Demonstration of organ-nonspecific antigens in liver-specific protein

Liver-specific protein was isolated from bovine, rabbit, and human liver. A corresponding kidney protein was isolated from rabbit kidney. The liver-specific protein and kidney-specific protein were coupled to activated CH-Sepharose 4B. Affinity chromatography was performed on columns of liver-specific protein and kidney-specific protein CH-Sepharose 4B, with sera containing antimitochondrial antibodies, smooth muscle antibodies, bile canalicular antibodies, reticular tissue antibodies, and antinuclear antibodies. The material eluted from the affinity chromatography columns was studied for immunofluorescence reaction against sections of liver, kidney, and stomach. Reactions were found of the liver-specific protein and kidney-specific protein column eluates against mitochondria, smooth muscle, double-stained bile canaliculi, reticular tissue, and nucleoli. Thus, the antigens belonging to these cell and organ constituents must have been present in the liver-specific protein (and kidney-specific protein) preparations, indicating that liver-specific protein is not a pure liver cell membrane-specific protein.     

Effects of experimental muscle pain on shoulder-abduction force steadiness and muscle activity in healthy subjects

We previously demonstrated that the steadiness of shoulder abduction is reduced in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS), which might be related to shoulder pain associated with the SIS. The aim of the present study was to examine the acute effects of experimental shoulder muscle pain on shoulder motor function in healthy subjects. The fluctuations in exerted force (force steadiness) and electromyographic (EMG) activity from eight shoulder muscles were determined during sub-maximal isometric and dynamic contractions with the shoulder abductors in nine healthy subjects (27.7 ± 4.2 years, mean ± 1 SD) before, during and after experimental pain induction. Experimental pain was induced by bolus injections of 6% hypertonic saline into the supraspinatus muscle. Experimental muscle pain reduced shoulder-abduction force steadiness on average by 21% during isometric contractions (P = 0.012) and tended to do so during concentric contractions (P = 0.083). Middle deltoid, and infraspinatus and lower trapezius muscle activity increased (3–5% EMG_max) during isometric and concentric contractions, respectively (P < 0.05). Thus, experimental shoulder muscle pain reduced the steadiness of isometric shoulder abduction and caused small changes in the abduction activation strategy. The observed effects of experimental pain on shoulder motor function differed from that observed previously in patients with SIS and chronic pain during the same types of contractions. A possible explanation may be that, even though the adopted experimental pain-paradigm may reflect the SIS in terms of the painful structures, it might not reflect the adaptations in the central nervous system seen with chronic pain.     

The significance of ABO-incompatibility on umbilical cord platelets

ABO-incompatibility has been proposed as a cause of neonatal thrombocytopenia. We conducted a study in 1982 of 172 deliveries at Odense University Hospital. We investigated umbilical cord blood in all cases and compared ABO-compatible groups with ABO-incompatible groups. No statistically significant difference in platelet counts or number of thrombo-cytopenic neonates was found. In four detected cases with immune anti-A antibody, no influence on platelet count could be observed, and in the cases with hyperbilirubinaemia during the first 24 h no influence of ABO-incompatibility could be demonstrated either. With the platelet suspension immunofluorescence test, A and B antigens were demonstrated on adult platelets and A antigen on umbilical cord platelets. A slight elevated level of PlIgG was detected on umbilical cord platelets in six samples (3.4%). It seemed that PlIgG correlated with the content of anti-A and anti-B IgG in maternal serum, but did not correlate with a reduction in platelet count, hyperbilirubinaemia or HLA-antibodies. A pathogenetic influence of ABO-incompatibility on umbilical cord platelets could not be detected in this study.     

Different Causes of Death in Patients with Myocardial Infarction Type 1, Type 2, and Myocardial Injury

Background

Data outlining the mortality and the causes of death in patients with type 1 myocardial infarction, type 2 myocardial infarction, and those with myocardial injury are limited.