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Biomedical subjects

M Akhtar

Publications and source records attributed to M Akhtar.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Circulatory and catecholamine changes during head-up tilt testing in neurocardiogenic (vasovagal) syncope.

Changes in heart rate, arterial pressure, norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were compared in 19 consecutive patients (10 men and 9 women, mean age 46 +/- 16 years) with neurocardiogenic syncope and 11 age- and sex-matched control subjects (5 men and 6 women, mean age 49 +/- 15 years) during head-up tilt testing. Norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were measured at the baseline supine position, in the initial upright position, every 90 seconds during the 70 degrees upright tilt, at the time of termination due to hypotension and syncope (or at 15 minutes in control subjects), and at 40 seconds and 1 minute and 40 seconds in the supine position after terminating the head-up tilt test. Baseline norepinephrine, epinephrine and heart rate were slightly higher in patients. Despite a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure during head-up tilt testing in patients (51 +/- 20 mm Hg; p < 0.001), norepinephrine levels in patients and control subjects at the time of terminating the head-up tilt test were comparable (459 +/- 204 vs 473 +/- 172 pg/ml). A fivefold increase in epinephrine levels (73 +/- 53 to 345 +/- 260 pg/ml; p < 0.01) were seen in patients, whereas control subjects had insignificant change (38 +/- 16 to 65 +/- 44 pg/ml). It is concluded that diminished neuronal sympathetic activity and enhanced adrenomedullary activity is demonstrated during head-up tilt testing in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The modification of acetate and propionate side chains during the biosynthesis of haem and chlorophylls: mechanistic and stereochemical studies.

In the conversion of uroporphyrinogen III into protoporphyrin IX and thence into chlorophylls, all eight carboxylic side chains, as well as the four meso positions, are modified, and four enzymes are involved. In the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase-catalysed reaction all four acetate side chains are converted into methyl groups by the same mechanism, to produce coproporphyrinogen III. Both methylene hydrogen atoms remain undisturbed and the reaction occurs with the retention of stereochemistry. Several questions regarding the enzymology of the decarboxylase are posed. Do all the decarboxylations occur at the same active site and, if so, are the four acetate chains handled in a particular sequence? Is the decarboxylation reaction aided by the transient formation of an electron-withdrawing functionality in the pyrrole ring? Coproporphyrinogen oxidase converts the two propionate side chains of rings A and B into vinyl groups, with an overall anti-periplanar removal of the carboxyl group and the Hsi from the neighbouring position. Evidence is examined to evaluate whether a hydroxylated compound acts as an intermediate in the oxidative decarboxylation reaction. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase then converts the methylene-interrupted macrocycle of protoporphyrinogen IX into a conjugated system. The conversion has been suggested to involve three consecutive dehydrogenation reactions followed by an isomerization step. The face of the macrocycle from which the three meso hydrogen atoms are removed in the dehydrogenation reaction is thought to be opposite to that from which the fourth meso hydrogen is lost during the prototropic rearrangement. In an investigation of the in vivo mechanism for the esterification of the ring D propionic acid group with a C20 isoprenyl group 5-aminolaevulinic acid was labelled with 13C and 18O at C-1 and incorporated into bacteriochlorophyll a. The 18O-induced shift of the 13C resonance in the NMR spectrum showed that both oxygen atoms of the carboxyl group are retained in the ester bond. This and other results suggest that the reaction occurs by the nucleophilic attack of the ring D carboxylate anion on the activated form of an isoprenyl alcohol.

Acetates↗
PubMed1994

Small round cell tumor with divergent differentiation: cytologic, histologic, and ultrastructural findings.

