A high-resolution method for amino acid analysis of physiological fluids containing mixed disulfides

In this paper we report a high-resolution method and special buffers for the analysis for 45 common amino acids and related compounds and seven less-common components occasionally found in physiological fluids. Careful optimization of the chromatographic protocol resolves cysteine-penicillamine mixed disulfide, penicillamine disulfide, and dihydroxyphenylalanine from cystine and methionine; cysteine-homocysteine mixed disulfide is eluted between tyrosine and phenylalanine. Argininosuccinic acid is eluted before ethanolamine; glycerophosphoethanolamine is separated from taurine; glucosaminic acid is eluted between urea and aspartic acid. A Beckman Instruments System 6300 Amino Acid Analyzer was used. System performance is examined in terms of coefficient of variation (CV) over the concentration range of 1.0-5.0 nmol/50 microL; average CV for all components is better than 1.5%. Method performance is assessed through the analysis of normal and abnormal urine and plasma specimens.     

Acute peripheral arterial and graft occlusion: treatment with selective infusion of urokinase and lysyl plasminogen

Thirty-five patients hospitalized for recent angiographically documented arterial occlusion in the legs (27 femoropopliteal arteries and eight grafts) benefited from local fibrinolytic therapy delivered at the site of the occlusion with a 4- or 5-F catheter. This therapy combined a continuous urokinase (UK) infusion of 1,000 U/kg/hour and a lysyl plasminogen (LYS-PLG) infusion of 15 microkatals every 30 minutes. Angiographically confirmed lysis was obtained in 85% of the cases. Only 3% of the patients had major and 6% had minor groin hematomas. Only two patients had concentrations of fibrinogen as low as 100 mg/dl. Intravascular infusion of UK-LYS-PLG is as effective as streptokinase. Its excellent tolerance makes it a good alternative in the treatment of acute ischemia in the lower limbs.