Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction. A prospective controlled study

In the present study we compared the outcome of primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (PTCA without prior or concomitant administration of thrombolytic drugs) in 82 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with the outcome of 82 AMI patients, who were treated with intravenous thrombolysis. The thrombolysis patients were prospectively matched to the angioplasty patients regarding age, sex, duration of symptoms and infarct localisation. The in-hospital mortality was 3.7% in the PTCA group versus 4.9% in the thrombolysis group. Thrombolysis-treated patients had increased use of diuretics and ACE-inhibitors as compared to PTCA-treated patients. The mean ejection fraction was 52 +/- 11% in the PTCA group versus 47 +/- 10% (p = 0.01) in the thrombolysis group. We conclude that initial Danish experience with primary PTCA is promising, and that this treatment may favourably affect the outcome of acute myocardial infarction.     

In the flow with MEMS

Presents an overview of MEMS technology where we look at the different micromachining techniques and the CMOS fabrication process. Next we provide general information about flow sensors, including common applications. We will then analyze the structures used for MEMS flow sensors along with their associated CMOS circuits which can integrate the flow sensor into a smart flow-sensor system     

Selection of a cDNA clone for chicken high-mobility-group 1 (HMG1) protein through its unusually conserved 3'-untranslated region, and improved expression of recombinant HMG1 in Escherichia coli

Screening of cDNA libraries for the homologous vertebrate proteins high mobility group (HMG) 1 and 2 using DNA probes based on the coding sequences is likely to result in isolation of both HMG1 and HMG2 clones, as well as pseudogenes, which may be transcribed at low levels. However, the 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of HMG1 and 2 are quite distinct, and unusually conserved across species. We have used this property to select the true chicken HMG1 cDNA clone from a chicken lymphocyte cDNA library in lambdagt11, using a probe based on the 3'-UTR of rat HMG1 cDNA. The chicken HMG1 cDNA clone is very similar to all the complete HMG1 cDNA clones isolated so far. We suggest that the sequence designated chicken HMG1 in the GenBank Data Library (Accession number D14314) is, in fact, that of HMG2a [and moreover that the recently reported mouse clone (Accession number AF022465), proposed to encode a new HMG protein, HMG4, is also likely to encode an HMG2a, based on the translated amino-acid sequence and 3'-UTR]. We also report much improved expression of intact recombinant HMG1 in Escherichia coli by the use of chloramphenicol rather than ampicillin selection and conditions that limit cell growth. This should be general for all members of the HMG1 (and 2) family which may be toxic to cells (possibly because of the long acidic tail), and may also prove useful in the production of other such proteins.     

Specific serotonin uptake inhibitors in patients referred to a psychiatrist

During a twelve month period (1995), 261 patients were referred to a psychiatrist (the author) by their general practitioners. Forty-eight patients (18%) were being treated with antidepressive medicine when first seen. Only seven patients were being treated with the traditional tricyclic antidepressive medicine, while 39 received specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and two patients received other kinds of antidepressants. The SSRIs seem to be prescribed to a wide range of patients providing an unclear clinical picture, and it is assumed that the patients' desire to try the famous and popular pills is crucial when the therapeutic decision is made. The weakening of the ontological stase of endogenous depression should also not be underestimated.     

Villoglandular adenocarcinoma of the endometrium: a clinicopathologic study of 61 cases: a gynecologic oncology group study

Papillary endometrioid or villoglandular adenocarcinoma (VGA) is a relatively common type of endometrial adenocarcinoma, but studies describing its behavior have yielded conflicting results. Patients with a component of VGA were identified in a review of 819 women entered in a Gynecology Oncology Group Study (Protocol 33) of clinical stages I and II endometrial adenocarcinoma. Cases with coexisting foci of serous or clear cell carcinoma were excluded from further consideration. Of the 61 cases that formed the study sample, there were 24 with pure villoglandular differentiation and 37 who were admixed with typical endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EA). The general clinicopathologic features of patients with pure and mixed VGA are compared with 469 patients with pure EA. The VGAs were better differentiated (grade 1 or 2--97% of VGA versus 74% EA, p = 0.001). but they were not significantly different with respect to median age, depth of invasion, or frequency of nodal spread. Six of the 61 patients with VGA died of their tumor. The disease-specific survival rate at 3 years for VGA is 94% (95% confidence interval: 0.88-0.99) compared with 88% (95% CI: 0.86-0.91) for EA. Two of the patients who died had pure villoglandular tumors and four had mixed villoglandular and endometrioid carcinoma. In view of the frequent admixture of VGA and EA and their generally similar biological characteristics, with a prognosis similar to that of typical EA, we conclude that VGA should be considered a variant of EA.     

