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Biomedical subjects

F Schwarz

Publications and source records attributed to F Schwarz.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Intervention in acute myocardial infarction.

The most critical substrate lacking in infarcting myocardium is oxygen and early reperfusion would appear to be the most promising approach to infarct reduction. The efficacy of thrombolytic therapy has been shown by an increase in the global ejection fraction assessed by angiography or gated blood pool techniques and also by a decrease of almost 50% in the radioisotope perfusion defect after 3 to 4 weeks. Functional results in a group of patients subdivided according to success of thrombolysis and plasma creatine kinase levels showed that, among patients with successful thrombolysis, those with the least ischemic damage had experienced shorter ischemic periods and had significantly more collateral vessels supplying the infarcting area. It is recommended that the ischemic period should not extend beyond 3 to 5 hours before therapy is begun. The combination of intravenous streptokinase followed by intracoronary streptokinase was found to lead to a significant shortening of the ischemic period when compared with intracoronary streptokinase alone. Reocclusion of the infarct vessel has been shown to occur in 10% to 30% of patients after successful reperfusion, especially in arteries with severe residual stenosis, but immediate revascularization carried out after reperfusion in such patients can bring about a substantial decrease in the 1 year mortality rate. Successful reperfusion showed particular benefit in patients with previous myocardial infarction in another area, in patients with large left ventricular perfusion defects and in patients with predominantly right ventricular infarction.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗
PubMed1987

Conformational transitions of synthetic DNA sequences with inserted bases, related to the dodecamer d(CGCGAATTCGCG).

Conformational transitions for a series of imperfect palindromes related to the dodecamer d(CGCGAATTCGCG) have been investigated. These sequences are: two isomeric 13-mers - d(CGCAGAATTCGCG) (13-merI) and d(CGCGAATTACGCG) (13-merII), 17-mer d(CGCGCGAATTACGCGCG) and 15-mer d(CGCGAAATTTACGCG). Insertion of a single adenine nucleotide prevents these sequences from being self-complementary. Analysis of thermodynamic parameters derived from the melting profiles together with other data at higher concentrations (NMR and calorimetry) indicates that the insertion of the additional nucleotide which lacks a complement in the opposite strand does not change the enthalpy of the duplex formation, but does alter the number of stable nucleation configurations. The relative position of the insertion within the self-complementary sequence determines the equilibrium between the duplex form and the single-stranded hairpin loop. C-G segments separated by the insertion from the rest of the molecule can undergo an independent conformational transition at high salt concentration, probably to the Z form.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

[Ambulatory long-term prevention of thromboembolism with low-molecular weight heparin].

Patients with severe bleeding complications and other side effects on conventional anticoagulants and strong indication for further anticoagulation were treated with a low molecular weight heparin fragment (Tedelparin). In this paper we report the experiences in 30 patients, who were anticoagulated 1-11 months with this compound. All patients injected themselves a dose ranging from 1 X 2,500 to 1 X 20,000 anti factor Xa units per day. Within 132 months of treatment one patient with good compliance developed thromboembolism. Four patients had bad compliance. Two of them experienced rethrombosis 1 and 8 weeks after starting therapy. Severe haemorrhages did not occur. Two patients had one minor bleeding complication each. Both patients developed several times per year severe haemorrhages with conventional anticoagulants. All excessive subcutaneous haematomas and indurations of the adipose tissue at the injection site of conventional heparin disappeared completely. Low molecular weight heparin can be regarded as an alternative anticoagulant in patients with severe bleeding and other complications on oral anticoagulants and conventional heparin.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Unusual course of Candida endocarditis].

