An assessment of covalent grafting of RGD peptides to the surface of a compliant poly(carbonate-urea)urethane vascular conduit versus conventional biological coatings: its role in enhancing cellular retention.

The aim of sodding prosthetic grafts with endothelial cells (EC) is to establish a functioning antithrombogenic monolayer of EC. Application of basement membrane proteins improves EC adherence on ePTFE grafts. Their addition to a biodurable compliant poly(carbonate-urea)urethane graft (CPU) was studied with respect to EC adherence.

Thymidylate synthase as a translational regulator of cellular gene expression.

Studies from our laboratory have shown that the folate-dependent enzyme, thymidylate synthase (TS), functions as an RNA binding protein. There is evidence that TS, in addition to interacting with its own TS mRNA, forms a ribonucleoprotein complex with a number of other cellular mRNAs, including those corresponding to the p53 tumor suppressor gene and the myc family of transcription factors. Using both in vitro and in vivo model systems, we have demonstrated that the functional consequence of binding of TS protein to its own cognate mRNA, as well as binding of TS to the p53 mRNA, is translational repression.

Purification and Partial Characterization of S-trichokirin, A New Small Ribosome-inactivating Protein, from Seeds of Trichosanthes kirilowii.

A new small ribosome-inactivating protein named S-trichokirin from the seeds of Trichosanthes kirilowii was purified by ammonia sulfate precipitation, CM-52 ion exchange chromatography, Sephacryl S-100 gel filtration and FPLC Mono S ion exchange chromatography. S-trichokirin has molecular weight about 8 kD, as determined by 15% SDS-PAGE and 15% Tris-Tricine PAGE. It was proved to be a strong basic protein with pI about pH 9.

The role of histamine H(1) receptors in late-phase reaction of allergic conjunctivitis.

The role of histamine H(1) receptors in the late-phase reaction of allergic conjunctivitis was studied using histamine H(1) receptor-deficient mice. To clarify the eosinophil infiltration, which is a reliable indicator of late-phase reaction, eosinophil peroxidase activity in the conjunctiva was measured. Mice were actively immunized with ovalbumin, and conjunctivitis was induced by topical instillation of ovalbumin.

Translational regulation as a novel mechanism for the development of cellular drug resistance.

Cellular drug resistance is one of the principal obstacles to the clinical efficacy of cancer chemotherapy. In this review, we describe the potential role for translational regulation as a novel mechanism for modulating chemosensitivity. The evidence for the translational control of thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate reductase, and p53 will be presented, as will experimental data showing how disruptions in this important regulatory process can lead to the rapid emergence of cellular drug resistance.

In vitro stability of a novel compliant poly(carbonate-urea)urethane to oxidative and hydrolytic stress.

Poly(ester)urethane and poly(ether)urethane vascular grafts fail in vivo because of hydrolytic and oxidative degradative mechanisms. Studies have shown that poly(carbonate)urethanes have enhanced resistance. There is still a need for a viable, nonrigid, small-diameter, synthetic vascular graft.

Leishmania donovani: intraspecific polymorphisms of Sudanese isolates revealed by PCR-based analyses and DNA sequencing.

Four polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based approaches were used to analyze diversity within 23 Sudanese isolates of Leishmania donovani. Methods compared were fingerprinting with single nonspecific primers, restriction analysis of the amplified ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) locus, single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP), and sequencing of the ITS region. When PCR fingerprinting and restriction analysis of ITS were applied, highly similar fragment patterns were observed for all strains of L.

Genetic heterogeneity of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer in clinical samples of Leishmania donovani spotted on filter paper as revealed by single-strand conformation polymorphisms and sequencing.

A polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism determination (PCR-SSCP) was used to detect deoxyribonucleic acid sequence polymorphisms in the transcribed non-coding regions between the small and large sub-unit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) genes in Leishmania donovani from 63 clinical samples collected in eastern Sudan, between April 1997 and October 1998. Specific Leishmania primers were used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of L. donovani isolates directly from clinical samples spotted on filter papers.

