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Biomedical subjects

S Alan

Publications and source records attributed to S Alan.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Craniovertebral junction Pott's disease.

Pott's disease of the craniovertebral junction is extremely rare. The authors studied the immediate and long-term outcome after transoral decompression, occipitocervical stabilization with fusion and antitubercular therapy (ATT) in patients who had neurological deficits due to craniovertebral junction (CVJ) tuberculosis. This is a retrospective study of the management and outcome in 10 consecutive patients in whom features of spinal cord (with or without) compression were observed, and CVJ tuberculosis was diagnosed in two different neurological departments between 1990 and 2002. They ranged in age from 15 to 72 years. The onset of symptoms was either acute or subacute. Patients presented with neck and occipital pain (90%), progressive tetraparesia (40%), sensory symptoms (40%), neck stiffness (30%) and urinary dysfunction (20%). The disease caused spinal cord compression in six patients, atlantoaxial dislocation in five patients, basilar impression in one and upper vertebral column destruction without dislocation in three. Two patients presented with multiple spinal tuberculosis. Antitubercular therapy was used in all cases for 15 months. Surgical treatment performed in all patients. Four patients underwent transoral drainage of retropharyngeal abscess with granulation tissue and one odontoidectomy. Six patients then underwent occipitocervical (occiput -C3 or -C4) fusion with insertion of titanium plate and screw. Postoperatively, ATT was prescribed for 15 months. At long-term follow-up (median 50.2 months), functional status considerably improved. Two patients died 2 months later due to myocardial infarction. Patients with CVJ with features of cervical myelopathy are ideally treated with transoral decompressive procedures followed by occipitocervical fusion, because this therapy provides immediate neurological improvement, stability and allows early mobilization. The long-term prognosis in patients with this disease is excellent, provided it is treated with appropriate surgical intervention and with adequate duration of ATT. This approach provides excellent access to this region, with a low operative morbidity and no mortality.

Adolescent↗

The effect of glucose-insulin-potassium solution on ventricular late potentials and heart rate variability in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Blunted heart rate variability (HRV) and presence of ventricular late potentials (VLPs) are known to correlate with an increased risk of ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In the present study, we investigated the effect of glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) solution on the VLPs and HRV in AMI. METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive patients with first Q wave AMI were randomized to GIK solution and placebo. HRV analysis and ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings were taken in all patients between 24 and 48 h. Sub-maximal exercise testing and echocardiography were performed and signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG) was recorded before discharge. RESULTS: Total filtered QRS duration (FQRS: 102 +/- 7 versus 108 +/- 11 ms; P < 0.05), low-amplitude signal (LAS: 25 +/- 8 versus 32 +/- 11 ms; P < 0.01) and frequency of VLPs (21 versus 45%; P < 0.05) were found to be significantly lower while root-mean-square voltage of the terminal 40 ms of QRS (RMS-40: 45 +/- 18 versus 36 +/- 20 microV; P < 0.05), and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF: 55 +/- 6 versus 48 +/- 7; P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the GIK group when compared to placebo. During the hospital period, the presence and frequency of post-myocardial infarction angina were significantly lower in the GIK group (15 versus 29%, P < 0.05), whereas an insignificant decrease in frequency of ventricular arrhythmias was observed in these patients. On HRV analysis, there was no significant difference between two groups in either time domain (SD, SDNN, RMS-SD) or frequency domain (HF, LF, LF/HF ratio) parameters. CONCLUSION: GIK solution may be beneficial to VLPs, ischaemic events, and left ventricular systolic performance in the early period of AMI. This therapy has no significant effect on HRV in AMI patients.

Action Potentials↗

The value of hemodynamic changes induced by carotid sinus massage on the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

The aim of this study is to investigate the value of hemodynamic changes induced by carotid sinus massage (CSM) on the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). A total 108 patients (mean age, 54 +/- 10 years, range 33-70) who had no significant stenosis in the carotid artery by duplex ultrasonography (USG) and no history of syncope were included in this study. Carotid sinus massage was performed before coronary angiography with monitoring of electrocardiography and blood pressure. The patients were divided into three groups according to response to CSM: group 1 patients had a decrease in blood pressure or < 10 beats/minute (bpm); group 2 patients had a decrease between 10 and 20 bpm; and group 3 patients had > 20 mm Hg decrease in blood pressure or > 20 bpm. Coronary angiography was performed after CSM in all patients. There was single-vessel disease (VD) in 23 cases, two-VD in 24 cases, and three-VD in 35 cases. Coronary angiography results were normal in 26 cases. The changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate before and after CSM correlated with number of VD. These changes were highest in patients with three-VD, but lowest in patients with normal coronary angiography. The number of diseased vessels and total coronary artery score were lowest in group 1, but highest in group 3. The specificity and sensitivity of CSM-induced > 10 mm Hg in blood pressure (BP) or > 10 bpm changes in heart rate in the diagnosis of CAD were 85% and 71%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 93% and 49%, respectively in the diagnosis of CAD. At the end of this study, we concluded that CSM induced the fall in blood pressure and heart rate and was correlated with number of diseased vessels and the score of coronary artery disease. As dichotomized values, the decrease of > 10 mm Hg in blood pressure and/or > 10 bpm has highest specificity, sensitivity, and positive predictive value in the diagnosis of CAD.

Adult↗

[The relation between infarction localization and late potentials].

