bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
S-Mg Does Not Change Inversely to S-FFA During Acute Stress Situations
Authors: Hansen Ole , Johansson Bengt W. 
Published: July 2008

The apparently divergent changes in serum magnesium (S-Mg) and serum free fatty acids (S-FFA) in stress situations associated with ele vated levels of circulating adrenaline were studied experimentally in 12 healthy volunteers, who were each given three adrenaline infusions (0.05 μg/kg bw/min over one hundred twenty minutes). Before the adrena line infusions the volunteers were treated for three days with either a non-selective beta-blocking agent (propranolol) or a beta-1-selective agent (atenolol) or with placebo. Six of the volunteers underwent a fourth adrenaline infusion after pretreatment with a beta-2-selective beta-blocking agent (ICI 118551). S- Mg and S-FFA were determined every fifteen minutes. After pretreatment with placebo, adrenaline infusion caused an increase in S-FFA from 0.22 ± 0.20 mmol/L (mean ± SD) to max 0.59 ± 0.39 mmol/L after thirty minutes of adrenaline infusion (p < 0.001). At one hundred twenty minutes S-FFA had decreased to 0.35 ± 0.26 mmol/L. Thirty minutes after cessation of the adrenaline infusion, S-FFA had returned to the same level as before the infusion. S-Mg before the adrenaline infusion was 0.83 ± 0.05 mmol/L, rose to 0.85 ± 0.05 at fifteen minutes, and then decreased to 0.78 ± 0.05 at one hundred thirty- five minutes (p < 0.05). Pretreat ment with atenolol did not change this pattern, although the changes in S-FFA and S-Mg were of a smaller magnitude but still statistically sig nificant. No statistically significant changes in S-FFA or S-Mg were seen after pretreatment with either pro pranolol or ICI 118551. The results show that the adrena line-induced changes in S-FFA and S-Mg disappear after blockade of the beta-2-adrenoceptor. The changes in S-FFA were not opposite to the changes in S-Mg, and although the changes in S-Mg could be explained in part by a binding of Mg to FFA in serum, there are probably other mechanisms at work too, such as a transport from the extracellular to the intracellular compartment.
Precordial ECG Mapping in Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) After Intravenous Infusion of Streptokinase (s)
Authors: Babalis Dimitris C. , Boutos Georges N. , Iliodromitis Eystathios K. , Trovas Alexandros K. , Vorides Eytychios M. 
Published: July 2008

Repeated precordial ECG map ping (42 leads) and CK-MB serum measurements were done in 40 pa tients with anterior and/or antero lateral acute myocardial infarction. Twenty patients serving as controls, were treated with routine anticoagu lant therapy. In 20 patients (the s group), randomly selected, a short- term IV infusion of 1,500,000 IU streptokinase was administered and followed by the same anticoagulant treatment as in controls. Ten subjects from each group underwent coronary arteriography one month later. From the analysis of ECG map ping the number of leads (N) and the sum of measurements (Σ) for each parameter were calculated. Before treatment there were no significant differences for all measured parame ters between the two groups of pa tients. Seven days later, ST elevations were statistically different for NST and ΣST with lower values for the s group. Higher values for NR and ΣR were also noted in this group. No sta tistically significant difference was found for NQ and ΣQ. CK-MB curve showed an earlier peak in the s group than in the control group. Five pa tients from the s group showed a pa tency of the infarct-related vessel. In conclusion, the results of this study show that patients receiving s have a significant benefit with ECG improvement. On the other hand, the CK-MB curve indicates an eventual recanalization to a certain degree in the obstructed coronary artery, which is the final goal.
Beneficial Effects of Intermittent Suction and Pressure Treatment in Intermittent Claudication
Authors: Mehlsen Jesper , Himmelstrup Holger , Himmelstrup Bodil , Winther Kaj , Trap-Jensen Jens 
Published: July 2008

