Usefulness of transdermal clonidine in hypertensive patients undergoing minor surgical operations.

Transdermal clonidine (TTSC) treatment was evaluated in 29 patients with mild to moderate hypertension scheduled for minor surgery. Two weeks before the scheduled operation, patients underwent 24-h ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring (ABPM) to evaluate the efficacy of previous oral antihypertensive treatment, which was then substituted with TTSC, 0.1 mg/day. After 1 week, the efficacy of TTSC was clinically assessed, and the dose increased to 0.2 mg/day if needed. ABPM was repeated 2 days before the scheduled operation and 2 days after surgery. The 24-h blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) profiles were smoothed by Fourier analysis. Three patients withdrew for adverse events and one for inefficacy after dose adjustment, TTSC being effective in the remaining 25 patients. Two patients who completed treatment lacked postsurgical ABPM recording. In the 23 patients with all ABPM recordings, average 24-h BP and HR obtained preoperatively during TTSC treatment were slightly reduced compared with values recorded during previous oral therapy. BP changes after surgery were negligible, whereas HR showed a moderate increase. Minor adverse events occurred in four (14%) of 29 patients. Our results demonstrate that TTSC provides adequate BP control in patients with mild to moderate hypertension undergoing minor surgery.

Evaluation of performance of the RIBA processor system for automated analysis of the strip immunoblot assay for detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus.

The performance of a new automated analyzer for the processing and interpretation of the RIBA Strip Immunoblot Assay (SIA), used in the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, was evaluated. Laboratory performance of the RIBA SIA was compared with that of two manually processed supplementary anti-HCV tests (RIBA HCV 3.0 SIA and INNO-LIA HCV Antibody III). Specificity of the automated processing of SIA was 100% for 90 selected anti-HCV-negative samples. On the other hand, 119 of 120 (99.2%) previously confirmed anti-HCV-positive samples were also positive when assayed on the automated processor. Results for all specimens except one (51 of 52) were concordant for manual and automated RIBA, while 15 of 68 sera tested with automated RIBA and the INNO-LIA assay showed different patterns of reactivity. Three HCV sensitivity panels and one seroconversion panel were also compared. The results show a high sensitivity for SIA NS3- and NS5-encoded antigens. Moreover, data obtained for the anti-HCV seroconversion panel and for samples with borderline or discordant anti-HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results suggest that bands with a relative intensity of >0.5 on the automated analyzer (theoretically negative) should be evaluated with care. Coefficients of variability ranged from 9 to 14.8% in an interassay reproducibility study. Overall, the performance of the automated analysis of SIA is comparable to that of the manual RIBA assay. The new automated processor for SIA bands proved to be sensitive and specific. Its use makes the optical scoring of bands unnecessary by indicating relative intensity values, which could be particularly useful in the follow-up care of anti-HCV-positive patients receiving antiviral therapy.

Autologous bone marrow processing for autotransplantation using an automated cell processor and a semiautomated procedure.

Twenty bone marrow aspirates harvested for autotransplantation from 20 patients suffering from several oncohematological diseases were processed using the automated Du Pont SteriCell processor. In 15 bone marrow harvests, the interface buffy coat cells were collected using the SteriCell processor in manual mode with a semiautomated procedure. The procedure yielded an average red cell removal of 84% and an average mononuclear cell (MNC) recovery of 86%. Cloning efficiencies of hematopoietic progenitor cells (CFU-GM and BFU-e) did not differ between processed and recovered MNCs. Four cryopreserved bone marrow buffy coats were thawed and reinfused into four patients who had undergone high dose chemotherapy. Stable engraftment was observed in all cases. In five bone marrow harvests, the SteriCell automated density gradient MNC isolation procedure was performed after buffy coat collection. The whole two-step procedure allowed an average MNC recovery of 69%. CFU-GM and BFU-e assays did not show a significant difference in cloning efficiency between processed and recovered bone marrow MNCs. We conclude that the SteriCell processor offers rapid, safe and feasible procedures for the semiautomated processing of human bone marrow for transplantation. The clinical efficacy of density gradient separated bone marrow employing the automated step and the opportunity to use fully automated processing must be investigated.

A comparison between two different procedures for bone marrow processing: a semiautomated procedure vs manual starch sedimentation.

