Intracerebral haemorrhage in a population-based stroke registry (LuSSt): incidence, aetiology, functional outcome and mortality.

Data on incidence of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) vary widely. Population-based data on predictors of ICH survival and functional outcome are rare. The Ludwigshafen Stroke Study is a prospective, population-based stroke registry which started in January 2006.

Etiology, risk factors and sex differences in ischemic stroke in the Ludwigshafen Stroke Study, a population-based stroke registry.

Background: Stroke etiology in ischemic stroke guides preventive measures and etiological stroke subgroups may show considerable differences between both sexes. In a population-based stroke registry we analyzed etiological subgroups of ischemic stroke and calculated sex-specific incidence and mortality rates.

Methods: The Ludwigshafen Stroke Study is a prospective ongoing population-based stroke registry.

Stroke Incidence and Survival in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany: the Ludwigshafen Stroke Study (LuSSt).

Background And Purpose: Considerable locoregional differences in stroke incidence exist even within countries. Based on data from a statewide stroke care quality monitoring project, we hypothesized a high stroke incidence mainly among younger age groups in the industrial city of Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany. To test this hypothesis and to provide data on stroke incidence and case-fatality rates, a population-based stroke register was initiated.

[Telemedicine in the maritime environment--hightech with a fine tradition].

Access to health care always has been one of the most critical issues for offshore crews. Therefore, telemedicine has a long and outstanding tradition in the maritime environment. Since 1931 Cuxhaven medical center (Medico Cuxhaven) operates as a hospital-based radio medical advice center (RMA) for ships worldwide providing one of the first routine telemedical services worldwide.

Enzymuria following amphotericin B application in the rat.

The effect of amphotericin B application on urinary renal tubule enzyme excretion was investigated in rats treated with amphotericin B (1.5 mg kg-1 b.i.

Amphotericin B and liver function.

Amphotericin B is well established as a highly efficacious agent against systemic fungal infections in humans. The therapeutic potential of amphotericin B is limited due to its side effects. Although in clinical use for more than 35 years, impairment of liver function is not considered to be a typical adverse effect of amphotericin B.

Atrial ejection force in systemic autoimmune diseases.

Systemic autoimmune disorders may affect several organs, including the heart. We analyzed two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler echocardiograms of patients (n = 37) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n = 24) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 13) to determine whether atrial ejection force (AEF) could represent a suitable parameter for detecting left ventricular filling abnormalities in SLE and RA. In both patient subgroups, AEF was significantly higher than in healthy controls (n = 40) matched for gender and age (14.

Ultrastructural changes of human cardiac atrial nerve endings in diabetes mellitus.

Background: Autonomic neuropathy resulting from long-term diabetes mellitus may affect heart innervation. However, so far diabetes induced morphological changes of cardiac nerves are not well-known. In this study human cardiac atrial tissue from diabetic patients was analysed by electron microscopy for structural alterations as a result of diabetic neuropathy.

Rest and exercise hemodynamics before and after valve replacement--a combined Doppler/catheter study.

Background: Hemodynamic improvement is a common finding following valve replacement. However, despite a normally functioning prosthesis and normal left ventricular ejection fraction, some patients may show an abnormal hemodynamic response to exercise.

Methods: In a combined catheter/Doppler study, rest and exercise hemodynamics were evaluated in 23 patients following aortic (n = 12) (Group 1) or mitral valve (n = 11) (Group 2) replacement and compared with preoperative findings.

Comparison of the effects of liposomal amphotericin B and conventional amphotericin B on propafenone metabolism and hepatic cytochrome P-450 in rats.

The effects of conventional amphotericin B (AmB) dissolved in sodium deoxycholate on microsomal cytochrome P-450 concentrations and propafenone metabolism to 5-hydroxy-propafenone and N-desalkyl-propafenone were compared with those of liposomal AMB (Li-AMB) in rats. AmB (3 mg/kg/day, intravenously [i.v.

Activating beta-1-adrenoceptor antibodies are not associated with cardiomyopathies secondary to valvular or hypertensive heart disease.

Objectives: We investigated whether autoantibodies against the human beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) might be involved in cardiomyopathies secondary to valvular heart disease (VHD) or hypertensive heart disease (HHD).

Background: Autoimmunity to beta-AR has been proposed as a pathogenic principle in human cardiomyopathy. Recently, by the use of intact recombinant human beta-AR, we were able to confirm the existence of functionally active anti-beta-1-AR autoantibodies in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (26% prevalence) or ischemic cardiomyopathy (10% prevalence); however, their prevalence in other (secondary) cardiomyopathies remained to be determined.

Liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) application and hepatic microsomal enzyme function in the rat.

In the present study we investigated the influence of AmBisome, a lyophilized liposomal amphotericin B formulation on various hepatic cytochrome P450-dependent mixed function oxidases, antipyrine clearance and hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity in rats. Animals were treated intravenously for 6 days with AmBisome (15 mg kg-1 body weight). Subsequently, the enzyme activities and cytochrome P450 concentrations were measured ex vivo in hepatic microsomes.

Autoantibodies activating human beta1-adrenergic receptors are associated with reduced cardiac function in chronic heart failure.

Background: Autoantibodies against synthetic peptides of beta-adrenergic receptors have been observed in human cardiomyopathy. However, it has never been shown that such antibodies really interact with native human beta-adrenergic receptors, nor has the clinical impact of such an interaction been investigated in larger groups of patients.

Methods And Results: We screened 104 patients with dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy (NYHA functional classes II to IV) and 108 healthy subjects for IgG antibodies reacting with beta-receptor peptides.

