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Biomedical subjects

J E Edwards

Publications and source records attributed to J E Edwards.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Gross and histologic anatomy of total anomalous pulmonary venous connections.

Among 49 heart specimens with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), obstruction to pulmonary venous flow was present in all 13 cases with TAPVC below the diaphragm and in 53% of 36 cases with TAPVC above the diaphragm. Obstruction was produced by extrinsic pressures on the vein, intrinsic narrowing of the vein, or both. The histology of the narrowed veins was extremely variable, ranging from atrophy of the vein wall to hypertrophy of intima, media-adventitia, or both. Balloon dilation of narrowed veins was performed in 3 cases, without clinical or anatomic evidence of success.

Brachiocephalic Veins↗

Cardiac malformations in relatives of children with truncus arteriosus or interruption of the aortic arch.

Familial recurrence risks for congenital cardiac malformations have been estimated at 1 to 4%, but little is known of recurrence risks for uncommon congenital cardiac malformations. This study determined the incidence of congenital cardiac malformations in relatives of patients with either truncus arteriosus (TA) or interruption of the aortic arch (IAA) seen between 1955 and 1985. Prior to this study, only 2 cases of IAA in siblings had been reported and the recurrence risk of TA had been estimated at 1.2%. In the families of 36 index cases of IAA, there were 98 siblings, 2 with congenital cardiac malformations (2.1%). All recurrences were in IAA type B families. Single cases of congenital cardiac malformations were found in second- and third-degree relatives and 2 cases in more distant relatives. In the families of 49 index cases of TA, there were 106 siblings, 7 with congenital cardiac malformations (6.6%). Two had TA, 3 had other conotruncal anomalies and 2 had other congenital cardiac malformations. Two parents had congenital cardiac malformations, 1 with TA and 1 with conotruncal malformation. Among second- and third-degree relatives, 7 had congenital cardiac malformations (5 were conotruncal, including 1 half sibling). Among greater than third-degree relatives, 3 had congenital cardiac malformations. Thus, in IAA, the recurrence rate of congenital cardiac malformations (2.1%) was higher than expected and could be related to the etiology of IAA type B as a conotruncal malformation. In TA, the recurrence rate of congenital cardiac malformations was 6.6%, higher than previously reported. When TA was complex the recurrence risk was higher (13.6%). These findings must be taken into consideration for satisfactory genetic counseling.

Adult↗

Mechanism of death and prevalence of myocardial ischemic symptoms in the terminal event after acute myocardial infarction.

A prospective study to determine prognostic factors for risk stratification in 867 patients surviving the coronary care unit phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is reported. During a 48-month follow-up, 144 patients (17%) died. The deaths were examined for the chronology, cause, mechanism, location and presence of myocardial ischemia in the terminal event. A classification previously proposed by Hinkle and Thaler was used to define the mechanism of cardiac death and the presence of ischemia. There were 113 deaths due to coronary atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, including 5 due to complications of coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Of the remaining 108 of these deaths, 74% were classified as due to an arrhythmic mechanism and 26% as myocardial failure. Of the deaths due to an arrhythmia or to myocardial failure, 56 (52%) occurred out of hospital. The ratio of arrhythmic: myocardial failure deaths was not different for the patients who died within 3 months after the index AMI compared with later deaths. Sudden death (less than or equal to 1 hour of new symptoms) was strongly associated with arrhythmic death but 32 (54%) of patients who died greater than 1 hour after the onset of symptoms were also classified as having an arrhythmic cause of death. Previously described risk factors, including an ejection fraction less than 0.40 and greater than or equal to 10 ventricular premature complexes/hour, were independent predictors of mortality but did not differentially predict the mechanism of cardiac death. Evidence of myocardial ischemia before the terminal event was found in about 50 (60%) patients whose deaths were witnessed and who died from an arrhythmia or myocardial failure.

Coronary Disease↗

Calcified aortic sinotubular ridge: a source of coronary ostial stenosis or embolism.