Fever, anemia, pulmonary infiltrates and weight loss occurred in a 47-year-old man four weeks after a gastric operation. On echocardiography and cardiac catheterization an atrial myxoma was revealed. In removing the myxoma the tricuspid valve apparatus was destroyed, requiring insertion of a bio-prosthetic valve (Hancock). Signs of infection persisted post-operatively, together with complete A-V block and panuveitis. The Candida IGM titer was markedly increased and histological examination of the thrombus revealed massive fungal infection. Recurrent fever and massive vegetation on the prosthetic valve necessitated removal of the prosthetic valve under antimycotic treatment, which also cleared the pulmonary lesions. The patient's general condition improved. Right-heart failure was controllable by drugs.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1987

[Thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarct. An improved long-term prognosis following balloon dilatation].

UNLABELLED: A systemic and intracoronary thrombolytic treatment was carried out in 217 patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction between March 1980 and March 1985. 141 patients were only treated with thrombolysis, and 76 were additionally treated by balloon dilation in the same session. Indications for additional balloon dilation were unsuccessful thrombolysis as well as a residual stenosis of more than 50% after primarily successful thrombolysis. Age, sex, proportion of patients with anterior and posterior wall infarction as well as with 1, 2 and 3-vessel disease did not significantly differ in the two groups. The result of therapy (complete reperfusion) was less after thrombolysis than after thrombolysis with balloon dilation (63% as compared to 88%, P less than 0.0003). The patients who were only treated with thrombolysis had a more unfavorable three-year actuarial survival than those in whom thrombolysis and balloon dilation were carried out (70% as compared to 90%, P less than 0.02). CONCLUSION: additional balloon dilation in thrombolytic treatment of acute transmural myocardial infarction improves the long-term prognosis.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗
PubMed1987

[Anticoagulation with low molecular-weight heparin in patients with prosthetic heart valve replacements].

In six patients with prosthetic heart valve replacement anticoagulation was performed with low molecular weight heparin for 4-58 weeks. The treatment was indicated because of one or more severe cerebral or gastrointestinal bleeding complications during therapy with oral anticoagulants or conventional heparin. The dose of the low molecular weight heparin ranged individually from 2,500 to 12,000 units once a day subcutaneously and was adjusted on the basis of the general bleeding tendency of the patient and the specific anticoagulant effect on factor Xa. Under this treatment no heart valve thrombosis occurred. Two minor bleeding complications were observed in two patients. All patients suffered previously from severe bleeding complications with conventional anticoagulants. One additional patient, who had been treated one year earlier with the low molecular weight heparin, again experienced embolism during treatment with only 1 X 5,000 anti factor Xa units per day. We conclude that anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin may be recommended for patients with prosthetic heart valve replacement and severe bleeding problems with conventional anticoagulants. In patients with recurrent embolism higher doses should be administered.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Reinfarction after initially successful thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarct].

UNLABELLED: In 24 of 77 patients (31%, group A), successfully treated by intracoronary streptokinase infusion in the acute stage of a transmural myocardial infarction, reocclusion of the infarct artery occurred within four weeks, in 15 patients with, in the remaining nine without re-infarction symptoms. The age of the patients, frequency of single, double or triple-vessel disease, number of anterior and posterior wall infarcts, creatine-kinase activity before and during treatment, and degree of stenosis at first contrast-medium injection were all comparable in the patients with or without re-occlusion (53 patients, group B). At the end of the acute treatment, in five patients of group A (21%) and in 17 of group B (32%) combined with balloon dilatation at the same time as the infusion, residual stenosis was significantly higher in group A than group B (75%) and 62%, respectively; P less than 0.001). No patient with a residual stenosis of less than 50% (18, of whom 12 had balloon dilatation) had a re-occlusion. CONCLUSION: A residual stenosis of at least 50% after initially successful thrombolysis presents a marked re-infarction risk and should lead to a second intervention in such cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Isolated spontaneous coronary artery dissection. A report on the differential diagnosis of coronary heart disease].

