CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA:
VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3, MAY 2003
- Title: Ambulatory blood pressure
measurement is now indispensable to the good
clinical management of hypertension : editorial
Authors: O'Brien, Eoin
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.113-119
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- Title: The effect of different
apo(a) isoforms on plasminogen activation in
black South African subjects : cardiovascular
topics
Authors: Choma, S.R.; Alberts, M.; Potgieter, H.C.; Ojwang, P.J.
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.120-124
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Abstract: Objective : The present study evaluates the effect of different apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] isoforms on plasminogen activation.
Design : A cross-sectional study.
Setting : A rural village (Dikgale district ) in the Northern Province of South Africa.
Subjects : A total of 90 apparently healthy subjects (64 females and 36 males) aged 43 to 67 years participated in the study.
Results : The mean lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] level in the subjects was 38.14 ± 22.34 mg / dl. No association was found between Lp(a) levels and apo(a) isoforms. When the ratio of Lp(a) : plasminogen was less than 1.3, a competitive inhibition was observed, but when the ratio exceeded 1.3, an uncompetitive inhibition was observed with all isoforms.
Conclusion : The results of the present study suggest that the inhibition of plasminogen activation by Lp(a) is not dependent on apo(a) size.
- Title: Risk factors and
methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene
polymorphisms in a young South African
Indian-based population with acute myocardial
infarction : cardiovascular topics
Authors: Ranjith, N.; Pegoraro, R.J.; Rom, L.
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.127-132
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Abstract: Although coronary heart disease (CHD) is extremely common in South African Indians, there is little published data on the possible causes leading to myocardial infarction (MI) in young Indians. The aim of this study was to identify common environmental risk factors and to examine the relationship between two polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, the 677 C→T and 1298 A→C in young South African Indians with MI.
Demographic and risk factor data were obtained from 245 patients ≤ 45 years with MI who were admitted to the RK Khan Hospital, Durban. Venous blood from 195 of the 245 patients with MI, as well as from the siblings of the MI patients (n = 107), and 300 healthy agematched Indian control subjects, were collected for genetic analysis.
Cigarette smoking was the most important risk factor, occurring in three-quarters of patients, followed by dyslipidaemia in half of the subjects. Diabetes (19%) and hypertension (22%) were found not to be major risk factors for MI. A strong familial link was observed not only for a history of CHD (54%), but also for diabetes (42%) and hypertension (41%).
No difference was found in the thermolabile variant of the MTFHR gene (677 C→T) or the second variant 1298 A→C between healthy controls and patients with MI or their siblings. The two polymorphisms did not appear to work in synergy, neither was there any relationship to common risk factors for CHD.
In conclusion, smoking, dyslipidaemia and obesity were the most common phenotypic risk factors for MI. Neither the 677 C→T nor the 1298 A→C MTFHR variants appeared to be risk factors for premature CHD in this group.
- Title: Evaluation of left
ventricular enlargement in the lateral position
of the chest using the Hoffman and Rigler sign :
cardiovascular topics
Authors: Freeman, V.; Mutatiri, C.; Pretorius, M.; Doubell, A.
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.134-137
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Abstract: Objective : To evaluate left ventricular enlargement in the lateral projection of the chest using the Hoffman and Rigler sign.
Background : The Hoffman and Rigler sign for determining left ventricular enlargement was suggested as early as 1965 before the routine use of echocardiography.
Methods : We studied 136 patients who had had cardiac ultrasound and chest X-rays with lateral projections. We assessed left ventricular size on the lateral projection using the Hoffman and Rigler method (measurement A) and compared this measurement to the value obtained by cardiac ultrasound. The effect of right ventricular size on this measurement was also evaluated.
Results : The average value of measurement A in all patients with echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular enlargement (LVED above 59 mm) was 19 mm (SD ± 4.03) (95% CI 17.96 to 20.04). Of the 48 patients with a normal size left ventricle on echocardiography, 25.58% had measurement A 18 mm and above, and 13.95% had a value 19 mm and above. Of the 19 patients with right ventricular enlargement (normal left ventricle) on echocardiography, 36.84% had measurement A 18 mm and above, whereas 21.05% had this value 19 mm and above. Measurement A in patients with left ventricular enlargement compared with those with right ventricular enlargement showed a significant difference (p < 0.05).
