Thoracic aorta units: an opened avenue to cardiologists.
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Aortic Dissection↗
Biomedical subjects
I Lozano
Publications and source records attributed to I Lozano.
The Pro279Leu variant in the transcription factor MEF2A is associated with myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND: A myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) mutation that segregated with coronary artery disease/myocardial infarction (CAD/MI) in a large family has recently been described. Missense mutations in sporadic coronary artery disease patients were also reported. These data suggest that mutations in exons 7 and 11 of MEF2A cause CAD/MI, though the association was refuted by another study. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the genetic variation of exons 7 and 11 in a large cohort of Spanish CAD/MI patients and controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: A rare polymorphism, P279L, was detected both in patients and controls. Carriers of the 279Leu allele had a threefold risk of suffering CAD/MI compared with controls (p = 0.009; odds ratio = 3.06 (95% confidence interval, 1.17 to 8.06)). In the controls the allele was found only in those under 50 years of age. Exon 11 showed a high degree of heterogeneity caused by a polyglutamine (CAG)n polymorphism, but no significant differences in genotype or allelic frequencies were found. CONCLUSIONS: The 279Leu allele appears to be a genetic risk factor for CAD/MI in the population studied. This effect could be the result of a reduced transcriptional activity on MEF2A with 279Leu.
Alleles↗
Adequate intracoronary adenosine doses to achieve maximum hyperaemia in coronary functional studies by pressure derived fractional flow reserve: a dose response study.
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Adenosine↗
Expression and inheritance of hypersensitive resistance to rice hoja blanca virus mediated by the viral nucleocapsid protein gene in transgenic rice.
Rice hoja blanca virus (RHBV) is a major virus disease of economic importance affecting rice in northern South America, Central America and the Caribbean. This is the first report of transgenic resistance to RHBV and the transformation of an indica rice variety from Latin America. Rice transformed with the RHBV nucleocapsid protein ( N) gene had a significant reduction in disease development. Several reactions were observed that ranged from susceptible to completely resistant plants (immunity). The resistant reactions were characterized by the production of local lesions like a hypersensitive reaction or a recovery phenotype with the emergence of symptom-less new leaves. These transgenic RHBV-resistant rice lines expressed the N gene RNA at low levels that were below the detection limit by Northern blots and only resolved by RT-PCR. The nucleocapsid protein could not be detected in any of the transgenic plants either by Western or ELISA tests. These results suggest that the resistance encoded by the N gene in these plants appears to be mediated by RNA. When challenged with RHBV, the resistant transgenic lines showed a significant increased performance for important agronomic traits including the number of tillers, the number of grains per plant and the yield as compared to the susceptible control. Furthermore, upon inoculation some of the most-resistant transgenic lines showed agronomic traits similar to the uninoculated non-transgenic Cica 8 control. Using both agronomic traits and disease severity as criteria, several of the most-resistant lines were followed through the R(4) generation and demonstrated that the N gene and RHBV resistance was inherited in a stable manner. These transgenic rice lines could become a new genetic resource in developing RHBV-resistant cultivars.
Capsid Proteins↗
Impact of biventricular pacing on mortality in a randomized crossover study of patients with heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias.
Biventricular (BV) pacing is under clinical investigation for the treatment of heart failure. Its impact on mortality is unknown. Patients with heart failure and ventricular tachyarrhythmias received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator with BV pacing capability. Patients were randomized 1:1 to BV pacing or no pacing, then crossed over to the alternate mode after 3 months. All-cause mortality was measured in each arm up to the point of crossover. Fifteen of 222 patients died between implant and crossover. Five patients died while programmed to BV pacing and 19 died while programmed to no pacing. Survival in the BV pacing arm was 93 +/- 4% versus 86 +/- 6% in the no pacing arm (P = 0.18). In a patient population with symptomatic heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias, BV pacing does not appear to be associated with excess mortality. Larger and longer studies will be needed to determine if BV pacing confers a survival benefit.
Aged↗
Performance of a new steroid-eluting coronary sinus lead designed for left ventricular pacing.
The Ventak CHF/CONTAK CD Biventricular Pacing Study is a prospective randomized trial to examine the safety and efficacy of biventricular (BV) pacing in patients with standard indications for an ICD, symptomatic heart failure, a LVEF < or = 0.35, and a QRS > or = 120 ms. Patients underwent implantation of a BV pacing and sensing system with backup defibrillation capability, which includes a steroid-eluting coronary venous lead that is advanced into the coronary venous vasculature by over-the-wire techniques. LV pacing threshold, BV impedance, and BV R wave amplitude were measured in 58 consecutive patients. Using a percutaneous over-the-wire insertion technique, steroid-eluting coronary venous leads were associated with satisfactory mean LV pacing threshold, BV impedance, and BV R wave amplitude acutely up to 4 months after implantation. Pacing threshold stabilized 2 weeks after lead implantation and sensing threshold remained stable from the time of implant.
Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
Efficacy of biventricular sensing and treatment of ventricular arrhythmias.
While much is known concerning the hemodynamic effects of biventricular (BV) pacing, little has been reported concerning the efficacy of BV sensing and pacing in the detection and treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Two hundred nineteen heart failure (HF) patients with VT or VF and a QRS > or = 120 ms during sinus rhythm received an ICD capable of BV pacing and sensing. Detection times of induced VF and success rates for terminating induced VT were measured. The ICD system used a left ventricular epicardial lead implanted via thoracotomy (52 patients) or a specially designed percutaneous, over-the-wire lead inserted in the coronary venous system. VF detection times and VT termination rates by antitachycardia pacing (ATP) were compared with those measured in a population of recipients of ICD using a RV lead alone. Median induced VF detection times were comparable (2.0-s BV vs 1.8-s RV). Termination of induced VT on the first attempt was comparable with BV pacing (87.4%) versus RV pacing (89.6%). The time to detect induced VF was not different with ICDs using BV sensing versus conventional ICDs using RV sensing alone. Similarly, the rates of successful termination of induced VT by ATP with BV or RV pacing were comparable.
Cardiac Pacing, Artificial↗
Comparison of Colombian and Costa Rican strains of rice hoja blanca tenuivirus.
The sequences of RNA-3 and RNA-4 of rice hoja blanca tenuivirus isolates from Colombia and from Costa Rica were determined and analyzed. These isolates were 98.9% and 98.6% identical in the coding and non-coding regions of RNA-3, and 96.9 and 91.5% identical in the coding and non-coding regions of RNA-4, and are therefore strains of the same virus. There is about three times as much variation between isolates (based on consensus sequences) as there is within isolates (based on sequences of individual clones). There is also considerably more variation for RNA-4 (both between and within isolates) than there is for RNA-3, even though between tenivirus species RNA-3 has diverged more than RNA-4, implying that the evolution of the tenuivirus RNAs is not necessarily dependent on the amount of variation found for these RNAs.
Colombia↗
[Therapeutic use of Cannibis Sativa L. in Arab medicine].
Arab scientists were various centuries ahead of our current knowledge of the curative power of hemp (Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae). Modern scientific literature ignores their contribution on the subject. We review in this paper the therapeutic uses of the plant in Arabic medicine from the 8th to the 18th century. Arab physicians knew and used its diuretic, anti-emetic, anti-epileptic, anti-inflammatory, pain-killing and antipyretic properties, among others.
Arab World↗
Ambulatory system to aid in decision making and risk stratification in postinfarction patients.
Knowledge of the clinical and electrophysiological features of certain cardiovascular risk groups, the adaptation and specialization of clinical protocols, the availability of tools to make determinations for use in patient follow-up and to assess the efficacy of the treatments applied, and the proper processing of different parameters can aid in decision making, leading to the application of a given therapeutic approach, and can facilitate the performance of group and multicenter studies. To address these needs, a simple, low-cost, portable ECG processing system has been designed that complements the current techniques for managing patients with ischemic heart disease and nonmalignant ventricular arrhythmias. This system, consisting of an electrocardiograph and a laptop PC, determines the following parameters on the basis of the ECG: incidence of arrhythmia, heart rate variability, QT dispersion, ECG criteria for ventricular hypertrophy and late potentials. Left ventricular ejection fraction and diastolic function (according to Doppler ultrasound) and other basic epidemiological parameters are typed in. Moreover, the system integrates these parameters, which have usually been considered separately, to arrive at second-level indicators with a greater predictive capacity during the long-term follow-up of patients with ischemic heart disease and ventricular arrhythmias, thus providing an idea of the risk of mortality and the onset of arrhythmic events and allowing risk stratification in this patient population. Finally, the system includes a database of all the patients analyzed, with tools that make it possible to follow the course of their disease and to assess the efficacy of the treatments applied.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
Mitral valve replacement in a heart transplant recipient with iatrogenic mitral regurgitation.
A 65-year-old cardiac transplant recipient suffered rupture of the mitral valve apparatus during endomyocardial biopsy of the left ventricle. Severe mitral regurgitation resulted, and because of heart failure with progressive clinical deterioration the patient was finally subjected to mitral valve replacement. He had a favorable postoperative course and is now asymptomatic.
Aged↗
Detection of Dekkera-Brettanomyces strains in sherry by a nested PCR method.
