Diseases Commons^™

Chest Radiographs In Acute Pulmonary Embolism, Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi, Shahid Javed Husain, Muhammad Irfan, Kulsoom Fatima, Muhammad Atif Zubairi, Muhammad Islam

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious clinical entity carrying significant morbidity and mortality. Clinically, it is a difficult condition to diagnose and remains under treated condition in Pakistan due to non-availability of objective tests and lack of awareness among physicians.This study was conducted to determine the chest radiographic presentation in known cases of acute PE presenting to a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: Hospital records of patients with a diagnosis of acute PE were reviewed from June 2000 until June 2004. Fifty diagnosed cases of acute PE on Spiral Computed tomography (CT) of the chest demonstrating an intraluminal-filling defect were …

A Computational Model For Analysis Of Uncoupled No Synthase On Nitric Oxide And Superoxide Interaction In Microcirculation, William Richardson, Mahendra Kavdia

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial cells is a key component for blood-vessel dilation. Dilation is achieved through smooth muscle relaxation as a response to NO transport. Inhibition of this process occurs through the inactivation of NO by reactive oxygen species, especially superoxide (O2 -). NO and superoxide react quickly, forming peroxynitrite (ONOO-). Both superoxide and peroxynitrite apply oxidative stress on vascular tissue. Experimental studies investigating NO interactions are difficult since these reactions occur rapidly and over small distances. This study presents a computational model to describe the interactions of NO, superoxide, and peroxynitrite across an arteriole/venule pair. Based on …

The Effect Of Walnuts Compared To Fatty Fish On Plasma And Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Composition, Lymphocyte Subsets And Inflammatory Mediators, Yu-Lan Ching

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of walnuts vs. fatty fish on circulating inflammatory markers, on lymphocyte subsets, on plasma concentrations of eicosanoids precursor polyunsaturated fatty acid and on erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition. Under controlled metabolic feeding conditions and randomized crossover (3x3 Latin-square) design, 27 subjects alternately consumed a control diet, a walnut diet (1.5 oz (42.5g) /day of walnuts, 6 times/week) or a fish diet (8 oz (226g) /week of salmon) for 4 weeks each. Consumption of the walnut diet (ALA 5.43 g/day) compared to the fish diet (EPA 170 mg/day and DHA 590 …

Noncommunicable Diseases And Injuries: Action Needed In South Asia Too, Ali Khan Khuwaja, Riaz Qureshi, Zafar Fatmi

Community Health Sciences

No abstract provided.

Age-Associated Changes In Hearts Of Male Fischer 344/Brown Norway F1 Rats, Ernest M. Walker Jr., Michael S. Nillas, Elsa I. Mangiarua, Sylvestre Cansino, Ryan G. Morrison, Romaine R. Perdue, William E. Triest, Gary L. Wright, Mark Studeny, Paulette Wehner, Kevin M. Rice, Eric R. Blough

MIIR Faculty Research

Aging is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, dilatation, and fibrosis of the heart. The Fischer 344/Brown Norway F1 (F344/BNF1) rat is recommended for age-related studies by the National Institutes on Aging because this hybrid rat lives longer and has a lower rate of pathological conditions than inbred rats. However, little is known about age-associated changes in cardiac and aortic function and structure in this model. This study evaluated age-related cardiac changes in male F344/BNF1 rats using ECHO, gross, and microscopic examinations. Rats aged 6-, 30-, and 36-mo were anesthetized and two-dimensional ECHO measurements, two-dimensional guided M-mode, Doppler M-mode, and other …

Long-Term Trends In Indigenous Deaths From Chronic Diseases In The Northern Territory: A Foot On The Brake, A Foot On The Accelerator, David P. Thomas, John R. Condon, Ian P. Anderson, Shu Q. Li, Stephen Halpin, Joan Cunningham, Steven L. Guthridge

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Objective: To examine trends in Northern Territory Indigenous mortality from chronic diseases other than cancer. Design: A comparison of trends in rates of mortality from six chronic diseases (ischaemic heart disease [IHD], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], cerebrovascular disease [CVD], diabetes mellitus [DM], renal failure [RF] and rheumatic heart disease [RHD]) in the NT Indigenous population with those of the total Australian population.

