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Biomedical subjects

J Haan

Publications and source records attributed to J Haan.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Biocompatibility of leukocyte removal filters during leukocyte filtration of cardiopulmonary bypass perfusate.

To evaluate the biocompatibility and the efficacy of leukocyte removal filters, we performed a prospective study by using the cardiopulmonary bypass perfusate taken from the heart-lung machine for 20 patients who underwent cardiac surgery and were randomly divided into four groups according to the filters used. A leukocyte removal filter was installed in the transfusion line while the perfusate was transfused to the patients. No increases of C3a, C5a, elastase, and thromboxane were found during leukocyte filtration by polyester filters (Optima, Sepacell R500, and Pall RC100). Activation of the complement cascade was observed during filtration by the cellulose acetate filter (Cellselect) although the efficacy of the Cellselect filter was evidently higher than that of the polyester filter. These results imply that polyester leukocyte filters are superior to cellulose acetate filters in terms of biocompatibility but have a reduced efficacy. An optimal leukocyte filter providing both high efficacy and biocompatibility has yet to be developed.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Autonomic nervous system dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: relationships with age, medication, duration, and severity.

Heart rate variability at rest, during deep breathing, or standing up and with the Valsalva manoeuvre did not differ significantly between 67 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and 31 healthy age matched controls. Blood pressure (BP) responses to standing up and sustained handgrip revealed diminished autonomic function in the PD group. In a preliminary analysis of the PD group older age, anti-Parkinson medication and higher Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stages were each associated with poor autonomic responsiveness. Disease duration was only related to the systolic BP fall on standing up. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that older age explained most of the variance of heart rate variability (up to 36%), and the only significant PD related factor was the use of medication, which explained less than 7%. The HY stage accounted for 12.7% of the variance in the standing up BP test, and the use of medication explained 10.6% of the variance of the systolic BP change in the sustained hand grip test. The unmedicated PD subgroup (n = 33), who had mild disease of short duration, showed no evidence of autonomic dysfunction. Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in PD is mild, mainly affects blood pressure responses, and occurs only in advanced cases.

Adult↗

Tissue-type plasminogen activator and fibrin monomers synergistically cause platelet dysfunction during retransfusion of shed blood after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Reduced hemostasis and bleeding tendency after cardiopulmonary bypass results from platelet dysfunction induced by the bypass procedure. The causes of this acquired platelet dysfunction are still subject to discussion, although, recently, greater emphasis has been placed on an overstimulated fibrinolytic system as a probable cause. In the first part of this study we assessed the effects of postoperative retransfusion of shed blood on blood loss to patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. We observed that increasing concentrations of fibrinogen degradation products and tissue-type plasminogen activator stimulating activity in shed blood correlated significantly with a higher postoperative bleeding tendency (p < 0.05 for both). We further noted that retransfusion of shed blood increased the total postoperative blood loss by 43% (925 versus 1320 ml, p < 0.05). On the basis of these clinical observations, we hypothesized that the increased bleeding tendency was caused by fibrinolysis. In the second part of this study we collected evidence in support of this hypothesis by an in vitro study, in which we introduced similar (pro)fibrinolytic activity to platelet-rich plasma and measured the influence of this treatment on platelet function indicated by ristocetin agglutination. Tissue-type plasminogen activator and fibrin monomers (tissue-type plasminogen activator stimulator) together induced severe platelet damage, resulting in a decreased ristocetin agglutination response. Therefore, we propose a fibrinolysis-related mechanism for platelet dysfunction during cardiopulmonary bypass, dependent on fibrinolytic factors such as fibrin monomers, D-dimers, and tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Blood Loss, Surgical↗

Hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis-Dutch type: a study of fibrinolysis.

In view of reported associations between increased bleeding tendency and systemically decreased alpha 2-antiplasmin in patients with systemic amyloid deposition we studied alpha 2-antiplasmin, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein and blood levels of locally produced endothelial hemostasis factors in the acute and quiescent phase in 16 patients with hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis-Dutch type (HCHWA-D). None of the factors measured in the quiescent phase of the disease was abnormal. In the acute phase, shortly after a stroke, only factor VIII:Ag was evidently elevated. We concluded that systemic abnormalities in the part of the fibrinolysis system studied are not likely to be responsible for multifocal and recurrent cerebral hemorrhages in HCHWA-D. The role of an elevated factor VIII:Ag level in the acute phase is unclear.

Amyloidosis↗

Alzheimer's disease and hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis-Dutch type share a decrease in cerebrospinal fluid levels of amyloid beta-protein precursor.

