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Biomedical subjects

A Montero

Publications and source records attributed to A Montero.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[Myocardial revascularization and complete correction of tetralogy of Fallot in an adult. A case report].

The case is reported of a 62 year-old male having a clinical history of grade II dyspnoea from 9 year ago and recently showing grade II angina. He had presented mild cyanosis. Suspecting the existence of coronary arteriosclerosis, and with the clinical diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot based particularly on two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography, and angio-hemodynamic study was made which confirmed the presence of congenital heart disease and also revealed significant coronary lesions of the circumflex and right coronary arteries. The patient underwent surgery which involved complete correction of the tetralogy of Fallot and the placing of two aortocoronary grafts onto the circumflex and right coronary arteries. Favorable progress was noted both immediately after operation and 6 months later. Although cases have been described of Fallot disease associated with acute myocardial infarction, we believe that this is the first time a patient has undergone myocardial revascularization at the same time as undergoing complete correction of the congenital heart disease.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗

Nonoperative management of splenic injuries.

The traditional management of splenic trauma has undergone major revision in recent years. Given the physiological importance of the spleen, certain controversy has arisen regarding the most appropriate method of managing this type of trauma. Nonoperative therapy in children has proven to be successful not only in the case of kidney lesions but also for splenic lesions. Nonoperative management carried out in the authors' hospital on a group of 56 patients (49 adults and seven children over the age of 7 years) has proved successful in 37 cases. The success of this technique requires a well-formulated protocol, diagnostic methods (ultrasound and computed tomography), rigorous patient control in the emergency room during the initial phase (first 48 hours), the availability of a medical team if surgical intervention becomes necessary (persistent or recurrent hemorrhage), and complementary measures which facilitate the cicatrization of the splenic injury (bed rest, antibiotic therapy).

Adolescent↗

[HIV infection in a patient with chronic cutaneous lupus].

We present a case of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) in a patient who subsequently became infected with human immunodeficiency virus, HIV-1. The symptoms attributed to CCLE had persisted for years, and curiously had disappeared by the time the patient probably became infected with HIV-1. Even if there is lack of evidence to consider HIV-1 infection as direct causative agent in the clinical remission of CCLE, this response is in accordance with previous reports from other authors, regarding the attenuating role of HIV on the clinical course of the systemic lupus erythematosus. Even if the number of reported cases is very low it is of the upmost importance to establish whether this hypothesis is correct or not, since both diseases present great difficulties regarding diagnosis, due to the important overlapping between symptoms and serological tests.

Adult↗

Relationship between adenohypophyseal and steroid hormones and variations in serum and urinary melatonin levels during the ovarian cycle, perimenopause and menopause in healthy women.

Morning levels of serum melatonin, FSH, LH, prolactin (PRL), progesterone and estradiol were studied by RIA during the ovarian cycle, perimenopause and menopause in 79 healthy women. FSH and LH levels showed a slight nonsignificant increase from the fertile period to perimenopause, exhibiting a significantly greater increase during menopause. PRL, progesterone and estradiol showed parallel changes, reaching lower levels during menopause. Serum melatonin levels decreased with age, attaining minimum levels in menopause. FSH and estradiol were significantly correlated with melatonin in the follicular phase, while in the luteal phase a negative correlation was found between melatonin, progesterone and estradiol. No significant correlations were noted between serum hormone levels during the perimenopausal period. In menopause, as during the follicular phase, melatonin and FSH were negatively correlated. As expected, a significant positive correlation was found between morning serum levels of melatonin and nocturnal urinary excretion of this indoleamine in all groups studied.

Adult↗

Duodenal alkalinization releases secretin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and stimulates exocrine pancreatic secretion in the anesthetized rat.

The effect of various intraduodenal alkaline solutions (0.1 M NaHCO3, 0.1 M Na2CO3 and 0.025 M NaOH) on exocrine pancreatic secretion and the release of two peptides, secretin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, was studied in anesthetized rats. The flow rate of the pancreatic juice was stimulated up to a maximum of 179, 158 and 180% and the protein output up to 181, 131 and 162% (compared with basal) after duodenal perfusion of, respectively, 0.1 M NaHCO3, 0.1 M Na2CO3 and 0.025 M NaOH. Maximum increases in portal plasma secretin concentrations of 143, 146 and 190% and maximum increases in VIP of 116, 155 and 147% after, respectively, intraduodenal 0.1 M NaHCO3, 0.1 M Na2CO3, and 0.025 M NaOH were found. In conclusion duodenal alkalinization in the rat produces a pancreatic exocrine secretory response that may be partially ascribed to the effect of secretin and VIP.

Animals↗

[AIDS and pregnancy: a case of mother-child transmission].

We report the case of a 4 month old baby in an advanced stage of HIV infection with AIDS according to the CDC definition. The HIV-infected mother was sexually promiscuous and a drug addict. The timing and route of the infection are speculative. The child was born by cesarean delivery, did not receive blood or blood products and was not breast-fed. It is postulated that the most probable route of HIV infection in this child was intrauterine vertical transmission.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

A comparison of repair and replacement for mitral stenosis with partially calcified valve.

