Quantitative analysis of the tomographic technetium-99m MIBI (99mTc-MIBI) myocardial bullseye display: Application to diagnosis of coronary artery disease

Summary In this study, the^99mTc-MIBI myocardial bullseye display of 31 healthy persons and 34 patients with myocardial ischemia and 17 patients with myocardial infarction were analyzed quantitatively, and compared with the results of myocardial tomography analysis and qualitative bullseye analysis. The sensitivities of the three methods were 88.2%, 91.2% and 94.1% respectively (P>0.05), and the specificities were 93.5%, 83, 9% and 83.9% respectively (P<0.05). On the other hand, the quantitative analysis obviously outperformed the other two methods in the detection of ischemic segments of myocardhum near infarction zone (P<0.01). The quantitative analysis of^99mTc-MLBI myocardial bullseye (quantitative bullseye) was an objective, specific and sensitive method for diagnosis of coronary artery disease.     

DIFFERENCES IN ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXATION IN VARIOUS ARTERIES FROM WATANABE HERITABLE HYPERLIPIDAEMIC RABBITS WITH INCREASING AGE

1. Endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine (ACh) and the calcium ionophore A 23187 was examined in aorta, coronary, basilar and renal arteries isolated from Watanabe heritable hyperlipidaemic (WHHL) rabbits of 2, 6 and 12 months of age, with normolipidaemic heterozygous WHHL rabbits as controls. 2. In the rings of WHHL rabbit aortae and coronary arteries preconstricted with vasoconstrictors, endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to ACh was attenuated with age compared to the heterozygous WHHL rabbits. A significant negative correlation was found between the total cholesterol content and the relaxation response to ACh in the aortae or coronary arteries from 6 and 12 month old WHHL rabbits. 3. In the rings of basilar arteries, endothelium-dependent relaxations to ACh were not modified with age. Similarly, in the rings of renal arteries, the relaxation response to ACh was not changed with age, but in the 6 and 12 month preparations, after the age of 6 months, a contraction following the relaxation appeared at higher concentrations of ACh (10^?7 to 10^?6 mol/L). The contraction was endothelium-dependent and inhibited by indomethacin. 4. A 23187-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations were also markedly attenuated in the aorta and significantly in the coronary artery with age. 5. Endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside was not changed in all arteries from WHHL rabbits of different ages. 6. These findings indicate that in the aorta and coronary artery of the WHHL rabbit, the endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh and A 23187 becomes impaired with increasing age (i.e., with the progression of cholesterol deposition in the arterial wall) but is preserved in the basilar and renal artery.     

Clinical correlates of high signal lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in Alzheimer's disease

Summary The pathophysiology and clinical significance of high signal lesions, visualized on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), remain controversial. Since they are known to correlate with vascular disease and vascular risk factors, we reviewed the clinical correlates of periventricular high signal (PVH) and subcortical white matter lesions (WML) in a sample of 106 patients with probable AD, excluding persons with treated vascular risk factors or symptomatic cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease. Grade 2 PVH were seen in 26 (25%) and scattered WML were identified in 29 (18%). PHV were associated with advancing age and gait disturbance. WML were associated with gait disturbance and incontinence. Neither radiologic finding was related to dementia severity. The findings suggest that these lesions are common in patients with AD even when those with evidence of cerebrovascular disease are excluded; their presence, therefore, should not preclude a diagnosis of AD. Additionally, the data suggest that HSL on MRI may be one of many risk factors associated with functional disability in persons with probable AD.     

REOPERATION FOR RECURRENT CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE: RESULTS OF 200 CONSECUTIVE CASES

Background : It is well known that reoperation for recurrent coronary artery disease is more difficult than primary coronary artery bypass grafting. However, it is possible to reduce the morbidity and mortality of reoperation to the same level as the initial procedure with careful surgical technique. Methods : A retrospective study of the first 200 patients who underwent redo coronary bypass grafting was undertaken. Results : In the first 200 cases of redo coronary bypass grafting at St George Hospital, Sydney (August 1986–January 1995), there were five in-hospital deaths (2.5%). There was one case of sternal infection (0.5%), which required surgical debridement, three cases of stroke (1.5%), one case of postoperative bleeding (0.5%), which required a return to theatre and six cases (3%) required mechanical ventilation for more than 24h. The need for major postoperative support (such as intra-aortic balloon pumping/adrenaline infusion) was significantly affected by the degree of urgency and the degree of pre-operative ventricular impairment. Conclusions : The mortality rate of redo coronary artery bypass grafting in this series is similar to that of primary surgery described in other reports.     

