Enzymatic removal of ADP from plasma: unaltered platelet adhesion but reduced aggregation on subendothelium and collagen fibrils

Subendothelium of rabbit aorta and fibrillar collagen were exposed to citrated human or rabbit blood which was circulated through a perfusion chamber under flow conditions similar to those found in arteries. The resulting platelet adhesion and subsequent formation of platelet microthrombi on the exposed surfaces were measured in 0.8 mum thich sections by a morphometric technique using light microscopy. Removal of plasma ADP by the substrate-enzyme combination CP-CPK (creatine phosphate-creatine phosphokinase; 3 mM and 90 U/ml blood) did not affect the initial attachment and spreading of platelets on subendothelium, whereas platelet thrombus formation was strongly inhibited. On free collagen fibrils CP-CPK was much less inhibitory on platelet thrombus formation but platelet adhesion again was not affected. It is concluded that platelet aggregation induced by thrombogenic surfaces in the presence of arterial blood flow is at least partially governed by ADP released from adhering platelets. Platelet adhesion to the examined surfaces, however, does not seem to be mediated by plasma ADP.     

Selenium and vitamin E and incidence of retained placenta in parturient dairy cows. II. Prevention in commercial herds with prepartum treatment

In a series of field experiments in Ohio involving 193 parturient cows of the Holstein and Guernsey breeds, the prophylactic efficacy of selenium and vitamin E was tested under field conditions. Herds initially were chosen because of a chronic problem with retained placenta which could not be related to a known etiological factor. Each herd was divided into three groups. Group A received an injection of 50 mg of sodium selenite 40 days prepartum and 680 units of alpha tocopherol acetate followed by the same treatment 20 days prepartum. Group B received a single injection of 50 mg of sodium selenite 20 days prepartum, and 680 IU of vitamin E. Group C served as the control. Incidence of retained placenta was reduced from a mean of 51.2% in control cows to 8.8% for animals injected with selenium and vitamin E. No differences in efficacy were between Group A and B, and it appears that the single 20 day prepartum injection of 50 mg of sodium selenite and 680 IU of alpha tocopherol acetate is an effective prophylactic for prevention of retained placenta.     

New gene assignments using a complete, characterized sheep-hamster somatic cell hybrid panel

OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of the International Association for the Study of Pain Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) diagnostic criteria and associated features to discriminate between CRPS patients and patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. DESIGN: Prospective assessment of signs and symptoms in a series of CRPS and diabetic neuropathy patients. SETTING: University of Washington Multidisciplinary Pain Center. PATIENTS: A consecutive series of 18 CRPS patients and 30 diabetic neuropathy patients. INTERVENTIONS: Patients completed a 10-item patient history questionnaire assessing symptoms of CRPS prior to medical evaluation. The evaluating physician completed a 10-item patient examination questionnaire assessing objective signs of CRPS. OUTCOME MEASURES: The analyses conducted were designed to test the ability of CRPS signs and symptoms and associated features to discriminate between CRPS patients and diabetic neuropathy patients. RESULTS: Data analysis suggested that CRPS decision rules may lead to overdiagnosis of the disorder. Diagnosis based on self-reported symptoms can be diagnostically useful in some circumstances. The addition of trophic tissue changes, range of motion changes, and "burning" quality of pain did not improve diagnostic accuracy, but the addition of motor neglect signs did. Test of a CRPS scoring system resulted in improved accuracy relative to current criteria and decision rules. CONCLUSIONS: Poorly understood disorders lacking prototypical signs/symptoms and diagnostic laboratory testing must rely on the development of reliable diagnostic guidelines. The results of this study should assist in the further refinement of the CRPS diagnostic criteria.     

The urethral sling and stress urinary incontinence

We report the case of a 40-year-old Filippino woman, with a 5-year history of a slowly spreading, painful skin lesion on her left foot. Histological examination showed a dermal, granulomatous infiltrate consisting of neutrophils, histiocytes and lymphocytes, with "sclerotic bodies" in the cytoplasm of phagocytic cells. Mycological culture revealed the presence of Phialophora verrucosa and confirmed the histopathological diagnosis of chromo-blastomycosis. Association of surgical curettage of the exuberant, infected tissue with systemic fluconazole administration gave good therapeutic results with no relevant side effects.     

Comparison of three different methods for measuring classical pathway complement activity

A 30-year-old man was referred as an acute case for keratitis. Two days earlier he had had photorefractive keratectomy for myopia at another clinic; a bandage contact lens was placed over the eye, but prophylactic antibiotics were not prescribed. The keratitis was treated with gentamicin sulfate (Garamycin) and chloramphenicol eyedrops. Scrapings from the cornea showed nonhemolytic streptococci. Two and a half months later, visual acuity was finger counting because of gross distortion of the corneal contour. The combination of a bandage contact lens and the lack of prophylactic antibiotics may have been the source of bacterial keratitis.