This report reviews the findings in a calcified lesion involving the ridge at the junction of the sinus and tubular portions of the ascending aorta. The histologic features resemble the alterations in calcified aortic valve and do not exhibit those of atherosclerosis. The 37 cataloged cases are among the more severe and dramatic instances of a lesion more common than the cataloged number would suggest. The involved ridge may be related to any of the sinuses, although that related to the right aortic sinus is most commonly affected. Major complications include coronary ostial stenosis or embolism in an epicardial coronary artery. Ostial stenosis results either from overhanging of an ostium by the aortic lesion or from invasion of the wall of the aorta at the site of the arterial takeoff.

Age Factors↗

Subaortic aneurysm of the left ventricle.

A subaortic aneurysm of the left ventricle resulting in massive hemopericardium is described. The anatomy of the aortic anulus, aortic valve, and pericardial reflections at the base of the heart are constructed in a manner that allows the migration of blood from the left ventricle, through an area of aortic anular dehiscence, resulting in the formation of a false aneurysm. The pertinent anatomy is described, as well as pathogenesis and similar cases in the literature.

Adult↗

Frequency and location of atherosclerotic plaques in the ascending aorta.

Among 97 specimens of ascending aorta from adults with clinical coronary disease, the prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques greater than 8 mm in diameter was 38%. The right side of the ascending aorta was more commonly involved than the left; the sites least commonly involved were the right-posterior, upper right-anterior, and lower posterior locations. Of specimens with plaques at the orifice of the innominate artery, 80% also had plaques in the ascending aorta, and 73% of specimens with plaques at the orifice of the left subclavian artery had plaques in the ascending aorta.

Aortic Diseases↗

Anatomic features of congenital pulmonary valvar stenosis.

A total of 31 specimens of hearts with congenital pulmonary valvar stenosis were studied. To define the anatomy of the normal pulmonary valve, 210 specimens of hearts considered to have a normal pulmonary valve were also reviewed. On the basis of gross morphology of the valve leaflets and annulus, the stenotic valves were subgrouped into domed, unicommissural, bicuspid, tricuspid, hypoplastic annulus, and dysplastic. The valve leaflets in all subgroups were thickened. The thickness varied in degree, but involved the entire length of the leaflet. Microscopically, the thickness in most cases was due to an increase in myxomatous tissue. In a few cases, the elastic and collagen components of the leaflet were increased. The valve annulus was abnormal in most cases. The abnormalities included replacement of the fibrous backbone of the annulus by myxomatous tissue and partial or complete absence of the annulus. The impact on valvar anatomy by direct surgical valvotomy (14 patients) and closed Brock valvotomy (two patients) was reviewed. Precise knowledge of pulmonary valve anatomy is an aid to successful balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty.

Adolescent↗

Coexistent pulmonary and portal hypertension: morphologic and clinical features.

Patients with portal hypertension of varying etiology may develop pulmonary artery hypertension. In the present autopsy study, pulmonary and hepatic tissue was studied in 12 patients in whom pulmonary and portal hypertension coexisted. Plexogenic pulmonary arteriopathy was present in 10 patients, 7 of whom had coexistent thromboembolic lesions. One patient had isolated medial hypertrophy, which may be an early stage in the plexogenic category, whereas isolated thromboembolic pulmonary vascular disease was observed in one subject. Hepatic disease was consistent with alcoholic cirrhosis in seven patients, cryptogenic cirrhosis in four and extrahepatic portal hypertension without cirrhosis in one. Thrombocytopenia was present in all 10 patients whose platelet count was determined. This study suggests that pulmonary hypertension associated with portal hypertension commonly has a plexogenic appearance on histologic examination. However, thrombosis (whether embolic or in situ) may also contribute to vascular obstruction.

Collateral Circulation↗

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for quantifying adherence of Candida to human vascular endothelium.

