Left ventricular diastolic pressure - volume response immediately after successful percutaneous transvenous mitral valvuloplasty

The aim of this study was to investigate the left ventricular diastolic pressure-volume response immediately after percutaneous transvenous mitral balloon valvuloplasty to determine whether it was related to the baseline left ventricular conditions

Comparison of biplane and monoplane transesoplageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of atrial septal defect in adult patients

The study included 30 patients, they were divided into 2 groups. Group I included 20 patients with atrial septal defect [ASD] in different forms. The other 10 patients [in group II] did not have ASD but they had other cardiac lesions and enrolled in the study as a control group. When the transverse plane transducer was used for the examination of group I patients, it was able to detect and accurately and correctly localize all the atrial septal defects in this group with no false negative [-ve] results. On examining group II patients, the transverse plane was able to exclude the presence of an ASD in all cases with no false positive [+ve] results. When the longitudinal plane transducer was used in group I patients, all the 20 atrial septal defects were detected with no false -ve results. On examining group II patients, the longitudinal plane was also able to exclude the presence of ASD in this group with no false +ve results. This newly added plane [the vertical plane] did not have additional value in the diagnosis and accurate localization of ASD in adults

Ambulatory electrocardiographic changes in children with chronic renal insufficiency. a study of the effects of hemodialysis process

Ambulatory electrocardiographic [Holter] recording was done for 24 hours before and 24 hours after study of HD session in 26 pediatric patients with chronic renal insufficiency [CRI] on maintenance HD. This was a trial to evaluate the possible effect of HD process on the electrocardiographic pattern in those patients. Holter changes were observed during the last hour of HD session in 20 patients only [76.92%]. These were sinus tachycardia [ST] in 90%, supraventricular tachycardia [SVT] in 5% and bradycardia with first degree atrio- ventricular block in 5%. Premature supraventricular contractions [PSVC] were recorded in 40% of the patients with Holter changes and premature ventricular contractions [PVC] in 25% of the HD induced significant prolongation of Q-Tc interval in 75% of the patients with Holter changes [P <0.001] and significant shortening of it in 15% of them [P<0.001]. The degree of prolongation of Q-Tc interval showed significant positive correlation with degree of HD induced decrease in serum calcium [P <0.001] and in serum potassium [P <0.001]

Electrocardiographic changes during transesophageal echocardiography in patients with coronary artery disease

This study aimed at assessment of the stressful effect of TEE on patients with coronary artery disease. The study included 2 groups of patients. Group I consisted of 25 patients with documented CAD, and group II consisted of 5 normal volunteers. Coronary artery disease was documented in addition to the history, by one or more of the following positive investigations: Exercise stress test, dipyridamole stress test or coronary angiogram, while group II underwent only treadmill exercise test before TEE. Heart rate, blood pressure and ECG were recorded before and during TEE examination. No patient had ischemic changes in the ECG at rest prior to TEE. The sensitivity and specificity for ST segment depression during TEE, in relation to coronary angiogram were 54.5% and 100%, respectively. No patient suffered from chest pain during TEE except for sinus tachycardia, no significant arrhythmias occurred. Thus silent ischemia was only observed in 48% of all patients of group I. The high incidence of ST changes was observed more in patients with more than one vessel disease in comparison with those with single vessel disease

Correlation of infection with mycoplasma-ureaplasma and alterations of seminal parameters

30 infertile patients were included in this study according to certain criteria, which are harboring Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma and being free from any other systemic or local factor that might influence semen. Another 30 patients whose semen samples were free from these organisms were included as control. Complete semen analysis, cytology and culture were done and data obtained were analyzed statistically. The study showed that Ureaplasma urealyticum has a significant effect on the following semen parameters: pH and liquefaction [increased], sperm motility [depressed], sperm concentration and viability [decreased] with increased percentage of abnormal forms. On the other hand, mycoplasma showed a significant effect only on the increased production of abnormal forms. These results point to the necessity for culture of these organisms, especially in the long standing idiopathic asthenozoosperm and/or increased percentage of abnormal forms in any barren marriage

Inaccuracy of doppler pressure half-time in estimation of mitral value area during hemodynamic exercise in patients with mitral stenosis

Patients with mitral stenosis often present during periods of hemodynamic change like pregnancy, tachycardia or infection. Doppler pressure half-time [PHT] method is a well accepted noninvasive tool for estimation of mitral valve area [MVA] in patients with mitral stenosis [MS]. However, recent reports have questioned its validity during periods of exercise. 24 patients [mean age 26 +/- 8 years] were studied with isolated MS by Doppler echocardiography at rest and during supine bicycle exercise. The mean resting heart rate significantly increased from 70 +/- 8 beats/min. [mean +/- SD] to 96 +/- 8 beats/min. [p <0.001]. MVA was estimated by both PHT and continuity equation methods at rest and during exercise. Results were compared with those obtained by Gorlin's formula at cardiac catheterization done within 48 hours. Both mean and peak transmitral pressure gradients were significantly increased during exercise [p <0.001]. Also, estimation of the net atrioventricular compliance decreased significantly during exercise [p <0.001]. At rest, there was good agreement between MVA by PHT [1.04 +/- 0.44 cm2], continuity equation [0.87 +/- 0.33] and catheterization [0.9 +/- 0.33] [p = NS]. During exercise, MVA by continuity equation showed nonsignificant changes from resting valve [0.86 +/- 0.34] [p = NS], while significant increase of MVA during exercise occurred when PHT method was used [1.5 +/- 0.5 cm2] [p <0.001]. In conclusion, caution should be taken in evaluating severity of MS by PHT during periods of hemodynamic stress

Genetic studies on the different types of leprosy

A total number of 150 patients with different types of leprosy: 48 lepromatous, 50 indeterminate and 52 tuberculoid type was used and compared with a similar number of normal controls. For all, complete clinical examination, pedigree chart and palmar and digital dermatoglyphics were done. The results revealed positive family history of affection and consanguinity more in lepromatous than in tuberculoid and indeterminate types. Dermatoglyphic configurations on finger tips showed that lepromatous type had a marked frequent whorls specially in right IV and left II digits. Tuberculoid leprosy had common ulnar loop specially in left III and V and in right and left I digits. Indeterminate type had frequent whorls in right and left II and IV digits and a frequent ulnar loop in right and left I, III and V digits. Dermatoglyphic genetic traits revealed significant increase in T.F.R.C. in the indeterminate type and the atd angle in tuberculoid type. Moreover, the results proved that the frequency of abnormal palmar flexion creases was higher in lepromatous and indeterminate types of leprosy. All these findings may predispose a possible hereditary basis for tendency of affection with leprosy specially in lepromatous and the indeterminate types