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Biomedical subjects

R Senior

Publications and source records attributed to R Senior.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Infection of left ventricular thrombus in a patient with silent myocardial infarction--a unique complication.

A 72-year-old male was admitted to hospital with exertional dyspnoea of recent onset. Echocardiography showed a left ventricle which was severely hypokinetic on the anteroseptal and anterior wall with an akinetic inferior wall and apex. A string of globular masses was seen to be floating in the left ventricle, attached to the septum near the apex. Coronary arteriography showed severe two-vessel disease. Urgent surgery revealed degenerated thrombus in the left ventricle containing green pus. The infected thrombus was attached to an area of septal infarction. The pus-filled thrombus was removed and by-pass grafting was effected. No infective organism was identified.

Abscess↗

Potent hemodynamic effects of bimakalim, a new potassium channel opener, in humans.

The cardiac hemodynamic effects of bimakalim, a new potassium channel opener, were evaluated in 12 normal volunteers by echocardiography (ECHO)/Doppler in a placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind, cross-over, dose-ranging study. A single oral dose (0.25-1 mg) was given at weekly intervals. Hemodynamic measurements were made at 0, 90, 120, and 240 min after drug intake and ECHO/Doppler was performed at 0 and 90 min. Reproducibility of the ECHO/Doppler study was assessed by comparing predose baseline values of the four different phases of treatment (placebo and 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg) by analysis of variance (ANOVA), which showed no significant differences for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Doppler-derived stroke volume (SV), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and peak mitral early to late velocity ratio (PEV/PAV). ANOVA showed significant increases in LVEF (p = 0.0003) and SV (p = 0.03), however, and decreases in TPR (p = 0.002) and PEV/PAV (p = 0.005) after bimakalim treatment. Heart rate (HR) showed a dose-dependent increase, but systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) did not change with bimakalim. Despite vasodilatory headaches, none of the volunteers discontinued the study. Bimakalim appears to be a potent vasodilating drug that may have an important role in management of patients with compromised LV function.

Administration, Oral↗

Indapamide reduces hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy: an international multicenter study.

The effect of 6 months of treatment with indapamide (IND, 2.5 mg/day) on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), an independent predictor of poor prognosis in hypertension, was compared by echocardiography to that of nifedipine (NFD, 40 mg/day), enalapril (ENL, 20 mg/day), atenolol (ATL, 100 mg/day), and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, 25 mg/day) in four parallel double-blind studies in 151 hypertensive patients with a diastolic blood pressure between 95 and 120 mm Hg and a raised left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (mg/m2) (Devereux). Patients were randomized to IND or comparator following a 2-week washout (1 month in the IND vs. ATL study). Respective baseline and 6-month LVMI values (mg/m2) were: IND (n = 20) vs. HCTZ (n = 20): 151.4 +/- 6.3 and 125.70 +/- 4.6 (p < 0.001) vs. 141.3 +/- 6.6 and 135.6 +/- 8.3 (p = N.S.); IND (n = 22) vs NFD (n = 19): 144.1 +/- 5.3 and 125.1 +/- 4.3 (p < 0.001) vs. 170.4 +/- 6.6 and 148.2 +/- 6.2 (p < 0.001); IND (n = 9) vs. ENL (n = 9): 155.1 +/- 6.3 and 143.4 +/- 5.2 (p < 0.001) vs. 142.0 +/- 6.7 and 130.0 +/- 5.9 (p < 0.001); IND (n = 17) vs. ATL (n = 12): 146.2 +/- 5.1 and 130.8 +/- 6.5 (p < 0.001) vs. 156.7 +/- 8.4 and 142.9 +/- 10.3 (p < 0.01). All drugs significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure, and all except HCTZ induced a significant and similar reduction in left ventricular mass.

Adult↗

Quantitative 111In antimyosin antibody imaging to predict the age of myocardial infarction.

