Synergistic action of severe wall injury and shear forces on thrombus formation in arterial stenosis: definition of a thrombotic shear rate threshold.

Objectives: This study attempted to determine the influence of progressive degrees of stenosis on platelet deposition onto a severely damaged vessel wall.

Background: The severity of wall injury and increased shear forces have been proposed as the determinants of thrombus formation and growth in arterial stenosis.

Methods: Carotid angioplasty was performed in 15 mongrel dogs to produce severe wall damage.

Anti-tetanus toxoid antibody production after mismatched T cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation.

We explored B-cell function after tetanus toxoid (TT) immunization in 12 children with severe combined immunodeficiency disease or leukemia who were long-term survivors of an HLA-matched sibling or haplocompatible T cell-depleted parental bone marrow transplant (BMT), 10 of their healthy donors, and 13 normal controls. Specific in vivo and in vitro anti-TT antibody (Ab) production were measured by ELISA. We studied donors' and recipients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and mixed E- (non-T cells) and E+ cells (T cells) spontaneously and after stimulation by TT in the absence or presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-6.

Expression and prognostic significance of apolipoprotein D in breast cancer.

Apolipoprotein D (apo D) is a glycoprotein involved in the human plasma lipid transport system and present at large amounts in cyst fluid from women with gross cystic disease of the breast. Apo D expression in breast carcinomas was examined by immunoperoxidase staining of a series of 163 tumors. A total of 60 (36.

[Evaluation of a commercial kit for performing in vitro bone marrow cultures].

The efficiency of the GIBCORkit "Human Bone Marrow Stem Cell Proliferation Kit" for haemopoietic progenitors cultures, has been assessed in 24 bone marrow samples. The results, compared with those obtained in a parallel study with the routine method used in our laboratory (reference method), suggests that the kit has higher capacity for detecting haemopoietic progenitors, which is due to the increased number of BFU-E (108 +/- 78 vs 23 +/- 23, p < 0.0001).

Development of tolerance after haplocompatible T-depleted bone marrow transplantation.

We evaluated proliferative responses in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in 14 recipients of T cell-depleted haplo-compatible parental marrow: 11 for the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), 2 for leukemia and 1 for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS). We compared the results obtained in 9 SCID patients and 1 WAS patient with split chimerism (T cells of donor origin, B cells and monocytes of recipient origin) to 4 patients (2 SCID and 2 leukemias) who were full chimeras (T, B and monocytes of donor origin). In the full chimeras, as with the fresh donor PBMC, fresh donor T cells did not proliferate in the MLC to recipient non-T cells (E-).

Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 9 mosaicism: two new cases.

We present two prenatal cases of trisomy 9 mosaicism, both of which presented intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and other abnormal ultrasound findings. In case A, mosaicism was found in amniotic fluid cell cultures, of which 65 per cent were trisomic cells, on average. In case B, trisomic cells were present in amniotic fluid cell cultures (12 per cent) but none were found in fetal cord blood.

[Immunophenotyping study of bone marrow fractions obtained by elutriation in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation].

Purpose: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is an effective treatment for acute and chronic leukaemias. Lymphocyte depletion of donor bone marrow for preventing GVHD has been associated with a higher incidence of relapse after allogeneic BMT. This association suggests an antileukaemic effect of donor lymphocytes.

DNA topoisomerase I is involved in both repression and activation of transcription.

Reconstituted transcription reactions containing the seven general transcription factors, in addition to RNA polymerase II, respond poorly to transcriptional activators. Two factors, Dr2 and ACF, necessary for high levels of transcription in response to an activator have been identified. ACF can enhance basal and activated transcription.

Expression of pepsinogen C in human breast tumours and correlation with clinicopathologic parameters.

We have examined by immunohistochemistry the ability of breast carcinomas to produce pepsinogen C, an aspartyl proteinase usually involved in the digestion of proteins in the stomach. A total of 113 out of 245 breast tumours (46%) were positive for pepsinogen C immunostaining. There was a significant association between pepsinogen C and oestrogen receptors with proteinase levels higher (HSCORE) in oestrogen receptor positive tumours than in oestrogen receptor negative.

Regulation of RNA polymerase II transcription.

Transcription initiation plays a central role in the regulation of gene expression. Exciting developments in the last year have furthered our understanding of the interactions between general transcription factors and how these factors respond to modulators of transcription.

[Intrasplenic pseudocyst and ascites as complications of exacerbated chronic pancreatitis].

A patient with chronic alcoholism displayed significant ascites and a splenic pseudocyst, after relapsing chronic pancreatitis. The pathogenic possibilities are commented. The break of pancreatic ducts, with extravasation of enzymes, that would reach adjacent structures, is a common mechanism to both complications.

Immune reconstitution in severe combined immunodeficiency disease after lectin-treated, T-cell-depleted haplocompatible bone marrow transplantation.

We describe our 9-year experience with lectin-treated T-cell-depleted haplocompatible parental bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for 24 patients with severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID). Nineteen of 21 evaluable patients had T-cell engraftment; 2 of 11 patients tested had B-cell and monocyte engraftment. Fourteen of 24 (58%) patients are alive 7 months to 9.

Separation of red blood cells by field flow fractionation.

Field flow fractionation (FFF) is a new methodology described as being well-suited for the separation and characterization of biopolymers and particles. On theoretical grounds, cells may be separated with FFF if they differ in size, density or deformability. In the present study, we first tried to determine optimal separation conditions for red blood cells; thereafter we used FFF to examine red cell changes during a phenylhydrazine-induced hemolytic anemia.