A complete review of the literature on the disease entity isolated spontaneous coronary artery dissection (72 ascertained cases with our own three) is given. The emphasis is placed on differential diagnosis of coronary heart disease, particularly in young patients without typical atherosclerotic risk factors. Isolated spontaneous coronary artery dissection is defined as a spontaneously dissecting hematoma limited to one or more coronary arteries. Women are involved considerably more frequently than men (84% of cases). Mean age at onset of the disease is 41 years (range: 21-70 years). The main site of involvement is the left coronary artery (79% of cases). In one-third of the female patients there is a temporal relationship to pregnancy (peripartum coronary artery dissection). Three types can be differentiated by coronary arteriography. Less than one-third of the patients survive the first 24 h after acute onset of symptoms; attempts at emergency reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium by aortocoronary bypass surgery or thrombolytic therapy have not been successful.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Response to neurotransmitter modulating drugs in patients with Cushing's disease.

We designed a systematic study of patients with Cushing's disease to compare the results of acute experiments with cyproheptadine, sodium valproate and bromocriptine with the results of chronic treatment with sodium valproate. In 13 patients the plasma cortisol response to single doses of 2.5 mg bromocriptine, 6 mg cyproheptadine and 300 mg sodium valproate was assessed over 4-8 h. All patients were then treated with sodium valproate 200 mg three times a day for a period of 3 months. Subjects were classified as responders when there was a reduction in plasma cortisol by at least 50% below the basal level in two consecutive plasma samples during one of these tests, and/or clinical remission and normalization of cortisol production rate during sodium valproate treatment. Four patients responded significantly to at least one of the agents (group I) and 9 did not (group II). In group I three patients were bromocriptine responsive and one of these responded also to cyproheptadine; in this patient both sodium valproate and cyproheptadine were able to induce a remission during chronic treatment. In the one patient of the responder group who was bromocriptine insensitive, sodium valproate treatment also induced a remission. In two patients of the responder group sodium valproate treatment was ineffective. However, in both patients chronic treatment with bromocriptine induced a marked clinical improvement associated with a decrease of cortisol production rate. There was no difference between the groups in sex, age, clinical presentation, duration or severity of hypercortisolism. In one patient in group I a macroadenoma with suprasellar extension was present, while a microadenoma was detected in four patients in group II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Asynchronous left ventricular wall motion early after coronary thrombosis.

To study regional wall motion early in the development of acute myocardial infarction, left ventriculograms performed in 24 patients before thrombolysis and within 3.5(1.2) (mean (SD] hours of the onset of pain were digitised frame by frame. Isometric and contour plots of regional wall motion were constructed. In 19 patients (seven with anterior descending, eight with right, and four with circumflex disease) thrombosis was demonstrated on an underlying stenosis. In 10 patients the two remaining coronary arteries were normal, and in nine, one or both showed important disease. Mean values of global indices of left ventricular function, including end diastolic volume, ejection fraction, peak ejection and filling rates, and cavity shape changes were all within normal limits, though end systolic volume was significantly raised. Total systolic amplitude of wall motion was normal in the affected area in all but seven patients (four with anterior descending, two with right, and one with circumflex thrombosis). Dyskinesis of more than 2 mm was seen in only three patients, all with thrombosis of the anterior anterior descending coronary artery, and hyperkinesis was present in four. The commonest abnormality of wall motion was hypokinesis during ejection followed by prolonged inward motion during isovolumic relaxation, which was seen in four patients with anterior descending, seven with right, and three with circumflex artery thrombosis. This was preceded by outward motion during isovolumic contraction and delayed inward motion during ejection in eight with right or circumflex thrombosis. Five of six patients without thrombosis had simple hypokinesis or dyskinesis without asynchrony. Disease of other coronary arteries did not affect the pattern of wall motion seen after right or circumflex coronary artery occlusion but it reduced the incidence of delayed inward motion along the free wall after thrombosis of anterior descending artery. Thus early after acute coronary thrombosis asynchronous wall motion is commoner than simple hypokinesis or dyskinesis. Its persistence suggests that in the setting of coronary artery thrombosis in man, residual contractile activity may persist for up to six hours after the onset of symptoms.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Changes in left ventricular regional asynchrony after intracoronary thrombolysis in patients with impending myocardial infarction.