The present study reports on the effects of a physical treatment modality in patients with intermittent claudication. During this treatment a major part of the skin surface is subjected to intermittent suction and pressure. In a previous, preliminary study the authors found a beneficial effect of this treatment in intermittent claudication. The study included 34 patients with moderate, stable intermittent claudication. Twenty-two patients participated in a double-blinded, randomized trial comparing the effects of 25 treatments to 25 placebo applications given over a period of two months. Twelve patients participated in an open trial investigating the possible effects of the treatment on platelet aggregation and fibrinolysis. Pain-free and maximal walking distances were measured on a treadmill, and systolic blood pressure was measured on the upper limb, the ankle, and the first toe bilaterally. The threshold for adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation was tested, and the fibrinolytic activity was estimated from the euglobulin clot lysis time. Active treatment resulted in significant improvements in pain-free and maximal walking distances, whereas no changes could be found during placebo administration. The treatment caused significant increments in the ADP thresholds for platelet aggregation, while the effects on fibrinolysis were uncertain. It is concluded that intermittent suction and pressure treatment offers a new approach for conservative treatment of intermittent claudication.
Noninvasive Ultrasonic Biopsy: Evaluation of Early Arteriosclerotic Lesions Progression in Normal Asymptomatic, Hyperlipidemic, and Diabetic Subjects
Authors: Belcaro G. , Laurora G. , Cesarone M.R. , Barsotti A. , Trevi G.P. , Renton S. , Veller M. , Fisher C. , Gerulakos G. , Nicolaides A.N. 
Published: July 2008

Noninvasive ultrasonic biopsy (UB) is a method of detecting early arteriosclerotic changes by high-resolution ultrasound scanning of the carotid and femoral bifurcation. Six UB classes (scoring 0 to 10) have been identified in 2000 asymptomatic subjects and 600 vascular patients followed up for four years. The incidence of silent coronary ischemia (tested by effort test) and the occurrence of symptomatic events in four years are increased in advanced classes and with increasing UB score. The rate of progression (ROP) in four years to the next UB class has been defined in normal subjects (1.4% in class I, 3.1% in II, 10.7% in III, 17.9% in IV, and 79.2% in class V). In a group of 305 asymptomatic hyperlipidemic subjects and in a group of 269 diabetics the ROP (in four years) was significantly higher. Therefore ultrasonic biopsy is useful to identify subjects at risk of coronary ischemia and cardiovascular events and to follow up noninvasively the progression of arteriosclerosis.
Clinical Assessment of Low Molecular Weight Heparin Effects in Peripheral Vascular Disease
Authors: Calabrò Alessio , Piarulli Francesco , Milan Daniele , Rossi Alberto , Coscetti Giovanna , Crepaldi Gaetano 
Published: July 2008

This study was carried out, using the double-blind method vs placebo, on 36 patients suffering from stage II peripheral vascular disease (PVD) according to Leriche, to check the clinical and hemorrheologic effects of the administration of a new low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). After a one-month washout period, the patients were randomly assigned either to the group treated with the LMWH (15,000 aXaU/day sc) or to the group treated with indistinguishable placebo. At the start of the study and after three and six months of treatment, clini cal, instrumental, and laboratory tests were performed to assess local and sys temic efficacy and tolerance. The LMWH under study caused a statistically significant increase in claudi cation time, with a parallel increase in the absolute claudication distance and in the interval free of pain. The drug also led to a significant increase in activated partial thromboplastin time, the values of which, however, remained within the normal limits, and to a marked reduction in blood viscosity. No significant vari ation was observed in the tolerability parameters in the two treatment groups, and no local or systemic adverse reactions occurred.
Atrial Septal Defect After Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty: A Transesophageal Echocardiographic Study
Authors: Arora R. , Jolly N. , Kalra G.S. , Khalilullah M. 
Published: July 2008

