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Biomedical subjects

E Moro

Publications and source records attributed to E Moro.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Determination of the enantiomeric composition of salsolinol in biological samples by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

The enantiomers of salsolinol were completely separated as diastereoisomeric derivatives, after reaction with S-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl isothiocyanate, by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and quantified by electrochemical detection. Good calibration curves were obtained for the quantification and determination of the enantiomeric composition of salsolinol in human urine. The sensitivity and specificity to the assay also permit the determination of the enantiomeric composition of salsolinol in food such as dried bananas and chocolate.

Cacao↗

Pharmacokinetics and tolerance of a new penem antibiotic, FCE 22101, in healthy volunteers after a single intravenous dose.

The clinical tolerance and pharmacokinetics of FCE 22101 (sodium (5R, 6S)-6-[(1R)-hydroxyethyl]-2-carbamoyloxymethyl-2-penem-3-carboxylate), a new penem antibiotic, have been studied after giving a single i.v. dose of 4 mg.kg-1 to ten healthy male volunteers. The pharmacokinetics was estimated according to a two-compartment open model. The peak plasma concentration (Cmax) was 15.5 (1.08) micrograms.ml-1, mean (SEM). FCE 22101 was rapidly cleared from the systemic circulation [t 1/2 lambda z = 44.2 (4.2) min; CL = 7.21 (0.47) ml.kg-1.min-1]. The mean apparent volume of distribution at steady-state was 246 (16.9) ml.kg-1. The mean residence time relative to the 10 min infusion was 39.4 (1.5) min. Urinary recovery of FCE 22101 showed wide inter-subject variation, ranging from 10.2 to 53.6% of the dose. No subject complained of adverse effects.

Adult↗

Ratio of the R and S enantiomers of salsolinol in food and human urine.

Salsolinol is present in human fluids and tissues as well as in some foods and beverages. It was found previously that the R enantiomer of salsolinol predominates in human urine whereas the S enantiomer predominates in Port wine. In this study a new methodology for measuring the proportion of the R and S salsolinol enantiomers in dried banana and human urine is described. In dried banana, a food particularly rich in salsolinol, the R/S ratio was found to be very near to 1. In urine from additional healthy volunteers, the presence of only the R enantiomer was detected. The origin of urinary salsolinol and its enantiomeric composition are discussed with respect to exogenous salsolinol.

Adult↗

Interobserver and echo-angio variability of two-dimensional colour Doppler evaluation of aortic and mitral regurgitation.

Colour Doppler flow mapping (CD) has proved to be a very sensitive and specific means of diagnosing valvular regurgitation and obtaining a rapid semiquantitative estimation of the severity of regurgitation itself. We tried to compare a semiquantitative evaluation of aortic and mitral regurgitation, without time-consuming calculations of regurgitant jet areas, with the conventional visual semiquantitative angiographic estimation. We have also evaluated in detail the interobserver variability of this type of semiquantitation. Two independent observers (OB) have reviewed CD studies of a selected group of 47 consecutive patients who underwent both cineventriculography and aortography for aortic regurgitation (AR) and/or mitral regurgitation (MR), then graded as mild, moderate or severe. At CD, AR and MR were classified as present or absent and graded as mild, moderate or severe. The following interobserver percentage agreements were noted for AR presence or absence, AR grade, MR presence or absence, MR grade, respectively: 96%, 83%, 96%, 83%. Likewise, the respective echo-angio agreements were 90%, 58%, 80%, 70%. Agreement was significant (P less than 0.001) in all cases. Thus, good interobserver and echo-angio agreement was found in the CD assessment of AR and MR. However, under- or overestimation of CD vs. angio was noted in several cases (mostly by one grade). Underestimation of CD vs. angio was 27% for AR and 18.5% for MR; overestimation of CD vs. angio was 15% for AR and 11.5% for MR. CD has proved to be a useful technique not only for the qualitative but also for the semiquantitative evaluation of aortic and mitral regurgitation, as assessed in the same subjects, with good interobserver agreement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗

[Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: variability of bidimensional echocardiographic and electrocardiographic expression].

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by primary hypertrophy of the myocardium which is localized exclusively at the apex of the left ventricle. Previous studies have indicated that apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by a unique combination of cross-sectional echocardiographic and ECG findings ("giant" T wave inversion and high R wave voltage in the precordial leads). The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relation between apical hypertrophy, quantitatively defined by cross-sectional echocardiography, and ECG findings in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We studied 13 pts with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 10 men and 3 women (aged between 11 and 73 years, mean age 47). Apical hypertrophy was assessed quantitatively by determinating the muscle cross-sectional area in the apical region. From the end-diastolic apical 4 chamber view, endocardial and epicardial contours were digitized in order to obtain the muscle cross-sectional area of the left ventricle. The walls of the left ventricle were then divided into 3 regions (basal, mid-ventricular, apical). Final values of planimetered muscle areas are given as the average of the calculations obtained blindly and independently by 4 observers. The comparison between cross-sectional echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings showed that patients with giant T wave inversion (T wave greater than 10 mm) and high R wave voltages (R greater than wave 25 mm) had a more severe degree of apical hypertrophy. However there was no complete agreement between cross-sectional echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings. This study in fact demonstrates a wide variation in the degree of severity of apical hypertrophy among patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Exercise Doppler echocardiography in patients with pure mitral stenosis.

