Study of the beta -delayed neutron decay of 18N

The shortage of suitable liver donors for children has motivated the use of ABO-incompatible (ABO-I) grafts for transplantation in urgent situations. However, survival after ABO-I liver grafts has been reported at about 30% as compared with 80% in cases of ABO-identical or -compatible liver grafts. This difference has been attributed to antibody-mediated, hyperacute or chronic liver rejection, due to preformed ABO antibodies (alloantibodies). In this study, we report our results with ABO-I livers in children without alloantibodies at the time of transplantation. From January 1988 to June 1993, 143 OLT were performed in 122 children. Eight children received 8 ABO-I liver grafts. Of these, 7 patients were included in the study. All 7 were alloantibody free before OLT. Five children were spontaneously alloantibody free, while in 2 children, the plasma alloantibodies were eliminated before and after transplantation using intravenous infusion of specific blood group antigens of the donor blood group (soluble antigens). Immunosuppression consisted of a triple-drug treatment combining CsA, AZA, and steroids. The follow-up period was between 10 and 48 months. One child died from a surgical complication. Six children survived, but 1 died 10 months later from intestinal obstruction. There were no graft losses and no episodes of hyperacute or chronic rejection. The graft and patient survival rate was 71%. There was a 28% incidence of rejection, but all were mild (requiring steroid boluses only). Our results suggest that the absence of ABO alloantibodies at the time of and after transplantation can protect ABO-I liver grafts against antibody-mediated rejection, whether hyperacute or chronic, and that soluble antigens are effective in eliminating alloantibodies in children.     

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for infantile osteopetrosis

Infantile osteopetrosis is a lethal disorder resulting from a severe defect in the ability of osteoclasts to resorb bone. The only therapy shown to be capable of providing lasting benefit is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). We report the outcome of 10 patients with infantile malignant osteopetrosis treated with HCT from an HLA A, B, DRB1 matched (n=6) or A or B locus mismatched (n=4) family member or unrelated donor at the University of Minnesota between 1978 and 1997. Eight of 10 patients achieved primary engraftment; secondary graft failure was seen in two patients. Five of 10 patients survive; three with full or partial donor chimerism and two with autologous hematological recovery. Transient or partial donor chimerism can be sufficient to correct the hematological manifestations of osteopetrosis. We recommend early referral for consideration of HCT with a related or unrelated donor as neurosensory manifestations of osteopetrosis are generally not reversible. Donor engraftment may be easier to achieve early in the course of the disease.     

Multiple solution conformations of the integrin-binding cyclic pentapeptide cyclo(-Ser-D-Leu-Asp-Val-Pro-). Analysis of the (phi, psi) space available to cyclic pentapeptides

The aqueous solution structure of the cyclic pentapeptide cyclo(-Ser-D-Leu-Asp-Val-Pro-) has been determined by two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy, combined with a conformational search and distance-geometry calculations. As many as five conformers in slow exchange were observed, and the rate of interconversion between components was measured from the build-up rates of exchange peaks. NMR data allowed the structures of the two predominant conformers to be determined. The major component (66%) contained a cis-proline as part of a type-VIa2 beta-turn encompassing residues Asp-Val-cis-Pro-Ser. The second component (16%) contained only trans-amide bonds, and a type-VIII beta-turn formed by residues Val-Pro-Ser-D-Leu. These structures are discussed in relation to the (phi, psi), space available to the cyclic pentapeptide, determined by a conformational search, and in relation to previously published cyclic-pentapeptide structures. The molecule exhibits activity in a scintillation-proximity assay for the inhibition of the interaction between the integrin very-late antigen-4 (VLA-4; alpha 4 beta 1) and vascular-cell-adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). The structure/activity relationship of the LDV sequence is discussed and related to the recently published X-ray structure of VCAM-1. The relevance of the work to the design of anti-inflammatory drugs is discussed.     