Risk factors for coronary heart disease among inpatients who have mild intellectual disability and mental illness

Background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the UK. The aim of this study was to screen inpatients with mild or borderline intellectual disability, many of whom also have mental illness, for risk factors for CHD. Methods Cross sectional survey. Participants were interviewed, measured and had blood samples taken. Results Of the 53 participants, 20 (37.7%) were overweight and 18 (34.0%) obese. The mean body mass index (BMI) of those participants prescribed regular antipsychotics was higher than those who were not. Nine (20.9%) had waist circumference measurements placing them at increased risk of CHD and 21 (48.8%) were at substantially increased risk. Twenty-eight (52.8%) were current smokers. Of the 49 participants who had their blood pressure measured, 3 (6.1%) had readings above the reference range. Of the 19 participants who had random blood tests, one (5.3%) had an elevated cholesterol level. Conclusions In this population there was a high prevalence of two risk factors for CHD (obesity and smoking), requiring ongoing monitoring and long-term measures to reduce risk.     

CT导引下胸部病变穿刺活检影响诊断正确率因素分析

目的 :探讨影响CT导引下胸部病变穿刺活检诊断正确率的因素。方法 :复习有手术病理、临床和影像学随访的胸部病变CT导引下穿刺活检 2 4 4例 ,依据手术病理、治疗反应及临床随访结果对活检病灶作出最终诊断 ,观察因素包括患者相关因素 (性别、年龄、有无肺气肿 )、病灶相关因素 (病灶大小、位置、有无空腔及病灶深度 )和操作相关因素 (患者的体位 )。结果 :胸部病变CT导引下穿刺活检诊断正确率为 82 .4 % ( 2 0 1 /2 4 4)。活检诊断正确率与病灶大小有关 ,诊断正确组和非正确组病灶大小分别为 3 .97± 1 .80cm和 3 .1 1± 1 .4 4cm(P <0 .0 5 )。患者性别、年龄、有无肺气肿、病灶位置、深度、有无空腔及患者体位对穿刺活检诊断正确率的影响无统计学意义。结论 :病灶大小是影响CT导引下胸部病变穿刺活检诊断正确率的主要因素     

美托洛尔治疗老年冠心病慢性心力衰竭52例疗效观察

目的评价β-受体阻滞剂治疗老年冠心病慢性心力衰竭的疗效及安全性。方法105例老年冠心病慢性心力衰竭患者按就诊顺序随机分为两组，美托洛尔组52例在常规抗心力衰竭治疗基础上加用美托洛尔12．5～25mg，2／d；对照组53例采用常规抗心力衰竭治疗，未用美托洛尔。定期来诊随访，观察临床表现，监测治疗前后心率、血压、心功能参数变化。结果美托洛尔组显效率53．8％，总有效率88．5％；对照组显效率30．2％，总有效率67．9％，两者比较有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。美托洛尔组患者心率减慢、血压降低较对照组明显，超声心动图复查显示治疗6个月后左室舒张末期内径缩小，左室射血分数增高较对照组显著。结论美托洛尔为老年冠心病慢性心力衰竭提供一种较为安全有效的药物治疗手段。     

Off-pump resection of a coronary arterial fistula using the Harmonic Scalpel

Off-pump surgery was performed in a patient with post-infarction angina complicated with aneurysmal coronary-pulmonary arterial fistula. Epicardial echocardiography localized the artery feeding the fistula in the myocardium, which had not been revealed by visual inspection, palpation, or transesophageal echocardiography. The patient underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting concomitant with aneurysmectomy. The feeding arteries were dissected easily using a Harmonic Scalpel and ligated. The flow in the aneurysm disappeared immediately and aneurysmectomy was performed without bleeding.