Brettanomyces sp. and its ascosporogenous sexual state, Dekkera sp., have been well documented as spoilage microorganisms, usually associated with barrel-aged red wines. In this report, we describe the genetic characterization, on the basis of DNA content per cell, electrophoretic karyotyping, and mitochondrial DNA restriction patterns, of a Dekkera yeast strain isolated from sherries and of a number of other Brettanomyces and Dekkera strains. By using a genomic DNA fragment of the isolated Dekkera strain, we developed a two-step PCR method which directs the specific amplification of target DNA from this strain and from other Brettanomyces-Dekkera strains. The method efficiently amplified the target DNA from intact cells, obviating DNA isolation, and yielded a detection limit of fewer than 10 yeast cells in contaminated samples of sherry.
Base Sequence↗
[Clinical usefulness of stored electrograms in implantable defibrillators].
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The storage of intracavitary electrograms by the automatic implantable defibrillators is one of the latest advantages. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical utility and limitations of electrograms stored by the new generation of defibrillators. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have implanted at our institution 43 generators with the facility of storing electrograms; 8 Ventak P2, 17 PRxII, and 1 PRxIII from CPI, 14 Jewel, from Medtronic and 3 Guardian ATP 4215, from Telectronics. All were implanted with an endocavitary system lead, an only one patient needed a subcutaneous patch. Mean age was 57 +/- 16 years, 36 were males and 7 women. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 44 +/- 23%. The mean follow up was 6 +/- 8 months (limits 1-20 months). RESULTS: We registered and analyzed a total of 268 episodes in 20 patients. Fourteen (82%) received what was considered appropriate therapy. Three patients (from 17 with any treatment delivered by the defibrillator) presented an inappropriate therapy. The parameters, "onset" and "stability", were differentiated in each arrhythmia, the "onset" is useful to differentiate sinus tachycardia, but not atrial fibrillation, from ventricular tachycardia. Programming a stability value between 30-40 mseg eliminates 88% of inappropriate therapies due to atrial fibrillation. In all patients, the identification of the event, facilitated by the stored electrograms, allowed us to resolve the problem. CONCLUSIONS: The programmable features "onset" and "stability" allowed us to eliminate a significant number of inappropriate therapies. The stored electrograms facilitate the identification of the events, leading to treatment by the generator, and were very useful in guiding the clinical management of the patient.
Adult↗
[Tuberculosis of the pharynx].
Report of two cases of pharyngeal tuberculosis, both patients showing clinical lesions consistent with tonsillar neoplasia. Comments remarking some features regarding its pathogenesis, considerations on the value of diagnostic tests, particularly the baciloscopy, Mantoux-test, and histology, as well as therapeutics considerations.
Adult↗
[Tonsillar hirudiniasis. Case report].
Report on a tonsillar parasitosis in a 5-year-old child living in the countryside from leeches of Hirudinea. He consulted because a feeling of foreing body in the throat and spitting of blood, since a fortnight. The AA. remark the low incidence of those cases in our environment.
Animals↗
[Waardenburg's syndrome].
Reporting one case of this condition type-2 with heterochromia iridis and cochlear deafness. The AA. review the syndrome's components and it nomenclature as well. They discuss about the convenience of including this deviation in the chapter of "diseases of the embryonic neural crest". The specific place of the gene responsibly in the chromosome-2 and the possibilities of genetic counselling are considered.
Adult↗
Complete nucleotide sequence and coding strategy of rice hoja blanca virus RNA4.
The complete sequence of rice hoja blanca virus (RHBV) RNA4 has been determined, based on the sequence of the corresponding cDNA clones. RNA4 consists of 1991 nucleotides with two open reading frames (ORFs). One putative ORF is located in the 5'-proximal region of the viral RNA4; it encodes a protein of predicted M(r) 20076 which corresponds to the major non-structural protein that accumulates in RHBV-infected rice plants, and which bears limited sequence identity with the helper component of tobacco vein mottling potyvirus. The other ORF is located in the 5'-proximal region of the viral complementary RNA4 and encodes a protein of predicted M(r) 32,469. Between the two ORFs is an intergenic region of 524 nucleotides, part of which can theoretically adopt a stable stem-loop structure; the 5' and 3' ends can potentially base-pair over 16 nucleotides, producing a pan-handle configuration. These characteristics are in favour of an ambisense coding strategy for RHBV RNA4.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
[Lupus induced by quinidine].
The case is described of a 34 year old female who suffered quinidine induced lupus, which appeared 14 months after the administration of the drug, and it was necessary to substitute it. This secondary effect o quinidine, which is rarely described, can go unnoticed if it is no kept in mind. The diagnostic criteria for drug induced lupus ar discussed and the clinical and analytical manifestations of 27 cases o quinidine induced lupus described in the literature are reviewed.
Adult↗