Unusual pseudoaneurysms after catheterization: successful treatment by ultrasound-guided compression

Postcatheterization pseudoaneurysms occur mostly in the femoral artery. Two patients (both women, aged 67 and 59 years) undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) at our institution presented pseudoaneurysms in unusual locations, one in the brachial and one in the popliteal artery. Because of good experiences with ultrasound-guided compression repair (UGCR) in the femoral artery, we also successfully performed this noninvasive treatment on the two patients. Follow-up at 28 and 12 months, respectively, after the procedure, showed no instances of recurrence. As with the excellent results of UGCR in the femoral artery, we believe that this new modality is also the treatment of choice in iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms of the arm and popliteal arteries.

[Acute dyspnea]

A 75 year old patient was hospitalized because of acute dyspnea. For two weeks she suffered from a flu-like illness with low-grade fever, cough, and fatigue. On auscultation systolic and diastolic murmurs were found whose intensity changed depending on the position assumed by the patient. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography showed a tumor in the left atrium obstructing the left ventricular inflow tract. The tumor was removed surgically because of this obstruction and the imminent danger of embolism to the peripheral arteries. The diagnosis of an atrial myxoma was confirmed intraoperatively and by histology.

Ultrasound-guided compression repair for treatment of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm: acute and follow-up results

Femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is a significant problem in patients undergoing arterial diagnostic or therapeutic catheterization. The aim of this investigation was to report the incidence of pseudoaneurysm after arterial catheterization and the success rate of ultra-sound-guided compression repair. During a 3-year period (11/91-11/94) 9,051 patients underwent 7,312 cardiac catheterizations and 1,739 peripheral percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures. Patients suspect of pseudoaneurysm were referred for a color Doppler ultrasound examination. All patients with pseudoaneurysm were considered for ultrasound-guided compression repair. Pseudoaneurysm occurred more frequently after interventional procedures with new devices (valvuloplasty 2.3%, stent 3.2%) than after conventional catheterization diagnostic cardiac catheterization 0.2%, electrophysiology 1.3%, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty 0.2%). The incidence of pseudoaneurysm after peripheral percutaneous coronary transluminal angioplasty, including intra-arterial lysis and stent, was 1%. Ultrasound-guided compression repair was successfully performed in 37 of 41 cases with pseudoaneurysm (90%). Ultrasound-guided compression repair was successfully performed in 30 of 31 patients (97%) without anticoagulation and in 7 of 10 patients (70%) receiving anticoagulants (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between mean diameter of the pseudoaneurysm, age of the lesion, or antiplatelet therapy. Color Doppler ultrasound re-examination at up to 3 months indicated successful treatment in all patients. The use of complex interventional catheterization procedures leads to an increased frequency of pseudoaneurysms compared with conventional angiography and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Ultrasound-guided compression repair is a non-invasive, efficient, safe and cost-effective therapy for post-catheterization pseudoaneurysm.

Recurrent bleeding of angiomyolipomas in tuberous sclerosis

The diagnostic and therapeutic problems of renal hamartomas are illustrated by a case of recurrence of bleeding angiomyolipomas associated with tuberous sclerosis. Ultrasound and computed tomography provide clear evidence of lipomatous formation while, in rare instances, angiography can demonstrate the existence of multiple vascular tumor compartments. In view of the risk of bleeding, multiple or very large angiomyolipomas should be treated by interventional radiology in the form of superselective tumor embolization or by the most conservative surgery possible.