A monitoring, feedback, and triggering system for reproducible breath-hold MR imaging

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical usefulness of high-resolution transvaginal duplex Doppler ultrasound in postpartum and post-abortion patients with excessive hemorrhage who are suspected of having residual trophoblast. METHODS: Forty-eight women with excessive hemorrhage referred for possible residual trophoblastic tissue were evaluated by transvaginal duplex Doppler ultrasonography. Based on two-dimensional imaging, the patients were divided prospectively into groups: women who had an empty uterus with a normal uterine cavity, those with a pure endometrial fluid collection and no echogenic foci, those who had a mixed endometrial fluid collection with foci of echogenicity, and those with intracavitary heterogeneous material with mixed echo patterns of fluid and solid components. In each group, Doppler studies were performed and the resistance index (RI) was calculated. The two-dimensional patterns and Doppler results were correlated with clinical and pathologic follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-eight subjects had a normal uterine cavity and seven had a pure endometrial fluid collection; all were treated conservatively and none showed later clinical evidence of residual trophoblastic tissue. In 13 women, residual trophoblast was strongly suggested from the images of two-dimensional ultrasonography: Five showed an endometrial fluid collection with some echogenic foci, and eight exhibited intracavitary mixed echogenic material. All underwent curettage, and residual trophoblastic tissue was found in ten of the 13. The mean (+/- standard deviation) RI to flow in the myometrial arteries was 0.54 +/- 0.15 in women without residual trophoblast and 0.35 +/- 0.1 in those with residual trophoblastic tissue (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that transvaginal duplex Doppler ultrasonography is an effective noninvasive method for evaluating patients with excessive postpartum and post-abortion hemorrhage who are suspected of having residual trophoblastic tissue. Its use enhances the positive preoperative diagnosis of residual trophoblastic tissue and may reduce unnecessary curettage procedures.     

Concentration-response relationships for adenosine agonists during preconditioning of rabbit cardiomyocytes

Although adenosine receptors have been implicated in the induction of preconditioning in a variety of experimental models, there is controversy concerning the specific adenosine receptor subtypes mediating this effect. Concentration-protection relationships for adenosine and adenosine agonists in rabbit cardiomyocytes were used to characterize the role of adenosine receptor subtypes in preconditioning. Isolated cells were ischemically preconditioned or pre-incubated for 10 min with increasing concentrations of adenosine, CCPA (2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine), APNEA (N6-2-(4-aminophenyl)ethyladenosine), or BNECA (N6-benzyl-5'-N-ethyl-carboxamidoadenosine) in the presence or absence of 1 or 10 microM of the selective A1-adenosine antagonist DPCPX (8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine). Following a 30-min post-incubation period, cells were pelleted, layered with oil and ischemically incubated for 180 min. Injury was assessed by osmotic swelling and trypan blue exclusion of sequential samples, and determination of the areas beneath the mortality curves. Adenosine produced a broad concentration-protection curve which was displaced to the right by DPCPX. The curve for A1-selective agonist CCPA was biphasic, with an initial response below 1 nM and a second above 1 microM. DPCPX abolished the early response leaving a steep monophasic curve between 0.1 and 10 microM CCPA. The APNEA curve appeared moriophasic, the major slope occurring between 1-100 nM; DPCPX (1 microM) shifted the concentration-response curve approximately 30-fold and decreased the slope. Adenosine receptor agonist BNECA produced preconditioning characterized by a shallow monophasic concentration-protection curve with a maximal effect of 49% and an EC50 of approximately 5 nM; DPCPX shifted the BNECA concentration-protection relationship approximately 40-fold with only a modest increase in slope. Analysis of the data suggests that induction of preconditioning results from interaction of agonists with the A1 receptor and a second adenosine receptor having properties consistent with the A3 receptor. Adenosine, CCPA, APNEA, BNECA and DPCPX each appear to be selective for the A1 adenosine receptor subtype in isolated rabbit cardiomyocytes.     

