226 research outputs found
Permanent cardiac pacing in a 2.5 month-old infant with severe cyanotic breath-holding spells and prolonged asystole
We report the case of a 2.5 month-old infant with cyanotic breath-holding spells, loss of
consciousness and seizures. Prolonged asystole up to 70 s despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation
was documented by 24 hour Holter monitoring. An epicardial pacemaker was implanted
followed by no further loss of consciousness and seizures during spells in a six month follow-up
period. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 6: 704–706
Photoactivatable Fluorescent Tags for Dual-Modality Positron Emission Tomography Optical Imaging
Fluorescent protein conjugates are vital tools in a wide range of scientific disciplines from basic biochemical research to applications in clinical pathology and intraoperative surgery. We report the synthesis and characterization of photoactivatable fluorophores (PhotoTags) based on the functionalization of coumarin, fluorescein, BODIPY, rhodamine B, and cyanine dyes with a photochemically active aryl azide group. Photochemical labeling experiments using human serum albumin produced fluorescent proteins in high yields under irradiation with ultraviolet light for <15 min. We also synthesized DFO-RhodB-PEG3-ArN3─a photoactivatable compound that can be radiolabeled with 89Zr for applications in optical imaging and positron emission tomography. One-pot 89Zr-radiolabeling and light-induced protein conjugation produced [89Zr]ZrDFO-RhodB-PEG3-azepin-trastuzumab. Proof-of-concept studies in vitro and in vivo confirmed that [89Zr]ZrDFO-RhodB-PEG3-azepin-trastuzumab is a potential dual-modality agent for detecting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) expression. Overall, the PhotoTag technology represents a rapid, synthetically versatile, and user-friendly approach for generating novel protein conjugates
Left ventricular non-compaction in children and adolescents: Clinical features, treatment and follow-up
Background: Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a specific cardiomyopathy that occurs
following a disruption of endomyocardial morphogenesis. This study presents clinical findings,
diagnostic features, treatment and follow-up of pediatric patients diagnosed with LVNC.
Methods: Patients with LVNC who were followed from January 2006 to March 2010 were
included in this study. Diagnosis was made with the use of characteristic findings of magnetic
resonance imaging and echocardiography. Holter electrocardiography and metabolic screening
tests were also performed in all patients.
Results: A total of 24 patients were studied (18 male, six female). Patient age at diagnosis
was 50 ± 60 months (eight days to 15 years). Average follow-up period was 22 ± 12 months
(four months to four years). Findings at diagnosis were as follows: eight (33%) patients had
heart failure, five (20%) had rhythm abnormalities, five (20%) had cardiomegaly, two had
murmurs, two had cyanosis, and two presented with fatigue. Ten (41%) patients had been
followed previously with other diagnoses. In 21 (87.5%) patients, electrocardiographic abnormalities
were noted, especially left ventricular hypertrophy and ST-T changes. Patients had an
average ejection fraction of 46% (18-73%) and three of them had additional congenital heart
disease (patent ductus arteriosus, aortopulmonary window and complex cyanotic heart disease).
Scanning for metabolic diseases revealed fatty acid oxidation disorder in one patient, and
mitochondrial disease in another. During follow-up, a permanent pacemaker was implanted in
a patient with severe bradycardia and ventricular dysfunction, and three patients died.
Conclusion: LVNC can be diagnosed at any age from newborn to adolescent and has
a variable clinical course. Closer study of patients with cardiomegaly and heart failure can
reduce delays in diagnosis of LVNC. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 2: 176-184
Evaluation of coronary artery abnormalities in Williams syndrome patients using myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and CT angiography
Background: Sudden death risk in Williams syndrome (WS) patients has been shown to be
25–100 times higher than in the general population. This study aims to detect coronary artery
anomalies and myocardial perfusion defects in WS patients using noninvasive diagnostic
methods.
Methods: This study features 38 patients diagnosed with WS. In addition to physical examination,
electrocardiography, and echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) angiography and
rest/dipyridamole stress technetium-99m sestamibi (99mTc-sestamibi) single photon emission
computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) were performed.
Results: Twenty-one (55%) patients were male; 17 (45%) were female. The average patient
age was 12 ± 5 years (2.5–26 years); the average follow-up period was 7.2 ± 4.2 years
(6 months–18 years). Cardiovascular abnormalities were found in 89% of patients, the most
common one being supravalvar aortic stenosis (SVAS). CT angiography revealed coronary
anomalies in 10 (26%) patients, the most common ones being ectasia of the left main coronary
artery and proximal right coronary artery as well as myocardial bridging. SVAS was present
in 80% of patients with coronary artery anomalies. 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT MPS revealed
findings possibly consistent with myocardial ischemia in 29% of patients, and ischemia in
7 out of 10 patients (70%) with coronary anomalies shown on CT angiography (p = 0.03).
Conclusions: Coronary artery abnormalities are relatively common in WS patients and are
often accompanied by SVAS. CT angiography and dipyridamole 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT MPS
seem to be less invasive methods of detecting coronary artery anomalies and myocardial
perfusion defects in WS patients
A new spectrophotometric micro determination of vicinal diols
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32832/1/0000207.pd
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