The British Association of Sport and Medicine.

Contributed by R. HAM ILTON THOMPSON, P. D., STERN, M. P., WILLIAMS, P., DUNCAN, K., HASKELL, W. L. and WOOD, P. D. Death during jogging or running. JAMA, Vol. 242, No. 12, Sept. 21 1979, pp. 1265-1267. 15 references. The activity history, medical history and autopsy results were examined in 18 cases of individuals who had died during or immediately after jogging. The coronary heart disease risk factors for the subjects were compared with similar data from other studies on non-runners, joggers and runners. Of the 13 men that died of coronary heart disease, only six had relevant medical histories. In the other cases, myocarditis and heat stroke were diagnosed in two whilst the remaining three were unclear. Six of the coronary heart disease cases had experienced prodromal symptoms but had continued exercising. All but two of the subjects had trained regularly for some months. The risk factors for the coronary heart disease cases did not differ significantly from those for similarly aged, physically active men. The results suggest that long-term endurance training does not guarantee protection against exercise death and that prodromal symptoms should be given more attention by the subject and the doctor. PEARSON, S. B., BANKS, D. C. and PATRICK, J. M. The effect of beta-adrenoceptor blockade on factors affecting exercise tolerance in normal man. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Vol. 8, 1979, pp. 143-148. 25 references. Cardiorespiratory variables and perceived exertion ratings were monitored during standard progressive exercise tests on nine healthy adult men after administration of oral doses of 80 mg propanolol, 100 mg metaprolol or placebo. Each subject performed three tests in random order on a bicycle ergometer. The two drugs had similar effects in reducing heart rate and cardiac output, but there was no change in ventilatory capacity. Over the whole range of workloads, oxygen consumption was reduced on average by 3.5%, carbon dioxide production remaining unchanged. For both drugs perceived exertion during the test was increased by 0.73 units on the Borg scale compared with results from the placebo control. Endurance, measured by either total work done or final work rate achieved, was 18% less on propanolol, 11% on metaprolol. The possible mechanisms for these findings are discussed. WOCH, Z. T., NIINIMAA, V. and SHEPHARD, R. J. Heart rate responses during free figure skating manoeuvres. Canadian Journal of Applied Sport Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 4, 1979, pp. 274-276. 6 references. Five male (average age 24.2 ± 7.1 yrs) and five female (average age 16.4 ± 1.8 yrs) top level figure skaters performed free skating manoeuvres (N = 179) of varying difficulty, prior to the start of the competitive season. Using an ECG telemeter, heart rates were recorded at rest on and off the ice, during the approach to a manoeuvre, during the