留置溶栓导管介入治疗急性下肢动脉血栓栓塞的临床研究

目的 探讨急性下肢动脉血栓栓塞患者留置溶栓导管介入治疗的方法与疗效.方法 112例急性下肢动脉血栓形成或栓塞患者,其中冠心病或风湿性心脏病合并心房颤动致下肢动脉栓塞85例,各种原因导致的血栓形成27例;所有患者均采用留置溶栓导管局部持续溶栓的方法介入治疗.结果 112例患者中77例(68.8%)患者经介入留置溶栓导管溶栓后栓塞血管完全再通;23例(20.5%)患者栓塞血管部分再通,肢体得以保全,但后期随访16例患者仍有肢体慢性缺血症状;9例(8.0%)因肢体缺血时间过长,发生不可逆性坏死而行截肢术;3例(2.7%)因发生急性再灌注损伤并发急性肾衰竭或再发脑梗死而死亡.结论 留置溶栓导管介入治疗急性下肢动脉血栓栓塞安全、有效,截肢率低.

Abstract：

Objective To study the methods and effects by using thrombolytic catheter in interventional treatment for patients with acute lower limb arterial thrombosis or embolism. Methods One hundred and twelve patients suffered acute lower limb arterial thrombosis or embolism. There were 85 cases of acute lower limb arterial embolism induced by atrial fibrillation in coronary or rheumatic heart disease,other 27 cases of arterial thrombosis caused by different reasons. Interventional treatment by inlying thrombolytic catheter was applied and continuous perfusion was received locally in all patients. Results Complete recanalization was got in 77 cases (68.8%) of 112 cases. Partial re canalization was got in 23 cases (20.5%), and ischemia limbs were saved in spite of chronic limb ischemia(chronic spasmodic limb) occurring in the later follow-up. Nine cases (8.0%) were amputated as a result of irreversible limbs necrosis, 3 cases (2.7%) died from acute renal failure resulting from reperfusion injury or recurrent cerebral embolism.Conclusion Interventional treatment by inlying thrombolytic catheter is a safe and effective method with lower amputation rate for acute lower limb arterial thrombosis or embolism in patients.     

降钙素对大白兔糖尿病骨质疏松模型假体骨密度及生物力学的影响

Objective To investigate the influence of calcitonin on bone mineral density and biomechanics around the artificial pros-thesis in ovariectomized diabetic rabbit model. Methods Fourteen femina New Zealand white rabbits at the age of 5 months old were select-ed, which weight 2.24 -2.65kg, averaging 2.26kg. First, the model of rabbit with diabetic osteoporosis was successfully established by the compound method of ovariectomy plus streptozotocin. Osteotomy in the middle part of femur was performed in both groups, fixation of artifi-cial prosthesis was done with 3.0 kirschner wire. After that, Rabbit models with diabetic osteoporosis were randomly divided into experimen-tal group and control group. Rabbits in the experimental group were treated with calcitonin 6U intramuscular injection once every other day. In control group, intramuscular injection of normal saline solution 1.5ml once every three days. Rabbit models of two groups were sacrificed in the 24th week. The BMD of the region of interest (ROI) around the prosthesis were detected before experiment and 8, 16 and 24 weeks after injection. After rabbits were killed, experimental femurs in both groups were complete removal and soft tissues were rejected. Determi-nation of the pull-out and torsion bone biomechanics experiments of prosthesis was done in both groups respectively. Results The BMD of ROI in the experimental group before operation was (0.1863±0.004)g/cm2 and (0.1753±0.005)g/cm2 in 24 weeks after operation, in control group before operation was (0.1865±0.002)g/cm2 and (0.1638±0.005)g/cm2 in 24 weeks after operation. There were significant difference between the two groups(P < 0.05). Biomechanical show that the pull-out strength in the experimental group was (312.68±8.73 )N/cm2 and (205.43±12.45 ) N/cm2 in control group. There were significant difference between the two groups(P < 0.05). The tor-sion strength in experimental group was (80.47±2.51) N/cm2 and (38.52±0.64) N/cm2 in control group. There were significant differ-ence between the two groups(P < 0.05). Conclusion Salmon calcitonin can reduce the bone turnover rate around prosthesis and decrease bone absorption in the rabbit of diabetic osteoporosis models, accelerate the bone formation around prosthesis, and increase the BMD. It can ameliorate the quality of bone around prosthesis, improve its biomechanics property, and increase the holding power between prosthesis and body mass. It is of clinical significance for the prevention and treatment of aseptic loosening artificial prosthesis.     

