Cardiovascular disease

w.ajaj's picture

Mr-Based Full-Body Preventative Cardiovascular And Tumor Imaging: Technique And Preliminary Experience

Journal Title, Volume, Page: 
Eur Radiol (2004) 14:783–791
Year of Publication: 
2004
Authors: 
Mathias Goyen
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
Susanne C. Goehde
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
Christoph U. Herborn
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
Peter Hunold
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
Florian M. Vogt
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
Elke R. Gizewski
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
Thomas C. Lauenstein
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
Waleed Ajaj
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
Current Affiliation: 
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Michael Forsting
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
Jörg F. Debatin
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
Stefan G. Ruehm
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
Preferred Abstract (Original): 

Recent improvements in hardware and software, lack of side effects, as well as diagnostic accuracy make magnetic resonance imaging a natural candidate for preventative imaging. Thus, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of a comprehensive 60-min MR-based screening examination in healthy volunteers and a limited number of patients with known target disease. In ten healthy volunteers (7 men, 3 women; mean age, 32.4 years) and five patients (4 men, 1 woman; mean age, 56.2 years) with proven target disease we evaluated the performance of a comprehensive MR screening strategy by combining well-established organbased MR examination components encompassing the brain, the arterial system, the heart, the lungs, and the colon. All ten volunteers and five patients tolerated the comprehensive MR examination well. The mean in-room time was 63 min. In one volunteer, insufficient colonic cleansing on the part of the volunteer diminished the diagnostic reliability of MR colonography. All remaining components of the comprehensive MR examination were considered diagnostic in all volunteers and patients. In the five patients, the examination revealed the known pathologies [aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery (n=1), renal artery stenosis (n=1), myocardial infarct (n=1), and colonic polyp (n=2)]. The outlined MR screening strategy encompassing the brain, the arterial system, the heart, the lung, and the colon is feasible. Further studies have to show that MR-based screening programs are cost-effective in terms of the life-years saved.

ansam's picture

Extent of Potential Drug Interactions Among Patients Receiving Anti-Hypertensive Medications

Journal Title, Volume, Page: 
Saudi Medical Journal, Riyadh, ARABIE SAOUDITE (1979) (Revue)
Year of Publication: 
2005
Authors: 
Sawalha AF
Clinical Pharmacy Program, College of Pharmacy, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Current Affiliation: 
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Sweileh WM
College Of Pharmacy, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Jaradat NA
College Of Pharmacy, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Preferred Abstract (Original): 

To investigate the frequency of potential antihypertensive drug interactions among patients with cardiovascular diseases receiving antihypertensive medications.
Methods: The study took place in Nablus, Palestine starting April through October 2003. Patients with cardiovascular diseases (n=876) or who were receiving one or more antihypertensive medications were evaluated. All drugs prescribed for the patients were obtained from their medical files. A drug interaction database was developed based on updated Drug Interaction Facts to examine potential and level of drug interactions in each patient's regimen. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: The number of "unique" pairs of potential drug interactions among the antihypertensive agents present in the data was 433. These included 16 cases (3.7%) level one; 34 cases (7.8%) level 2; 116 cases (26.8%) level 3; 136 cases (31.4%) level 4, and 131 (30.3%) level 5 interactions. Both increasing age and number of drugs were significantly associated with the potential for significant interactions at all levels with a p value less than 0.025.
Conclusions: This study found a high frequency of potential drug interactions with agents typically used for hypertension. Similar investigations need to be carried out among patients with other types of chronic diseases. Drug interaction software might be necessary in governmental pharmacy departments.

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