A case study of desmoplastic small round cell tumor with divergent differentiation in a 13-yr-old boy is presented. Clinical, cytologic, histologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural findings are reported. There was a close correlation between the various histologic and cytologic patterns. Immunohistochemical studies revealed strong positivity of many of the tumor cells for cytokeratin, vimentin, and desmin. Ultrastructurally, some of the tumor cells contained aggregates of cytoplasmic intermediate filaments. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy may suggest the diagnosis of desmoplastic small round cell tumor. Confirmation of the diagnosis may be provided by immunohistochemistry and electromicroscopy.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of extrarenal malignant rhabdoid tumor.

Two cases of extrarenal malignant rhabdoid tumors are presented in which diagnosis was suggested by fine-needle aspiration biopsy and confirmed by histologic and electron microscopic examination. Fine-needle aspiration smears in both cases revealed round to polygonal cells with vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Several tumor cells contained cytoplasmic inclusions composed of intermediate filaments. A majority of the tumor cells stained strongly for vimentin and cytokeratin. Electron microscopic examination revealed many cells with large aggregates of intermediate filaments corresponding to the cytoplasmic inclusions. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy may be used for diagnosing malignant rhabdoid tumor. The diagnosis may be further confirmed by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

Case report 833: Primary spinal echinococcosis (Echinococcus granulosus) of lumbosacral spine with destruction of the left pedicles of L3-5 and extension of a large paraspinal cystic mass into the spinal canal.

CT is helpful in recognizing the occurrence of hydatid cysts. The increased spatial resolution allows better visualization of details of bone destruction and spinal canal involvement. Paraspinal cystic disease may also show typical and/or characteristic signs of hydatid disease even if serological findings are falsely negative or inconclusive. In the postoperative follow-up, CT may be helpful in assessing residual hydatid cysts and/or in detecting recurrence at an earlier stage.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Focal xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a young child.

An 18-month-old female child presented with fever and an abdominal mass, which, after ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging was considered to be an atypical cystic renal neoplasm. Nephrectomy was performed. Histopathological examination demonstrated the mass to be focal xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. This lesion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of renal neoplasms in childhood, particularly cystic Wilms' tumor or Wilms' tumor with significant intratumoral hemorrhage.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1994

Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia.

The role and success rate of catheter ablation for monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) depend on the mechanism and origin of the tachycardia (i.e., myocardial versus His-Purkinje system) and whether it occurs in the presence or absence of structural heart diseases. For sustained bundle-branch reentry, a form of VT associated with structural heart disease, radiofrequency catheter ablation of the right bundle-branch can be performed readily and is highly successful in eliminating this arrhythmia. Because of modest success rates of catheter ablation of VT associated with a prior infarction (between 17% and 75%), this treatment modality is usually considered for cases refractory to drug therapy and should be viewed as adjunctive therapy. The target for ablation is a critical area of slow conduction, which is selected based on earliest endocardial activation, mid-diastolic potentials, concealed entrainment, or pace mapping. Radiofrequency catheter ablation may be the treatment of choice in patients with VT and no apparent structural heart disease; this is especially true for young patients who would otherwise require long-life antiarrhythmic therapy. Success rates between 75% and 100% have been reported, especially when the origin is in the right ventricular outflow tract.

Bundle-Branch Block↗
PubMed1994

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in 300 patients with coronary artery disease presenting exclusively with ventricular fibrillation.

