The coronary collateral system in man

The aim of this work is to stand out the anastomotic network between the two coronary arteries. This satisfies the basic myocardiac activity, but it becomes inefficient in an increased cardiac consumption of oxygen. The anastomotic collateral system was confirmed imagistically and by necroptic pieces. The coronarographs in vitro, using BaSO4 as a contrast substance, proved the existence of anastomosis between branches emerging from the same coronary artery or from both sources. In human body, these collateral branches with a diameter less or equal to 40 m have a minor role in cardiac perfusion economy. In case of obstruction of a thick coronary branch, the anastomosis will develop in a few weeks; that is confirmed by the increase of blood-flow at this level. Combined studies of echography and angiography (1992) proved that developed anastomosis induce a decreased frequency of pathological cases related to the dynamics of the myocardiac wall at a lower level from the obstruction.     

Peculiarities of the virus-host cell relationship in a calf kidney cell line persistently infected with measles virus

Persistent infection with measles virus established in a calf kidney cell line differed in some features from other measles virus carrier systems. After a variable life span, ranging from 50 to 1100 days, six of the chronically infected cell lines showed an evolution towards lytic infection. Only one of these lines, the K-2 cell line, exhibited marked morphological, growth and chromosomal alterations suggesting in vitro cellular transformation. The transformed K-2 cells released infectious measles virus with several modified biological parameters. Persistent infection was not due to the accumulation of thermosensitive mutants or defective particles. The role of the host-cell factor and of the selection of the virus population during its passage in RV cells are discussed.     

Persistent measles virus infection in a calf kidney cell line. Note I. Establishment of calf kidney cell lines chronically infected with measles virus and some of their biological characteristics

Several types of persistent measles virus infection resulting in lytic infections could be established in a calf kidney cell line, according to the passage level of the substrate and to the virus strain inoculated. Persistent measles virus infection in calf kidney cells was characterized by the limited proportion of infected cells, the large amount of infectant virus, and the alteration of morphological and growth characteristics of the cells. The mechanism of this persistent infection is discussed.     

Acute pancreatitis after nifedipine and acetaminophen poisoning — case report

The incidence of drug-induced pancreatitis is rare. There have been several reports of acute pancreatitis as a complication in acute poisoning with drugs or toxins. We present a case of a young woman with acute pancreatitis secondary to an overdose of nifedipine and acetaminophen in a suicide attempt. We excluded other causes of acute pancreatitis by clinical history, serum toxicology, serology, and abdominal imaging. The most likely underlying pathophysiological mechanism was ischemic injury of the pancreas secondary to severe collapse induced by nifedipine and possible acetaminophen-induced direct pancreatotoxicity. The pancreatitis resolved with treatment that included continuous veno-venous haemofiltration in an intensive care unit. Emergency and intensive care units should be aware of this unusual complication of such poisoning. To our knowledge, this is the first reported association between massive nifedipine overdose and acute pancreatitis.     

White-Bland -Garland syndrome: the maximum natural development of the coronary anastomosis

The anormalous origin of the left coronary artery from pulmonary artery (White-Bland Garland syndrome) is a very rare coronary malformation, having despite the great mortality in the early childhood, an adult form, characterized by minor symptoms and long course. This paradoxical situation is totally dependant to the complete development of the coronary anastomosis, allowing the right coronary flow to perfuse the left myocardium. The theory of the "terminal arterial perfusion" of the heart, still persistent in some monographs is meeting in this natural situation its strongest opponent argumentation. The coronary anastomosis, clearly visible by coronarography are large enough (in late stages) to inverse the flow in left coronary artery, filling the pulmonary artery. Is the coronary-pulmonary shunt, responsible for the majority of symptoms, in the 5th or 6th decade. The adult form of the White-Bland Garland syndrome is indicative for the maximum result we may hope to reach using the new revascularisation method for ischemic heart disease: new vessels formation and enhancing the coronary anastomosis by growth factors administration therapy.