Evidence for a weak angiogenic response to human colorectal cancers

Many previous qualitative studies have shown that tumours are less vascular in the centre, and that host tissues become more vascular in close proximity to tumours. However, quantitative findings presented here for human colorectal cancer reveal some significant differences. Sections from 20 colorectal carcinomas (ten moderately and ten poorly differentiated) were immunostained with the QB/end/10 monoclonal to demonstrate blood vessels. These were measured by interactive morphometry and vascular volume density, surface density (Sv) and length density were recorded. In poorly differentiated carcinomas, the tumour centre was significantly less vascular than the periphery for all three parameters (P = 0.008 for Sv). However, no significant difference was seen for moderately differentiated tumours, which constitute the majority of colorectal cancers. Surrounding host tissues did not show a general increase in vascular density close to tumours. Furthermore, when total viable tissue was considered, the vascular density of carcinomas was not markedly different from normal mucosa. In the centre of moderately differentiated carcinomas for example, the mean value for Sv was only 1.4 times higher than the mean value for normal mucosa. These findings suggest that colorectal cancers may elicit a relatively weak angiogenic response, consistent with their exceptionally slow growth rate.

Goat sperm membrane: lectin-binding sites of sperm surface and lectin affinity chromatography of the mature sperm membrane antigens

The cell surface glycoproteins of goat epididymal maturing spermatozoa have been investigated using lectins as surface probes that interact with specific sugars with high affinity. Concanavalin A (ConA) and wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA) showed high affinity for mature cauda epididymal sperm agglutination, whereas RCA2, kidney beans lectin and peanut agglutinin caused much lower or little agglutination of the cells. The mature sperm exhibited markedly higher efficacy than the immature caput epididymal sperm for binding both ConA and WGA, as evidenced by sperm agglutination and the binding of the fluorescence isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins. FITC-ConA binds uniformly to the entire mature sperm surface whereas FITC-WGA binds to the acrosomal cap region of the head. The FITC-RCA2 mainly labelled the posterior head of mature cauda sperm. However, no WGA-specific glycoprotein receptors could be detected in sperm plasma membrane (PM) by WGA-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The data implied that the epididymal sperm maturation is associated with a marked increase in the ConA/WGA receptors and that WGA receptors may be glycolipids rather than glycoproteins. Analysis of the ConA receptors of cauda sperm PM identified by ConA-Sepharose affinity chromatography and subsequent resolution in SDS-PAGE demonstrated the presence of five glycopolypeptides of different concentrations (98, 96, 43, 27 and 17 kDa) of goat sperm membrane. The immunoblot of these ConA-specific glycopeptides with anti-sperm membrane antiserum showed that 98- and 96-kDa receptors are immunoresponsive.

Ibuprofen enhances retinal and choroidal blood flow autoregulation in newborn piglets

The role of prostanoids in setting the range of autoregulation of retinal blood flow (RBF) and choroidal blood flow (ChBF) in the newborn was assessed. The RBF, ChBF, and arterial and cerebral sinus concentrations of PGE, PGF2 alpha, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2 were measured over a wide range of mean systemic blood pressure (blood pressure (BP): 17-117 mm Hg) in newborn piglets treated with ibuprofen (30 mg/kg iv) or its vehicle (n = 8, in each group). Hypertension and hypotension were induced 80 min apart on each animal, by inflating balloon-tipped catheters placed at the aortic isthmus and root, respectively. Blood flow and prostanoid concentrations were measured 20 min before (basal) and during the induced changes in BP. In vehicle-treated piglets, RBF did not change with BP between 50 and 90 mm Hg (r = 0.33, P = 0.27), but changed as a function of BP beyond this range (tau = 0.52, P less than 0.01); ChBF increased with BP throughout the range studied (17-117 mm Hg; tau = 0.89, P less than 0.001). The relationship between O2 delivery to the retina and choroid and BP (tau greater than 0.43, P less than 0.01) was similar to that seen between RBF and ChBF with BP. The concentration of all prostanoids increased when BP was reduced to less than 50 mm Hg. When BP was raised to more than 90 mm Hg, prostaglandin concentrations increased, and those of TXB2 did not change. Ibuprofen treatment reduced the basal concentrations of all prostanoids to nearly undetectable levels and prevented their changes during hypotension and hypertension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Identification of membrane antigens of goat epididymal spermatozoa

