In 17 normal subjects we studied the changes evoked by five levels of expiratory pressure (EP) ranging from 2.5 to 30 mmHg in a number of circulatory variables during the last 10 s of a 30-s Valsalva maneuver. Variables studied included mean arterial (MAP) and pulse (PP) pressures; right atrial (RAP) and peripheral vein (PVP) pressures; cardiac output (CO); total peripheral resistance (TPR) and heart rate (HR). EP-circulatory response curves were obtained in each subject a) before autonomic block; b) after cardiac effector block (atropine + propranolol); c) after "total" autonomic block (atropine + propranolol; guanethidine + phentolamine). Mechanical effects were determined from results during "total" autonomic block. They included EP-related rises in RAP and PVP each to about 0.7 mmHg/mmHg applied EP, and falls in CO, MAP, and PP to levels of approximately 50%, 70%, and 80% of resting respectively at EP 30 mmHg, but no changes in TPR and HR. Reflex effects included EP-related rises in HR and in TPR and in MAP, to levels of 160%, 160%, and 115% of resting respectively at EP 30 mmHg. The afferent input profile is probably complex, and the role of the different receptor groups may vary at the different levels of EP.

1. Rises and falls in mean arterial (MAP) and pulse (PP) pressures from the resting value were evoked by intravenous injections of phenylephrine and glyceryl trinitrate, and were related to the reflexly evoked changes in heart period (HP; pulse interval).2. The steady-state properties of the baroreceptor-heart irate reflex were examined by deriving MAP-HP curves in a group of twenty-three healthy normotensive subjects, and in two groups of sixteen and eight subjects with essential hypertension of different severity. Each group was subdivided into two subgroups according to age: (i) 18-30 years; (ii) 33-57 years. The MAP-HP curves are sigmoid and each is characterized by its median blood pressure (BP,& average gain (G) and heart period range (HPR).3. In a given age group, the curves are 'reset' about a higher BP,, with increasing severity of hypertension. There is progressive reduction in HPR (to S0-55% of normotensive HPR) due to lowering of the upper HP plateau, which probably indicates impairment of function of the vagal component of the reflex. In three out of four hypertensive groups, G is also significantly reduced to between 60 and 30% of G of normotensive subjects of the same age. 4. The effect of age on the curve parameters is independent of the effects due to hypertension. For a given MAP,G and HPR are lower in older than in younger subjects.

Prolonged fluoroscopy during radiofrequency ablation may potentially cause a small increase in the lifetime risk of fatal malignancy, with lung malignancy being most likely. This risk is small only with the use of techniques and x-ray equipment optimized to keep radiation as low as possible. The risk is increased in obese patients.

The relative prognostic significance of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation inducible at programmed stimulation within 1 month of acute myocardial infarction was compared in a prospective study of 403 clinically well survivors of transmural infarction who were 65 years old or younger. The prognostic significance of delayed potentials on the signal-averaged electrocardiogram was also examined in a subset of 306 patients without bundle branch block. Among the study patients, 20% had inducible ventricular tachycardia, 14% had inducible ventricular fibrillation, and 66% had no inducible arrhythmias. The 2 year probability of remaining free from cardiac death or nonfatal ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation was 0.73 for those with inducible ventricular tachycardia, 0.93 for those with inducible ventricular fibrillation, and 0.92 for those with no inducible arrhythmias. The cycle length of inducible ventricular tachycardia was 230 msec or more in 70% of the patients with inducible tachycardia who died. Of the patients studied by signal-averaged electrocardiography, 26% had delayed potentials. At 2 years, the probability of remaining free from cardiac death or nonfatal ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation was 0.73 for patients with delayed potentials and 0.95 for patients with no delayed potentials. There was a significant correlation (p less than .001) between the presence of delayed potentials and the ability to induce ventricular tachycardia. In conclusion, in survivors of recent infarction who have not had spontaneous ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, inducible tachycardia (but not inducible fibrillation) at programmed stimulation predicts a significant risk of death or spontaneous tachycardia or fibrillation. A similar risk is found for patients with delayed potentials on the signal-averaged electrocardiogram.