Altered phosphofructokinase mRNA levels but unchanged isoenzyme pattern in brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease

In order to find out whether the increased phosphofructokinase (PFK) activities observed in brains from Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients are associated with alterations in PFK mRNA levels, we determined total PFK mRNA and the three different PFK isoenzyme mRNAs in AD and control patients by ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) and quantitative RT-PCR. PFK mRNA levels were found increased in some brain areas in AD patients. While all three PFK isoenzyme mRNAs were detectable in every studied brain sample, no changes of the PFK isoenzyme pattern were observed in patients with AD.     

Identification of soluble fibrinogen fibrin monomer complexes by non-enzymatic polymerisation in the tissue

Summary In states of plasmic hypercoagulability and consumption coagulopathy ethanol favours the non-enzymatic polymerization of circulating soluble fibrinogen fibrin monomer complexes (FFMC) in vitro. The ethanolgelation test of Godal and Abildgaard makes use of this phenomenon, called paracoagulation. The present studies show that it is also possible to visualize soluble FFMC by means of ethanol-gelation. In the electron microscope, FFMC, polymerized non-enzymatically by ethanol in the spleen, are characterized by plump or slender mycelioid fibrillar precipitates that show a uniform rhythmic transverse striation, a period-coincidental filamentary arrangement and an average periodicity of 23 nm. The ultrastructure demonstrates these ethanol-induced filaments to be in vitro-polymerized fibrin monomer derivatives. Paracoagulation with ethanol allows the identification of soluble FFMC in the tissue prior to the formation of highly polymerized fibrin-rich microthrombi, the established equivalents of the DIC-syndrome.The electron microscope studies also show the existence of a second type of fibrillary structure in the tissue polymerized by ethanol. This second type lacks the characteristic periodicity of fibrin and the period-coincidental arrangement of the filamentary structures, but is characterized by closely packed or chain-like aligned, irregularly sized spherical bodies. There is some evidence that these spherical bodies in vitro represent non-enzymatically polymerized complexes of fibrin monomers and fibrin degradation products (FDP), the equivalent of a limited local or generalized fibrinolysis in vivo.Suppported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft — Sonderforschungsbereich 90, CardiovasculÄres System, University of Heidelberg     

Effects of perfluorohexane vapor in the treatment of experimental lung injury

RationaleWe investigated the effects of vaporized perfluorohexane (PFH) on pulmonary vascular tone, pulmonary vascular resistance and peak inspiratory pressure as well as lipid mediator formation in the treatment of calcium ionophore induced lung injury in a model of the isolated perfused and ventilated rabbit lungs.MethodsLung injury was induced in isolated perfused and ventilated rabbit lungs by calcium ionophore A23187. Lungs were treated with either 4.5 vol.% (4.5 vol.% PFH; n = 6) or 18 vol.% (18 vol.% PFH; n = 6) PFH. Six lungs remained untreated (Control). In addition 5 lungs (PFH-sham) remained uninjured receiving 18 vol.% PFH only. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), peak inspiratory pressure (P_max), and lung weight (weight) were monitored for 120 min. Experiments were terminated before when the increase in lung weight exceeded 40 g. Perfusate samples were taken at regular intervals for analysis of TXB₂, 6-keto-PGF₁ and LTB₄.ResultsControls reached the study end point significantly earlier than both PFH groups. Significant differences were found for a weight gain of 10 g and 20 g between the control and the 4.5 vol.% PFH and the 18 vol.% PFH. Differences in mPAP were more pronounced in the 4.5 vol.% PFH. However increases in P_max were more marked in 4.5 vol.% PFH. TXA₂-, PGI₂-, and LTB₄-levels were significantly lower in PFH groups. Uninjured lungs remained unaffected by the presence of 18 vol.% PFH.ConclusionInflammatory lung injury was attenuated by the treatment with 4.5 vol.% PFH and 18 vol.% PFH vapor in the isolated perfused rabbit lung. Therapeutic effects were more pronounced with a concentration of 4.5 vol.% PFH.