Purified goat sperm plasma membrane was used as antigen to raise the antibody in rabbit. Using this antisera four groups of antigenic membrane polypeptides are determined in caput and cauda epididymal sperm. The immunoresponsiveness of the polypeptides in caput and cauda sperm differs significantly. In case of cauda epididymal sperm, the polypeptides of region A (96KDa, 82KDa, 78KDa, 68KDa) and region D (24KDa, 20KDa, 18KDa) are highly immunoresponsive whereas in case of caput epididymal sperm the same antisera recognized the polypeptides of region B, C and D. By surface labelling with lactoperoxidase iodination and subsequent immunoprecipitation in the iodinated cell extract we demonstrate eight of these above polypeptides (96KDa, 82KDa, 68KDa, 50KDa, 29KDa, 24KDa, 20KDa and 18KDa) as surface antigen. The 96KDa, 82KDa and 68KDa surface polypeptides are highly immunoresponsive than the other lower molecular weight surface antigens in cauda epididymal goat spermatozoa.

Optical isomers of some piperidine-derived hemicholinium congeners containing secondary alcohol groups: preparation and biological activities

Previous publications on the title compounds, 1 and 2 ('A-4' and 'A-5'), reported pharmacological data on what were probably mixtures of optical isomers of unknown composition. The compounds can exist as an enantiomeric pair as well as a diastereomeric meso isomer. In the present work, all possible stereoisomers (meso and dextrorotatory and levorotatory isomers) of the piperidine derivatives 'A-4' and 'A-5' have been isolated, identified, and characterized, and pharmacological data have been obtained on all products. In all of the bioassays conducted, optical isomers of each structure exhibited similar qualitative and quantitative effects. We conclude that the stereochemical nature of the chiral centers bearing secondary alcohol groups in these molecules does not play a critical role in interactions with in vivo receptors, and therefore that the alcohol groups in 'A-4' and 'A-5' are not prime sites of interaction(s) with receptor(s).

Structure-activity relationship studies of hemicholinium (HC-3) congeners

In a continuing investigation of structural requirements for hemicholinium-like activity (inhibition of neuromuscular transmission due to inhibition of uptake of choline into nerve terminals), some additional molecular modifications of hemicholinium ("HC-3"; structure 1) were made. The target compounds were prepared by standard one- or two-step sequences. Noncyclic acetal moieties in general permitted retention of pharmacological activity, as did concomitant replacement of the central biphenyl "spacer" by other bulky cyclic groupings and replacement of the oxazinium rings by piperidine or 4-methylpiperidine. However, these modifications generally produced compounds of a lower potency. Replacement of the biphenyl moiety of HC-3 with polyakylene chains permitted retention of a considerable degree of activity. In these target compounds, the two quaternary nitrogens can exist the same distance apart (approximately 14 A) as in the hemicholinium molecule. The ditertiary amino congener of a pharmacologically active bis-quaternary oxazinium compound was almost completely inactive. To date, only one tertiary amine has been found which displays a significant degree of hemicholinium-like activity.

Des-1-25-fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, a nonallosteric derivative produced by trypsin treatment of the native protein

Limited tryptic digestion of pig kidney fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase in the presence of magnesium ions results in the formation of an active enzyme derivative which is no longer inhibited by the allosteric effector AMP. The presence of AMP during incubation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase with trypsin protects against the loss of AMP inhibition. By contrast, the presence of the nonhydrolyzable substrate analog fructose 2,6-bisphosphate accelerates the rate of formation of that form of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase which is insensitive to AMP inhibition. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis of samples taken during trypsin treatment shows that the loss of AMP inhibition parallels the conversion of the native 36,500 molecular weight fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase subunit into a 34,000 molecular weight species. Automated Edman degradation of trypsin-treated fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase following gel filtration shows a single sequence beginning at Gly-26 in the original enzyme, but no changes in the COOH-terminal region of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Thus, the proteolytic product has been characterized as "des-1-25-fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase." A comparison of the kinetic properties of control enzyme and des-1-25-fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase reveals some differences in properties (pH optimum, Ka for Mg2+, K+ activation, inhibition by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate) between the two enzymes, but none is so striking as the complete loss of AMP sensitivity shown by des-1-25-fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. The loss of AMP inhibition is due to the loss of AMP-binding capacity, but it is not known at this stage whether residues of the AMP site are present in the 25-amino acid NH2-terminal region or the removal of this region leads to a conformational change that abolishes the function of an AMP site located elsewhere in the molecule.