To establish whether quantitative 111In antimyosin uptake can be used to predict infarct age, we studied the heart-lung ratio in 107 images from 90 patients at various intervals following a Q-wave infarction. Imaging was performed 24 hours following 111In antimyosin injection. The HLR was measured as the ratio of the maximum counts in the infarcted myocardium to the adjacent lung background. The ratio ranged from 1.26 to 3.87, and declined with increasing infarct age. Infarcts were classified on the basis of age as type I (less than 3 days old), type II (less than 14 days), and type III (less than 90 days). True positive and false positive rates (TPR and FPR), and test-likelihood ratio calculations were performed for HLR thresholds ranging from 1 to 4, for the three infarct types. A FPR of 0% and likelihood ratio of infinity was obtained at a HLR threshold of 2.3 for type I infarcts (TPR 40.8%); at a HLR threshold of 2 for type II infarcts (TPR 50.6%), and a threshold of 1.8 for type III infarcts (TPR 52.6%). The likelihood of each infarct type can be estimated directly from the HLR for values below the above thresholds. These results show that quantitative 111In-antimyosin imaging may be used to predict infarct age.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Right atrial thrombus migration during echocardiography: a case for urgent intervention.

A 65-year-old woman presented with increasing shortness of breath, chest pain and ST-T wave abnormalities on the electrocardiogram suggestive of unstable angina. Cross-sectional echocardiography performed to assess wall-motion abnormality and left ventricular function revealed a pedunculated right atrial thrombus prolapsing into the right ventricle which suddenly dislodged and migrated into the pulmonary circulation during the examination. A diagnosis of recurrent pulmonary thromboembolism was made, necessitating urgent pulmonary angiography with infusion of streptokinase. The patient made an uneventful recovery.

Aged↗

Effects of carvedilol on ventricular arrhythmias.

Carvedilol is a nonselective beta-blocker with alpha-mediated vasodilating properties that has been shown to be effective in systemic hypertension, stable angina, and congestive heart failure (CHF). In this study, we studied the effects of carvedilol on premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in 65 patients undergoing treatment with carvedilol (12.5-50 mg b.i.d.) for 4-8 weeks. Twelve patients had hypertension, 41 had stable angina, and 12 had CHF. Holter monitoring for 24 h was performed before and after active carvedilol therapy. Median PVCs per 24 h decreased from 25.5 to 6.0 (p less than 0.001, n = 52). Reduction in PVC activity occurred in 77% of patients, and 23% of patients with multifocal PVCs changed their morphology to unifocal. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia was present in four patients before treatment; this was abolished in all patients. R-on-T PVC was present in six patients; it decreased in five and increased in one. New ventricular tachycardia (less than 8 beats) occurred in two patients, but QT prolongation was not noted in these patients. An improvement in Lown's classification occurred in 50% of patients. However, in the CHF group, the improvement in Lown's criteria was observed in 73% of patients. Carvedilol does not appear to possess proarrhythmic effects, and chronic therapy reduces PVC activity in a wide range of patients. This property of carvedilol is complementary to its hypotensive and anti-ischemic effects. In the CHF group, the beneficial effects of carvedilol on left ventricular function and hemodynamics may combine with the improvement in PVC activity to produce a significant improvement in mortality.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

The Sheffield splint for controlled early mobilisation after rupture of the calcaneal tendon. A prospective, randomised comparison with plaster treatment.

Forty patients with acute complete rupture of the calcaneal tendon were managed conservatively and randomly allocated to treatment groups using either cast immobilisation for eight weeks, or cast immobilisation for three weeks, followed by controlled early mobilisation in a Sheffield splint. The splint is an ankle-foot orthosis which holds the ankle in 15 degrees of plantar flexion, but allows some movement at the metatarsophalangeal joints. It is removed to allow controlled movement during physiotherapy. Patients treated with the splint regained mobility significantly more quickly (p less than 0.001) and preferred the splint to the plaster cast. The range of dorsiflexion at the ankle improved more rapidly after treatment in the splint (p less than 0.001), and patients were able to return to normal activities sooner. Recovery of the power of plantar flexion was similar in the two treatment groups, and no patient had excessive lengthening of the tendon. One re-rupture occurred in each group.

Adult↗

Family therapy in general practice: views of referrers and clients.

