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Carnations, Peaches and Atomic Radiation
DE SOYZA, MURPHY documented embolic episodes ( seven patients ) , abnormal lung scans at follow-up (four patients), and persisting predisposing factors to thromboembolism3 at follow-up (six patients). Included under the latter were persisting evidence of chronic thrombophlebitis in six patients, the comparatively older age group considered in this study (six out of the 13 patients being over 60 years of a g e ) , paraparesis secondary to lumbar disc prolapse in one patient, and above-knee amputation with a prosthetic device in one patient. It can therefore be concluded that the persisting pulmonary hypertension noted in the majority of patients in this study was the result of recurrent pulmonary emboli. These results emphasize the importance of maintaining patients with documented pulmonary emboli and persisting predisposing factors to thromboembolism on a longer period of initial anticoagulant therapy ranging from three to six month^.^.^ Any subsequent documentation of pulmonary embolism in such patients would constitute an indication for longterm anticoagulation when such therapy is feasible. In those patients who cannot be medically managed, prophylactic surgical venous interruptive proceduresa" need to be given serious consideration.
1 Sasahara AA, Sidd JJ, Tremblay G, et al: Cardiopulmonary consequences of acute pulmonary embolic disease. Progr Cardiovasc Dis 9:259-274, 1966 2 Murphy ML, Bulloch RT: Factors influencing the restoration of blood flow following pulmonary embolization as determined by angiography and scanning. Circulation 38:1116-1126, 1968 3 Soloff LA, Rodman T: Acute pulmonary embolism. Am Heart J 74:710-724, 1967 4 Hickam JB, Cargill WH: Effect of exercise on cardiac output and pulmonary arterial preGsure in normal persons and in patients with cardiovascular disease and pulmonary emphysema. J Clin Invest 27: 10-23, 1948 5 Slonim NB, Ravin A, Balchum OJ, et al: The effect of mild exercise in the supine position on the pulmonary arterial pressure of five normal human subjects. J Clin Invest 33: 1022-1030, 1954 6 Holmgren A, Jonsson B, Sjortrand T: Circulatory data in normal subjects at rest and during exercise in recumbent position with special reference to the stroke volume at different work intensities. Acta Physiol Scand 49:343-363, 1960
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: We wish to thank Miss Joyce Sherwood, B.S., M.T. (ASCP), Franklin Watson, William Lynch, Fred Jungkind, Sharon Snow, and Joe Womble for their technical assistance, and Mrs. Diane Butler and Susan Buckmaster for their secretarial assistance.
7 Dexter L, Whittenberger JL, Haynes FW,et al: Effects of exercise on circulatory dynamics of normal individuals. J Appl Physiol 3:439-453, 1951 8 Thomas DP: Treatment of pulmonary embolic disea3e: A critical review of some aspects of current therapy. N Engl J Med 273:885-892, 1965 9 Spencer FC, Quattlebaum JK, Quattlebaum Jr JK, et al: Plication of inferior vena cava for pulmonary embolism: Report of 20 cases. Ann Surg 155:827-837, 1962 10 Crane C: Femoral vs. caval interniption for venous thromboembolism. N Engl J Med 270:819-822, 1964 11 Mobin-Uddin K, McLean R, Balooki H, et al: Caval interruption for prevention of pulmonary embolism. Arch Surg 99:711-715, 1969
Editorial Expression
be treated diligently.
This study documents a well known fact: namely, that repetitive pulmonary emboli may lead to pulmonary hypertension. In the presence of a normal heart, the cause of the thromboembolism must be found. In the presence of heart disease, at the onset of an acute event such as a tachyarrhythmia or pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism must be thought of as an inciting factor, and if found, must
The authors speak lightly of longterm anticoagulation for three to six months. The prime treatment is correction of the cause of the thromboembolism, and the use of the anticoagulants for as long as the cause persists. In addition to the anticoagulant therapy, support hose and surgical correction are useful therapeutic measures.
