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Biomedical subjects

A M Duval

Publications and source records attributed to A M Duval.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A modelized distribution of actomyosin interactions in the vertebrate cardiac muscle.

Preliminary assumption of this model is that interactions between actin and myosin presupposes an exact three-dimensional geometrical correspondence between sites, due to the very short time constants present under physiological conditions. Only small and controlled torsions of the actin filaments are accepted. The model uses geometrical information concerning orientations and dimensions of myosin crossbridges and actin monomeres to modelize the distribution of their inter-actions. An orientation map of actin sites in the cross-section perpendicular to the filament axis is proposed, adapted to the specific filament array of vertebrate muscle. Orientation of myosin crossbridges follows Luther's rules. According to the model, any interaction between actin and myosin implies the superimposition of their respective cross-sectional planes. The axial length of actin monomere is 55 A; the distance between two crossbridges along the myosin filament axis is 143 A. The following properties are derived: 1) The shortening step of the sliding actin filament must be a multiple of 11 A (highest common factor). Taking into account the staggered disposition of the two actin strands and the presence of two heads for each cross-bridge, the most probable value for this shortening step is equal to 99 A. A specific scheme is proposed to describe the shortening process. The behavior of the modelized crossbridge does not need any elastic structure--2) Planes situated at 715 A (lowest common multiple) of actin and myosin coinciding planes are also in coincidence. In a hemi-sarcomere the maximal number of these planes, referred to as simultaneously activable planes, is 10 (20 if both myosin heads are considered). The proportion of interactions authorized by the site orientations is 1/12. In the model, the concept of randomly recruited crossbridges is replaced by a discretized recruitment, based on geometrical properties at an ultrastructural level. The proposed distribution is homogeneous: it can be extended radially in the sarcomere and authorizes the actin filament sliding in the whole physiological range under the control of a dual activation function, reproducing Ca++ temporal and spatial distribution.

Actins↗

[Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the common trunk during the acute phase of myocardial infarction].

The prognosis of cardiogenic shock in the acute phase of myocardial infarction has been transformed since the introduction of techniques of myocardial revascularisation. We report the case of a patient in cardiogenic shock after a large anterior myocardial infarct in whom failure of early thrombolytic therapy led to referral for emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The success of the procedure on the patient's haemodynamic condition was life-saving. The originality of this case resides in the fact that revascularisation concerned the left main coronary stem.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Relations between posterior wall kinetics during diastole and left ventricular filling.

M-mode echocardiography reveals an abrupt change between early and late left ventricular posterior wall kinetics during relaxation. No attempt has been previously made to relate this wall kinetic change and transmitral flow rate. In 25 normal subjects, 14 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (Group 1) and 17 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (Group 2), M-mode echocardiographic studies were performed on the posterior wall and mitral valve. Transient values of mitral orifice area were calculated and transmitral flow velocities were recorded: area and velocity data yielded transmitral flow rates. Time intervals were determined from mitral opening to peak early area, velocity and flow rate and to posterior wall slope change. An additional group included five patients with a mitral prosthesis. The posterior wall slope change was present when part of the myocardial structures were almost akinetic or when mitral chordae tendineae were absent; slope change appeared as a regional phenomenon in the free wall. In the normal subjects, close values were found for the four time intervals. In the patients with dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, peak early velocity (95.7 +/- 16.7 and 146.2 +/- 31.4 ms, respectively), peak flow rate (84.7 +/- 18.2 and 137.4 +/- 29.5 ms) and time to slope change (91.4 +/- 18.6 and 133.6 +/- 32.7 ms) were significantly delayed (p less than 0.001) in comparison with peak area (56.6 +/- 9.5 and 84.3 +/- 22.5 ms). Slope change does not indicate the end of the early filling phase but, rather, its transition from acceleration to deceleration. Time to peak velocity or time to peak filling rate must be considered in a relaxation analysis.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

[Dipyridamole echocardiography test during the acute phase of lower myocardial infarction].