Ventriculograms obtained before and a mean (SD) of 4.3 (2.5) weeks after intracoronary thrombolysis in 23 patients who were treated within 3.5 (3.1) hours of the onset of pain were examined for changes in asynchronous left ventricular wall motion. Lysis was achieved in 19 patients, and in 16 the affected artery was still patent at restudy. Angiograms were digitised frame by frame. Left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, and peak ejection rate were all unchanged after thrombolysis, whereas peak filling rate fell, whether or not patency was achieved or maintained. Regional wall motion was examined by means of isometric and contour plots. The area supplied by the affected coronary artery showed simple hypokinesis or akinesis in 10 cases, which was unchanged at the second study in nine and improved in one. The commonest manifestation of asynchrony was delayed inward motion during isovolumic relaxation. This was present in 12 cases with or without associated hypokinesis; after thrombolysis wall motion improved significantly in eight and returned to normal in six, significantly more frequently than it did in patients with simple hypokinesis. Dyskinesis (three patients) and hyperkinesis (five patients) resolved in all. Outward wall motion during isovolumic relaxation reverted to normal in four out of five cases, and outward motion during isovolumic contraction reverted to normal in five out of seven. The frequency of improvement was also increased when the circulation to the affected segment was not compromised by an important residual stenosis. Flow in the affected artery was re-established or maintained significantly less frequently when simple hypokinesis or akinesis was present at the first study. These observations provide further evidence that asynchronous wall motion early after acute myocardial infarction represents residual contractile activity, and suggest that knowledge of its presence and distribution may be useful in assessing patients on whom thrombolysis is performed.

Coronary Angiography↗
PubMed1986

No effect of treatment with sodium valproate on plasma growth hormone in bromocriptine unresponsive acromegaly.

Administration of sodium valproate for 6 months at a dose of 300 mg three times daily to 7 bromocriptine unresponsive acromegalic patients who all but one had been treated with pituitary surgery and/or radiotherapy in the past did not result in a significant reduction of the plasma growth hormone (GH) level or in any clinical improvement. It is concluded that sodium valproate is not suitable for the treatment of acromegalic patients who do not show a favourable response to bromocriptine.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1986

[Long-term frequency-modulated ECG recordings after PTCA in a patient with unstable angina pectoris. A case report].

A patient presenting with unstable angina due to severe stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery encountered 6 episodes with ST segment depressions greater than or equal to 0.1 mV during frequency-modulated Holter monitoring. Four episodes were associated with anginal pain, 2 were asymptomatic. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed. During balloon inflations horizontal ST segment depressions occurred. After successful PTCA, the patient remained asymptomatic and no significant ST segment changes were detected by Holter monitoring. Thus, by frequency-modulated Holter monitoring before, during, and after PTCA, the ischaemic cause of episodes with ST segment depressions greater than or equal to 0.1 mV could be demonstrated.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1986

[Surgical indications in mitral valve stenosis, combined mitral valve defect or mitral valve insufficiency. Long-term prognosis of operated or drug-treated patients].