Heat stress produces an early phase of protection against oxidative damage in human muscle.

Background: It has been rarely reported that heat stress induces an early phase of protection against oxidative damage, whereas a delayed phase of protection is shown in heat stress. To explore the early effect of heat stress against oxidative damage, we evaluated the changes in contractility, lipid peroxidation, and ultrastructure induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with or without heat stress (HS) in human skeleton muscle.

Methods: Thirty-two muscle samples were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle of 7 subjects.

A primary osteosarcoma of the heart as a cause of recurrent peripheral arterial emboli.

The case of a 66-year-old woman with a primary cardiac osteosarcoma is described. These distinctly rare malignant tumors arise preferentially in the left atrium. Clinically, they often present symptoms of both, intramural and intracavitary neoplasm in addition to general weakness, recurrent breast pain, and dyspnea.

Natural history of a ventriculoatrial fistula after a gunshot injury in 1945.

We describe an exceptional case of a patient who suffered a penetrating heart injury from a gunshot wound in 1945 leading to a left ventricular-right atrial fistula. Despite the resulting left-to-right shunt the patient remained relatively asymptomatic for 50 years before the onset of congestive heart failure necessitated an operation.

Lipid peroxidation and cardiac troponin T release during routine cardiac surgery.

Myocardial injury after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass may be related to free oxygen radical-induced lipid peroxidation. The purpose of this study was to monitor perioperative changes of cardiac troponin t and malondialdehyde as an indicator of lipid peroxidation in patients who underwent routine cardiac operation and had no signs of perioperative myocardial infarction. Patients with thoracic surgery alone served as controls.

Influence of amphotericin B treatment duration of hepatic microsomal enzyme function in rats.

The influence of amphotericin B on various cytochrome P450-dependent mixed-function oxidases, antipyrine clearance and glucose-6-phosphatase was investigated in rats treated daily with deoxycholate amphotericin B (3 mg/kg body weight, intravenously) either for 1 or 4 days. Enzyme activity was measured ex vivo in hepatic microsomes. Following amphotericin B plus deoxycholate application for day 1, ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activity decrease significantly whereas microsomal cytochrome P450 concentration, cytochrome c reductase activity, antipyrine clearance and glucose-6-phosphatase activity did not change significantly.

Modification of cisplatin-induced renal p-aminohippurate uptake alteration and lipid peroxidation by thiols, Ginkgo biloba extract, deferoxamine and torbafylline.

To determine whether inhibition of lipid peroxidation modifies cisplatin-induced changes of renal p-aminohippurate (PAH) uptake, we examined the effects of various radical scavengers and torbafylline on cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation and PAH accumulation changes in rat renal cortical slices. Renal cortical slices were incubated with different cisplatin concentrations (0.3, 0.

[Analysis of the pressure-surface relation of the left ventricle with automatic echocardiographic contour detection].

Unlabelled: Echocardiographic automatic border detection is a new on-line technique determinating the interface between blood and myocardial tissue thus having the potential to calculate cyclic changes in left ventricular cavity area in real time. It was the main purpose of the current study to evaluate left ventricular pressure-area relationship after administration of nitrates. In 12 patients with normal left ventricular function pressure-area relation was studied after a Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter was placed in the wedge position and a high fidelity pig tail catheter was placed in the left ventricle.

[Acquired heart valve defects. Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies].

Background: Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in patients with acquired valvular heart disease, are determined by clinical symptoms, hemodynamics and empirical information.

Diagnosis: A quantitative assessment of cardiac disease can made largely on the basis of echocardiography or Doppler echocardiography with consideration also being given to the results of clinical findings. As a rule, cardiac catheterization should be done only once, immediately prior to operation.

[Pericardial lipoma as the cause of extensive mediastinal space-occupying lesion].

Lipomas of the heart are benign neoplasias and have rarely been described. Due to the fact that they normally cause no symptoms, diagnosis is often purely accidental. In the current report, the case of a 55-year-old patient is described in whom serial chest x-rays showed massive, progressive cardiac enlargement.

Enhancement of cyclosporin A induced hepato- and nephrotoxicity by glutathione depletion.

The role of glutathione in cyclosporin A (cyclosporin) hepato- and nephrotoxicity has not been clarified yet. The hypothesis that a glutathione deficit enhances the hepato- and nephrotoxicity of cyclosporin was tested in an animal model. Glutathione depletion was achieved by administration of diethyl maleate (DEM).

Evidence for partial sympathetic cardiac reinnervation following cardiac transplantation.

Heart transplantation causes total cardiac denervation. Measurements of plasma concentrations of the main presynaptic noradrenal metabolite, dihydroxyphenylglycol (DOPEG, exclusively neuronal in origin), were used to examine the possibility of sympathetic reinnervation of the transplanted human heart. We determined arterial and coronary-venous plasma concentrations of DOPEG in 15 heart transplant recipients (28-68 years of age at the time of transplantation with the transplant ageing from 0.

[Correlation between Doppler echocardiography and invasive determination of left ventricular hemodynamic valve parameters. A comparative study under routine conditions in a cardiology center].

Unlabelled: Simultaneously performed combined Doppler/catheter studies have shown excellent correlations regarding the comparison of invasively and non-invasively obtained valve gradients. To reflect daily clinical life the current study compared the valve parameters obtained by Doppler echocardiography to those obtained later by catheterization in all consecutive patients who underwent invasive procedure between October 1988 and December 1990. A total of 113 patients was included in the study, 76 with aortic and 37 with mitral stenosis.