Studies on certain drug-metabolizing enzymes in deoxypyridoxine-treated rats

The effect of deoxypyridoxine on the activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes was investigated in male rats. Phenylbutazone oxidase and aminopyrine N-demethylase decreased in both liver and kidney of deoxypyridoxine-treated rats that received either an 18% or 8% casein diet. However, the magnitude of decrease in activities was more when the rats received an 8% casein diet. The NADPH oxidase activity remained unchanged following deoxypyridoxine treatment. The diminished activities of phenylbutazone oxidase and aminopyrine N-demethylase noted after deoxypyridoxine treatment were restored by pyridoxine supplementation. The decreased activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes in deoxypyridoxine treated rats were not reversed by thyroxine supplementation. It is suggested that pyridoxine in the form of pyridoxal phosphate might be involved in the regulation of drug-metabolizing activities.

Identification of the in vivo and in vitro phosphorylation sites of rat liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase

Rat liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase appears to be unique in that it extends 24-26 residues beyond the COOH-terminal amino acid of other mammalian fructose 1,6-bisphosphatases and this extension contains phosphorylation sites. Using as a frame of reference the 335-residue sequence of pig kidney fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (Marcus, F., Edelstein, I., Reardon, I., and Heinrikson, R. L. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 79, 7161-7165), the rat liver enzyme would extend to residue 361. Limited proteolysis in the COOH-terminal region of the molecule with chymotrypsin, trypsin, or both sequentially, led us to establish that the phosphorylation sites are located at Ser residues 341 and 356. The in vitro phosphorylation of purified rat liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase by the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase results in modification at both residues, although the major site of phosphorylation (61%) is at Ser-341. In contrast, rat liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase purified from animals that had been injected with [32P] phosphate contains most of the label (81%) at Ser-356.

Identification of the highly reactive sulfhydryl group of pig kidney fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase at cysteine 128

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatases contain a highly reactive cysteine residue, the reactivity of which is influenced by ligands that bind at the catalytic and at the allosteric AMP sites of the enzyme. Nevertheless, the sulfhydryl group appears to be proximal to these sites and not a functional component of either. Modification of pig kidney fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase with three reagents, 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), iodoacetamide, and phenacyl bromide, yields derivatives with similar properties, thus suggesting that the same residue was modified in each case. The modified enzymes exhibited: (a) higher Vmax when Mn2+ was used as the activating cation; (b) decreased activity in the presence of nonsaturating Mg2+ concentrations; (c) no change in sensitivity toward AMP inhibition. Automated Edman degradation of a tryptic peptide containing radioactive carboxamidomethylcysteine showed the sequence of residues Gly-111-Arg-140 of pig kidney fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase. The modified residue was shown to be cysteine-128, and the same cysteine residue was alkylated when the enzyme was reacted with phenacyl bromide. Cysteine-128 is also present in rat and sheep liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase and a long stretch of the sequence around this reactive cysteine residue is highly conserved.

Changes of acetylcholine, catecholamines and amino acid in mice brain following treatment with Nuvacron and Furadan

The effects of multiple intraperitoneal doses of Nuvacron (0.8 mg/kg) or Furadan (0.25 mg/kg) on the concentrations of brain neurotransmitters in mice were studied. The following were measured: acetylcholine, acetylcholinesterase, gamma-aminobutyric acid, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine. These pesticides caused a significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity and a significant increase in acetylcholine, gamma-amino-butyric acid, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and 5-hydroxy tryptamine concentrations. The increased concentrations of the neurotransmitters in mouse brain might be associated with CNS depressant action induced by the insecticides.