From January 1978 to December 1987 we operated on 135 patients with calcified mitral stenosis. In 60 patients a conservative operation was performed (group I). Nine patients required mitral annuloplasty associated with the commissurotomy. The other 75 patients underwent mitral valve replacement (group II). In 37 patients a mechanical prosthesis was used and in 38 a biologic one. The patients given mitral valve replacement had a more heavily calcified valve than those undergoing a conservative procedure. Twenty-one patients (12 from group I and 13 from group II) required associated tricuspid annuloplasty. The mean follow-up time was 69.1 months (1 months to 10 years). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of operative death (0% and 4%, respectively), postoperative functional class, actuarial survival rate at 10 years (84% and 96%, respectively), and probability of freedom from thromboemboli at 10 years (98% and 96%, respectively). However, the probability of freedom from reoperation at 10 years significantly favored the conservative surgery group (84% and 69%, respectively, p less than 0.01). Finally, the probability of freedom from complications at 10 years was also significantly higher in the conservative surgery group (82% and 64%, respectively, p less than 0.005). Because of these results we believe that conservative surgery is, at present, a better alternative than mitral valve replacement for patients with partially calcified mitral stenosis.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Conservative operation for mitral stenosis. Independent determinants of late results.

A retrospective study was designed to define the independent determinants of late results in 282 consecutive patients operated on for mitral stenosis between 1978 and 1985. A total of 25 variables were investigated by multivariate discriminant analysis for their possible influence on symptomatic outcome, subsequent reoperation, postoperative thromboembolism, and death. All the patients underwent a conservative mitral valve operation. In addition, 25 patients required concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty. The surgical mortality rate was 1.4% and the late mortality, reoperation, and thromboembolism rates were, respectively, 0.14%, 0.80%, and 0.95%/pt-yr. Actuarial probability of complication-free survival at 8 years was 83% +/- 3.7%. Left atrial size on the M-mode echocardiograms, tricuspid annuloplasty, mitral annuloplasty, presence of left atrial thrombus, male gender, and separation of subvalvular apparatus portended a significantly higher likelihood of poor postoperative symptomatic status (p less than 0.0005). Preoperative mild mitral regurgitation, E to F slope on the M-mode echocardiogram, and tricuspid annuloplasty had significant influence on the need for late reoperation (p less than 0.05). Postoperative atrial fibrillation, mitral valve amplitude on the M-mode echocardiogram, preoperative embolism, and residual mitral incompetence had an independent predictive power for postoperative thromboembolism (p less than 0.05). Finally, preoperative atrial fibrillation, preoperative cardiothoracic ratio, postoperative left atrial size, and postoperative atrial fibrillation all influenced the probability of long-term complications. These results suggest that earlier operation should be considered in patients with mitral stenosis, to increase the complication-free survival rate.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Peak creatine kinase as a measure of effectiveness of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction.

As part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute multicenter Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Trial, the time to peak plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity as a marker of reperfusion in 272 patients with validated acute myocardial infarction was analyzed. Patients were treated with either tissue-type plasminogen activator or streptokinase by intravenous administration. All patients underwent acute coronary angiography. The infarct-related artery was identified and thrombolytic therapy administered. Reperfusion at 90 minutes was documented by angiography. CK was determined before institution of therapy and every 4 hours thereafter for the first 24 hours. Patients were classified into 3 groups for comparative purposes: group 1--occlusion with no reperfusion (n = 119); group 2--occlusion with reperfusion (n = 98); and group 3--subtotal occlusion (n = 55). Early (within 4 hours after treatment) and late (more than 16 hours after treatment) peaking of CK differentiated patients with drug-induced perfusion from those without reperfusion. Although peak CK between 5 and 11 hours after drug treatment did suggest perfusion through the infarct-related artery, it did not differentiate between drug-induced and spontaneous reperfusion. Clinically, early peak CK is a useful noninvasive means of assessing coronary artery patency. However, in clinical trials assessing drug therapy, the use of peak CK may overestimate drug effectiveness by including patients with spontaneous reperfusion.

Angiography↗

Assessment of Björk-Shiley and porcine mitral valve dysfunction by m-mode echocardiographic left ventricular dimension.

In this study of 46 patients with mitral valve prostheses, we report on the accuracy of the left ventricular maximum filling velocity (LVMFV) index as a diagnostic tool for valve dysfunction. Echocardiographic left ventricular internal dimensions were measured every 0.05 seconds, and every measure was transferred to an axis system. The tangent to this curve was traced at the point of maximum rate of increase of dimension, and the slope in mm/sec represents the LVMFV index. Six patients, each with an obstructed mitral valve prosthesis, had a reduced LVMFV index (p < 0.001). On the other hand, eight patients with a paravalvular leak showed a LVMFV index significantly higher (p < 0.05) than patients with a normally functioning mitral valve prosthesis. The results of this study suggest that analysis of the LVMFV index can be a useful and reliable substitute for other noninvasive diagnostic techniques in evaluating certain patients with suspected prosthetic mitral valve malfunction.

Journal Article↗