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Biomedical subjects

G Cintrón

Publications and source records attributed to G Cintrón.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Noninvasive detection of allograft rejection in heart transplant recipients by use of Doppler tissue imaging.

BACKGROUND: Allograft rejection in heart transplant recipients is associated with lymphocytic extracellular infiltration and edema resulting in increased myocardial stiffness and abnormal relaxation. We hypothesize that these abnormalities will result in reduced myocardial relaxation velocities. Doppler tissue imaging is a novel noninvasive imaging modality that is capable of quantifying myocardial tissue velocities and may therefore be useful to identify allograft rejection. METHODS: In this observational study, 121 heart transplant recipients underwent pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging at the time of their surveillance endomyocardial biopsies. Peak relaxation and systolic velocities were measured from the inferior wall blinded to clinical biopsy. Biopsy results were classified as rejecting (3a, 3b, 4) or nonrejecting (0, 1a, 1b). RESULTS: The peak relaxation velocity in nonrejecting allograft recipients (n = 98) was 0.21 m/sec +/- 0.01. During moderate allograft rejection (n = 16), peak relaxation velocities decreased to 0.14 m/sec +/- 0.01 (p < 0.0001), and subsequently increased to 0.23 m/sec +/- 0.0 after successful treatment (p = 0.0001). Peak systolic velocities did not change during rejection, 0.08 m/sec +/- 0.02 when compared with nonrejecting recipients 0.09 +/- 0.02 (p = NS). With a cutoff value of less than 0.16 m/sec, the sensitivity of peak myocardial relaxation velocities for detection of rejection was 76%. The specificity and negative predictive values were 88% and 92%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Moderate allograft rejection results in reduced myocardial relaxation velocities, which can be detected noninvasively with pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging. Hence, Doppler tissue imaging is a useful noninvasive tool to exclude allograft rejection.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Cardiology in rural areas].

Based on a personal experience after having established a cardiology clinic in the town of Arroyo (Puerto Rico), we analyzed the patient population served and the services that were rendered. After collecting the data from the clinical files, we were able to obtain information on diagnosis, follow-up, diagnostic test and therapeutic procedures performed. In general, it was found that only a minority of patients needed long term cardiology follow-up and specialized diagnostic or therapeutic interventions. In conclusion we established that the presence of a cardiology clinic in the rural areas is reasonable, if their function remains as merely consultative.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Heart transplant: development and maturity of the program at the University of South Florida and the General Hospital of Tampa].

Cardiac transplantation has evolved from an experimental procedure to an accepted mode of therapy that prolongs life in patients with severe heart failure. The University of South Florida-Tampa General Hospital began performing cardiac transplantation for the treatment of end-stage cardiac disease in June 1985. Since then, 50 heart transplantations have been performed and 37 patients are alive and well. The one-year actuarial survival is 78% and the two-year actuarial survival is 72%. Multiple complications have been encountered, most notably rejection and infection. The recent approval of the USF/TGH program as a Medicare funded cardiac transplantation center is expected to greatly expand the number of potential recipients and will provide the residents of Florida, the Southeastern United States and the Caribbean with an additional health care resource.

Aftercare↗
PubMed1980

Hemodynamic response to isometric handgrip in acute myocardial infarction.

Thirteen patients underwent right cardiac catheterization during the first 24 hours after the onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction. All had normal (less than 12 mm Hg) pulmonary arterial diastolic pressure or normal mean pulmonary wedge pressure (7.6 +/- 0.6 mm Hg). The patients did isometric forearm contraction to a measured level of 100 mm Hg. All patients had elevation of systemic systolic blood pressure, with a mean rise of 14.2 +/- 2.9 mm Hg; heart rate rose by 12 +/- 2 beats per minute. When compared to a control group, patients with acute myocardial infarction had a significant (P less than 0.005) elevation of 5.4 +/- 1.3 mm Hg in the pulmonary arterial diastolic or pulmonary wedge pressure. This may be a result of either increased left ventricular stiffness or decreased myocardial functional reserve. In the setting of acute myocardial infarction, patients with normal left ventricular filling pressures have abnormal ventricular performance. Isometric effort is poorly tolerated and should be avoided.

Adult↗