Primary intracavitary cardiac tumors: a review of 11 surgical cases

During the past 14 years, 11 patients varying age from 27 to 68 years, had excision of primary intracavitary cardiac tumor: 7 had a left atrial myxoma, 1 a left ventricular myxoma, 1 a right ventricular myxoma, and 2 had a left atrial malignant mesenchymoma. Accurate diagnosis was made by angiocardiography in 8 patients. All patients underwent open heart excision of the tumor with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. One of the 9 patients with a left atrial myxoma died postoperatively with recurrence of the tumor. The two patients with left atrial malignant mesenchymoma died 8 and 15 months after palliation. All surviving patients are asymptomatic without evidence of recurrence.

Xf phage invading the host cells with their protein coats

The Xf phage coat protein associated with infected cells could not be removed by washing with antiserum and tris-EDTA buffer. Although the infected cells were consecutively washed 6 times with tris-EDTA buffer, the ratios of parental phage 6H-DNA to 14C-protein were not changed. A considerable amount of the parental 14C-protein and 3H-DNA in the original ratio were detected in the membrane and the soluble cytoplasmic fractions of infected cells. The studies of the change in Xf 14C-protein and 3H-DNA incorporation into the host cells and their release showed that DNA and protein penetrate together into the host cells during the first 60 min after infection (p.i.). While virtually all parental DNA was conserved, re-utilized and released from the infected cell 60 min p.i., no apparent release of parental protein was observed. Approx. 40% of the parental protein became degraded and could be washed from the infected cell after 90 min; the rest of the parental protein remained and probably was re-utilized by the host.

Use of a dynamic method in calibration of dye-dilution curves during cardiac surgery

A simplified dynamic method of calibration for dye-dilution curves is described. The method involves appropriate matching of the fluid volume in the mixing chamber, the blood withdrawal rate, and the calibration dose of dye. It was used to compare the observed versus calibrated pump output of a heart-lung machine with individual dye-dilution curves obtained from 15 patients during total cardiopulmonary bypass. The results indicate that the difference (range+14% to-8%) between the two is statistically insignificant. The method is rapid and relatively simple. It is particularly useful for cardiac output determination during unsteady clinical conditions because of the ability to calibrate dye curves at the time they are recorded.