Family therapy is being used in a variety of settings, including general practice. To assess the views as to the effectiveness and acceptability of a family therapy clinic in a north London surgery, questionnaires were given to general practitioners referring patients, and to clients. Replies were received from seven doctors and 20 clients, representing 11 families. There was a high level of satisfaction among general practitioners referring patients. The clinic proved to be highly acceptable for clients, with 90% agreeing that it was easier to attend a clinic at the practice than at a hospital; and only one patient thought that knowing the general practitioner worked in the practice made it harder to talk openly. Eighty per cent of patients felt the problem had improved at the time of follow up. Where the problem had not improved, 60% felt that they were dealing with it better. Almost all of the patients felt that the family therapy clinic should become a permanent part of local services. The family therapy clinic in general practice has been shown to be effective and popular with users of the service.

Adolescent↗

111In antimyosin antibody uptake is related to the age of myocardial infarction.

The intensity of 111In antimyosin uptake is related to the type (Q wave or non-Q wave), size, and location of an acute myocardial infarction. To determine whether the uptake intensity is also related to the infarct age, and to establish the time frame during which 111In antimyosin uptake occurs postinfarction, we studied a quantitative measure of uptake intensity, the heart-lung (HL) ratio, in 90 consecutive patients at various intervals following a Q wave infarction. Imaging was performed 24 hours following 111In antimyosin injection. Uptake of antimyosin could be demonstrated up to 154 days postinfarction. The HL ratio was measured as the ratio of the maximum counts in the infarcted myocardium to the adjacent lung background, and was 1.93 +/- 0.51 (mean +/- SD) overall. The ratio declined exponentially with increasing age of infarct. Using nonlinear regression analysis, 47% of the total variance of the HL ratio could be attributed to age alone (p less than 0.001). Sequential antimyosin imaging was performed in nine patients, with the first study between 4 and 15 days, the second between 50 to 100 days, and the third between 125 to 270 days after the onset of chest pain. The HL ratios were (mean +/- SD) 1.77 +/- 0.25 for scans between 4 and 15 days, 1.54 +/- 0.12 for scans between 50 and 100 days (p less than 0.02), and 1.42 +/- 0.16 (p less than 0.05) for scans between 125 to 270 days, further establishing the progressive reduction in 111In antimyosin uptake with age of myocardial infarction.

Adult↗

111In-antimyosin antibody imaging for detection of myocardial infarction: a quantitative approach.

Indium-111-antimyosin imaging has been shown to be a sensitive and specific method for detecting myocardial necrosis, but a quantitative method for interpretation of 111In-antimyosin planar images is lacking. A prospective study was performed in 114 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction using planar 111In-antimyosin imaging. A ratio of maximum myocardial uptake counts (H) (9 X 9 pixels) over adjacent lung background (L), i.e. H/L ratio, was obtained from 24 and 48 h images. This value was compared with peak creatine kinase (CK) enzyme and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The patients were classified into groups based upon standard criteria for Q-wave acute myocardial infarction (Q-MI) (n = 50), non-Q-MI (n = 21), unstable angina (n = 15) and those with no evidence of MI or ischaemia (n = 28). The mean +/- S.D. H/L ratio in the Q-MI group was 2.28 +/- 0.50 (24 h, left anterior oblique, LAO, view) and was greater than the non-Q-MI group (1.98 +2- 0.30) (P less than 0.02). In patients with unstable angina (UA), seven had a high ratio (1.75 +/- 0.29) and eight had a lower ratio (1.29 +/- 0.07). In the group of patients without MI or UA, the ratio was 1.24 +/- 0.11 and this was significantly lower than the Q-MI and non-Q-MI groups and those patients with UA and positive 111In uptake (P less than 0.001, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between old MI and patients without evidence of MI or UA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Technetium 99m-labeled sestamibi imaging reliably identifies retained contractile reserve in dyssynergic myocardial segments.

