Potential role of autoantibodies belonging to the immunoglobulin G-3 subclass in cardiac dysfunction among patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Immunoadsorption capable of removing circulating autoantibodies represents an additional therapeutic approach in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The role played by autoantibodies belonging to the immunoglobulin (Ig) subclass G-3 in cardiac dysfunction remains to be elucidated.

Methods And Results: Patients with DCM (left ventricular ejection fraction <30%) participated in this case-control study.

Metalloprotease-mediated GH receptor proteolysis and GHBP shedding. Determination of extracellular domain stem region cleavage site.

Growth hormone-binding protein (GHBP) is complexed to a substantial fraction of circulating GH. In humans, rabbits, and other species, GHBP derives from proteolytic shedding of the GH receptor (GHR) extracellular domain. In cell culture studies, stimuli such as phorbol ester, platelet-derived growth factor, or serum induce GHR proteolysis, which concomitantly yields shed GHBP in cell supernatants and a cell-associated cytoplasmic domain-containing GHR remnant.

[Standards in interventional therapy of coronary artery disease].

This review provides an overview of current percutaneous coronary interventional techniques (PCI) in patients with acute and chronic coronary artery disease. The indications for PCI have expanded during the past two decades, and no absolute contraindications remain. The chief limitations to event free survival following balloon angioplasty have been abrupt vessel closure in the short term and restenosis in the long term.

Does contrast echocardiography with Optison induce myocardial necrosis in humans?

Myocardial contrast echocardiography is a promising diagnostic tool for detecting microvascular integrity. Multiple experimental laboratories have shown that diagnostic combined microbubble contrast and ultrasound exposure can cause vessel rupture and myocardial damage in laboratory animals. This study investigated the phenomenon of contrast ultrasonically induced myocardial damage in human beings.

Metalloproteinases and the modulation of GH signaling.

The metzincin metalloproteinase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme (TACE), also known as ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) 17, has recently been identified as an important enzyme for cleavage of the GH receptor (GHR) and shedding of GH-binding protein (GHBP). Proteolysis can be induced by phorbol esters, platelet-derived growth factor and serum; it is dependent on protein kinase C and partially on MAP kinase pathways. Proteolysis occurs at the cell surface, leading to extracellular release of GHBP and intracellular GHR remnant accumulation.

Effect of vaccinating sows and their piglets on the development of Glässer's disease induced by a virulent strain of Haemophilus parasuis serovar 5.

Ten pregnant gilts were divided into two groups of five and one group was vaccinated at 80 and 95 days of pregnancy with a commercial bacterin containing Haemophilus parasuis serovars 2, 3 and 5. Half the piglets born to each group of gilts were vaccinated at seven and 21 days of age with the same bacterin, and one week after they were weaned at five weeks, all the piglets were inoculated intratracheally with 10(6) colony-forming units of Hparasuis serovar 5. At slaughter, a significantly smaller percentage of the lungs of the pigs born to the vaccinated gilts was affected by pneumonic lesions, and significantly fewer of them had arthritic joint changes.

Myocardial contrast echocardiography for predicting functional recovery after acute myocardial infarction.

Unlabelled: Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) is a promising diagnostic tool for detecting microvascular integrity. The aim of the study was to investigate the comparative specificity and sensitivity of intravenous MCE, technetium-99m Sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and dipyridamole-dobutamine (DIDO) stress echocardiography for predicting functional recovery after coronary revascularization in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: In a prospective, observational study, 17 consecutive patients short after AMI who received successful treatment with primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) plus stent-implantation were examined with DIDO (dipyridamole with 0.

The California 500: medical care at a NASCAR Winston Cup race.

Background: Stock car racing is America's fastest-growing professional sport. With more than 5.5 million paid admittances and another 148 million watching the 34-race NASCAR Winston Cup series on television, emergency physicians are increasingly called upon to organize medical support for such events.

Genetic characterization of growth hormone deficiency and resistance: implications for treatment with recombinant growth hormone.

Growth failure can be caused by deficient growth hormone production or action. The genes involved in pituitary development, somatotrope function, as well as growth hormone synthesis, secretion, and action have recently been characterized in considerable detail. Familial growth failure has played an important role in identifying these genes, and a large number of mutations adversely affecting the development and function of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis have been discovered.

The adrenomedullin receptor acts as clearance receptor in pulmonary circulation.

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a powerful pulmonary vasodilator with antimitogenic properties. We investigated the role of the AM receptor (AMR) and the calcitonin gene-related peptide type-1 receptor (CGRP1R) in regulating pulmonary vascular AM levels. The AMR antagonist hAM(22-52) (120 nmol/L) significantly elevated AM release compared with controls to 250% after 2 h in isolated rat lungs and to 830% after 4 h in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC).

