Chronic sodium cyanate treatment induces "hypoxia-like" effects in rats.

Three weeks of sodium cyanate (NaCNO) intraperitoneal treatment in rats (n = 15) induced high hemoglobin O2 affinity, i.e., low PO2 at 50% hemoglobin saturation (P50), 20.

[Arterial recanalization using the laser. A technic for the future?].

On the basis of two years' experience, a technique for the use of percutaneous endoluminal continuous emission Nd-YAG laser has been developed for arterial recanalisation. The effectiveness of this type of laser has been demonstrated in a large number of clots and atheromatous plaques, including calcified plaques. A balloon catheter gives a coaxial position of the fiber in center of the artery.

Laser angioplasty of arterial stenoses.

To establish the optimal conditions for recanalization of obstructed arteries without damage to vessel walls, an Nd-YAG laser coupled to a 0.2-mm-diameter optical fiber was used on obstructed human cadaver coronary and peripheral arteries and on popliteal arteries in amputated limbs. Vaporization of atheromatous plaques was consistently obtained with energy of 360-600 J and a diluted blood perfusate (3 g/100 ml hemoglobin) at a rate of 30 ml/min.

[Arterial disobliteration by the laser].

In order to determine the optimal conditions for disobliteration of occluded arteries without damaging the arterial wall, the effects of a Nd-YAG laser connected to a 0.2 mm diameter fibre optic system were studied on post-mortem coronary arteries and popliteal and tibial arteries of amputated limbs. Vaporisation of atheromatous plaques was consistently obtained with energies of 300 to 600 joules associated with perfusion of the vessel with dilated blood (3 g/100 ml of haemoglobin) at a flow rate of 20 ml/min.