Biomedical subjects

Vasilios Ladis

Publications and source records attributed to Vasilios Ladis.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The pancreas in beta-thalassemia major: MR imaging features and correlation with iron stores and glucose disturbances.

The study aims at describing the MR features of pancreas in beta-thalassemia major, investigating the relations between MR findings and glucose disturbances and between hepatic and pancreatic siderosis. Signal intensity ratios of the pancreas and liver to right paraspinous muscle (P/M, L/M) were retrospectively assessed on abdominal MR imaging studies of 31 transfusion-dependent patients with beta-thalassemia major undergoing quantification of hepatic siderosis and 10 healthy controls, using T1- (120/4/90), intermediate in and out of phase - (120/2.7, 4/20), and T2*-(120/15/20) weighted GRE sequences. Using the signal drop of the liver and pancreas on opposed phase images, we recorded serum ferritin and results of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Decreased L/M and P/M on at least the T2* sequence were noticed in 31/31 and 30/31 patients, respectively, but no correlation between P/M and L/M was found. Patients with pathologic OGTT displayed a higher degree of hepatic siderosis (p < 0.04) and signal drop of pancreas on opposed phase imaging (p < 0.025), implying fatty replacement of pancreas. P/M was neither correlated with glucose disturbances nor serum ferritin. Iron deposition in the pancreas cannot be predicted by the degree of hepatic siderosis in beta-thalassemia major. Fatty replacement of the pancreas is common and may be associated with glucose disturbances.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Diastolic function in young patients with beta-thalassemia major: an echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate myocardial diastolic function in patients with beta-thalassemia major (beta-TM) using pulsed-tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and flow propagation (VP), in relation to BNP levels. METHODS: We enrolled 192 consecutive patients with beta-TM (88 men (25 +/- 6 years) and 104 women (26 +/- 6 years), with normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function. By TDI, diastolic myocardial velocities were sampled at the lateral section of the mitral annulus (Smv, Emv, Amv). From the apical four-chamber view diastolic transmitral flow velocities, including measures of E- and A-waves were performed. The propagation velocity of early flow into the LV cavity was measured by color M-mode Doppler. Plasma BNP levels were measured in all patients. RESULTS: A nonlinear relationship was found between BNP levels and E/A ratio (beta coefficient for the second-order term = 1.4 +/- 0.4, P = 0.001). We also found a positive association of BNP levels with Amv (r = 0.28, P = 0.023), and a reverse with Smv (r =-0.59, P = 0.01) and Emv/Amv (r =-0.36, P = 0.019). Moreover, an inverse relationship was observed between BNP and Vp (r =-0.43, P = 0.012) levels. Finally, a strong positive linear relationship was found between E/Vp ratio and BNP levels (r = 0.76, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A U-curved association of E/A ratio of transmitral Doppler velocity was revealed with BNP levels, while the tissue Doppler of the Emv/Amv of the mitral annulus movement showed a negative linear association with BNP levels.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory process in transfusion-dependent patients with beta-thalassemia major.

BACKGROUND: Beta-thalassemia major is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We examined endothelial function and serum levels of inflammatory mediators in transfusion-dependent patients with beta-thalassemia major. METHODS: The study population consisted of 67 patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia major, (aged 24.6+/-0.7 years) and 71 healthy age and sex matched controls. Forearm blood flow was measured with gauge-strain plethysmography. Forearm vasodilatory response to reactive hyperemia (RH%) or to nitrate (NTG%) was expressed as the percentage change of forearm blood flow from baseline to the maximum flow during reactive hyperemia or sublingual nitroglycerin, respectively. Serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) were determined with ELISA. RESULTS: Patients had significantly lower levels of total cholesterol (125+/-4.5 vs. 207+/-7 mg/ml, p<0.01), ApoA1 (120+/-3 vs. 129+/-5 mg/ml, p<0.05), ApoB (60.5+/-2 vs. 95+/-4 mg/ml, p<0.01), ApoE (3+/-2 vs. 4+/-0.2 mg/ml, p<0.01) and Lp(a) (7.9+/-1.3 vs. 14.5+/-3.2 mg/ml, p<0.01) than controls. IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients (3.03+/-0.31 pg/ml) than controls (1.15+/-0.15 pg/ml, p<0.01). Similarly, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels were significantly higher in patients (513+/-31 and 368+/-25.5 ng/ml, respectively) than controls (333+/-13.8 and 272+/-14.05 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.01 for both). Maximum hyperemic forearm blood flow and RH% were lower in patients (7.1+/-0.3 ml/100 ml tissue/min and 49+/-2.8%, respectively) than controls (8.26+/-0.32 ml/100 ml tissue/min and 86.3+/-5.57%, respectively, p<0.01 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Beta-thalassemia major is associated with impaired endothelial function and increased levels of IL-6, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1, suggesting a potential role of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in the complications of the disease.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗

PubMed2005

Abdominal lymphadenopathy in beta-thalassemia: MRI features and correlation with liver iron overload and posttransfusion chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to describe the MRI features of abdominal lymphadenopathy in patients with beta-thalassemia major and investigate the relation of abdominal lymphadenopathy with the severity of iron overload and posttransfusion chronic hepatitis C. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Abdominal MRI studies of 60 consecutive patients with beta-thalassemia major, performed for quantification of liver iron overload at a single institution, were retrospectively studied for the presence of lymph nodes and their distribution, size, and number. The signal intensity ratios of liver, spleen, and the largest lymph node to the right paraspinous muscle (L/M, S/M, and LN/M, respectively) were calculated on T1-weighted gradient-echo images. MRI findings for the lymph nodes were compared with the histologically assigned activity level of chronic hepatitis C that was available in 17 patients who had undergone liver biopsy within 1 month of the MRI examination. RESULTS: Hypointense abdominal lymph nodes larger than 7 mm were seen in 19 (32%) of 60 thalassemic patients in perihepatic and paraortic distributions. Lymphadenopathy was related to both the severity of hepatic siderosis, as expressed by the L/M values, and the presence of chronic hepatitis C, given that 18 (95%) of the 19 thalassemic patients with lymphadenopathy had chronic hepatitis C. Moreover, thalassemic patients with a moderate or severe level of hepatic inflammation presented with abdominal lymphadenopathy more frequently than those with mild hepatic inflammation. CONCLUSION: The development of hypointense abdominal lymphadenopathy in patients with beta-thalassemia major who have received multiple transfusions depends both on the severity of liver iron overload and on the presence and the activity level of coexistent chronic hepatitis C.

Abdomen↗