Effect of some monoamine oxidase inhibitors and cyclic-AMP on plasma fibrinogen level of rats

In vivo administration of short acting or long acting inhibitor of monoamine oxidase elevates plasma fibrinogen level in rats. These inhibitors cannot elevate plasma fibrinogen level in rats pretreated with p-chlorophenyl alanine and alpha-methyl-meta-tyrosine, inhibitors of catecholamine and serotonin formation respectively. However, administration of epinephrine or serotonin under the above experimental condition elevates fibrinogen level indicating rise of biogenic monoamine, even for a short period, is a good stimulus for increase of plasma fibrinogen. Dibutyryl cyclic-AMP (c-AMP) also elevates fibrinogen level and shows additive effect with theophylline or serotonin.

Amino acid sequence of the COOH-terminal region of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatases in relation to cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation

Studies of in vitro phosphorylation of four different gluconeogenic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatases by the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase have shown that only rat liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is a substrate of the protein kinase. A comparison of the molecular weights of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatases revealed that the nonphosphorylatable mouse liver, rabbit liver, and pig kidney enzymes have a subunit Mr approximately 37,000 while the subunit molecular weight of purified rat liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is about 41,000 (Hosey, M. M., and Marcus, F. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 91-94). To probe the structural basis for the higher molecular weight and unique phosphorylation of rat liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, the CNBr fragment containing the phosphorylation site was purified and the amino acid sequence of this 43-residue peptide was determined. The sequence data revealed that the rat liver enzyme extends 24-26 residues beyond the COOH-terminal amino acid of pig kidney and rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and that cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation sites are located in this proline-rich extension. The kinetic properties of rat liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase do not appear to be influenced in any way, either by the COOH-terminal extension itself or by the state of phosphorylation. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of immunoprecipitates from crude extract supernatants demonstrated that the rat liver enzyme is larger than other fructose-1,6-bisphosphatases studied to date, and that the differences in molecular weight are not due to proteolytic modification of other fructose-1,6-bisphosphatases during isolation procedures.

Hematological changes produced in mice by ochratoxin A and citrinin

The effect of 6 weekly injections of ochratoxin A (5 mg/kg) and citrinin (20 mg/kg) on the following hematological indices of mice was studied: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hematocrit percentage, mean corpuscular values, red cell indices, platelet count, total count of bone marrow cells, differential count of bone marrow cells, total count of splenic cells, spleen weight, and serum calcium. These mycotoxins resulted in a significant decrease in platelet count and hematocrit values. On the other hand, they increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean corpuscular values and red cell indices. Weight of the spleen and the splenic cell count decreased significantly in ochratoxin A and citrinin treated mice. Total count of bone marrow cells, erythrocyte precursors, leucocyte precursors and megakaryocyte precursors of femoral bone marrow decreased significantly in toxin treated mice. Calcium concentration in the serum of toxin treated mice also was decreased significantly.

Hematological changes produced in mice by Nuvacron or Furadan

The effects of multiple intraperitoneal doses of Nuvacron (0.8 mg/kg) or Furadan (0.25 mg/kg) on hematological values in mice were studied. The following were measured: clotting time, hemoglobin content, total count of red blood cells and white blood cells, differential count of white blood cells, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hematocrit value, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, bone marrow and splenic measurements. These pesticides caused a significant decrease in hemoglobin content, total count of red blood cells, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hematocrit value. The administration of Nuvacron or Furadan prolonged the clotting time and caused an increase in total count of white blood cells. Among white blood cells, there was an increase in neutrophils and basophils and a fall in the count of lymphocytes in treated animals. Bone marrow depression and splenic hyperplasia were observed in mice after administration of the pesticides.