Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) levels in patients with coronary artery disease investigated by angiography

BACKGROUND: The ability of abciximab to prevent fibrinogen binding to activated platelets indicates it may also promote dissolution of platelet-rich thrombi. The present study examined the capacity of abciximab to reverse platelet aggregation in vitro. METHODS AND RESULTS: Experiments were performed on blood from healthy non-medicated donors. Platelet aggregate formation and disaggregation were monitored turbidimetrically. Platelet-bound fibrinogen was measured by flow cytometry. For disaggregation studies, platelets were first stimulated with either ADP or the 11-mer thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP), then varying amounts of abciximab were added at periodic intervals after agonist addition. Platelet disaggregation was detected by comparing the extent of light transmittance at 4 min after addition of either abciximab or saline to PRP. ATP release was simultaneously monitored by chemi-luminescence. When added 1 min after low concentrations of ADP, abciximab rapidly (< 1 min) dispersed platelet aggregates in a dose-dependent manner, with complete disaggregation observed with 6.25 microg/mL of the beta3 antagonist. In contrast, equivalent concentrations of abciximab did not induce appreciable disaggregation to platelets stimulated with TRAP (10 microM). Platelet counts of samples that had undergone complete disaggregation, as assessed by aggregometry, were equivalent to baseline, indicating dispersal of aggregates to single cells. Concentrations of abciximab that produced complete disaggregation induced partial displacement of platelet-bound fibrinogen (52 +/- 8% inhibition of fibrinogen binding at 12.5 microg/ml abciximab). The disaggregation effectiveness of abciximab decreased as the time between ADP and subsequent abciximab addition widened, and as the amount of both dense granule release and agonist stimulation increased. However, pre-treatment of platelets with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) did not potentiate platelet disaggregation induced by abciximab. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that abciximab facilitates the dispersal of newly formed platelet aggregates in vitro, by partially displacing fibrinogen from activated GPIIb/IIIa receptors. In vivo, abciximab may destabilize coronary thrombi by preventing aggregate formation and dispersing mural thrombi.     

Pericholecystic fistula: a study of 64 cases

Spontaneous biliary fistulas are found quite often. Although previously considered as a contraindication to laparoscopic surgery, they are now being treated laparoscopically with all its advantages. Of 8015 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 64 patients were diagnosed preoperatively; conversion to open surgery was required in 8 patients. The highest incidence of pericholecystic fistulas was found in the >60-year age group. The postoperative stay ranged from 3 to 8 days. All the patients were well at follow up. Laparoscopic management of pericholecystic fistulas is possible with low morbidity and no mortality.     

Antineoplastic activity of Solidago virgaurea on prostatic tumor cells in an SCID mouse model

Solidago virgaurea (goldenrod) has traditionally been used as an anti-inflammatory herbal medicine for the treatment of various symptoms, including prostatic diseases. The plant has also been reported to have antibacterial, spasmolytic, and carminative properties. During the course of our screening for antineoplastic activities in various herbal plants, we found that the extract of S. virgaurea exhibits strong cytotoxic activities on various tumor cell lines. The active component mostly resides in the leaves of the plant and is soluble in water. When the extract was fractionated by a Sephadex G-100 column, the active fraction corresponded to a molecular weight of approximately 40,000. This cytotoxic activity is effective on various tumor cell lines, including human prostate (PC3), breast (MDA435), melanoma (C8161), and small cell lung carcinoma (H520). To examine the effect of the cytotoxic activity on tumor cells in vivo, we used the rat prostate cell line (AT6.1) and an SCID mouse model. AT6.1 cells were injected into the flank of SCID mice, and then the G-100 fraction of S. virgaurea was administered intraperitoneally or subcutaneously every 3 days. The size of the tumor was measured for up to 25 days. The growth of the tumor was significantly suppressed by the G-100 fraction at 5 mg/kg without any apparent side effects. Therefore, S. virgaurea is considered to be promising as an antineoplastic medicine with minimal toxicities.     

Antitumor activity of a recombinant soluble betaglycan in human breast cancer xenograft

We have demonstrated previously that ectopic expression of a soluble betaglycan, also known as transforming growth factor (TGF) beta type III receptor, can suppress the malignant properties of human carcinoma cells by antagonizing the tumor-promoting activity of TGF-beta (A. Bandyopadhyay et al., Cancer Res., 59: 5041-5046, 1999). In the current study, we investigated the potential therapeutic utility of a recombinant preparation of human and rat soluble betaglycan (sBG). Purified recombinant human sBG showed similar properties to its rat counterpart (M. M. Vilchis-Landeros et al., Biochem J., 355: 215-222, 2001). It bound TGF-beta with high affinity and isoform selectivity and neutralized the activity of TGF-beta(1) in two bioassays. Peritumoral (50 micro g/tumor, twice a week) or i.p. (100 micro g/animal, every alternate day) injection of sBG into human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 xenograft-bearing athymic nude mice significantly inhibited the tumor growth. The administration of sBG also reduced metastatic incidence and colonies in the lungs. The tumor-inhibitory activity of sBG was found to be associated with the inhibition of angiogenesis. Systemic sBG treatment significantly reduced tumor microvessel density detected with histological analyses and CD-31 immunostainings, as well as tumor blood volume measured with hemoglobin content. In an in vitro angiogenesis assay, treatment with the recombinant sBG significantly reduced the ability of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells to form a capillary tube-like structure on Matrigel. These findings support the conclusion that sBG treatment suppresses tumor growth and metastasis, at least in part by inhibiting angiogenesis. As such, it could be a useful therapeutic agent to antagonize the tumor-promoting activity of TGF-beta.     

