Biomedical subjects

N Charokopos

Publications and source records attributed to N Charokopos.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Carcinoid tumour behind bronchiectasis.

This report describes a female patient with bronchiectasis, presented to our department with recurrent hemoptysis. Bronchoscopy revealed nothing else but blood arising from the upper lobe bronchus. High resolution computing tomography of the lung (HRCT) revealed bronchiectasis of the upper lobe. A right upper lobectomy was performed. Behind bronchiectasis multiple nodular lesions, 5-10 mm were observed. Histological and immunohistochemical examination revealed findings consistent with peripheral typical bronchial carcinoids.

Bronchi↗

PubMed2001

Low clinical utility of routine angiographic surveillance in the detection and management of cardiac allograft vasculopathy in transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), a form of accelerated atherosclerosis, is the major cause of late death in heart transplant recipients. Routine annual coronary angiography has been used as the standard surveillance technique for CAV in most transplant centers. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of routine angiographic surveillance in the detection and management of CAV in transplant recipients. METHODS: We reviewed the case notes and angiograms of 230 patients who underwent cardiac transplantation in our unit between January 1986 and January 1996 and survived beyond the first year post transplantation. RESULTS: Significant complications secondary to angiography arose in 19 patients (8.2%). Cardiac allograft vasculopathy was present on none of angiograms performed 3 weeks post transplantation, but was identified in 9 patients (4%) at the first annual angiogram and an additional 25 patients by the fifth annual angiogram. A target lesion suitable for angioplasty was only identified in two patients, and only limited procedural success was achieved in both cases. Twenty-five patients (11%) died during the study period, and the most common cause of late death was graft failure which occurred in 10 patients. All patients who died from graft failure had significant CAV at autopsy, but the most recent coronary angiogram had been normal in eight of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: These data clearly illustrate the limited clinical utility of routine angiographic surveillance for CAV in heart transplant recipients and prompted us to abandon this method of surveillance in our unit.

Coronary Angiography↗

PubMed1999

Non-invasive estimation of pulmonary arterial hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The feasibility and reliability of the combination of several noninvasive methods using a multivariate method of analysis to predict pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is evaluated in 20 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These methods comprised arterial blood gases (Pao2, Paco2), pulmonary functional parameters (FEV1), echo-Doppler parameters (tricuspid regurgitation jets, acceleration time on pulmonary valve), computed tomography measurements (transhilar distance, hilar thoracic index, and measurement of the descending branch of the right pulmonary artery to the lower lobe). A multiple stepwise regression analysis (including one Doppler parameter, two parameters of arterial blood gases, and one functional parameter) revealed a coefficient of determination (R2) equal to 0.954 for mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) with a standard error of estimate (S.E.E.) of 5.25 mmHg. A stepwise regression analysis including computed tomography and radiographic parameters revealed an R2 equal to 0.970 for PAP with a S.E.E. of 4.26 mmHg. Logistical regression analysis classified correctly 80% of patients with PAH using noninvasive methods such as the diameter of the main pulmonary artery and the diameter of the left pulmonary arterial branch calculated by computed tomography. Not only the presence of PAH but also the level of MPAP can be estimated by the combination of multiple stepwise and logistical regression analyses.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Increased levels of albumin in bronchial washing fluid of patients with bronchial carcinoma. Could albumin be considered as a tumor marker?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of albumin in bronchial washing fluid (BWF) and its relationship to three tumor markers (CEA, CA 19-9 and NSE). METHODS: Serum and BWF samples were collected in a group of 60 patients. Albumin and tumor markers in the BWF and serum of three groups: a control group (CG), a chronic bronchitis group (CBG) and a lung cancer group (CaG), were analyzed in a prospective cross-sectional study. The diagnostic yields of the tests in each environment (serum and BWF) were evaluated by using as cutoff points the values of the corresponding 90th percentile of CG and CBG taken together. RESULTS: A significant difference in albumin level (p < 0.001) was noted in the BWF of patients with cancer compared with the other two groups. In addition, a significant difference in CEA level (p < 0.001) was observed in the serum of cancer patients compared with the other two groups. The cutoff values for CEA in serum and albumin in BWF were 2.20 ng/mL and 2.00 g/dL, respectively. The areas under the corresponding ROC curves were 93% and 97%. Combination of CEA-serum and albumin-BWF by logistic regression analysis increased their diagnostic value. CONCLUSION: Measurement of albumin levels in BWF could be a useful additional diagnostic tool to differentiate malignant from non-malignant lung diseases. Moreover, the combined measurement of CEA in serum and albumin in BWF could be of aid in the follow-up of lung cancer patients.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recurrent catamenial hemothorax.

Endometriosis is a common cause of chronic pelvic pain and infertility affecting women of reproductive age, but the disease in rare conditions may be extragenital so may be present with a variety of symptoms. This is a report of an unusual case of pelvic endometriosis that presented with a recurrent hemothorax.

Adult↗