bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Respiratory Variation in Mitral Flow Velocity in Pericardial Effusion and Cardiac Tamponade
Authors: Simeonidou Eftihia , Hamouratidis Nikolaos , Tzimas Konstantinos , Tsounos John , Roussis Stefanos 
Published: July 2008

It has been suggested that the presence of increased respiratory variation in mitral flow velocity (RVIMFV) in patients with pericardial effusion (PE) represents significant hemo dynamic compromise regardless of the amount of PE or 2D-echo findings. Recent exper imental data do not, however, support this aspect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of RVIMFV to clinical, hemody namic, and 2D-echo findings in patients with PE and cardiac tamponade (CT). Therefore, 11 patients with PE and CT were studied with right-heart, pericardial, and arterial pressure measurements in conjunction with 2D and Doppler echocardiography during three stages of gradually decreasing PE, ie, (1) before any PE drainage, (2) after partial PE drainage, and (3) after full drainage. A significant RVIMFV was noted during all three stages of our study It was maximal at the early stage [respiratory difference in mitral flow velocity (ΔMFV): 16.8 ±6.3 cm/sec, 24.1%, P = 0.0000026] coinciding with pulsus paradoxus, high pericardial pressure, and diastolic right heart collapse, and it decreased slightly after partial drainage when all signs of CT receded (ΔMFV:13.7 ±9.7 cm/sec, 18%, P = 0.00043). However, there was still some RVIMFV (ΔMFV:8.7 ±7.6 cm/sec, 13.9%, P = 0.0017) after full peri cardial drainage. It is concluded that the presence and the magnitude of RVIMFV is not predictive of hemodynamic compromise in patients with PE.
Erythropoietin Treatment Does Not Compromise Cardiovascular Function in Chronic Renal Failure
Authors: Hædersdal C. , Mehlsen J. , Stenver D. , Nielsen B. , Jeppesen L. , Winther K. 
Published: July 2008

The anemia in patients with chronic renal failure can be corrected through treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin treatment. This correction is associated with changes in the rheologic variables, which could explain the changes in hemodynamics found by many investigators. The authors have followed up 11 patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis before and during six months of therapy with erythropoietin. The measurements were made before treatment, after four months of therapy, and after six months of therapy The measurements included hematocrit, osmotic resistance of the red blood cells, red blood cell volume, plasma volume, heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and cardiac output measured by the indicator dilution method. They found a significant increase in hematocrit hemoglobin, and red blood cell volume and a decrease in osmotic resistance while the hemodynamic variables were unchanged. They conclude that, in spite of changes in rheologic variables, increasing viscosity of the blood and thus possibly increasing the peripheral resistance, these had no effect on the cardiovascular state. Erythropoietin treatment improves the subjective well-being in patients on chronic hemodialysis without compromising their cardiovascular function.
Salmonella Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis
Authors: Lee Yi-Heng , Lai Ling-Ping , Shyu Kou-Gi , Peiliang Kuan  , Lien Wen-Pin 
Published: July 2008

A patient with Björk-Shiley mechanical mitral valve was noted to have Salmonella pros thetic valve endocarditis, which was confirmed by positive blood cultures and vegetation found by transesophageal echocardiography Up to now, only 5 cases of Salmonella prosthetic valve endocarditis have been reported in the literature. Because of the malignant course of this rare infection, the authors suggest that early surgical intervention should be considered in Salmonella pros thetic valve endocarditis, especially when the patients have recurrent fever during medical treatment.
Three-Dimensional Volumetric Ultrasound Imaging of Arterial Pathology from Two-Dimensional Intravascular Ultrasound: An in Vitro Study
Authors: Chandrasekaran Krishnaswamy , Sehgal Chandra M. , Hsu Tsui-Lieh , Young Nancy A. , D'Adamo Arthur J. , Robb Richard A. , Pandian Natesa G. 
Published: July 2008

