PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Karas

Publications and source records attributed to S Karas.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Normal coronary flow reserve in patients with mitral valve prolapse, a positive exercise test and normal coronary arteries.

We studied 12 patients (eight females and four males), ages 30-46 years, with echocardiographically documented mitral valve prolapse and clinical suspicion of coronary artery disease, based on a history of chest pain (five patients), angina-like pain (three patients), a positive exercise stress electrocardiogram (12 patients) and a focally positive thallium-201 stress perfusion scan (three patients), who were referred for cardiac catheterization and found to have normal coronary arteries. Ten patients without evidence of heart disease served as controls. In all mitral valve prolapse patients, coronary flow velocity reserve was determined successively in the left anterior descending, left circumflex and right coronary arteries as the ratio of the maximum (after intracoronary papaverine) to the resting mean coronary flow velocity. Coronary flow reserve values were fairly similar in the mitral valve prolapse and control patients; all 12 mitral valve prolapse patients had normal coronary flow reserve ( > or = 3.5) in all three coronary arteries with no significant differences among the arteries tested. Mean values +/- 1 standard deviation of the coronary flow reserve (mitral valve prolapse vs control patients) were 4.7 +/- 0.5 vs 4.6 +/- 0.6 for the left anterior descending, 4.6 +/- 0.4 vs 4.6 +/- 0.3 for the left circumflex and 4.5 +/- 0.4 vs 4.4 +/- 0.5 for the right coronary artery (all P = non-significant). The subsets of mitral valve prolapse patients with different clinical "ischaemic' manifestations were similar in terms of the calculated coronary flow reserve in all three major epicardial coronary arteries. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that an inadequate regional coronary flow reserve does not account for the clinical manifestations of myocardial ischaemia and positive exercise tests in patients with mitral valve prolapse and normal coronary arteries.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Functional plyometric exercises for the throwing athlete.

In this article we provide athletic health care professionals with a variety of functional strengthening exercises to use in improving the muscular strength of the throwing athlete's shoulder. Upper extremity functional plyometric exercise in sport-specific patterns can be an important component of a throwing athlete's rehabilitation. We discuss several plyometric exercises, using the Inertial Exercise System, the Plyo-ball, and the Theraband. Proper use of these exercises can facilitate a safe and progressive rehabilitation program for the injured, throwing athlete. After the athlete has successfully completed the functional plyometric exercises, a throwing progression can be initiated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Laser ablation of blepharopigmentation.

This article discusses laser ablation of blepharopigmentation in four stages: first, experimentally, where pigment vaporization is readily achieved with the argon blue-green laser; second, in the rabbit animal model, where eyelid blepharopigmentation markings are ablated with the laser; third, in human subjects, where the argon blue-green laser is effective in the ablation of implanted eyelid pigment; and fourth, in a case report, where, in a patient with improper pigment placement in the eyelid, the laser is used to safely and effectively ablate the undesired pigment markings. This article describes in detail the new technique of laser ablation of blepharopigmentation. Potential complications associated with the technique are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Cardiac anomalies in Williams-Beuren syndrome.

We have described some of the cardiological findings in 66 patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome and analysed the two dimensional cross sectional echocardiograms in 61 of them in comparison with normal controls. Supravalvar aortic narrowing was shown in all patients examined echocardiographically and may be a useful diagnostic sign. We documented a 7.8% incidence of systemic hypertension, a 15% clinical and echocardiographic incidence of mitral valve prolapse, and a 11.6% incidence of bicuspid aortic valve.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Accuracy of two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of aortic arch obstruction.

