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Query: UMLS:C0018799 (heart disease)
 34,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The conduction system of the heart was carefully examined at necropsy in two cases of rheumatoid arthritis and one of ankylosing spondylitis. All three patients had cardiac electrical instability and two fo the three died suddenly. The electrophysiological abnormalities of the three patients included paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the first case, sustained atrial fibrillation with complete heart block and escape atrioventricular (A-V) junctional rhythm in the second case, and progressively increasing heart block eventually became complete in the third case. The sinus node exhibited extensive focal degeneration with and without associated inflammation in all three hearts, but the sinus node artery was not remarkably abnormal in any of these. All three hearts had important focal degenerative disease in the A-V node and His bundle, and in each of these there was marked narrowing of the local nutrient arteries, amounting to virtual occlusion in two hearts. The probable relationship of these postmortem histological findings to the electrocardiographic disturbances in each patient is discussed. Abnormalities in the cardiac conduction system of the hearts of these three patients are compared to ones previously reported for disseminated lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis nodosa, and scleroderma heart disease.
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PMID:De subitaneis mortibus. XXIII. Rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. 83 14

Complete closure of the pericardium after cardiac operations has the advantage of avoiding injury of the heart and great vessels during reoperation. Between 1985 and 1987, the pericardium was closed with Gore-Tex Surgical Membrane (SM) in a selected series of 110 patients 1 month to 76 years of age. Fifty-three patients had congenital heart lesions and 57 patients had acquired heart disease. Overall hospital mortality was 3/110 cases. In no instance was there a relationship between occurrence of death and pericardial closure with SM. There was one episode of cardiac tamponade on the seventh postoperative day. One patient developed fever and leukocytosis due to a mediastinal hematoma. During a mean follow-up of 15 months, four patients had to be reoperated upon three, four, eight weeks, and eight months after primary operation. The anterior wall of the heart had no adhesion with the SM and the other parts of pericardium could be dissected easily. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the explanted SM patches showed neither cellular ingrowth nor immunocompetent cellular elements. The Gore-Tex Surgical Membrane has the advantages of easy availability and lack of reaction between its surface and the epicardium and pericardium. We believe its routine use should be encouraged in patients with high probability of reoperation after repair of complex cardiac anomalies, implantation of bioprostheses, coronary revascularization for one- or two-vessel disease, and repair of degenerative disease of the ascending aorta.
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PMID:Clinical experience with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene Gore-Tex surgical membrane for pericardial closure: a study of 110 cases. 298 18

Graft inclusion and vessel reattachment to openings made in the graft were employed in the treatment of 605 patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. These patients were divided into four groups on the basis of the extent of aneurysm. Group I consisted of those patients with involvement of most of the descending thoracic and upper abdominal aorta; group II involved most of the descending thoracic aorta and most or all of the abdominal aorta; group III involved the distal descending thoracic aorta and varying segments of abdominal aorta; and group IV involved most or all of the abdominal aorta including the segment from which the visceral vessels arose. The cause of aneurysm formation was medial degenerative disease in 80%, and dissection in 17%; other causes were responsible in the remaining 3%. The median age was 65 years and associated diseases including aneurysms involving other segments, atherosclerotic occlusive disease, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, and renal insufficiency were frequent. The aneurysm was symptomatic in 70% of cases and rupture had occurred in 4% of cases. There were 54 (8.9%) early (30-day) deaths and 151 late deaths; 400 (66%) patients were still alive 3 months to 20 years after operation, including 60% at 5 years. Statistically significant pre- and intraoperative variables by univariate analysis that were predictive of increased risk of early death were advancing age, associated diseases that included COPD, renal artery occlusive disease, atherosclerotic heart disease, renal insufficiency, and long aortic clamp time. Three of these (age, clamp time, and the presence of COPD) retained significance by multivariate analysis. Variables predictive of risk of late death were age, dissection, extent of aneurysm, rupture, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, COPD, hypertension, and poor renal function. Age, rupture, renal dysfunction, extent of aneurysm, and dissection retained their significance by multivariate analysis. Variables predictive of neurologic disturbances of the lower extremities included rupture, reattachment of intercostal and lumbar arteries, clamp time, dissection, extent and age. Rupture, reattachment of vessels, dissection, and extent of aneurysm retained significance by multivariate analysis. Thus, the risk of this complication was greatest in patients with extensive lesions (group II) with aortic dissection. The greatest risk of renal failure after operation that required dialysis was in patients who had impaired renal function before operation. Methods employed did not prevent these complications.
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PMID:Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms: preoperative and intraoperative factors determining immediate and long-term results of operations in 605 patients. 395 Oct 25

