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Biomedical subjects

J R Rees

Publications and source records attributed to J R Rees.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

The epidemiological features of invasive mycotic infections in the San Francisco Bay area, 1992-1993: results of population-based laboratory active surveillance.

Population-based active laboratory surveillance for invasive mycotic infections was conducted during 1992 and 1993 in three California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco (population, 2.94 million). The cumulative incidence of invasive mycotic infections was 178.3 per million per year. Invasive mycoses were most commonly caused by Candida (72.8 per million per year), Cryptococcus (65.5), Coccidioides (15.3), Aspergillus (12.4), and Histoplasma (7.1). The clinical significance of other, less common fungi was determined by detailed chart review. The cumulative incidence was determined for zygomycosis (1.7 per million per year), hyalohyphomycosis (1.2), and phaeohyphomycosis (1.0). The most common underlying conditions were human immunodeficiency virus infection (47.4%), nonhematologic malignancy (14.7%), diabetes mellitus (9.9%), and chronic lung disease (9.3%). This represents the first population-based epidemiological assessment of invasive mycoses in the United States.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1994

Beta-adrenoceptor blockers in atrial fibrillation: the importance of partial agonist activity.

1. The ideal drug treatment for atrial fibrillation will control resting heart rate, blunt exercise induced tachycardia whilst not exacerbating nocturnal bradycardia. Monotherapy with digoxin may not be ideal. We have compared the effect of combining digoxin (0.25 mg daily) with atenolol 50 mg and 100 mg or pindolol 5 mg twice daily and 15 mg twice daily in a cross-over randomised single-blind trial in eight symptomatic patients (six male; mean age 62 years) with poorly controlled atrial fibrillation. 2. Heart rate control was measured by 24 h ECG at baseline on digoxin therapy and after 2 weeks with each treatment. Symptom scores for breathlessness and palpitation were measured using visual analogue scales. 3. The addition of both beta-adrenoceptor blockers significantly reduced mean diurnal maximum heart rate from baseline (all P < 0.001 ANOVA). Atenolol at both doses caused a greater reduction than either dose of pindolol (P < 0.001 ANOVA). Nocturnal maximum heart rate was not significantly reduced from baseline by either beta-adrenoceptor blocker, but both doses of pindolol caused increases in nocturnal maximum heart rate compared with atenolol (P < 0.001 ANOVA). 4. Atenolol caused a reduction in diurnal minimum heart rate compared with baseline and caused a reduction in nocturnal minimum heart rate whereas pindolol caused an increase (P < 0.001 ANOVA). 5. Atenolol 100 mg caused longer nocturnal pauses compared with baseline but pindolol 15 mg twice daily reduced the number of nocturnal pauses > 1.5 s (P = 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1993

Transient cortical blindness after coronary angiography.

Transient visual loss lasting three days developed after transfemoral coronary angiography in a 62 year old man. Computed tomography (CT) showed bilateral leakage of contrast medium into the occipital cortex. A repeat CT scan after his sight recovered showed clearance of contrast with no underlying infarction. A breakdown of the blood-brain barrier with direct neurotoxicity of the contrast media seemed to be the cause of these neurological changes after coronary angiography which apparently have not been reported before.

Blindness↗
PubMed1989

Myocardial bridging of the coronary arteries.

Of 1102 consecutive coronary angiograms 16 (1.4%) were found to have systolic narrowing typical of myocardial bridging on the left anterior coronary artery or its branches. Four cases of bridging had otherwise normal coronary arteriograms, four were associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (three in cases of aortic valve disease and one case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) and eight were found in association with fixed coronary artery stenoses. Bridging was seen more commonly than expected on normal angiograms. When bridging was associated with left ventricular hypertrophy it affected a longer segment and caused more severe compression. When bridging was found in patients with coronary artery disease, it was not associated with atheroma at its site. Evidence for a pathogenic role of myocardial bridging in ischaemic heart disease is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The relationship of symptoms to performance in paced patients with breathlessness.

Eighteen adult patients presenting with breathlessness associated with bradycardia, and whose breathlessness was diminished or abolished by permanent pacing, were studied at least one month after this procedure in order to examine the relationship between symptoms and exercise performance. All were pacing-dependent at rest and were studied over successive two-weekly periods at set rates of 50, 70 and 90 beats min-1 in a double-blind, balanced and randomized trial. The degree of breathlessness was closely related to exercise capacity judged by 6-min walk testing, effort scores and weekly pedometer distance. Overall results were worse at 50 beats min-1 than the two faster rates. For a given individual, changing of ventricular rate caused parallel alterations in symptoms and performance. The 6-min walking test was a useful guide to disability in these patients, tightly linked to the symptoms of effort and breathlessness, and may be of clinical value in assessing mild heart failure. The pedometer readings were influenced more by the patients' walking habits than by fitness.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Improved control of atrial fibrillation with combined pindolol and digoxin therapy.