To determine outcomes of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in a uniform population of survivors of sudden cardiac death, we used epicardial defibrillation lead systems to study 300 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) presenting exclusively with ventricular fibrillation (VF) unassociated with acute myocardial infarction. Operative (30-day) mortality, 2.7% overall, was lower (0.6%) in patients with ejection fractions (EF) > or = 0.30. Over a median follow-up of 1.9 years, cumulative actuarial shock incidence was similar in patients who underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (38%) and in those who did not. The 2-year cumulative actuarial incidences of any or appropriate shocks were 65% and 38%, respectively. Sudden death survival at 2 years was 92.5% and 99.3% for patients with EFs < or = 0.30 and > 0.30, respectively. The total mortality rate was similar in shocked and in unshocked patients. Multivariate analysis identified EF and female gender as significant predictors of any and appropriate shock occurrence (all p values < or = 0.05) and EF as a significant predictor of sudden, cardiac, and total mortality (all p values < 0.03). We conclude that in CAD patients presenting exclusively with VF unassociated with acute myocardial infarction and treated with thoracotomy-requiring ICD therapy: (1) operative (30-day) mortality is minimal for patients with an EF > or = 0.30; (2) device use is high and sudden death rates low regardless of concomitant CABG; (3) low EF is a significant predictor of cumulative shock occurrence and mortality (sudden, cardiac, and total); (4) female gender may be a predictor of shock occurrence; and (5) similar mortalities and low sudden-death rates in shocked and nonshocked ICD patients imply that ICD therapy improves survival in shocked patients to a level observed in comparable patients in whom ventricular tachyarrhythmia does not recur.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1994

Efficacy and safety of atrioventricular nodal modification for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in the pediatric population.

The safety and efficacy of radiofrequency catheter modification of the atrioventricular node for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in the pediatric population is described. Twenty-one patients with a mean age of 14.9 +/- 3.6 years underwent slow-pathway atrioventricular nodal modification with a stepwise anatomic approach. The average cumulative fluoroscopy exposure time (22 procedures in 21 patients) inclusive of the electrophysiologic study was 36.1 +/- 22 minutes. Noninducibility of tachycardia was achieved in all patients with one procedural complication (hemothorax). During a mean follow-up of 15 +/- 9.06 months, tachycardia recurred in one patient. Patient and family acceptance and satisfaction with the procedure was high. Because of the curative potential of radiofrequency catheter modification with low associated short- and long-term risks, it may be considered as a primary treatment option in pediatric patients with symptomatic atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Preliminary experience with a hybrid nonthoracotomy defibrillating system that includes a biphasic device: comparison with a standard monophasic device using the same lead system.

OBJECTIVES: This study analyzed the advantage of combining a biphasic device with a transvenous system and compared the results with those obtained with a standard monophasic device. BACKGROUND: Available lead systems use monophasic pulses and may require lengthy intraoperative testing to achieve adequate defibrillation threshold in a conspicuous number of patients. The option of biphasic waveform may provide further benefits. However, clinical experience with a permanent implant is lacking. METHODS: Fifty-five patients underwent testing and received a permanent implant using the Endotak lead system associated with a CPI monophasic device. The remaining 36 patients received a permanent implant with the Endotak lead system connected to a biphasic device. In both groups a subcutaneous patch was combined when needed to obtain acceptable defibrillation thresholds. RESULTS: Biphasic pulses resulted in lower mean (+/- SD) defibrillation thresholds (monophasic 15 +/- 4.7 J vs. biphasic 12 +/- 5 J, p = 0.03) and a better implantation rate (100% biphasic vs. 89% monophasic, p = 0.07). Biphasic pulses allowed implantation with less ventricular fibrillation induction (7.4 +/- 3.2 vs. 3.5 +/- 1.8, p < 0.01) and a mean shorter procedure time (168 +/- 39 vs. 111 +/- 30 min, p < 0.01). With the biphasic waveform a greater proportion of patients met the implantation criteria with the lead system alone (83% vs. 45%, p < 0.01). When needed, the left prepectoral location of the patch electrode was always sufficient in left subscapular position was required in 15 patients in the monophasic group. Implantation of the biphasic device was associated with a shorter mean hospital stay (3.8 +/- 0.8 vs. 5.4 +/- 2.2 days, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of a biphasic device in a transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator uniformly increases the efficacy of the system and the ease of implantation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Slow pathway ablation in patients with atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia and a prolonged PR interval.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the safety and efficacy of selective slow pathway ablation using radiogfrequency energy and a transcatheter technique in patients with a prolonged PR interval and atrioventricular (AV) node reentrant tachycardia. BACKGROUND: Although both fast and slow AV node pathways can be ablated in patients with AV node reentrant tachycardia, slow pathway ablation, by obviating the risk of AV block, appears to be safer. However, the safety and efficacy of selective slow pathway ablation using transcatheter radiofrequency energy in patients with a prolonged PR interval during sinus rhythm are unclear. METHODS: The seven study patients with a prolonged PR interval (mean +/- SD 237 +/- 26 ms) comprised three women and four men with a mean age of 31 +/- 15 years. The slow pathway was targeted in all seven patients at the posterior/inferior interatrial septal aspect of the tricuspid annulus. Two patients presented with the uncommon variety of AV node reentrant tachycardia after initial fast pathway ablation; in the remaining five patients, the AV node reentrant tachycardia was of the common variety. RESULTS: A single radiofrequency pulse at 30 W successfully abolished the slow pathway in both the anterograde and the retrograde direction in the two patients with uncommon AV node reentrant tachycardia. A mean of 5 +/- 3 radiofrequency pulses were required in the remaining five patients with reentrant tachycardia of the common variety. The postablation PR interval and AH interval remained unchanged. The shortest cycle length of 1:1 AV conduction was prolonged significantly (from 327 +/- 31 to 440 +/- 59 ms, p < 0.01, as was the AV node effective refractory period (from 244 +/- 35 to 344 +/- 43 ms, p < 0.01). During a mean follow-up interval of 20 +/- 6 months, no patient developed symptoms suggestive of AV node reentrant tachycardia or had evidence of second- or third-degree AV block. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the AV node slow pathway can be ablated in patients with AV node reentrant tachycardia who demonstrate a prolonged PR interval during sinus rhythm.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome and self-limited renal vasculitis during pregnancy: case report and review of the literature.