Participants: NT Indigenous and total Australian populations, 1977–2001. Main outcome measures: Estimated average annual change in chronic disease mortality rates and in mortality rate ratios. Results: DeathratesfromIHDandDMamongNTIndigenouspeoplesincreased between 1977 and 2001, but this increase slowed after 1990. …

A Role For Cetp Taqib Polymorphism In Determining Susceptibility To Atrial Fibrillation: A Nested Case Control Study, Folkert W. Asselbergs, Jason H. Moore, Maarten P. Van Den Berg, Eric B. Rimm

Dartmouth Scholarship

Studies investigating the genetic and environmental characteristics of atrial fibrillation (AF) may provide new insights in the complex development of AF. We aimed to investigate the association between several environmental factors and loci of candidate genes, which might be related to the presence of AF. A nested case-control study within the PREVEND cohort was conducted. Standard 12 lead electrocardiograms were recorded and AF was defined according to Minnesota codes. For every case, an age and gender matched control was selected from the same population (n = 194). In addition to logistic regression analyses, the multifactor-dimensionality reduction (MDR) method and interaction …

The Zucker Rat As A Model Of Obesity-Hypertension, Ryan Morrison

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Hypertension is a serious health problem that affects approximately 1 in 4 American adults. Most cases are diagnosed as essential hypertension, meaning that the exact cause is unknown. In most patients, however, excess weight is a major contributory factor to the development of essential hypertension. The role of obesity in promoting hypertension is now well documented and has become the foundation for an entire field of research known alternately as obesity-hypertension, obesity-induced hypertension, or obesity-associated hypertension. In this field, rapid advances are being made in our understanding of how obesity and hypertension are linked. A plethora of related risk factors, …

The Impact Of The Chip Program On Depression And Well-Being: A Pilot Study, Carmen Diehl Thieszen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Reliable studies have demonstrated that intensive and comprehensive lifestyle changes can reduce coronary risk, which, in turn, can prevent, postpone, and reverse coronary heart disease (CHD) and affect its underlying atherosclerotic lesions. These well-established studies have focused their interventions on moderating biophysical risk factors. In the past 10 years, however, burgeoning research is supporting the idea that psychological factors, such as depression and well-being, are also important CHD risk factors. Little research has addressed, in a non-subjective way, how an intervention program focused on modifying biophysical risk factors may influence psychological factors. Using the Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form, the Dartmouth …

Prophylactic Defibrillator Implantation—Toward An Evidence-Based Approach, Alan H. Kadish

Office of the President Publications and Research

The author discusses research on using implantable cardioverter-defibrillators for the primary prevention of sudden death.

Implantable Cardioverter–Defibrillators: Reply, Alan H. Kadish

Office of the President Publications and Research

The author replies to comments on a previously published article discussing implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Alternative Therapies To Treat Cardiovascular Disease, Brent D. Jergens

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Association Study Of The Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (Ace) Gene G2350a Dimorphism With Myocardial Infarction, M Perwaiz Iqbal, Saeed Mahmood, Naseema Mehboobali, Mohammad Ishaq, Tasnim Fatima, Saddiqa Parveen, Philippe Frossard

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a strong candidate gene for myocardial infarction (MI). Insertion-deletion dimorphism in intron 16 of this gene has been inconclusively found to be associated with it. Several new polymorphisms in the ACE gene have been identified and among these, a dimorphism in exon 17, ACE G2350A, has a significant effect on plasma ACE concentrations. To assess the value of genotyping the ACE G2350A dimorphism in a genetically homogeneous population, we carried out a case-control study of dimorphism G2350A for a putative association with MI among Pakistani nationals. We investigated a sample population of 370 Pakistanis, …

Impacts Of Sara And Agr In Staphylococcus Aureus Strain Newman On Fibronectin-Binding Protein A Gene Expression And Fibronectin Adherence Capacity In Vitro And In Experimental Infective Endocarditis, Yan-Qiong Xiong, Arnold S. Bayer, Michael R. Yeaman, Willem Van Wamel, Adhar C. Manna, Ambrose L. Cheung

Dartmouth Scholarship

We investigated the impacts of sarA and agr on fnbA expression and fibronectin-binding capacity in Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in experimental endocarditis. Although sarA up-regulated and agr down-regulated both fnbA expression and fibronectin binding in vitro and in vivo, fnbA expression was positively regulated in the absence of both global regulators. Thus, additional regulatory loci contribute to fnbA regulation and fibronectin-binding capacities in S. aureus.

Prophylactic Defibrillator Implantation In Patients With Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Alan H. Kadish, Alan Dyer, James P. Daubert, Rebecca Quigg, N. A. Mark Estes, Kelley P. Anderson, Joseph H. Levine

Office of the President Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Ischemic Stroke Subtypes In Pakistan: The Aga Khan University Stroke Data Bank, N. A. Syed, B. A. Khealani, S. Ali, A. Hasan, H. Brohi, T. Mozaffar, N. Ahmed, A. Hameed, S. M. Baig, M. Wasay

Department of Medicine

Objective: Frequency of ischemic stroke subtypes is influenced by ethnic and geographic variables. Our objective was to identify various stroke subtypes and its determinants at a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: We prospectively collected data on ischemic stroke subtypes admitted to The Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi.

