Normal synthesis and expression of endothelial IIb/IIIa in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is a bleeding disorder, inherited in an autosomal recessive way and characterized by an absence or deficiency of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex. Recently, we and others demonstrated that cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells synthesized a membrane protein complex similar to the platelet GP IIb/IIIa complex. In this article, we demonstrate that endothelial cells isolated from the umbilical vein of a newborn with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, as compared with normal endothelial cells, show no difference in their ability to synthesize and express this GP IIb/IIIa complex. Our results indicate that Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is not accompanied by an "endotheliopathy."     

The Effect of a Low Fructose and Low Glycemic Index/Load (FRAGILE) Dietary Intervention on Indices of Liver Function,Cardiometabolic Risk Factors,and Body Composition in Children and Adolescents With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease in obese children. Diets high in added fructose (high fructose corn syrup; HFCS) and glycemic index (GI)/glycemic load (GL) are associated with increased risk of NAFLD. Lifestyle modification is the main treatment, but no guidelines regarding specific dietary interventions for childhood NAFLD exist. We hypothesized that reductions in dietary fructose (total, free, and HFCS)/GI/GL over 6 months would result in improvements in body composition and markers of liver dysfunction and cardiometabolic risk in childhood NAFLD. Methods: Children and adolescents with NAFLD (n = 12) and healthy controls (n = 14) 7–18 years were studied at baseline and 3 and 6 months post–dietary intervention. Plasma markers of liver dysfunction (ALT, AST, γGT), cardiometabolic risk (TG, total cholesterol, LDL‐HDL cholesterol, Apo‐B100, Apo‐B48, Apo‐CIII, insulin, homeostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA‐IR]), inflammation (TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐10), anthropometric, and blood pressure (BP) were studied using validated methodologies. Results: Significant reductions in systolic BP (SBP), percentage body fat (BF), and plasma concentrations of ALT (P = .04), Apo‐B100 (P < .001), and HOMA‐IR were observed in children with NAFLD at 3 and 6 months (P < .05). Dietary reductions in total/free fructose/HFCS and GL were related to reductions in SBP (P = .01), ALT (P = .004), HOMA‐IR (P = .03), and percentage BF in children with NAFLD. Reductions in dietary GI were associated with reduced plasma Apo‐B100 (P = .02) in both groups. With the exception of Apo‐B100, no changes in laboratory variables were observed in the control group. Conclusion: Modest reductions in fructose (total/free, HFCS) and GI/GL intake result in improvements of plasma markers of liver dysfunction and cardiometabolic risk in childhood NAFLD.     

Total colonic ischemia

The involvement of the entire colon in an ischemic process is unusual because of the dual source of blood supply to the large bowel. Three cases of total ischemic colitis are presented. A precipitating cause to account for the distribution of ischemia was identified in each patient.     

Measurement of 'closing volume' initiated from functional residual capacity.

Comparison of the nitrogen method closing volume (CV) test, with oxygen inspiration initiated at residual volume (RV method) and functional residual capacity (FRC method), was made in 91 seated normal subjects. For RV and FRC methods, respectively CV%VC (mean+/-SD) was 14.4% (+/-6.2) and 17.5%(+/-7.5) (P=0.005); slope of Phase III of CV trace was 0.99% N2/1 (+/-0.76) and 1.66% N2/1(+/-1.07) (P=0.005); size of cardiogenic oscillations was 1.05% N2(+/-0.42) and 1.21% N2(+/-0.40) (P=0.001). These data confirm earlier predictions, based on a calculated increased lung top to bottom N2 gradient in the FRC method. Support for this mechanism was obtained in 5 additional normal subjects in whom the increased CV%VC, slope of Phase III and size of cardiogenic oscillations with the FRC method were eliminated when the top-to-bottom N2 gradient was reduced by breathing a reduced FIN2. Measurements made using the classical RV method cannot be directly compared to those using the FRC method.     

von Willebrand disease "Vicenza" with larger-than-normal (supranormal) von Willebrand factor multimers

When normal volunteers or patients with type I von Willebrand disease (VWD) are given desmopressin (DDAVP), a set of larger-than-normal (supranormal) von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers, similar to those present in VWF-containing cells such as platelets megakaryocytes and endothelial cells, appear transiently in postinfusion plasma. In two kindreds with mild lifelong bleeding symptoms transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, all ten symptomatic members (but none of the five asymptomatic members) had a supranormal multimeric structure for plasma VWF, apparently identical to that seen for postdesmopressin normal plasma. Plasma factor VIII coagulant activity (VIII:C), VWF antigen (VWF:Ag), ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination, and ristocetin cofactor (RiCof) activity were low. Platelet VWF:Ag and RiCof levels (tested for three patients only) were normal. Bleeding times were normal or slightly prolonged. The patients' platelet multimeric structure was the same as that for normal platelets. After desmopressin infusion the plasma VWF multimeric structure remained supranormal as for preinfusion plasma, with VIII:C VWF:Ag and RiCof increasing markedly over baseline values and disappearing at a normal rate. Examination of the VWF subunit composition from three of these patients indicated that proteolytic processing of their VWF did not differ from normal. This study describes the first variant of VWD with a supranormal multimeric structure.     