A case of self-limited renal vasculitis during pregnancy in a patient with a history of recurrent fetal loss and with a positive cardiolipin immunoglobulin G antibody test is described. The renal disease manifested as an acute renal failure in the second trimester of the patient's third pregnancy, concurrent with severe pre-eclampsia. Vasculitis is a rare manifestation of antiphospholipid syndrome that has been described mostly in peripheral arteries. Renal vasculitis, however, has not yet been reported in association with this syndrome. The full spectrum of renal involvement in antiphospholipid syndrome is presently being determined, and we suggest that renal vasculitis be included in that spectrum.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1994

Pauci-immune necrotizing lupus nephritis: report of two cases.

Two cases of pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis are presented. The glomerular lesions featured proliferative and necrotizing changes morphologically compatible with World Health Organization class III and IV lupus nephritis. However, immunofluorescent microscopy and electron microscopy failed to reveal any significant deposits of immune complexes. These findings appear to indicate that the glomerulopathy in this rare form of lupus nephritis is unrelated to the usual pathogenetic mechanism, namely, deposition of circulating or locally formed immune complexes. It is suggested that the pathogenesis of pauci-immune necrotizing lupus nephritis may involve an alternate mechanism of glomerular injury that is independent of antigen and antibody reactions and primarily involves neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Experience with two different nonthoracotomy systems for implantable defibrillator in 170 patients.

Implantation of a nonthoracotomy system (Medtronic PCD or CPI Endotak) was attempted in 170 patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) not requiring concomitant cardiac surgery. A nonthoracotomy system could be successfully implanted in 95 of the 115 patients with the PCD system and 49 of 55 patients receiving the Endotak lead system. In 26 patients with failed nonthoracotomy system because of defibrillation threshold (DFT) > 25 joules (J), an epicardial system was implanted at the same setting. Patients receiving the two lead systems were comparable with regard to age, sex, and ejection fraction. However, since the PCD system offers tiered therapy multiprogrammable options, all attempts were made to implant this lead system in patients with VT that could be pace terminated. Mean DFT (15 +/- 4.7 vs 17 +/- 4.6 J; P = 0.03) and implant time (2.5 +/- 0.6 vs 3.3 +/- 0.7 hours; P = 0.02) were less with the Endotak lead system. There was no perioperative mortality. During a mean follow-up of 20 +/- 4 months, there were eight instances of lead dislodgment in patients receiving the PCD system. There were four nonsudden cardiac deaths and one sudden death in the Endotak group and three nonsudden deaths in the PCD group. Sudden cardiac death and total survival using the intention-to-treat analysis during this follow-up period were 99% and 95%, respectively. In conclusion, successful implantation, perioperative mortality, and survival rate are comparable with both lead systems; however, incorporating two defibrillating electrodes in one lead minimizes lead dislodgment and reduces implant time.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗
PubMed1994

