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Biomedical subjects

H Pollak

Publications and source records attributed to H Pollak.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

[Presumed "successful" fibrinolysis in unrecognized acute aortic dissection].

Thrombolysis (1,500,000 IU streptokinase during 60 minutes and 500 mg acetylsalicylic acid was started in a 43-year-old woman with Turner's syndrome who had chest pain lasting for more than 45 min accompanied by ST elevations of 0.2 mV or more in leads II, III, aVF and V1-V5. Pain disappeared within an hour and the ST segments became isoelectric. Severe back and upper abdominal pain occurred 24 hours later. Computed tomography revealed an aortic dissection from the aortic valve to the descending aorta. Intraoperatively the rupture was found to extend to an apparently single left coronary ostium. The aortic valve was bicuspid and incompetent. After aortic valve replacement, resection of the ascending aorta and implantation of a vascular prosthesis the patient's condition gradually improved and she was discharged from hospital.

Acute Disease

[Spatial distribution of the action potentials of the sural nerve].

We investigated the spatial distribution of the sural nerve sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) in 25 healthy subjects between 21 and 50 years. Stimulation was achieved through surface electrodes at the lateral malleolus. Recordings were made 15-18 cm proximal to the site of the stimulation from different positions on a line perpendicular to the sural nerve using needle electrodes insulated except for the tip. The amplitude of the SNAP decreased on both sides of the potential of highest amplitude. 10 mm lateral to the potential of highest amplitude the mean amplitude was reduced to 55%. The latency of the first positive phase decreased within increasing distance from the largest SNAP. We explained this with different influence of more distal, earlier depolarized nerve segments on the locally generated SNAP. In 20 subjects we performed an additional recording using an uninsulated needle electrode that was placed 3-4 cm subcutaneously perpendicular to the sural nerve. The latency of the SNAP recorded in this way was similar to the latency of the largest SNAP using the insulated needle electrode; however, the amplitude was smaller by 19%. We recommend for clinical practice to use the uninsulated needle in case the SNAP is smaller than 4 microV.

Action Potentials

Are admission plasma fibrinogen levels useful in the characterization of risk groups after myocardial infarction treated with fibrinolysis?

The aim of our study was to prove or disprove the independent prognostic importance of fibrinogen after myocardial infarction. Plasma fibrinogen levels were determined on admission in 135 patients with an acute myocardial infarction and symptoms up to 4 h (mean: 1.8 h) immediately before starting fibrinolytic treatment with 1.5 mio U. streptokinase i.v. All patients were free from other diseases which are known to cause elevated fibrinogen levels. Coronary angiography was carried out in 87%. During a mean follow-up period of 26.2 months 31 coronary events could be observed in 26 patients: 18 reinfarctions, 6 cases of sudden death, and 7 coronary artery bypass graft surgeries because of new symptoms. While plasma fibrinogen levels were higher in smokers than in non-smokers (3.30 vs 2.94 g/l p = 0.011) and correlated with the number of involved coronary arteries (p = 0.08), values were similar in patients with and without coronary events during follow-up (3.07 vs 3.16 g/l, p = 0.70). This applied as well to univariate analysis as to multivariate Cox's regression model. We conclude that plasma fibrinogen levels determined very early in patients with acute myocardial infarction do correlate with other important prognostic variables, but have no independent prognostic importance.

Diagnostic Tests, Routine

Apolipoprotein A and prognosis after myocardial infarction in non-diabetic men.

The implications of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II for the prognosis of 178 non-diabetic men after acute myocardial infarction were studied. During a mean follow-up period of 4 years, one or more "coronary events" (nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal coronary heart disease, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, deterioration of exercise ECG) were recorded in 37 patients. Serum levels of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II did not discriminate between patients with and without coronary events. This applied to the entire sample as much as to subgroups defined by presence or absence of interventions (coronary artery bypass graft surgery, long-term therapy with beta-blockers or lipid-lowering drugs). We conclude that coronary events in the first years after myocardial infarction cannot be predicted by apolipoprotein A-I or A-II levels.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

[Arrhythmias during catheterization of patients with acute myocardial infarction (author's transl)].

Arrhythmias in forty consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction during ventricle passage of floating catheters were compared with those in forty patients with chronic heart disease. Lidocaine (1 mg/kg body weight i. v.) as a bolus proved to be effective in reducing the incidence of these arrhythmias, because the number of single ventricular premature beats (VPBs), and the number of VPBs in salves was significantly reduced. Haemodynamic changes due to this bolus are small and short-lasting, so that they are acceptable, especially when continuous monitoring of the patients is attempted. Furthermore dangerous arrhythmias are reported in 1600 cases treated with floating catheters.

Acute Disease