Expression of tissue factor and factor VIIa/tissue factor inhibitor activity in endotoxin or phorbol ester stimulated U937 monocyte-like cells

Previously, unstimulated cells of the human monocytic tumor cell line U937 have been shown to possess a negligible cell-surface tissue factor (TF) activity, and to secrete a small amount of factor VIIa/tissue factor (VIIa/TF) inhibitor activity. On stimulation with endotoxin or with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), TF of these cells is known to be increased approximately fourfold. In this report, we demonstrate that VIIa/TF inhibitor is also increased on stimulation of U937 cells with endotoxin (approximately equal to threefold) or with PMA (approximately equal to 20-fold). Notably, the secretion of the inhibitor persisted after the cell surface TF had started to decline. Further, when serum- free media from PMA stimulated cells was electrophoresed on a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel, we eluted two inhibitor activity peaks corresponding to Mr approximately equal to 47,000 and Mr approximately equal to 36,000. The molecular weights of these peaks are similar to those obtained earlier from human plasma for this inhibitor(s).     

Quality of life several years after myocardial infarction: comparing the MONICA/KORA registry to the general population

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of myocardialinfarction (MI) on health-related quality of life (HRQL) inMI survivors measured by EuroQol (EQ-5D) and to compare it withthe general population. Methods and results: A follow-up study of all MI survivors included in the MONICA/KORAregistry was performed. About 2950 (67.1%) patients responded.Moderate or severe problems were most frequent in EQ-5D dimensionpain/discomfort (55.0%), anxiety/depression (29.2%), and mobility(27.9%). Mean EQ VAS score was 65.8 (SD 18.5). Main predictorsof lower HRQL included older age, diabetes, increasing bodymass index, current smoking, and experience of re-infarction.Type of revascularizational treatment showed no impact on HRQL.Compared with the general population, adjusted EQ VAS was 6.2(95% confidence interval 3.4–8.9) points lower in 45-year-oldMI patients converging with growing age up to the age of 80.With regard to HRQL dimensions, MI survivors had a significantlyhigher risk of incurring problems in the dimension pain/discomfort,usual activities, and especially in anxiety/depression whichwas more pronounced in younger age. Mobility was the singledimension, in which MI showed an inverse effect. Conclusion: MI is combined with significant reduction in HRQL compared withthe general population. The main impairments occur in the dimensionpain/discomfort, usual activities, and particularly anxiety/depression.The relative impairment decreases with higher ages.     

Microrheologic investigation of erythrocyte deformability in diabetes mellitus

This study was undertaken to determine whether diabetes alters the viscoelastic properties of erythrocytes. The oldest and youngest 10% fractions of circulating red cells were separated by centrifugation of freshly drawn blood obtained from ten diabetics with disease of one to 20 years' duration and from an equal number of age- and sex-matched control subjects. Cells from each fraction were suspended in phosphate- buffered saline, and their rheologic behavior was examined in a rheoscope. The elongation of cells, the percentage of cells that tank- treaded in response to shear stress, tank-treading frequency, and the rate of recovery of cell shape upon cessation of shear stress were determined in the oldest and youngest 10% of cells for diabetics as well as for controls. All four parameters were virtually identical for diabetics and controls. Additional aliquots of cells were taken for assessment of nonenzymatic glucosylation of hemoglobin and cell membrane protein. The absence of any measurable difference in rheologic behavior of cells from diabetic and control subjects, despite substantial differences in nonenzymatic glucosylation of hemoglobin and cell membrane proteins, suggests that the magnitude of glucosylation observed in these cellular constituents does not alter the viscoelastic properties of the cells. The implication of these observations is that microvascular complications of diabetes are not attributable to altered deformability of red cells.