George C. Grifith, M.D., F.C.C.P. La Canada, California
Carnations, Peaches and Atomic Radiation One of the most important properties of atomic radiation is its ability to induce mutations. When ionizing radiation is beamed through tissue, in traversing the chromosome some of the energy is absorbed and this may result in structural change in the molecules of which the chromosomes and genes are constituted. In the course of some radiation experiments with the Sim group of carnations when plants were irradiated with an appropriate dose of x-rays or gamma rays, some 60 percent of the irradiated branches produced red flowers rather than the usual whites. In a similar fashion, irradiated Pink Sim plants also produced large numbers of red-flowering branches. In horticultural plants a number of new and
interesting types have been produced. At Rutgers University, L F Hough and his colleagues have been studying the effects of radiation on peach trees. Sports for both earlier and later ripening fruit have been found as single branches, or parts of branches, on irradiated trees of the varieties Fairhaven and Elberta. Some of the peach mutations have also resulted in firmer fruit flesh and changes in fruit texture. Shapiro S, in Kister R (ed) : The World of Plants (vol3), Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Garden City, New York, Doubleday, 1965
CHEST, VOL. 62, NO. 6, DECEMBER, 1972
1 Sasahara AA, Sidd JJ, Tremblay G, et al: Cardiopulmonary consequences of acute pulmonary embolic disease. Progr Cardiovasc Dis 9:259-274, 1966 2 Murphy ML, Bulloch RT: Factors influencing the restoration of blood flow following pulmonary embolization as determined by angiography and scanning. Circulation 38:1116-1126, 1968 3 Soloff LA, Rodman T: Acute pulmonary embolism. Am Heart J 74:710-724, 1967 4 Hickam JB, Cargill WH: Effect of exercise on cardiac output and pulmonary arterial preGsure in normal persons and in patients with cardiovascular disease and pulmonary emphysema. J Clin Invest 27: 10-23, 1948 5 Slonim NB, Ravin A, Balchum OJ, et al: The effect of mild exercise in the supine position on the pulmonary arterial pressure of five normal human subjects. J Clin Invest 33: 1022-1030, 1954 6 Holmgren A, Jonsson B, Sjortrand T: Circulatory data in normal subjects at rest and during exercise in recumbent position with special reference to the stroke volume at different work intensities. Acta Physiol Scand 49:343-363, 1960
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: We wish to thank Miss Joyce Sherwood, B.S., M.T. (ASCP), Franklin Watson, William Lynch, Fred Jungkind, Sharon Snow, and Joe Womble for their technical assistance, and Mrs. Diane Butler and Susan Buckmaster for their secretarial assistance.
7 Dexter L, Whittenberger JL, Haynes FW,et al: Effects of exercise on circulatory dynamics of normal individuals. J Appl Physiol 3:439-453, 1951 8 Thomas DP: Treatment of pulmonary embolic disea3e: A critical review of some aspects of current therapy. N Engl J Med 273:885-892, 1965 9 Spencer FC, Quattlebaum JK, Quattlebaum Jr JK, et al: Plication of inferior vena cava for pulmonary embolism: Report of 20 cases. Ann Surg 155:827-837, 1962 10 Crane C: Femoral vs. caval interniption for venous thromboembolism. N Engl J Med 270:819-822, 1964 11 Mobin-Uddin K, McLean R, Balooki H, et al: Caval interruption for prevention of pulmonary embolism. Arch Surg 99:711-715, 1969
Editorial Expression
be treated diligently.
This study documents a well known fact: namely, that repetitive pulmonary emboli may lead to pulmonary hypertension. In the presence of a normal heart, the cause of the thromboembolism must be found. In the presence of heart disease, at the onset of an acute event such as a tachyarrhythmia or pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism must be thought of as an inciting factor, and if found, must
The authors speak lightly of longterm anticoagulation for three to six months. The prime treatment is correction of the cause of the thromboembolism, and the use of the anticoagulants for as long as the cause persists. In addition to the anticoagulant therapy, support hose and surgical correction are useful therapeutic measures.
George C. Grifith, M.D., F.C.C.P. La Canada, California
Carnations, Peaches and Atomic Radiation One of the most important properties of atomic radiation is its ability to induce mutations. When ionizing radiation is beamed through tissue, in traversing the chromosome some of the energy is absorbed and this may result in structural change in the molecules of which the chromosomes and genes are constituted. In the course of some radiation experiments with the Sim group of carnations when plants were irradiated with an appropriate dose of x-rays or gamma rays, some 60 percent of the irradiated branches produced red flowers rather than the usual whites. In a similar fashion, irradiated Pink Sim plants also produced large numbers of red-flowering branches. In horticultural plants a number of new and
interesting types have been produced. At Rutgers University, L F Hough and his colleagues have been studying the effects of radiation on peach trees. Sports for both earlier and later ripening fruit have been found as single branches, or parts of branches, on irradiated trees of the varieties Fairhaven and Elberta. Some of the peach mutations have also resulted in firmer fruit flesh and changes in fruit texture. Shapiro S, in Kister R (ed) : The World of Plants (vol3), Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Garden City, New York, Doubleday, 1965
CHEST, VOL. 62, NO. 6, DECEMBER, 1972