Results: A total of 596 patients were enrolled in 22 months in the Aga Khan Universtiy Stroke Registry. These included 393 patients with Ischemic stroke, 126 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, 50 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and others. The ischemic stroke group was classified according to the TOAST criteria and comprised of lacunar 168/393 …

Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease In School Children--A Pilot Study., A. K. Khuwaja, Zafar Fatmi, W. B. Soomro, N. K. Khuwaja

Community Health Sciences

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the frequencies of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in school children. The information may help in designing interventions aimed at modifying unhealthy lifestyle in children, which may reduce the later incidence of cardiovascular disease in adults.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 206 students (ages 14-18 years), enrolled in higher secondary school. Students were interviewed about their lifestyles, family history of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. Moreover, they were assessed for height, weight and blood pressure.

RESULTS:

Twenty nine percent of the children were physically inactive, 31% were taking unhealthy diet daily, 21% were overweight …

Probucol Prevents Early Coronary Heart Disease And Death In The High-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Sr-Bi/Apolipoprotein E Double Knockout Mouse, Anne Braun, Songwen Zhang, Helena E. Miettinen, Shamsah Ebrahim, Teresa M. Holm, Eliza Vasile, Mark J. Post

Dartmouth Scholarship

Mice with homozygous null mutations in the high-density lipoprotein receptor SR-BI (scavenger receptor class B, type I) and apolipoprotein E genes fed a low-fat diet exhibit a constellation of pathologies shared with human atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD): hypercholesterolemia, occlusive coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarctions, cardiac dysfunction (heart enlargement, reduced systolic function and ejection fraction, and ECG abnormalities), and premature death (mean age 6 weeks). They also exhibit a block in RBC maturation and abnormally high plasma unesterified-to-total cholesterol ratio (0.8) with associated abnormal lipoprotein morphology (lamellar/vesicular and stacked discoidal particles reminiscent of those in lecithin/cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency and cholestasis). Treatment …

Plasma Total Homocysteine And The Effect Of B-Group Vitmains. Current Knowledge And Future Directions In Assessment For Cardiovascular Diseases Among U.S. Cardiovascular Specialists, Salam F. Sunna

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States claiming the lives of over 40% of the nearly 2.4 million Americans who die each year. Recent studies have shown that elevated homocysteine in the blood is related to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke independent of other classical cardiovascular disease risk factors. The aim of this study is to determine the general awareness and acceptance of U.S. cardiovascular specialists of the homocysteine theory, the criteria used for ordering a homocysteine test, the frequency physicians refer patients to dietitians for …

Is Dynamic Atrial Overdrive Pacing Anti-Arrhythmic Or Proarrhythmic: A Case Report, Ngai-Yin Chan, Miu-Fong Kwok, Chi-Chung Choy

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

No abstract provided.

Drug Eluting Stent: A Major Advance In Fighting Coronary Artery Restenosis, Yuk-Kong Lau

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Since the first use of coronary angioplasty in 1977, there have been major growth and development in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Due to the advances in techniques, experiences, devices, and newer potent antiplatelet and antithrombotic medications, PCI is increasingly performed in highly complex and high risk patients with a reasonably low complication rate. Coupled with reduced discomfort, shorter hospital stay and recovery time, it has far outnumbered the volume of coronary artery bypass surgery. Currently, 1.7 million PCI procedures are performed annually worldwide with increases by 15-20% per year the last decade.

Role Of Signal-Averaged Ecg In Predicting Results Of Flecainide Provocation Test Used In Family Screening For Brugada Syndrome, Ngai-Shing Mok, Chi-Chung Choy, Ngai-Yin Chan, Amy Ho

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Brugada syndrome (BS) is an inherited arrhythmogenic disease with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Flecainide provocation test (FPT) has been shown to be highly sensitive and specific in unmasking the Brugada ECG pattern in affected subjects. We sought to test if late potential (LP) in signal averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) is helpful in predicting the results of FPT used in family screening for BS. The study included 17 asymptomatic Chinese subjects from 8 families (M:F 10:7, mean age 24.8±11.4 years) who have undergone family screening for BS. All screened subjects had a normal 12-lead ECG at baseline. None had structural …

The Post-Madit Ii Era: Icd For All Post-Infarct Patients With Moderate To Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction?, Kathy Lai-Fun Lee, Chu-Pak Lau

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Device therapy has become the preferred treatment for patients who have survived sudden cardiac death. Throughout the last decade, large-scale randomized clinical trials have provided consistent evidence on the clinical efficacy of device therapy. ICD is proven to be superior to anti-arrhythmic drugs in patients with structural heart diseases who suffer from haemodynamically significant ventricular arrhythmias. The role of ICD in primary prevention of sudden death in selected patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction is also widely established after the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implant Trial (MADIT) and the Multicenter Unsustained Tachycardia Trial (MUSTT).