The objectives of this study were to evaluate: (1) the feasibility of generating three- dimensional (3-D) ultrasound (US) volumetric images of arterial segments from intravascular (IV) US images by retaining full range of gray levels; (2) the feasibility of volumetric quantitation of various arterial wall pathology from the 3-D volume US images of arterial segments. IVUS provides morphologic details of arterial wall diseases. This is seen as variation in gray levels. However, when a 3-D US image is generated currently, the full range of gray levels is not utilized. This limits optimal assessment of arterial wall pathology Sequential cross-sectional IVUS images from 11 arterial segments consisting of various pathology were obtained in vitro by calibrated withdrawal of an IVUS catheter. These images were digitized by an 8 bit digitizer to retain full 256 gray levels of bright ness. 3-D volume generation was carried out using "ANALYZE" software. After the IVUS imaging, arterial segments were sectioned transversely in a 0.3-0.4 mm cross section and stained with hematoxylin, eosin and elastin. Geometrical measurements and gross morphological changes of the arterial segments were noted and correlated with the corre sponding section of the image from the three-dimensional volume. Arterial wall (continued on next page) (Abstract continued) pathology, its extent and its effect on lumen geometry were easily appreciated in multiple tomographic sections of a 3-D volume image. Similarly, arterial wall pathology was easily quantitated from 3-D volume. The above assessments were only feasible by retaining full range of gray levels in the 3-D volume image. This study indicates that (1) it is feasible to generate a 3-D US volume image by retaining full range of gray levels from IVUS images, (2) retaining full range of gray levels allows optimal assessment of arterial wall pathology and its extent in 3-D volume, and (3) IVUS allows quantitation of arterial wall pathology, and thereby one can assess the effect of intervention.
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) in Patients with Different Degrees of Chronic Arterial Obstructive Disease
Authors: Cimminiello Claudio , Arpaia Guido , Aloisio Manuela , Uberti Tiziano , Rossi Florica , Pozzi Francesca , Bonfardeci Giuseppe 
Published: July 2008

Platelet activation and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Evidence has been accumulating that in the evolution of chronic arterial obstructive disease (CAOD) platelets are also crucially important. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to assess plasma levels of PDGF in patients with different degrees of CAOD according to Fontaine. Twenty patients (17 men, 3 women, mean age sixty-eight ± seven years) with inter mittent claudication (Fontaine stage II) entered the study and their PDGF levels were assessed by radioimmunoassay. Ten additional patients (7 men, 3 women, mean age seventy-three ± seven years) with more severe CAOD (leg pain at rest/skin ulcers) were also studied. Ten healthy subjects (6 men, 4 women, mean age fifty-four ±six years) comprised the control group. Patients in stage II were reinvestigated after sixty days of a "training" procedure. Patients with both intermittent claudication and more severe disease had higher levels of PDGF than controls (controls 165.9 ±119.1 pg/mL; Fontaine stage II 403.5 ±218.4; Fontaine stage III/IV 578.1 ±637.2: ANOVA P = 0.04) with no difference between the two groups of patients. After the training period, PDGF levels were signifi cantly higher than at baseline (863.7 ±819.6 pg/mL vs 403.5 ±218.4) but without signif icant improvement of physical performance. (continued on next page) The elevation of PDGF levels in blood from CAOD patients could be the result of marked platelet activation due to interaction with a widely damaged peripheral vascula ture. The same was not true for coronary heart disease, in which normal values of PDGF in venous blood were found. Nevertheless, as in acute coronary syndromes, PDGF increases when the clinical picture improves, perhaps in relation to its reduced consump tion in vessel walls.
Effects of Pentoxifylline on Choroidal Blood Flow in Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Sebag Jerry , Tang Mai , Brown Sharon , Sadun Alfredo A. , Charles M. Arthur 
Published: July 2008

