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Biomedical subjects

P G D'Arbela

Publications and source records attributed to P G D'Arbela.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparability of M mode echocardiographic long axis and short axis left ventricular function derivatives.

M mode echocardiographic anteroposterior indexes of left ventricular function derived from long and short axis parasternal planes were compared in one hundred cases. In all the disease groups studied the paired values were within acceptable statistical limits of comparability and interchangeability; that is they were within two standard deviations of the mean difference in both directions. Values from either plane can usually be considered as being representative of the expected values for the individual.

Adolescent↗

Endomyocardial fibrosis and eosinophilia.

Absolute eosinophil counts were assessed in 15 African patients with proven endomyocardial fibrosis. Though the mean eosinophil count in patients with endomyocardial fibrosis was higher compared with the normals reported from Kampala (1-13 vs 0.72X10(9)/1), the absolute range was comparable. A high percentage of patients with endomyocardial fibrosis had malarial parasites, high malarial antibody titres, hookworms, or strongyloides, but the correlation of eosinophilia to various parasitic infections was poor. Both eosinophilia and parasitic infections are common in the tropics and they effect patients with endomyocardial fibrosis no more than the population at large. Other aetiological factors, genetic, environmental, and immunological, are felt to be important in the causation of endomyocardial fibrosis in Uganda and evidence for this is reviewed. Though there is a similarity in pathological features, African endomyocardial fibrosis is a distinct entity from Löffler's endocarditis and cardiac lesions seen in eosinophilic leukaemia or reactive eosinophilia. There is no hard evidence to suggest that African endomyocardial fibrosis is a variant of Löffler's endocarditis caused by parasitic infections via eosinophilia.

Adolescent↗

The sick-sinus syndrome in Africans.

Fifteen cases of the sick-sinus syndrome in young Negroes are presented. The etiology was unknown in all cases; organic heart disease was absent. The very high default rate suggests that the prognosis may be grave. This disorder is by no means uncommon in young persons in tropical countries and the dangers of a mistaken diagnosis of epilepsy or a psychiatric illness have been emphasized. In the absence of an artificial pacemaker, it is suggested that sympathomimetic drugs, while not affecting the heart rate, may be useful in reducing the frequency of syncopal attacks.

Adolescent↗

Familial cases of endomyocardial fibrosis in Uganda.

This report describes nine cases of endomyocardial fibrosis occurring in four families. All patients came from Rwanda or South-western Uganda, and five had tropical splenomegaly syndrome as well. It seems likely that genetic as well as environmental factors are operative in the aetiology of endomyocardial fibrosis.

Adolescent↗

Intravenous diazepam for direct-current cardioversion.

The induction of anaesthesia with intravenous diazepam is a valuable contribution to the simpler use of cardioversion and is the method of choice because it is readily available for elective cardioversion. Fifty-six cardioversion procedures were carried out by this method in an African hospital. No special premedication or drug preparation was used. There were no hazards apart from transient apnoea in two patients and persisting amnesia in one patient.

Adolescent↗