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The aim of this study is to analyse the differential visual patterns of expert and non-expert tennis players preparing to return a tennis serve. Two 16 mm films were used for testing purposes; 27 services were delivered and recorded on each film. The subjects had to identify verbally the type of serve delivered. During film viewing, eye movements were recorded by an Eye Mark Recorder NAC V. Results revealed that the expert players seem to use cues from the general position of the body during the ritual phase and cues from the racquet position during the execution phase.

A new coronary artery occlusion was found in 98 of 313 consecutive patients (31%) with coronary artery disease treated medically who underwent catheterization twice, 39 +/- 25 months apart. Multivariate logistic regression displayed 8 independent predictors of new occlusion. Four were available at the time of the second angiogram: the interval between the 2 studies (p = 0.005), a decrease in ejection fraction (p less than 0.01), the appearance of bundle branch block (p less than 0.01), and an interim myocardial infarction (p less than 0.05). Four other predictors were found at the time of the first angiogram: 2 angiographic characteristics, 1 related to the severity (presence of an 80% or greater luminal diameter narrowing of an artery supplying a non-akinetic left ventricular segment [p less than 0.005]) and 1 to the extent (count of the lesions narrowed 75% or less in luminal diameter in a 15-segment coding system [p less than 0.05]) of coronary artery disease, and 2 risk factors: smoking status (p less than 0.05) and male sex (p less than 0.05). The 140 male smokers with at least 80% diameter stenosis or at least 4 segments with moderate (75% or less) stenosis were at a higher risk of occlusion than the 173 other patients after intervals of less than 2 years (13 of 53 vs 7 of 74, p less than 0.01), 2 to 4 years (23 of 40 vs 10 of 47, p less than 0.005) and more than 4 years (27 of 47 vs 18 of 54, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To assess the best method of quantitating progression of coronary disease, we studied four measurements in 114 coronary segments from 35 medically treated patients from whom angiograms were obtained 5 years apart. Only stenoses of less than 70% that were visualized in nearly identical projections on both angiograms were evaluated. Vessel edges were measured by use of catheter calibration and an automated computer algorithm yielding two "absolute dimensions" (mean and minimum diameters) and two measurements (percent stenosis and atheroma area) that required a "normal reference" diameter. The coefficient of variation for repeated segment measurements was less for mean and minimum diameter than for percent stenosis and area of atheroma. The best measure of progression of coronary disease as determined by t test comparison of different methods was the change in mean diameter over time (6.7 +/- 14.1% decrease), whether calculated on a per coronary segment or per patient basis (p less than .001). Based on this measurement and its standard deviation of progression of coronary disease in this patient subset with relatively benign disease, it is estimated that 470 patients per group would be required for an interventional study to demonstrate a 33% reduction in disease progression (207 patients for 50% reduction) at a 95% confidence level and 90% power.

We have presented the anaesthetic technique used during the separation of two female pygopagus conjoined twins. The twins were three months old and weighed 9.2 kilograms on the day of the operation. The main problem during the operation was to evaluate blood volume lost by each patient and a close monitoring of all cardiovascular parameters was necessary to attain this aim. The little pygopagus recuperated well and left the hospital at six months old.

We studied the incidence of reversibility of coronary obstructions in a consecutive series of 313 patients with nonoperated coronary artery disease catheterized twice 3 to 118 (mean 38) months apart. Recanalization was observed in three patients and regression from an initial less than 100% obstruction in six patients. Progression in a different location occurred in six of the nine patients who demonstrated one recanalized or one regressive lesion. We conclude that true regression is an infrequent event in the natural history of medically treated patients with coronary artery disease; moreover, the pathophysiology and clinical relevance of angiographic regression remain poorly defined.

Major changes have taken place in medical care in the past few years, including the way in which we pay for health care. Blue Cross and Blue Shield have kept pace with these changes through the development of HMOs, PPOs and more recently through Managed Care Benefits. They have been innovators in providing quality care at the lowest possible price, and have diligently attempted to unite the interests of physicians, institutions and employers for the benefit of the patient/employee. The following article describes how Blue Cross and Blue Shield have participated in this process.

Fasting serum uric acid (SUA) was measured using a spectrophotometric method in 635 randomized male subjects aged 20 to 70, as part of an epidemiological study carried our among the civil employees of French origin working for the City of Montreal. It was observed that SUA was not age-dependent and that the overall mean value was 6.26 mg./100 ml. On the other hand SUA was studied in 742 males and 260 females, all of whom had had coronarography. A significant difference in SUA between males and females of 1.26 mg./100 ml. was noted. Correlating the SUA levels with the incidence of CHD or the severity of the lesions in the coronary arteries indicated no relationship between CHD and SUA concentrations in men or in women. The results of this study permit the conclusion that SUA is not a discriminator for CHD.

Fasting blood lipids were analyzed shortly before revascularization surgery in an attempt to find a possible correlation between the fate of the aortocoronary saphenous vein graft and lipoproteinemia. The patency of the bypass was evaluated by arteriography at two weeks and at one year following operation. Patients with closed grafts at two weeks had an original mean serum triglyceride concentration of 287 mg./100 ml. Patients with grafts which were widely patent after one year had an original triglyceridemia of 224 mg./100 ml. The severely stenosed group had an intermediate average preoperative value of 224 mg./100 ml. The same conclusion was reached with a group of patients with good vessel(s) distal to the graft(s). Cholesterolemia was about the same in all groups. These results suggest the hypothesis that hypertriglyceridemia plays a significant role in the reduction and/or occlusion of the lumen of the vein graft.