Platelet protection by low-dose aprotinin in cardiopulmonary bypass: electron microscopic study.

To evaluate the effect of low-dose aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass on platelet function and clinical hemostasis, 30 patients undergoing various cardiopulmonary bypass procedures employing bubble oxygenators were randomized to receive either low-dose aprotinin (2 x 10(6) KIU in the cardiopulmonary bypass priming solution, 15 patients [group A]) or placebo (15 patients [group B]). Blood samples were collected before and after cardiopulmonary bypass to assess platelet count and aggregation on extracellular matrix, which was studied by a scanning electron microscope. On a scale of 1 to 4 preoperative mean platelet aggregation grades were similar in both groups (3.

Adjusted dose continuous infusion of factor VIII in patients with haemophilia A.

Surgical interventions in patients suffering from haemophilia A require infusions of large doses of factor VIII (F VIII) concentrates. These are expensive and may pose a burden on the immune system, which is already compromised in many haemophiliacs. F VIII is usually given as bolus injections, although there are reports on fixed dose continuous infusion.

Circumcision in hemophilia: the use of fibrin glue for local hemostasis.

Circumcision can be fatal in hemophilia patients unless they are treated with the missing coagulation factor. We describe 10 severe hemophilia patients in whom circumcision was performed with local fibrin glue instead of infusion of factor concentrate. Of the 10 patients 3 had postoperative bleeding and only 2 of them required infusion of factor VIII concentrate.

Ventricular defibrillating properties of catecholamine uptake inhibitors.

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a fatal event in humans unless electrical defibrillation is applied within minutes. Recent publications describe spontaneous termination of VF in various animals and even in humans. Certain drugs can transfer a fatal, sustained VF (SVF) into a self-terminating, transient VF (TVF).

[Congenital afibrinogenemia with bleeding, bone cysts and antibodies to fibrinogen].

Congenital afibrinogenemia is a rare hereditary disorder which has been described in only 150 families. The main clinical manifestations include spontaneous bleeding into the skin and into the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Skeletal manifestations are seldom reported.

The prevalence and interaction of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus infections in Israeli hemophiliacs.

The prevalence, clinical manifestations and serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency (HIV) infections were studied in 117 Israeli hemophiliacs. Positive serological markers for HBV infection (HB surface antigen, antibody to HB surface antigen or antibody to HB core antigen) were more common in patients treated with non heat-treated F-VIII concentrates (NHTC) than with cryoprecipitate (48/49 vs. 23/29, P less than 0.

A correlation between the structure of myocardial cells and prolonged Q-T interval in young rats.

In the present study, we examined the electrocardiogram and the structure of myocardial cells in young rats at different postnatal ages. The offspring of rats were sacrificed on different postnatal days following electrocardiographical recordings, and sections of their hearts were examined microscopically. In a number of newborns, we observed definite prolongation of the Q-T interval in the electrocardiogram on the first day of life.

Chronic active hepatitis following splenectomy for autoimmune thrombocytopenia.

Two patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura underwent splenectomy following the failure of steroid therapy. In neither patient was there evidence of liver disease prior to the splenectomy. Both had autoimmune parameters before the operation.

Evaluation of ketanserin as a tocolytic agent in third trimester pregnant rats.

Ketanserin, as a 5HT2 selective antagonist, was evaluated for its tocolytic effects in pregnant Charles River (CR) rats, at total doses of 1.5 and 3.5 mg/kg IU from day 22 to day 25 of pregnancy.

Effects of various drugs on denervation changes in rat muscles.

The effects of drugs, known to affect lysosomal enzyme activities on denervated gastrocnemius muscles of rats were studied. The drugs used were: amiodarone, chloroquine, cortisone, streptomycin and trypan blue. The parameters investigated included changes in fibrillations in electromyographs, morphometric evaluations of muscle atrophy and replacement, and light and electron microscopic analysis of morphological changes and of histochemical acid phosphatase activity.

Dental extraction for patients on oral anticoagulant therapy.

Dental extraction in patients receiving long-term oral anticoagulant therapy is a controversial issue. Continuation of anticoagulation exposes the patient to serious hemorrhage, whereas cessation of therapy increases the risk of thromboembolism. Forty patients treated by coumarin underwent 63 tooth extractions, without a change in the therapeutic protocol of anticoagulation.

Carcinocythemia. Report of two cases, one simulating a Burkitt lymphoma.

Carcinocythemia is a rare complication of metastatic carcinoma, characterized by the presence of carcinoma cells in the peripheral blood, which may mimic acute leukemia. Two cases are reported in which the patients developed carcinocythemia several years after being treated for carcinoma of the breast. Cytologic examination of peripheral blood smears in both cases showed the presence of numerous large abnormal cells; in one case the cells simulated those of a Burkitt lymphoma.

Human monoclonal antibody derived from an autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura patient, recognizing an intermediate filament's determinant common to vimentin and desmin.

Human monoclonal antibody (mAb) technology has been helpful in identifying autoantibodies that are involved in various autoimmune disorders. We report here the results of such an attempt to immortalize antibody-forming cells from spleen of an autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP) patient and characterize the resulting mAb. The human mAb we derived, denoted (4G9), binds to the cytoskeletal network.

Clinical and pathological features of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the tonsil. Review of the literature and report of 10 cases.

Ten patients with tonsillar lymphomas diagnosed and treated in our hematology unit from 1979 to 1986 are reported. The heterogeneous histology at presentation, the aggressiveness of the histologic types during relapse, and the relatively low incidence of gastrointestinal tract involvement are discussed. A review of the literature is presented.

An attempt to prevent or delay denervation changes in rat muscles.

A number of drugs which are known to affect lysosomes and their enzyme activities were used in an attempt to inhibit or delay the onset of denervation changes in rat muscles. The following parameters were used: the occurrence of fibrillations in electromyographs; diameters of muscle fibers; acid phosphatase activity; acetylcholinesterase activity and distribution in end plates. Differences between denervated and non-denervated limbs were evaluated and compared in the different treatment groups.

A new group of defibrillatory drugs in the classification of antiarrhythmic agents.

Ventricular antiarrhythmic therapy is aimed traditionally at preventing arrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation. Recently, a new approach has been introduced, where drug therapy facilitates the ability of the heart for spontaneous defibrillation. The chemical features and the electrophysiologic properties are discussed below.

Gray platelet syndrome in the elderly.

A 68-year-old male who suffered from thrombocytopenia and mild splenomegaly for 18 years was found to present agranular gray platelets on peripheral blood smear. Bone biopsy revealed a mild, diffuse, reticular fibrosis with no collagen, and electron microscopy of the platelets showed an absence of almost all the alpha-granules. Platelet thrombospondin and fibronectin analysed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Rocket immunoelectrophoresis were absent.

Magnesium fluxes in ventricular fibrillation and defibrillation in untreated and dibenzepine HC1 pretreated cats.

Serum magnesium concentration (S-Mg) was estimated in 12 anesthetized cats before and after central thoracotomy, during an electrically induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) and after defibrillation (DEF), and again, in the same experimental animals, after the administration of 3 mg/kg of dibenzepine HC1--a tricyclic antidepressant reported to facilitate spontaneous DEF--as well as during a subsequently induced VF and after the spontaneous DEF which followed. In the first part of the experiment, the surgery and the induction of VF caused no significant change of mean serum magnesium concentration (S-Mg) or serum calcium concentration (S-Ca), whereas the DEF was accompanied by Mg efflux (a significant increase of mean S-Mg from 0.824 mmol/l, SD 0.