Health-related predictors of cancer registry-notified cancer of unknown primary site (CUP).

BACKGROUND: The relationship between comorbid disease and health service use and risk of cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is uncertain. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 266,724 people aged 45 years and over in New South Wales, Australia. Baseline questionnaire data were linked to cancer registration, health service records 4-27 months prior to diagnosis, and mortality data. We compared individuals with incident registry-notified CUP (n = 327; 90% C80) to two sets of randomly selected controls (3:1): (i) incident metastatic cancer of known primary site (n = 977) and (ii) general cohort population (n = 981). We used conditional logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In fully adjusted models incorporating sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, people with cancer registry-notified CUP were more likely to have fair compared with excellent self-rated overall health (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.01-3.14) and less likely to self-report anxiety (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.24-0.97) than those registered with metastatic cancer of known primary. Compared to general cohort population controls, people registered with CUP were more likely to have poor rather than excellent self-rated overall health (OR 6.22, 95% CI 1.35-28.6), less likely to self-report anxiety (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.12-0.63), and more likely to have a history of diabetes (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.15-3.10) or cancer (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.03-2.57). Neither tertiary nor community-based health service use independently predicted CUP risk. CONCLUSION: Low self-rated health may be a flag for undiagnosed cancer, and an investigation of its clinical utility in primary care appears warranted.

Demographic, social and lifestyle risk factors for cancer registry-notified cancer of unknown primary site (CUP).

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the risk factors for cancer of unknown primary site (CUP). We examined the demographic, social and lifestyle risk factors for CUP in a prospective cohort of 266,724 people aged 45 years and over in New South Wales, Australia. METHODS: Baseline questionnaire data were linked to cancer registration, hospitalisation, emergency department admission, and mortality data. We compared individuals with incident cancer registry-notified CUP (n = 327) to two sets of controls randomly selected (3:1) using incidence density sampling with replacement: (i) incident cancer registry-notified metastatic cancer of known primary site (n = 977) and (ii) general cohort population (n = 981). We used conditional logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In a fully adjusted model incorporating self-rated overall health and comorbidity, people diagnosed with CUP were more likely to be older (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.07 per year) and more likely to have low educational attainment (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.24-2.53) than those diagnosed with metastatic cancer of known primary. Similarly, compared to general cohort population controls, people diagnosed with CUP were older (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.08-1.12 per year), of low educational attainment (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.08-2.64), and current (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.81-6.47) or former (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.33-2.86) smokers. CONCLUSION: The consistent association with educational attainment suggests low health literacy may play a role in CUP diagnosis. These findings highlight the need to develop strategies to achieve earlier identification of diagnostically challenging malignancies in people with low health literacy.

Atrial flutter. Electrocardiographic, vectorcardiographic and echocardiographic correlation.

The duration, contour, and amplitude of atrial flutter wave (f) was studied by electrocardiogram (ECG) and vectorcardiogram (VCG) in 32 patients and was related to the size of the left atrium (LA) measured by the echocardiogram (E). The following ECG parameters were analyzed: (1) the duration of left atrial depolarization, i.e., LA wave; (2) the amplitude of LA wave; (3) the surface area of LA wave; (4) maximum amplitude (A) of f in Leads 2 and V1. There was good correlation between LA size and the duration of depolarization and surface area (p less than 0.01), but the maximum amplitude of the f wave in Leads 2 and V1 failed to predict LA size. The post-conversion sinus P wave showed abnormal LA depolarization time (P greater than 0.12 sec.) in 62 per cent of patients with enlarged left atrium (ELA) and in 43 per cent of patients with normal size LA (NLA). The VCG of the flutter wave revealed two patterns, (1) an eliptical smooth fsE loop in 63 per cent of patients with NLA, and (2) distorted fsE loop in 67 per cent of patients with ELA. Both VCG patterns were subdivided in two subgroups according to the number and location of conduction delays. The VCG of post-conversion P wave confirmed conduction delays in both groups. We conclude that both the size of the left atrium and conduction delays play a basic role in the duration and contour of left atrial wave.

Left ventricular performance in diabetic patients without clinical heart disease. Evaluation by systolic time intervals and echocardiography.

To examine left ventricular performance in diabetic patients without clinical evidence of cardiac involvement, systolic time intervals (pre-ejection period, left ventricular ejection time index and ratio of pre-ejection period to left ventricular ejection time) and echocardiographic measures (percentage changes in minor axis diameter, end-diastolic and end-systolic diameter, end- diastolic volume and end-systolic volumes, stroke volume and ejection fraction), were obtained. There were 89 diabetic patients and 93 control subjects evaluated for systolic time intervals, and 40 diabetic patients and 20 control subjects evaluated by echocardiogram. The diabetic group demonstrated significant (P less than 0.001) differences from the normal control group in each of the noninvasive measures of systolic time intervals. Pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time ration was increased by 25 percent and the pre-ejection period was increased by 12 percent in the diabetic patients. Among 40 diabetic patients studied by echocardiography, abnormal percentage change in minor axis diameter, (less than 30 percent) occurred in six individuals. Ejection fraction was decreased by 20 percent as compared to the control group, whereas end-diastolic pressure was not significantly different in the groups.

Echocardiographic evaluation of septal motion in patients with artificial pacemakers: vectorcardiographic correlations.

