Biomedical subjects

D Westermann

Publications and source records attributed to D Westermann.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

[Angina pectoris and ST-elevation after chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil].

We report on the case of a 64 year old male who received chemotherapy for a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. The chemotherapeutic regimen consisted of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin. Six hours after completion of the first 24 h continuous infusion of 5-FU, the patient developed severe chest pain accompanied by vegetative symptoms and a pronounced ST-elevation of the precordial leads. Under the suspicion of an acute anterior myocardial infarction an immediate coronary angiogram was performed, demonstrating a total occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery close to the left main stem. The other coronary arteries appeared smooth. After the intracoronary administration of nitroglycerine, the LAD reopened spontaneously without any residual stenosis, paralleled by complete relief of all symptoms. Therefore, 5-FU induced coronary spasm was diagnosed. After initial therapy with intravenous nitrate followed by oral calcium channel blocker, the patient remained free of symptoms and no rise in cardiac enzymes were noted. The chemotherapeutic regimen was changed to cisplatin plus docetaxel. No new attacks of chest pain occurred and the antivasospastic therapy could be stopped without further events.

Acute Coronary Syndrome↗

PubMed2006

Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase attenuates left ventricular dysfunction by mediating pro-inflammatory cardiac cytokine levels in a mouse model of diabetes mellitus.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We investigated the effect of SB 203580, a pharmacological inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), on cardiac inflammation, cardiac fibrosis, and left ventricular function using an animal model of diabetic cardiomyopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes mellitus was induced by streptozotocin (50 mg/kg i.p. for 5 days) in 20 C57/BL6J mice. Diabetic mice were treated daily with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580 (1 mg/kg daily, n=10) or with placebo (n=10) and were compared to non-diabetic controls. Left ventricular function was measured by pressure-volume loops after 8 weeks of diabetes mellitus. The parameters for systolic function were the end systolic pressure-volume relationship (ESPVR) and the left ventricular end systolic pressure. The parameters for diastolic function were the left ventricular end diastolic pressure and the end diastolic pressure-volume relationship (EDPVR). Cardiac tissue was analysed by ELISA for the protein content of the cytokines TNF-alpha, IL6, IL1-beta, and TGF-beta1. Phosphorylation of MAPK p38 was analysed by western blot, and the total cardiac collagen content was analysed by Sirius red staining. RESULTS: Left ventricular dysfunction was documented by impaired ESPVR and EDPVR. Cardiac cytokine levels and cardiac fibrosis were increased in diabetic animals compared to controls. Treatment with the p38 inhibitor normalised cardiac cytokine levels and improved systolic function, but did not change cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction compared to placebo. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK prevents cardiac inflammation and attenuates left ventricular dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

High prevalence of cardiac parvovirus B19 infection in patients with isolated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of left ventricular (LV) isolated diastolic dysfunction often remains unclear. In the present study, we report a strong association between parvovirus B19 (PVB19) genomes and isolated LV diastolic dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 70 patients (mean+/-SD age, 43+/-11 years) admitted with exertional dyspnea and/or reduced exercise tolerance despite preserved LV systolic contractility (ejection fraction=68%), isolated diastolic dysfunction was clinically suspected. Patients with classic risk factors for diastolic dysfunction such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, or pulmonary disease had been excluded. Diastolic function was assessed by echocardiography and LV and RV catheterization. Endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) were analyzed for the presence of storage or infiltrative diseases or myocarditis, including molecular screening for cardiotropic virus genomes. In a substudy of 24 patients who reported atypical angina, coronary endothelial function was additionally investigated with a coronary Doppler flow-wire technique. In 37 of 70 patients (53%), isolated diastolic dysfunction was confirmed as the cause of their clinical symptoms. No evidence for cardiac storage or infiltrative diseases was found in these cases, but in 35 of 37 of these patients (95%), cardiotropic virus genomes were detected in EMBs (P<0.001). PVB19 was the most frequent pathogen in 31 of 37 patients (84%). In a subgroup of 10 patients with diastolic dysfunction and coexisting endothelial dysfunction, all 10 (100%) were PVB19 positive. CONCLUSIONS: PVB19 genomes were predominant in patients with unexplained, isolated diastolic dysfunction. A strong association with the incidence of endothelial dysfunction was obvious, consistent with the hypothesis that PVB19-induced endothelial dysfunction may be a possible pathomechanism underlying diastolic dysfunction.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Bladder carcinoma during pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: We report 3 cases of bladder cancer during pregnancy and give a review of the literature in an attempt to evaluate tumor at presentation, characteristics, maternal and fetal outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The case history of 3 pregnant women treated for bladder cancer in 2001 together with the results of a MEDLINE search from 1966 to 2003. RESULTS: Out of 27 cases of nonbilharzial bladder carcinoma, 74% presented with transitional cell carcinoma. Five patients had muscle-invasive tumors. Major symptom was hematuria in 81%, which was initially mistaken as vaginal bleeding in 22%. Only half of the tumors were identified by ultrasonography. Although superficial bladder carcinoma was transurethrally resected alone, outcome and prognosis are good. But the prognosis of locally advanced bladder carcinoma is poor. None of the fetuses delivered before 30 weeks of gestation survived. Two of the 5 patients died from the disease and follow-up is only short in the rest. CONCLUSION: Any doubtful genital bleeding during pregnancy without definite proof of vaginal/cervical origin should be investigated by both ultrasonography of the upper urinary tract and urethrocystoscopy. Superficial bladder tumors can be most effectively treated by transurethral resection followed by cystoscopy, whereas the prognosis of muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma is poor and demands more radical treatment, depending on the stage of pregnancy.

Adult↗