Oct-2 facilitates functional preinitiation complex assembly and is continuously required at the promoter for multiple rounds of transcription.

Octamer factor 2 (Oct-2, OTF-2, NF-A2) is an 'upstream' promoter factor that binds to the octamer motif (ATGCAAAT) implicated in control of immunoglobulin gene transcription in B-lymphocytes. We have studied the role of Oct-2 in the process of transcription initiation in vitro using both nuclear extracts and purified basal transcription factors. Oct-2 specifically stimulates transcription from octamer-containing promoters in both systems.

Isolation and characterization of a pepsin C zymogen produced by human breast tissues.

An aspartic proteinase present in cyst fluid from women with gross cystic breast disease was purified by a procedure involving affinity chromatography on pepstatin-agarose and size-exclusion high performance liquid chromatography. The amino-terminal sequence of the purified breast proteinase was identical to that corresponding to gastric pepsinogen C. Additional data on cleavage specificity, pH optimum, and immunological properties supported the close relationship between both molecules.

Echocardiographic "smoke" is produced by an interaction of erythrocytes and plasma proteins modulated by shear forces.

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the blood elements responsible for spontaneous echocardiographic contrast.

Background: Spontaneous contrast or "smoke" is an echocardiographic image usually found in low flow conditions. Two blood elements, erythrocytes and platelets, have been related to the generation of smoke.

Percutaneous vascular hemostasis device for interventional procedures.

A new 11.5F over-the-wire vascular hemostasis device was compared to conventional manual compression in normal swine femoral arteries. Using percutaneous techniques, the collagen was deposited and hemostasis achieved in 7 vessels after 1 minute total, plus 4 minutes partial compression, while control manual compression required more than 5 minutes total compression to avoid hematoma formation.

Isolation of microfilariae from blood by gravitational field-flow fractionation.

Over 100 million persons suffer from diseases caused by filariae infestation, and one billion are at risk. A simple isolation method for both analytical and preparative separation is presented. Based on the simplest field-flow fractionation technique, the gravitational one, effective isolation of microfilariae is achieved.

Clinical and angiographic characteristics and outcome of patients with rest-unstable angina occurring during regular aspirin use.

Today many patients admitted with an acute coronary syndrome are already taking aspirin. Because they have symptoms despite antithrombotic therapy, these patients are presumed to be at higher risk for subsequent clinical events. In a pilot trial of antithrombotic therapy in patients with unstable angina at rest or non-Q wave infarction, 93 patients admitted within 48 h of pain were prospectively followed up for 12 weeks.

Hirudin and other thrombin inhibitors experimental results and potential clinical applications.

Thrombosis results from the activation of the hemostatic system by pathologic stimuli. It is a dynamic process that involves various blood cells and proteins, the nature of blood flow, and substrate characteristics. The classic description of the hemostatic system encompasses the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems, the platelets, and the endothelium.

Occurrence of hereditary leaky red cell syndrome and partial coagulation factor VII deficiency in a Spanish family.

A Spanish family was found to have the coexistence of a hereditary haemolytic syndrome associated with excessively leaky RBC membrane to sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) cations and a partial coagulation factor VII deficiency. Haemolysis was mild in the propositus and the RBC membrane leak included a marked increase in passive permeability to Na+ and K+. This was associated with an increase in active Na+,K(+)-pump activity and in the ouabain-resistant fluxes: Na+, K(+)-cotransport and Na+, Li(+)-countertransport.

The value of exercise testing in patients with coronary artery spasm.

To analyze the usefulness of a single exercise test to predict the presence of fixed obstructive coronary artery disease in patients with active coronary spasm, 91 consecutive patients with angiographically proven symptomatic coronary artery spasm who had performed a symptom-limited exercise test within the week before diagnostic coronary angiography were studied. Coronary angiography revealed significant coronary obstructions in 61 patients (67%). According to the type of angina, the prevalence of significant coronary stenosis was 53% for patients with angina at rest, 68% for those with effort angina, and 92% for those with mixed angina.

Phosphorylation of cellular proteins regulates their binding to the cAMP response element.

We have studied the protein factors that promote transcription via binding to the cAMP response element (CRE) present in the adenovirus early region III (EIII) and early region IV (EIV) promoters. Three sets of CRE-binding phosphoproteins, ranging in molecular mass from 65-72, 38-43, and 31-37 kDa, were identified in vivo from HeLa cells. Western blot analysis revealed that all three sets of proteins identified were immunologically related to the transcription factor AP1.

Stress testing in patients with coronary spasm: comparison of those with and without fixed coronary artery disease.

Stress testing is one of the preferred noninvasive methods of identifying patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Its value in patients with coronary artery spasm (CAS) is, however, difficult to ascertain. The authors studied 91 consecutive patients with angiographically documented CAS.

Complementary mechanisms of atenolol and diltiazem in the clinical improvement of patients with stable angina.

The combination of atenolol with diltiazem has been shown to be useful in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease. Eighteen patients with proven coronary artery disease, stable angina, and no previous myocardial infarction were studied before and after treatment with atenolol (100 mg/day) (9 patients) or diltiazem (180 mg/day) (9 patients). Ischemic threshold at stress test, pressure-rate product at ischemic threshold, direct oxygen consumption at ischemic threshold, and exercise ejection fraction were determined.