Two-dimensional echocardiography with intravenous injection of dipyridamole (0.56 mg/kg) was performed in 33 consecutive patients with acute (2 +/- 2 days) postero-inferior myocardial infarction for semiquantitative segmental wall motion analysis. The results were compared with those of coronary angiography which was carried out during the hospital period. After a second evaluation of the recordings the following results were obtained: feasibility: 94 per cent with 85 per cent of segments analysed. Residual ischaemia in the first days of myocardial necrosis was common (70%). The ischaemia was often clinically silent including during the investigation (61%). When pain occurred, it always followed changes in regional wall motion. The dipyridamole test suggested multivessel disease with a sensitivity of 72 per cent and a specificity of 90 per cent, and residual arterial stenosis with a sensitivity of 75 per cent ans specificity of 80 per cent the secondary effects were minor. The main limitation of the test is related to the distinction between pharmacological and physiologic ischaemia. A positive test was associated with lesions justifying myocardial revascularisation (coronary bypass or angioplasty) in 19 out of 23 cases but with a very poor correlation with the topography of the coronary lesions. A negative test indicated arterial occlusion, residual stenosis with extensive myocardial damage or a normal coronary angiogram. Therefore, the dipyridamole echocardiography test may help identify a group of patients with little or no myocardial ischaemia in whom invasive investigations could be deferred; these patients contrast with the group with a positive test indicating residual ischaemia in which the coronary lesions should be documented by coronary angiography.

Aged↗

[Myocardial mass index in the diagnosis of acute rejection of allogeneic heart transplants].

Changes in an index of left ventricular mass were evaluated in the diagnosis of acute cardiac transplant rejection in a prospective study involving 28 transplant patients by comparison with the histology of endomyocardial biopsy. The surface of a ring of left ventricular myocardium obtained from a 2D echocardiographic examination was used as an index of mass. Eighty-three pairs of results--biopsy and index of mass--recorded within a 12 hour interval were obtained between the first day and 10th month of transplantation over a period of 12 consecutive months. Echocardiographic diagnosis of acute rejection was made when the index of myocardial mass increased by over 7 per cent compared with baseline values recorded during the first 3 days of transplantation or during a new period of equilibrium after an episode of rejection. Two groups of patients were identified from the results of biopsy, taken as the reference: in 16 patients with mild or moderate histological signs of rejection the variation of the index of mass was 18.3 +/- 9.1%; endomyocardial biopsy was negative in the 12 other patients and the change in index of mass was -1.5 +/- 5.2% (p less than 0.001). The overall concordance in the 83 successive results was good with a Kappa coefficient of 0.71. The other parameters which have been reported to be useful in diagnosing rejection (relaxation, antegrade diastolic mitral flow, acoustic density of myocardium) present a number of problems in routine practice related either to difficulties with the recording of the data or to its interpretation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

Pharmacological bridge to cardiac transplantation.

From September 1985 to August 1988, 32 patients were referred from various intensive care units throughout Paris for urgent cardiac transplantation or for a mechanical bridge to transplantation. At time of admission, under maximal sympathomimetic therapy, the cardiac index (CI) was 1.81 +/- 0.26 l/min per m2, the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP 31 +/- 7 mmHg), systemic vascular resistances (SVR) 2053 +/- 469 dynes s cm-5. In 25, diuresis was less than 25 ml/h. Five were anuric. Prior to any final decision, a new inotropic agent, enoximone, was infused in addition to previous treatment as a 10 min bolus iv 1.5-2 mg/kg every 8 h. In 3, the situation further deteriorated, leading to a Jarvik 7-70 implantation within 12 h. In 29 however, within 3 h, the Cl increased to 2.69 +/- 0.56 as SVR dropped to 1410 +/- 453 and PCWP to 18 +/- 7. Diuresis increased to more than 100 ml/h in all. This permitted an indepth evaluation of the transplant candidates leading to contraindications to transplantation in 16. Nine patients could be weaned off iv enoximone. Four of these are still living (NYHA class III) with a follow up of 6-17 months. In 11, transplantation was performed within 2 days. Four died within a month, 2 with multiple organ failure. One patient died after 5 months. Six are back to normal life, NYHA class I (follow up 10 months-2.5 years). This protocol suggests that in patients with extreme heart failure, immediate survival may be increased by iv enoximone therapy, permitting a better selection of the recipients, more efficient pre-transplantation intensive care and consequently a decrease in the indications for a temporary mechanical bridge to a staged transplantation.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Abnormalities in myocardial segmental wall motion during lumbar epidural anesthesia.

