Monophasic action potentials and activation recovery intervals as measures of ventricular action potential duration: experimental evidence to resolve some controversies.

BACKGROUND: Activation recovery intervals (ARIs) and monophasic action potential (MAP) duration are used as measures of action potential duration in beating hearts. However, controversies exist concerning the correct way to record MAPs or calculate ARIs. We have addressed these issues experimentally. OBJECTIVES: To experimentally address the controversies concerning the correct way to record MAPs or calculate ARIs. METHODS: Left ventricular local electrograms were recorded in isolated pig hearts with an exploring electrode grid, with a KCl reference electrode on the left ventricular myocardium, the aortic root, or the left atrium. Local activation was determined from calculated Laplacian electrograms. RESULTS: With the KCl electrode on the aortic root, local electrograms represented local activation. However, with the KCl electrode on the myocardium remote from the exploring electrode, a combined electrogram emerged consisting of local activation recorded from the grid and remote activation recorded from the reference electrode. The remote, inverted monophasic component did not show propagation and did not correlate with the Laplacian complex. When the KCl electrode was placed on the atrium during AV block, remote atrial monophasic components were completely dissociated from local, ventricular deflections. At left ventricular sites with a positive T wave, the Laplacian signal showed that the end of the T wave was caused by remote repolarization. During cooling-induced regional action potential prolongation, the T wave became negative, whereby the positive flank of the T wave remained correlated with repolarization (recorded with a MAP at the same site). CONCLUSIONS: MAPs are recorded from the depolarizing electrode. In both negative and positive T waves, the moment of maximum dV/dt corresponds to local repolarization.     

Evaluation of the thyroid nodule.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid nodules are common, yet treatment modalities range from observation to surgical resection. Because thyroid nodules are frequently found incidentally during routine physical examination or imaging performed for another reason, physicians from a diverse range of specialties encounter thyroid nodules. Clinical decision making depends on proper evaluation of the thyroid nodule. METHODS: The current literature was reviewed and synthesized. RESULTS: Current evidence allows the formulation of recommendations and a general algorithm for evaluating the incidental thyroid nodule. CONCLUSIONS: Only a small percentage of thyroid nodules require surgical management. Diagnosis and treatment selection require a risk stratification by history, physical examination, and ancillary tests. Nodules causing airway compression or those at high risk for carcinoma should prompt evaluation for surgical treatment. In nodules larger than 1 cm, fine-needle aspiration biopsy is central to the evaluation as it is accurate, low risk, and cost effective. Subcentimeter nodules, often found incidentally on imaging obtained for another purpose, can usually be evaluated by ultrasonography. Other laboratory and imaging evaluations have specific and more limited roles. An algorithm for the evaluation of the thyroid nodule is presented.     

Arsenic trioxide–loaded, microemulsion-enhanced cytotoxicity on MDAH 2774 ovarian carcinoma cell line

The antiproliferative effect of As(2)O(3)-loaded microemulsion (As(2)O(3)-M) on human MDAH 2774 ovarian cancer cells was compared with a regular solution of the As(2)O(3). We used MDAH 2774 as model cell lines for ovarian cancer. The (2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide) (XTT) and trypane blue dye exclusion tests were used to evaluate cytotoxicity. Apoptotic effect of solutions was evaluated using cell death detection kit. Standard microemulsion formulation used in this experiment contains 5 x 10(-6) M As(2)O(3). It was clearly demonstrated that As(2)O(3)-M had a significant cytotoxic effect on MDAH 2774 cell line, and the cytotoxic effect of As(2)O(3)-M was significantly higher than that of regular As(2)O(3) solutions. Even approximately 6000 times diluted microemulsion formulation loaded with 5 x 10(-6) M As(2)O(3) showed a cytotoxic effect. As a result, this diluted concentration (approximately 8 x 10(-10) M) was found to be approximately 6000 times more effective than regular As(2)O(3) solutions (5 x 10(-6) M). Moreover, this diluted concentration resulted in 1.5-fold enhancement of apoptosis. According to the in vitro cytotoxicity studies, we concluded that by incorporating As(2)O(3) into the microemulsion (As(2)O(3)-M), which is a new drug carrier system, it is possible to increase antiproliferative effect of regular As(2)O(3) on MDAH 2774 cells. Translating these results to in vivo conditions would open new windows in the treatment of ovarian cancer.     