Percutaneous Revascularisation In Diabetic Patients With Coronary Artery Disease, Wai-Hong Chen, Chu-Pak Lau

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Diabetic patients with coronary artery disease are associated with an unfavourable long-term outcome. Surgical revascularisation on top of medical therapy has been shown to confer survival benefit in patients with mutivessel and left main disease. With the emergence of the percutaneous approach of revascularisation, several clinical trials have been conducted to compare these two modalities of treatment. Consistent results were demonstrated in the diabetic subgroup that coronary artery bypass grafting is superior to balloon angioplasty in preventing late adverse cardiac event. With the advancement of percutaneous technique using coronary stenting as the predominant mode of catheter based revascularisation, the latest …

The Long-Term Clinical Prognosis In Patients With Anterior Wall And Non-Anterior Wall Acute Myocardial Infarction Referred To Primary Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty, Mingzhong Zhao, Dayi Hu, Tianchang Li, Sanqing Jia

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Objective: To investigate the long-term clinical prognosis in patients with anterior wall acute myocardial infarction (AW-AMI) and non AW-AMI (NAW-AMI) referred to primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (P-PTCA). Methods: 287 patients with AMI who underwent P-PTCA were divided into AW-AMI group (142 cases) and NAW AMI group (145 cases) according to different sites of AMI. The baseline characteristics and coronary artery lesions of patients were analysed. The primary end points were in-hospital mortality and the major cardiovascular events (MACE) during a mean 17.3±9.8 months follow-up including the occurrences of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal congestive heart failure, revascularization of target vessels …

Appropriate Use Of Clopidogrel, Cyrus R Kumana, Bernard Man-Yung Cheung, Ij Lauder

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Clopidogrel (Plavix®) is an orally administered pro-drug, whose pharmacology and therapeutic role has been extensively reviewed in recent publications.1-5 In essence, it results in selective and irreversible antagonism of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Such aggregation normally results in the surface expression of platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptors, which facilitate fibrinogen binding as well as consequential further platelet aggregation – the final common pathway of vascular occlusion. Specific cytochrome P450 enzymes are thought to generate the responsible active metabolite (believed to persist transiently). However, dosage adjustment is not recommended in hepatic impairment (unless severe) and drug-drug interactions and co-administration with meals are …

Effect Of Monounsaturated Fat Rich Almonds On Hemostatic And Inflammatory Factors In Healthy Adults, Kristianne M. Connell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: The frequent consumption of nuts is inversely associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Nuts are known to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing serum total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Markers of inflammation including C-reactive protein, E-selectin and interleukin-6 have been proposed to be newer risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, the influence of nuts such as almonds on markers of inflammation and hemostasis that influence cardiovascular disease risk is not currently known.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of almond consumption on markers of inflammation and hemostatic factors in healthy …

Mapping And Ablation Of Complex Cardiac Arrhythmia Guided By A Novel Three Dimensional Non-Contact Endocardial Activation Mapping System, Wing-Hong Fung, Chi-Kin Chan, Kam-Sang Woo, Wilson Wai-Man Chan

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Conventional cardiac activation mapping requires a sequentially-based method of positioning a catheter in contact with the endocardium to generate intracardiac electrograms at single points during sustained arrhythmia. Significant limitation of such point by point mapping may be encountered when applying to complex arrhythmia e.g. non-sustained arrhythmia or haemodynamically unstable arrhythmia. A novel non-contact mapping system (Ensite 3000 system) providing a three-dimensional simultaneous display of arrhythmia activation may offer a solution. The non-contact mapping system consists of a specially designed balloon catheter (Ensite EP catheter) with 64 insulated wires over the surface of the balloon for sensing electrical potentials on the …

The Use Of Wallstent And Smart Stents Incarotid Stent-Supported Angioplasty, Steven Siu-Lung Li

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

In the endovascular approach of carotid stenosis treatment, stent-supported angioplasty is current state-of-the-art technique. Self-expandable stents are preferable to balloon-expandable stents due to the potential risk of deformation of the latter by external pressure. Wallstents and SMART stents are the more commonly used self-expandable stents. They appear to be of similar efficacy and safety but due to their different characteristics, their applications may be different according to different lesion characteristics.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, Wing-Hong Fung, Chi-Kin Chan, John E. Sanderson

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a familial form of cardiomyopathy predominantly affecting the right ventricle but may progress to involve the left ventricle as well. At the late stage of the disease, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate with other forms of dilated cardiomyopathy. In most affected families, the mode of inheritance of the disease is autosomal dominant. Lately, the gene accounting for the autosomal recessive form of ARVC, which was associated with palmoplantar keratosis, was identified. ARVC can present with sudden cardiac death without any preceding symptoms in the young population. Therefore, ARVC must be included in the …