In vitro interactions of PGE and cAMP with murine and human erythroid precursors

Addition of prostaglandins of the E series (PGE1, PGE2) in methylcellulose cultures of murine marrow results in a dose-dependent inhibition of the cloning efficiency of both BFU-E and CFU-C. However, CFU-E growth is unaffected. The inhibitory action of PGE is progressively overcome by increasing amounts of colony-stimulating factor (CSF), and with some limitations, also of erythropoietin (Ep). Addition of PGF2 alpha' associated or not with indomethacin, does not exert any significant effect on these hemopoietic precursors. In an attempt to unvail the mechanism(s) underlying these phenomena, dibutyryl-cyclic AMP (db-cAMP), theophylline (an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase), or theophylline + PGE were plated at various concentrations. Both db-cAMP and theophylline induce an inhibitory influence on both BFU-E and CFU-C growth, which mimicks that by PGEs; additionally, theophylline potentiates the inhibitory action of PGE1. In all these studies, the CFU-E number was not significantly modified. PGE action on BFU-E proliferation is clearly species-dependent, since PGE1 addition to human marrow methylcellulose cultures induces a significant enhancement of the number of both BFU-E and CFU-E derived colonies. This action was abolished upon removal of adherent cells, thus suggesting that PGE1 evokes a release of factor(s) enhancing human erythroid colony growth by adherent cells.     

A canine model of hemophilic (factor VIII:C deficiency) bleeding

A model of bleeding due to clotting factor deficiency has been developed in dogs. Normal and hemophilic (factor VIII:C deficient) animals were used. Bleeding was induced in lightly anesthetized animals by severing the apex of the nail cuticle using a guillotine device. In normal animals, bleeding usually ceased spontaneously after 2-8 min. In contrast, in hemophilic animals, bleeding continued for up to 20 min and necessitated either cauterization or the application of topical thrombin to achieve hemostasis. Pretreatment of the hemophilic animals with canine cryoprecipitate corrected the cuticle bleeding time to within the range noted for normal animals. The method is simple and reproducible and has the advantage that a number of observations can be made sequentially on the same animal. Rebleeding of the cauterized cuticle of the hemophilic animals did not usually occur. This model has considerable potential for the preclinical testing of products considered to bypass or replace factor VIII:C in patients with acquired inhibitors of factor VIII:C and may be adapted to the study of other mechanisms involved in normal and abnormal hemostasis.     

Microaggregate counts in frozen-preserved erythrocytes: effects of washing in three blood processors and filtration

Since microaggregates have been implicated in posttransfusion pulmonary insufficiency, their elimination has become an active concern in blood transfusion. Various types of filters, as well as frozen-preserved erythrocytes, have been used to provide blood relatively low in microaggregates. We have counted particles in frozen-stored blood before deglycerolization, after washing in each of three cell processing systems, and after filtration through a 40-micrometer filter. Washing frozen erythrocytes reduced the total particle counts by an average of 89%. Slight differences were found among the three blood processors with respect to particle removal. Passing washed blood through a 40-micrometer filter did not result in significant further reduction in particle counts. Hence, the use of such filters in a frozen-preserved blood system is not warranted.     

Use of healthcare a long time after severe burn injury; relation to perceived health and personality characteristics

Purpose.?The aim of the study was to evaluate which factors are associated with the use of healthcare a long time after severe burn injury.

Method.?After a review process based on clinical reasoning, 69 former burn patients out of a consecutive group treated at the Uppsala Burn Unit from 1980?–?1995 were visited in their homes and their use of care and support was assessed in a semi-structured interview. Post-burn health was assessed with the Burn-Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B) and personality was assessed with the Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP).

Results.?The participants were injured on average eight years previously. Thirty-four had current contact with healthcare due to their burn injury and had significantly lower scores on three BSHS-B-domains: Simple Abilities, Work and Hand function, and significantly higher scores for the SSP-domain Neuroticism and the SSP-scales Stress Susceptibility, Lack of Assertiveness, and lower scores for Social Desirability. There was no relation to age, gender, time since injury, length of stay, or to the surface area burned.

Conclusions.?A routine screening of personality traits as a supplement to long-term follow-ups may help in identifying the patient's need for care.     

改良尿道拖入术治疗外伤性后尿道狭窄

自1994年以来,我院采用改良的尿道拖人术治疗外伤性后尿道狭窄22例,取得满意疗效,现报道如下。l临床资料本组病例均为男性,为严重车祸伤或高处跌伤致骨盆骨折所致,年龄则一46岁,平均35岁。临床症状有尿道四溢血、尿摊留、腹胀、肛周青紫肿胀,有休克者2例,合并直肠损伤2例,磅眈破裂6例。术中发现前列腺尖游离者4例。所有病例不能将导尿管插入膀跳,而均行单纯“耻骨上膀胜造疾术”,有膀脱破裂者行“膀脱破裂修补术”,有直肠损伤者,行“乙状结肠造疫术”。患者于术后3－6个月来院行尿道重建术。术前常规尿道造影,显示膜部尿道狭…     

Serum ionic fluoride levels in haemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

High serum fluoride (F-) in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with risk of renal osteodystrophy and other bone changes. This study was done to determine F- in normal healthy controls and patients with ESRD on haemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). Seventeen healthy controls (12 males, 5 females) and 39 ESRD patients on dialysis (17 males, 22 females) were recruited in the study in a community with 47.4 +/- 3.28 microM/l (range 44-51 microM/l) of F- content in drinking water. Control subjects showed a mean serum F- concentration of 1.08 +/- 0.350 microM/l. Males in control group showed slightly higher F- levels (1.15 +/- 0.334, range 0.55-1.9 microM/l) than females (0.92 +/- 0.370, range 0.6-1.5 microM/l). Mean serum F- concentration did not correlate significantly with age and sex among control subjects, whereas such correlation was observed in patients with ESRD on dialysis. Mean serum F- concentration was significantly higher in patients on dialysis (2.67 +/- 1.09, range 0.8-5.2 microM/l) than normal controls. When grouped according to sex, the mean serum F- concentration in males (3.05 +/- 1.04, range 1.8-5.2 microM/l) was significantly higher than females (2.38 +/- 1.08, range 0.8-5.2 microM/l). When patients were grouped according to age, it was observed that F- concentration was significantly higher in patients with age groups 21-70 (2.86 +/- 1.05) than those with age group 13-20 years (1.42 +/- 0.531). Thus F- concentration correlated with age and sex, being higher in males and above 20 years. Despite appreciable clearance of F- (39-90%) across the peritoneum, patients on CAPD showed higher serum F- concentration than those on HD (3.1 +/- 1.97 vs 2.5 +/- 1.137 microM/l). Of the total 39 patients on dialysis 39% had their serum F- concentration above 3.0 microM/l, posing the risk of renal osteodystrophy.