[Right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction estimated by two-dimensional echocardiography]

The right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction (RVEF) obtained from two-dimensional echocardiography and from right ventricular angiography were compared in 20 patients with congenital heart disease. Single plane area-length method of apical four-chamber view was used to estimate echocardiographic right ventricular volumes and single plane right anterior oblique projection was used to calculate angiographic right ventricular volumes. The results showed that right ventricular volumes estimated by echocardiography correlated highly with that calculated by angiography, the correlation coefficients of end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and stroke volume were 0.983, 0.976, 0.973 respectively. Echocardiographic RVEF also correlated strongly with angiographic RVEF (r = 0.992, P less than 0.001), and there were no significant difference between the two methods (P greater than 0.05).

CONCLUSION

two-dimensional echocardiography can be used to accurately estimate right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction.

Distribution of membrane cofactor protein of complement on human peripheral blood cells. An altered form is found on granulocytes

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP) of human complement is an iC3/C3b-binding glycoprotein with a characteristic two-band (63 kDa and 55 kDa) pattern on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Using affinity chromatography, it has been found on human mononuclear cells and platelets. MCP has been purified and shown to be a cofactor for the I-mediated cleavage of C3b. A rabbit polyclonal antibody was produced to the purified protein and this reagent employed to analyze the distribution of MCP on human peripheral blood cells. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that MCP is unimodally present on all platelets, granulocytes, T helper lymphocytes, T suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells and monocytes but not erythrocytes. The presence of MCP on granulocytes was unexpected. To evaluate this, MCP was isolated by immunoprecipitation and analyzed by SDS-PAGE followed by autoradiography. The Mr of granulocyte MCP was that of a single broad band in which the typical two-band pattern could not be distinguished. Alterations in the conditions of the affinity column procedure increased the efficiency of the isolation of monocyte MCP and led to the reproducible isolation of granulocyte MCP. These results indicate that MCP of granulocytes has both structural and functional differences compared to MCP of plateletes and mononuclear cells. The wide distribution of MCP among peripheral blood cells supports the concept that MCP is important in the protection of host cells from complement-mediated damage.

[Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of bladder cancer in the rat]

PDT of rat bladder cancer, induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) was studied. All animals were divided at random into three groups. Group 2 and 3 were treated by hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD)-laser PDT while group 1, without treatment, served as control. The results showed that the malignant lesions could be selectively and obviously destroyed, if the whole tumor area were sufficiently exposed to the laser irradiation. However, the normal bladder epithelium and muscle layer showed no histologic change. Similar reactions were found in papilloma of bladder which was considered as precancerous lesion. Thus, PDT may be beneficial to cancer prevention. Its role in prevention and treatment of bladder cancer should be further studied experimentally and clinically.

A Randomized Trial of Ligustrazini Hydrochlorioi in the Treatment of Viral Encephalitis in Children

Introduction: Chuanxiong is a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine for the Treatment of viralencephalitis. In animal studies it has shown to inhibit the synthesis and activity of Thromboxane (TXA2)and abate the imbalance between Thromboxane (TXA2) and Prostacyclin (PGI2). As a result, cerebraledema, ischemia and hypoxia could be improved. The aim of this study is to evaluate its effect in thetreatment of viral encephalitis in children. Methodology: Ninety-nine patients with viral encephalitiswere randomly divided into two groups. Ligustrazini Hydrochlorioi (LH) consisting of 51 cases (males30, females 21; age 5 years and nine month ±8 years and 2month) was given LH 4mg/kg per day in 100-300mls of 10% glucose and infused intravenously over a three to four hour period, for 7 days as a courseof treatment. A control groups of 48 cases (males 31, females 17; age 5 years and three month ±4 yearsand three month) received the conventional treatment of Vitamin C(2.0-3.0g), Coenzyme A(100u) andAdenosine Triphosphate (ATP) (40mg) in 100-300 mls of 10% glucose infused intravenously daily for 7days. Results: The total response rate in the LH group and the control group were 94.12% and 68.75%respectively (u=3.271 p<0.05). The average time to improvement was 4.29±1.41 days and 7.31±2.66days respectively. No adverse effect was observed in both groups. Conclusion: We conclude that LH isan effective, safe and well tolerated treatment for children encephalitis.Key words: Cerebral Oedema; Encephalitis; Ligustrazini HydrochlorioiDOI: 10.3126/jnps.v30i2.3451J. Nepal Paediatr. Soc. May-August, 2010 Vol 30(2) 119-122