Fifty patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis aged twelve to thirty-six (twen ty ± six) years were studied by two-dimensional, pulsed and color Doppler echo cardiography during, seventy-two hours after, and biweekly for three months after balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) done immediately after BMV (in the catheterization laboratory) detected a new atrial septal defect (ASD) in 46 (92%) patients. These measured 1 to 2 (mean 1.2±0.3) mm in diameter. Doppler color flow mapping guided the loca tion of the ASD in most of the cases. A narrow jet of left-to-right shunt could be evaluated by pulsed Doppler studies. Velocity time integral (VTI) of the jet across one cardiac cycle and the diameter of the ASD were used to calculate the left-to-right shunt (shunt = VTI x π (D/2)2 x heart rate). The estimated shunt was 0.04-0.39 (mean 0.20 ±0.10) L/minute. A repeat study at seventy-two hours revealed the defect in 40 (80%) patients. At three months, the defect persisted in only 5 (10%) cases. The mean inter val of closure of ASD was 4.6± 2.2 weeks. The authors conclude: (1) ASD occurs commonly after BMV, (2) the septal defect and the resultant left-to-right shunt are insignificant, and (3) ASD disappears in the majority of cases by three months after BMV.
Determination of Arterial Diameters, Length and Mass of the Plaque, and Theoretical Volume in the Internal Carotid Artery by Quantitative Vascular Echography
Authors: Ciccone Marco , di Noia Domenico , Liquori Maurizio , di Michele Liliana , Novo Salvatore , Rizzon Paolo 
Published: July 2008

To study the evolution of atherosclerosis, the consensual changes that occur in the arterial wall, lumen, and atheroma must be evaluated. The authors propose a new, noninvasive method of obtaining arterial diame ters, length and mass of plaque, and theoretical volume in the internal carotid artery. The study was performed in 37 patients with different degrees of athero sclerosis (from 20% to 50%). All patients underwent echo examination. Long- axis tomographic planes were recorded with the same angle of incidence by placing a goniometer around the neck. Furthermore, the arterial diameters and the plaque length were measured from photorecordings, and theoretical arterial volume (sum of two bitruncated semiellipsoids), residual volume (Simpson's in tegral rule), and plaque mass (difference between theoretical vascular volume and residual volume) were calculated. Intraobserver and interobserver variabil ity and reproducibility were tested in all the measurements and calculations. Intraobserver/interobserver variability and reproducibility were found to be less than 8% according to all measurements and calculations. These results indicate that the method is reproducible and allows noninva sive, quantitative assessments of vascular geometry in evolving atherosclerosis.
Prevention of Recurrent Deep Venous Thrombosis with Indobufen. A 3-Year Follow-up Study Using Color Duplex Scanning
Authors: Belcaro G. , Errichi B.M. , De Simone P. 
Published: July 2008

After an episode of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) 123 patients were ran domized into two groups: one was prophylactically treated with indobufen (60 patients), an oral antiplatelet agent, and one had no treatment (63) and acted as a control group. They were followed up for three years and scanned with color duplex scanning (CDS) every three months and any time that signs and symp toms suggested a new episode. In patients receiving indobufen the incidence of thrombosis was 5% in three years while it was significantly higher (46%) in the control group. Also 62% of the new episodes in the control group were asymptomatic (33.3% in the treated group). Results suggest that recurrent DVT is common, often asymptomatic, and confused with sequelae of the initial episode. The prophylaxis with indobufen is an effective measure in preventing recurrent thrombosis and avoiding the pro gressive deterioration of the deep venous system observed after deep venous thrombosis.
Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor Levels in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Unstable Angina Pectoris
Authors: Başaran Y. , Başaran M.M. , Babacan K.F. , Ener B. , Okay T. , Gök H. , Özdemir M. 
Published: July 2008

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) enhances leukocyte adherence to vascular en dothelium and increases procoagulant activity in the endothelial cells. Thus it may be implicated in the pathogenesis of acute vascular occlusions. To study the role of TNF in the early stages of acute myocardial infarction (MI), the authors measured circulating TNF levels in the sera of patients with acute MI and unsta ble angina pectoris. Blood samples were obtained within six hours after onset of chest pain and stored at -70 degrees until tested. A sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked im munosorbent assay (ELISA) test was used for TNF measurement. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were determined semiquantitatively. Immediate complica tions such as heart failure, arrhythmia, and shock were also noted. Twenty-four patients with electrocardiographically and biochemically confirmed acute MI and 14 patients with unstable angina pectoris were included in the study. TNF levels were serially assessed at the time of admission and at hours 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 after onset of chest pain in 2 patients with acute MI. Detectable TNF was found in 13 sera of the acute MI group (range; 10-1510 pg/mL) and 4 sera of the angina pectoris group (range; 15-240 pg/mL). There was no correlation between the serum TNF levels and the occurrence of complications and the extent of myocardial damage. CRP response was unrelated to TNF levels. Contrary to previous reports, serial measurement of TNF revealed that peak values were reached within six hours and disappeared after twenty-four hours. The authors concluded that TNF may contribute to the development of acute coronary artery occlusion by changing vascular endothelial cell characteristics instead of being a late consequence of myocardial infarction.
Risk Factors for Carotid Atherosclerosis and Silent Cerebral Infarction in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Nishino Masami , Sueyoshi Kenji , Yasuno Masao , Yamada Yoshio , Abe Hiroshi , Hori Masatsugu , Kamada Takenobu 
Published: July 2008