After high-dose chemotherapy, autologous cryopreserved bone marrow infusion is employed to restore rapidly the compromised hematopoietic function. An efficient bone marrow processing reduces the infusion toxicity produced by hemolized red cells, granulocytes and platelets clumping and DMSO amount; moreover it increases freezing efficacy, a critical step in autologous bone marrow grafting techniques. Gravity sedimentation technique with 6% hydroxyethyl-starch (HES) or a semiautomated procedure using a blood cell processor were used in our center to manipulate ex-vivo the collected bone marrow. In our experience we compared these two different procedure and we evaluated their efficiency.

[Early and late prognosis in acute myocardial infarct. A retrospective study in patients admitted to the coronary care unit in the past 10 years]. / La prognosi precoce e tardiva nell'infarto miocardico acuto. Studio retrospettivo in pazienti ricoverati in unità coronarica negli ultimi 10 anni.

The prognostic evaluation of the patient with an acute myocardial infarction is one of the most interesting unanswered problems. This is both because of its complexity and its implications in terms of secondary prevention. Several clinical studies have emphasized the reliability of the prognostic evaluation based on data collected during the first 24 hours. We therefore evaluated the prognostic relevance of 26 variables measured in the coronary care unit in 1914 patients admitted to our Unit as a result of acute myocardial infarction during the past 10 years. Twenty-four patients were lost to follow-up so that the evaluation refers to 1,890 patients, 1,506 of whom are males aged between 22 and 99 years (mean 58.1) and 384 are females aged between 29 and 88 years (mean 67.1); thus there is a greater prevalence of males. The sex-related difference in the age distribution is statistically significant. In-hospital mortality was analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical methods (chi-squared test, multiple logistic regression analysis). The prognostic relevance of the considered variables in relation to the survival was analysed using the logrank test and using Cox's model. The variables associated with a greater risk of in-hospital death were found to be: age, presence of diabetes, anterior location of the infarct, arterial hypotension at admission, Killip class III and IV and the presence of ventricular tachyarrhithmias. In contrast, smokers had a lower in-hospital death risk. As to mortality during the follow-up, there was an association with age, female sex, pre-existent coronary disease, presence of high heart rate on admission, low peripheral tissue perfusion, x-ray documented pulmonary congestion, supraventricular tachiarrhythmias and intraventricular block. In contrast, the presence of obesity was associated with a reduced death risk during the follow-up. During the follow-up the most frequent cause of death was re-infarction, followed by sudden death, death from non-cardiac causes and heart failure.

Myocardial hydatid cyst ruptured into the pericardium: cross-sectional echocardiographic study and surgical treatment.

We describe a patient with a large intramyocardial hydatid cyst lying in the postero-lateral segment of the left ventricle near the atrioventricular groove level which ruptured into the pericardial sac, resulting in cardiac tamponade. Cross-sectional echocardiographic examination from a modified four-chamber apical view showed the multiloculated cyst and the breach connecting it to the pericardial sac, allowing for the definitive diagnosis and indication for emergency cardiac surgery. The risks of pericardiocentesis and invasive diagnostic procedures could thus be avoided.

Controlled study of the haemodynamic effects of isosorbide 5-mononitrate in acute myocardial infarction.

In view of the favourable results of the short-term therapy of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with glyceryl-trinitrate (GTN) infusion, we undertook a randomized study to test the hypothesis whether the administration of a single dose of isosorbide 5-mononitrate (IS 5-MN) given orally would have the same favourable haemodynamic effect as observed with GTN infusion. For this purpose we evaluated the haemodynamic effects of IS 5-MN compared to isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), observed in the same group of patients. 10 patients (8 males, 2 females) aged 50-76 years (mean 63) with AMI (7 anterior, 3 inferior) admitted to the coronary care unit within 48 h from onset of symptoms were entered into this single-blind randomized study; at the time of study entry, 8 patients were in Killip class I, and 2 patients in Killip class II. All drugs with haemodynamic effects were withdrawn 12 h before the study started. Both the haemodynamic profile and the clinical status were stable in all patients. Haemodynamic parameters were recorded with a Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter, cardiac output was measured by the thermodilution method, and the left ventricular ejection time was calculated according to the Weissler method. The echo left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was measured by evaluation of the M-mode echocardiographic recording.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Use of amrinone in refractory cardiac insufficiency: clinical and hemodynamic evaluation]. / L'impiego dell'amrinone nell'insufficienza cardiaca refrattaria: valutazione clinica ed emodinamica.