Death rates from heart disease in cities and regions of England and Wales, based on death certificates for 1963, are compared with death rates from the same causes in 10 Latin American cities, San Francisco, USA, and Bristol, England, derived from the Inter-American Investigation of Mortality which obtained histories and clinical records of fatal illnesses for the years 1962-64 by a sampling method. Death rates in Bristol derived from the 2 sources showed an agreement close enough to justify comparisons between official rates for England and Wales and the data for the Latin American cities.Comparing standardized death rates for males in the Latin American cities with those for the corresponding populations in the English conurbations and cities, the ratio for coronary disease was found to be 0.4; for other degenerative heart disease it was 1.0; for hypertensive heart, 2.2; for other heart disease, 1.5. The corresponding ratios for females were: 0.55, 1.0, 3.0, and 1.7, respectively. When the hospital regions of England and Wales were included, a geographical pattern could be seen, particularly for males, the highest rates for coronary and degenerative heart disease being found in northern England and the lowest rates in central and western cities of Latin America. For hypertensive and other heart disease the pattern was different.Standardized sex ratios for total heart disease mortality at ages from 45 to 74 years in 30 countries are largely affected by the proportions of deaths attributed to arteriosclerotic and degenerative disease but they suggest that geography, country of origin and possibly climate are also factors that differentially affect the sexes and, in consequence, affect the sex ratios.
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PMID:Heart disease mortality in cities of Latin America and in cities and regions of England and Wales. 530 25

Many of the Nation's approximately 100 million workers are exposed to some kind of occupational health hazard: carcinogenic agents, pulmonary or other physical disease incitant, physical agents or job-related pressures of noise, crowding, or stress. Exposure to toxic chemicals or physical hazards can produce chronic lung disease, cancer, degenerative disease in a number of vital organ systems, birth defects, and genetic changes. These exposures are estimated to result in 100,000 Americans dying each year from occupationally related illnesses, with an additional 400,000 cases of occupationally related disease. Yet many workers are inadequately protected from common hazards. Recent experience has demonstrated that occupational hazards can be controlled by modifying the work environment, patterns of job performance, or both. Among the health protection measures available are those which: alter the work environment to prevent exposures and injuries; provide workers with special protective equipment; specify design and maintenance of equipment; and provide employees with proper training. Some companies have ventured into the health promotion arena and offered their employees worksite programs for promoting health through health education, physical fitness activities, stress reduction activities, and preventive medicine including screening for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other factors related to heart disease.
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PMID:Health protection: Occupational safety and health. 641 22

There has developed a general theory of chronic and degenerative disease causation--the Oxidative Stress Theory. This theory states that the production of tissue-damaging free radicals is an essential component in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases and that iron may help to catalyze the reactions producing free radicals. As a result, it has been suggested that the risk of coronary heart disease increases with increasing body iron stores. In support of that hypothesis, a prospective epidemiologic study of heart disease in Finnish men found that the risk of heart attack increased with increasing levels of serum ferritin. However, the vast majority of the epidemiologic data, including results from prospective, cross-sectional, and case-control and autopsy studies, published since that initial study have failed to support the original hypothesis that high body iron stores increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
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PMID:Iron and heart disease: the epidemiologic data. 893 17

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia affecting elderly people. It is the fourth leading cause of death among adults in the United States, following heart disease, cancer, and stroke. The prevalence of AD increases with increasing age. An estimated 10% of people aged 65 years have this progressive, degenerative disease, and this percentage increases to 47.2% for people aged 85 years and older. An early-onset form of AD can affect individuals who are middle-aged, with the youngest documented case being that of a 28-year-old. In the Framingham cohort, women with AD outnumbered men by a ratio of 2.8:1 for those aged 75 years or older. Undoubtedly, as our population continues to age, the increasing prevalence of AD will have an even greater impact on society than it does today. Approximately 4 million Americans have AD, and it is projected that the number will rise to 14 million by the middle of the next century. The financial impact of AD is staggering, with the average lifetime cost for an individual with AD exceeding $170,000. Although the majority of individuals with AD are cared for by family and friends at home, individuals with AD constitute half of all nursing home residents. The average cost of a year of nursing home care for an individual with AD is $42,000, and this cost can exceed $70,000. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the etiology of AD, the tools used in the diagnosis of AD, and the treatment of individuals with AD. In addition, the clinical presentation of the various stages of AD is described, and the psychosocial implications of this disease are discussed.
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PMID:An overview of the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer disease. 985 51