Data obtained from 683 patients with mitral valve disease, NYHA-class III or IV, were retrospectively studied by means of a multivariate Cox regression analysis. Based on symptoms and hemodynamic findings, surgical intervention had been recommended for all patients: closed mitral commissurotomy (n = 361), prosthetic mitral valve replacement (n = 241) and prosthetic mitral valve replacement together with a corrective procedure for the tricuspid valve (n = 81). While the majority of patients underwent surgery during the observation period (n = 528), a substantial number of patients continued on medical treatment (n = 155). The mean observation periods were 52, 49 and 31 months, respectively, in the three collectives. Surgically treated patients in whom closed mitral commissurotomy had been recommended had a better prognosis (p less than 0.0003) than those treated medically (five-year survival rate 89% vs. 63%). Age, clinical severity, previous mitral commissurotomy, pulmonary vascular resistance and right atrial mean pressure had no significant influence on prognosis. In patients in whom prosthetic mitral valve replacement had been recommended, surgical treatment led only to tendencial improvement in prognosis as compared with those treated medically (five-year survival rate 78% vs. 61%). Factors with an unfavorable influence on prognosis were age more than 49 years (p less than 0.05), pure mitral regurgitation (p less than 0.001), NYHA-class IV (p less than 0.02) and right atrial mean pressure in excess of 4 mm Hg (p less than 0.01). In patients in whom prosthetic mitral valve replacement together with a corrective procedure for the tricuspid valve had been considered necessary, surgical treatment had no significant influence on prognosis as compared with those treated medically (five-year survival rate 57% vs. 53%). Patients in whom previous mitral commissurotomy had been performed had an extremely poor prognosis (p less than 0.001). Pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly reduced both after mitral commissurotomy as well as after prosthetic mitral valve replacement; this was associated with a significant decrease in right atrial mean pressure and increase in right ventricular ejection fraction. The indication for closed mitral commissurotomy, thus, appears established in patients with symptoms of class III or IV clinical severity. The indication can be established generously since the surgical mortality is low and long-term prognosis is good.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1986

[Ventricular arrhythmias in mitral valve disease: incidence, severity and relations to hemodynamic parameters].

The incidence and severity of ventricular arrhythmias was analyzed in 42 patients with pure or predominant mitral valve stenosis (age: 51 +/- 9 years; NYHA class: 2.7 +/- 0.5) and 23 patients with pure or predominant mitral valve regurgitation (age: 55 +/- 11 years; NYHA class: 2.7 +/- 0.6) employing 24 h ambulatory monitoring. Coronary artery disease was excluded by angiography in all patients. Ten patients (14%) had no ventricular premature beats (VPB), 5 patients (7%) greater than 1,000 VPB/24 h, 31 patients (44%) multiform VPB, 19 patients (27%) repetitive VPB and 7 patients (10%) ventricular tachycardia. There was no difference in VPB between patients with mitral valve stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation. The incidence and severity of ventricular arrhythmias was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in patients with mitral valve disease compared to the VPB of 50 normals without identifiable heart disease. This was still valid, if only patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 55% (n = 60) were compared (p less than 0.01). The occurrence of frequent and complex ventricular arrhythmias was not determined by age, NYHA class, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary artery resistance, size of the left atrium, mitral valve area, degree of mitral regurgitation or cardiac index. However, a significant inverse correlation was found between incidence and severity of VPB and left ventricular ejection fraction. A reduced right ventricular ejection fraction, on the other hand, barely affected the occurrence of complex ventricular arrhythmias. Thus frequent and complex ventricular arrhythmias may be a sign of reduced left ventricular function in patients with mitral valve disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[What effect does impaired left ventricular function have on prognosis following prosthetic aortic valve replacement?].

Data of 286 patients with advanced chronic aortic valve disease (NYHA class III or IV) who underwent aortic valve replacement between 1975 and 1982 were retrospectively analyzed using a multivariate Cox regression analysis. Preoperatively, left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were determined angiographically in all patients. In patients with aortic stenosis and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction survival rate up to 7 years was identical as compared to those with aortic stenosis and normal ejection fraction. Survival rate in patients with aortic stenosis who were operated within 76 days after heart catheterization was better than in those who were operated after a longer time interval (p less than 0.05). In patients with aortic insufficiency and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction, prognosis was poorer after operation than in patients with aortic insufficiency and normal ejection fraction (p = 0.05). Thus, patients with advanced aortic stenosis should be operated as soon as the diagnosis is established. Impaired left ventricular ejection fraction is not a risk factor for prognosis after valve replacement for aortic stenosis. In contrast, in patients with aortic insufficiency left ventricular dysfunction is a risk factor for prognosis after operation.

Adult↗