旁路移植术在远端流出道不良所致严重下肢缺血患者中的应用价值

目的 探讨旁路移植术在远端流出道不良所致严重下肢缺血患者中的应用价值.方法 选取42例(共49条下肢)仅有小腿单支流出道动脉供血的严重下肢缺血患者作为研究对象,并行动脉旁路移植手术,手术方式主要有股-胭动脉人工血管-小腿动脉自体血管移植术、腘-小腿动脉自体血管移植术及胭-足背动脉自体血管移植术等,分析其血管通畅率等指标.结果 42例患者中,术后移植血管闭塞1例,闭塞率为2.4％(1/42),手术成功率为97.6％(41/42);1例在术后第4天因呼吸衰竭死亡,病死率为2.4％(1/42);出院时血管通畅率为100.0％ (41/41),足部创面愈合率为33.3％(11/33).结论 采用下肢远端动脉旁路移植术治疗仅有小腿单支流出道动脉供血的严重下肢缺血效果较明显,可为足部创面的愈合提供较好的营养环境,也可及早挽救肢体或降低截肢平面,对提高患者术后生活质量有较大价值.     

解剖外动脉旁路移植术治疗主髂动脉闭塞症

目的 探讨解剖外动脉旁路移植术在治疗主髂动脉闭塞症中的作用.方法 回顾性分析经解剖外动脉旁路移植术治疗的41例主髂动脉闭塞症患者的临床资料,其中有间歇性跛行11例,下肢静息痛12例,合并溃疡或坏疽18例.15例腹主动脉和(或)双侧髂动脉闭塞者采用腋-股动脉旁路移植术,18例单侧髂动脉闭塞者采用股.对侧股动脉旁路移植术,8例单侧髂动脉合并同侧股动脉闭塞者采用股.对侧胭动脉旁路移植术.使用的旁路移植血管均为聚四氟乙烯(Gore-Tex)人工血管.结果 术后40例(97.6%)患者的临床表现明显改善.踝肱指数由术前0.41±0.15升为术后0.89±0.21,两者比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).随访35例,随访时间1～5年,本组术后1、3、5年移植血管的总的通畅率分别为93%、86%、80%.结论 解剖外动脉旁路移植术具有创伤小,术后恢复快等优点,是治疗主髂动脉闭塞症的有效方法之一.     

青春双歧杆菌和嗜酸乳酸杆菌对急性期和恢复期结肠炎小鼠Th1/Th2亚群的影响

Objective To observe and analyze the effect of B. Adolescentis and L. Acidophilus on the proportion of Th cell Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood of UC-mice in acute stage and recovery stage. Method 40 BABL/c mice were induced by 3% DSS water for 7 clays free drinking and then with distilled water for 10 days. They were randomly allocated in 4 groups: NS group, SASP group, BF0624 group and LT0637 group, also the fifth group-10 normal animals. The blood of mice were collected by removing their eyes at day 8 and day 18, and then the mononuclear cells were iso]atecl. The proportion of Th1/Th2 was analyze through flow eytometry,hy labeling the specific antibody ot Th cellular membrane with the CD4 antibody, and the cytoplastie antigen of Thl or Th2 with IIA antibody or IF'N-γ antibody. Result The proportion of Th1/Th2 in normal mouse was 0. 84 -0. 94,and it raised up in DSS-mice at both acute stage and recovery stage. It decreased unequally after 7 or 17 days'B, adoleseentis, L. Acidophilus and SASP treatment, but that of all three groups were lower than NS group (2.21±0. 83). Even the proportion got close to the normal animals after 17 days'L. Acidophilus -treated. Conclusion The proportion of Thl/Th2 increased at the acute stage and recovery stage of DSS-mice. Both B. Adoleseentis and L. Acidophilus had more effective than SASP on decreasing the proportion of Th1/Th2 at two stages,ospecially L. Acidophilus.     

