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M Verde

Publications and source records attributed to M Verde.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

[The results of large clinical trials comparing primary angioplasty and thrombolysis].

One of the main cardiological debate is about which one, between primary angioplasty (PTCA) and thrombolysis, is to prefer for the therapy of acute myocardial infarction. The data available in the literature do not show that one of these two therapeutical choices is definitely better than the other one. Since the main therapeutical goal in patients with acute myocardial infarction is the early and persisting recovery of the anterograde coronary flow, the best therapy for every patient is the one that can be performed more quickly and safely. Therefore, PTCA has to be preferred whenever it can be done quickly, by expert personnel and with cardiosurgical support, especially in patients considered to be at high risk or with contraindications to thrombolysis. Otherwise, thrombolytic therapy should be better. Stent implantation seems to be better than conventional angioplasty, in particular for the reduction of restenosis and reocclusion. These conclusions, however, derive from small studies and require further evidences. Moreover, there are not trials directly comparing primary PTCA and stent implantation with thrombolysis. Rescue PTCA, after failure of thrombolytic therapy, is useful when the coronary flow of the culprit lesion is TIMI 0 or 1, but not when the flow is TIMI 2; there are neither indications to early, but not rescue, angioplasty in all the patients already thrombolyzed. Finally, for patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, the data currently available, derived more from observational than from randomized studies, suggest revascularization by PTCA.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1999

Allelic polymorphism of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene in patients with acute or stable presentation of ischemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: One of the most potent pro-inflammatory mediators is the early-acting cytokine interleukin (IL)-1, whose actions are regulated by the structurally related IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 Ra). IL-1 Ra is a competitive IL-1 inhibitor and a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases have been associated with an allelic polymorphism of the IL-1 Ra gene. METHODS: We investigated the frequency of allele 2 of an intron 2 polymorphism of the IL-1 Ra gene in 115 consecutive patients with ischemic heart disease -74 of which had a previous myocardial infarction (48 +/- 11 years), 21 chronic stable angina (54 +/- 10 years), and 20 unstable angina (54 +/- 9 years)--and in 80 healthy controls, matched for age and sex to patients with myocardial infarction (47 +/- 10 years). An 86 base pair variable tandem repeat in intron 2 of the IL-1 Ra gene was determined by a polymerase chain reaction-based method. RESULTS: The frequency of allele 2 was 15% in controls (carriage rate 25%) and 17% in ischemic heart disease patients (carriage rate 28%; p = 0.70). The allele 2 frequency did not differ significantly among the three patient groups. Among patients with myocardial infarction, the allele 2 frequency tended to be higher in patients with myocardial infarction < 40 years compared to those > or = 40 years (20 vs 11%, p = 0.20, OR 1.85, 95% CI 0.70-4.90), and in patients with C-reactive protein levels > or = 3 mg/l compared to those with values < 3 mg/l (31 vs 16%, p = 0.15, OR 2.38, 95% CI 0.64-9.25). CONCLUSIONS: These data do not show a clear-cut association between the allele 2 of this IL-1 Ra gene polymorphism and ischemic heart disease. Among patients with myocardial infarction, the increased allele 2 frequency in those of younger age and with higher levels of C-reactive protein merits further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Visual-geometric illusions: unisex phenomena.

The possibility of sex differences in responses to visual-geometric illusions was investigated with the use of forty-five illusion variants and a sample of 221 observers. No difference in illusion magnitude as a function of sex was found. A second experiment measured illusion decrement and transfer of decrement to other illusion configurations. Again there were no significant differences between male and female observers.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Calcium antagonists in the therapy of acute myocardial infarction.

The theoretical background and experimental evidence of the use of calcium antagonists in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction are summarised. The main clinical trials that have studied the effects of the three different groups of these drugs in patients with myocardial necrosis are then reviewed. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that there is no proof of the efficacy of calcium blockers in the therapy of patients with acute myocardial infarction but that, in some subgroups of these subjects (Q-wave myocardial infarction with good left ventricular function, non Q-wave myocardial infarction), non-dihydropyridinic compounds should be effective, in particular in patients with contraindications to beta-adrenergic blockade.

Calcium Channel Blockers↗