Success in elucidating the pathogenesis of certain bacterial infections through studies of bacterial adherence to host cells has stimulated interest in parallel investigations of fungal adherence. Fungal adherence differs from bacterial adherence, especially when fungal coadherence (adherence of fungal cells to each other) is a factor. Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured in a living monolayer in microtiter plates, we developed an ELISA to study adherence of Candida albicans to endothelial cells in the absence of yeast coadherence. A rabbit antibody to Candida detected the adherent Candida, and an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated antibody to rabbit IgG was the developing antibody. A linear relationship between the log of the optical density and the log of the number of adherent organisms was seen for wells containing 3 X 10(4)-1 X 10(6) organisms (r = .923- .965). In addition to measuring adherence of living Candida to living target cells and avoiding Candida coadherence, this assay makes it possible to investigate adherence limited to lumenal surfaces, conserves reagents, and facilitates the testing of large numbers of potential adherence modifiers.

Adhesiveness↗

Segregation of proteinase-negative mutants from heterozygous Candida albicans.

The extracellular acidic proteinase (EC 3.4.23.6) produced by Candida albicans has been reported to be a virulence factor. In studying the role of this proteinase in human disease, we determined the optimum conditions for stimulating proteinase production in order to isolate proteinase-negative (Prt-) mutants. We found that in liquid medium containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the sole nitrogen source, at pH 4 and 27 degrees C, the sensitivity of proteinase detection was considerably greater than when assayed on BSA agar at 37 degrees C. This observation is due, in part, to temperature sensitivity of proteinase induction. Nitrogen starvation did not induce proteinase. Proteinase production on agar was increased by adding 0.01% yeast extract (YE) to BSA medium. Using BSA + YE agar to isolate mutants, it was discovered that C. albicans ATCC 28366 was heterozygous for a Prt- mutation. Spontaneous Prt- mutants occurred at a frequency of 2 x 10(-3). Ultraviolet light increased the mitotic segregation of Prt- cells to a frequency of 1 x 10(-2). The Prt- phenotype showed a large inoculum effect, Prt- segregants reverted with a high frequency, and the revertants were unstable.

Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases↗

Aortic dissection presenting as pericarditis.

In five patients with aortic dissection, signs and/or symptoms of pericarditis were part of the early manifestations of the aortic disease. Signs of inflammatory pericarditis were noted clinically in four patients and were found at autopsy in one. In the three nonoperated patients who died of aortic rupture leading to fatal hemopericardium, symptoms of pericarditis preceded fatal rupture of the aorta by four to five days. A fourth patient died after surgical repair of aortic dissection 35 days after the onset of pericarditis. In the fifth patient, manifestations of chronic constrictive pericardial disease occurred over a period of seven months after which old aortic dissection was first identified. In each case, the internal tear of classic aortic dissection was located in the ascending aorta. Microscopic evidence of cystic medial necrosis of the aorta was present in each case. In each of two cases, there was a congenital bicuspid aortic valve. The phenomenon observed represents acute aortic dissection in which slow penetration of blood into the pericardial space caused inflammatory pericarditis. The interval between the onset of pericarditis and rupture of the aorta may allow sufficient time for appropriate diagnosis and potentially lifesaving treatment of the aortic disease.

Adult↗

Pulmonary arterial aneurysm. A pathologic study of five cases.

Five cases are described in which noninflammatory pulmonary arterial aneurysmal disease existed. In each case, severe pulmonary hypertension had been present. In one (woman, age 50 years), the pulmonary hypertension was of the primary type, while in each of the others, congenital heart disease was an underlying condition (atrial septal defect in three cases; each woman, age range 35 to 56 years) and complete transposition in the remaining case (boy, age ten). In one case with atrial septal defect, saccular aneurysm involving each major pulmonary arterial branch was considered to have resulted from atherosclerotic disease. In each of the remaining cases, cystic medial necrosis was present, and the aneurysmal disease was the result of laceration of a major pulmonary arterial segment. In one of the cases with atrial septal defect, the laceration was recent and extended through the full thickness of the pulmonary trunk in a circumferential manner. In the remaining three cases, lacerations were usually old and had not extended through the full thickness of the involved arterial segments. Saccular aneurysm formation (usually multiple) had resulted from weakness of the wall as a result of laceration and retraction of tissue.

Adult↗