青春双歧杆菌和嗜酸乳酸杆菌对急性期和恢复期结肠炎小鼠Th1/Th2亚群的影响

Objective To observe and analyze the effect of B. Adolescentis and L. Acidophilus on the proportion of Th cell Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood of UC-mice in acute stage and recovery stage. Method 40 BABL/c mice were induced by 3% DSS water for 7 clays free drinking and then with distilled water for 10 days. They were randomly allocated in 4 groups: NS group, SASP group, BF0624 group and LT0637 group, also the fifth group-10 normal animals. The blood of mice were collected by removing their eyes at day 8 and day 18, and then the mononuclear cells were iso]atecl. The proportion of Th1/Th2 was analyze through flow eytometry,hy labeling the specific antibody ot Th cellular membrane with the CD4 antibody, and the cytoplastie antigen of Thl or Th2 with IIA antibody or IF'N-γ antibody. Result The proportion of Th1/Th2 in normal mouse was 0. 84 -0. 94,and it raised up in DSS-mice at both acute stage and recovery stage. It decreased unequally after 7 or 17 days'B, adoleseentis, L. Acidophilus and SASP treatment, but that of all three groups were lower than NS group (2.21±0. 83). Even the proportion got close to the normal animals after 17 days'L. Acidophilus -treated. Conclusion The proportion of Thl/Th2 increased at the acute stage and recovery stage of DSS-mice. Both B. Adoleseentis and L. Acidophilus had more effective than SASP on decreasing the proportion of Th1/Th2 at two stages,ospecially L. Acidophilus.     

青春双歧杆菌和嗜酸乳酸杆菌对急性期和恢复期结肠炎小鼠Th1/Th2亚群的影响

Objective To observe and analyze the effect of B. Adolescentis and L. Acidophilus on the proportion of Th cell Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood of UC-mice in acute stage and recovery stage. Method 40 BABL/c mice were induced by 3% DSS water for 7 clays free drinking and then with distilled water for 10 days. They were randomly allocated in 4 groups: NS group, SASP group, BF0624 group and LT0637 group, also the fifth group-10 normal animals. The blood of mice were collected by removing their eyes at day 8 and day 18, and then the mononuclear cells were iso]atecl. The proportion of Th1/Th2 was analyze through flow eytometry,hy labeling the specific antibody ot Th cellular membrane with the CD4 antibody, and the cytoplastie antigen of Thl or Th2 with IIA antibody or IF'N-γ antibody. Result The proportion of Th1/Th2 in normal mouse was 0. 84 -0. 94,and it raised up in DSS-mice at both acute stage and recovery stage. It decreased unequally after 7 or 17 days'B, adoleseentis, L. Acidophilus and SASP treatment, but that of all three groups were lower than NS group (2.21±0. 83). Even the proportion got close to the normal animals after 17 days'L. Acidophilus -treated. Conclusion The proportion of Thl/Th2 increased at the acute stage and recovery stage of DSS-mice. Both B. Adoleseentis and L. Acidophilus had more effective than SASP on decreasing the proportion of Th1/Th2 at two stages,ospecially L. Acidophilus.     

青春双歧杆菌和嗜酸乳酸杆菌对急性期和恢复期结肠炎小鼠Th1/Th2亚群的影响

Objective To observe and analyze the effect of B. Adolescentis and L. Acidophilus on the proportion of Th cell Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood of UC-mice in acute stage and recovery stage. Method 40 BABL/c mice were induced by 3% DSS water for 7 clays free drinking and then with distilled water for 10 days. They were randomly allocated in 4 groups: NS group, SASP group, BF0624 group and LT0637 group, also the fifth group-10 normal animals. The blood of mice were collected by removing their eyes at day 8 and day 18, and then the mononuclear cells were iso]atecl. The proportion of Th1/Th2 was analyze through flow eytometry,hy labeling the specific antibody ot Th cellular membrane with the CD4 antibody, and the cytoplastie antigen of Thl or Th2 with IIA antibody or IF'N-γ antibody. Result The proportion of Th1/Th2 in normal mouse was 0. 84 -0. 94,and it raised up in DSS-mice at both acute stage and recovery stage. It decreased unequally after 7 or 17 days'B, adoleseentis, L. Acidophilus and SASP treatment, but that of all three groups were lower than NS group (2.21±0. 83). Even the proportion got close to the normal animals after 17 days'L. Acidophilus -treated. Conclusion The proportion of Thl/Th2 increased at the acute stage and recovery stage of DSS-mice. Both B. Adoleseentis and L. Acidophilus had more effective than SASP on decreasing the proportion of Th1/Th2 at two stages,ospecially L. Acidophilus.     

