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Biomedical subjects

A Graef

Publications and source records attributed to A Graef.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Silent giant left atrium. A case report.

A sixty-two-year-old white woman with a 14.5 cm (145 mm) silent giant left atrial enlargement secondary probably to rheumatic heart disease is presented. Aside from mild progressive shortness of breath during the past year, the patient had been asymptomatic all her life. Her clinical picture was manifested for the first time by syncope secondary to slow atrial fibrillation, for which a permanent pacemaker was required. The correct diagnosis of the enlarged chamber was not possible through the routine chest roentgenogram. In this case, the echocardiogram, nuclear angiogram, and computed tomography were the pertinent studies needed to reach the diagnosis.

Cardiomegaly↗
PubMed1991

Prolactin and gonadal hormones during pregnancy in systemic lupus erythematosus.

We performed prospective hormonal studies in 9 patients (5 active and 4 inactive) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during pregnancy (Weeks 10 to 37). Nine healthy pregnant women and 5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were used for comparison. Serum prolactin (PRL), testosterone and estradiol (E2) levels were determined by RIA. The patients with SLE showed higher serum PRL levels, the difference being statistically significant at Week 20, and reaching the highest levels at Weeks 30 to 40 (p = 0.05 when compared to healthy pregnant women). The 5 patients with active SLE had the highest serum PRL levels; one of these had fetal wastage. In active SLE the serum testosterone and E2 levels were decreased significantly from Weeks 10 to 30 compared with controls (p = 0.001). In patients with RA serum PRL levels, although higher than in controls, did not differ significantly, nor did the lower testosterone and E2 levels. We conclude that gonadal hormones and PRL changes observed in SLE are present also during pregnancy and may be related to fetal wastage and reactivation of disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Inhibition of the pituitary-gonadal axis by a single intramuscular administration of D-Trp-6-LH-RH (decapeptyl) in a sustained-release formulation in patients with prostatic carcinoma.

For the past 6 years we used daily injection of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonists to treat patients with advanced prostate carcinoma. In this study we determined the hormonal response of the pituitary-testicular axis over a 2-month period and evaluated the safety and tolerance of the single intramuscular administration of sustained-release formulations of D-Trp-6-LH-RH microcapsules designed to release 50, 100, or 200 micrograms/day for over 1 month. Serum levels of LH, testosterone, and D-Trp-6-LH-RH were measured by RIA for up to 60 days in 10 patients with advanced prostatic carcinoma who had not received any previous drug therapy. After the administration of the microcapsules there was a biphasic increase in D-Trp-6-LH-RH serum levels. The maximal peak was obtained between 1 and 3 hr, and a second peak occurred between weeks 4 and 6. LH levels increased initially, with a maximal peak at 60 min, and elevated serum LH values persisted for more than 24 hr. LH levels began to fall on the second day, reaching subnormal values after 1 week. Serum testosterone rose during the first week and fell subsequently to less than 100 ng/dl. A rebound in LH and testosterone was seen about the 50th day after the microcapsule administration. Following the first week of therapy, we observed in all patients a significant decrease in bone pain, improvement in urinary flow obstruction, and a reversal of the signs of prostatism. No side effects were observed, and acceptance of the microcapsules was very good. Our results show that a single dose of D-Trp-6-LH-RH microcapsules suppresses of the pituitary-testicular axis for at least 50 days. D-Trp-6-LH-RH microcapsules facilitate the treatment and should lead to an improvement in the therapeutic response.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1987