To evaluate the predictive accuracy of two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of aortic arch obstruction, 540 consecutive patients aged 2 days to 15 years (mean 2 months) who underwent subsequent cardiac catheterization and angiography were prospectively studied. At angiography, 51 patients had aortic arch obstruction; of these, 35 had juxtaductal coarctation, 15 isthmic hypoplasia and 1 a type B interrupted aortic arch. The presence of arch obstruction was correctly identified with two-dimensional echocardiography in 45 of 51 patients with this condition (overall sensitivity 88%). Two-dimensional echocardiography clearly defined a juxtaductal coarctation in 33 of 35 patients and isthmic hypoplasia in 13 of 15 patients (sensitivity 94% and 73%, respectively). The form and type of interrupted aortic arch were clearly distinguished from other forms and types of arch obstruction. Among the 489 patients without aortic arch obstruction, two-dimensional echocardiography wrongly diagnosed the presence of such obstruction in 9 patients (overall specificity 98%). Forty-six (92%) of the 51 patients had at least one associated intracardiac abnormality. Twenty-two (44%) had a ventricular septal defect, 21 (42%) a bicuspid aortic valve and 4 (18%) subaortic stenosis. Five patients had complex congenital cardiac malformations. All associated abnormalities were prospectively identified with two-dimensional echocardiography. Thus, two-dimensional echocardiography is highly specific in diagnosing aortic arch obstruction. It is less sensitive for the diagnosis of isthmic hypoplasia in the neonatal period.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Congenital absence of the lumbosacral articular processes.

Absence of a lumbar or sacral articular process is rare. The congenital absence of the posterior elements of these vertebral bodies should not be confused with a destructive lesion. Computed tomography (CT) scanning is indicated, if there is any question as to the diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The potential for drug interactions.

To study the problem of drug interactions in an emergency department, a microcomputer was programmed to identify the potentially adverse enhancements and antagonistic interactions of drugs in a randomly chosen group of 355 patients who were currently taking or were administered two or more medications. Interactions were present in 57 patients (16%), with an incidence ranging from 5.6% for those taking two drugs to 100% for those taking seven drugs. From the total of 76 potential drug interactions identified, 69 involved one of only 10 drugs, and 15 interactions (20%) appeared to be potential clinical significant. To supplement the computer program and educational sessions, a common drug interaction table was developed, accounting for 90% of the potential drug interactions seen in our emergency department.

California↗
PubMed1980

Cost containment in emergency medicine.

High-cost laboratory tests, roentgenograms, medications, and supplies were the focus of a voluntary cost-containment effort initiated in a community hospital emergency department. The department microcomputer determined that 100 of 1,560 possible chargeable items were responsible for 90.9% of the total cost to patients. Emphasis on cost containment in general and specific emphasis on the 100 high-cost items resulted in a 10.2% reduction in laboratory and radiology charges and a 3.3% total savings to patients.

California↗
PubMed1978

The microcomputer in the emergency department: a clinical information center.

A microcomputer system was developed for the Tri-City Hospital Emergency Department to serve as a clinical information center. The system is being used to better allocate resources, both personnel and materials, to accurately assess the nature of the problems presenting to the emergency department, to aid in the diagnosis and laboratory test interpretation, to improve the quality of care, to serve as an epidemiological tool and to help in the education of emergency care personnel.

California↗
PubMed1977

Patterns in the number of patients seen hourly in a community hospital emergency department.

The hourly and daily patient load data from Tri-City Hospital was analyzed using statistical and graphic analysis for the period between April 1, 1976 and October 31, 1976. This analysis revealed repetitive patterns in the patient load data, both in the daily data, with a seven-day cycle peaking on Saturday or Sunday, and the intraday data with a bimodal daily cycle with peaks between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, followed by a high evening peak between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Methods were introduced which, by simple calculation, can determine these cycles and those deviant days that exceed the norm early in the day.

California↗
PubMed1976

Air embolism and decompression sickness in scuba divers.

The recognition and prompt treatment of air embolism and decompression sickness by the emergency physician can do much to reverse the unfavorable outcome of these two medical emergencies. Recognition depends on the physician maintaining a high index of suspicion. While the primary treatment for these disorders is recompression, other forms of therapy are outlined which must be instituted promptly.

Decompression Sickness↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relatedness of schizotypal personality to schizophrenic disorders: multifactorial threshold model.

Genetic analysis of schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) was conducted on two pedigree samples. The results are interpreted in terms of a multifactorial threshold (MFT) model. A high rate of schizophrenia was found in relatives of both samples, but any excess of SPD was found only in relatives of the SPD sample. Based on these data, the hypotheses assuming a single liability with two thresholds (Reich's model) and different liability (Smith's model) for both disorders were rejected. The coefficient of genetic correlation is 0.61. Our data suggest that schizophrenia and SPD are separate nosological entities and that some of the factors which constitute liability to SPD influence the development of schizophrenia, but not vice versa.

Adolescent↗