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Biomedical subjects

F Alfonso

Publications and source records attributed to F Alfonso.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A study to validate the method based on DIMOND quality criteria for cardiac angiographic images.

A method based on image quality criteria (QC) for cine-angiography was developed to measure the quality of cine-angiograms (CA). A series of 30 CA for left ventriculography (LV) and left and right coronary angiography (LCA, RCA) have been scored and 172 readings were obtained. Standard deviation of quality scores indicated the reproducibility of the method. Each part of CA was examined separately, giving scores for LV, LCA and RCA and a total score (TS), with clinical (C) and technical (T) criteria defined and examined separately. In 83% of the studies TS was >0.8 and with standard deviation from 0.02 to 0.21. In general, LV had a lower score and greater disagreement compared with RCA and LCA. Disagreement was greater in T, compared with C. In conclusion, these results indicate that QC, translated into a scoring system, yields reproducible data on the quality of cardiac images.

Cineangiography↗
PubMed2006

Image quality criteria in cardiology.

Image quality evaluation plays a key role in the process of optimisation in radiological procedures. Image quality criteria for cardiac cine-angiography were recently agreed as part of a European Research Project, and a scoring system based on these criteria has been developed to allow an 'objective' measurement of the quality of cardiac angiograms. Two studies aimed at the evaluation of the methodology have been completed, demonstrating that the method can be applied to cardiac images and translated into a scoring system that yields reproducible data. Based on the results of these studies, quality criteria have been further reviewed by DIMOND III panel and the updated version is presented in this paper.

Cardiology↗
PubMed2006

Occupational radiation doses in interventional cardiology: a 15-year follow-up.

This report describes occupational radiation doses of interventional cardiologists over 15 years and assesses action undertaken to optimize radiation protection. Personal dosimetry records of nine staff cardiologists and eight interventional cardiology fellows were recorded using personal dosemeters worn over and under their lead aprons. The hospital in which this study was conducted currently performs 5000 cardiology procedures per year. The hospital has improved its facilities since 1989, when it had two old-fashioned theatres, to include four rooms with more advanced and safer equipment. Intensive radiation protection training was also implemented since 1989. Initially, some individual dose values in the range of 100-300 mSv month(-1), which risked exceeding some regulatory dose limits, were measured over the lead apron. Several doses in the range of 5-11 mSv month(-1) were recorded under the apron (mean = 10.2 mSv year(-1)). During the last 5 years of the study, after the implementation of the radiation protection actions and a programme of patient-dose optimization, the mean dose under the apron was reduced to 1.2 mSv year(-1). Current mean occupational doses recorded under the lead apron are 14% of those recorded during 1989-1992 and those recorded over the apron are 14-fold less than those recorded during 1989-1992. The regulatory dose limits and the threshold for lens injuries might have been exceeded if radiation protection facilities had not been used systematically. The most effective actions involved in reducing the radiation risk were training in radiation protection, a programme of patient-dose reduction and the systematic use of radiation protection facilities, specifically ceiling-suspended protective screens.

Body Burden↗
PubMed2005

Fatal infection after rapamycin eluting coronary stent implantation.

Septic complications after coronary stenting are extremely rare. The occurrence of cardiac related sepsis after rapamycin eluting stent deployment has not been previously reported. The potential role of drug eluting stents in locally blunting the innate response to bacterial agents is discussed.