Exercise increases heart rate and cardiac output and is helpful in the determination of dynamic mitral gradient in patients with mitral stenosis. However exercise is difficult to perform during cardiac catheterization in a premedicated recumbent patient and is only feasible when the brachial approach is used. Therefore, in the haemodynamic laboratory, exercise has important practical limitations. In order to obtain similar information using a reproducible and non-invasive technique, we tested the feasibility of combined two-dimensional and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography during exercise in a selected number of patients with pure mitral stenosis and in sinus rhythm. Seven patients, ranging from 14 to 48 years (average: 35 +/- 13), underwent baseline two-dimensional and continuous wave Doppler examinations, repeated after 2 minutes of supine bicycle exercise at a workload of 25, 50, 75 watts. The following parameters were derived and averaged: mean velocity of flow across the mitral valve, mean mitral valve gradient, diastolic filling period and heart rate. The increase in mitral valve flow was from 1.5 +/- 0.3 to 2.2 +/- 0.5 m/s (p less than 0.001); the corresponding increase in mean pressure gradient was from 11 +/- 3 to 21 +/- 8 mmHg (p less than 0.001). The decrease in the diastolic filling period was from 424 +/- 170 to 272 +/- 73 msec (p less than 0.005). The increase in heart rate was from 60 +/- 10 to 100 +/- 18 beats/minute (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Influence of aortic regurgitation on the assessment of the pressure half-time and derived mitral-valve area in patients with mitral stenosis.

The influence of aortic regurgitation on the Doppler assessment of pressure half-time (T1/2) and on the derived calculation of the mitral-valve area has not yet been adequately evaluated in patients with mitral stenosis and associated aortic regurgitation. Therefore this study was undertaken to verify the accuracy of the T1/2 method for the noninvasive estimation of mitral-valve area in patients with mitral stenosis and associated aortic regurgitation. Data were obtained from 31 selected patients who underwent cardiac catheterization within 24 h of the noninvasive examination. From the Doppler velocity curve, T1/2 was calculated as the interval between the peak transmitral velocity and velocity/ square root of 2. Mitral-valve area was measured from the T1/2 with a computerized system using the equation: 220/T1/2, in cm2. Calculation of the mitral-valve area at catheterization was derived applying the modified Gorlin formula. Mean mitral-valve area, as determined at catheterization, ranged from 0.5 to 2.8 cm2 (1.3 +/- 0.6). Mean mitral-valve area, as calculated by continuous-wave Doppler, ranged from 0.7 to 2.7 cm2 (1.5 +/- 0.6). Linear-regression analysis of data revealed a good correlation between Gorlin and Doppler measurements of the mitral-valve area (r = 0.90, SEE = 0.28 cm2, P less than 0.001, y = 1.0x + 0.2). Doppler showed a systematic overestimate of the mitral-valve area (26%) in patients with mitral stenosis and aortic regurgitation as compared to the Gorlin formula. The overestimate of continuous-wave Doppler was even greater (39%) in a subgroup of patients with 2+ or 3+ angiographic aortic regurgitation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Feasibility and variability of six methods for the echocardiographic and Doppler determination of cardiac output.

The feasibility and the intrinsic variability of six different methods of echocardiographic and Doppler flow determination of cardiac output were analysed in 34 healthy volunteers. Four were excluded because of poor quality echocardiograms. The mean (range) age of the remaining 30 (12 women, 18 men) was 21 years (13-36 years). Cardiac output was calculated by six methods as a product of echocardiographically determined cross sectional area of the aorta (apical and suprasternal views), pulmonary trunk, tricuspid annulus, and mitral annulus (circular and corrected for diastolic variations), and the flow velocity integral measured by Doppler. Cardiac output ranged from 2.79 to 6.56 1/min (4.45 (1.29) 1/min) (mean (SD)). The feasibility of the methods ranged from 87% (26 patients) for the aorta from the suprasternal notch to 100% (30 patients) for the mitral orifice corrected for diastolic variations and for the tricuspid valve. The corresponding results for all 34 individuals were 76% and 88% respectively. Three way analysis of variance was performed in the 23 healthy volunteers in whom all six methods were feasible. Interobserver and intraobserver interpretative variabilities were 6.8% and 5.9% respectively. The intrinsic variability of each single measurement of cardiac output, independently of the observer and the method used, was 25%. Provided the image was suitable for analysis echocardiographic and Doppler flow determination of cardiac output was feasible in most healthy volunteers. But there was significant intrinsic variability for each of different methods. A single value of cardiac output in an individual should be interpreted with caution.