UNLABELLED: Amrinone is a nonadrenergic, nonglycosidic agent with combined positive inotropic and vasodilator properties. To determine its clinical and hemodynamic effects we treated 14 patients (12 men and 2 women ranging in age from 36 to 78 years, mean 56) with severe chronic heart failure (New York Heart Association functional class IIIa or IVa) not controlled by conventional therapy. Drug administration: 1 mg/Kg intravenous bolus followed by infusion of 10 mcg/Kg/min over 24 hours; in 11 patients, upon termination of long term infusion, oral therapy was begun (100 mg tid) for a period of four weeks. After bolus and during infusion dyspnea, pulmonary and jugular vein congestion, hepatomegaly rapidly improved, and increase of diuresis was noted. All patients responded with a substantial reduction in central venous pressure (CVP 9.64 +/- 5.96----4.79 +/- 5.66 mmHg, P less than 0.01), wedge pressure (WP 26.3 +/- 4.6----19.00 +/- 4.66 mmHg, P less than 0.01), pulmonary and systemic vascular resistances (PVR 212.07 +/- 121.08----127.64 +/- 50.37 dyne. sec. cm-5; SVR 1687 +/- 301----1297 +/- 357 dyne. sec. cm-5; P less than 0.01); these changes were accompanied by an increase of cardiac index (CI 1.96 +/- 0.38----2.84 +/- 0.83 L/Min/m2; P less than 0.01), stroke index (SI 23.43 +/- 5.85----31.64 +/- 8.86; P less than 0.01) and left ventricular stroke index (LVSWI 22.36 +/- 8.45----34.50 +/- 12.29 g.m/b/m2; P less than 0.01). These positive clinical and hemodynamic effects were not maintained in long term therapy. Moreover we observed adverse effects: fever, nausea and vomiting, thrombocytopenia, liver enzyme elevation, tachycardia and ventricular arrhythmias. CONCLUSIONS: good efficacy and tolerability during short term intravenous therapy in emergency conditions; no clinical improvement and sometimes adverse effects in oral long term therapy.

Hemodynamic evaluation by M-mode echocardiography in acute myocardial infarction.

We assessed the relationship between echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters in 28 patients with documented acute myocardial infarction (AMI), who underwent M-mode echocardiography and Swan-Ganz catheterization during the same hospitalization. Patients with valvular heart disease were excluded from the study. On mitral valve echogram, DE interval was measured and the area enclosed by mitral valve echogram during DE interval (DE subarea ) was calculated in each echocardiogram. DE subarea /DE interval ratio was computed for each measurement set. Hemodynamic parameters were obtained in the usual fashion. Patients with pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PWP) less than 18 mm Hg showed a DE interval markedly longer than patients with PWP greater than 18 mm Hg: 81.72 +/- 15.23 vs 55.12 +/- 9.85 msec (p less than 0.001). Patients with cardiac index greater than 2.2 L min-1 m-2 had a DE subarea /DE interval ratio greater than patients with cardiac index less than 2.2 L min-1 m-2: 0.169 +/- 0.035 vs 0.094 +/- 0.017 dm2 sec-1 (p less than 0.001). Echocardiographic and hemodynamic data were then correlated in the whole study group, and it was found that DE interval was significantly (p less than 0.001) and inversely correlated to PWP; stroke index more than cardiac index was correlated (p less than 0.005) both to DE subarea /DE interval ratio and to DE interval itself; DE interval was not affected by heart rate. We were able to categorize the patients into four subsets on the basis of echocardiographic measurements. Our findings suggest the possibility of providing, through M-mode echocardiography, a noninvasive and accurate evaluation of PWP and stroke index.

[Echocardiographic recognition of Valsalva aneurysm. A case report (author's transl)]. / Riconoscimento ecocardiografico dell'aneurisma del seno di Valsalva. Descrizione di un caso.