In this study, the authors examined relations between coronary and carotid atherosclerosis and between coronary atherosclerosis and silent cerebral infarc tion. They ascertained the risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis and silent cerebral infarction complicating coronary heart disease (CHD) in 77 Japanese subjects. As coronary atherosclerosis progressed, the carotid ultrasonographic score and the brain computed tomographic score increased. Multivariate analy ses showed that the significant and independent risk factors for carotid athero sclerosis in patients with CHD were age (p < 0.01) and apolipoprotein (apo) B (p < 0.05) and the factors for silent cerebral infarction were age (p < 0.05) and hypertension (p < 0.05). Their study confirms a positive relation between coronary atherosclerosis and carotid atherosclerosis and between coronary atherosclerosis and silent ce rebral infarction in patients with CHD. Their data suggest that carotid athero sclerosis should be looked for in patients with CHD who are old and have a high value of apo B, and silent cerebral infarction should be looked for in those who are old and have hypertension, to prevent complicating symptomatic cerebral vascular disease (CVD). If severe carotid atherosclerosis or silent cerebral in farction are detected, antithrombotic medication should be given.
Coronary Thrombolysis and Endothelin-1 Release
Authors: Tomoda Haruo 
Published: July 2008

The relation between intracoronary thrombus and endothelin-1 (ET-1) was studied. In a canine model, acute myocardial infarction (MI) was induced by coronary occlusive thrombus produced at a mock atheromatous plaque. Blood samples were collected from the aorta (A) and coronary vein (V). Twenty-eight open-chest dogs divided into three groups were studied. Group I (n=15): acute MI was induced by coronary occlusive thrombus, and thrombolysis was ob tained by urokinase two hours after MI. Group II (n=8): nonocclusive throm bus was produced without inducing MI. Group III (n = 5) : coronary artery was ligated for two hours and reperfused by release of ligation. In Group I, ET-1 was significantly increased after MI in A and V, and ET-1 in V was significantly more elevated than in A during thrombolysis, suggesting ET-1 production in the coronary vessels by thrombolysis. In Group II, ET-1 increased slightly during thrombus formation, but there was no difference in A and V. In Group III, ET-1 was elevated significantly after MI without A and V difference. These results indicate that there is no detectable ET-1 production with coro nary thrombus formation, whereas coronary ET-1 production is detected dur ing thrombolysis, most probably because resolved thrombus releases a more potent stimulus to ET-1 production.
Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger's Disease) in Women (A Reevaluation)
Authors: Yörükoglu Yavuz , Ilgit Erhan , Zengin Mustafa , Nazliel Kemal , Salman Ergun , Yucel Ertan 
Published: July 2008

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is an occlusive vascular disease tradition ally known to be almost exclusive to young male smokers. The disease was con sidered to be extremely rare in women, seen only as isolated, novel case reports in the literature. In the past decade, however, a dramatic increase in the inci dence of female TAO has been observed. In this paper the authors report 7 cases of clinically and angiographically verified female TAO. The world literature in regard to the diagnostic criteria, changing incidence, and etiology is reviewed. They conclude that the increased use of tobacco among young women in the past two to three decades is responsi ble for this dramatic change.
Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses to Vascular Components in Thromboangiitis Obliterans
Authors: Hada Masao , Sakihama Toshiko , Kamiya Kihachiro , Tasaka Kachio , Ueno Akira 
Published: July 2008