Catheterization↗
PubMed2004

Findings of intravascular ultrasound during acute stent thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in evaluating patients experiencing an episode of acute stent thrombosis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective observational study in a cardiac catheterisation laboratory in a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: IVUS was used to examine 12 patients undergoing coronary interventions for stent thrombosis to gain further mechanistic insights and to guide treatment. IVUS studies were obtained before and after intervention with a motorised pullback device. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Qualitative and volumetric IVUS analyses. RESULTS: Angiographically, 10 patients had occluded vessels and two patients had intraluminal filling defects within the stent. IVUS showed an occlusive thrombus in all patients. Thrombus volume was 90 (77) mm3, which was 51 (21)% of total stent volume. There was evidence of severe stent underexpansion in most patients and no patient fulfilled standard criteria for optimal stent implantation. Stent malapposition was detected in four patients, edge dissections were seen in two patients, and significant inflow-outflow disease was present in 11 patients. During interventions IVUS findings led to the use of higher pressures or larger balloons than those used during initial stenting in 10 patients. In addition, four patients required additional stenting, whereas a thrombectomy device alone was selected for one patient. After the procedure final minimum stent area (7.1 (2.1) v 5.3 (2) mm2, p < 0.005) and stent expansion (83.2 (17) v 62.1 (15)%, p < 0.005) improved compared with pre-interventional values. However, residual lining thrombus was still visualised in eight patients (25 (19) mm3, accounting for a 17% of final stent volume). CONCLUSIONS: IVUS provides an attractive technique to characterise fully the pattern of stent thrombosis, to identify readily the underlying mechanical predisposing factors, and to guide repeated coronary interventions.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Effects of bosentan on neointimal response following coronary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: Endothelins are important vasoconstrictors and cellular-growth promoters. ETA-specific antagonists have been shown to reduce neointimal response to injury in some experimental angioplasty models. However, there is little information on the effects of dual ETA/ETB receptor blockers, such as bosentan, on neointimal proliferation following experimental coronary angioplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Coronary injury was achieved by directional atherectomy in the left anterior descending artery of 20 pigs. Animals were randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of oral bosentan (30 mg kg-1) (group I, n = 10) or no treatment (group II, n = 10). At 4 weeks, arteries were processed for histomorphometry and endothelin characterization. RESULTS: Vessel injury score was similar among the two groups. Overall, a linear correlation was found between injury and neointimal development (r = 0.57, P = 0.01). This correlation had a lower slope in group I compared with group II (P < 0.001), indicating a smaller amount of neointimal development for a similar degree of injury in bosentan-treated animals. Multivariate regression showed that neointimal response was reduced by oral treatment with bosentan (beta: -0.59 mm2, 95% CI: -1.11/-0.06 mm2). In addition, immunostaining revealed fewer positive endothelin areas in group I arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Oral treatment with bosentan reduces neointimal development following coronary angioplasty in this experimental model.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2002

Morning cortisol production in coronary heart disease patients.

BACKGROUND: The circadian cycle of the endogenous anti-inflammatory system (EAIS) is characterized by a morning increase in cortisol production. Circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) activates the EAIS. A circadian variation in the onset of myocardial infarction, sudden death, stable angina (SA) and unstable angina (UA) has been reported. The aim of this study was to determine morning cortisol production in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum cortisol and IL-6 were measured in 129 patients with either SA (n = 65) or UA (n = 64) and 40 healthy volunteers. Blood samples were taken between 9 : 00 h and 12 : 00 h. The upper normal range of cortisol (25 microg dL-1) was used as a reference to classify patients. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients had elevated cortisol levels (ECL) (32.5 +/- 5.4 microg dL-1), while 81 patients had normal cortisol levels (NCL) (15.7 +/- 5.9 microg dL-1). In NCL patients, IL-6 levels (26.6 pg mL-1, ranged from 0.2 to 183.7) were significantly higher (P < 0.004) than in ECL patients (9.70 pg mL-1, range 0.07-56.5). Forty-eight patients with UA belonged to the NCL group of patients, while only 16 UA patients belonged to the ECL group (chi(2) = 0.000). Thirty-two patients with SA belonged to the ECL group, and 33 to the NCL group (chi(2) = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with 'inappropriately' normal morning cortisol production had high IL-6 levels. 'Inappropriately' normal cortisol, detected in 75% of UA and 50% of SA patients, may be insufficient for limiting inflammation. These findings have novel clinical implications and suggest new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of these patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[Intramyocardial dissection of the posterior wall of the left ventricle with shunt to coronary sinus after myocardial infarction].

