Assessment of roles for calreticulin in the cross-presentation of soluble and bead-associated antigens.

Antigen cross-presentation involves the uptake and processing of exogenously derived antigens and their assembly with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. Antigen presenting cells (APC) load peptides derived from the exogenous antigens onto MHC class I molecules for presentation to CD8 T cells. Calreticulin has been suggested to mediate and enhance antigen cross-presentation of soluble and cell-derived antigens.

Thoracoscopic lobectomy with endoarterial vascular control: an experimental study in swine.

Background: Video-assisted lobectomy lacks vascular control and presents the potential for serious hemorrhage in a closed cavity. The use of a lighted, flow-directed balloon catheter in the pulmonary artery as an endovascular control device was evaluated.

Methods: A modified light-bearing Swan-Ganz catheter was placed in the left or right pulmonary artery using fluoroscopy.

Retrograde abdominal visceral perfusion: is it beneficial?

Background: It is proposed that retrograde abdominal perfusion be used in combination with retrograde cerebral perfusion to provide total body visceral protection during aortic reconstruction; however, its physiologic effects remain unknown.

Methods: We compared the effect of superior vena caval perfusion alone with that of combined superior and inferior vena caval perfusion on the liver and kidney in 6 mongrel dogs. Organ blood flow was measured using ultrasonic flow probes on the hepatic artery, the portal vein, and the renal artery.

Decreasing myocardial pH reflects ischemia during continuous warm retrograde cardioplegic arrest.

Warm continuous retrograde cardioplegia is thought to prevent myocardial ischemia. We tested this hypothesis by subjecting canine hearts to 2 hours of either antegrade or retrograde perfusion with normothermic blood cardioplegia. Ischemic alterations were evaluated through the measurement of myocardial pH, tissue levels of adenosine triphosphate and lactate, and the preservation of left ventricular contractility.

Retrograde coronary sinus perfusion provides non-homogeneous myocardial blood flow.

The ability of retrograde cardioplegia to protect the right ventricle has been questioned. Canine myocardial circulation was assessed by infusing colored microspheres through the coronary sinus. The relative flow index (RFI), a normalized measure of tissue blood flow, was determined for 76 sections of myocardium.