To determine if low-level exposure to lead has an effect on arterial blood pressure, demographic and clinical data of a group of 507 males without any occupational exposure to lead were analyzed in a retrospective study. The following variables were included in the analysis: age, height, weight, nicotine consumption, alcohol intake, blood lead, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and erythrocyte count. The effects of the variables age, weight, height, alcohol intake, nicotine consumption, and blood lead on blood pressure were investigated by stepwise linear regression analysis. The diastolic as well as the systolic blood pressure was significantly influenced by Body Mass Index, age, and alcohol. A significant effect of lead could be found only for diastolic blood pressure. None of the possible interactions were significant enough to merit inclusion in the statistical model. Regarding the strength of the effects on diastolic blood pressure we find that lead ranks after age, weight. In conclusion, this study shows that lead has an effect on diastolic arterial blood pressure in a survey of a group of middle-aged, occupationally nonexposed men.

The acute effects of a single intravenous Prostigmin injection (0.5 mg) on lung function and gas exchange during rest and bicycle ergometry were measured in 26 patients with myasthenia gravis. The mean age of the patients was 44.6 +/- 17.6 years and the mean duration of myasthenia gravis 5.4 +/- 6.3 years. Lung function parameters obtained from 15 patients showed a normal total lung capacity with an increase in functional residual capacity and residual volume, while vital capacity was diminished. While the application of Prostigmin showed no acute effects on these lung volumes, there was a significant increase in airway resistance, even into the pathologic range. Data obtained during spiro-ergometry concerning gas exchange, circulation and muscle metabolism correspond to those expected from healthy individuals; application of Prostigmin did only influence the heart rate, which can be explained by parasympathomimetic activity. We conclude that dyspnoea in patients with myasthenia gravis need not necessarily be a symptom of the illness itself but can also be caused by therapy; in the latter case bronchodilatators are required.

The acute effects of a single intravenous Prostigmin injection (0.5 mg) on lung function and gas exchange during rest and bicycle ergometry were measured in 26 patients with myasthenia gravis. The mean age of the patients was 44.6 ± 17.6 years and the mean duration of myasthenia gravis 5.4 ± 6.3 years. Lung function parameters obtained from 15 patients showed a normal total lung capacity with an increase in functional residual capacity and residual volume, while vital capacity was diminished. While the application of Prostigmin showed no acute effects on these lung volumes, there was a significant increase in airway resistance, even into the pathologic range. Data obtained during spiro-ergometry concerning gas exchange, circulation and muscle metabolism correspond to those expected from healthy individuals; application of Prostigmin did only influence the heart rate, which can be explained by parasympathomimetic activity. We conclude that dyspnoea in patients with myasthenia gravis need not necessarily be a symptom of the illness itself but can also be caused by therapy; in the latter case bronchodilatators are required

Intrapulmonary percussion with a high-frequency jet system is a new method in the treatment of respiratory impairment. It imitates the conventional percussion massage of the thorax by introducing high-frequency gas oscillations (300 impulses per minute) into the tracheobronchial system. In 14 patients with abnormal alveolo-arterial oxygen differences due to bronchial mucostasis ventilation was satisfactorily improved by its application.

8 healthy male volunteers performed jogging (as an example of an aerobic metabolic condition) and squash (as an example of an intermittently anaerobic metabolic condition). The platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin (PGI2) decreased after jogging. After squash, a statistically sijnificant (p 0,001) decrease in the sensitivity of the platelets could be seen. Our findings suggest that an early alteration of platelet sensitivity might play a key role in maintaining the hemostatic balance and could be of greater importance than the vascular wall PGI2-synthesis, as the sensitivity changes immediately, whereas the PGI2-formation change is a long-term process.