Abstract: A method for treating patients suffering from left ventricular dysfunction is disclosed. The method involves applying, during diastole, for a time period of about one hour, at least five days each week for at least about six weeks, an incrementally increasing external therapeutic pressure sequentially to the patients' lower extremities from first the calves, then the thighs and last the buttocks. The initial hourly treatments are carried out at a peak diastolic/systolic pressure ratio (D/S Ratio) in the range of about 0.4:1 up to about 0.9:1, depending on the patient's left ventricular ejection fraction. The D/S Ratio is increased slightly during the next set of hourly treatments, the D/S Ratio is again increased slightly during the next following set of hourly treatments, the D/S Ratio is again increased slightly during the next set of hourly treatments, and finally the D/S Ratio is increased slightly and maintained during the remaining set of hourly treatments.

Abstract: A method for treating patients suffering from left ventricular dysfunction is disclosed. The method involves applying, during diastole, for a time period of about one hour, at least five days each week for at least about six weeks, an incrementally increasing external therapeutic pressure sequentially to the patients' lower extremities from first the calves, then the thighs and last the buttocks. The initial hourly treatments are carried out at a peak diastolic/systolic pressure ratio (D/S Ratio) in the range of about 0.4:1 up to about 0.9:1, depending on the patient's left ventricular ejection fraction. The D/S Ratio is increased slightly during the next set of hourly treatments, the D/S Ratio is again increased slightly during the next following set of hourly treatments, the D/S Ratio is again increased slightly during the next set of hourly treatments, and finally the D/S Ratio is increased slightly and maintained during the remaining set of hourly treatments.

Abstract: A method for treating patients suffering from left ventricular dysfunction, exhibited by a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than normal, is disclosed. The method involves applying, during diastole, for a time period of about one hour, about five days each week for at least about seven weeks, an incrementally increasing therapeutic pressure to the patients' lower extremities, from the calves through the thighs and the buttocks. The hourly treatments are carried out at incrementally increasing peak diastolic/systolic pressure ratios (D/S Ratios) in the range of about 0.4:1 up to about 0.6:1 and thereafter at a D/S Ratio in the range of 0.5:1 to 1:1 for each consecutive hourly treatment, with the proviso that the average D/S Ratio over the entire treatment regimen does not exceed about 0.9:1.

Abstract: Circulatory assistance is provided in a non-invasive procedure safely and effectively using a microprocessor of an external counter pulsation device programmed to control the actuation of any or all of a plurality of valves, each of which is mounted on and in fluid communication with one of a plurality of individual inflatable bladders disposed in pockets within cuffs encasing the calves, thighs, buttocks, abdomen and/or chest of a person and an optional valve in fluid communication with the person's airway, in any desired sequence or order, toward the heart or toward the feet, either during diastole or systole, at desired inception times during the cardiac cycle, for selected durations and at chosen pressures, for treating a variety of cardiac, non-cardiac and circulatory conditions.

Abstract: A method for treating patients suffering from left ventricular dysfunction is disclosed. The method involves applying, during diastole, for a time period of about one hour, about five days each week for at least about seven weeks, an incrementally increasing therapeutic pressure to the patients' lower extremities, from the calves through the thighs and the buttocks. The initial hourly treatment is carried out at a peak diastolic/systolic pressure ratio (D/S Ratio) in the range of about 0.4:1 up to about 0.6:1 and thereafter at a D/S Ratio in the range of 0.5:1 to 1:1 for each consecutive hourly treatment, with the proviso that the average D/S Ratio over the entire treatment regimen does not exceed about 0.9:1.

Abstract: Circulatory assistance is provided in a non-invasive procedure safely and effectively using a microprocessor of an external counter pulsation device programmed to control the actuation of any or all of a plurality of valves, each of which is mounted on and in fluid communication with one of a plurality of individual inflatable bladders disposed in pockets within cuffs encasing the calves, thighs, buttocks, abdomen and/or chest of a person and an optional valve in fluid communication with the person's airway, in any desired sequence or order, toward the heart or toward the feet, either during diastole or systole, at desired inception times during the cardiac cycle, for selected durations and at chosen pressures, for treating a variety of cardiac, non-cardiac and circulatory conditions.

Abstract: A method for detecting elevated levels of the middle isoform of .alpha.-2 haptoglobin, .alpha.-2FS haptoglobin in bodily fluids of subjects with Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia as compared with the .alpha.-2FS haptoglobin level in normal subjects. Fibrinogen fragments corresponding to proteins 127 and 128 are also found in elevated levels in such subjects. Elevated levels of specific haptoglobin proteins serve as a diagnostic marker for Alzheimer's disease and Schizophrenia.

Abstract: Circulatory assistance is provided in a non-invasive procedure safely and effectively using a microprocessor of an external counter pulsation device programmed to control the actuation of any or all of a plurality of valves, each of which is mounted on and in fluid communication with one of a plurality of individual inflatable bladders disposed in pockets within cuffs encasing the calves, thighs, buttocks, abdomen and/or chest of a person and an optional valve in fluid communication with the person's airway, in any desired sequence or order, toward the heart or toward the feet, either during diastole or systole, at desired inception times during the cardiac cycle, for selected durations and at chosen pressures, for treating a variety of cardiac, non-cardiac and circulatory conditions.