Twenty-one patients with transvenous endocardial right ventricular pacemakers and one patient with epicardial right ventricular pacemaker inducing artificial left bundle branch block (LBBB) were studied with echocardiographic and vectorcardiographic techniques. Sixteen patients were found to have an initial very active posterior motion of the interventricular septum occurring within 70 msec. (range, 40 to 100 msec.) of the pacemaker artefact followed by posterior movement during the ejection period (Pattern A). Eighteen of 20 patients with clinical LBBB serving as a control group showed a dynamic posterior motion occurring within 40 msec. of the onset of QRS and preceding anterior (paradoxical) motion of the septum during ejection. In four patients, following the initial brief posterior septal movement, there was flat or anterior movement of the septum during the ejection period (Patern B). Two patients had myocardial infarction and one had atrial septal defect and epicardial right ventricular pacemaker. Only in two patients the initial brief posterior septal motion was not recorded before moving posteriorly during the ejection period (Pattern C). The different patterns of septal motion found in patients with artificial LBBB and in those with natural LBBB could be explained by differences in activation of the heart, as shown by vectorcardiography. Echocardiographic septal evaluation of patients with artificial pacemakers could have diagnostic implications in suggesting possible underlying complicating cardiac abnormalities.

Graphic findings in acute aortic regurgitation caused by destruction of aortic cusp. The origin of first heart sound.

The diagnosis of ruptured aortic cusp leading to acute aortic insufficiency was made by echophonocardiographic techniques in a patient with nonvegetative aortic valvular endocarditis and a negative clinical history. Early closure of the mitral valve, weak first heart sound, tall A wave of apexcardiogram, and early diastolic murmur indicated acute aortic regurgitation. Fine high frequency echoes of the aortic root and aortic leaflets suggested ruptured aortic leafet unlike that reported in the presence of vegetations. Timing of S1 in acute aortic regurgitation by phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, and pulse techniques could not establish a single causative valvular relation in the genesis of this sound.

Assessment of cardiac function in marathon runners by graphic noninvasive techniques.

The volume overload type of heart often observed in endurance athletes, was simulate a diseased heart. We used a battery of noninvasive graphic techniques, i.e., echocardiogram, apexcardiogram, carotid pulse, electrocardiogram, vectorcardiogram, phonocardiogram, systolic time intervals, and treadmill stress testing in 12 professional marathon runners, mean age 33.8 +/- 11.1. Twenty nonathletes matched for age, height, sex, and weight served as a control group. Left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic dimension in marathon runners averaged 5.53 +/- 0.5 cm compared to 4.81 +/- 0.04 cm in nonathletes (p less than 0.001), LV end-diastolic volume was 172.69 +/- 43.3 ml compared to 113.57 +/- 30.41 ml in nonathletes (p less than 0.001), stroke volume was 122.27 +/- 32.8 ml compared to 78.42 +/- 20.44 ml in non-athletes (p less than 0.001), the thickness of the posterior LV wall was 1.0 +/- 0.2 cm compared to 0.7 +/- 0.1 cm in nonathletes (p less than 0.001), and LV mass was significantly increased, 212.43 +/- 55.8 g compared to 123.48 +/- 24.54 g in non-athletes (p less than 0.01). Left atrium and aortic root were also relatively larger in athletes (p less than 0.01). Right ventricular end-diastolic dimension was enlarged in marathon runners (2.02 +/- 0.65 cm). No statistically significant differences were noted in ejection fraction, percentage of internal diameter shortening (% delta D) and PEP/LVET. The carotid tracing had a bisferiens pulse in five marathon runners. The apexcardiogram showed a bifid systolic thrust in three and absence of abnormal A wave. These abnormalities were related to the overload type of heart as proven by echocardiogram. "Early repolarization syndrome" (abnormal RS-T segment elevation) and notched T waves in ECG had a counterpart a semilunar configuration in the VCG. Three athletes met ECG criteria and one met VCG criteria of LVH. The treadmill exercise ECG was negative in all 12 athletes. Biventricular enlargement and increased left ventricular mass are present in the marathon runner's heart. Myocardial contractility at rest was, however, not statistically different from nonathletes.

New, poorly recognized echocardiographic findings. Occurrence in patients with pericardial effusion.

New, poorly recognized echocardiographic findings were recorded in six patients with pericardial effusion. These findings were apparent prolapse of mitral and tricuspid valves, apparent systolic anterior motion of mitral valve, and midsystolic notching of pulmonic valve. Beat-to-beat variation of the dimensions of right and left ventricle and in the diastolic opening amplitude of the anterior mitral valve were present in cardiac tamponade. Substantial decrease or resolution of effusion resulted in disappearance of the observed abnormalities. Serial echographic studies before and after fluid resolution may prevent misleading echographic and clinical diagnoses.

Echocardiographic findings in atrial flutter.

Echocardiographic studies were performed in 22 patients with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. In atrial flutter, the echocardiograms consistently demonstrated regular undulatory waves of the posterior left atrial wall and upper left interventricular septum coinciding with each flutter wave of the electrocardiogram. The mitral valve was slightly reopened by each flutter wave occurring after diastolic mitral closure. The phonocardiogram simultaneously recorded with the echocardiogram showed only occasional atrial sounds. Coarse atrial fibrillation produced undulatory low frequency motion of both leaflets of the mitral valve during diastole. Atrial fibrillation with fine fibrillatory waves failed to show any significant and constant undulations of the left atrial wall and upper left interventricular septum. Echocardiographic evaluation of patients with atrial flutter could have diagnostic implications in doubtful cases with nondiagnostic electrocardiograms.