Cellular and humoral immune responses to vascular components were stud ied in 10 patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), including 3 in the mild stage of the disease and 7 in the active or severe stage. In this study the authors used the following vascular components: collagen Types I, III, IV, and V; elas tin ; and laminin. The cell-mediate reactivity (CMR) to these proteins was mea sured with an antigen-specific proliferation of peripheral mononuclear cells and evaluated by the stimulation index (SI), which is the ratio of thymidine incorpo ration in the presence and in the absence of antigen. The humoral immunologic response (HIR) to these vascular components was measured by an enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and evaluated by the optical density (OD) index, which is the ratio of optical density (OD) in the patients' serum to that in the healthy male controls' serum. The stimulation index of collagen Types I and IV was significantly higher in patients with TAO than in healthy controls (p < 0.02). CMR to collagen Type V, elastin, and laminin was high in patients with active or severe TAO as well. However, similar statistical differences in mild TAO did not exist in the CMR. The OD index in collagen Types I, IV, and V was statistically higher in the patients than in the healthy controls (p < 0.01). These autoimmune epiphenomena to vascular components in TAO suggest that autoimmune mechanisms are related to vasculitis of TAO patients. When it is considered that CMR was found in active or severe TAO, but not in mild TAO, CMR does not seem to be the initiator of vasculitis. These differences in immune reactivities suggest that the autoimmune epiphenomena to the vascular components might be related to the exacerbation and perpetuation of TAO.
Analysis of Familial and Individual Risk Factors Among Patients with Ischemic Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Mortel Karl F. , Wood Stacey , Pavol Marykay A. , Meyer John S. , Rexer Jennie L. 
Published: July 2008

The purpose of this study was to determine relative contributions of first- degree familial and individual risk factors to clinical manifestations of two ma jor age-related dementias. The authors interviewed 183 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) and 137 patients with ischemic vascular dementia (IVD) together with family members and caregivers. Information was also obtained from medical records and collateral sources as required. Risk factor data within a predictive model for differentiating the two dementias were evaluated. There was a greater incidence of family history of degenerative and dement ing neurologic disorders in DAT than in IVD. Both groups were equivalent for family histories of cerebrovascular disease. Despite familial equivalence, pa tients with IVD had a greater individual incidence of risk factors for cerebro vascular disease. Analysis by gender revealed three observations. Among DAT patients, family history for degenerative and dementing neurologic disorders proved to be significantly greater among women than among men. This risk factor did not, however, predict individual diagnoses for DAT. Women with IVD were more likely to have a family history of cancer than men. Multiple regres sion analyses revealed that reduced educational levels in women predicted greater liability for IVD than for DAT. Hypertension, heart disease, and diabe tes mellitus were all risk factors for IVD, but not for DAT. Conclusions: Individual and familial historical data provide useful informa tion concerning identification, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatments for vascular dementia but little predictive information for identifying patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Simultaneous Recording of Blood Volume Shifts in Different Vascular Beds in Man by a Versatile Scintigraphic Method
Authors: Baccelli Giorgio , Terrani Sergio , Pacenti Paolo , Omboni Ezio , Bergonzi Mario , Reggiani Paolo , Sardella Franco , Catalano Michele , Bianchi Roberto 
Published: July 2008

A device was developed to record the blood volume changes occurring in the lung and calf during postural changes, physical exercise, and the Valsalva ma neuver in man. The changes in regional counting rates from the right middle lung and the calf mirrored the well-known changes in venous return that are expected to occur in response to the above-mentioned external stimuli. Thus a sustained decrease in lung blood volume was noted on assumption of the erect posture as well as during the forced expiration of the Valsalva maneuver. In addition a rapid increase and a sharp decrease in lung blood volume took place at the very onset and at the very end of walking, respectively. The calf blood volume de clined immediately at the onset of walking, increased slightly in the ensuing two minutes, and returned to baseline quickly at the termination of walking. The authors' method enables real-time equilibrium blood pool scintigraphy to be recorded continuously and simultaneously from different districts over sustained periods of time irrespective of the posture and the physical activity performed by the patient. Their method might improve knowledge of the sys temic circulatory responses to selective physiologic and therapeutic interven tions in health and disease.