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Biomedical subjects

C Tountas

Publications and source records attributed to C Tountas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of Tc-99m pyridoxal-phenylalanine as a hepatobiliary agent. Part 2. Clinical tests.

Twenty-four patients with normal or diseased hepatobiliary systems were subjected to a clinical trial in order to evaluate Tc-99m pyridoxal-phenylalanine as a biliary imaging agent. The investigation was combined with i.v. cholecysto-cholangiography in most cases, and the results were compared. It is concluded that qualitative information derived from conventional i.v. cholangiography is better in demonstrating the normal biliary tree or gallstones. The radiotracer techniques, however, are valuable in dynamic studies of Oddi's sphincter, in showing patency of biliary by-pass procedures, and in differentiating hepatocellular from obstructive jaundice.

Aged

Long-term results from use of fascia lata as arterial graft.

Of twenty-four dogs, fifteen survived up to two years after aortic replacement with fresh fascial graft. Surviving dogs underwent hemodynamic study and cineaortography. Histology of the graft was examined after the dogs were sacrificed. Length of the graft used is an important factor for both dog survival and graft hemodynamics. The shorter the aortic segment replaced the better the chances for long-term graft patency.

Animals

Short left coronary artery trunk as a risk factor in the development of coronary atherosclerosis. Pathological study.

The relation between the length of the main left coronary artery and the degree of atherosclerosis in its branches was studied by postmortem examination in 204 subjects aged 20 to 90 years. The findings suggest that in cases with a short main left coronary artery the atherosclerotic lesions in the anterior descending and circumflex branches appear earlier, progress faster at higher levels of severity, and lead more frequently to myocardial infarction, than in cases with a long left coronary artery trunk. In cases over the age of 50 years, where disease is expected to have developed, it was shown that the degree of atherosclerosis in the left anterior descending and circumflex branches was inversely related to the length of the main left coronary artery. The correlation coefficients were -0-527 and -0-428, respectively, and in either case a test for zero correlations was significant (P less than 0-001). The possible changes in the haemodynamic and mechanical conditions associated with the variations of the anatomical pattern of the coronary arteries and their influence in the development of atherosclerosis are discussed. It is suggested that the length of the main left coronary artery is a congenital anatomical and possibly hereditary factor influencing the rate of development of atherosclerosis in the branches of the main left coronary artery.

Adult

Length of main left coronary artery in relation to atherosclerosis of its branches. A coronary arteriographic study.

The relation between the length of the main left coronary artery and the presence of atherosclerosis in its branches or the presence of complete left bundle-branch block was studied by selective coronary arteriography in 43 persons. The length of the main left coronary artery was found to be significantly shorter in patients with coronary atherosclerosis than in subjects without angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease. In patients with electrocardiographic evidence of complete left bundle-branch block, the length of the left main coronary artery was significantly shorter than that in both previous groups. In view of these findings, it is suggested that a short main left coronary artery should be considered as a congenital factor predisposing to the development of coronary artery disease. The possible mechanisms leading to atherosclerosis of the left coronary arterial branches in the presence of a short main trunk are discussed.

Angiography

Fistulas of the gastrointestinal tract. Experience with eighty-one cases.

Eighty-one cases of gastrointestinal fistulas are reported. Sixty-seven of these fistulas occurred postoperatively, all of them external, and fourteen occurred spontaneously, all but one internal. Fifty-two patients were treated conservatively and twenty-nine underwent operation, with an overall mortality rate of 23.4 per cent. It is noted that the presence of severe intraperitoneal infection and a high location of the fistula were associated with an unfavorable prognosis, with mortality rates of 31.4 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively.

Acid-Base Equilibrium

The value of Tc99m-diphosphonate (HEDSPA) as a skeletal scanning agent.

A new "bone seeking" agent, namely the organic compound diphosphonate labeled with Tc99m was tried in 21 patients for skeletal scanning. In 3 cases, although the clinical and roentgenographic evidence of bone lesions was absent, bone metastases were found, and these were confirmed histologically. The organic diphosphonate is more stable compared to the inorganic polyphosphates and the images obtained are excellent.

Animals