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Biomedical subjects

M Obbiassi

Publications and source records attributed to M Obbiassi.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Antibodies to cardiac Purkinje cells: further characterization in autoimmune diseases and atrioventricular heart block.

We confirmed the occurrence of IgG antibodies reacting with ox cardiac conducting tissue in the serum of some human subjects. These antibodies failed to react with all ox cardiac conducting tissue cells; they reacted only with the cells defined as Purkinje cells. Having checked 352 sera, we found that the prevalence of antibodies to Purkinje cells was 11% in normal subjects (no correlation with sex and age), 14% in systemic lupus erythematosus, 21% in rheumatoid arthritis, 18% in progressive systemic sclerosis, and 23% in Sjögren syndrome. In 50 patients with permanent pacemakers for chronic non-postinfarction atrioventricular (AV) block the prevalence was 30% (P = 0.008). In a selected set of 29 patients with clinically idiopathic AV block located at or below the level of the His bundle the prevalence was 34.5% (P = 0.006). The possible role of anti-Purkinje cell antibodies in autoimmune damage of cardiac conduction tissue is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

The meaning of bites on the vectorcardiogram: study in adriamycin cardiomyopathy.

We examined 106 VCGs of cancer patients receiving Adriamycin (ADM) to investigate the nature and meaning of bites. It is known that ADM causes patchy areas of myocardial degeneration and necrosis, the appearance of which is dose dependent. Thirty-eight cancer patients not yet receiving ADM were examined to provide controls. Patients were divided into six groups, according to total cumulative ADM dose received. The incidence of bites in the different groups was shown to be as follows: group 1 (controls, 38 patients) 13.1%; group 2 (1-100 mg/m2 of body surface ADM, 23 patients) 39.1%; group 3 (101-200 mg/m2, 33 patients) 42.2%; group 4 (201-300 mg/m2, 25 patients) 56%; group 5 (301-400 mg/m2, 15 patients) 66.6%; group 6 (greater than 400 mg/m2, 10 patients) 90%; groups 2-6 52.8%. These percentages show a trend which is highly correlated with the total cumulative dose of ADM (p=0.00005). The influence of age on the appearance of bites has been excluded by analyses of trends in patients below and over 50 years (p=0.08). In 80.35% of cases, bites appear on more than one plane and mostly close to the maximum vector (Vmax). We therefore think that these results favor the hypothesis that bites are the electrophysiologic expression of lesions, such as small fibrotic and necrotic areas, which interfere with the normal spread of the ventricular depolarization wavefront.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Evaluation of systolic intervals in Duchenne cardiomyopathy].

Patients with progressive muscular dystrophy rarely survive beyond the second or third decades: the commonest causes of death are respiratory failure and cardiac failure. An easily repeatable method for early recognition of cardiac dysfunction and its follow-up would therefore be valuable. We performed a polycardiographic study of systolic time intervals in 11 patients with dystrophy (each subject representing an age from 7 to 17 years) in a group comprising 10 of their mothers and in control groups matched for age and sex. The mean values of QS2, PEP and QS1 were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (QS2 : 543 +/- 26 msec compared to 519 +/- 19 msec; PEP : 142 +/- 21 msec compared to 123 +/- 18 msec, and QS1 : 105 +/- 22 msec compared to 75 +/- 12 msec) whilst mean ICT was shorter (36 +/- 11 msec, compared to 49 +/- 5 msec). Mean LVET was comparable in patients and control. These results indicate a reduction in compliance and an increase in end diastolic left ventricular tension. When the systolic time intervals were analysed in each child, an increase in PEP and reduction in LVET were characteristic of the more serious phases of the disease with cardiac failure. It is emphasized that early stages of the disease are characterised by restrictive changes resulting in a reduction in ICT whilst terminal stages with reduced cardiac output cause a reduction in LVET and an increase in PEP. No significant changes were found in the mothers of patients compared to the control group. These results indicate that systolic time intervals may be useful in following up patients with Duchenne's cardiomyopathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Electro-vectorcardiographic study in Duchenne de Boulogne progressive muscular dystrophy].

