Henri Denolin

Comparative response to isometric (static) and dynamic exercise tests in coronary disease

Abstract Forty-six patients with arteriosclerotic heart disease manifested significant electrocardiographic changes (accompanied by angina in 35) during maximal exercise testing. These patients subsequently performed isometric exercise at levels representing various percentages of maximal voluntary contraction. Twenty-two patients also performed combined isometric and submaximal dynamic exercise. The prevalence rate of S-T segment changes during isolated isometric exercise depended on the percent of maximal voluntary contraction applied but was far lower than the rate observed during maximal dynamic exercise. Angina seldom occurred. Manifestations of coronary insufficiency appeared more often during combined submaximal dynamic and isometric exercise than during isolated isometric testing. Aortic pressure was measured in eight cases. Tension-time index and pressure-heart rate product were lower when maximal dynamic exercise was stopped owing to coronary insufficiency than at the end of isolated isometric exercise or combined submaximal dynamic and isometric exercise. However, the latter two tests produced fewer ischemic manifestations. The reasons for these discrepancies are discussed. We conclude that isometric exercise tests are unsuitable for diagnosing coronary insufficiency.

Physical fitness does not reflect physical activity patterns in middle-aged workers.

Questionnaires and a sub-maximal exercise test were used to assess occupational and leisure time physical activity as well as physical fitness in a standardized prospective study in 2,565 Belgian and Slovakian middle-aged healthy workers. Less than 5% of the subjects engaged in strenuous work requiring an energy expenditure above 31.5 kJ.min-1. One-third of the Belgians and 50% of the Slovakians reported no heavy leisure time activity during the preceding 12 months. Physical fitness, defined as the workload at heart rate 150 beats.min-1 (standardized for body weight), was significantly higher in Slovakians as compared to Belgians (1.52 +/- 0.28 W.kg-1 and 1.48 +/- 0.28 W.kg-1; P less than 0.001). Occupational physical activity in Belgians and heavy leisure time activity in Slovakians were independently related to fitness levels. However, each activity score explained less than 1% of the variance of physical fitness. We conclude that in these mainly sedentary, middle-aged subjects, fitness levels are independent from the usual physical activity patterns.

Normal pulmonary pressure-flow relationship during exercise in the sitting position

SummaryPulmonary arterial pressure flow relationships were determined in middle-aged male healthy subjects selected amidst patients intending to an invalidity pension for anthracosilicosis.At rest in the sitting position the mean pulmonary artery pressure was 10.8 ± 4.3 mm Hg for a cardiac output of 5.0 ± 0.9 l/min. The average relationship between increase of pulmonary artery pressure and increase of cardiac output during bicycle exercise was approximately linear. With a cardiac output of 13.3 ±1.7 l/min the mean pulmonary artery pressure reached 22.5 ± 4.6 mm Hg.The total pulmonary resistance (left atrial pressure assumed to be 0) decreased during exercise; the extent of this decrease showed considerable variation from one subject to another.

Influence des changements rapides de position sur les variations de fréquence cardiaque

SummaryFor low energy expenditure work, with a moderate increase of the heart rate, there is a significant decrease of the heart rate in crouching position. This position is accompanied by moderate but significant increase ofn

Postinfarction exercise capacity after lidoflazine treatment or physical training.

dot V_{{text{O}}_{text{2}} }

Etude pratique des postes de travail et critique des résultats

nnThus, in these low expenditure work conditions, linear relationshipn

Mesure du débit cardiaque par le cardio-green

f_{text{h}} dot V_{{text{O}}_{text{2}} }