This study has compared the effect on heart rate control of the addition of pindolol 15 mg bd or verapamil 40 mg tds to maintenance digoxin therapy in 12 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. The study was performed in a randomized cross-over fashion. Treatment effects were assessed by 24-h ambulatory electrocardiography and symptomatic improvement by symptom scores. The results show that the combination of pindolol and digoxin provides better control of atrial fibrillation. With an attenuation of daytime tachycardia, prevention of nocturnal bradycardia and reduction in the length of nocturnal pauses in rhythm. Overall heart rate variability was significantly less with digoxin and pindolol (523 beats min-1 h-1) than with digoxin and verapamil (745 beats min-1 h-1). We conclude that, in the dosages employed, combined digoxin and pindolol therapy is superior to either digoxin and verapamil in combination or digoxin alone for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Cardiomyopathy in the Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

The Kearns-Sayre syndrome is a mitochondrial myopathy characterised by ptosis, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, abnormal retinal pigmentation, and cardiac conduction defects. A unique case is reported in which there was rapid development of progressive congestive cardiac failure that required cardiac transplantation. A review of published reports of mitochondrial myopathy shows that a minority of cases (less than 20%) have cardiac involvement. This had previously been limited to abnormalities of cardiac conduction with progressive heart block. Myocardial biopsy has, however, shown ultrastructural evidence of a generalised mitochondrial disorder which hitherto has not been associated with a functional deficit.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Psychological factors influence the success of coronary artery surgery.

Thirty-six patients with angina were investigated by treadmill exercise testing and coronary angiography prior to coronary artery surgery. Severity of angina was judged by interview and self-assessment visual analogue scale and all patients were psychiatrically assessed. Further physical and psychiatric assessments were made at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Eleven patients (31%) had significant psychiatric morbidity preoperatively and these had worse symptom scores and exercise tolerance compared with non-psychiatric cases, despite equivalent coronary angiographic findings and left ventricular function. Post-operatively, exercise tolerance improved equally in both groups but psychiatric cases remained significantly more symptomatic. Psychiatric morbidity remained unchanged throughout the study. We conclude that almost one third of patients with severe angina have psychiatric morbidity which is associated with a poor symptomatic response to coronary artery surgery, despite objective improvement in exercise tolerance. Ways of improving the symptomatic response to surgery in patients with coexisting psychiatric morbidity should be studied.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Towards improved control of atrial fibrillation.

Patients with atrial fibrillation frequently show a wide variation in heart rate with digoxin therapy. We have compared the effect on heart rate variability, of doubling the digoxin dosage or adding verapamil 120 mg daily in a randomized cross-over study in 14 patients. Twenty-four hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings, six minute walking tests and palpitation and breathlessness scores were obtained on each regime. All patients exhibited a diurnal pattern in heart rate variability. Both treatments significantly lowered heart rate but high dose digoxin lowered minimum heart rate significantly more than digoxin and verapamil, causing more night time bradycardia. Overall, digoxin with verapamil produced significantly less heart rate variability than digoxin alone. Day time but not night time pauses were prolonged by digoxin and verapamil but were prolonged more by high dose digoxin. Five (36%) patients had serum digoxin levels in the toxic range when taking high dose digoxin. Palpitations were significantly reduced by both treatments but most improvement occurred with digoxin and verapamil. No significant effect was found on six minute walking distances or breathlessness scores. In conclusion, the addition of verapamil to digoxin was superior to increasing the dose of digoxin alone, producing significantly better control of heart rate variability with less night time bradycardia.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

The surgical treatment of complicated peptic esophagitis.

Healing of stenosing peptic esophagitis was proved by endoscopy and biopsy in 22 of 27 patients treated by transthoracic Nissen fundoplication and esophageal dilation during a follow-up period extending to 14 years. Four additional patients did not have follow-up endoscopy because three expired from intercurrent disease before endoscopy could be carried out and one refused to have the procedure because of lack of symptoms. Postoperative reflux has not been demonstrated in any patient either endoscopically or by contrast studies. Dysphagia, requiring repeat dilation, occurred in two patients after operation. Transthoracic fundoplication with intraoperative stricture dilation is a reasonable alternative in treating complicated esophagitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Failure of a negative exercise test to reassure patients with chest pain.

Seventy-two patients with chest pain and negative exercise tests were observed. Twenty-one (29 per cent) became pain free but 51 (71 per cent) continued to complain of chest pain. Patients with persistent pain were significantly more anxious and depressed at presentation and later compared with those who had become pain free. Anxiety and particularly depression, at presentation and later, were significantly associated with severe symptoms. Patients with chest pain associated with neurosis and depression are not reassured by physiological stress testing because their physical symptoms are a feature of underlying psychiatric disease.

Adult↗