Phytase activity and degradation of phytic acid during rye bread making

Changes in phytic acid content, activity of phytase and α-amylase in rye breads were determined during rye bread making. The activity of phytase is highest in grain and flour whereas the activity in the sourdoughs is almost the half of the activity in the flour. The activity was unchanged in the dough after mixing and proofing. Degradation of phytic acid (IP6) into lower inositol phosphates and free phosphate is almost completed during the production of rye bread with long fermentation time whereas the degradation is less completed when whole grains are included in the recipe. In rye bread made from milled rye (DB00), 99% of IP6 is degraded and IP3 becomes the dominating inositol phosphate in this bread type presumably resulting in a high level of bioavailable minerals. In rye bread made with 30% grains (SB30), 94% of the IP6 content was reduced with IP4 and IP3 being the dominating lower inositol phosphates. In rye bread made with 50% whole grains (KB50) the degradation of IP6 was 82%, and the three inositol phosphates IP5, IP4 and IP3 were found in equal amount in this bread type. Due to significant amounts of phytic acid and remaining IP5, some of the minerals might not be available for human absorption after consumption of this bread type.     

Delivery of extremely large infants

The purpose of this retrospective study was to find out if more effort should be applied to the diagnosis of extremely large infants, with a birth weight of 5,000 grams or more, and if elective caesarean section can be recommended. In the Department of Obstetrics, Herning Central Hospital, Denmark, 67 mothers delivered an infant with a birth weight of 5000 g or more over a ten year period. This index group was compared with a matched group with infants of normal weight. The result showed significantly more caesarean sections in the index group (24% versus 5%, p = 0.002). Shoulder dystocia and Duchenne-Erb's palsy were more frequent as well. Sixteen percent in the index group were admitted to the paediatric department, but the Apgar scores were not significantly lower. Except for one, all the infants showed complete recovery. In conclusion, elective caesarean section can not be generally recommended for an estimated birthweight exceeding 5,000 g, if a trained obstetrician is present at delivery.     

Functional recovery after human heart transplantation is related to the metabolic condition of the hypothermic donor heart

BACKGROUND: Although strict selection criteria are being used for the acceptance of human donor hearts for transplantation, problems with respect to functional recovery on reperfusion sometimes still occur. Therefore, evaluation of the viability of a human donor heart before implantation during heart transplantation may be of great value. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the present study, the energy metabolism of 25 excised human donor hearts arrested with St Thomas' Hospital No. 2 cardioplegic solution was evaluated noninvasively by use of 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) before implantation and was correlated with myocardial function measured with thermodilution in heart transplant patients. No significant correlation was observed between the cardiac index of heart transplant patients during the first hours after transplantation and the phosphocreatine/ATP (r = .13, P = .54), inorganic phosphate/ATP (r = .26, P = .21), phosphomonoesters/ATP (r = .02, P = .92), or phosphocreatine/inorganic phosphate (r = .16, P = .44) ratio or the intracellular pH (r = .06, P = .78) at the time of reperfusion. However, 1 week after transplantation, a significant correlation was observed between the cardiac index and the phosphocreatine/ATP (r = .49, P = .01), phosphomonoesters/ATP (r = .45, P = .02), and phosphocreatine/inorganic phosphate (r = .40, P = .05) ratios at the time of reperfusion. In contrast, the inorganic phosphate/ATP (r = .10, P = .63) ratio and pH (r = .31, P = .13) at the time of reperfusion showed a poor correlation with the cardiac index 1 week after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Functional recovery after human heart transplantation is related to the metabolic condition of the hypothermic donor heart.