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Biomedical subjects

A Ricci

Publications and source records attributed to A Ricci.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Comparison of postexercise and transesophageal atrial pacing two-dimensional echocardiography for detection of coronary artery disease.

Two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography during transesophageal atrial pacing (TAP) was recently proposed as an alternative to exercise 2-D echocardiography for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). To compare these 2 methods, 78 consecutive patients with good-quality echocardiographic (echo) examinations at rest were studied. Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed immediately after supine bicycle exercise and at peak atrial pacing obtained with transesophageal atrial stimulation. Twenty patients were excluded: 16 because of poor quality of 2-D echo images after exercise and 4 because of inadequate TAP studies (atrial capture not achieved in 2 and intolerance in 2). Of the remaining 58 patients, 39 had significant CAD (at least 75% diameter stenosis of at least 1 major coronary artery) and 19 had no significant CAD. The 2 test responses were considered positive if a wall motion abnormality was detected during pacing or after exercise. Sensitivity and specificity were 82% and 95% after exercise and 90% and 84% during TAP. In patients with significant CAD but without wall motion abnormalities at rest, sensitivity was 75% during pacing and 56% after exercise. In patients with significant CAD, the wall motion score index decreased significantly with both types of stress; during pacing wall motion score index was significantly lower than after exercise. Thus, 2-D echo during TAP appears to be a feasible and reliable alternative to postexercise echo for the detection of CAD.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1986

Atrial pacing in the detection and evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Atrial pacing has been recently re-evaluated as a stress test for the detection of coronary artery disease. This sort of stress, especially if used in conjunction with cardiac imaging techniques can be considered a reliable alternative to physical exercise. In patients with recent myocardial infarction it can be usefully and safely utilized to obtain prognostic information. In fact, patients with recent myocardial infarction and a positive electrocardiogram (decreases ST greater than or equal to 1 mm) during atrial pacing more frequently than others present subsequent major cardiac events. Limitations of traditional pacing test (invasivity, poor sensitivity of electrocardiography) can be overcome with a new test we have recently proposed: two-dimensional echocardiography during atrial pacing. We have used this new stress test to detect patients with significant coronary artery disease, to identify patients with myocardial infarction and multivessel disease and to evaluate the effect of coronary artery bypass surgery.

Cardiac Pacing, Artificial↗
PubMed1986

[New heterocyclic derivatives of benzimidazole with germicidal activity. III. Synthesis and activity of derivatives of (formyl-5'-furyl-2')-2-benzimidazole with different substitutions at position 5].

The synthesis and germicidal properties of 28 new derivatives of furyl-2-benzimidazole are described. The compounds are substituted both in position 5 of the benzene moiety and in position 5' of the heterocycle moiety. The germicidal properties of the new molecules were tested using 9 strains of bacteria and Candida albicans. Some of them exhibited germicidal properties versus Gram + bacteria and versus Candida. Some derivatives were also tested using Mycobacterium aurum: two isonicotinoylhydrazones derivatives exhibited tubercolostatic activity comparable to that of streptomycin and not much lower than that of isoniazide.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1985

Intranasal dermal analogue tumor (membranous basal cell adenoma). Ultrastructure and immunohistochemistry.

To our knowledge, this is the first case of an intranasal monomorphic salivary gland adenoma (dermal analogue type) arising in a man exhibiting the salivary gland-skin adnexal tumor diathesis. Ultrastructurally, this tumor is composed of cells displaying squamous, secretory, luminal, and, very rarely, myoepithelial differentiation. Additionally, this is the first ultrastructural demonstration of intralobular Langerhans' cells in a dermal analogue tumor from any site. These Langerhans' cells can be demonstrated histologically by S-100 protein immunostaining. Epithelial tumor cells per se display no glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity, but rare epithelial cells stain faintly for S-100 protein. These findings seem to be distinct from pleomorphic adenoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma, the principal histologic differential diagnosis.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1985

Radionuclide assessment of right-ventricular involvement in inferior acute myocardial infarction: clinical correlations and in-hospital follow-up.

We studied 33 patients (28 males, 5 females) with first inferior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 12 normal volunteers. They underwent first-pass (FP) and equilibrium-gated radionuclide angiography (EGRA) within 4 days of the onset of symptoms. The parameters [ejection fraction (EF), peak ejection rate (PER), peak filling rate (PFR)] of the time-activity curve (TAC) of both ventricles [left ventricle (LV), right ventricle (RV)] were computed. The regional wall motion (RWM) was evaluated by parametric images (amplitude and phase). In 43% of the patients with AMI, we found a depressed RVEF, while the LVEF was decreased in only 33%. The sensitivity of diastolic parameters was shown to be clearly superior to that of the systolic parameters (RVPFR, 78%; LVPFR, 79%). The abnormalities of the overall performance of both ventricles were significantly correlated with those of the RWM. The abnormal RVEF allowed us to assess the necrotic involvement of the RV, while a depressed RVPFR suggested an impaired RV compliance mostly on an ischemic basis. Congestive heart failure (CHF) and shock syndrome were significantly correlated with depressed RV parameters, while the LVEF, despite RWM abnormalities, was in the normal range. EGRA with computation of the TAC parameters of both ventricles appeared to be useful for in-hospital prognostic evaluation, therapeutic planning and clinical follow-up of patients with inferior myocardial infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Prinzmetal's variant angina evolved in inferior myocardial infarction with involvement of the right ventricle: sequential radionuclide evaluation.

A patient with Prinzmetal's variant angina (PVA) who developed an inferolateral myocardial infarction with right-ventricle involvement was studied using sequential radionuclide imaging until 5 months after the acute event. The patient also underwent-contrast ventriculography and coronary-artery angiography. Equilibrium-gated radionuclide angiography (EGRA) revealed the localization of ventricular dysfunction, the results obtained being in agreement with haemodynamic data. We emphasize the usefulness of the parameters obtained using EGRA (regional wall motion, systolic and diastolic parameters) in planning therapy and follow-up.

