Celiprolol, a new highly cardioselective beta blocker, also has direct vasodilating properties. Since the noninvasive echo Doppler technique applied to the forearm circulation (brachial artery) allows the differentiation of arteriolar vasodilation (revealed by the increasing arterial blood flow velocity) from vasodilation of large arteries (shown by an increase in arterial diameter), it seems important to study the site of celiprolol's vasodilating effect. Thirty-five hypertensive patients, (21 male, 14 female; mean age, 59 +/- 11, range 42-79 years) were treated with increasing doses of celiprolol, 200 and 400 mg, over 15 days. The duplex echo Doppler technique (Aloka 7.5 M Hz probe) was used before and during each celiprolol dose period. Statistical analysis was performed by Student's paired t test. It was observed that celiprolol significantly increases the brachial artery diameter in a dose-dependent manner, and also increases the blood flow velocity (not being direct dose-related). Since the increase in diameter was clear with a higher dose, a dose-dependent increase in blood volume, a decrease in peripheral resistance, and an increase in compliance followed. Since the higher dose of celiprolol did not further reduce blood pressure (BP) in comparison to the lower dose, and a dose-dependent increase in arterial diameter and compliance occurred and a vasodilating effect of celiprolol on arterial wall ensued that was not related to BP. In conclusion, in the doses used, celiprolol dilates both arterioles and large arteries, but the mechanism of action needs to be clarified.

A long-term training program was performed on 30 chronic hypertensive female patients, stages I-II, WHO criteria. The effect on blood pressure (BP) and other physiological parameters, as exercise BP, heart rate, physical working capacity, VO_2max, double product, were studied. Four phases were outlined throughout the trial: (1)3 months training at 70% of the maximal heart rate; (2) 3 months without training; (3) 1 year training at the same level as phase I, and (4) 12 or more months with increasing intensity training over 70 % of the maximal heart rate. Serial ergometric work tests were performed every 3 months.We observed a close relationship between physical working capacity and VO_2max increases with training intensity. Resting BP fell significantly with training (182/114-161/97 mm Hg; p < 0.001) but increased again when training was discontinued (161/97-179/115 mm Hg; p < 0.001). BP persisted low throughout the trial, but there was a tendency to a further but not significant decrease when training intensity was raised over 70% of the maximal heart rate. Both the submaximal and maximal exercise BP showed similar changes to those found in the resting BP throughout the trial. The submaximal heart rate and the double product (BP X heart rate) also fell significantly with training but with maximal values not changing significantly throughout the whole follow-up period.

Since the effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on morbidity and mortality due to myocardial infarction on a long-term basis appears controversial, a controlled follow-up survey was conducted from 1973 to 1981 in 193 patients suffering a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The admission criteria included absence of contraindications to CR during the acute phase of AMI. Patients were divided into two matched groups: 93 patients followed a CR program, exercising 30 min three times a week (x 42; range 6–108 months) and the remaining 100 patients served as controls. Age, sex, location and extension of the myocardial damage, frequency of coronary risk factors and complications during the acute phase were comparable. At 9 years, there were 24 cardiac deaths (15 AMI, 7 sudden deaths and 2 heart failures) among the controls and 13 deaths in the CR group (7 AMI, 4 sudden deaths, 2 heart failures), mortality rates being 5.2 and 2.9% per year (p < 0.1 > 0.05; NS), respectively. There were 23 recurrent AMI in the control versus 16 in the CR patients, the corresponding rates being 4.9 and 3.6% per year, respectively (NS). Nor were any differences observed in the incidence of myocardial ischemia, severe arrhythmias or cerebrovascular strokes between both groups, but the appearance of angina was significantly lower in the CR group compared with the controls (5.1 and 10.2% per year, respectively, p < 0.005). It is concluded that CR on a long-term basis seems to improve the mortality rate of AMI and to reduce the frequency of anginal pain.

Se observa la tematización mediática de proyectos Energéticos Renovables No Convencionales [ERNC] en términos de la relevancia y tratamiento otorgados a distintas fuentes y estructuras temáticas emergentes. Metodología. Análisis de contenido con enfoque mixto sobre una muestra de 100 artículos de prensa digital chilena relacionados con ERNC, usando el marco analítico de la Teoría de Sistemas Sociales de Niklas Luhmann. Resultados y Discusión. La primacía de fuentes solares y eólicas se acompaña a una reducida claridad terminológica, que sin embargo permite construir estructuras temáticas distintas en relación con sistemas sociales como economía, ciencia, política y derecho. Las referencias medioambientales son más escasas y menos profundas, privilegiando sus aspectos evocativos y con máxima capacidad de enlace. Conclusiones. En lugar que observar a los medios como mera transmisión de racionalidades externas a ellos debería prestarse atención a su capacidad de crear realidad y representar el entorno social y medioambiental.

Introduction. We observe how mass media thematise Non-Conventional Renewable Energy projects [NCRE] in terms of relevance and treatment assigned to distinct sources and emerging thematic structures. Methodology. Mixed-approach content analysis of a sample of 100 Chilean digital press articles relating to NCRE, using the analytical framework of Niklas Luhmann's Social Systems Theory. Results and Discussion. The predominance of solar and wind sources goes hand in hand with a low terminological clarity, which however allows mass media to build distinct thematic structures around social systems such as economy, science, politics and law. Environmental references are less frequent and shallower, privileging its evocative aspects with maximum linkage capacity. Conclusions. Instead than observing mass media as mere transmitters of rationalities external to them, more attention should be given to their ability to create realities and representing the (human and ecological) environment.