Management of bleeding using recombinant factor VIIa in a patient suffering from bleeding tendency due to a lupus anticoagulant-hypoprothrombinemia syndrome.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Holm.
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The authors report two case stories of visceral aneurysm: a 54 year-old man presenting recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding caused by a splenic artery aneurysm, and a 57 year-old man presenting with acute abdomen due to rupture of a hepatic artery aneurysm. Visceral aneurysms often present with classical gastrointestinal symptoms. They are connected with considerable mortality. Rupture requires instant surgery. In the elective phase the literature recommends embolization or resection.
We have designed an assay for the simultaneous measurement of cell surface phenotype, S-phase fraction, and DNA content by single laser instrumentation for the purpose of determining the labeling index (LI), duration of S-phase (Ts), and the potential doubling time (Tpot) of leukocyte subpopulations. The procedure was optimized with regard to: mode of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) incorporation, selection of suitable leukocyte differentiation antigens (LDAs) as well as PE-conjugated monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against myeloid cells, overnight permeabilization and fixation (paraformaldehyde 1% and 0.05% Nonidet P40), DNase I treatment (250 Kunitz units), concentration of FITC-conjugated anti-BrdUrd MoAb (dilution 1:5), and DNA staining with 7-amino-actinomycin (7-AAD) (10 microg/ml). We validated this assay by measuring LI, Ts, and Tpot repeatedly in four leukemic cell lines and found these to be stable (coefficients of variation (CV): 0.06, 0.13, and 0.08, respectively). Finally, we employed the assay on different leukocyte preparations from normal donors (including purified CD34 + cells) and patients with malignant myeloid disorders, and we concluded that it will yield valuable data regarding the cell cycle kinetics of subsets of leukocytes in heterogeneous mixtures of hematopoietic cells.
OBJECTIVES: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in man has previously been shown to include a wide variety of atrial activity. Assessment of the characteristics of this arrhythmia with a commonly applicable tool may therefore be important in the choice and evaluation of different therapeutic strategies. As the AF cycle length has been shown to correlate locally with atrial refractoriness and globally with the degree of atrial organization, with, in general, shorter cycle length during apparently random AF compared to more organized AF, we have developed a new method for non-invasive assessment of the AF cycle length using the surface and the esophagus (ESO) ECG. METHODS AND RESULTS: From the frequency spectrum of the residual ECG, created by suppression of the QRST complexes, the dominant atrial cycle length (DACL) was derived. By comparison with multiple intracardiac simultaneously acquired right and left AF cycle lengths in patients with paroxysmal AF, we found that the DACL in lead V1, ranging from 130 to 185 ms, well represented a spatial average of the right AF cycle lengths, whereas the DACL in the ESO ECG, ranging from 140 to 185 ms, reflected both the right and the left AF cycle length, where the influence from each structure depended on the atrial anatomy of the individual, as determined by MRI. In patients with chronic AF, the method was capable of following changes in the AF cycle length due to administration of D,L-sotalol and 5 min of ECG recording was sufficient for the DACL to be reproducible. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that this new non-invasive method, named 'Frequency Analysis of Fibrillatory ECG' (FAF-ECG), is capable of assessing both the magnitude and the dynamics of the atrial fibrillation cycle length in man.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Acid exposure of the duodenum elicits various functional responses, e.g., an increased mucosal alkaline secretion. Despite low pH in luminal contents, the mucosal secretion of bicarbonate-rich fluid results in pH neutrality at the surface epithelium. It follows that it is probably not luminal pH that triggers the secretory response. The present study was undertaken to investigate if CO2 could serve as an intermediate messenger between luminal acid and the mucosal secretory response. METHODS: Experiments were performed on chloralose-anesthetized rats. The duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion was measured by in situ pH-stat titration. RESULTS: Exposure of the duodenal mucosa to CO2, administered either as a pregassed solution (pH 4, PCO2 700 mm Hg) or as an acidified bicarbonate solution (pH 6.4, PCO2 240 mm Hg), raised the alkaline output by approximately 65%. This response was blocked by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (0.3 mmol/L intraluminally) but not by indomethacin (5 mg/kg intravenously). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure of the duodenal mucosa to solutions with high concentrations of CO2 increases the mucosal alkaline secretion despite an almost neutral pH. Data indicate that the L-arginine/NO pathway is involved in the mediation of this response.
