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Biomedical subjects

I Monducci

Publications and source records attributed to I Monducci.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Role of ageing, chronic renal failure and dialysis in the calcification of mitral annulus.

Mitral annulus calcification, a common lesion of the elderly (over age 60 years), has been detected with increased frequency and at younger ages in patients with uraemia. To date a pathogenic role for dialysis and secondary hyperparathyroidism has been suggested only on the basis of older dialytic age and increased serum iPTH observed in the affected individuals. Because this is a potentially dangerous lesion we deemed it useful to evaluate more completely the respective roles of possible pathogenetic factors in uraemic individuals. Evaluation included echocardiography, ECG, limb radiography, and serum assays. A total of 225 dialysis (HD) patients, 67 chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on conservative treatment and 67 normal subjects were studied. Mitral annulus calcification was detected in 87 of 225 (38.6%) HD patients, 11 of 67 (16.4%) CRF and six of 67 (8.9%) normals. In HD, patients with calcification were older and on longer-term renal replacement therapy compared to those without calcification. They also had greater values of iPTH, BGP, AP, and Rx score of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Mitral annulus calcification was associated more frequently (chi 2 = 14.8; P < 0.0001) with rhythm and cardiac conduction defects, but not with ectopic calcifications. Multiple stepwise regression analysis, with mitral annulus calcification score as dependent variable, selected dialysis duration, age, and iPTH (rm = 0.368) as the most predictive parameters, with the first two carrying most of the information. The stratification of patients according with these two parameters showed a progressive increase in the frequency of calcification both with HD duration and age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Changes in sinus function at rest and during physical exertion after permanent atrial electrostimulation in patients with sick sinus syndrome].

We studied the unnatural history of sinus node function in severe sick sinus syndrome treated with AAI or DDD pacemakers. In 19 patients (10 m; 9 f; mean age +/- 1 SD 69 +/- 7 years) we executed serial bicycle exercise tests and electrophysiological studies before, 7 days and 3 months after pacemaker implant. Sinus heart rate at maximum effort was: 118 +/- 23 beats/min and 117 +/- 23 beats/min (two different evaluations) before pacemaker implant, 125 +/- 21 beats/min after 7 days (p less than 0.05) and 133 +/- 20 beats/min after 3 months (p less than 0.001) with an average increment of 12.7%. A positive correlation (y = 50.4 + 0.7 X beats/min; p less than 0.001) between the first basal test and the third month one was found. In analogy exercise test lasted 8.7 +/- 3, 8.6 +/- 2.8, 9.5 +/- 2.5, 9.7 +/- 2.5 minutes respectively, with an average increment of 11.5% between the first basal test and the third month one. Sinus heart rate at maximum effort in 14 age matched normal subjects was 138 +/- 15 beats/min. The difference with sick sinus syndrome patients was statistical (p less than 0.05) when compared with the basal test but not with 3rd month test. Parameters determined during electrophysiological studies were: spontaneous heart rate, corrected sinus node recovery time, sino-atrial conduction time evaluated before and after autonomic blockade (propranolol 0.2 mg/kg i.v. plus atropine 0.04 mg/kg i.v.). All these parameters, excepting basal corrected sinus node recovery time, improved significantly after pacemaker implant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

The use of atrial pacing to induce atrial fibrillation and flutter.

We studied the clinical and electrophysiological significance of induction of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter by atrial electrical stimulation. Our atrial fibrillation/flutter induction protocol included incremental atrial pacing up to a rate of 200 beats/min, ramp up to 250 and 300 beats/min, and bursts up to 600 beats/min. The end point was sustained atrial fibrillation/flutter induction (30 sec). We performed a provocative study on 72 subjects previously divided into three groups: the first was the control group; the second comprised patients with spontaneous paroxysmal atrial fibrillation/flutter; the third comprised patients without spontaneous atrial fibrillation/flutter, but with pathologies assumed to put them at risk for atrial fibrillation/flutter. We were unable to induce sustained atrial fibrillation/flutter in the control group, but were able to induce these arrhythmias in 95% of the subjects with spontaneous atrial fibrillation/flutter. Thus the methods have a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 100%. We were also able to induce atrial fibrillation/flutter in 57% of patients at risk for atrial fibrillation/flutter, that is a lower incidence than patients with spontaneous episodes. When sustained atrial fibrillation/flutter could be induced, it was well tolerated and stopped spontaneously in less than 24 hours without treatment. The technique thus involves no risk and demonstrates that antiarrhythmic therapy is usually superfluous in interrupting induced atrial fibrillation/flutter.

