Disinfection of fiberscopes by thermochemical disinfection.

A new fully automated washing and disinfection machine for fiberscopes was evaluated. This apparatus, the Endoscopic Thermo Disinfector (ETD) uses a combination of heat and a brand name disinfectant containing glutaraldehyde to fulfill its purposes. The disinfectant showed effective antibacterial activity at the concentrations used in the ETD.

Quantitation of plasma levels of tetranectin--effects of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, treatment with L-asparaginase and liver cirrhosis.

Tetranectin is a tetrameric protein that binds to kringle 4 of plasminogen. Increase of electrophoretic mobility of the otherwise slowly migrating tetranectin in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetate was used to develop a reproducible electroimmunoassay to quantify plasma levels. Plasma levels in normals were found within narrow limits of 100 +/- 16 (SD)%, (100% = 0.

Use of protein profiles to identify Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in a respiratory care unit.

The presence of acinetobacters in a respiratory care unit was prospectively studied because of an increase in the number of isolations of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Cell envelope protein electrophoresis was used to distinguish strains. Eleven protein patterns were observed in isolates from patients and their environment.

A reproducible model of acute hepatic failure by transient ischemia in the pig.

A model of transient acute hepatic failure has been developed in the pig. Three days after a functional end-to-side portacaval shunt was introduced, 15 ambulant animals underwent total liver ischemia for 4 to 6 h by the closure of a mechanical clamp surrounding the hepatic artery. Four of the eight animals subjected to 4 hr of ischemia survived.

Hemodynamics and coagulation in experimental auxiliary liver transplantation during fulminant hepatic failure.

In pigs, ischemic liver cell necrosis was induced by 6 hours' occlusion of the hepatic artery and the portal vein 3 days after construction of a side-to-side portacaval shunt and division of the hepatic ligaments. Two thirds of the liver of an MLC-compatible donor was heterotopically transplanted 13 hours (group I), and 3 hours (group II) after induction of liver failure. In group I (N = 11), three animals died of liver failure before or shortly after induction of anesthesia.

Hemostasis and fibrinolysis in severe liver failure and their relation to hemorrhage.

In a study of severe, decompensated liver failure, we tried to find a correlation between hemorrhage and parameters of hemostasis and fibrinolysis. Three groups of patients were studied: alcoholic cirrhosis; nonalcoholic cirrhosis, and acute liver failure without known prior liver disease. The two cirrhotic groups did not differ significantly from each other in coagulation or in fibrinolytic parameters, although liver function was more impaired in nonalcoholic cirrhosis.

A simple device for disinfecting endoscopes.

A method for disinfecting fibreoptic endoscopes with povidone-iodine and a simple cleaning device, consisting of a curved glass pipe and a peristaltic pump is described. If properly employed the system produces satisfactory results.

In vivo experiments with powder charcoal haemoperfusion (filmadsorber) in a pig model of hepatic failure.

The filmadsorber, an experimental haemoperfusion column containing activated powder charcoal embedded in a colloidal film, has been tested in pigs with ischaemicnecrosis of the liver. Haemoperfusion with a flow of 200 ml/min was performed for a duration of 4 to 6 hours. Bile acid clearances varied between +/- 52 ml/min (1st hour) and +/- 23 ml/min (6th hour).

Auxiliary transplantation of part of the liver improves survival and provides metabolic support in pigs with acute liver failure.

In pigs subtotal ischemic liver cell necrosis was induced 4 days after auxiliary transplantation of 60% of the liver of an MLC-compatible donor (ATPL group, n = 13). In control animals (n = 14) temporary liver ischemia was preceded by division of the hepatic ligaments and creation of an end-to-side portacaval shunt. In the ATPL group six animals died of gastric hemorrhage, intestinal strangulation, or sepsis.

Protraction of whole blood and plasma clot lysis in patients with high levels of an inhibitor of tissue-type plasminogen activator.

The influence of the newly discovered, fast-acting inhibitor of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) on the lysis time of plasma clots was studied by visual observation of lysis of clotted citrated plasma after addition of purified t-PA. To a series of plasma samples with various concentrations of naturally occurring PA-inhibitor purified t-PA was added to a final concentration, which in pooled normal plasma is sufficient to induce clot lysis within a few hours. In those plasma samples with a high free inhibitor level, determined by measuring the recovery of the activity of added purified t-PA, clot lysis was retarded.