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Biomedical subjects

A Pines

Publications and source records attributed to A Pines.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Is there an association between gastric polyps and colonic neoplasms?

The association between colonic neoplasms and gastric polyps (GP) was evaluated. Two hundred and sixty patients with known colonic neoplasms undergoing gastroduodenoscopy for abdominal symptoms, with or without anemia, were evaluated for the occurrence of synchronous GP. There were 100 patients with 1-4 colonic adenomas, 80 patients with multiple (5 or more) colonic adenomas and 80 patients with colorectal cancer. One hundred patients free from colonic neoplasms, investigated for abdominal pain or anemia, served as controls. The overall occurrence of GP in patients with colonic neoplasms was 18.8% compared to 1% in the control group. Hyperplastic GP were found in 4, 22.5, 18.7 and 1% of these patients, respectively, while gastric adenomas occurred in 2, 3.7, 3.5 and 0%, respectively. Patients with colorectal cancer or multiple colonic adenomas had significantly more GP than patients with 0-4 colonic adenomas. It is suggested that gastroduodenoscopic evaluation should be performed in patients with colorectal cancer or with 5 or more colonic adenomas.

Adenoma↗

Usefulness of immediate postexercise two-dimensional echocardiography in post-myocardial infarction patients without ischemic ECG changes in stress testing: comparison with radionuclide angiography.

Of 38 post-myocardial infarction (MI) applicants for a cardiac rehabilitation program, 17 (45%) did not have ischemic ECG changes in exercise testing. Ten (59%) of these 17 patients had echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities at rest. Immediate postexercise two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated exercise-induced changes in 8 (47%) patients (2 with normal and 6 with abnormal results from rest studies). The comparative radionuclide (RNA) examinations showed that there were 6 patients with abnormal findings from rest RNA; exercise-induced changes were detected in 7 (44%) of 16 patients (3 with normal and 4 with abnormal results from rest RNA tests). Statistical analyses, using RNA as reference point, revealed that the total correctly diagnosed cases for the echocardiographic rest studies was 13/17 (77%) and for the exercise studies, 13/16 (81%). The negative predictive values were 7/7 (100%) and 7/8 (88%), respectively. The corresponding positive predictive values were 6/10 (60%) and 6/8 (75%). The same pattern was observed when each segment (septal, apical, and posterolateral) was evaluated separately. The authors conclude that in post-MI patients with a negative stress test, the efficacy of postexercise echocardiography equals that of RNA in the identification of additional patients with ischemia.

Adult↗

Failure of corticosteroid therapy to prevent induction of ventricular tachycardia in sarcoidosis.

Programmed ventricular stimulation was performed in a patient with sarcoidosis who exhibited an episode of sustained ventricular tachycardia. Sustained rapid ventricular tachyarrhythmias requiring cardioversion for termination were induced by double right ventricular apical extrastimuli during control, and treatment with disopyramide, quinidine, and fluocortolone. In contrast, only four repetitive ventricular complexes were induced during combined therapy with quinidine, mexiletine and amiodarone. While receiving the latter regimen, the patient has been asymptomatic during 28 months of follow-up.

Adult↗

Exercise response in young women with mitral valve prolapse.

To detect for possible evidence of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, we assessed exercise response in 198 young women with echocardiographically documented MVP. The same test was used to determine whether patients with or without physical symptoms or with various auscultatory findings responded differently. Compared with 105 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects, the MVP patients showed significantly higher mean heart rate, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and rate-pressure (double) product, at both rest and exercise; significantly lower mean near-maximal physical working capacity (PWC170); significantly higher incidence of both arrhythmias and nonspecific ST and T wave changes; and a significantly longer mean corrected QT interval. None of these findings was associated with the presence of physical symptoms or with specific auscultatory or echocardiographic findings. These observations strongly suggest an autonomic nervous system imbalance in some young women with MVP, irrespective of whether physical symptoms are present.

Adult↗

Echocardiographic evaluation of the effects of gallopamil on left ventricular function.