The amyloid beta-protein is a 39-42 amino acid peptide that is deposited in senile plaques and in cerebral vessel walls in individuals with Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis-Dutch type (HCHWA-D), and, to a much lesser extent, normal aging. It is derived from abnormal proteolytic processing of its parent protein, the amyloid beta-protein precursor. Here we show that individuals with the HCHWA-D mutation and clinically manifesting the disease have markedly decreased cerebrospinal fluid levels of soluble amyloid beta-protein precursor (0.7 +/- 0.4 micrograms/ml) compared with age-matched normal subjects (3.0 +/- 0.2 micrograms/ml) as determined by quantitative immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Similarly, age-matched patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease also have decreased cerebrospinal fluid levels of soluble amyloid beta-protein precursor (1.0 +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml). These parallel findings suggest a common biochemical marker for these two diseases and further establish the pathogenic relatedness of HCHWA-D and Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Morphology of cerebral plaque-like lesions in hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis (Dutch).

We studied the presence and morphology of plaque-like lesions in the frontal cortex of six patients, aged 40 to 76 years, with hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis--Dutch type (HCHWA-D), using beta/A4 immuno-, silver, Congo red and thioflavin S staining. Two types of beta/A4 immunoreactive and Congo red-negative plaques were detected. The first type was composed of argyrophilic fibrous material in periodic acid-methenamine silver (PAM) and modified Bielschowsky staining and lacked silver-stained degenerating neurites. Therefore, this type of plaque has the same staining properties as the diffuse plaque described in Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome and nondemented elderly. The second type of plaque, occurring only in the three oldest patients and numerically increasing with age, consisted of a spherical non-argyrophilic area of granular texture with a rim of PAM-positive material. The PAM-positive fibrous material of both types of plaques was mingled with coarser and compact, irregular-shaped argyrophilic structures in the oldest patient. The described plaques did not show bright fluorescence with thioflavin S staining. These results indicate, that the morphology of plaques, encountered in HCHWA-D, is diverse and changes with age.

Adult↗

Comparison between the Icelandic and Dutch forms of hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy has been described in Icelandic and Dutch families. Although the clinical manifestations show similarities, biochemical characterization revealed that amyloid in the Icelandic patients consists of cystatin C and in the Dutch patients of beta-protein. Both diseases are caused by a single base mutation leading to the same amino acid (viz. glutamine). Furthermore, both cystatin C and the beta-protein precursor are protease inhibitors. Therefore, the mechanism of amyloidogenesis may be similar in both diseases. A comparison of clinical, pathological, genetic, and biochemical aspects of these two types of hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy is presented.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗

Progressive dementia, without cerebral hemorrhage, in a patient with hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

A now 58-year-old female patient, carrier of the point-mutation in the beta-amyloid gene on chromosome 21 which causes hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis - Dutch type, developed progressive dementia after the age of 55 years. She never suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage. Dementia has been described as a feature of hereditary amyloid angiopathy before, but only in patients who also suffer from strokes. The clinical manifestation of the patient described here underlines the relation between the Dutch type of hereditary amyloid angiopathy and (familial) Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

[Coma polyneuropathy after cardiopulmonary resuscitation].

A 60 year old female patient developed an acute polyneuropathy a few days after a successful cardiopulmonary reanimation followed by coma for several days. Recovery was good as demonstrated at one year follow-up. Residual damage consisted in very mild myoclonic jerks (abortive Lance-Adams syndrome).

Biopsy↗

No confirmation of visual evoked potential diagnostic test for migraine.

We have attempted to replicate the results of studies on a diagnostic test reported to have 90% sensitivity and 89-96% specificity for migraine. The technique is based on peak-to-peak measurements of fast background electroencephalographic activity during a visual evoked potential (VEP) study. VEP latencies and amplitudes did not differ significantly, and showed substantial overlap, between a group of eight migraine patients and ten age-matched healthy controls. We could not recognise previously described fast activity or measure it objectively by peak-to-peak measurements. We cannot confirm that measurement of fast wave activity in the VEP background is useful in diagnosis of migraine.

Adult↗

Autonomic nervous function in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Autonomic nervous function was assessed in 11 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy, 26 patients with Parkinson's disease, matched for age, medications, disease severity, and disease duration, and 19 age-matched controls. Results of both parasympathetic (heart rate response to deep breathing and Valsalva maneuver) and sympathetic (blood pressure decrease on standing and increase on sustained handgrip) tests were abnormal in both patient groups. Abnormalities in the group of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy were similar to those in the group with Parkinson's disease but were more pronounced. Autonomic dysfunction may have to be considered a feature of progressive supranuclear palsy.

Aged↗