Rapid mutational analysis of N-ras proto-oncogene in hematologic malignancies: study of 77 Greek patient.

Background And Objectives: N-ras mutations are the most commonly detected molecular abnormalities in hematologic malignancies, especially in those of myeloid origin. Different techniques have been used to detect N-ras mutations; however, most of them are either labor intensive or provide sequence data for only a limited number of codons. Consequently, study of the N-ras oncogene has not been convenient in every day clinical practice being restricted, as a rule, to retrospective analysis of patients.

Relevance of adenosine deaminase and lysozyme measurements in the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis.

Objective: To assess the value of pericardial fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) and pericardial lysozyme (Lys) as tools in diagnosing tuberculous pericarditis.

Methods: Forty-one patients (age range 17--77 years) with significant pericardial effusion were included in the study. Diagnostic pericardiocentesis and pericardial biopsy were performed while serum and pericardial fluid ADA and Lys were measured in all patients.

Echocardiographic and signal averaged ECG indices associated with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia after repair of tetralogy of fallot.

Objective: To identify any possible association between different readily available non-invasive indices and potential malignant ventricular arrhythmias in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Design: 27 consecutive patients, mean (SD) age 27.3 (11.

Aortic elastic properties in patients with repaired coarctation of aorta.

Patients with successfully repaired coarctation of the aorta have impaired distensibility. Age at surgery as well as left ventricular mass index are factors that are related to the distensibility index.

Role of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of infected retained pacing lead.

A 68-year-old woman had a transvenous pacemaker implanted 6 years ago. One year after the procedure the pulse generator was removed due to generator site infection. Efforts to remove the lead resulted in fracture of the tip, which was abandoned in the right cardiac cavities.

Clinical and echocardiographic features of a ruptured DeVega tricuspid annuloplasty.

In this case, we describe the clinical and echocardiographic features of an unusual complication, the rupture of a DeVega tricuspid annuloplasty. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic examinations established the diagnosis, and the patient underwent successful surgical treatment.

Comparison of frequency of left atrial thrombus in patients with mechanical prosthetic cardiac valves and stroke versus transient ischemic attacks.

Transesophageal echocardiography performed in a group of 36 patients who had a first cerebral embolic event after implantation of a mechanical cardiac valvular prosthesis revealed that stroke is associated with the presence of left atrial thrombi more frequently than transient ischemic attacks. Intracardiac embolic sources other than thrombi are possibly related more often to the latter type of cerebral embolism in this patient population.

The effect of iron overload in the hearts of patients with beta-thalassemia.

Background And Hypothesis: An important complication of beta-thalassemia is iron deposition in cardiac tissues resulting in fibrosis and dysfunction. Our aim was the investigation of the possible clinical effect of iron loading in the heart of patients with beta-thalassemia prior to the appearance of symptoms of depressed systolic function.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with beta-thalassemia, of whom 24 had the major type (Group 1) and 11 had the intermedia type (Group 2) were studied.