Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A K Bozkurt.
A case of primary fibrosarcoma of the heart, which was diagnosed in a 17 year old man, is presented. Extensive tumour resection and postoperative radiation therapy was carried out. The patient is alive after 18 months after the operation. Although these tumours are associated with very poor survival, early diagnosis and combined therapy may prolong life expectancy.
A case of Behçet's disease, in which superior vena cava syndrome was the presenting feature is reported. Magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography revealed a mass lesion in the right atrium. This patient developed bilateral pulmonary artery aneurysms postoperatively and represents one of the bizarre manifestations of Behçet's disease.
Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) is a rare peripheral vascular disease that usually affects young male smokers. It is characterized by multiple occlusions distal to the knee and elbow. Although rarely encountered in this condition, major arterial occlusions can be corrected by arterial revascularization. The hospital records of 216 patients (214 men and 2 women) with Buerger's disease were reviewed retrospectively, 142 (66%) between 1 and 120 (mean(s.d.) 72.8(24)) months after diagnosis. Of these patients 21 had had an arterial revascularization; 183 lumbar and 20 thoracic sympathectomies had been performed. In 30 of the patients a total of 29 minor and four major amputations had been performed. In appropriate cases arterial reconstruction provides better healing of ischaemic lesions. Although vasomotor tone is usually normalized in 2 weeks to 6 months after sympathectomy, the temporary increase in blood flow is often sufficient to heal ischaemic lesions during this period.
From April 1987 to April 1991, 30 patients over the age of 15 years underwent surgery for congenital heart defects in the adult department of the Professorial Unit of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Eighteen were females (60%) and 12 were males (40%). Ages ranged from 15 to 68 years (mean 38.1). Six patients 20% had undergone previous cardiac surgery. Operative and hospital mortality was zero. Major postoperative complications occurred in three patients. In the follow-up period between three months and four years, there has been one late death. The spectrum of patients with congenital heart defects over the age of 15 was reviewed. The relatively late presentation of these defects and the indications for operating in adult life are discussed.
BACKGROUND: Neo-intimal hyperplasia is one of the most common causes of failure of arterial patency following cardiovascular interventions. It has been proposed that clopidogrel and calcium dobesilate may play an important role in the amelioration of intimal hyperplasia. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of these agents on intimal hyperplasia occurring after experimental balloon catheter injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four male New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups. Endothelial injury was caused by introducing a 2.5 x 20 mm balloon angioplasty-catheter into the left iliac artery. After the procedure, clopidogrel (25 mg/kg/day/orally) or calcium dobesilate (100 mg/kg/day/orally) were given for 2 weeks. Eight rabbits were given a placebo and served as controls. The contralateral non-injured iliac arteries of the control group were considered as normal iliac artery samples. Iliac artery specimens were examined planimetrically and the intima/media ratio was obtained for each vessel. RESULTS: In the control group, the intima/media ratio was still significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the contralateral normal artery 14 days after the balloon catheter injury. In the clopidogrel and calcium dobesilate groups, this ratio had significantly decreased when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found when the clopidogrel and calcium dobesilate groups were compared. CONCLUSION: The anti-agregant agent clopidogrel, and the venous endothelial regulator calcium dobesilate, ameliorate intimal hyperplasia after experimentally induced vascular injury in rabbit iliac arteries.