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Biomedical subjects

J Jordan

Publications and source records attributed to J Jordan.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Effects of prostacyclin on the fetal pulmonary circulation.

The effects of prostacyclin (PGI2) and its metabolite, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, on pulmonary and systemic circulations of anesthetized, unventilated fetal goats and sheep were evaluated in situ using an isolated perfused lower left lobe preparation. Results from infusions of PGI2 into the left pulmonary artery suggested dose-dependent decreases in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and mean systemic arterial pressure (SAP). Two-minute infusions produced more pronounced reductions in PVR than 1-minute infusions, and fetal goats exhibited greater depressor responses to PGI2 (2-minute infusions) than fetal lambs. For every 10% decrease in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), SAP decreased by 3% in sheep receiving 1-minute infusions of PGI2. Systemic hypotensive responses and increases in heart rate were similar in both species. PGI2 appears to be a more powerful dilator of the fetal pulmonary circulation than PGE1 or PGE2; also, intrapulmonary infusions of PGI2 resulted in greater and more sustained systemic hypotensive effects than similar infusions of PGE1 and PGE2. The stable metabolite of PGI2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, produced attenuated pulmonary vasodilation. Since PGI2 may produce systemic hypotension, the use of this agent in treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension should be considered with caution.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

A microassay for active and total renin concentration in human plasma based on antibody trapping.

We have developed and validated a new enzyme-kinetic method for measurement of renin concentration (PRC) in human plasma, based on radioimmunoassay of angiotensin I generated during incubation of plasma and excess sheep or ox renin substrate. Angiotensin I breakdown during incubation is prevented by the presence of anti-angiotensin I serum. The assya does not require prior extraction of renin, is technically simple, and is sufficiently sensitive to measure subnormal renin levels. With minor modifications both "active and "total" renin may be measured. Assay results have been calibrated with the International Standard Renin. PRC measured by this technique correlates significantly with angiotensin I and II, plasma renin activity, and with the PRC method previously used by us.

Angiotensin I↗

Elimination of the delta wave in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. A misleading indicator of therapeutic effectiveness.

A 66-year-old white woman with a greater than 20-year history of electrocardiographic evidence of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, including documented recurrent supraventricular tachycardias, was studied. Despite the disappearance of the delta wave after initiation of therapy with digoxin and quinidine sulfate, the patient continued to have frequent episodes of supraventricular tachycardia. At a time when the serum levels of digoxin and quinidine were in the therapeutic range, extensive electrophysiologic studies were performed. Supraventricular tachycardia at a rate of 160 beats per minute was initiated by induced atrial premature depolarizations. The circuit of tachycardia involved anterograde conduction through the pathway of the atrioventricular node and His bundle and retrograde conduction through the bypass tract. We concluded that elimination of the delta wave and other electrocardiographic characteristics of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome cannot be relied upon to indicate successful pharmacologic prophylaxis for induction of tachyarrhythmia associated with this syndrome.

Aged↗

Inactive renin--a renin proenzyme?

Human plasma contains an inactive form of renin with a m.w. of 55,000, as against around 40,000 for active human renin. After acidification to pH 3.0 or incubation with trypsin, the inactive renin becomes more active and the molecular weight falls to that of active renin. In human kidney extracts, an increase in renin concentration also occurred after acidification. The inactive form of renin may be similar to that of rabbit kidneys, which contain an inactive renin that can be activated by removal of an acid-labile inhibitor. The question as to whether the inactive material is a renin proenzyme is discussed.

Animals↗

Comparative effects of overdrive on sinus and subsidiary pacemaker function.

Recent evidence has suggested a difference in response to overdrive pacing dependent on the location of the pacemaker within the A-V conduction system. To test this hypothesis, the effects of overdrive pacing were evaluated in five anesthetized dogs with experimentally induced A-V block and in seven patients with advanced A-V block. In the animals, sinoatrial node recovery times were studied over wide ranges of rates (130 to 210 beats per minute) and durations (30 to 180 seconds) of atrial pacing. All sinus node recovery times were less than 600 msec. with a mean maximum pause of 0.540+/-0.043 seconds (M.+/-S.E.M.). In contrast, after ventricular pacing (rates 90 to 150 beats per minute; durations 30 to 180 seconds), subsidiary pacemaker recovery times were significantly greater (p less than 0.025) with a mean maximum recovery time of 28.4+/-8.3 seconds. In the seven patients studied, all sinus node recovery times were less than 1,400 msecs. with a mean maximum pause of 0.954+/-0.051 seconds. As seen with the experimental animals, a significantly longer (p less than 0.025 mean maximum subsidiary pacemaker recovery time of 3.55+/-0.92 seconds was observed. The present studies in both experimental animals and in man without evidence of sinus node dysfunction showed that sinus node recovery time was independent of both rate and duration of atrial overdrive pacing. In contrast, subsidiary pacemaker recovery time was correlated with both rate and duration of ventricular overdrive pacing. In both experimental protocols, subsidiary pacemaker recovery time was shown to exceed sinus node recovery time at all rates and at all durations of pacing. Postrecovery sinus node acceleration was consistently observed after atrial overdrive pacing. In contrast, postrecovery subsidiary pacemaker "depression" characterized ventricular overdrive pacing. It is concluded that subsidiary pacemakers are significantly more susceptible to overdrive suppression than the sinoatrial node, a feature of substantial clinical significance.

Adolescent↗

Characteristics of sinoatrial conduction in patients with coronary artery disease.

Electrophysiologic studies were performed in 32 patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD). Group I was composed of ten patients (31%) with severe stenosis (greater than or equal to 75%) proximal to the origin of the sinus node artery (SNA); group II was composed of five patients (16%) with moderate (50--75%) proximal stenosis; and group III was composed of 17 patients (53%) with insignificant (0--50%) proximal stenosis. The mean sinoatrial conduction time (SACT) for group I was 119 +/- 18 msec; group II was 84+/- 16 msec; and group III was 72 +/- 5 msec. The SACT was significantly longer in group I than in group III (P less than 0.005). In conclusion 1) in patients with CAD, SACT greater than 72 +/- 5 msec is abnormal; 2) the results suggest a pathogenetic role of CAD in the development of sinus node dysfunction; 3) the SACT is a more sensitive indicator of subtle sinus node dysfunction in CAD patients than is heart rate, sinus node response to artrial extrastimuli, or sinus node recovery time; and 4) the ability to diagnose sinus node dysfunction in its early stages and recognition that coronary artery disease is an etiologic factor may allow for the elucidation of the natural history of the sick sinus syndrome.

Adult↗

Phytohemagglutin-induced lymphocyte transformation in oral contraceptive users.

Phytohemagglutin (PHA)-induced lymphocyte transformation (PILT) was determined in 217 women taking oral contraceptives and 203 control women by means of the uptake of 3H-thymidine into DNA of lymphocytes cultured in heterologous serum. Depressed PILT responses were observed in oral contraceptive users as compared with age-matched controls, and the magnitude of depression correlated with the duration of oral contraception and was inversely related to the clinical progestagenic potency of the component steroids. An additional group of 21 women, tested within 1 year (mean 3 months) of cessation of oral contraception, showed persistent depression of PILT responses. Suppression of lymphocyte transformation in autologous as compared with homologous, normal serum suggests that serum inhibitory factors amy be important. We found no evidence for a direct suppressive in vitro effect of synthetic estrogens and gestagens. The prevalence of autoantibodies in oral contraceptive users was similar to that in control subjects.

Adolescent↗