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Biomedical subjects

H Ikram

Publications and source records attributed to H Ikram.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Primary amyloidosis with cardiac involvement diagnosed by left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy.

A case of primary amyloidosis is described. The patient presented with the nephrotic syndrome and later developed heart failure. Left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy was performed and haemodynamic data were recorded. The findings were those of a 'restrictive' cardiomyopathy. Histology of the biopsy was pathognomonic of amyloid involvement of the heart. The patient was started on chemotherapy consisting of prednisone, penicillamine, melphalan and fluoxymesterone. This case demonstrates the ability of endomyocardial biopsy in arriving at a definitive diagnosis in this patient.

Amyloidosis↗

Heterogeneity of hepatitis B surface antigen-associated particles isolated from chimpanzee plasma.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was purified from approximately 8 liters of pooled plasma from a carrier chimpanzee. Precipitation of HBsAg with polyethylene glycol resulted in more than 20-fold purification, with about 80% recovery of antigenic activity. The sample was separated by further purification and fractionation into three populations of HBsAg-associated particles by column chromatography on hydroxylapatite: the first contained short filaments and 22- to 28-nm spheres, the second was composed of larger filaments and variable-sized spheres, and the third contained mostly 16- to 22-nm spherical particles. A large volume of the polyethylene glycol precipitate passed through hydroxyl-apatite twice yielded over 650 mg of partially purified HBsAg. A pooled preparation of purified HBsAg was separated by zone-convection electrofocusing into five peaks of antigenic activity within the pH range of 4.7 to 5.7.

Animals↗

The non-invasive recognition of left atrial enlargement: comparison of electro- and echocardiographic measurements.

The aim of this study was to compare the ability of electro- and echocardiography to detect enlargement of the left atrium. Seventy-four patients, divided into three groups (eighteen normal, thirty-six valvular disease, twenty hypertension and/or coronary artery disease) were studied. The P wave terminal force in lead V1 (PTF-V1) was measured from a standard 12 lead electrocardiogram, and the internal left atrial dimension (LAD) was measured from time-motion echocardiograms. Linear regression analysis showed a small but significant linear correlation between PTF-V1 and LAD (r = 0-32, P less than 0-01). Both methods would separate patients with diseases known to cause left atrial enlargement from normals, but echocardiography showed greater "specificity" (100% v. 94+) and "sensitivity" (75% v. 67%). It was much superior to the ECG in detecting milder grades of left atrial enlargement and for following serial changes.

Cardiomegaly↗

A case of self-induced digoxin poisoning: with His bundle studies of the site of heart block.

A case of digoxin overdose was described. Despite vigorous gastric lavage, the serum digoxin which was 0.8 ng/ml on admission rose to 7 ng/ml four hours later. The main side-effects were symptoms of nausea and anorexia and conduction defects including complete atrioventricular dissociation requiring pacemaker insertion. Opportunity was taken to study the site of heart block with His bundle electrography during the conduction disturbances. This showed that the site of block was situated above the His-Purkinje system in the atrioventricular (A-V) node.

Aged↗

Plasma zinc in acute myocardial infarction. Diagnostic and prognostic implications.

Zinc is a metal component of many important enzymes, and its availability controls the rate of synthesis of nucleic acids and protein. Serum zinc levels have been shown to fall after acute tissue injury, including myocardial infarction. The purpose of this clinical study was to examine the value of plasma zinc measurements in a coronary care unit. Studies were made in 188 patients: 88 with unequivocal myocardial infarction, 52 controls, and 48 in a borderline group. Patients with myocardial infarction showed a fall in plasma zinc within the first three days, whereas patients in the other two groups did not. The difference in the mean minimum zinc levels between the groups with and without infarction was highly significant. In patients with myocardial infarction there was good correlation between the minimum plasma zinc level and the peal value of plasma enzymes, and also with some clinical estimators of prognosis. A fall in plasma zinc is a reliable diagnostic test for acute myocardial infarction, and the extent of the fall has prognostic implications.

Humans↗

Hepatitis B surface antigen in blood donors: further observations.

A survey of 128,000 volunteer blood donors from the Greater New York metropolitan area revealed that first-time male donors were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) 2.5 times more frequently than were first-time female donors; Negroes and Mongols were positive four to 20 times more frequently than Caucasians. The ratio of ad to ay seemed to be higher in non-Caucasian antigen carriers than in Caucasian carriers. Among both Caucasians and non-Caucasians the rate of positivity declined after the age of 50. An excess prevalence of HBsAg was observed in donors with the lowest level of education and in those with the highest level. HBsAg was detectable nine times less frequently among repeat donors than among first-time donors (0.2 vs.1.90 per 1,000). Detection of HBsAg was unrelated to ABO-Rh blood groups. Several mechanisms for these wide variations of antigen detection are possible.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

A new reversed passive hemagglutination test for detection of HBsAg.

A new reversed passive hemagglutination test for HBsAg, termed Raphadex B, has been developed using immunochemically purified chimpanzee anti-HBs bound to stabilized human erythrocytes. The test has been found to have equivalent sensitivity to the Ausria 125I radioimmunoassay, and detected a similar number of HBsAg-containing specimens in screening of volunteer blood donors. This method offers an economical approach to third generation methodology for hepatitis B screening of blood donors.

ABO Blood-Group System↗