Compliance properties of conduits used in vascular reconstruction.

Background: Compliance mismatch between native artery and prosthetic graft used for infrainguinal bypass is implicated in the aetiology of graft failure. The aim was to quantify the elastic properties of a new compliant poly(carbonate)polyurethane (CPU) vascular graft, and to compare the compliance properties of grafts made from CPU, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), Dacron and human saphenous vein with that of human muscular artery.

Methods: A pulsatile flow phantom was used to perfuse vessel and prosthetic graft segments at physiological pulse pressure and flow.

Optimal endothelialisation of a new compliant poly(carbonate-urea)urethane vascular graft with effect of physiological shear stress.

Objective: to define the optimal seeding conditions of a new stress free poly(carbonate-urea)urethane (CPU) graft with compliance similar to that of human artery with honeycomb structure engineered during the manufacturing process to enhance adhesion and growth of endothelial cells.

Methods: (111)Indium-oxine radiolabeled human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were seeded onto CPU grafts at (a) concentrations from 2-24x10(5)cells/cm(2)and (b) incubated for 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h.

In vivo femoropopliteal arterial wall compliance in subjects with and without lower limb vascular disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to further the development of a compliant vascular graft with a preliminary assessment of the elastic properties of the femoropopliteal artery in subjects with and without lower limb peripheral vascular disease.

Methods: This prospective controlled study was set in a university department of surgery. Using an ultrasound scan wall tracking system with the simultaneous measurement of brachial blood pressure, measurements of femoropopliteal artery wall motion were undertaken in 11 patients with peripheral vascular disease (group 1), in 11 older control subjects who were matched for blood pressure, age, and sex (group 2), and in 12 younger control subjects (group 3).

Modern management of pulmonary embolism.

Background: Pulmonary embolism is a significant cause of morbidity and death after operation. The introduction of new technologies in the diagnosis, and thrombolysis in the treatment, of pulmonary embolism has led to a need to reappraise the management of this condition.

Methods: This review encompasses a comprehensive discussion of diagnostic modalities and therapeutic strategies used in the current management of pulmonary embolism.

Vascular surgical society of great britain and ireland: caval filters are an underexploited therapy for acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Inferior vena caval filters are a recognized intervention for recurrent pulmonary embolism (PE). Filter utilization in the UK is considerably less than in Europe; this may partly be due to omission of referral of appropriate patients. METHODS: A cohort with the prospect of benefit from caval filter insertion was identified by retrospective study of inpatients who died within 30 days of a positive ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan over 2 years.

Caffeine-induced behavioural stimulation is dose- and concentration-dependent.

1. The relationship between plasma and brain caffeine and metabolite concentrations and behavioural stimulation was investigated over a 4 h time course. 2.

Separate and combined effects of caffeine and alprazolam on motor activity and benzodiazepine receptor binding in vivo.

CD-1 mice received single intraperitoneal (IP) doses of caffeine-sodium benzoate (caffeine doses: 0, 20 and 40 mg/kg) followed by injections of alprazolampropylene glycol (0, 0.05, and 2 mg/kg, IP) to determine brain concentrations, effects on in vivo receptor binding of a specific high-affinity benzodiazepine receptor ligand [3H]Ro15-1788, and effects on motor activity over a 1-h period. A behavioral monitoring device, using infrared sensors, measured horizontal and ambulatory activity.

Kinetic and dynamic study of intravenous lorazepam: comparison with intravenous diazepam.

Six healthy volunteers received a single i.v. dose of 'low dose' lorazepam (0.

A comparison of some pharmacological actions of prostaglandin E1, 6-oxo-PGE1 and PGI2.

Some pharmacological actions of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), 6-oxo-PGE1 and PGI2 have been studied. 6-oxo-PGE1 and PGE1 relaxed guinea-pig tracheal muscle in vitro and increased nasal patency in normal volunteers and in subjects with vasomotor rhinitis whereas PGI2 produced opposite effects. All three compounds produced bronchodilatation in the anaesthetised guinea-pig and relaxed human respiratory tract muscle in vitro.