Objective: Diminished blood flow plays an important role in the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Since increased blood viscosity is a contributing factor to hypoper fusion, it was of interest to determine whether therapy intended to decrease blood viscosity and induce vasodilation could increase blood flow in patients with diabetic retinopathy Methodology: Ten patients, 4 with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and 6 age- matched, nondiabetic controls, were studied by a noninvasive system to index choroidal blood flow. Pentoxifylline was administered daily at an oral dose of 400 mg tid in the diabetic patients for nine months. Results: The control group had pulse amplitude=2.87 ± 0.67 mm Hg with pulsatile choroidal blood flow=714 ± 196 μL/minute. Reproducibility studies in the control group (6 patients measured on three separate occasions) demonstrated an intraclass correlation coefficient of reliability, r=0.83. In the diabetic patients, pulsatile flow=276 ± 68 μL/minute, 61% lower than the age-matched nondiabetic subjects (P=0.003). After nine months of pentoxifylline therapy the diabetic patients had an increase in pulsatile choroidal blood flow to 469 ± 152 μL/minute (P < 0.002). Conclusions: Pentoxifylline therapy brought blood flow levels in the diabetic patients closer to those of the nondiabetic age-matched control population so that following therapy there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups although the former were still lower. The potential efficacy of pentoxifylline in improving ocular blood flow in patients with diabetic retinopathy should be tested in a large controlled clinical trial.
Analytical Evaluation and Comparison of Dupont aca® Lactate Dehydrogenase-1 (LD1) Isoenzyme Assay Diagnostic Efficiency for Acute Myocardial Infarction Detection with Other LD1 Methods and aca@ CK-MB
Authors: Painter Pennell C. , Van Meter Stuart , Dabbs Randal L. , Clement Gerald E. 
Published: July 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine the analtyical characteristics of a rapid new assay for lactate dehydrogenase 1 (LD1) isoenzyme on the Dupont aca® analyzer and the diagnostic efficiency of LD1 for detection of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) when used alone and with creatine kinase MB (CKMB). Total aca LD1 assay precision, with percent coefficients of variation (%CVs) of less than 3.2% from 56 U/L to 469 U/L LD1, across fifty assay days was excellent. Linearity was confirmed from 0 to 332 U/L and no detectable calibration drift was noted from 5 to 489 U/L over a ninety-day period. The aca LD1 results compared well with Roche Isomune-LD1, Abbott Spectrum A-Gent, Helena electrophoresis, and Beckman electrophoresis LD1 methods, giving r's from 0.987 to 0.994, slopes from 0.94 to 1.65, and y-intercepts from -2.95 to 6.94 U/L. Examination of 450 ambulatory subjects, about equally distributed by sex, yielded a 43 ±14 U/L aca LD1 patient reference interval. Serum samples from 159 consecutive patients at the University of Tennessee Memorial Hospital and 96 patients at Allentown Hospital, submitted for AMI detection assistance, were assayed in a single-blind study for LD1 and ion-exchange CKMB by Dupont aca methods, which provide automated results in ten minutes whenever needed. The aca LD1 assay yielded a clinical sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 95% for AMI with a decision threshold of 120 U/L. The diagnostic effi ciency of the aca LD1 assay was 94% at 120 U/L, which equaled or exceeded that of the three comparative LD1 methods. The predictive value of positive (PV+) and negative (PV-) results on the first sample collected were 80% and 85% for aca LD1, 65% and 90% for aca ion-exchange CKMB, and 83% and 90% when both tests were combined. Significantly, the PV+ and PV- results when two or more samples were assayed was improved to 88% and 95% for aca LD1, relatively constant at 65% and 97% for aca ion- exchange CKMB, and dramatically improved to 95% and 100% when both CKMB and LD1 tests were combined. The results from these two medical centers show that the aca LD1 assay provides useful clinical information for AMI diagnosis when employed alone or in combination with aca CKMB. These results also suggest that LD1 should be included in biochemical evaluations for AMI to attain optimal predictive values of results.
Usefulness of Radionuclide Ventriculography During Transesophageal Atrial Pacing in the Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Le Feuvre Claude , Georges Jean Louis , Metzger Jean Philippe , Etienne Dominique , Albarede Pierre , de Vernejoul Pierre , Vacheron André 
Published: July 2008

