bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of acute hyperglycemia on left ventricular function in diabetics assessed by echocardiography
Authors: Frati A. C. , Espinoza M. , Ariza C. R. , Díaz M. E. , Rivera C. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractMyocardial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus is reversed by proper correction of metabolic changes. To assess the role of hyperglycemia on cardiac dysfunction, 50 g of dextrose were intravenously infused to 15 subjects with stable type 2 diabetes. Echocardiographic measurements were made at 0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 minutes. In spite of the high levels of blood glucose reached in diabetics, left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and stroke volume did not experience significant changes. Moreover, cardiac output significantly (p<0.01) increased in diabetics secondary to an increase in heart rate. No cardiac changes were noticed in 7 healthy subjects studied in a similar fashion. However, their induced hyperglycemia was not as elevated as in the diabetic patients. These results suggest that acute induced hyperglycemia per se does not appear to impair left ventricular contractility in diabetics at resting conditions.
Inverted U wave in ergonovine‐induced vasospastic angina
Authors: Yano H. , Hiasa Y. , Aihara T. , Nakaya Y. , Mori H. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe relationship between inverted U wave in leads V5 and II and the location of myocardial ischemia was studied in 52 positive patients and in 50 negative patients with ergonovine provocation test. Development of a biphasic or negative U wave, or increased negativity of U wave (inverted U wave) was observed in 15 of 17 patients with spasm in only the right coronary artery (RCA), in 6 of 8 with spasm in only the left anterior descending artery (LAD), in 2 of 8 with spasm in only the left circumflex artery (LCx), and in 23 of 24 with spasm in two or more vessels. Of 52 positive patients in the ergonovine provocation test, 46 (88.5%) had inverted U wave. Of these, 17 (32.7%) had inverted U wave without discernible ST deviation. Of 50 negative patients, 2 had inverted U wave. Inverted U wave in lead V5 was frequently seen in patients with spasm of LAD, but this finding was not uncommon in spasm of RCA or LCx. On the other hand, inverted U wave in lead II was frequently seen in spasm of RCA and LCx, but not in spasm of LAD. These findings suggest that inverted U wave in lead V5 is not specific for myocardial ischemia due to spasm of LAD and that inverted U wave in lead II is specific for spasm of RCA and LCx.
Right ventricular thrombus and pulmonary emboli in a patient with emphysema: An echocardiographic and doppler documentation
Authors: Gur H. , Levo Y. , Keren G. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractPulmonary hypertension is a known complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A worsening dyspnea in a patient with COPD is usually a sequela of the pulmonary disease. However, it may be due to pulmonary embolism, a complication which is difficult to diagnose in such patients. We present a patient with COPD in whom two‐dimensional and Doppler echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary emboli by documenting right ventricular thrombus and pulmonary hypertension. This case report emphasizes the usefulness of these noninvasive cardiac imaging techniques in the detection and evaluation of pulmonary embolism in patients with COPD.
Arrhythmogenic properties of disordered breathing during sleep in patients with cardiovascular disorders
Authors: Otsuka K. , Sadakane N. , Ozawa T. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe purpose of this study was twofold: to establish an ECG respiration monitoring system, and to evaluate the clinical usefulness of this system. Our purpose was to determine how many patients with cardiovascular disorders may have unrecognized sleep apnea and whether such apneic episodes are an important cause of cardiac arrhythmias. The study group included 81 patients, age range 40–95 years, and 13 healthy males, age range 52–72 years. The 24‐h ECG respiration recordings were obtained with the two‐channel Holter recorder. Airflow at the nose using a nasal thermister or chest wall movement by impedance pneumography was recorded as respiration record on the second channel. Sleep apnea was observed 69% and 77–100% in the control subjects and patients with cardiovascular disorders, respectively. Episodes of sleep apnea were most frequent in the patients with old myocardial infarction. Grading of apneas was defined according to the length of apnea. Short duration apneas were observed only in the control subjects, but longer apneic episodes were observed in patients with cardiovascular disorders. Bradyarrhythmias observed were to be relative to apneic episodes longer than 20 s, while ventricular arrhythmias were observed only in the patients with old myocardial infarction, coincident with apneas lasting longer than 40 s. Atrioventricular conduction disturbances were also observed to be related to the occurrence of sleep apnea. These results suggest that 24‐h ECG respiration monitoring is useful not only for the observation of sleep apneic episodes, but also in clarifying the relationship between cardiac arrhythmias and apneic episodes.
