Left ventricular automatic border detection (ABD) patterns were defined in the parasternal short-axis and the apical four-chamber views and were compared with pulsed-wave diastolic Doppler flow-velocity patterns of the mitral valve in 49 subjects (aged 39 to 87 years), 10 selected normal individuals, and 39 consecutive patients with high-quality echocardiographic Doppler studies and relaxation abnormalities (Doppler peak early diastolic velocity/peak late velocity ratio < 1). Both short-axis and apical four-chamber views were useful in the assessment of diastolic function by ABD. However, in subjects with high-quality two-dimensional echocardiographic Doppler studies, ABD was technically more feasible in the apical four-chamber view (97%; 38/39 subjects) than in the short-axis view (64%; 25/39 subjects) and correlated better with Doppler parameters. Compared with normal subjects, patients with abnormal Doppler relaxation patterns showed significant differences in diastolic filling indexes obtained by the ABD technique. The ratio of peak rapid filling rate/peak atrial filling rate (PRFR/PAFR) obtained from the dA/dt waveform in the apical four-chamber view had the highest correlation with Doppler indexes (r = 0.79). A PRFR/PAFR ratio of 1.5 best discriminated between normal individuals and subjects with relaxation abnormalities, with high sensitivity and specificity (95% and 100%, respectively). The PRFR/PAFR ratio obtained from the dA/dt waveform seemed to be a simple and useful method to distinguish between normal and abnormal left ventricular diastolic filling, as defined by Doppler echocardiography.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Adhesion of Candida albicans to epithelial cells--effect of nikkomycin.

This study investigated the effect of the chitin synthetase inhibitors, the nikkomycins (NZ and NZ+NX), on Candida albicans adhesion to buccal epithelial cells (BECs) in vitro. The effect was expressed in reduced chitin synthetase activity and chitin content of fungal cells. In vitro adhesion assays to BECs of Candida exposed to NZ and NZ+NX revealed reduced adhesion values. Light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) of NZ-treated and untreated micro-organisms showed changed fungal morphology and reduced adherence of the treated yeasts. Scanning electron microscopy of NZ-treated C. albicans labelled with gold-conjugated wheatgerm agglutinin (WGA) revealed less labelling than in the untreated organisms. A close contact between the fungus and the epithelial cell at a site with intense WGA-gold labelling was noted in TEM experiments. The data point to the involvement of chitin in the adhesion of C. albicans to epithelial cells.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Possible interaction between aspirin and ACE inhibitors: update on unresolved controversy.

The widespread use of aspirin and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in patients with coronary artery disease contributes significantly to the reduction in morbidity and mortality from this common health problem. These agents are widely and concomitantly used, and they share mechanisms that may interact in negative or positive pathways. Data derived from in vitro preparations, animal studies, human studies, and case-control studies are inconsistent. No study has established firm evidence regarding the safety or adverse effect of aspirin on patients who are on ACE inhibitors. The efficacy and safety of aspirin in combination with ACE inhibitors has been questioned and debated. If a negative interaction does exist, it will affect daily practice in treating patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure. This article reviews the available data regarding the safety of combined aspirin and ACE-inhibitor treatment among patients with ischemic heart disease, to assess the possible interaction between the two drugs and to discuss the significance and implications of the data. (c)2000 by CHF, Inc.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Beyond HMOs: understanding the next wave of change in health-care organization.

The growing strength of managed care has diminished the financial and clinical autonomy of many orthopaedic surgeons. In part to offset these negative trends, new relationships are being developed to define doctors' methods of contracting with health-maintenance organizations. These include physician practice management companies (PPMs), independent practice associations, management service organizations, and physician-sponsored organizations. Each entity offers distinct advantages and disadvantages. While the PPM is the most popular new vehicle to offset adverse market trends, it carries with it some of the greatest potential pitfalls. In every case, before negotiating to join one of these new entities, it is important for a physician to have a solid understanding of the competing claims made by each entity, as well as insight into the fiscal health of the particular company in question. For some doctors, these arrangements offer a solution to current woes. For others, PPMs interpose another meddlesome intermediary in a market already bloated by layers of bureaucracy.

Contract Services↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Radionuclide imaging of the heart in myocardial infarction and acute ischemia by 99mtechnetium diphosphonate.

99mtechnetium diphosphonate was used in 81 patients for myocardial imaging. 46 of the patients suffered, 2-6 days prior to the test, from an acute transmural infarction provided by clinical, ECG, and enzymatic evidence; the scintigram was definitely positive in 43, equivocal in 2, and negative in 1. In 16 patients with subendocardial infarctions, in 9 the scintigram showed a positive result, in 1 it was equivocal, and in6 patients negative. In 6 other patients who suffered from acute chest pain, followed by enzyme changes, but no ECG evidence of infarction throughout the hospitalization period, the scan was positive in all. In 13 patients with acute ischemia (unstable 'crescendo' angina), 9 had a positive, 1 an equivocal, and 3 a negative scan. We conclude that radionuclide imaging is a valuable addition to the methods already available for diagnosis of myocardial infarction. With the use of diphosphonate as the tracer, we found that acutely ischemic myocardium that later may recover, gives also positive imaging.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Radiotracer method for nonsurgical measurement of blood flow in bovine graft arteriovenous fistulas.

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Adolescent↗