The effect of lumbar epidural anesthesia on myocardial wall motion was compared in two groups of patients using precordial two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE). All patients were scheduled to undergo lower abdominal or peripheral surgery. Group 1 included five healthy ASA PS 1 subjects and group 2 included 10 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). In all patients 12.5 ml of 2% lidocaine HCl was injected into the lumbar epidural space, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and heart rate were continuously monitored. 2DE evaluation was performed before and at 10, 20, 30, and 60 min (T10-T60) after epidural lidocaine injection. The left ventricular wall was divided into 16 segments for parasternal long-axis, short-axis and apical four-chamber views. The wall motion of each segment was graded on a scale from 1 (dyskinesia) to 6 (hyperkinesia), with 5 representing normal motion. A decrease in segmental wall motion greater than or equal to 2 grades was considered indicative of ischemia. Plasma lidocaine and catecholamine levels were measured before and 10, 20, and 60 min after epidural lidocaine injection. Peak plasma lidocaine levels in groups 1 and 2 were 2.79 +/- 1.06 micrograms/ml (mean +/- SD) and 2.58 +/- 1.48 micrograms/ml at 10 min, respectively (NS). Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were unchanged from baseline. Systolic pressures decreased significantly in group 2 from T10 to T60. Diastolic pressure decreased significantly in the same group from T20 to T60, and in group 1 only at T10. Mean arterial pressure decreased significantly in both groups at T30, without change in heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Early angioplasty in unstable angina. Results apropos of 60 consecutive patients].

Transluminal coronary angioplasty (TCA) is an attractive means of suppressing ischaemia in patients (pts) with unstable angina. Sixty consecutive pts underwent TCA 6 +/- 2.5 days on average after their admission. Only the ischaemic vessel was dilated (mean stenosis 79 p. 100). Primary success was obtained in 53 pts (88 p. 100) with 31 p. 100 of residual stenosis after TCA. Two pts underwent emergency surgery for extensive dissection; failure of traversing the stenotic segment occurred in 2 pts; 3 pts had myocardial infarction (MI) less than 1 h after TCA, 2 arteries have been recanalized by intracoronary streptokinase with persistence of a satisfactory result of TCA, the 3rd patient had occlusion of a secondary side branch. During their stay in hospital, 2 pts had coronary bypass for recurrent angina. After a follow-up period of 6 to 16 months (mean 10 months) early recurrence of angina was observed in a number of cases (before the sixth month in 7 pts). One pt developed MI during the fourth month. At six month, 10 or the initial 60 pts had undergone coronary bypass, 1 undilated pt was asymptomatic; out of 49 dilated pts (47 with one single TCA), 39 were symptom-free but 6 had a positive exercise test, 7 pts were in class II and one in class IV. At control coronary arteriography (46 pts) restenosis was present in 39 p. 100: 5 new TCA and 2 aorto-coronary bypasses were performed. At one year 28 pts had been followed up: 1 was in class IV and 1 in class II, the others being asymptomatic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Home thrombolysis for myocardial infarction. A multicenter study of the feasibility and evaluation of short-term prognosis].

It has been proven since 1986 that in myocardial infarction the sooner thrombolysis is performed the better. Forty-four patients were selected to enter a double-blind randomized trial in which they received either an acylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex or a placebo. The injections were given intravenously at home within the first 3 hours (within the first 2 hours in 26 of them), by doctors from Mobile care units. This home treatment in the acute phase made it possible to gain 75 minutes on average, and up to 90 minutes when it was performed by an anaesthetist trained in emergency management. No serious complication, such as haemorrhagic or allergic reaction, occurred, and arrhythmia was no more frequent in the treated group than in the placebo group. Home thrombolysis did not delay admission to a cardiology Intensive Care unit (66 min. versus 64 min). Mean coronary patency was 75 per cent, and up to 82 per cent, in patients treated within 2 hours of the first symptoms. There was no significant difference between areas of reperfused or not reperfused patients in relation to time (P less than 0.08). Diagnosis sensitivity was 100 per cent. Thus, home thrombolysis is feasible and safe when performed by trained emergency medical teams and when criteria for inclusion and exclusion are fulfilled.