Conclusions : When the crossing of the inferior vena cava and the left ventricle can be adequately visualised, the Hoffman and Rigler sign of evaluating left ventricular enlargement in the lateral projection of the chest is a valuable alternative where cardiac ultrasound is not readily available.
- Title: Multiple cardiac
abnormalities in a case of non-mosaic trisomy 8
: case report
Authors: Hendson, W.; Levin, S.E.; Govendrageloo, K.; Hunter, V.
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.138-140
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Abstract: We present a case of complete trisomy 8 in a 40-day-old male infant, who had a number of congenital heart abnormalities.
- Title: Enhanced myocardial
contractility associated with hypercalcaemia of
hyperparathyroidism - a case study in six
patients : case report
Authors: Otto, Anton C.; Nel, Maria G.; Van Staden, Johan A.; Dunn, Marianna; Van Aswegen, Andries; Nel, Riette
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.141-143
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Abstract: The possible association of increased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with increased serum Ca2+ was observed in our clinic. Six patients with confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcaemia were studied prospectively. Tc-99m sestamibi gated SPECT was done pre- and postoperatively. The LVEF was abnormally high in all the patients preoperatively, i.e. above the normal reference range (47-61%) as used in our clinic. It decreased in all of them postoperatively, yet in only three patients to values within the normal range. This was associated with normalisation of the serum Ca2+ values. The median of the pre-operative LVEF was 74% and postoperative it was 61.5%. The median difference was 9% with a 95% CI for the median difference for paired data (6; 26). This was statistically significant. Increased LVEF was not previously described as part of the clinical picture of primary hyperparathyroidism. The in vivo effect of chronic hypercalcaemia on LV pump function may need to be revisited.
- Title: Molecular genetics of
cardiomyopathy : changing times, shifting
paradigms : review article
Authors: Moolman-Smook, Johanna C.; Mayosi, Bongani M.; Brink, Paul A.; Corfield, Valerie A.
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.145-155
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Abstract: Congestive heart failure is a major problem in developed and developing countries alike. Primary dysfunction of the heart muscle accounts for a significant proportion of patients with a non-ischaemic cause of heart failure. Application of genetic techniques has facilitated identification of some molecular causes of the inherited form of these diseases, dramatically increasing our understanding of the pathogenesis of these primary, previously termed 'idiopathic', cardiomyopathies over the last few decades. Knowledge of the different causes is beginning to coalesce into aetiological principles underlying the clinically distinguished cardiomyopathies. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) now appears to be a disease caused by a dysfunctional sarcomere, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a disease of myocytic structural instability, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a disease of accelerated myocyte death. The aetiology of both HCM and DCM probably also involves cardiac energy imbalances, while additional factors modify the clinical expression in all cardiomyopathies. Even though our knowledge of the genetic aetiology of the cardiomyopathies is still incomplete, it already has relevant clinical significance. Elucidation of the full genetic contribution to the development and progression of the cardiomyopathies represents a new challenge in the study of these diseases, and will undoubtedly lead to new therapeutic approaches in the not-too-distant future.
- Title: Do ACE inhibitors have a real
role in coronary artery disease? : drug trends
in cardiology
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.156
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- Title: Dramatic new trial results
settle controversy in chronic heart failure :
drug trends in cardiology
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.157
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- Title: Rosuvastatin achieves new
standards in lipid management : drug trends in
cardiology
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.157-158
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- Title: Clopidogrel reduces death,
stroke, heart attack now and later : drug trends
in cardiology
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.158-159
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- Title: Cholesterol-lowering action
of policosanol compares well to that of
pravastatin and lovastatin : drug trends in
cardiology
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.161
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- Title: Recent review highlights
implications for prevention of cardiovascular
disease : drug trends in cardiology
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.161-162
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- Title: Outcomes data for Atacand(R)
: results of the SCOPE study : drug trends in
cardiology
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.162
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- Title: The William Nelson ECG quiz
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.164, 168
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- Title: Cardio news
From: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa, Vol 14, Issue 3, May / Jun
Published: 2003
Pages: p.165-166
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