Return to sporting activity after Birmingham hip resurfacing arthroplasty: Mid term results

Background:

Hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) is primarily indicated for young, active patients with disabling coxarthrosis who wish to remain active and return to sports after surgery. Relatively few prospective studies have assessed return to sporting activity and impact of gender and age on this.

Materials and Methods:

Seventy-nine consecutive patients treated with HRA were included. Patients were reviewed clinically and radiologically. Function was assessed using the modified University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score. The Oxford, Harris and WOMAC hip scores were calculated.

Results:

Average age at the time of surgery was 54.9 years (range 34.5–73.6 years). Average preoperative and postoperative UCLA scores were 4 and 7.6 respectively. Patients were involved in 2 (0–4) sporting activities preoperatively and 2 (0–5) postoperatively. Preoperative and postoperative Oxford Hip Scores, Harris Hip Score and WOMAC scores were 40, 46 and 51 and 16, 94 and 3 respectively (P < 0.0001). Patients returned to sports at an average of 3 months postoperatively.

Conclusion:

Patients were able to return to sports by 3 months and perform the same number of activities at preoperative intensity. Activity levels are maintained up to the medium term with few complications.     

Systematic review of enhanced recovery after gastro-oesophageal cancer surgery

Introduction

Fast track methodology or enhanced recovery schemes have gained increasing popularity in perioperative care. While evidence is strong for colorectal surgery, its importance in gastric and oesophageal surgery has yet to be established. This article reviews the evidence of enhanced recovery schemes on outcome for this type of surgery.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted up to March 2014. Studies were retrieved and analysed using predetermined criteria.

Results

From 34 articles reviewed, 18 eligible studies were identified: 7 on gastric and 11 on oesophageal resection. Three randomised controlled trials, five case-controlled studies and ten case series were identified. The reported protocols included changes to each stage of the patient journey from pre to postoperative care. The specific focus following oesophageal resections was on early mobilisation, a reduction in intensive care unit stay, early drain removal and early (or no) contrast swallow studies. Following gastric resections, the emphasis was on reducing epidural anaesthesia along with re-establishing oral intake in the first three postoperative days and early removal of nasogastric tubes.In the papers reviewed, mortality rates following fast track surgery were 0.8% (9/1,075) for oesophageal resection and 0% (0/329) for gastric resection. The reported morbidity rate was 16.5% (54/329) following gastric resection and 38.6% (396/1,075) following oesophageal resection. Length of stay was reduced in both groups compared with conventional recovery groups in comparative studies.

Conclusions

The evidence for enhanced recovery schemes following gastric and oesophageal resection is weak, with only three (low volume) published randomised controlled trials. However, the enhanced recovery approach appears safe and may be associated with a reduction in length of stay.     

Autoantibodies to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) recognize a kininogen- PE complex

Demonstration of autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies (aPA) to negatively charged phospholipids (PL) in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) requires the presence of certain phospholipid-binding plasma proteins, eg, beta 2-glycoprotein I. We found a requirement for plasma against the electrically neutral or zwitterionic phospholipid, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Two of these PE-binding plasma proteins were identified as high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK) and low molecular weight kininogen (LMWK). We studied anti-PE antibody (aPE) seropositive plasma from 13 patients with SLE and/or recurrent spontaneous abortions by using partially purified kininogens and kininogen binding proteins from adult bovine serum isolated by carboxymethyl (CM)-papain affinity chromatography. Eleven of 13 sera recognized a kininogen-PE complex and/or a kininogen-binding protein- kininogen-PE complex. Some aPE-positive patient sera were shown to recognize highly purified HMWK and LMWK by ELISA only when the kininogens were presented on a PE substrate. These aPE sera did not recognize PE, HMWK, or LMWK when they were presented independently as the sole antigens on the ELISA plates. Other aPE-positive sera that did not react with PE-bound HMWK or LMWK reacted with the CM-papain column eluate when it was bound to PE, which suggests that these aPE recognize factor XI or prekallikrein, which normally bind to HMWK. The aPE ELISA reactivity of two patient sera were inhibited by preincubation of the CM-papain column eluate in the ELISA plate. These data show that most aPE are not specific for PE but require the presence of certain PL- binding plasma proteins that are kininogens or proteins in complex with kininogens. Our studies indicate that aPE bind to different plasma proteins than those implicated in anionic PL, aPA ELISA reactivity.