BACKGROUND: Recently there has been considerable controversy regarding the use of 99mTc-labeled sestamibi as an agent for the detection of viable myocardium. In this study we have used dobutamine-induced left ventricular wall thickening by echocardiography in regions with evidence of resting dyssynergy of the left ventricle as an indicator of retained contractile reserve and compared this with 99m Tc-labeled sestamibi uptake in the same regions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with documented coronary artery disease and severe regional wall motion abnormalities underwent low-dose (5 to 15 micrograms/kg/min) dobutamine echocardiography and maximal (15 to 40 micrograms/kg/min) stress dobutamine 99mTc-labeled sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging. Separate-day rest 99mTc-labeled sestamibi scanning was also performed. 99mTc-labeled sestamibi uptake was assessed semiquantitatively from grades from 1 to 4, from normal to absent perfusion. Regions with grade 3 or less uptake were considered viable by 99mTc-labeled sestamibi. Of the 34 regions with severe wall motion abnormalities by echocardiography, 32 showed improved wall thickening with low-dose dobutamine. Rest 99mTc-labeled sestamibi detected retained myocardial viability in 29 of these regions (91%) that were deemed to have contractile reserve by echocardiography (concordance: 91% [K = 0.53; p < 0.001]). Furthermore, stress-rest 99mTc-labeled sestamibi revealed completely reversible defects in five regions (16%), partially reversible defects in 24 regions (75%), and grade 4 uptake and fixed (nonviable) defects in three (9%) of these 32 regions with retained contractile reserve. CONCLUSION: Uptake of 99mTc-labeled sestamibi at rest accurately identifies regions of segmental dyssynergy in which recovery of function may be provoked by inotropic stimulation. Addition of stress dobutamine 99mTc-labeled sestamibi provides further proof of retained myocardial viability in these dysfunctional segments.

Aged↗

Inotropic stress with arbutamine is superior to vasodilator stress with dipyridamole for the detection of reversible ischemia with Tc-99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data comparing the relative merits of inotropic and vasodilator stress Tc-99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for the detection of coronary artery disease and reversible ischemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients referred for diagnostic coronary arteriography underwent separate day dipyridamole and arbutamine Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT imaging with simultaneous two-dimensional echocardiography. The sensitivity of arbutamine and dipyridamole Tc-99m sestamibi for the detection of coronary artery disease was 100% (21 of 21) and 90% (19 of 21), respectively, with a specificity of 66% (4 of 6) for both. Coronary artery disease was detected in all six patients with single vessel disease by both stress modalities. The sensitivity for prediction of multivessel disease was 66% (10 of 15) for arbutamine and 46% (7 of 15) for dipyridamole stress. Arbutamine stress induced a greater extent and severity of perfusion abnormality at peak stress (peak perfusion score 25 +/- 6.2 and 21 +/- 5.9 for arbutamine and dipyridamole, respectively, p = 0.001) and reversible perfusion defects (difference between peak stress and rest scores 8.8 +/- 5.5 and 5.2 +/- 4.4 for arbutamine and dipyridamole, respectively, p = 0.001). Furthermore a significantly higher percentage of reversible defects induced by arbutamine stress was associated with wall thickening abnormality on simultaneous echocardiography, which is a more specific marker of myocardial ischemia (88% and 24% for arbutamine and dipyridamole, respectively, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Inotropic stress may be superior to vasodilators for the determination of the extent and severity of myocardial involvement and reversible ischemia by Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT.

