The effect of flow rate and catheter diameter on hemolysis during blood transfusions using canine packed red blood cells.

Objective: To evaluate the degree of hemolysis in canine packed RBCs at varying catheter sizes and flow rates as determined by RBC count, Hct, hemoglobin, creatine phosphokinase, and phosphorus. This study hypothesized that changes in flow rate and catheter diameter would change the degree of hemolysis.

Sample: A fresh unit of canine RBCs.

[Los niveles de mediadores prorresolutivos no corresponden con los de mediadores inflamatorios en enfermedades isquémicas coronarias].

Background: Inflammation can be grouped into three phases: proinflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and resolution. The latter, mainly attributed to lipid mediators, is the most recently described, and has been studied little in coronary ischemic diseases.

Objective: To evaluate 1) if acute coronary syndromes (ACS) manifest different circulating levels of resolution mediators compared with stable angina (SA); 2) if their concentrations are related to those of pro and anti-inflammatory mediators; and 3) if such concentrations are associated with the severity of the disease and the damage produced.

A thermodynamic study of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase enzyme heterogeneity in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: ss-N-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex) is a lysosomal hydrolase, whose determination in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has provided discordant results.

Methods: Total Hex and its isoenzymes Hex A and Hex B were determined using a thermodynamic procedure in the CSF of 27 patients with definitive MS, 8 with possible MS, 9 with meningitis, 14 with other neurological diseases, and in 10 controls without any neurological disease.

Results: In the group of patients with definitive MS, the total Hex and Hex A were significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.

Apical suction leads to severe ischemia of the ventricular apex.

Objective: Apical suction devices allow displacement of the heart in off-pump coronary artery surgery. However, high vacuum pressure may injure the suctioned myocardium. It has been demonstrated that partial pressure of oxygen in the myocardium (ptiO(2)) is a sensitive and rapid indicator of myocardial ischemia.

Relation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene polymorphisms with serum concentrations and in vitro production of TNF-alpha and interleukin-8 in heavy drinkers.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) play a role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic hepatitis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the possible relation of TNF gene polymorphisms with TNF-alpha and IL-8 synthesis in heavy drinkers. Nineteen heavy drinkers and 14 healthy control subjects were included in the study.

Intra-abdominal infection in patients with abdominal trauma.

Hypothesis: Identifying patients with risk factors associated with the development of intra-abdominal infections makes possible early interventions to minimize morbidity and mortality. We sought to determine the incidence of intra-abdominal infection (organ/space surgical site infection) in patients undergoing operation because of abdominal trauma, to identify the risk factors associated with the development of this complication, and to estimate the respective magnitudes of the risk factors.

Design: We performed a prospective cohort study in patients older than 12 years who were treated surgically for penetrating or blunt abdominal trauma, with or without other associated lesions.

[Meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis: epidemiological, clinical, and preventive perspectives].

Bacterial meningitis constitutes a significant global public health problem. In particular, Neisseria meningitidis continues to be a public health problem among human populations in both developed and developing countries. Meningococcal infection is present as an endemic and an epidemic disease.

Thermodynamic determination of plasma and leukocyte beta-hexosaminidase isoenzymes in homozygote and heterozygote carriers for the GM2 gangliosidosis B1 variant.

In the GM2 gangliosidosis B1 variant, the mutated isoenzyme A of beta-hexosaminidase (Hex) is incapable of hydrolyzing ganglioside GM2 and negatively charged substrates. Biochemical characterization of this lysosomal disease is carried out using synthetic alpha-subunit-specific sulfated substrates, as heat-inactivation assays are not applicable. The apparent enzyme activation energy of Hex using the chromogenic substrate 3,3'-dichlorophenolsulfonphthaleinyl N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide is related directly to the relative proportions of Hex A and Hex B isoenzymes.

Time-course changes of serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) after liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis.

Background: Serum immunoglubulin increase is a hallmark of liver disease. Serum IgA is specifically increased in alcoholic liver disease, which has been considered an IgA-associated disorder. No previous studies have been focused on the time-course changes of serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) after liver transplantation.

Plasma and peripheral leukocyte beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoenzymes and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Recently it has been suggested that serum beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex) could be a joint destruction marker in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. However, a large amount of serum Hex activity has its source from platelets, and the blood platelet-count is often increased in RA, which may have masked the significance of the results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma activity of Hex and disease activity or severity.

Relationships between serum markers of monocyte/macrophage activation in type 1 Gaucher's disease.

We studied 44 patients with type 1 Gaucher's disease (16 non-treated patients and 28 treated with enzyme replacement therapy). We measured serum levels of chitotriosidase (ChT), neopterin, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and beta-hexosaminidase (Hex) and its major isoenzymes Hex A and Hex B. In the untreated group of patients, the increase in serum levels was ChT>neopterin>ACE> ADA>Hex, with all decreasing significantly in treated patients (p< 0.