We recently showed the involvement of the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) pathway in acid-induced duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion in rats. The aim of the present study was to confirm this observation in pigs by direct measurements of NO production. Experiments were performed on 16 anaesthetized pigs of both sexes treated with guanethidine (6 mg kg-1, intravenously). A duodenal segment, devoid of pancreaticobiliary influxes, was perfused with saline and the duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion was calculated from continuous measurements of pH and PCO2. The perfusate contents of NO and its oxidative product nitrite were determined by chemiluminescence, after reduction of nitrite to NO. Luminal acidification with 30 mM hydrochloric acid increased the output of bicarbonate as well as NO to the perfusate, by 195 +/- 45% and 106 +/- 10%, respectively. These responses to acid were markedly inhibited by adding the NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 0.3 mM) to the perfusate. The inhibitory effect of L-NMMA could be reversed by administration of L-arginine (3 mM). The study presents simultaneous measurements of bicarbonate and NO outputs to a duodenal luminal perfusate. The results strongly support the view that the L-arginine/NO pathway is involved in the acid-induced duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretory response.
AIMS: Although the perpetuation of several supraventricular arrhythmias is critically dependent upon intra-atrial conduction, the literature lacks detailed information on normal values of conduction velocity and degree of anisotropy. In order to explore these factors further, we have measured conduction velocities at the right atrial free wall during sinus rhythm and during atrial pacing in four directions parallel and perpendicular to the atrioventricular groove in patients with normal atria and stable sinus rhythm. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a Bard Cardiac Mapping System, atrial ECGs were recorded using a 3 x 4 cm electrode array with 56 equally spaced bipolar electrodes in 12 patients undergoing open heart surgery due to ischaemic heart disease or Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome. A bipolar pen probe connected to a Medtronic 5328 stimulator was used for pacing at a 10% higher rate than sinus rhythm. The local activation times were manually set and isochronal activation maps were created for each recording. The conduction velocities were calculated from the activation maps over a distance ranging from 2.2 to 4.2 cm. The majority of the activation maps showed no signs of anisotropy; the others had less than 15% spatial inhomogeneity of conduction. Mean conduction velocity, calculated from five consecutive beats, was 88 +/- 9 cm.s-1 (mean +/- SD), ranging between 68 +/- 4 and 103 +/- 3 cm.s-1 during sinus rhythm. Mean conduction velocity during atrial pacing was 81 +/- 16 cm.s-1 at a propagation direction of 0 degree, 74 +/- 14 cm.s-1 at a 90 degrees direction, 79 +/- 12 cm.s-1 at 180 degrees and 78 +/- 20 cm.s-1 at 270 degrees, where 0 degree was parallel to the atrioventricular groove in the cranial direction and the angle increased counter-clockwise. Mean conduction velocity during sinus rhythm was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than during atrial pacing at the 90 degrees and 180 degrees directions but not compared to atrial pacing at 0 degree or 270 degrees. There was no significant difference in mean conduction velocity in different directions during atrial pacing. CONCLUSION: Although anisotropy was documented during conduction velocity in individual cases, conduction velocity was not dependent on propagation direction at the epicardial right atrial free wall in patients with stable sinus rhythm. These findings do not exclude the presence of internodal preferential pathways as these are located sub-epicardially and a marked transmural discordance in activation has previously been documented in the vicinity of such pathways.
