We describe a case in which thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction resulted in a major arterial embolism from an existing aortic mural thrombus. Clinicians should be alert to this rare complication of thrombolytics, because timely diagnosis and treatment may prevent serious morbidity and mortality.

Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Monocrotaline induces interleukin-6 mRNA expression in rat lungs.

Monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) in rats is preceded by an inflammatory response in the lungs, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) is expressed in response to inflammation. To evaluate the role of IL-6 in monocrotaline-induced PH, rats received a single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline (60 mg/kg) or an equivalent amount of normal saline. Pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa), right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), expression of IL-6 mRNA, and bioactivity of IL-6 in the lungs of these rats were examined 48 hours and 1 and 2 weeks after administration of monocrotaline. The effects of dexamethasone treatment on monocrotaline-induced PH also were evaluated. Two weeks after administration of monocrotaline, significant PH and RVH developed in these rats. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed expression of IL-6 mRNA in the lungs 48 hours and 1 and 2 weeks after administration of monocrotaline. This was confirmed using ribonuclease protection assay. The bioactivity of IL-6 in lung extracts progressively increased. Dexamethasone markedly inhibited expression of IL-6 mRNA and IL-6 bioactivity in the lungs, with concomitant attenuation of monocrotaline-induced PH and RVH. Our data show that monocrotaline induces expression of IL-6 mRNA in rat lungs and that inhibition of IL-6 results in attenuation of PH. These findings indicate that IL-6 may play a role in the pathogenesis of PH.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Tumor antigen and acid phosphatase isoenzyme in prostatic cancer.

Plasma and prostatic fluid from man, dog, and baboon were measured for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by a radioimmunoassay technique. No CEA was detected in plasma, prostatic fluid, or seminal fluid in 12 dogs and three baboons. Elevated CEA (less than 2.5 ng/ml) was found in 13 of 20 human prostatic fluids. It was inferred that there was no immunologic cross-reactivity of CEA among man, dog, and baboon. CEA has been isolated and purified from liver tumors. Biochemical studies reveal that CEA consists of 60 percent carbohydrate and 40 percent protein. It contains the following carbohydrates: fucose, mannose, galactose, sialic acid, N-acetylglucosamine, and a small amount of N-acetylgalactosamine. The following amino acids were found in CEA: lysine, histidine, arginine, aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, emthionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and cysteine. The amino acid sequence (first 30 amino acids) of the N-terminal has been determined. The N-terminal amino acid was lysine. Using this study as a model, other tumor antigens from prostatic tumor tissues are being investigated. The acid phosphatase isoenzyme from prostatic tissue was also studied. After a series of purifications, two chromatographic fractions were obtained. Treatment with neuraminidase removed the sialic acid content of the molecule, changed the isoelectric focusing patterns, and abolished the chromatographic heterogeneity. Sedimentation studies indicated a molecular weight of about 100,000. Biochemical studies showed that prostatic acid phosphatase isoenzyme is a glycoprotein which consists of 7 percent carbohydrate and 93 percent protein. It contains fucose, galactose, mannose, sialic acid, N-acetylglucosamine, and the following amino acids: aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, lysine, histidine, arginine, tryptophan, and cysteine. An antiserum to this purified prostatic acid phosphatase isoenzyme is being prepared in animals.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Exercise and the amplitude of first heart sound in ischemic heart disease and normal subjects.

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Adult↗