Radionuclide ventriculography before, during, and after atrial transesophageal pacing was carried out in 15 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and without myocardial infarction. All patients underwent coronary angiography. Ten patients (group 1) had a coronary lesion > 50% on at least one of the main coronary arteries. Five patients (group 2) had normal coronary arteries. Radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) before pacing was 56 ±3% in group 1 and 59 ±3% in group 2 (NS). Radionuclide ventriculography during pacing was 45 ±4% in group 1 (P < 0.0001 vs basal in group 1) and 45 ±6% in group 2 (P < 0.01 vs basal in group 2, NS vs group 1 during pacing). Immediate postpacing ejection fraction did not differ in the two groups and was identical to the prepacing value. A quantitative regional wall motion analysis was performed in 105 segments. Regional radionuclide ventriculography was calculated in each segment as follows: end-diastolic counts — end-systolic counts/end-diastolic counts. The relative decrease in regional LVEF during pacing was more important in the 39 segments related to a narrowed vessel than in the 66 segments related to normal coronary artery (32 ± 13% vs 13 ±10%, P < 0.0001). A more than 20% relative decrease in at least one segment during pacing occurred in 10 patients in group 1 (sensitivity 100%) and in 2 patients in group 2 (specificity 60%). In conclusion, global radionuclide ventriculography during transesophageal atrial pacing decreases in patients with and without CAD. In contrast, regional wall motion abnormalities during pacing are more important in segments related to a narrowed coronary artery and can be proposed for patients unable to exercise as an alternative to pharmacologic stress test in the diagnosis of CAD.
Failure of Captopril to Attenuate Myocardial Damage, Neutrophil Accumulation, and Mortality Following Coronary Artery Occlusion and Reperfusion in Rat
Authors: Leor Jonathan , Varda-Bloom Nira , Hasdai David , Ovadia Zehava , Battler Alexander 
Published: July 2008

Captopril, a sulfhydryl-containing angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, has been suggested as possessing antiischemic and antiinflammatory properties. To test the hypothesis that captopril may prevent neutrophil-induced myocardial injury during acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the authors subjected rats to coronary occlusion for thirty minutes and reperfusion for twenty-four hours (MI) or to sham operation (sham MI). Oral captopril (100 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered thirty minutes before coronary occlusion. The effect of captopril on mean arterial blood pressure was assessed in separate group of animals (n=8). Infarct size and neutrophil accumulation in myocardium were determined by measuring creatine phosphokinase depletion and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, respectively, in the left ventricular free wall (LVFW). Animals treated with 100 mg/kg of captopril exhibited significant reduction in mean arterial blood pressure compared with vehicle-treated animals (P < 0.01). Compared with vehicle-treated animals, administra tion of 100 mg/kg of captopril to MI animals attenuated neither twenty-four-hour (continued on next page) mortality (56% vs 52%, respectively), nor infarct size (36 ± 7% vs 34% ± 7% respec tively), nor MPO activity (1.0 ±0.17 vs 1.26 ±0.19). Thus, in the present experiment captopril did not reduce neutrophil-induced myocar dial damage following coronary occlusion and reperfusion. These findings may be partly explained by the negative effect of captopril on arterial blood pressure during AMI.
Long-Term Outcome and Prognostic Factors in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Fruhwald Friedrich M. , Dusleag Johann , Eber Bernd , Fruhwald Sonja , Zweiker Robert , Klein Werner 
Published: July 2008

To investigate long-term follow-up and identify prognostic factors in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) the authors investigated 167 consecutive patients on an outpatient basis. All patients underwent left- and right-heart catheterization; follow-up comprised clinical and echocardiographic investigations.Results: After a mean follow-up period of ninety-three ± thirty-six months 82 patients (49%; 71 men, 11 women, mean age fifty-five ± eleven years) were alive. 29 of them (27 men, 2 women, mean age fifty-two ± nine) showed normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after a mean follow-up period of one hundred four ± forty months. The remaining 53 patients (44 men, 9 women, mean age fifty-six ± eleven) revealed LVEF similar to that of the first examination. Eighty-five patients died (51%; 73 men, 12 women). Causes of death were the following: progressive heart failure, 24; sudden death, 23; stroke, 3; pulmonary embolism, 2; noncardiac death, 4; unknown causes, 29. The median period from the onset of first symptoms until definite diagnosis was two months in patients with stable conditions, three months in those with normalization of LVEF and twenty-four months in those who died, respectively (P < 0.01). At the time of diagnosis, patients with stable outcome had a mean LVEF (LVEF 1) of 37%, those who returned to normal had 40% (ns). Patients who died had a mean LVEF 1 of 32% and therefore differed significantly from both groups of survivors (P < 0.001). Left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP) at the time of diagnosis was highest in patients who died (22 mmHg) and therefore differed significantly from both groups of survivors (normalization: 16 mmHg, stable patients: 18 mmHg, P < 0.001).Conclusions: According to their results, time until diagnosis, LVEF, and LVEDP are prognostic indicators. No difference was noted between the groups concerning etiology, medical treatment, or functional classification according to the New York Heart Association.
Exercise-Induced Inverted U Wave in Asymptomatic High-Risk Subjects
Authors: Salmasi A-Majeed , Abraham Ralph , Al-Kutoubi Aghiad , Nicolaides Andrew N. 
Published: July 2008