Effects of unloading and positive inotropic interventions on left ventricular function in asymptomatic patients with chronic severe aortic insufficiency
Authors: Scognamiglio R. , Fasoli G. , Visintin L. , Dalla‐Volta S. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe effect of an unloading (nifedipine, 20 mg sublingually) and of a combined unloading and positive inotropic intervention (nifedipine plus digoxin, 0.5 mg intravenously) on left ventricular performance was assessed in 48 patients with chronic severe aortic insufficiency. The left ventricular pump function‐myocardial contractility relation (ejection fraction, EF vs. peak arterial pressure to end‐systolic volume ratio, PAP/ESV), and the pump function‐afterload relation (EF vs. mean systolic wall stress, MWS) were constructed by means of quantitative M‐mode and two‐dimensional echocardiography. In patients with normal control pump function (n=14), nifedipine markedly decreased MWS, moving the patients to a new, more advantageous EF‐MWS relation. In the 34 patients with abnormal pump function, the myocardial contractility level was the mean factor conditioning the response to pharmacological intervention. Patients with a value of PAP/ESV greater than 2.5 (n=22) had normalization of EF after nifedipine and were upgraded to a more advantageous outlook for left ventricular mechanics EF‐MWS and EF‐PAP/ESV relations. Of the 12 patients without normalization of EF after nifedipine, only the 4 patients with PAP/ESV greater than 2 had normalization of pump function indices after combined administration of nifedipine and digoxin.
Correlation between left ventricular wall thickness and qrs voltages in Nigerians
Authors: Odia O. J. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractECG voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy are based on the assumption that a thicker ventricle generates higher QRS voltages. In order to test this assertion, a study of the correlation between echocardiographically determined left ventricular wall thickness and ECG QRS voltages was carried out in 89 subjects, consisting of 35 hypertensives, 20 patients with mitral/aortic valve incompetence, and 34 controls. The results show that there was no statistically significant correlation between QRS voltages and left ventricular wall thickness. This shows that a thicker ventricle does not necessarily generate higher QRS voltages on the electrocardiogram. This may explain the already documented less than satisfactory degree of accuracy of the various ECG voltage criteria for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy.
“Torsades de pointes” and atrioventricular block
Authors: Moroe K. , Saku K. , Tashiro N. , Hiroki T. , Arakawa K. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn order to elucidate the trigger factor of the production of torsades de pointes (TdP), electrophysiological study was conducted in 15 patients with atrioventricular (AV) block; 6 with TdP (TdP group) and 9 without TdP (control group). In the TdP group, all had an episode of syncope and frequent ventricular premature beats (VPBs) on routine ECG, while four (44%) had syncope and three (33%) had VPBs in the control group. Aging, QRS width, ventricular cycle length, QT interval, and block site from His bundle electrogram were similar in both groups, however the QTc interval was significantly (p<0.01) longer in the TdP group than in the control group (580±112 vs. 459±37, respectively). Furthermore, four patients (67%) in the TdP group showed advanced AV block in which a slow ventricular rate and an irregular rhythm were characteristic, whereas only one control (11%) showed advanced AV block and all other control patients (89%) had complete AV block. These data indicate that patients with advanced atrioventricular block associated with prolonged QTc interval and frequent ventricular premature beats might induce torsades de pointes.
Hemodynamic effects of metoprolol and nifedipine in angina pectoris measured by isotope technique
Authors: Boström P.‐Å. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn order to evaluate the therapeutic effects of metoprolol, nifedipine, and their combination, 11 patients with secondary angina pectoris and with thallium tomographic findings indicating coronary artery disease were studied before and after these three treatment regimes in a single‐blind cross‐over study. The therapeutic effect was measured by standardized working test and isotope angiocardiography, which enabled evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume, and phase analysis of left ventricular contraction. Treatment with metoprolol and combination therapy increased work performance. Ejection fraction did not differentiate the treatment regimes, whereas stroke volume was significantly lower at work and heart rate higher at rest and at work during nifedipine treatment compared to either metoprolol or combination treatment (p<0.05). Cardiac output was significantly reduced during nifedipine and metoprolol treatment during work (p<0.05). Phase improved after all therapeutic regimes, but reached significance only during the metoprolol treatment period at rest (p<0.05).