Two-dimensional echocardiography was used to determine global and regional left ventricular function in 32 patients treated with gallopamil (methoxyverapamil) for angina pectoris. Ejection fraction (EF), pressure/volume ratio (PVR), and segmental wall motion were assessed. Evaluations were made before therapy (T1) and repeated 3 weeks later; this assessment included examination 2 and 8 hours after the morning dose (T2 and T3, respectively). Patients were randomized to either a placebo group or three study groups (25, 37.5, and 50 mg t.i.d.). In the 37.5 and 50 mg groups there was an increase in EF (T1 = 53.8% and 54.5%, T2 = 57.9% and 60.1%, and T3 = 57.6% and 60%) and PVR values (T1 = 5.2 and 7.2 mm Hg/ml/m2, T2 = 5.8 and 7.7 mm Hg/ml/m2, and T3 = 5.9 and 7.6 mm Hg/ml/m2, respectively). Wall motion remained the same or improved in 92.3% of the patients. In conclusion, gallopamil had no cardiodepressant effects in most patients. On the contrary, EF, PVR, and segmental contractility tended to improve with the higher doses.

Aged↗

Maternal and fetal serum levels of organochlorine compounds in cases of premature rupture of membranes.

Blood residue levels of some organochlorine pesticides (DDT and its analogues, lindane, dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide) and polychlorinated biphenyls were measured in maternal and cord blood in 20 cases of premature rupture of fetal membranes at term and in 15 matched controls. No evidence of a possible organochlorine compounds role in the pathogenesis of premature rupture of the membrane was found.

DDT↗

Gastrointestinal phycomycosis in acute nonlymphatic leukemia.

A 37-year-old patient with acute nonlymphatic leukemia developed gastrointestinal phycomycosis during failure in bone marrow production. The clinical presentation was of acute typhlitis. Laparotomy revealed a necrotic mass in the region of the iliocecal valve, and on histologic examination hyphae of phycomycetes with invasion of the blood vessels were seen. The patient died as a result of widespread infection.

Acute Disease↗

Effects of prolonged intensive versus moderate leg training on the untrained arm exercise response in angina pectoris.

To compare the effects of 2 different leg training intensities on the cardiocirculatory exercise response of the untrained arm, 58 patients with angina pectoris were randomized to either an intensive (at least 85% of symptom-limited exercise, n = 28) or a moderate (70 to 85% of symptom-limited exercise, n = 30) training group. Patients trained for 6 months, 2 times per week for 30 minutes each. Results of the 2 groups after training showed similar significant (p less than or equal to 0.001) decreases in heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (BP) and HR X BP product for trained legs and untrained arms at matched subanginal workloads and significant (p less than 0.01 to 0.001) increase in anginal threshold HR and HR X BP for the onset of 1 mm or more ST horizontal depression during testing of trained legs as well as of untrained arms. The improvement in exercise capacity at subanginal workloads results from decreased HR X BP product. In contrast, the significant increase in HR X BP product for the onset of ST-segment displacement and precipitation of anginal pain for both the trained and untrained limbs may imply an increase in myocardial blood flow. Thus, prolonged intensive or moderate training may significantly improve coronary blood flow in selected patients with angina pectoris. Patients with the highest anginal threshold HR and HR X BP product before training showed the most improvement at 6 months after training.

Adult↗

Changes in pattern of organochlorine residues in blood of general Israeli population, 1975-1986.

This study reviews data on the changes with time of the blood levels of some organochlorine compounds (OCCs) in the general Israeli population. All the studied OCC residues, except for p,p'-DDD, were significantly lower in 1985-1986 than in 1975. A decline in blood residues of organochlorine pesticides was observed mainly in the second half of the 1970s, whereas a fall in the polychlorinated biphenyl residue levels took place in the first half of the 1980s. During the latter period, unexplained increases in p,p'-DDD, dieldrin and heptachlor epoxide residue levels were seen. A significant decrease in the blood levels of OCCs quickly metabolized in the body (p,p'-DDT, tetrachlorobiphenyls) indicated a considerable reduction of environmental exposures. The clear decline in OCC contamination of the environment and, in particular, of the human body during the reviewed period (1975-1986) resulted from the restrictions imposed in Israel on the use of OCCs. Nevertheless this does not mean that this problem has been solved. Some health implications of low-level life-long OCC exposure are discussed, and further environmental and biological monitoring and control measures are recommended.

Adult↗

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in the detection of small stones in the gallbladder.

Multiple small (2-5 mm in size) gallstones were demonstrated only by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in eight patients who had recurrent upper abdominal pain and vomiting. Three patients had mild, rapidly resolving abnormalities of liver biochemistry and serum amylase. In the other five, both serum amylase and liver biochemistry were repeatedly normal. We conclude that endoscopic retrograde cholangiography may be useful in the detection of small gallstones in patients with symptoms suggestive of biliary tract disease, even in the presence of normal oral cholecystography, ultrasonography, serum amylase, and liver biochemistry.

Amylases↗