AIMS: Atrial fibrillation cycle lengths can be assessed from right precordial ECG leads and the unipolar oesophageal ECG using a non-invasive method called Frequency Analysis of Fibrillatory ECG. The purpose of this report is to present the results from application of this method in a large group of patients with long-term atrial fibrillation and to examine the differences between patients with 'coarse' and 'fine' atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Simultaneous 15 min recordings from V1, V2 and an oesophageal lead at a position behind the posterior atrium were obtained in 28 patients, aged 41 to 78 years, with long-term (> 1 month) atrial fibrillation. In each lead, using the time averaging technique, the QRST complexes were suppressed. Thereafter, the frequency distribution of the residual ECG was estimated by means of Fast Fourier Transform. In the 3-12 Hz range of each lead, the dominant atrial cycle length, the power maximum and the spectral width were calculated. In 26 patients (93%), frequency spectra in the 3-12 Hz range could be obtained. The dominant atrial cycle length ranged from 120 to 175 ms, mean 150+/-16 (SD) ms in V1, and from 120 to 190 ms, mean 150+/-16 in an oesophageal lead (ns). The absolute difference in the dominant atrial cycle length between V1 and the oesophageal lead was 10.4+/-7.7 ms. There was no significant difference in the dominant atrial cycle length in V1 between patients with coarse and fine atrial fibrillation. The power maximum in V1 was significantly greater in patients with coarse compared to fine atrial fibrillation (P=0.01). The spectral widths ranged from 10 to 55 ms and demonstrated significantly higher mean values in lead V2 compared to V1 (P=0.001). Compared to V1, the mean values tended to be smaller in the oesophageal lead (P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Using the Frequency Analysis of Fibrillatory ECG method, the dominant atrial cycle length, power maximum and spectral width can be estimated from the frequency spectra in the majority of patients with atrial fibrillation. Spatial dispersion of the dominant atrial cycle length occurs in some patients and may be an important proarrhythmic marker. The distinction between coarse and fine atrial fibrillation cannot be used as a marker of the atrial cycle length.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate different techniques and regional approaches for detecting critical reductions in gastrointestinal (GI) perfusion. DESIGN: Laboratory, animal, controlled study. SETTING: University animal research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Thirteen anesthetized, ventilated, juvenile domestic pigs. INTERVENTIONS: Dextran was infused into the pericardial sac to achieve cardiac tamponade that reduced cardiac output to 25% of baseline value. Hemodynamics were invasively monitored, and blood gases were sampled in the systemic and portal circulations. Tonometers were placed in the corpus of the stomach and in the jejunum, 50 cm aboral to the ligament of Treitz. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We measured cardiac output, portal venous blood flow, mesenteric oxygen delivery and consumption, systemic and portal venous blood gases and acid-base balance, stomach and jejunal transepithelial potential difference, stomach and jejunal intramucosal pH, arterial plasma concentrations of asymmetric dimethylarginine, and jejunal, intraluminal nitric oxide. One hour of cardiac tamponade decreased mesenteric oxygen delivery and consumption in a linear fashion and resulted in mesenteric acidosis, as evidenced by decreases in pH, standard bicarbonate, oxygen saturation, and PO2 and increases in PCO2. The potential difference in the jejunum decreased earlier than in the stomach, whereas stomach intramucosal pH decreased before jejunal intramucosal pH. Intraluminal nitric oxide in the jejunum was markedly reduced soon after cardiac tamponade. This reduction was accompanied by an increase in arterial plasma concentrations of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine. Investigated variables were unchanged in control animals. CONCLUSIONS: Both intramucosal pH and potential difference measurements may be used to detect critical reduction in GI perfusion. Regional and temporal differences may reduce the accuracy of these methods. Jejunal tonometry can yield an early nitric oxide measurement that indicates mesenteric low-flow conditions. Jejunal tonometry also yields quantitative information about this modulator of hemodynamic and mucosal barrier function, information that is relevant to GI failure during shock.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of upright posture compared with supine position on the dominant atrial cycle length (DACL) in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. DESIGN: The power/frequency spectrum of QRST suppressed lead V1 ECG was studied in 14 patients in the supine position and during the head up tilt table test. The DACL changes were compared with changes in heart rate and blood pressure. RESULTS: Compared with the supine position, the upright position reduced the DACL from 160 to 150 ms (p < 0.01). The DACL was increased after returning to the supine position from the upright position, from 147 to 154 ms (p < 0.01). Heart rate increased from 91 beats/min in the supine position to 106 in the upright position (p < 0.01). There was a decrease in heart rate from 109 beats/min in the upright position to 93 after returning to the supine position (p < 0.01). No significant changes were seen in systolic or diastolic blood pressure. There were indications of an inverse relation between DACL and heart rate when comparing the supine position before and after tilt with the upright position (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The sympathetic stimulation and vagal withdrawal induced by rising to upright body position are associated with a decrease in DACL during chronic atrial fibrillation. Thus a reflex increase in sympathetic discharge after induction of atrial fibrillation could favour the persistence of the arrhythmia.