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Biomedical subjects

G Abrams

Publications and source records attributed to G Abrams.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Long-term effects of percutaneous laser balloon ablation from the canine coronary sinus.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency catheter ablation of left-sided accessory pathways is becoming the first line of therapy for patients with symptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Nevertheless, alternative ablation techniques merit development, at least as supplementary modalities for cases in which conventional ablation approaches may prove unsuccessful. We recently reported the short-term results with transcatheter laser balloon ablation from the coronary sinus in a canine model, proving that the procedure is feasible for the potential ablation of left-sided accessory pathways. We now report the effects of percutaneous transcatheter laser balloon ablation in a chronic canine model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty adult mongrel dogs were studied. After baseline coronary arteriography, left ventriculography, and coronary sinus angiography were obtained, 15 dogs received two or three consecutive laser doses from the coronary sinus of 30-40 W for 15-30 seconds, for a total cumulative energy of 1,200-2,400 J. The five remaining animals underwent a procedure consisting of balloon sham inflation without laser exposure and served as controls. After a mean follow-up of 6 weeks, the angiographic procedures were repeated, and the animals were killed. The mean extent of the fibrotic lesion was 15 mm long, 6 mm wide, and 4.5 mm deep and involved the coronary sinus wall, atrium, and, frequently, the summit of the posterior left ventricular wall. Six animals (four in the study group and two in the control group) showed asymptomatic narrowing of the coronary sinus lumen but always with total angiographic reconstitution due to extensive collateral circulation. The circumflex artery and mitral valve were intact angiographically and histologically in all animals. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transcatheter laser balloon ablation via the coronary sinus produces a lesion that may be anatomically well suited for left-sided accessory pathway ablation. Although coronary sinus narrowing may occur, adverse physiological effects are unlikely due to the development of extensive collateral circulation. Systematic clinical studies of this new approach to catheter ablation appear warranted.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Cerebral cysticercosis.

Five patients with cerebral cysticercosis, two within the year preceding the date of this article, were seen at the New York Neurological Institute. The patients presented with mental changes, seizures, and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, and had a history of having immigrated from an area endemic for cysticercosis. They were found to have parenchymal or intraventricular cysticercosis cysts. The interval from immigration to onset of symptoms was as long as 3 years. Plain radiograms of the skull and soft tissues, ventriculograms, and especially the CT scan, as well as the CSF examination, were useful in making the diagnosis. Surgical removal of an intraventricular cyst was curative in two patients and seizures were controlled with anticonvulsants in the other three.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Bumadizone calcium in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

A double-blind crossover trial of bumadizone calcium (Eumotol), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has been carried out in 56 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. On both objective and subjective criteria bumadizone was superior to placebo and paracetamol at a statistically highly significant level (P less than 0,01). When tested against acetylsalicylic acid, bumadizone was more effective in 13 patients and less effective in 4 patients. Although this does not represent a statistically significant difference it does suggest that its anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities are at least equal to those of salicylate in high dosages. There were no serious side-effects in the patients who received bumadizone and the drug was better tolerated than either acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Word deafness in head injury: implications for coma assessment and rehabilitation.

Pure word deafness, usually involving left hemisphere focal lesions that destroy Heschl's gyrus and/or isolate auditory association cortex, may be rare, but cases with additional perceptual or cognitive symptoms may not be. Word deafness can be transient or evolving, and has been seen in various conditions without identifiable focal lesions. Only two closed head injury cases with focal contusions have been reported; we report two more, with diffuse damage and no focal signs. One patient's symptoms evolved soon after they were recognized. The other patient's unresponsiveness to spoken verbal stimuli persisted despite relatively preserved reading and speech, in a context of poor initiation and moderately severe cognitive impairment. Unrecognized, word deafness following head injury could lead to overestimation of coma duration if transient, and impede rehabilitation if chronic.

Adult↗