Right ventricular outflow obstruction with intact ventricular septum in adults.

Cardiothoracic surgeons whose practice is limited to adults rarely see patients with right ventricular outflow obstruction and an intact ventricular septum. Of more than 10,000 open-heart procedures performed at our institution from 1983 to 1993 (in patients 18 to 75 years old), only 5 procedures were for correction of this problem. Both the pulmonary valve and the subvalvular area were abnormal in these 5 patients, and 4 of the 5 had subvalvular stenosis.

The effects of cyclosporin A on transplanted rat allografts.

Since 1983, Cyclosporin A (CsA) has been the most successful primary drug in preventing rejection of organ transplants. This study was designed to determine the efficacy and dose response of CsA in preventing rejection of LBNF-1 rat allografts to Lewis recipients. Four groups of animals were studied.

Normothermic retrograde continuous cardioplegia for myocardial protection during cardiopulmonary bypass. A modified technique.

Normothermic retrograde continuous cardioplegia is a revolutionary development for myocardial preservation in cardiac surgery. Despite excellent reports regarding this technique, the surgical community has expressed concern over technical problems encountered. The method of normothermic retrograde continuous cardioplegia in current use requires both large total crystalloid volumes and large potassium loads to deliver adequate cardioplegia.

Histopathologic correlates of acute laryngeal allograft rejection in a rat model.

This study used both clinical and histopathologic criteria to define the sequence and time parameters of rejection in histoincompatible vascularized rat laryngeal allografts. Clinical onset of rejection was characterized at 1 week by graft edema. Pathologic examination at this time revealed arterial wall thickening and a diffuse lymphocytic and macrophage mucosal infiltrate.

Comparative in vitro activity of daptomycin (LY146032) and vancomycin against gram-positive cocci determined using a pharmacokinetic model.

The activity of daptomycin (LY146032) and vancomycin was compared for methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains of Staphylococcus aureus and for Enterococcus faecalis, using a semi-automated model that allows examination of time-kill curves with diminishing drug concentrations, thus reflecting in vivo pharmacokinetics. Exposure to daptomycin resulted in rapid killing of all strains of staphylococci and Enterococcus faecalis tested. Methicillin-sensitive staphylococcal strains appeared marginally more susceptible than MRSA.