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Biomedical subjects

A Freilich

Publications and source records attributed to A Freilich.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Adenosine and its cardiovascular effects.

Adenosine is a new antiarrhythmic agent recently released with the permission of the Food and Drug Administration. It is an endogenously occurring nucleoside indicated for use in the diagnosis and treatment of supraventricular tachycardia. Its greatest utility is in patients with AV nodal reentry. Its antiarrhythmic action is mediated at the cellular level through the potassium channel, causing hyperpolarization of the myocyte membrane potential. In addition to its current indication as an antiarrhythmic agent, adenosine is now being used under an investigational protocol for pharmacologic stress testing. It can be given in conjunction with thallium or used in echocardiography as an imaging tool for patients who can not be adequately exercised. Adenosine's side effect profile is relatively benign and the agent's extremely short half-life makes most adverse reactions clinically insignificant. In this report we attempt to highlight this agent's clinical utility and discuss its future in the cardiovascular pharmacopeia.

Adenosine↗

Localized pemphigoid simulating dyshidrosiform dermatitis.

A patient had a localized, persistent vesicular eruption of the feet that was clinically identical to dyshidrosiform dermatitis. Direct and indirect immunofluorescent studies revealed a bullous pemphigoid (BP) pattern. Antibody blocking experiments showed the patient's circulating basement membrane zone antibody to be identical to that of classical BP. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms of localized BP are discussed.

Aged↗

Field ion microscopy of biomolecules.

A new type of image, existing only at field strengths below the denaturation field strengths of molecules, has been discorvered. This type of image has structure, is not symmetrical and thus differs from previously reported low field strength images. The possibility that macromolecules adsorbed on tip surfaces produce such structured images has been exhaustively investigated. The result is that no observation has been found which disproves this hypothesis and many tests conducted in such attempts yielded correlations consistent with this hypothesis. It is therefore concluded that it is highly probable that biomolecules produce structured images and that it is highly improbable that these correlations represent a chance event. On the other hand, these correlations may be due to some cause unknown to the authors; but we consider this possibility to be unlikely. Some micrographs have been obtained which provide a reasonable basis for the hope that tertiary structure information may be defrived from low field strength imaging of partially embedded biomolecules or of biomolecules that are resistant to field denaturation during imaging. Information may presently be obtained from analysis of low field strength ion micrographs about the size and shape of some biomolecules.

DNA↗

Dobutamine thallium 201 perfusion imaging in candidates for lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Thallium-201 stress imaging is the most often used noninvasive test for detection of coronary artery disease. Its utility in patients with end-stage lung disease has not been defined. METHODS: Feasibility, safety, and reliability of thallium 201 perfusion imaging was evaluated in 23 consecutive candidates for lung transplantation. All underwent graded dobutamine thallium 201 single photon emission computed tomography imaging. The perfusion imaging results were correlated with results of coronary angiography, radionuclide angiography, and right heart catheterization. RESULTS: The testing was completed without complications in all patients. No perfusion abnormality was detected in five patients, and none had evidence of coronary artery disease on coronary angiography. In 18 patients with abnormal thallium 201 imaging, coronary artery disease was detected in four patients only, and no angiographic data was available in three patients. Thus, in at least 11 of 23 patients, thallium 201 imaging was falsely positive. There was a trend toward lower left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with abnormal thallium 201 imaging. No correlation was found between thallium 201 results, pulmonary artery and right atrial pressures at rest. Possible noncoronary origin of the perfusion defects include the following (1) presence of sarcoid in the myocardium, (2) left ventricular attenuation by hypertrophied right ventricle, and (3) altered left ventricular anatomy, function, and coronary perfusion as a result of right ventricular pressure overload. CONCLUSIONS: Dobutamine thallium 201 stress test can be safely performed in lung transplant candidates. However, its specificity for detection of coronary artery disease is low. Selective use of coronary angiography in patients with multiple risk factors is likely a more cost-effective approach.

Cardiac Catheterization↗