Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Dopico.
Several focal forms of infection by Salmonella no typhi, as the endocarditis, are very rare and the coexistence of splenic abscess is even more rare. We present a case in which the simultaneous presence of both infections was observed and we review the literature with special emphasis in the therapeutical aspects.
In order to analyse the 24 h blood pressure pattern, a non-invasive 24 h ABPM was recorded in 18 normotensives (23-44 years) and in 24 untreated essential hypertensives (28-65 years) using a Space-Labs 90202. This device was previously validated with a mercury sphigmomanometer (S) and with intraarterial blood pressure (IA). The correlation coefficient obtained for systolic blood pressure (SBP) between ABPM and IA was 0.89, p less than 0.0001 and between ABPM and S was 0.98, p less than 0.0001. Likewise, a significative correlation for diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was found between ABPM and IA (r = 0.78, p less than 0.0001) and between ABPM and S (r = 0.97, p less than 0.0001). Essential hypertensives showed higher mean values of SBP and DBP than normotensives (p less than 0.01) maintaining a similar circadian pattern. In these patients, the percentages of mean abnormal SBP (greater than 140 mmHg) and DBP (greater than 90 mmHg) readings were greater than 58% and 56% for the 24 h period, and 70% and 77% for the activity period, respectively. On the other hand, in normotensives the percentages of mean abnormal SBP and DBP readings were lower than 10.5% and 5.7% for the 24 h period, and 17.2% and 11.7% during the activity period, respectively. In conclusion, 24 h ABPM enabled us to characterize two well differentiated populations either by mean BP values of the percentages of abnormal readings. Between normotensives and hypertensives an intermediate group of subjects, with normal mean BP values and higher percentages of abnormal BP readings than normotensives remains to be characterized and longitudinally studied in order to evaluate their target organ repercussion.
In order to evaluate whether segmental ejection fraction (SEF) is a better index of left ventricular (LV) performance than global ejection fraction (EF), 25 patients with significant coronary stenosis and normal EF were studied. SEF was estimated from the LV cineangiogram after dividing the LV into eight segments by means of a long axis and three equally spaced chords perpendicular to it. The area of a given segment was measured in the end-diastole and the end-systole and SEF was calculated by determining the percent decrease in area for each segment. 12 out of the 25 patients presented hypokinesis, akinesis or dyskinesis of at least two segments; the inferior apical and both diaphragmatic segments were the regions most frequently affected. In 7 patients, these abnormalities were compensated by hyperkinesis of two or three other segments, whereas in the remaining 5 patients contraction abnormalities were not accompanied by hyperkinesis in spite of a normal EF. It is concluded that SEF is a more sensitive index of regional LV function than EF in patients with ischaemic heart disease.
Following a modification of the area method described by Gelberg et al., left ventricular regional wall motion was studied in 30 normal subject. The left ventricular cineangiograms were filmed in the right anterior oblique projection at 48 frames/s after injection of 76% sodium-meglumine diatrizoate. The end-diastolic and end-systolic frames were each divided into 8 regions using a grid formed by longitudinal axis, which was traced from the midpoint of the aortic valve to the apex, and three equally spaced perpendiculars to the long axis. Segmental ejection fraction was estimated by determining the percent decrease in each segment area in end-systole with respect to the end-diastolic area. The mean values +/- S. D. obtained for each segment were: anterobasal 58 +/- 14%; anterolateral-proximal 59 +/- 6%; anterolateral-distal 58 +/- 4%; apical-superior 59 +/- 8%; apical-inferior 58 +/- 7%; diaphragmatic-distal 58 +/- 9%; diaphragmatic-proximal 55 +/- 6%; and posterobasal 42 +/- 15%. The values obtained are useful for comparison when evaluating left ventricular performance in patients.