The sixteen-lead ECG chest wall mapping was used to investigate the significance of inverted U waves during exercise in diagnosing occult coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic high-risk subjects. For this purpose 100 patients with various types of hyperlipidemia and 33 patients with diabetes mellitus were studied. None of these patients had a history of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction and all had normal resting ECG. Exercise was carried out on a bicycle ergometer to an end point, and ECG recordings were made from all sixteen chest leads. Inverted U waves developed during the early minutes of exercise in 8 patients (6 hyperlipidemics and 2 diabetics), indicating disease in 11 coronary artery territories (7 in the left anterior descending/diagonal coronary artery, 3 in the circumflex, and 1 in the right coronary artery territories). Subsequent coronary arteriography confirmed the territorial distribution of the inverted U waves in all the cases. Following coronary artery bypass grafting in 2 of these patients no U wave inversion developed during stress testing. It is concluded that exercise-induced inverted U wave is a reliable indicator of silent myocardial ischemia due to occult CAD in asymptomatic high-risk subjects. Its distribution on the ECG chest wall map is highly predictive of significant disease in the individual coronary artery territory. The disappearance of this ECG sign following myocardial revascularization is a further proof of its myocardial ischemic origin.
Acute Myocardial Infarction During Pregnancy and Puerperium in Athletic Women
Authors: Badui Elias , Rangel Alberto , Enciso Roberto , Espinosa Rafael , Bermudez Gerardo , Luna Pastor , Lepe Luis , Martinez Luis 
Published: July 2008

The authors present 2 cases: 1 of a thirty-two-year-old woman and another of a thirty- eight-year-old woman, both Hispanic and athletic, with no identifiable precipitating or coronary risk factors, such as previous heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, hyperlipoproteinemia, oral contraceptive use, coagulation disorders, thyroid disease, collagen tissue disorder, or family history of premature myocardial infarc tion, who both developed an acute posteroinferior wall myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries, one during pregnancy, from which normal twin girls were born, and another, during the postpartum period. After reviewing the literature the authors consider the present cases as unique due to the rare association of pregnancy with intrapartum and postpartum acute myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries in athletic women.
Evaluation of Short Axial Blood Flow Pattern in Thoracic Descending Aorta by Use of Tagging Cine Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Matsumoto Yuji , Honda Toshio , Hamada Mareomi , Toyama Takashi , Matsuoka Hiroshi , Hiwada Kunio 
Published: July 2008

The authors, for the first time, evaluated the short axial blood flow profile by using tagging cine magnetic resonance (MR). Cine MR was performed on 15 healthy volunteers aged 51.5 ±23.1 (SD) years. The transverse plane of the thoracic descending aorta was imaged at the middle level of the left ventricle. Two or four radial tags, whose thickness was 3 mm width each, were established to the short axial image of the descending aorta at 2 msec and 300 msec following the R wave of the subjects' QRS complex on the elec trocardiogram. They observed the flow patterns and measured the rotating flow velocity of the thoracic descending aorta in early systole and late systole from the following formula: ν = d/t, (v = velocity, d = displacement of tags over the interval, t = time interval between the time of presaturation and the time of imaging). In the short axial image of the descending aorta, 13 subjects showed the clockwise rotation of tags in the supine position from the foot side view. Flow image of the other 2 subjects showed as undefined. Rotating flow velocity was 1.63 ±0.88 cm/sec in early systole and was 1.37 ±1.11 cm/sec in late systole. Tagging cine MR is useful to evaluate the blood flow profile in the thoracic descending aorta.