The advantages of mitral valve repair in mitral regurgitation are well established. The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively the early and mid-term results of primary mitral valve repair. Between January 1995 and August 2001, primary mitral valve repair operations were performed on 112 patients (76 men and 36 women) with mitral regurgitation; the mean age was 59.8 +/- 16.5 years. Mitral valve repair was performed for rheumatic heart disease (13), degenerative disease (60), infective endocarditis (2), ischemic heart disease (26), congenital heart disease (2), and dilated cardiomyopathy (9). The degree of mitral regurgitation was moderate in 28 patients, moderately severe in 17 patients, and severe in 67 patients, as determined by echocardiography. Left ventricular ejection fraction (mean 41.2% +/- 13.5%) was measured by radionuclide ventriculography. Fifty percent of patients underwent additional procedures (e.g., coronary artery bypass grafting). The mortality rate was 8.9% (10/112) for hospitalized patients, 19.2% (5/26) for ischemic disease, and 5% (3/60) for degenerative disease. Follow-up duration ranged from 0.37 to 84.03 months. All survivors were evaluated with serial echocardiography. At the final follow-up echocardiography of 94 patients without reoperation and 6 patients at the time of reoperation, 84% had no or mild mitral regurgitation. The survival rate at 5 years was 92.68 +/- 3.57% for degenerative disease and 44.47% +/- 10.89% for ischemic disease. The risk of infective endocarditis (1.78%), thromboembolism (1.78%), and anticoagulant-related complications (0.8%) was very low during the follow-up period. The pathophysiological mechanism resulting in mitral regurgitation was the most important determinant of outcome after mitral valve repair. Excellent results were achieved with mitral valve repair for degenerative disease. Because of low morbidity and acceptable mortality, we strongly recommend mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation due to degenerative disease.
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PMID:The effect of pathophysiology on the outcome of mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation. 1468 52

Over the last 50 years, cardiac surgery has evolved into a dominant specialty for the treatment of heart disease, especially coronary heart disease which remains the world's leading cause of death. The advent of effective stenting for coronary heart disease has coincided with a plateau and then reduction in the volume of coronary surgery in most developed health care economies over the last few years. Similarly an ageing population coupled with changes in the epidemiology of valve disease from predominantly rheumatic to predominantly degenerative disease is reflected in an increasing demand for surgery for mitral regurgitation and aortic stenosis in the elderly frequently coupled with coronary surgery. Many surgical practices depend on high volume coronary surgery so this growth in valve surgery will have only limited impact on the threat from a reduction in coronary surgery. It is imperative that the specialty explores new innovations since the long-term future of the specialty is inextricably dependent on pioneering activities similar to those of the founding fathers of the specialty.
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PMID:View from North America's cardiac surgeons. 1577 45

The most important feature of right atrial isomerism in the heart is the presence of both atria with morphologically right atrial appendages. The main aim of this study was to do a description of clinical and echocardiographic findings in adult patients with right atrial isomerism. A total of eleven consecutive patients were identified with a diagnosis of right atrial isomerism and complex congenital heart disease. A complete clinical history and transthoracic and/or transesophageal echocardiography were performed in all patients. Also a cardiac catheterization was realized in seven patients. The functional class according the New York Heart Association was I in one patient, II in 5 and III in 5. The laboratory studies showed severe polyglobulia. In 3 cases Howell-Jolly bodies were present. The electrocardiogram showed migratory pacemaker in the 54.5% of cases. The cardiac position was dextrocardia in six patients (54.5%) and levocardia in five (45.5%). Six patients (54.5%) had complete atrioventricular septal defects, 4 (36.4%) double inlet and one absence of a right atrioventricular connection (9.1%). The most frequent ventriculoarterial connection was double-inlet in 8 (72.76%) patients. In 4 cases hypoplasia of the pulmonary artery was found. Six patients had severe pulmonary stenosis and one pulmonary atresia. The pulmonary venous drainage was into the left-sided atrium in 3 cases (27.2%), into the right-sided atrium in 4 (36.4%), into the midline of the atrium through a collector in 3 cases (27.4%) and by vertical vein in one (9.0%). Insufficiency of the atrioventricular valve was found in 7 cases (63.6%). Three patients (27.3%) went to surgery for implantation of a fistula. It is a series of adult patients with right atrial isomerism and complex congenital heart disease that survived to adult live. The clinical and echocardiographic assessment actually allows establishing the correct diagnosis, to take therapeutic decisions and to do the follow-up in all patients. Till now we could not yet determine the differences of these patients in relation to the general population when they develop chronic degenerative disease.
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PMID:[Right atrial isomerism in adults. Clinical and echocardiographic study]. 1654 69


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