Right atrial thrombus treated successfully with abciximab and heparin.

We report here a case of right atrial thrombus diagnosed by echocardiography in a 25-year-old female patient with Hodgkin's disease receiving chemotherapy and heparin. After 24 hours therapy with the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist (abciximab) with concomitant heparin the complete dissolution of the thrombus could be demonstrated by transesophageal echocardiography. To our knowledge this case represents the first use of abciximab in right atrial thrombosis.

Cessation of pulmonary and coronary secretion of adrenomedullin peptides in the progression of human heart failure.

In human heart failure (CHF), adrenomedullin (AM) counteracts vasoconstriction and sodium retention. We investigated circulating levels of proadrenomedullin N-20 peptide (PAMP) and AM, and left ventricular expression of preproAM and calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR) mRNA. Peptide levels were determined from the left ventricle, pulmonary artery, coronary sinus, and antecubital vein in patients demonstrating severe CHF (n = 12; mean +/- SEM cardiac index, 1.

Prospective study of 36 patients with 46 popliteal artery aneurysms with non-surgical treatment.

Background: There is a lack of prospective studies with popliteal aneurysms (PAA) < 2 cm and the very few information about the natural cause of the disease.

Patients And Methods: Between 1995 and 2000 46 patients having 65 popliteal artery aneurysms have been examined. The mean diameter was 1.

Growth hormone binding protein, insulin-like growth factor-I and short stature in two pygmy populations from the Philippines.

The molecular basis and biochemical mediators of genetic growth propensity and adult height achievement in the general population are largely unknown. Pygmies represent one extreme of the height spectrum that may provide important clues regarding this issue. Previous studies in pygmies from Africa and Papua-New Guinea have shown decreased serum levels of growth hormone binding protein (GHBP), the circulating ectodomain of the growth hormone receptor (GHR).

Cardiac troponin I sense-antisense RNA duplexes in the myocardium.

Natural antisense RNA is now thought to regulate, at least in part, a growing number of eukaryotic genes. It is becoming increasingly apparent that such endogenous antisense RNA molecules may modulate gene expression in a manner analogous to synthetic oligomers. Here, we report the detection of antisense-orientated RNA transcripts of cardiac specific troponin I in rat and human myocardium.

Pulsatile growth hormone secretion persists in genetic growth hormone-releasing hormone resistance.

Growth hormone (GH) secretion is regulated by GH-releasing hormone (GHRH), somatostatin, and possibly ghrelin, but uncertainty remains about the relative contributions of these hypophysiotropic factors to GH pulsatility. Patients with genetic GHRH receptor (GHRH-R) deficiency present an opportunity to examine GH secretory dynamics in the selective absence of GHRH input. We studied circadian GH profiles in four young men homozygous for a null mutation in the GHRH-R gene by use of an ultrasensitive GH assay.

Inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway induces differential heat-shock protein response in cardiomyocytes and renders early cardiac protection.

The effects of proteasome inhibition (PI) on heat-shock protein (HSP) expression in cardiomyocytes were investigated. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were incubated with MG132 (0.1-10 microM) for 1 h.

Removal of cardiodepressant antibodies in dilated cardiomyopathy by immunoadsorption.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate whether immunoadsorption (IA) removes cardiodepressant antibodies from the plasma of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), as well as to describe their effects on isolated rat cardiomyocytes.

Background: Immunoadsorption induces early hemodynamic improvement in patients with DCM. The mechanisms for this improvement remain to be elucidated.

Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway as a new target for the prevention of restenosis.

Background: The ubiquitin-proteasome system is the major intracellular protein degradation pathway in eucaryotic cells. It regulates central mediators of proliferation, inflammation, and apoptosis that are fundamental pathomechanisms in the development of vascular restenosis.

Methods And Results: Effects of proteasome inhibition on neointima formation were studied in a balloon injury model in the rat carotid artery.

Electron beam tomography of interpulmonary saddle embolism: extent and vascular distribution.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to assess morphology and secondary signs of interpulmonary emboli extending across the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery (PA).

Method: Retrospective evaluation of 780 electron beam tomographic studies of the chest yielded 17 cases of interpulmonary saddle embolism. Length, diameter, vascular distribution of the emboli, and secondary findings were prospectively assessed by two blinded reviewers.

[Definition of shock types].

Definitions of shock types. Hypovolaemic shock is a state of insufficient perfusion of vital organs with consecutive imbalance of oxygen supply and demand due to an intravascular volume deficiency with critically impaired cardiac preload. Subtypes are haemorrhagic shock, hypovolaemic shock in the narrow sense, traumatic-haemorrhagic shock and traumatic-hypovolaemic shock.