Double-Blind Method↗

[Dose-response relation of intravenous enoximone in congestive cardiac insufficiency].

Enoximone (MDL 17043) is a new generation inotropic drug which acts by inhibiting phosphodiesterase and is endowed with both inotropic and vasodilator properties. The purpose of this study, which involved 23 patients aged from 18 to 75 years in NYHA class III or IV and with evidence of severe haemodynamic disturbances (cardiac index below 2.5 1/mn/m2, pulmonary wedge pressure above 15 mmHg), was to evaluate the acute haemodynamic responses to doses of enoximone that ranged from 0.25 to 2.50 mg/kg administered by bolus intravenous injection. Heart failure was either of ischaemic origin (6 cases) or idiopathic (10 cases) or due to various causes (7 cases). Group A patients (n = 11) received the drug in low doses (less than or equal to 1 mg/kg) as opposed to group B patients (n = 12) who were given high doses (greater than 1 mg/kg). Results were evaluated from the amplitude and duration of the haemodynamic response at maximum effect time (30 min). The following parameters were measured: cardiac index, pulmonary wedge pressure, systemic vascular resistance, mean arterial pressure and heart rate. Cardiac index and pulmonary wedge pressure were significantly improved in both groups (P less than 0.005): cardiac index +39 p. 100 in group A, +55 p. 100 in group B; pulmonary wedge pressure -36 p. 100 in group A, -48 p. 100 in group B; systemic vascular resistance -46 p. 100 in group B. Heart rate and arterial pressure were not significantly altered. The duration of response was 1 to 3 hours in group A patients and 4 to 8 hours in group B patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Prehospital administration of anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex in acute myocardial infarction.

25 patients have been included in a randomised trial aimed to compare prehospital and hospital administration of anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (AP-SAC). Patients were first seen, at home, by a noncardiologist doctor working in a mobile-care unit and were then evaluated for entry into the study. If they had evidence of myocardial infarction lasting for less than 3 hours and if there was no contraindication to thrombolytic therapy they were randomly allocated to APSAC 30U or placebo. They were next referred to an intensive coronary unit (ICU). On arrival in the ICU patients were reevaluated and received APSAC if they had previously received placebo. For 24 patients, diagnosis of myocardial infarction was confirmed. One patient died at home after having received placebo. There was 1 hospital death. At-home injection was made within a median of 124 minutes after the beginning of pain, whereas hospital administration was made after a median of 180 minutes. On a clinical basis reperfusion occurred in 16 out of 21 evaluable patients. Four patients had coronary artery bypass graft surgery and 9 had angioplasty. We conclude that prehospital administration of APSAC is feasible, well-tolerated and is a good way to shorten the delay of thrombolytic treatment in myocardial infarction.

Adult↗

[Exudative enteropathy and residual tricuspid insufficiency following repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Regression following tricuspid valvuloplasty].

Chronic right ventricular failure was observed in a young female operated at 25 years of age for Fallot's tetralogy despite surgical refixation of the patch closing the ventricular septal defect which had previously worked loose. The signs of right ventricular failure were due to severe tricuspid incompetence, confirmed at catheterisation and selective right ventricular angiography. They were associated with major hypoproteinaemia which was not due to urinary loss nor hepatic dysfunction, but which was attributed to an exudative enteropathy. The correction of the valvular defect by valvuloplasty was followed by rapid correction of the biological abnormality. The authors review the relationship between serum proteins and cardiac disease, discuss those cardiac affections with known associations with exudative enteropathy, and also the possibilities of reversing the biological abnormality after surgical cure of the causal cardiac lesion.

Adult↗