Coronary arterial embolism due to valvular debris after percutaneous valvuloplasty of calcific mitral stenosis
Authors: Wiegand V. , Tebbe U. , Helmchen U. , Kreuzer H. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractA 74‐year‐old woman with refractory congestive heart failure due to long‐standing calcific mitral stenosis who refused surgical intervention was treated with percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. After an uneventful procedure, hemodynamic results were satisfactory with an increase in the mitral valve area from 0.4 to 1.1 cm2. Five hours after the procedure, the patient had a bout of vomiting followed by pulmonary aspiration. Electrocardiography, and in the further course, creatine kinase MB elevation, showed anterior myocardial infarction. Necropsy disclosed embolic material in the mid left anterior descending artery which unequivocally consisted of valvular material. This case demonstrates embolism of valvular debris as a life‐threatening, procedure‐related complication of percutaneous valvuloplasty of calcific mitral stenosis.
Multiform accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR) in a child with acute myocarditis
Authors: Nakagawa M. , Hamaoka K. , Okano S. , Shiraishi I. , Sawada T. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractAcute myocarditis is complicated by various types of conducting disturbances and heart failure. We describe the case of a school boy with acute myocarditis, who developed various types of conduction disturbances, including multiform accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR), during convalescence from severe pump failure. Multiform AIVR has been reported mostly in adults but, to the best of our knowledge, not in children. The arrhythmia noted in our patient persisted for only 2 days and disappeared with recovery.
Effect of ethnicity and hypertension on atrial conduction: Evaluation with high‐resolution p‐wave signal averaging
Authors: Madu Ernest C. , Baugh Dainia S. , David GBADEBO T. , Dhala Anwer , Cardoso Sergio 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackground: Measurements by P‐wave signal‐averaged electrocardiogram (P‐SAECG) of P‐wave duration and P‐wave voltage integral are higher in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) than in those with sinus rhythm. Hypertension is perhaps the most common cardiovascular antecedent cause of AF, and particularly a disproportionate cause of morbidity and mortality among blacks. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of hypertension and ethnicity on P‐SAECG parameters in patients without AF.Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that P‐SAECG parameters can identify hypertensives, and are disproportionately higher in hypertensive blacks.Methods: in all, 234 normotensives and 84 hypertensives underwent P‐SAECG analysis. in an ancillary study group of 34 hypertensive black men, the relationship between severity of hypertension and measured parameters of P‐SAECG was evaluated.Results: Mean filtered P‐wave duration and total P‐wave voltage integral for normotensives of both ethnic groups were similar. Hypertensive blacks had greater increase in P‐wave duration (138 ± 16 vs. 132 ± 12 ms; p< 0.01, N 42:42) and total P‐wave voltage integral (922 ± 285 vs. 764 ± 198 μV‐ms; p < 0.001) than white hypertensives. Filtered P‐wave duration and total P‐wave voltage integral increased with severity of hypertension.Conclusions: Patients at very early stages of hypertension have demonstrable evidence of prolonged atrial conduction by P‐SAECG and, thus, cardiac electrical remodeling. P‐wave duration and total P‐wave voltage integral increase with severity of hypertension. Hypertensive blacks manifest a greater increase in P‐SAECG parameters than whites. This may portend an increased cardiovascular risk for black patients with hypertension.