青春双歧杆菌和嗜酸乳酸杆菌对急性期和恢复期结肠炎小鼠Th1/Th2亚群的影响

Objective To observe and analyze the effect of B. Adolescentis and L. Acidophilus on the proportion of Th cell Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood of UC-mice in acute stage and recovery stage. Method 40 BABL/c mice were induced by 3% DSS water for 7 clays free drinking and then with distilled water for 10 days. They were randomly allocated in 4 groups: NS group, SASP group, BF0624 group and LT0637 group, also the fifth group-10 normal animals. The blood of mice were collected by removing their eyes at day 8 and day 18, and then the mononuclear cells were iso]atecl. The proportion of Th1/Th2 was analyze through flow eytometry,hy labeling the specific antibody ot Th cellular membrane with the CD4 antibody, and the cytoplastie antigen of Thl or Th2 with IIA antibody or IF'N-γ antibody. Result The proportion of Th1/Th2 in normal mouse was 0. 84 -0. 94,and it raised up in DSS-mice at both acute stage and recovery stage. It decreased unequally after 7 or 17 days'B, adoleseentis, L. Acidophilus and SASP treatment, but that of all three groups were lower than NS group (2.21±0. 83). Even the proportion got close to the normal animals after 17 days'L. Acidophilus -treated. Conclusion The proportion of Thl/Th2 increased at the acute stage and recovery stage of DSS-mice. Both B. Adoleseentis and L. Acidophilus had more effective than SASP on decreasing the proportion of Th1/Th2 at two stages,ospecially L. Acidophilus.     

青春双歧杆菌和嗜酸乳酸杆菌对急性期和恢复期结肠炎小鼠Th1/Th2亚群的影响

Objective To observe and analyze the effect of B. Adolescentis and L. Acidophilus on the proportion of Th cell Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood of UC-mice in acute stage and recovery stage. Method 40 BABL/c mice were induced by 3% DSS water for 7 clays free drinking and then with distilled water for 10 days. They were randomly allocated in 4 groups: NS group, SASP group, BF0624 group and LT0637 group, also the fifth group-10 normal animals. The blood of mice were collected by removing their eyes at day 8 and day 18, and then the mononuclear cells were iso]atecl. The proportion of Th1/Th2 was analyze through flow eytometry,hy labeling the specific antibody ot Th cellular membrane with the CD4 antibody, and the cytoplastie antigen of Thl or Th2 with IIA antibody or IF'N-γ antibody. Result The proportion of Th1/Th2 in normal mouse was 0. 84 -0. 94,and it raised up in DSS-mice at both acute stage and recovery stage. It decreased unequally after 7 or 17 days'B, adoleseentis, L. Acidophilus and SASP treatment, but that of all three groups were lower than NS group (2.21±0. 83). Even the proportion got close to the normal animals after 17 days'L. Acidophilus -treated. Conclusion The proportion of Thl/Th2 increased at the acute stage and recovery stage of DSS-mice. Both B. Adoleseentis and L. Acidophilus had more effective than SASP on decreasing the proportion of Th1/Th2 at two stages,ospecially L. Acidophilus.     

多节段、多平面下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的临床治疗

目的 探讨多节段、多平面下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的临床治疗方法.方法 按照个体化原则,采用单一的动脉旁路重建术、序列式动脉旁路重建术和经皮血管腔内成形术联合动脉旁路重建术治疗多节段、多平面下肢动脉硬化闭塞症患者25例.结果 随访6个月至3年,25例患者肢体缺血症状明显减轻或消失,原溃疡面愈合.4例足趾干性坏疽,截趾后创面2～4个月愈合,2例移植物在术后6个月内闭塞,但肢体缺血症状明显改善,本组无重要脏器并发症和手术死亡病例,移植物通畅率92%(23/25),治愈率100%.结论 按照个体化原则,选择单一动脉旁路重建术、序列式动脉旁路重建术和经皮血管腔内成形术联合动脉旁路重建术是治疗多节段、多平面下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的有效方法.     

Increased prostacyclin production after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the iliac artery for atherosclerosis obliterans