Giant splenic artery mycotic aneurysm presenting with massive hematemesis.

We report a 40-year-old man with rheumatic heart disease who presented with abdominal pain for three weeks and hematemesis for 24 hours. CT scan showed a large splenic artery aneurysm without evidence of pancreatitis. Mycotic aneurysm due to infective endocarditis was considered and confirmed by echocardiogram, which showed aortic and mitral valve regurgitation and vegetations. He was managed successfully with coil embolization of the aneurysm and antibiotics.     

An unusual case of mediastinal mass due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi.

Phaeohyphomycosis is a disease caused by dematiaceous fungi. Here, the first culture-proven case of mediastinal mass due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi is reported. The patient was a 40-yr-old male who had presented with history of dyspnoea and dysphagia. Computed tomography of the chest disclosed a mediastinal mass. Cultures of a specimen from the mediastinum grew Fonsecaea pedrosoi. The patient received amphotericin B and itraconazole and showed a remarkable recovery. Repeat computed tomography revealed a reduction in the mediastinal mass. The case highlights the need for a high degree of clinical suspicion and appropriate histopathological and mycological examination of clinical specimens.     

DLCO/Q and diffusion limitation at rest and on exercise in patients with interstitial fibrosis

Pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and pulmonary capillary blood flow (Qp) were measured on exercise in patients with a low DLCO with the aim of predicting, from the overall DL/Qp ratio, diffusion limitation for oxygen and relating it to the fall in arterial oxygen saturation actually observed. Five patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (DLCO ranging from 20-54% predicted normal) exercised for 5 min at a work load equal to 60% of their maximum (45 to 90 watts). At 5 min (and previously at rest) they rebreathed rapidly for 15 sec from a 1.0 L bag containing helium (He), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and freon-22, 30% oxygen in argon and less than 1 ppm 11C-labelled carbon monoxide. Pulmonary capillary blood flow (Qp) and diffusing capacity (DLCO) were measured from flow-weighted breath-by-breath concentrations of freon-22 and 11CO, after correction for gas mixing delays (using He and SF6). Oxygen saturation (SaO2) (ear oximetry), MO2 and MCO2 and cardiac frequency were measured. PAO2 (ideal) was derived and mixed venous O2 saturation and content were calculated (Fick); PaO2 and PVO2 were derived from standard dissociation curves. For comparison, DLCO and Qp were measured in a similar fashion in five normal subjects exercising at 60 watts. Mean DLCO in patients with fibrosis was 9.62 (SD 2.88) ml.min-1, mm Hg-1 on exercise and mean Qp was 10.48 (SD 1.79) L.min-1 giving mean DLCO/Q ratios of 0.92 (SD 0.28). At 60 watts mean DLCO/Qp in normal subjects was 2.54 (SD 0.3), 2.76-times greater than in patients. SaO2% fell in patients by 3-15% on exercise. Predictions of alveolar-end capillary PO2 gradients from these overall DL/Q gradients showed that diffusion limitation accounted for 99% of the alveolar-arterial PO2 gradient on exercise in fibrosing alveolitis. Hughes (1991 Respir. Physiol. 83:167-178) [corrected] suggests that this simple approach overestimates the contribution of diffusion limitation by about 30%.     

Informational technologies in medical support to an interplanetary mission crew]

Plans to send humans to Mars dictate revision of the whole crew medical support system. Autonomy of the mission will extend crew responsibilities for all dimensions of medical support. The article compares and contrasts medical support of crews on orbital and interplanetary missions, and considers the place and functionality of medical informational technologies in a mission to Mars.