Correlation study between prolactin and androgens in male patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis was studied in 8 male patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), both before and after intravenous administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH). We provide evidence herein that resting serum levels of estrone are increased and that resting serum testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels are decreased in male patients with SLE. The decreased serum T levels were observed even after the IV administration of 25 micrograms of LH-RH. The high basal serum prolactin (PRL) levels observed in these patients with SLE is a novel finding not previously reported that could explain why serum T and DHT levels are low in this syndrome. We observed a decrease in the pituitary response to LH-RH stimulation; this low response could also be a hormonal manifestation of hyperprolactinemia. Furthermore, it has been suggested that PRL plays a role in immunocompetence, and therefore it could have influence either directly or indirectly in the altered immunoregulation observed in SLE.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Delayed gastric emptying in subjects with Gilbert's syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, it has been proposed that decreased intestinal motility in fasting-induced hyperbilirubinemic rats probably results in an increase in the enterohepatic cycling of unconjugated bilirubin. We investigated the association among gastric emptying, intestinal transit time, and serum unconjugated levels in subjects with Gilbert's syndrome. METHODOLOGY: Ten subjects with Gilbert's syndrome were included in this study according to the following criteria: fasting hyperbilirubinemia; no hemolysis or gastrointestinal disorders and free of any medication. Five normal, healthy volunteers acted as controls. Gastric emptying and intestinal transit time were evaluated after overnight fasting by administration of a standard meal mixed with 1-2ci of 99Tc-labeled diethylene-triamine-pentacetic acid. Serum unconjugated bilirubin levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The gastric emptying in Gilbert's syndrome subjects was 134.1 +/- 38.9 and 90.9 +/- 6.5 min in controls, P < 0.03. It was a tendency to have a shorter intestinal transit time in subjects with Gilbert's syndrome, 138.3 +/- 59.0, than in control subjects, 183.8 +/- 11.3 min. Serum unconjugated bilirubin levels (mg/dL) were 2.6 +/- 1.04 and 0.95 +/- 0.34, P < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric emptying is delayed significantly in Gilbert's syndrome, and intestinal transit time differences between Gilbert's syndrome subjects and controls were not significantly different.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The treatment of colonic and ovarian cancer with radioactive monoclonal antibodies against the CA l9-9 and CA 125 antigens].

The age of monoclonal antibodies arose with the papers by Köhler and Milstein in 1975. By means of a fusion between a neoplastic cell with one which produced a specific antibody they obtained a hybrid or clonal cell. Five years later, Nadler et al issued the first report of a patient with lymphoma treated with monoclonal antibodies. After the first announcement, diverse research centers have reported the clinical results obtained in various neoplasias treated with radioactive monoclonal antibodies directed against antigens associated with neoplasias, as well as non-specific tumoral antigens, including lymphomas, melanomas and cancers of the colon, ovary and breast.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of position with respect to gravitational force on the hydrodynamics of an experimental model of saccular aneurysm].

We wish to confirm the hypothesis that the hydrodynamics of brain aneurysms depend partially on their position, with respect to the force of gravitation, and so developed an experimental model of latex aneurysms, which was subjected to a pulsatile flow. Four different registers were made with an injection of ink and radioisotopes. A physical model was designed which allowed a quantitative analysis of the results and which allows a mathematical analysis of the aneurysm's hydrodynamics. The results suggest that when an aneurysm is oriented against the force of gravity, it has a very low risk of thrombosis, and the scarce turbulence of the flow condition a lower risk of growth and rupture, in comparison with other conditions. The greatest flow turbulence against the wall is found in the aneurysm oriented downwards, that is parallel to the force of gravity. Due to its hydrodynamics, the downwards aneurysm has the highest probability of complication, since it has; a) higher risk of rupture due to the impact of the stream upon the wall and to the turbulence this impact produces, b) a higher risk of thrombosis produced by the circulatory stasis which has a dome. This combination of factors (rupture and thrombosis) allows these aneurysms to grow more than others.

Gravitation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes in ventricular function in diabetes mellitus. Relation to the duration of the diabetes and its complications].

To find out if ventricular dysfunction is related with diabetes duration or diabetic chronic complications, resting and exercise electrocardiograms, chest X-ray, echocardiograms and dynamic scintigraphy with left ventricular ejection fraction measurement (LVEF) were performed to three groups of diabetic subjects without known cardiopathy or hypertension: (I) twelve subjects with less than five-years diabetes, (II) eleven with five to ten years, (III) nineteen with diabetes lasting more than ten years. Results were compared with ten healthy volunteers. 90.4% of diabetics had at least one abnormality. LVEF was significantly lower in diabetics (P less than 0.001) than in control group. No important differences were found according to diabetes duration. Lower fractional shortening and lower cardiac output were found in group III than in control group (P less than 0.05). Impaired ventricular function in group III was related (P less than 0.05) with the evidence of diabetic late complications. Relationship between ventricular dysfunction and other microvascular abnormalities might suggest that microangiopathy participates in some extent to the pathogenesis of ventricular disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Usefulness of pancreatic scintilography in clinical diagnosis].