M-mode echocardiography has proved in these last years to be a reliable method for the recognition and evaluation of several cardiac diseases, both congenital and acquired. The following is a case we have examined in which M-mode echocardiography has allowed us to diagnose a Valsalva sinus aneurysm combined with a bicuspid aortic valve causing a valvular steno-insufficiency. We discuss the genesis of an echogram situated in the left ventricular outflow tract. A very similar image had been ascribed in the past to the rupture of an aneurysm into the interventricular septum, which caused a filling of the septum itself in diastole and therefore the echogram described above. On the basis of two-dimensional echocardiography, angiography and the autoptic report we could exclude this hypothesis in our case. We suggest that the image might be due to a prolapse of the valvular leaflet in the left ventricular outflow tract and/or to the prolapse of the aneurysm itself in the tract between the valvular leaflet and the interventricular septum.

[The permanent electrostimulation with ventricular programmable pacemaker (author's transl)]. / L'elettrostimolazione definitiva con pacemaker ventricolare programmabile.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the directions, reliability and long-term results of ventricular programmable pacemakers (PPM's). One hundred and ten PPM's, types Cordis and Medtronic, were implanted in 60 patients (pts) with intermittent or paroxysmal 2 degrees, 3 degrees a-v block and in 50 pts with S.S.S., mostly symptomatics, with a follow-up of 45 months. We did not observe either spontaneous or wrong reprogrammations nor circuit failure. In 92% of pts with Omni-Stanicor Cordis PM's, the stimulation was effective at the "lower" current amplitude, hence a longer life of the generator. Eighteen pts (16.3%) needed to raise ventricular rate (average 65 bpm): 6 pts for dizziness, syncopes or cardiac failure; 2 pts to control ventricular arrhythmias; 10 pts for a stable bradycardia lower than 50 bpm. In 11 pts with bradyarrhythmia due to S.S.S., cardiac output (CO) was measured both with thermodilution and echocardiography ("mitral valve echogram", being "r" of the two methods = 0.92), in spontaneous rhythm (63.3 +/- 3.13 bpm) and increasing artificially heart rate to 74.8 +/- 3.0 bpm; CO decreased from 4.65 +/- 0.13 l/min to 3.58 +/- 0.09 l/min, likely for the loss of atrial pumping. Similar results were obtained in other pts evaluated only with echocardiographic method after PM implantation: some of these underwent a further echocardiographic haemodynamic evaluation after 15 days of constant ventricular pacing at a mean rate of 75 bpm, with a different behaviour among them. This emphasizes the utility of PPM's in preserving spontaneous rhythm until bradycardia reaches dangerous levels and also the usefulness of echocardiography to evaluate, haemodinamically, the paced patient's ventricular performance.

[Echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac output in patients with acute myocardial infarction (author's transl)]. / Determinazione ecocardiografica della portata cardiaca nell'infarto miocardico acuto.

Echocardiography is a non invasive technique particularly useful to assess both hemodynamics and left ventricular performances; different methods have been proposed to evaluate echocardiographically the cardiac output. The aim of this work is to suggest a new method (planimetry of the area enclosed by echoes from the mitral valve) stating its advantages and limits and to test three already known methods (cubes method, method of Lalani and Lee, method of Rasmussen and coll.) comparing them to thermodilution. In 24 patients admitted in our Coronary Care Unit for acute myocardial infarction 30 measurements have been performed simultaneously with echocardiography and thermodilution. Statistical analysis (correlation coefficient with the method of the square minimums and Student's 't') of the results has shown that the cubes method is unprecise (P = NS) and unbiased (d = 0.97 +/- 15.46); Lalani-Lee method is unprecise (P = NS) and biased (d = 9.64 +/- 21.36) by a systematic underestimate error concealed by the poor precision; Rasmussen and coll. method is precise (P < 0.01) but biased (d = --3.03 +/- 5.5), the systematic mistake being entirely due to the group of patients with abnormal hemodynamics. Our method is precise (P < 0.01) and unbiased (d = --0.04 +/- 9.62) in patients both with normal and abnormal hemodynamics. Therefore this method offers the following advantages: 1) it is unbiased, even in the presence of abnormal left ventricular performance; 2) it is sufficiently precise, having a correlation coefficient with thermodilution of r = 0.80; 3) it measures directly the amount of flow due to the atrial systole; 4) the measurement is rapid and hardly biased by the reader.