Cerebral blood flow relationships associated with a difficult tone recognition task in trained normal volunteers

Tone recognition is partially subserved by neural activity in the right frontal and primary auditory cortices. First we determined the brain areas associated with tone perception and recognition. This study then examined how regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in these and other brain regions correlates with the behavioral characteristics of a difficult tone recognition task. rCBF changes were assessed using H2(15)O positron emission tomography. Subtraction procedures were used to localize significant change regions and correlational analyses were applied to determine how response times (RT) predicted rCBF patterns. Twelve trained normal volunteers were studied in three conditions: REST, sensory motor control (SMC) and decision (DEC). The SMC-REST contrast revealed bilateral activation of primary auditory cortices, cerebellum and bilateral inferior frontal gyri. DEC-SMC produced significant clusters in the right middle and inferior frontal gyri, insula and claustrum; the anterior cingulate gyrus and supplementary motor area; the left insula/claustrum; and the left cerebellum. Correlational analyses, RT versus rCBF from DEC scans, showed a positive correlation in right inferior and middle frontal cortex; rCBF in bilateral auditory cortices and cerebellum exhibited significant negative correlations with RT These changes suggest that neural activity in the right frontal, superior temporal and cerebellar regions shifts back and forth in magnitude depending on whether tone recognition RT is relatively fast or slow, during a difficult, accurate assessment.     

Glomerular and tubular function in glycogen storage disease

Urinary protein and calcium excretion were assessed in 77 patients with the hepatic glycogen storage diseases (GSD): 30 with GSD-I (median age 12.4 years, range 3.2-32.9 years), 25 with GSD-III (median age 10.5 years, range 4.2-31.3 years) and 22 with GSD-IX (median age 11.8 years, range 1.2-35.4 years). Inulin (Cinulin) and para-aminohippuric acid (CPAH) clearances were also measured in 33 of these patients. Those with GSD-I had significantly greater albumin (F = 15.07, P < 0.001), retinol-binding protein (RBP) (F = 14.66, P < 0.001), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) (F = 9.41, P < 0.001) and calcium (F = 7.41, P = 0.001) excretion than those with GSD-III and GSD-IX. GSD-I patients (n = 18) also had significantly higher Cinulin (F = 5.57, P = 0.009), but CPAH did not differ (F = 0.77, NS). Renal function was normal in GSD-III and GSD-IX patients. In GSD-I, Cinulin (r = -0.51, P = 0.03) and NAG excretion (r = -0.40, P = 0.03) were inversely correlated with age, whereas albumin excretion was positively correlated with age (r = +0.41, P = 0.03). RBP and calcium excretion were generally high throughout all age groups. Hyperfiltration in GSD-I is associated with renal tubular proteinuria that occurs before the onset of significant albuminuria. Deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase within the proximal renal tubule may primarily cause tubular dysfunction, glomerular hyperfiltration being a secondary phenomenon.     

Correlation between clinical course and quantitative analysis of the ischemia related artery in patients with unstable angina pectoris, refractory to medical treatment. Results of two randomized trials. The European Cooperative Study Group

Patients with unstable angina, refractory to intensive medical therapy, are at high risk for developing thrombotic complications, such as recurrent ischemia, myocardial infarction and coronary occlusion during coronary angioplasty. As both platelet aggregation and/or thrombus formation play an important role in this ongoing ischemic process, a monoclonal platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor antibody (c7E3) or thrombolytic therapy (alteplase) might be able to modify the clinical course and underlying coronary lesion morphology. To evaluate whether alteplase or c7E3 could influence the incidence of complications, we randomized 36 and 60 patients, respectively to alteplase or placebo, or c7E3 or placebo. All patients exhibited dynamic ECG changes and recurrent pain attacks, despite maximal tolerated medical therapy. Patients were randomized in both studies after initial angiography had demonstrated a culprit lesion amenable for angioplasty. After study drug infusion quantitative angiography was repeated and angioplasty performed. Recurrent ischemia during study drug infusion occurred in 5, 6, 9 and 16 patients from the alteplase, placebo, c7E3 and placebo group, respectively. Major events defined as death, myocardial infarction or urgent intervention occurred in 7, 3, 1 and 7 patients, respectively. Two patients died: one in the alteplase group and one in the placebo group from the c7E3 study. The first patient due to retroperitoneal hemorrhage, the second as a result of recurrent infarction. Qualitative angiography showed resolution of clots in the c7E3 group only, while the same group of patients showed in 20% an improvement in TIMI flow grade, without deterioration in any patient from this group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)