Cardiotonic Agents↗

Comparison of arbutamine stress 99mTc-labeled sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging and echocardiography for detection of the extent and severity of coronary artery disease and inducible ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Arbutamine is a new synthetic catecholamine developed specifically for pharmacologic stress testing. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated 39 patients undergoing coronary arteriography to compare arbutamine stress (99m)Tc-labeled sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging and echocardiography for detection of the extent and severity of coronary artery disease and inducible ischemia. Rest and stress studies were analyzed blindly according to a 12-segment left ventricular model for both techniques. Each segment was graded according to severity of wall thickening abnormality and perfusion defect (1 = normal to 4 = severe). Total perfusion defect and wall thickening scores were calculated at peak stress and the difference in scores between stress and rest (delta perfusion defect; delta wall thickening) were used as indexes of inducible ischemia. Twenty-one patients had multivessel disease, nine had single-vessel disease, and nine had normal coronary arteries. Diagnostic accuracies for the detection of coronary artery disease for single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging and echocardiography were 95% and 92%, respectively. Extent and severity of coronary artery disease indicated by a peak stress perfusion defect score of 26 +/- 6.4 and wall thickening score of 25.1 +/- 8.4 were similar, and there was no significant difference in the delta perfusion defect and delta wall thickening scores of 8.7 +/- 5.5 and 10.4 +/- 7.1, respectively. Segmental concordance rates for the detection of coronary artery disease and inducible ischemia were 74% (K = 0.47; confidence interval 0.39 to 0.55) and 74% (kappa = 0.42; confidence interval 0.34 to 0.51), respectively. Regional concordance for coronary artery disease was 84% (kappa = 0.68; confidence interval 0.51 to 0.84). Where discordance was present, there was a greater prevalence of perfusion abnormality compared with wall thickening abnormality. CONCLUSION: Arbutamine stress single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging and echocardiography provide largely equivalent and accurate pathophysiologic information for the evaluation of coronary artery disease and inducible ischemia.

Cardiotonic Agents↗

Prognostic value of direct, continuous ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in essential hypertension.

This study assessed the prognostic value of ambulatory vs. clinic blood pressure measurement in 688 hypertensives who had undergone pretreatment 24-hour intra-arterial ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. A total of 157 first events were recorded over a follow-up period of 9.2A+/-4.4 years. Ambulatory systolic or diastolic blood pressure parameters (whether 24-hour mean, daytime mean, or nighttime mean) or ambulatory pulse pressure provided independent prognostic information in conjunction with clinical variables. The most predictive models contained the ambulatory systolic blood pressure parameters. Age, male gender, South Asian origin, diabetes mellitus, and previous cardiovascular disease were additional independent predictors of events. In a subgroup of 295 uncomplicated patients, 24-hour ambulatory pulse pressure was an independent predictor of left ventricular mass index and maximal carotid intima-media thickness. Baseline clinic blood pressure parameters did not provide independent information for the prediction of events or target organ damage. Therefore, in this study, ambulatory blood pressure proved to be superior to clinic measurement for cardiovascular risk stratification. However, the routine use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is not currently recommended, mainly because of a lack of outcome trials based on the treatment of ambulatory blood pressure levels. (c)2001 by Le Jacq Communications, Inc.

Adult↗

Value of dobutamine echocardiography for the assessment of myocardial viability for revascularization.

Coronary artery disease accounts for a majority of heart failure cases in the western world. Many cardiologists believe that abnormal regional contractions in patients with coronary artery disease is equivalent to irreversibly damaged myocardium. Studies now challenge this long-held assumption. Data exist regarding the value of assessing myocardial viability in those patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and coronary artery disease. This report discusses dobutamine echocardiography as a technique for assessing myocardial viability and for selecting patients for revascularization. (c)2001 by CHF, Inc.

Journal Article↗

An echo-cardiographic (M-mode & 2D) analysis of thalassaemia major.

25 cases of thalassaemia major were studied by 2D and M-mode echocardiography. A significantly increased (p less than 0.001) mean value (100.8 +/- 27.37 msec, range 80 to 140 msec) of A2-E (early relaxation period) interval on M-mode was observed in thalassemia in comparison to mean level (82.6 +/- 5.7, range 60 to 100 msec) of control population. No significant differences were noted in FS % (fractional shortening) and EF% (ejection fraction) when compared to corresponding normal values respectively. Mean serum iron concentration (142.2 +/- 29.1 micrograms/dl, range 102 to 192 micrograms/dl) was significantly higher in thalassaemia as compared to normal population (mean 106.3 +/- 11.4 micrograms/dl, range 75 to 120 micrograms/dl). There was also a direct correlation between serum iron concentration and A2-E interval. 11 patients (44%) showed abnormal A2-E interval but only 3 patients (12%) showed abnormal percentage of FS and EF. It is therefore concluded that A2-E interval will help to detect early left ventricular dysfunction much before overt and irreversible heart failure becomes manifest and which will also help to optimise transfusion and chelation therapy.

Adolescent↗