A 83 year old diabetic woman was admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of subacute inferoposterior myocardial infarction. Four days later physical examination revealed a new systolic murmur at the left sternal border and apex. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed inferoposterior akinesis and a dissection tract in the posterior wall of the left ventricle arising from the distal to mid-segment with an entrance tear of 7 mm. Doppler color showed a systolic jet with a mosaic flow pattern inside the right atrium which appeared to originate in the coronary sinus. Transesophageal echocardiogram confirmed the intramyocardial dissection of the posterior wall and its communication with the coronary sinus, and identified the latter as the origin of the mosaic flow inside the right atrium. Medical treatment was initiated and the patient has been followed up for two years. The diameter of the entrance tear remains unchanged although the dissection tract and coronary sinus have enlarged, no significant enlargement has been observed in the right chamber on follow up.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[Effect of cAMP on the function of endothelial cells and fibromuscular proliferation after the injury of the carotid and coronary arteries in a porcine model].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Reendothelization of damaged blood vessels protects against the vascular injury response. We evaluated in vivo whether a systemic increase in cAMP accelerates reendothelization and attenuates intimal hyperplasia in injured swine carotid and coronary arteries. METHODS: Both carotid arteries of 10 swines were subjected to balloon injury. Five animals had been treated with 2 ml (10 mg) of Forskolin, an activator of the adenylate cyclase, and another 5 with 2 ml of saline solution. These animals were sacrificed at day 8, and carotid artery reendothelization was evaluated. The descendent coronary (DC) artery of another 19 pigs was injured by atherotome. Nine animals had been treated with 2 ml of Forskolin, and another 10 with 2 ml of saline solution. These animals were sacrificed at day 28, with myointimal proliferation and arterial geometric remodelation being evaluated. Likewise, in these animals intracellular cAMP levels were measured at baseline and 28 and 60 minutes after saline solution or Forskolin administration and 90 min after arterial injury. RESULTS: Eight days after balloon injury, carotid artery reendothelization was greater in the Forskolin-treated group compared with the control group (p = 0.02), and the number of CD31 positive cells was statistically increased in the treated group (38 +/- 11 cells) versus controls (11 +/- 9 cells). Although the degree of vascular injury caused by atherotome was similar in all of the arteries in the control group, restenosis was only observed in 40% of these animals. Correlation analysis demonstrated that intracellular cAMP may condition arterial geometric remodeling and the diameter of the lumen after vascular injury. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that cAMP may promote reendothelization and attenuate fibromuscular proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Endogenous anti-inflammatory response after coronary injury in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)/adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)/cortisol is the major anti-inflammatory system. After percutaneous translumenal angioplasty, an inflammatory process is triggered. We investigate whether CRH/ACTH/cortisol axis is activated after deep vessel wall injury (DVWI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasma and leukocyte CRH and ACTH, serum cortisol and IL-1beta, and leukocyte cAMP were measured (ELISA) in 16 pigs after anaesthesia (baseline), 60 min into anaesthesia without causing vascular injury and 90 min after DVWI of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery induced by percutaneous directional atherectomy (Atherocath GTO 7F; DVI, Inc., Temecula, USA). Biochemical variables were also measured at baseline, 60 and 180 min into anaesthesia in six additional pigs without coronary intervention. RESULTS: MANOVA showed that CRH/ACTH/Cortisol, cAMP and IL-1beta production was not modified during anaesthesia. Post-DVWI plasma CRH (0.077 +/- 0.046 ng mL-1), and cellular cAMP (0.14 +/- 0.067 pmol 10(-6) cells) increased significantly (P = 0.001) with respect to their baseline values (CRH = 0.036 +/- 0.013 ng mL-1; cAMP = 0.081 +/- 0.034 pmol 10-6). There was also a statistically significant increase (P = 0.02) in post-DVWI IL-1beta (from 46.6 +/- 12.8 to 64.05 +/- 13.5 pg mL-1), and in serum cortisol (P = 0.05) compared to its baseline values (8.98 +/- 3.2 microgr dL-1 vs. 6.57 +/- 2.3 microgr dL-1, respectively). CONCLUSION: In our experimental model, coronary vessel wall injury-activated CRH/ACTH/cortisol axis caused a significant increase in plasma CRH, cortisol and cellular cAMP levels, which may influence the response of coronary arteries to injury.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