Enzymatic determinations in acute rejection after liver transplantation: preliminary report on necrosis index.

The catalytic activities of some mitochondrial and cytoplasmic enzymes were measured in plasma from 19 patients after orthotopic liver transplantation, in order to detect and monitor the evolution of hepatocellular damage and to predict liver rejection. The enzymatic activities determined were: mitochondrial isoenzyme of aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase. The results of all enzymatic activities were normalized by expressing them as multiples of the upper limit of the relevant reference range and then the necrosis index (NI) has been calculated.

An analysis of the relationship between central aortic and peripheral upper limb pressure waves in man.

Amplification of the pressure pulse between central and peripheral arteries renders pressure values in the upper limb an inaccurate measure of ascending aortic (AA) pressure. Accuracy could be improved by allowance for such amplification. Transfer functions (TF) for pressures between AA and brachial artery (BA):(BATF) and between AA and radial artery (RA):(RATF) were derived from high-fidelity pressure recordings obtained at cardiac catheterization in 14 patients under control conditions, and after sublingual nitroglycerine 0.

Evaluation of a program to prevent head and spinal cord injuries: a comparison between middle school and high school.

This study was designed to test whether the Oregon THINK FIRST-Head and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Program, developed for the high school audience and previously shown to have a beneficial effect, would have the same effect on students in middle school. During the spring of 1989, four schools (two high schools and two middle schools) participated. Two weeks before and after the presentation of the THINK FIRST program, 830 student questionnaires were distributed in classrooms.

Ageing and wave reflection.

Aim: To determine the effects of wave reflection on the increase in arterial pressure that occurs with age and its association with concomitant changes in both the magnitude and contour of the arterial pressure pulse.

Results Of Data Survey: While age-related changes in mean pressure are similar in central and peripheral arteries, changes in pulse pressure and pulse waveform features are different. Because of the specific architectural, geometrical and elastic properties of the arterial vasculature, wave reflection plays an important role in determining peak pressure, the value usually specified as systolic pressure.

Should retransplantation still be considered for primary non-function after liver transplantation?

Primary non-function (PNF) of a transplanted liver is a postoperative condition characterized by absence of hepatic recovery due to various insults during harvesting, preservation or revascularization. Until recently early retransplantation (RTx) has been considered the policy of choice. Results of RTx for PNF are unsatisfactory (1-year survival rates ranging from 0 to 34%).

Factors influencing long-term results in high tibial osteotomy.

Recorded here is a comprehensive review of the current literature on high tibial osteotomy with emphasis on postponing an inevitable total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Accompanying this review is a confirmatory, retrospective study of 35 patients with 39 high tibial osteotomies with an average follow-up study of 8.5 years (range, 3.

Effect of aging on aortic morphology in populations with high and low prevalence of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Comparison between occidental and Chinese communities.

A comparative morphologic study of aortic changes with aging was conducted in different populations in an attempt to separate the effects of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Chinese and the occidental populations were chosen, as they are known to have a high prevalence of hypertension and atherosclerosis, respectively. Aortic tissue was collected from occidental (American and Australian) and Chinese populations from three geographic locations.