Effects on circulating blood volume (CBV) of the intravenous injection of a nonionic contrast medium, ioversol, with various doses were assessed in order to find a way of injection with less effects on systemic circulation. Ioversol was injected as a bolus to 20 mongrel dogs at doses of A: 3.75 ml/kg (n = 8) or B: 2 ml/kg (n = 6) of a solution containing 320 mg iodine per ml, or C: 2 ml/kg (n = 6) of a 240 mgI/ml solution. Colloid oncotic pressure (COP) of the bloods drawn before and 1, 2, 3, 5 min after the injection of ioversol was measured by a needle type osmometer, and changes in CBV were calculated using the COP values. Upon injection of ioversol CBV increased rapidly and then gradually returned to the preinjection levels. The change in CBV induced by ioversol was significantly less than those reportedly induced by an ionic contrant medium, iothalamate, and a nonionic medium, iopamidol, and comparable to that by another nonionic medium, iohexol. The degree of increase in CBV and the blood concentration of ioversol were related to the amount, but not the volume, of ioversol injected. Thus, ioversol proved to be one of the low osmotic nonionic contrast media with less effects on CBV. Furthermore, it is suggested that the amount, rather than volume, of contrast medium should be taken into consideration when the angiography of the patients with reduced cardiac function, children or aged patients is performed in whom the contrast medium-induced CBV expansion needs to be as less as possible.
We report a rare case of tricuspid regurgitation due to nonpenetrating chest trauma 33 years previously. A 79-year-old man suffered a blunt trauma due to a piece of wood at work in 1958. He suffered multiple rib fractures on the right side and was admitted. Since then, he began having shortness of breath on exertion and was treated with medication. The patient was transferred to the Division of Cardiology, Hakodate National Hospital in 1984. A chest x-ray film revealed a marked cardiomegaly. Cardiac catheterization showed severe tricuspid regurgitation. Hepatomegaly and pancytopenia was observed. He was readmitted because of general fatigue in July 1991. Two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated systolic excursion of septal and posterior tricuspid leaflets with ruptured chordae tendineae into the right atrium, and a remarkably enlarged right ventricule, right atrium and vena cava interior. Cardiac catheterization was performed. The right atrial pressure-wave form resembled the right ventricular pressure recording (ventricularization of the atrial pressure). Right ventricular cineangiography revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation, grade 4. Laboratory data showed pancytopenia. Thrombocytopenia progressed (3 x 10(4)/mm3), and a hemorrhagic tendency developed. The liver edge was palpable 4 finger breadths below the right costal margin. Pancytopenia due to congestive hepatomegaly and hypersplenism would have complicated this case.
We conducted a clinical study on asthmatic patients who were readmitted within three months of discharge. During twelve years (1979-1991), the number of patients who were readmitted within three months was 139 cases (209 episodes) in our department. Patients with respiratory diseases made up 53% of the subjects. Among patients with pulmonary disease who were readmitted within three months, the number of patients with lung cancer was 25 cases and that with bronchial asthma 24 cases. Within a month period, the number of readmitted patients with bronchial asthma was the largest 59% (19 cases) and the number of patients with lung cancer came second (4 cases). As for the characteristics of these asthmatic patients, the intrinsic type (15 cases), those with a history of over one year of the disease (20 cases), and those with steroid dependency (10 cases) were most commonly observed. Readmission occurred frequently between October and April. Readmission occurred frequently because of asthmatic attacks due to infection of reduction of steroid. Among asthmatic patients who were readmitted within one month, the disease severity was mild to moderate in 11 out of 19 patients, but there was a tendency for this to become intractable thereafter. It is impossible to prevent all patients from seeling readmission within a short period of discharge. However, we think the doctor's careful education of the patients is an important factor to reduce the early readmission rate of asthmatic patients.
The aim of this study was to study the effect of enalapril (E) on left ventricular (LV) mass, LV function and blood renin-angiotensin (RA) in patients with hypertension. Sixteen hypertensives were included in this study (WHO I 8, WHO II 8, 49.5 +/- 10.5 yrs). They were examined for blood pressure and heart rate. Chest X-ray film, echocardiography (echo), X-ray computed tomography (CT) and RA before and after about 6 months of E administration were studied. The LV mass was calculated by CT. The LV function was measured by echo. RAS was unchanged during this study. LV mass was significantly reduced after E (121.4 +/- 25.6 vs 104.6 +/- 13.7 g/cm2). The LV systolic function was unchanged after E, but LV diastolic function improved. It was shown that the long-term administration of E improves LV hypertrophy and LV diastolic function without any change of RAS.


