Iopamidol and meglumine diatrizoate: comparison of effects on patient discomfort during aortofemoral arteriography

Iopamidol was compared with Renografin-60 (meglumine diatrizoate, Squibb) in a controlled, randomized double-blind study of 40 patients undergoing peripheral arteriography for arteriosclerotic occlusive disease to determine which agent caused less discomfort. Each patient was evaluated for objective signs of discomfort and subjective feelings of pain and heat. Monitoring was achieved by multiple physical examinations, chemical tests, electrocardiograms, and intra-arterial pressure recordings. It is concluded that iopamidol is safe and causes significantly less patient discomfort than Renografin-60.     

The inhibitory effects of ferriprotoporphyrin IX on platelet aggregation and release of serotonin

Ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP) dissolved in 0.025N NaoH in concentrations of 0.01 - 0.04 microM/ul platelet suspension competitively inhibited platelet aggregation induced by a low concentration of collagen. 14C-serotonin release was also inhibited. Higher concentrations of collagen overcame the aggregation inhibition. A similar pattern of results was obtained with thrombin-, and arachidonic acid-induced aggregation and release. With ristocetin, there was little inhibition of aggregation although serotonin release was inhibited. ADP-induced aggregation was partially inhibited except at FP concentrations of 0.91 microM/mul. FP caused only platelet shape change and serotonin release of up to 8.1%. These changes were not associated with significant platelet lysis and could also not be attributed to pH or temperature changes. There was no inhibition of collagen-induced aggregation in PRP, but FP precipitates aggregated washed platelets and caused serotonin release. These results show that FP in solution inhibited platelet aggregation induced by the different agents studied. It did not interfere with platelet agglutination induced by ristocetin. The mechanism(s) of aggregation inhibition remains to be clarified.     

Solid phase red cell adherence immunoassay for anti-HIV 1: a simple, rapid, and accurate method for donor screening

In technically developed countries in which acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a risk to the recipients of blood or tissue, it is mandatory to screen the donor for evidence of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. Current tests, based on enzyme-linked immunoassay, are time-consuming and expensive and as such are unsuitable for developing countries. We describe a second generation test using anti-human IgG coupled to red cells as the indicator of antibody having reacted with test antigen (1). The test is complete within ten minutes, simple to perform and to read and has 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity compared with Western blot. It is ideal for the rapid screening of organ donors and for the screening of blood donors where cost is a major consideration.     

Factor VIII coagulant activity in an African population in relation to a recognized standard

The normal range of factor VIII coagulant activity (derived from log potency ratio) in some sections of the Nigerian population has been established at 0.65--5.55 iu/ml with a geometric mean of 1.90 iu/ml. This was determined against an acceptable standard (MRC Human 68/413 with activity o.66 iu/ml). The distribution of the potency ratio was log normal. The level was not affected by age or an abnormal haemoglobin (Hb A + S or A + C). The mean activity in females was significantly higher than the mean value in male subjects. With the use of a stable standard, our results show that the conclusions of some previous studies in respect of some of the parameters such as population distribution but which did not use a recognized standard, were valid. Within the age limits of our subjects, age did not affect the population level of factor VIII coagulant activity.