Fibronectin in Meningococcal Sepsis

ABSTRACT. Plasma fibronectin was measured with Laurell's immunoelectroassay in 44 patients with meningococcal sepsis. The average value (15.0±7.9 mg/dl) was lower than that in normal children (27.4±8.7 mg/dl) (p<0.001). Fibronectin in patients correlated positively with antithrombin III (AT-III) values (p<0.02), but not with protein C (0.05+), than in those without DIC (DIC⁻) (p<0.02), but were lower in both groups than in a normal control group. A negative correlation between fibronectin and protein C was only present in DIC⁻ patients (r:-0.773=p<0.01). Fibronectin varied independent of AT-III and protein C in DIC⁺ patients. The study was repeated in 11 patients 24 hours after admission when fibronectin had decreased in 7/11 cases (mean decrease: -2.7±8.7 mg/dl). This variation correlated in a negative way with AT-III (r:-0.659=p<0.05). In meningococcal sepsis fibronectin decreases very early, even in DIC⁻ patients and its relationship to AT-III and protein C is different, depending on the presence of DIC and on the stage of evolution of the disease.     

Results of Delivered Therapy for VT or VF in Patients with Third-Generation Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Third-generation implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) offer tiered therapy and can provide significant advantage in the management of patients with life-threatening arrhythmias. Three different types of ICDs were implanted in 21 patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). Arrhythmia presentation was VT(76%), VF(10%), or both (14%). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction for the group was 32.4 ± 7%. No surgical mortality occurred. Prior to discharge individual EPS determined the final programmed settings of the ICDs. During a mean follow-up of 13 ± 1.4 months (range 2–20) the overall patient survival was 85.7%. No sudden arrhythmic or cardiac death occurred. Twenty of 21 patients (95%) received therapy by their device. In 14 patients (67%) antitachycardia pacing (A TP) was programmed "on," 13 of which was self-adaptative autodecremental mode. There were 247 VT episodes, 231 of which were subjected to ATP with 97% success and 3% acceleration or failure. Low energy shocks reverted all other VT episodes. VF episodes were successfully reverted by a single shock (93%), two shocks (6%), or three shocks (1 %). We conclude that ATP therapy of VT is successful in the large majority of episodes with rare failures, and that VF episodes are generally terminated by a single ICD shock.     

一种红蜂胶提取物治银屑病、消炎及镇痛作用(英文)

AIM: To study the antipsoriatic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects of ethanolic extract of red propolis. METHODS and RESULTS: This extract induced the formation of granular layer in the mouse tail test used as a model of psoriasis. Propolis 50 mg·kg-1 ig showed anti-inflammatory activity in the cotton-pellet granuloma assay in rats, in croton oil-induced edema in mice at a dose of 25 % (2.5μL), and in the peritoneal capillary permeability test in mice at a dose of 10 mg·kg-1. The extract (25 mg·kg-1 ig) showed analgesic effect in the model of acetic acid-induced writhings, whereas 40 mg·kg-1 was effective in the hot plate test in mice. CONCLUSION- Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipsoriatic properties of Cuban red propolis were evident.     

Production and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Against the Major Cysteine Proteinase of Trypanosoma cruzi

In the present study we describe the production and characterization of a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed against cruzipain (Crz), the major cysteine proteinase from Trypanosoma cruzi . The five MoAbs, BD6, BF2, CG2, CH8, and DC10 were analysed with respect to affinity and specificity. None of the MoAbs cross-reacted with papain, which has regions of high homology with Crz. Treatment of the antigen with periodate did not affect the binding of the MoAbs. suggesting that they bind to the polypeptide moiety of Crz. CH8 recognized a continuous epitope located at the C-terminal extension of the proteinase that appeared to be highly immunogenic. Although the rest of the MoAbs recognized epitopes located in the catalytic domain, the enzymatic activity of Crz was not impaired by the binding of the MoAbs. Characterization of the antibody-binding sites revealed the presence of at least four separate epitopes.