Our experience in pancreatic scintigraphy is presented in this paper. It was used as radioactive substance 75 semetionina. 21 patients with pancreatic pathology and 6 controls constituted the clinical material. The scintigraphy studies showed an homogenous distribution of the radioactive material in the control group. In 7 cases a defect of concentration was showed. The diagnosis of carcinoma were made with surgery in all of them. Similar findings were demonstrated in cases of pancreatic pseudocyst. Irregular distribution was noted in patients with pancreatitis. We concluded that in same instances pancreatic scintigraphy can be useful for differential diagnosis in the clinical field.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ventilation, diffusion and pulmonary perfusion studied by 133 Xe].

The pulmonary function has been studied by several methods using radioactive gases since 1955. Knipping and col. reported the first study with 133Xe in the evaluation of the gas distribution in pulmonary ventilation. In this study, we report the pulmonary function in 40 normal persons, evaluated by injection in a peripherical vein of this radioactive substance. The elementary respiratory functions: ventilation, diffusion and perfusion were calculated by distribution curves of 133Xe and we obtained the V/P index is very important for the diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of the pulmonary function. Comparative studies with several examples of human pulmonary disease are in progress in our laboratory.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gonadotropins pituitary secretion in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Hormonal abnormalities have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In order to define the regulatory mechanism involved, the pituitary reserve for gonadotropins secretion was investigated in eight untreated SLE patients with normal menstrual cycles. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were determined on the fifth day of the menstrual cycle before and after intravenous administration of 25 micrograms synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH). The pulsatile LH and FSH resting values in SLE were not significantly higher than those found in the controls; after LH-RH stimulation no difference was observed between the SLE group and controls. The LH and FSH response to exogenous LH-RH administration in SLE demonstrate the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary axis that explains normal menses and fertility in this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The first myocardial infarct in the elderly patient].

UNLABELLED: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients over 65 years of age represent more than half of the patients with AMI. Among them, between 60 and 80% represent the first AMI. The objective of this study is to evaluate the behavior of AMI in this group of patients. The clinical charts of patients over 65 years of age with ischemic heart disease admitted into the hospital during the past two years, were reviewed. We used the international criteria (clinical, ECG, enzymatic, echocardiographic and scintigraphic studies) for the diagnosis of AMI. Patients with previous AMI were excluded. We included 274 patients (68% males and 32% females). The age varied from 65 to 91 years with an average of 71.7 +/- 5.3 years. Typical symptoms were present in 90.5% and atypical in 9.5% of the cases, being the latest most frequent in those over 75 years of age. RISK FACTORS: cigarette smoking was present in 60% of the patients, hypertension in 52% and diabetes mellitus in 37%. Both of them were associated in 21%. In 144 cases (52.5%) the MI localization was anterior and in 130 (47.5%) inferior; among them 47 patients (36%) had extension to the right ventricle and 7 (2.5%) had a non Q AMI. COMPLICATIONS: Type I-II VPCs of Bernard Lown were present in 18% and type V 10.2%. Compete AV block in 14.2% (all of them with inferior wall MI); bifascicular block in 55 and mitral insufficiency due to papillary muscle dysfunction in 6.5%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Distribution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute myocardial infarct in young adults. A report of 142 cases].

We present 142 cases of myocardial infarction in the young (MIY) which correspond to 5.6% of a total of 2525 patients with MI hospitalized in the past 5 years at the Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico La Raza, IMSS. Among them, 124 (87%) were males and 18 (13%) females. The age varied from 25-40 years, average 35 years for both sexes. Occupational labor: 56 (39.5%) were workers, 27 (19%) officemen, 22 (15.5%) professionals, 20 (14%) taxi drivers, 15 (10.5%) merchants and 2 (1.5%) students. Personal cardiac history: 42 (30%) had history of angor pectoris and 5 (3.5%) of MI. Coronary risk factors: 106 patients (75%) had emotional stress due to type "A" personality, 101 (71%) cigarette smoking, 59 (42%) systemic arterial hypertension, 35 (25%) diabetes mellitus, 35 (25%) hyperlipidemias and 28 (20%) obesity. Among them, 34 (24%) had no risk factors. MI localization: 48 (34%) anteroseptal, 37 (26%) anterolateral, 36 (25%) posteroinferior and 21 (15%) inferior. Only in 83 cases coronary angiogram was performed, among them: 34 (41%) had disease of the left coronary artery and 18 (22%) of the right; 33 (40%) had one vessel, 15 (18%) 2 vessel and 4 (5%) 3 vessel disease. In 31 (37%) the coronary angiogram was normal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