Prognostic significance of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors A, B, C, and D and their receptors R1, R2, and R3 in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer
Authors: Carrillo de Santa Pau Enrique , Arias Fernando Carrillo , Caso Peláez Enrique , Muñoz Molina Gemma María , Sánchez Hernández Ignacio , Muguruza Trueba Ignacio , Moreno Balsalobre Ramón , Sacristán López Silvia , Gómez Pinillos Alejandro , del Val Toledo Lobo María 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND:Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors (VEGFRs) in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its correlation with the prognosis for patients with lung cancer.METHODS:The expression status of VEGFs and VEGFRs was examined in 48 nonconsecutive specimens of primary lung cancer by immunohistochemistry. Correlations between the expression of VEGFs and VEGFRs and clinicopathologic parameters were analyzed.RESULTS:Nineteen of 48 samples (39.6%) were moderately/highly immunoreactive for VEGF‐A, 6 samples (12.5%) were reactive for VEGF‐B, 14 samples (29.2%) were reactive for VEGF‐C, 11 samples (22.9%) were reactive for VEGF‐D, 20 samples (41.7%) were reactive for VEGFR1, 26 samples (54.2%) were reactive for VEGFR2, 20 samples (41.7%) were reactive for VEGFR3, and 19 samples (39.6%) were reactive for nuclear expression of VEGFR3. Patients with moderate/high VEGF‐C, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 expression had worse survival, whereas patients with moderate/high VEGF‐D and nuclear VEGFR3 expression had better survival. After adjusting according to tumor stage, VEGF‐B and VEGF‐D expression had a significant correlation with worse survival in patients with stage I and II disease. Patients with stage III and IV disease who had VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 expression had worse survival, whereas the expression of VEGF‐D was correlated significantly with better survival. Finally, stage, VEGF‐D expression, and VEGFR1 expression were significantly independent prognostic predictors.CONCLUSIONS:The results of the current study indicated that the over‐expression of VEGFs and VEGFRs plays an important role in the survival of patients with NSCLC. The inclusion of angiogenic factors in the standard pathologic study of lung cancer may improve the clinical evaluation of patients with NSCLC. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Assessing the color of red wine like a taster's eye
Authors: Hernández Begoña , Sáenz Carlos , de la Hoz Javier Fernández , Alberdi Coro , Alfonso Santiago , Diñeiro José M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractColor of 33 commercial red wines and five‐color reference wines was measured in the same conditions in which visual color assessment is done by wine tasters. Measurements were performed in the two distinctive regions, center and rim, which are the regions assessed by wine tasters when the wine sampler is tilted. Commercial wines were classified into five color categories using the color specifications in their taste cards. The five color categories describe the spread of red hues found in red wines from the violet to brown nuances. The performance of CIELAB color coordinates in terms of their ability to reproduce the observed classification has been established using discriminant analysis. The CIELAB hue angle, hab, measured in the rim, where wine thickness is of the order of few millimeters, gives the best results classifying correctly 71.1% of the samples. Classification results are not significantly improved when additional color coordinates are considered. Moreover, ΔE* color differences with color reference wines do not provide good classification results. The analysis of reference and commercial wines supports the fact that hue is the main factor in the classification done by wine tasters. This is reinforced by the linear correlation found between hab in the rim and the wine age (R2 = 0.795) in accordance with the fact that wines change their hues from violet to brown tints with ageing. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 34, 153–162, 2009
Synthesis of Dimethyl Carbonate by Transesterification of Ethylene Carbonate over Activated Dawsonites
Authors: Stoica Georgiana , Abelló Sònia , Pérez‐Ramírez Javier 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBasic instinct: Basic aluminates derived from the activation of Na‐ and K‐dawsonites are highly active and reusable catalysts for the transesterification of ethylene carbonate and methanol to dimethyl carbonate. The product is obtained in about 65 % yield in 6 h even when the reaction is scaled up 100‐fold to a 2 L reactor.magnified image