Ventricular fibrillation and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with critical coronary artery stenosis: does bypass surgery suffice?

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have suggested that coronary artery bypass surgery is sufficient to prevent recurrence of sudden death in patients with critical coronary artery stenosis presenting with ventricular fibrillation or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. We present our experience in patients with one or more episodes of sudden death associated with documented ventricular fibrillation or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and severe operable coronary artery disease who underwent defibrillator implant at the time of bypass surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-eight consecutive patients (age 63 +/- 8 years) were included in this study. Eighteen of the 58 patients had no evidence of previous myocardial infarction. The mean ejection fraction was 37 +/- 13%. All patients underwent electrophysiologic study before and after revascularization. At the time of first defibrillator discharge, each patient was reevaluated to exclude the presence of ischemia. The benefits of defibrillator implant were estimated comparing the projected survival based upon defibrillator discharge preceded by syncope or presyncope with survival curves generated including total death and sudden plus cardiac death. After a mean follow-up of 4.6 +/- 2 years, 22 patients received appropriate shocks preceded by syncope or presyncope, and an additional 19 patients received asymptomatic shocks. At 4 years, survival free of total death was 71.2%, and the projected survival was 58.8% (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that ejection fraction lower than 30% and induction of arrhythmia with one or two extrastimuli (S2, S3) were independent predictors for defibrillator discharge. None of the remaining variables including age, gender, number of bypasses, history of myocardial infarction, and type of arrhythmias induced were predictive for death and occurrence of shocks. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ventricular fibrillation and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, bypass surgery does not protect from recurrence of life-threatening arrhythmias, and, as in our population, defibrillator implant may have significant impact on survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Ablation of left free-wall accessory pathways using radiofrequency energy at the atrial insertion site: transseptal versus transaortic approach.

INTRODUCTION: Transcatheter ablation of the left free-wall atrioventricular accessory pathways (AP) by delivery of radiofrequency current at the ventricular insertion site has been shown to be effective. The efficacy of such a technique targeting the atrial insertion site of the AP was evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred consecutive patients with left free-wall APs and symptomatic supraventricular tachyarrhythmias were included. APs were manifest in 55 patients and concealed in 45. There were 55 men and 45 women with a mean age of 35 years. A total of 107 left free-wall APs were identified in these patients. In these 100 patients, successful ablation was accomplished in all by using a transseptal (45 patients) or transaortic (54 patients) technique. In one patient, ablation was accomplished from within the coronary sinus. Seven patients required a repeat ablative procedure, which was performed successfully. During 107 ablative procedures, six were associated with nonfatal complications including pericardial effusion (hemopericardium) in two patients, mild mitral regurgitation in two patients, swelling of the left arm in one patient, and staphylococcal bacteremia in one patient. Eighty-two (82%) patients underwent a repeat electrophysiologic study 6 to 8 weeks after successful ablation and were found to have no functioning AP or inducible supraventricular tachycardia. During a mean follow-up of 20 +/- 8 months, none of the 100 patients had a recurrence of tachyarrhythmias. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the atrial insertion site of the AP can be successfully ablated in the majority of patients with left free-wall APs by using either a transseptal or transaortic approach. Furthermore, both techniques are associated with minimal morbidity and no mortality.

Adult↗