Adult↗

Noninvasive serial electrophysiological testing using an implanted pacemaker for management of recurrent ventricular tachycardia.

An implanted multiprogrammable pacemaker capable of performing both premature and burst stimulation can be teamed with a special external programmer for noninvasive electrophysiological testing. Such studies, combined with indications from provocative pharmacologic tests, allowed us to formulate effective antiarrhythmic therapies for three patients suffering from post-infarction, recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia.

Aged↗

[Cardioinhibitory carotid sinus hypersensitivity in subjects with symptomatic sinus dysfunction].

Cardioinhibitory carotid sinus hypersensitivity is present in about one third of patients affected by sinus dysfunction. Aim of the study was to evaluate whether carotid sinus hypersensitivity is related to a well defined (intrinsic or extrinsic) sinus node damage. Fifty-four patients with ecg signs of sinus dysfunction underwent an electrophysiological study and carotid sinus massage. Spontaneous heart rate and corrected sinus node recovery time were measured in basal condition, after adrenergic blockade (propranolol 0.2 mg/Kg i.v.) and after autonomic blockade (propranolol 0.2 mg/Kg i.v. plus atropine 0.04 mg/Kg i.v.). The association between sinus dysfunction and cardioinhibitory carotid sinus hypersensitivity was found in 18/54 pt. (16 men, 2 women; mean age +/- 1 SD 63.6 +/- 14.5 years). The remaining 36 patients (19 men, 17 women; mean age +/- 1 SD 65.8 +/- 9.8 years), affected by sinus dysfunction alone, were used as controls. No electrophysiological differences between the two groups were found; particularly, an abnormal intrinsic heart rate (according to Jose values) or an abnormal intrinsic corrected sinus node recovery time (greater than 385 msec.) were present in 83% of the patients in both groups. Among sinus dysfunction clinical features, heart rate, presence of spontaneous syncope, sino-atrial block or sinus arrest and organic heart disease were similar in the two groups while the percentage of patients with spontaneous atrial tachyarrhythmias (bradi-tachy syndrome) was significantly smaller (11% vs 44%; p less than 0.01) in carotid sinus hypersensitivity group. In conclusion, in sinus dysfunction patients, the presence of carotid sinus hypersensitivity cannot be used as a criterion to differentiate a subgroup with peculiar clinical and electrophysiological sinus node characteristics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Transposition of posterior leaflet for treatment of ruptured main chordae of the anterior mitral leaflet.

A 13-year-old girl with mitral regurgitation resulting from rupture of multiple chordae of the anterior leaflet had repair by transposition of a part of the posterior leaflet to the free edge of the anterior mitral cusp. Postoperative clinical hemodynamic, and angiographic studies showed perfect function of the mitral valve. This technique seems to be a good solution for mitral repair in the presence of ruptured anterior mitral chordae.

Adolescent↗

[Influence of beta block and autonomic nerve block on the recovery time of the sinus node in sick sinus syndrome and carotid sinus syndrome].

In order to evaluate the relative role of the automatic nervus system and of the intrinsic electrophysiologic properties on the sinus node function, we measured the corrected sinus node recovery time before and after autonomic nervous system blockade in 24 patients. Fourteen had a sick sinus syndrome, five had a carotid sinus syncope, two had syncope of unknown origin associated with bradycardia. Beta blockade was obtained by infusing metoprolol intravenously at a dosage of 0.2 mg/kg; complete automatic blockade was achieved by further i.v. administration of atropine at a dosage of 0.04 mg/kg. After beta blockade, the corrected sinus node recovery time increased in patients with sick sinus syndrome and intrinsic slow heart rate, whereas it decreased in patients with carotid sinus syncope or with syncope and bradycardia. In patients with sick sinus syndrome and normal intrinsic heart rate the response was variable. A positive direct correlation was found between the changes of the corrected sinus node recovery time induced by beta blockade and those induced by autonomic blockade; that is, both either prolonged or shortened the corrected sinus node recovery time. The changes of the corrected sinus node recovery time after beta blockade alone were inversely correlated with the intrinsic heart rate. We conclude that patients with intrinsic depression of the sinus node have an increased sympathetic tone.

Adult↗