Adolescent↗

[Normally functioning mitral prosthesis: visualization and characterization of the trans-valvular flow using color-coded Doppler].

Color flow imaging (CFI) allows real time visualization of intracardiac and transvalvular blood flow, superimposed on two-dimensional echocardiographic images. Therefore it can be useful in the identification and characterization of spatial configuration of jets through valve prosthesis. The aim of this study was to define the transvalvular flow pattern of jet in 54 patients (pts) with mitral valve prosthesis which were functioning well. Thirty-six of these pts were females and 18 males; their ages ranged from 40 to 73 years, mean age: 58. Prosthetic mitral inflow was evaluated utilizing the parasternal long axis, apical long axis and apical 4 chamber views; in addition ("off axis") intermediate sections were used when needed. Adequate CFI for detailed frame by frame analysis was obtained in 50 pts (92%). Fourteen pts had biological prosthesis (9 Hancock, 4 Carpentier-Edwards, 1 Ionescu-Shiley). Thirty-six pts had mechanical prosthesis: 13 Björk-Shiley, 8 Starr-Edwards, 9 Sorin, 5 Lillehey-Kaster, 1 Smeloff-Cutter. Variable jet configurations were identified, which were related to the type of prosthetic valve. Bioprosthetic valve characteristically had a wide, homogeneous transvalvular flow, directed towards the interventricular septum. Björk-Shiley prosthesis presented typically a jet with two components. Trans-prosthetic flow was dependent on the spatial position of the prosthesis and on the orientation of the tilting disc. Thus, the main jet, coming from the major orifice, could be directed towards the apex, flowing parallel to the left ventricular postero-lateral wall while the jet coming from the minor orifice was thin and directed towards the interventricular septum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Comparison of continuous wave Doppler and heart catheterization in the determination of the mean transvalvular gradient in mitral stenosis. A simultaneous beat to beat analysis].

Continuous wave Doppler echocardiography (CWD) is widely used in the assessment of pressure gradients in patients with valvular heart disease, utilizing the simplified Bernoulli equation. However determination of non-simultaneous mean pressure gradient (MG) in mitral stenosis (MS) from CWD recordings has often been described as being unsatisfactory. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the estimates of trans-mitral MG derived from CWD with gradients measured simultaneously at cardiac catheterization (beat to beat analysis). We studied 3 patients (pts) with MS (1 man and 2 women, aged 55, 55 and 62 years respectively); one patient (pt) was in sinus rhythm and 2 were in atrial fibrillation. In each pt the trans-mitral flow velocity curve was obtained simultaneously with trans-mitral gradient measured directly at cardiac catheterization (cath). In this way it was possible to obtain a beat to beat correlation between Doppler and cath in 181 beats taken from the 3 pts. These beats were selected from a total number of 321 beats because of their excellent quality for analysis (74 beats were obtained from the first pt, 38 from the second pt and 69 from the third pt). Mean diastolic velocity, defined as the mean of maximal velocities throughout diastole, was obtained for each beat by planimetring the envelope of the spectral velocity profile. MG was calculated from mean velocity by applying the simplified Bernoulli equation (delta P = 4V2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiac Catheterization↗

Prevalence of systolic anterior motion of the mural (posterior) leaflet of the mitral valve in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: an echocardiographic study.

Cross-sectional echocardiography was used to identify systolic anterior motion of the mural (posterior) leaflet of the mitral valve from a group of 53 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This type of systolic anterior motion was identified in parasternal long axis, apical four-chamber and/or long-axis cross-sections and was characterized by an elongation of the mural leaflet and an abnormal coaptation with the aortic (anterior) leaflet. At end-diastole, the aortic leaflet coapted at the basal or mid portion of the mural leaflet, leaving its distal "residual" segment in the left ventricle. Subsequently, during systole this "residual" segment approached or touched the ventricular septum. Systolic anterior motion of the mural leaflet was present in 6 (12%) of our patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Lengthening of the leaflet and an abnormal coaptation were associated with increased thickening of the posterior wall of the left ventricle and narrowing of the left ventricular outflow tract. All these elements contribute to the occurrence of systolic anterior motion and left ventricular tract obstruction.

Adolescent↗

Genesis of systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: an anatomical or dynamic event?