BACKGROUND: Endothelial prostacyclin production is modulated by blood flow (wall shear stress). Local plasma prostacyclin concentrations and hemodynamic parameters have therefore been investigated in patients with atherosclerosis obliterans before and after angioplasty. METHODS. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of Surgery, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan. PATIENTS: Nine lower limbs in eight patients with significant stenoses of the iliac artery were studied. Interventions: blood samples were obtained from the femoral artery and femoral vein of nine lower limbs undergoing percutaneous balloon angioplasty of the iliac artery. MEASURES: Prostacyclin concentrations, radioimmunoassayed as 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, were measured before and after balloon dilatation. Femoral blood flow and the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) were measured using a Doppler velocimeter before and after the procedure. The femoral blood flow waveform was used to calculate the mean blood flow and shear stress variation. RESULTS: Before angioplasty, the mean (+/- SEM) plasma prostacyclin concentration was 21.6 +/- 1.5 pg/ml in the femoral artery and 25.4 +/- 1.1 pg/ml in the femoral vein. After angioplasty, these values increased to 25.6 +/- 2.2 pg/ml (p < 0.05) and 32.8 +/- 1.8 pg/ml (p < 0.01), respectively. The pre-procedural ABI, mean flow rate, and shear stress variation were 0.596 +/- 0.071, 354.1 +/- 63.3 ml/min, and 69.1 +/- 9.9 dyne/cm2, respectively. Both ABI and shear stress variation increased after angioplasty to 0.738 +/- 0.076 (p < 0.05) and 111.1 +/- 24.2 (p = 0.0775) dyne/cm2, but the mean flow rate (287.1 +/- 61.1 ml/min after angioplasty) did not increase (p = 0.2002). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that prostacyclin production increases after angioplasty, possibly due to increases in the intraluminal pressure and shear stress variation. This enhanced prostacyclin production may help to maintain arterial or bypass graft patency.     

Direct revascularization of the myocardium using the internal mammary artery

The best graft in coronary bypass operations is the internal mammary artery (IMA) as its rate of staying open for long term is better than that of the vena saphena magna. The authors present the operative and postoperative results of their first 161 patients who were subjected to IMA grafting. 126 were men and 35 women of the patients and the average age was 50.2 years. Before the operation the majority of the patients belonged to NYHA III state (69.6%). 86 patients (53.4%) had myocardial infarction before the operation, 50.3% were operated on because of 3 blood vessel diseases and the stricture of the main trunk was confirmed in 12.4%. 128 patients underwent only coronary bypass operation, in the others thrombendarterectomy (17 patients), valvular operation (11 patients) and resection of the left ventricular aneurysma (5) were carried out simultaneously. The IMA graft was placed in the majority of the cases on the LAD (70.8%) or as a sequential anastomosis on the LAD-diagonal system (21.1%). The average number of peripheral anastomoses was 2.8 anastomoses patient. 2.5% was the rate of early mortality (4 patients), reoperation was performed in 10 cases because of bleeding or tamponade and perioperative infarction occurred in 8 cases. 3.1% was the rate of late mortality (5 patients). The average follow-up examination time was 12.7 months (3-39 months). At the postoperative examinations 88.8% of the patients were free of angina and 108 patients got into NYHA I state after the operation. Of the 43 control bicycle ergometric examinations 35 were negative and 8 positive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

糖尿病足下肢动脉闭塞性病变的治疗选择

[目的]探讨糖尿病足下肢动脉闭塞病变的治疗经验。[方法]总结2004年4月~2009年3月共收治糖尿病足56例患者的下肢动脉闭塞病变的治疗体会,对腹主动脉以下狭窄严重伴足部溃疡的患者肢体进行血管搭桥手术。[结果]2例患者在搭桥后1周和1月人工血管血栓形成,通过取栓后血流恢复,1例术后3月人工血管血栓形成,膝下血管闭塞,自体大隐静脉不能使用,膝下肢体缺血坏疽,取栓术后再次血栓形成,最后导致截肢;1例在半年后流出道腘动脉闭塞行人工血管自体大隐静脉动脉化,术后2年肢体良好,但死于膀胱癌。另外一例取栓后未再有血栓形成,但至今足部溃疡仍未痊愈;其他患者在血管搭桥后都取得了较好的效果,在搭桥后下肢血流明显改善,足部溃疡愈合速度加快。3例患者死亡,分别是由于呼吸循环衰竭1例和消化道大出血2例。[结论]加强糖尿病足下肢动脉闭塞病变术前评估、选择合适的外科治疗和围手术期管理可明显降低截肢率,提高患者生活质量。     

Bilateral blood pressure measurement before and after coronary bypass surgery: an absolute necessity]

Anginous symptoms and a difference in blood pressure between the two arms prompted angiography in two patients, men aged 66 and 50 years. The examination revealed coronary sclerosis and a stenosis in the left subclavian artery. The symptoms disappeared after percutaneous dilatation of the subclavian artery, followed by a coronary bypass operation (CABG) using an internal thoracic artery (a branch of the subclavian artery). In two other patients, men aged 61 and 71 years, who had undergone an arterial CABG 12 years previously, anginous symptoms were the manifestation of a narrowed subclavian artery. The symptoms disappeared after balloon dilatation of the subclavian artery and revascularization of the anterior interventricular branch (left artery descendens) and embolization of the internal thoracic artery graft (internal mammarian artery graft), respectively. Stenosis or occlusion of the proximal subclavian artery may attenuate the blood flow in the ipsilateral A. thoracica interna graft. The diagnosis can simply be made by bilateral blood pressure measurement.     