Electrocardiographic changes are well known in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD). Their cause is still controversial. The aim of this study was: to verify the genetic theory of these changes to improve our understanding of their pathogenesis, by studying the distribution and characteristics of the mother carriers; to determine whether electro-vectocardiography could be of value in detecting carriers of the disease. Fourteen patients aged from 7 to 17 years old with DMD underwent ECG and VCG. ECG changes were recorded in 13 of the 14 cases: increased amplitude of the R wave in the right precordial leads or deep Q waves (amplitude greater than or equal to 2 mm, duration less than 0,04 msec) in the peripheral or left precordial leads. The algebraic sum of R--S in V1 was greater than normal in 6 carriers. VCG criteria of posterior myocardial infarction were fulfilled in 11 patients. "Bites" were recorded in 4 patients and 8 carriers. Electrical changes were therefore found in both patients and carriers with equal significance: in the first group the main appearances were of pseudo-infarction, principally involving the posterior wall; in the second group, less specific changes, best recorded on VCG, suggesting foci of myocardial fibrosis were observed. We think that the "bites" recorded in 66 p. 100 of mothers, could be a useful parameter for detecting carrier subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Immunological parameters in subjects with essential arterial hypertension. I. Lymphocyte subpopulations].

Peripheral venous blood lymphocytes were defined, in 21 subjects with essential hypertension and 20 controls, on the basis of reactivity with monoclonal antibodies OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, OK1Ia. Total lymphocyte count, OKT3+ and OKT4+ cells percentage were similar in normal and hypertensive. OKT8+ cells percentage was significantly lower only in hypertensive stage II and III patients (WHO classification).

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Immunological parameters in subjects with essential arterial hypertension. II. Serological observations].

M, G, and A immunoglobulins as well as C3 and C4 complement fractions were determined in 20 patients with essential hypertension: all the values were in the normal range. Nearly half of the patients had an abnormally high value of circulating immune complexes as determined with Clq binding assay and/or with CIC test. The rise of circulating immune complexes is not related to the stage of arterial hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[P wave analysis for the electrocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy. A study of a population with arterial hypertension (author's transl)].

The electrocardiogram of 100 normal subjects and 216 patients with arterial hypertension in different stages have been analysed. P wave especially has been taken into consideration: it is often abnormal in the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVI). The point-score system elaborated by Romhilt and Estes allows, if only QRS-T is considered, to diagnose LVI in 32 of the hypertensive patients (15%) and in 41 cases (19%) if the increase of P wave terminal forces is emphasized. Nevertheless this P wave characteristic does not appear more useful than others (axis less than or equal to 40 degrees; duration greater than or equal to 0.12 sec; presence of notch). The best results are achieved by considering the coexistence of two or more abnormalities of the P wave. Thus LVI is diagnosed in 52 (24%) of our cases, without false positive.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Presence of bites in VCGrams of a high coronary risk population (author's transl)].

The association between the presence of areas of myocardial fibrosis and the appearance of unexpected DEVIATIONS OF THE QRS loop-outline on the vectorcardiographic tracing (bites) has been reported. In order to re-evaluate the correlation between the presence of bites and the possible existence of scars we have studied 511 patients. On the basis of clinical data, laboratory data, rest and exercise electrocardiograms, the subjects have been divided into four groups; 195 normal subjects; 267 with ischemic heart disease, 16 with arterial hypertension and 33 with diabetes mellitus (the last two groups as representative of subjects with higher risk for myocardial ischemia). Bites in at least one plane were detected in 9.7% of normal subjects, 27.8% of ischemic patients, 56.3% of hypertensive patients and 18.2% of diabetics (less than 0.001). The genesis of bites and reliability of the diagnostic criteria are discussed. With more restrictive criteria the frequency in the normal subjects falls to 1%, while in the other three groups it remains much higher (10.1%-12.5%-6.1%).

Adult↗