Epidemiology of epilepsy--Indian perspective

There are about 20 epidemiological studies on epilepsy from different parts of India. They include both rural and urban studies. The prevalence rate stands at around 5/1000 population (at this rate present estimate of total epileptics in this country is about 5 million) and incidence rate varies from 38 to 49.3 per 100,000 population per year from two community-based studies in India. Case-control studies indicate that febrile seizures, family history of epilepsy and head trauma are significant risk factors. Type of seizure pattern showed maximum number of cases belonged to generalised seizures which is different from Western countries where partial seizure is the commonest variety. Treatment gap, which is a measure of per cent of patient populations not receiving the treatment, estimated to be up to 73.7% to 78% in India. Aetiology is unknown in about two-thirds of cases. Hot water epilepsy is unique in South India and single solitary ring enhancing lesion in brain imaging is a common feature in Indian subcontinent. Evaluation of prevalence study indicates that more case-control studies to find out the aetiology, pharmaco-economic study to find out the affordable drug for general public and mass health education should be undertaken to dispel the social stigma and to bring about change in the attitude about the disease.     

Benign laryngeal lesions — a clinicopathological study of eleven years and a case report of pleomorphic lipoma

In a retrospective cohort study, conducted in Department of Oto-Rhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, M.LX Medical College, Allahabad from January 1989 to December 1999, 81 benign laryngeal lesions were evaluated. Majority (69, 85.2%) presented with hoarseness of voice and stridor was the presenting complaint in 12 ( 14.8%) cases. Vocal cord polyp (33, 40.7%) dominated the non-neoplastic group, while squamous papilloma (18, 22.4%) was the most common neoplastic lesion. Adult unset multiple papiUoma of unilateral vocal cord (4, 4.9%) was an unexpected finding in our series. A rare case of pleomorphic lipoma of larynx in a 68-year-old male patient along with its CT characteristics has been presented. Conservative microlaryngeal surgery offered the most satisfactory mode of treatment without any mortality and with minimal recurrence.     

Benign laryngeal lesions — a clinicopathological study of eleven years and a case report of pleomorphic lipoma

In a retrospective cohort study, conducted in Department of Oto-Rhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, M.LX Medical College, Allahabad from January 1989 to December 1999, 81 benign laryngeal lesions were evaluated. Majority (69, 85.2%) presented with hoarseness of voice and stridor was the presenting complaint in 12 ( 14.8%) cases. Vocal cord polyp (33, 40.7%) dominated the non-neoplastic group, while squamous papilloma (18, 22.4%) was the most common neoplastic lesion. Adult unset multiple papiUoma of unilateral vocal cord (4, 4.9%) was an unexpected finding in our series. A rare case of pleomorphic lipoma of larynx in a 68-year-old male patient along with its CT characteristics has been presented. Conservative microlaryngeal surgery offered the most satisfactory mode of treatment without any mortality and with minimal recurrence.     

The role of antioxidant activity of Phyllanthus emblica fruits on prevention from indomethacin induced gastric ulcer

Pretreatment with the butanol extract of the water fraction of Phyllanthus emblica fruits at the dose of 100 mg/kg body-weight, orally administered to rats for 10 consecutive days, was found to enhance secretion of gastric mucus and hexosamine (P<0.001) in the indomethacin induced ulceration of rats. The morphological observations also supported a protective effect of the stomach wall from lesion. The indomethacin treatment of the premedicated animals with the drug hardly affected either the malondialdehyde (MDA) or superoxide dismutase (SOD) level in gastric tissue while the ulcerative agent itself significantly enhanced both the levels. An antioxidant property appears to be predominantly responsible for this cytoprotective action of the drug.     

Effects of high dose application of lindane to rats and influence of L-ascorbic acid supplementation

Oral application of lindane at a dose of 2 mg/100 g body weight of rat/day for 15 days produced alterations in the activities of several enzymes viz, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, acetylcholinesterase and inorganic pyrophosphatase in different organs and serum. Histological changes in liver and kidney tissues and changes in whole liver and liver plasma membrane lipids were also noted by chronic administration of lindane. Partial alleviation of the toxic symptoms with respect to some of these parameters were noted by high dose administration of L-ascorbic acid.