to characterize the patients with increase risk of VT/VF.

[Hypertension and obesity]. / Nadcisnienie tetnicze a otylosc.

An epidemiological study was carried out in a population of men aged 35-64 years in the Bródno District of Warsaw. The study included 2123 subjects, the frequency was noted of hypertension and obesity as risk factors for ischaemic heart disease, and their correlations were studied. As hypertension the following values were accepted: --borderline hypertension = 140/90 less than 160/95 mm Hg, --stabilized hypertension = greater than or equal to 160/95 mm Hg. Overweight was accepted as Quetelet's index 29.0 weight in kg/height in cm. Stable hypertension was found in 35.0% of obese men and 18.5% of non-obese men (p less than 0.001). Borderline hypertension was demonstrated in 31.6% of obese men and 22.9% of non-obese men (p less than 0.002). Normal blood pressure was found in 58.4% of non-obese men and in only 33.4% of the obese ones (p less than 0.001). The prevalence of hypertension in obese men, both systolic and diastolic hypertension, was related to age: the highest proportion of hypertensive subjects was in the oldest group, the lowest one in the youngest group. The results agree with those reported by other authors who also demonstrated a high correlation between hypertension occurrence and increasing overweight.

[Relation between ischemic heart disease and tobacco smoking]. / Chorobowosc na chorobe niedokrwienna serca zwiazana z nalogiem palenia tytoniu.

The incidence of ischaemic heart disease related to tobacco smoking was studied in a population of males aged 35-64 years in the Bródno District of Warsaw. The population comprised 2123 subjects (attendance rate 62%). A relationship was demonstrated between cigarette smoking in the past and the ischaemic heart disease, its incidence was twice as high in former smokers than in non-smokers. No significant difference was found in this incidence between non-smokers and present smokers. A more deep analysis shows that former smokers who quitted smoking due to intensification of clinical symptoms are frequently included into the group of non-smokers, and they are the group at highest risk for ischaemic heart disease development.