Angina Pectoris, Variant↗
PubMed1985

Use of the YAG laser with a seven-micron spot in pseudophakic eyes.

We report on 216 cases of posterior capsulotomy performed with a LASAG Microruptor II YAG laser in patients with posterior chamber intraocular lenses. In 108 cases, the YAG laser was used in multimode with a 70-micron spot and 3.5 mJ to 5.0 mJ of energy; in the other 108 cases, the laser was used in fundamental mode with a 7-micron spot and 0.7 mJ to 1.2 mJ of energy. In the first group, IOL damage was seen in 10.2% of cases, uveitis developed in 0.4% of patients, and transient eye pressure elevation was noted in 6.5% of patients. In the second group, neither IOL damage nor uveitis occurred, and only two cases (1.8%) developed transient pressure elevation.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

[Right and left ventricular function and incidence of major complications in acute inferior myocardial infarct. Study by equilibrium-gated radioisotope angiography].

By means of equilibrium gated radionuclide angiography (EGRA) 67 patients were studied with first inferior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) within 4 days of the onset of symptoms and 12 normal volunteers. Ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) was computed. The regional wall motion (RWM) was evaluated by parametric images of amplitude and phase (Fourier analysis). The following major in-hospital complications were diagnosed in 41 patients (61%): postinfarction angina, congestive heart failure (CHF), high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, shock, extension of infarction, pericarditis, pulmonary embolism and acute pulmonary edema. A significant correlation between RVEF and the extent of RVRWM abnormalities and the incidence of major complications was found. In particular, the incidence of shock and CHF was significantly correlated with that of the RV disfunction, while the LVEF was generally in the normal range despite a high incidence of LVRWM abnormalities. In the patients developing high-degree AV block this correlation did not reach statistical significance; in this group, 10 of 12 patients developed other major complications. Also in 10 of 13 cases with CHF, other complications arose during the period of hospitalization. In conclusion the disfunction of the RV can identify the subgroup of patients with inferior AMI who are at high risk for developing major complications, especially shock and CHF. AV block and CHF have a severe prognostic meaning, because they occur usually in association with other major complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Evaluation of the ejection fraction using 2 simplified echocardiographic methods in patients with ischemic heart disease and left ventricular asynergy].

UNLABELLED: This study was undertaken to assess the reliability of two simplified echocardiographic methods (Method A and B) in evaluating ejection fraction (E.F.) in patients with left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (WMA). Method A was obtained with a microprocessor that allows the superimposition of a calibrated ellipse to left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic silhouettes; the shape of the ellipse was modified to obtain the best superimposition of the ellipse outline to the endocardium. E.F. was then obtained with the formula: VD-VS/VD where VD and VS were the ellipse volumes at end-diastole and end-systole. In method B E.F. was obtained averaging 3 regional E.F. obtained with a longitudinal axis and 3 different transverse diameters. In a group of 40 patients with WMA and excellent 2D echo images the correlation between echocardiographic and angiographic values was r = 0.76 for method A and r = 0.92 for method B. Method B was also tested in a group of 25 consecutive unselected patients with left ventricular WMA; in this group the correlation with angiographic values of E.F. was r = 0.84. IN CONCLUSION: in patients with WMA method B must be preferred because it is easier to perform and presents a better correlation with angiographic data than method A.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Detection of atrial septal defect by right sternal border echocardiography.

The atrial septum can be visualized by right sternal border 2-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo). To evaluate the usefulness of this approach in the evaluation of atrial septal defect (ASD), 50 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization were studied by 2-D echo. Twenty-one patients (Group A) had ASD (3 ostium primum, 18 ostium secundum) and 29 (Group B) had mitral valve disease and an intact atrial septum. Subcostal and right sternal border approaches were used to visualize the atrial septum. Both approaches identified the 3 cases of ostium primum ASD; secundum ASD was identified using the subcostal approach in 11 patients and using the right sternal border approach in 13. In 15 patients the ASD was imaged at least by 1 of the 2 approaches. Two-dimensional contrast echocardiography showed a positive or negative contrast effect in 13 of 18 cases (12 with standard approaches, 11 with right sternal border approach). In all patients in Group B, the right sternal border approach showed an intact atrial septum. Thus, the right sternal border approach is a useful approach that increases the sensitivity of 2-D echo in the diagnosis of ASD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Clinical value of phase and amplitude images and left ventricle time-activity curves in assessing patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical usefulness of phase and amplitude images and of the left ventricle time-activity curve (LVTAC) obtained by equilibrium gated radionuclide ventriculography (EGRV) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Fifty-six patients were studied within 4 days of the onset of AMI by EGRV; of these 49 also underwent first-pass (FP) angiocardiography, for comparison with EGRV, and 21 underwent repeated EGRV 3 months after AMI. Phase and amplitude images were obtained by Fourier analysis. LVTAC analysis was performed by a third degree polynomial fitting to determine peak ejection rate (PER) and peak filling rate (PFR). A substantial equivalence of EGRV and FP methods was demonstrated, as regards left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), while a sharp superiority of EGRV with Fourier analysis was shown with regard to the sensitivity of RWM abnormality detection. With only one exception all the cases showed RWM abnormalities, while LVEF was normal in 21 of 27 patients with less than three affected segments. The most sensitive global function index was the LVPFR. In the acute phase regional dyskinesis was observed in 14 of 56 patients. About 40% of our cases showed an improvement of the kinetic abnormalities 3 months after AMI. The highest rate of improvement was observed in the group with ECG patterns of limited infarction and with normal LVEF.

Adult↗