[Clinical utilization of the coronary pressure wire].

Introduction: Earlier studies have established the value of coronary pressure wires for diagnosing and monitoring the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease. In this study we demonstrated their usefulness in the daily clinical practice of a catheterization laboratory.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study of the use of pressure wires in our laboratory between October 1998 and November 2000.

Comparison of defibrillation thresholds using monodirectional electrical vector versus bidirectional electrical vector.

Background: Currently, two main lead configurations are used for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD). One generates a monodirectional electrical vector by using the can surface as an active part (hot can) together with a right ventricular defibrillation coil. The other one (TRIAD) produces a bidirectional electrical vector by adding a proximal defibrillation electrode on the same lead.

Efficacy of biventricular sensing and treatment of ventricular arrhythmias.

While much is known concerning the hemodynamic effects of biventricular (BV) pacing, little has been reported concerning the efficacy of BV sensing and pacing in the detection and treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Two hundred nineteen heart failure (HF) patients with VT or VF and a QRS > or = 120 ms during sinus rhythm received an ICD capable of BV pacing and sensing. Detection times of induced VF and success rates for terminating induced VT were measured.

Performance of a new steroid-eluting coronary sinus lead designed for left ventricular pacing.

The Ventak CHF/CONTAK CD Biventricular Pacing Study is a prospective randomized trial to examine the safety and efficacy of biventricular (BV) pacing in patients with standard indications for an ICD, symptomatic heart failure, a LVEF < or = 0.35, and a QRS > or = 120 ms. Patients underwent implantation of a BV pacing and sensing system with backup defibrillation capability, which includes a steroid-eluting coronary venous lead that is advanced into the coronary venous vasculature by over-the-wire techniques.

Impact of biventricular pacing on mortality in a randomized crossover study of patients with heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias.

Biventricular (BV) pacing is under clinical investigation for the treatment of heart failure. Its impact on mortality is unknown. Patients with heart failure and ventricular tachyarrhythmias received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator with BV pacing capability.

[A comparison of clinical and angiographic outcome after implantation of a Wiktor stent in large and small coronary arteries].

Unlabelled: The objective of this study was to investigate the mid term influence of vessel size in clinical and angiographic outcome, after Wiktor stent implantation in arteries larger and smaller than 3 mm.

Method: A total of 188 stents were implanted in 167 patients divided in two groups. Group 1: stents implanted in arteries smaller than 3 mm, 40 stents in 38 patients.

[Therapeutic use of Cannibis Sativa L. in Arab medicine].

Arab scientists were various centuries ahead of our current knowledge of the curative power of hemp (Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae). Modern scientific literature ignores their contribution on the subject.

Ambulatory system to aid in decision making and risk stratification in postinfarction patients.

Knowledge of the clinical and electrophysiological features of certain cardiovascular risk groups, the adaptation and specialization of clinical protocols, the availability of tools to make determinations for use in patient follow-up and to assess the efficacy of the treatments applied, and the proper processing of different parameters can aid in decision making, leading to the application of a given therapeutic approach, and can facilitate the performance of group and multicenter studies. To address these needs, a simple, low-cost, portable ECG processing system has been designed that complements the current techniques for managing patients with ischemic heart disease and nonmalignant ventricular arrhythmias. This system, consisting of an electrocardiograph and a laptop PC, determines the following parameters on the basis of the ECG: incidence of arrhythmia, heart rate variability, QT dispersion, ECG criteria for ventricular hypertrophy and late potentials.

Comparison of Colombian and Costa Rican strains of rice hoja blanca tenuivirus.

The sequences of RNA-3 and RNA-4 of rice hoja blanca tenuivirus isolates from Colombia and from Costa Rica were determined and analyzed. These isolates were 98.9% and 98.

Mitral valve replacement in a heart transplant recipient with iatrogenic mitral regurgitation.

A 65-year-old cardiac transplant recipient suffered rupture of the mitral valve apparatus during endomyocardial biopsy of the left ventricle. Severe mitral regurgitation resulted, and because of heart failure with progressive clinical deterioration the patient was finally subjected to mitral valve replacement. He had a favorable postoperative course and is now asymptomatic.

Detection of Dekkera-Brettanomyces strains in sherry by a nested PCR method.

Brettanomyces sp. and its ascosporogenous sexual state, Dekkera sp., have been well documented as spoilage microorganisms, usually associated with barrel-aged red wines.

[Clinical usefulness of stored electrograms in implantable defibrillators].

Background And Purpose: The storage of intracavitary electrograms by the automatic implantable defibrillators is one of the latest advantages. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical utility and limitations of electrograms stored by the new generation of defibrillators.

Material And Methods: We have implanted at our institution 43 generators with the facility of storing electrograms; 8 Ventak P2, 17 PRxII, and 1 PRxIII from CPI, 14 Jewel, from Medtronic and 3 Guardian ATP 4215, from Telectronics.

[Cervical synovial sarcoma: a case report].

Synovial sarcomas of the head and neck are rare, fewer than 80 cases having been reported in the literature. A synovial sarcoma of cervical soft tissues presented as a lateral mass in a 51-year-old male and was treated by cervical dissection and radiotherapy. After 24 months the patient is recurrence-free.

[Waardenburg's syndrome].

Reporting one case of this condition type-2 with heterochromia iridis and cochlear deafness. The AA. review the syndrome's components and it nomenclature as well.

[Tonsillar hirudiniasis. Case report].

Report on a tonsillar parasitosis in a 5-year-old child living in the countryside from leeches of Hirudinea. He consulted because a feeling of foreing body in the throat and spitting of blood, since a fortnight. The AA.

[Tuberculosis of the pharynx].

Report of two cases of pharyngeal tuberculosis, both patients showing clinical lesions consistent with tonsillar neoplasia. Comments remarking some features regarding its pathogenesis, considerations on the value of diagnostic tests, particularly the baciloscopy, Mantoux-test, and histology, as well as therapeutics considerations.

Complete nucleotide sequence and coding strategy of rice hoja blanca virus RNA4.

The complete sequence of rice hoja blanca virus (RHBV) RNA4 has been determined, based on the sequence of the corresponding cDNA clones. RNA4 consists of 1991 nucleotides with two open reading frames (ORFs). One putative ORF is located in the 5'-proximal region of the viral RNA4; it encodes a protein of predicted M(r) 20076 which corresponds to the major non-structural protein that accumulates in RHBV-infected rice plants, and which bears limited sequence identity with the helper component of tobacco vein mottling potyvirus.

[Lupus induced by quinidine].

The case is described of a 34 year old female who suffered quinidine induced lupus, which appeared 14 months after the administration of the drug, and it was necessary to substitute it. This secondary effect o quinidine, which is rarely described, can go unnoticed if it is no kept in mind. The diagnostic criteria for drug induced lupus ar discussed and the clinical and analytical manifestations of 27 cases o quinidine induced lupus described in the literature are reviewed.