OBJECTIVE: There are controversies about the relation between infarction localization and late potentials (LP) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To evaluate this issue 124 consecutive patients with first Q-wave AMI fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this signal--averaged ECG (SAECG) study. METHODS: The patients were divided into three groups according to infarction localization: anterior (Group I n = 62; 50%), inferior (Group II: n = 42; 34%) and both inferior and right ventricular (RV) involvement (Group III n = 20; 16%). SAECG records were performed during the second week. LP results were evaluated as positive when at least two of the major criteria (QRS > 114 ms, LAS 40 > 38 ms, RMS < 20 V) were obtained. Tukey--Cramer multivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: Positive LP results were obtained in 29% of group I, 35.7% of group II and 55% of group III patients. Patients with both inferior and RV involvement had a significantly higher positive LP results independent from left ventricular ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: Therefore, increased risk of arrhythmia in those patients with both inferior MI localization and RV involvement should be taken into consideration.

Adult↗

Cardiac hydatid cysts located in both the left ventricular apex and the intraventricular septum: case report.

Cardiac hydatid cyst is rarely encountered and constitutes 0.5%-2% of all hydatid cases. Although left ventricular (LV) location for hydatid cysts has been frequently reported, the involvement of both the left ventricle and the interventricular septum (IVS) has not been previously reported in the literature. We present a case of cardiac hydatid cyst with fatal recurrent cerebral embolism and the unusual involvement of both LV and IVS demonstrated by transthoracic echocardiography.

Aged↗

Contribution of the peak exercise QT dispersion to the accuracy of an exercise test during the evaluation of coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Regional defects in ventricle repolarization are extremely sensitive to ischaemia which can be measured as QT dispersion (QTd). We investigated the role of QTd calculated at the time of peak exercise during treadmill studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-three women and eighty men, whose treadmill test results and coronary angiography studies had been examined, were divided into four groups according to the test results: 1) subjects with a negative treadmill test and without significant stenosis results in the angiography, were considered normal (N; n = 35); 2) subjects with both a positive exercise test and a significant presence of stenotic coronary arteries, were considered true positive (TP; n = 52); 3) subjects with a positive exercise test, but without significant stenosis results in the angiography, were considered false positive (FP; n = 14); 4) subjects with a negative treadmill study, despite significantly stenotic arteries, were considered false negative (FN; n = 12). All subjects were evaluated on the basis of age, significant ST-segment depression, peak heart rate, rest and peak exercise QT, and QpT (measured from the beginning of the QRS complex to the highest point of the T wave) dispersion, and corrected (QTcd, QpTcd) values for heart rate. The most significant differences were observed between the N and the TP groups in terms of QTd and QTcd (p < 0.01), with a higher correlation (r = 0.48). A significant relationship was also observed in terms of QpT and QpTcd values during peak exercise (p < 0.01). The sensitivity of the peak exercise QTcd and QTcd > or = 70 ms in determining coronary artery disease was found to be 74%. In cases of QTcd > or = 70 ms, in addition to ST-segment depression, the test was found to be less sensitive, but more specific at 96%. CONCLUSION: It suggests that when peak exercise QTd and QpTd values are taken into account, with the exception of the ST-segment depression, the accuracy of the exercise test will increase and false positive results will decrease.

Adult↗

Relation between QT dispersion and ventricular arrhythmias in uncomplicated isolated mitral valve prolapse.

Complications of mitral valve prolapse (MVP), among which serious ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death are of major importance, affect many individuals due to the high incidence of MVP itself in the community despite the actual low incidence of these complications. The present study investigated the incidence and distribution of ventricular arrhythmias according to their severity and relationship with the QT interval and dispersion of repolarization in uncomplicated isolated MVP (IMVP) cases. Fifty-eight uncomplicated IMVP patients, 33 patients with accompanying tricuspid valve prolapse (TVP), to compare its relationship with ventricular arrhythmia, and 60 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled in the study. Individuals with accompanying cardiac or systemic disease, or who were on drug therapy that could potentially affect QT characteristics, were excluded. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmia was 48% in the IMVP group and 64% in the TVP group; the difference was statistically insignificant. In addition, the differences of the QT and Q peak T values were insignificant, whereas QT dispersion (QTd) and Q peak T dispersion (QpeakTd) values were significantly higher in the patient group (60+/-14, 54+/-14 ms, respectively) compared with the control group (42+/-10, 38+/-10 ms, respectively, p<0.001). Complex ventricular arrhythmias (Lown Grade > or =III) in the IMVP group had a significant relationship with QTd and QpeakTd (p<0.001), but not with QT or QpeakT. As a result of the study, it is concluded that TVP accompanying MVP does not increase the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia, that ventricular arrhythmia is related to QT dispersion rather than QT interval in IMVP, that the QT dispersion is a fairly good marker for identifying the high-risk group for serious ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death, and that QpeakT dispersion measurement is an additional indicator that could be an alternative when QT is difficult to determine in conditions such as high heart rate or the presence of U wave.

Adult↗

Treatment of Bartholin's cyst and abscess: excision versus silver nitrate insertion.

In a prospective randomized study, intracavitary silver nitrate (AgNO3) stick insertion (n = 25) was compared to the conventional excision technique (n = 25) for Bartholin's cyst or abscess. Two groups were similar with regard to age, previous Bartholin's cyst/abscess and size of the cyst. Operation and healing time was significantly shorter in the AgNO3 group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Chemical burning in the vulva was observed in one patient in the AgNO3 group, whereas hematoma on the operation site occurred in two patients in the excision group. Scar formation was found in two patients in whom excision was performed. Patients were followed for a period of 2 years and recurrence was not found in any of the cases in both groups. We conclude that, AgNO3 insertion treatment for Bartholin's cyst and abscess is as effective as excision and is associated with fewer complications. Because it is simple and inexpensive, it is an attractive alternative treatment modality for this common gynecological disease.

Abscess↗