腹主动脉完全闭塞或明显狭窄的下肢血管MSCTA检查方法

目的:探讨在腹主动脉完全闭塞或明显狭窄的下肢血管多层螺旋CT血管成像(MSCTA)检查的成功率。方法:收集、分析我院近期132例下肢血管MSCTA的检查方法,通过改进高位腹主动脉监测法、监视扩大视野(FOV)的腹壁动脉法、小剂量峰值检测法等多种手段完善检查。结果:132例下肢血管MSCTA检查患者,其中腹主动脉明显狭窄9例,狭窄达60%以上,腹主动脉完全闭塞2例,初次检查失败2例,其中明显狭窄1例,完全闭塞1例,通过改进扫描方法成功完成扫描,成像成功率在98%以上。结论:对于具有腹主动脉明显狭窄或完全闭塞的下肢血管病变患者,通过改进扫描方法,完全可以避免下肢血管MSCTA检查的失败。     

Efficacy of immunotherapy using antigens of Pythium insidiosum in the treatment of vascular pythiosis in humans

Human pythiosis is an emerging disease in the tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world. It is caused by the straminipilan, fungus-like, aquatic organism Pythium insidiosum. Pythiosis occurs in localized as well as systemic or vascular forms. Most patients with arterial pythiosis usually have underlying hematologic disorders such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia/paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) syndrome. Vascular pythiosis is characterized by ascending blood vessel infections and thrombosis of the major arteries especially those of the lower extremities. When the infection reaches a main artery, the patient usually dies within weeks. Since this pathogen is resistant to most antifungal drugs, immunotherapy was recently used to cure humans and animals with the disease. A modified P. insidiosum-antigen (PIA) formulation had already saved a young boy with life-threatening arterial pythiosis. Here, we report the therapeutic benefits of the PIA in eight patients with vascular pythiosis. Six of them had thalassemia and the other two had PNH. All of the patients had arterial occlusion of the lower limbs. P. insidiosum was isolated and identified by culture and by histopathology. All patients had evidence of active infection when immunotherapy began. After two injections of 100-200 microl of PIA (2.0mg/ml), at a 14-day interval, four patients (50%) had dramatic and complete remission. Two patients showed partial responses to PIA while the other two did not. Clinical responses correlated with the immunological reactions at the site of injection, clearance of the arteries and cytokine production. The latter included the shifting in serum levels of IL4 and IL5 to IL2 suggesting a switching from a T helper 2 (Th2) to a T helper 1 (Th1) subset. Our findings provide further evidence that immunotherapy using PIA is a safe and effective method to treat pythiosis in humans.     

Evaluation of effect and distribution of heparin administered in vascular reconstructive surgery

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to find out whether intravenously administered heparin is distributed equally not only proximal but also distal to the arterial occlusion level in vascular reconstructive surgery. METHODS: Ten consecutive patients (7 men and 3 women) with an average age of 69.9 years (range, 51 to 76 years) who underwent graft replacement for aortic abdominal aneurysm from April to December 1994 were studied. Mean aortic clamp time was 76 minutes. Heparin sodium (100 U/kg) was administered intravenously to keep activated clotting time (ACT) over 250 secs and was neutralized by protamine sulfate (1 mg/kg) just after reperfusion. ACT, blood lactate and CPK-MM in the brachial and dorsal pedis artery were measured before heparin administration (control), just after arterial occlusion, just before reperfusion and 10 minutes after protamine administration. RESULTS: ACT was significantly prolonged after arterial occlusion and recovered after protamine administration with no significant differences between proximal and distal values at each point. Lactate showed significant increase after arterial occlusion which was more remarkable distally. CPK-MM was all the way within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: In vascular reconstructive surgery which requires temporary arterial occlusion for as long as 80 minutes, the effect of heparin is excellent and equal throughout the body by collateral vessels, and the metabolic influence due to blockade of the blood flow is not so critical as to lead to cellular damage although anaerobic glycolysis is promoted distally due to hypoxia.