To determine the relative role of both the anatomical and dynamic components involved in the determination of systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve, we studied 53 selected patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography (CSE). Recordings of high quality for quantitative analysis were a precondition for the inclusion in the study. Twelve of these patients had no SAM, 14 had SAM of the anterior mitral leaflet (AML), six had SAM of the posterior mitral leaflet (PML), and 21 had SAM of both the AML and PML. The length of both the AML and PML, the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) area and the percentage of thickening of the left ventricular posterior wall (%LVPW) were measured in 18 control subjects (group I), in patients with AML-SAM (group II), in patients with AML+ PML-SAM (Group III), in patients with PML-SAM (group IV) and in patients with HCM but without SAM (group V). The length of AML in group I (23 +/- 1.5 mm) was significantly different compared with that in groups III (28 +/- 2 mm) and IV (29 +/- 2 mm), P less than 0.001. Significant differences were present in the PML-length between group I (14 +/- 1 mm) and groups III (20 +/- 3 mm) and IV (25 +/- 4 mm), respectively (P less than 0.001), between group II (14 +/- 2 mm) and groups III and IV, respectively (P less than 0.001), and also between group V (14 +/- 1 mm) and groups III and IV (P less than 0.001). Differences were found when the %LVPW of groups II (76 +/- 17%), III (77 +/- 11%) and IV (83 +/- 19%) were compared, respectively, with groups I (42 +/- 12%) and V (54 +/- 7%), P less than 0.001; a significant difference was also found between groups I and V, P less than 0.001. The mean LVOT area was significantly reduced in groups II (3.5 +/- 1.3 cm2), III (3 +/- 1 cm2) and IV (3 +/- 1 cm2) when compared with group V (5.9 cm2), P less than 0.001. We conclude that the induction and maintenance of SAM in HCM is multifactorial, mainly depending on the length of both the AML and/or PML, the LVOT area and on the increased contractility of the LVPW.

Adult↗

[Value and limitations of 2-dimensional echocardiography in the identification of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value and limitations of Cross-sectional Echocardiography (CSE) in the diagnosis of Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). Diagnosis was based on accepted clinical, electrocardiographic, electrophysiologic and angiographic criteria. CSE criteria for the diagnosis are segmental right ventricular wall motion abnormalities of unknown cause, usually associated with localized or diffuse dilatation of right ventricular (RV) chamber and with the presence of localized anomalies consisting of sacculation or bulging of RV wall. Comparison of CSE and RV angiographic findings was performed in 8 patients with ARVD (6 men and 2 women, aged 10 to 37 years, mean 28 years). CSE and angiography compared closely when diffuse RV enlargement and wall motion abnormalities were identified by both techniques. Bulging and sacculation of the RV wall at CSE predicted the presence of similar lesions at angiography, but agreement for specific location was poor and, in addition, CSE showed low sensitivity in their detection. The inherent different information provided by the two methods added to the subjectivity of the qualitative analysis probably accounts for the inconsistencies. Therefore in patients with diagnosed ARVD RV enlargement, otherwise unexplained, associated with wall motion abnormalities and localized anomalies at CSE strongly supports the diagnosis and avoids the need for angiography. By other hand, in patients with high clinical suspicion of ARVD a negative CSE study can not exclude the diagnosis and angiography should be indicated.

Adolescent↗

[Visualization and characterization of the transvalvular jet in mitral stenosis using color-coded Doppler].

Two-dimensional Color Doppler flow imaging is a new non-invasive technique which allows real-time visualization of intracardiac blood flow and provides informations about its direction, velocity and presence of turbulence. As a consequence the identification of jets configuration across stenotic valve orifices is now possible by Color flow imaging. This non invasive tool may be particularly helpful in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease in whom distortion of mitral valve apparatus is often present, determining a non uniform and variable appearance of jets. Therefore the aim of this study was to describe our initial experience with color flow imaging in the visualization of transtenotic mitral jets in order to characterize different spatial configurations. We studied 45 patients with clinical and echocardiographic diagnosis of mitral stenosis. The mean age of these patients was 59 years (range from 36 to 72 years), 34 were women and 11 men. The different types of transmitral jets were characterized by real time and frame by frame analysis. The following characteristics of transmitral jets have been evaluated: A) appearance ("Candle flame", "Mushroom", "Scimitar"-shaped, "Double-jets"); B) direction (centrally directed or eccentric); C) extension into the left ventricle (basal, mid-ventricular and apical); D) persistence of turbulent flow during diastole (early-, mid-, late diastole). Mitral valve area was calculated from the velocity tracings obtained by continuous wave Doppler, applying the pressure half-time method. Color flow imaging of good quality for analysis was obtained in 41 of 45 patients (91%). In the other 4 patients the quality of color flow images was suboptimal however the direction and configuration of the jets could still be visualised.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