Monocytes and T lymphocytes contribute to a predominance of interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Mellor‐Pita Susana , Citores Maria J. , Castejon Raquel , Yebra‐Bango Miguel , Tutor‐Ureta Pablo , Rosado Silvia , Andreu Jose L. , Vargas Juan A. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the contribution of T lymphocytes and monocytes to cytokine production in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsForty‐five SLE patients and 19 healthy volunteers were included. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin (IL)‐6, and IL10 were quantified by ELISA. The cytokine production capacities of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed by culturing in vitro with PMA+Ionomycin or LPS. The intracellular cytokine expression was measured by flow cytometry in T lymphocytes and monocytes, respectively. The influence of the disease activity (measured as the SLE‐disease activity index; SLEDAI) and the treatment the patients were receiving was evaluated.ResultsSerum IL10, IL6, and TNFα levels were increased in patients (P ≤ 0.01), and a higher spontaneous (without stimuli) intracellular expression of IL10 in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes (P < 0.05) and of IL6 in monocytes (P = 0.01) were found. After stimulation, patients presented a higher percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes producing IL4 and IL10 (P ≤ 0.01), and of monocytes producing IL6 (P = 0.04) and IL10 (P = 0.008). The SLEDAI score was positively correlated with the percentage of CD4+IL10+ and CD8+IL10+ T lymphocytes (P < 0.01), and inversely correlated with CD8+TNFα+ (P= 0.02), CD4+IFNγ+ (P = 0.04) and CD8+ IFNγ+ (P = 0.002) T lymphocytes. Patients receiving high dose prednisone produced higher IL10, but they also were the patients with a more active disease.ConclusionMonocytes and T lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+) contribute to an overproduction of IL6 and IL10 in SLE; this correlates with the disease activity but is independent of the treatment the patients are receiving. © 2009 Clinical Cytometry Society
B‐cell co‐receptor CD72 is expressed on NK cells and inhibits IFN‐γ production but not cytotoxicity
Authors: Alcón Valeria L. , Luther Claudia , Balce Dale , Takei Fumio 
Published: February 2009

AbstractNK cells have two main functions, namely cell‐mediated cytotoxicity and production of cytokines. Multiple inhibitory receptors that regulate NK‐cell cytotoxicity have been characterized whereas little is known about receptors regulating cytokine production. Here we report that CD72, which is considered to be an important co‐receptor regulating B‐cell activation, is also expressed on mouse NK cells. NK cells expressing high levels of CD72, upon stimulation with IL‐12 and IL‐18 or target cells, produce significantly less IFN‐γ than those expressing low levels of CD72, whereas both subsets are equally cytotoxic. Ectopic expression of CD72 in the murine NK‐cell line KY2 inhibits cytokine‐induced IFN‐γ production, and the inhibitory effect is diminished by mutations in the inhibitory motifs in the intracellular domain or replacement of the extracellular domain of CD72. Thus, CD72 is an inhibitory receptor on NK cells regulating cytokine production.
Enhancing immune responses by targeting antigen to DC
Authors: Caminschi Irina , Lahoud Mireille H. , Shortman Ken 
Published: February 2009

AbstractmAb that recognise various cell surface receptors have been used to deliver antigen to DC and thereby elicit immune responses. The encouraging data obtained in mouse models suggests that this immunisation strategy is efficient and could lead to clinical trials. We discuss a number of issues pertinent to this vaccination approach. These include which molecules are the best targets for delivering antigen to DC, which DC subtypes should be targeted, the types of immune responses to be generated and whether additional adjuvants are required. Finally, we discuss some progress towards targeting antigen to human DC.
A novel molecular interaction for the adhesion of follicular CD4 T cells to follicular DC
Authors: Boles Kent S. , Vermi William , Facchetti Fabio , Fuchs Anja , Wilson Timothy J. , Diacovo Thomas G. , Cella Marina , Colonna Marco 
Published: February 2009

AbstractNectins and Nectin‐like molecules (Necl) play a critical role in cell polarity within epithelia and in the nervous and reproductive systems. Recently, immune receptors specific for Nectins/Necl have been described. Since the expression and distribution of Nectins/Necl is often subverted during tumorigenesis, it has been suggested that the immune system may use these receptors to recognize and eliminate tumors. Here we describe a novel immunoreceptor, Washington University Cell Adhesion Molecule, which is expressed on human follicular B helper T cells (TFH) and binds a Nectin/Necl family member, the poliovirus receptor (PVR), under both static and flow conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PVR is abundantly expressed by follicular DC (FDC) within the germinal center. These results reveal a novel molecular interaction that mediates adhesion of TFH to FDC and provide the first evidence that immune receptors for Nectins/Necl may be involved the generation of T cell‐dependent antibody responses.