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study describes the methodology, patient outcome, and use of hospital and rehabilitation services at 3 months of a population-based randomized controlled trial. The purpose was to evaluate rehabilitation at home after early supported discharge from the Department of Neurology, Huddinge Hospital, for moderately disabled stroke patients in southwest Stockholm. METHODS: The patients were eligible if they were continent, independent in feeding, had mental function within normal limits, and had impaired motor function and/or aphasia 1 week after stroke. Patients were randomized either to early supported discharge with continuity of rehabilitation at home for 3 to 4 months or to routine rehabilitation service in a hospital, day care, and/or outpatient care. The home rehabilitation team consisted of two physical therapists, two occupational therapists, and one speech therapist; one of the therapists was assigned as case manager for the patient. The rehabilitation program at home emphasized a task- and context-oriented approach. The activities were chosen on the basis of the patient's personal interests. Spouses were offered education and individual counseling. A total of 81 patients were followed up for a minimum of 3 months. Patient outcome was assessed by the Frenchay Social Activity Index, Extended Katz Index, Barthel Index, Lindmark Motor Capacity Assessment, Nine-Hole Peg Test, walking speed over 10 m, reported falls, and subjective dysfunction according to the Sickness Impact Profile. Patient use of hospital and home rehabilitation service and patient satisfaction with care were studied. RESULTS: Overall there were no statistical significant differences in outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested a systematic positive effect for the home rehabilitation group in social activity, activities of daily living, motor capacity, manual dexterity, and walking. A considerable difference in resource use during such a 3-month period was seen. A 52% reduction in hospitalization was observed: from 29 days in the routine rehabilitation group to 14 days in the home rehabilitation group. Patient satisfaction was in favor of the latter group. CONCLUSIONS: Early supported discharge with continuity of home rehabilitation services for the majority of moderately disabled stroke patients during the first 3-month period after acute stroke is not less beneficial than routine rehabilitation and can be a rehabilitation service of choice if follow-up at 6 and 12 months confirms the suggested effectiveness and considerable reduction in use of health care.
Numerous recent publications point to significant improvements in haemostasis in the bleeding patient suffering from haemophilia with inhibitors when a recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) molecule is administered in high doses. In theory, activated factor VII (FVIIa) is believed to initiate haemostasis through its physiological interaction with tissue factor at sites of cellular injury, whereby factor X (FX) activation and, in consequence, thrombin formation is amplified. There has been speculation, however, whether high circulating FVII procoagulant (FVII:C) levels may induce systemic coagulation activation. The present retrospective investigation was undertaken to study, ex vivo, the influence of treatment with rFVIIa as assessed by the sensitive marker of prothrombin conversion, prothrombin fragment F1+2, in plasma samples. Study subjects consisted of: seven people suffering from thrombocytopenia participating in a study of the influence of rFVIIa on the bleeding time, in whom serial plasma samples had been collected before and subsequently at 10, 60 and 180 min after infusion of rFVIIa; four haemophilia A patients with inhibitors to FVIII undergoing surgery; two haemophilia A patients with inhibitors treated with rFVIIa for minor bleedings on 16 occasions in whom plasma samples had been collected before and 10-15 min after rFVIIa infusion; and two FVII-deficient patients undergoing treatment with rFVIIa. A group of seven haemophilia A patients with no signs of inhibitors subjected to a pharmacokinetic study of a plasma-derived FVIII concentrate served as controls. In the group of thrombocytopenic patients our results showed a mean increase in F1+2 following doses of 50 microg/kg body weight and 100 microg/kg body weight of rFVIIa of 1.1 and 1.4 nmol/l, respectively, with a gradual increase over time, but there was no significant correlation between FVII:C and the corresponding values of F1+2. During and after haemophilic inhibitor surgery, a mean increase in F1+2 of 1.44 nmol/l (range 0.6-3.2 nmol/l) was found, whereas 16 matched samples collected during treatment for minor bleedings showed a mean increase in F1+2 of 0.10 nmol/l (range -0.12 to 0.20 nmol/l). In FVII-deficient individuals, the mean rise in F1+2 was <0.10 nmol/l. In the control group, the mean elevation of F1+2 was 0.13 nmol/l (range -0.5 to 0.7 nmol/l). Hence, our results show that only discrete changes in F1+2 follow administration of rFVIIa.
The aim of this article is to describe the prevalence of mental disorders in the elderly and how the psychiatric services for these patients ought to be organized in Norway. Geriatric psychiatry is a special branch of psychiatry. Its areas of concern are the assessment and treatment of mental disorders which frequently occur in the elderly. The most prevalent psychiatric disorders are depression and dementia. Functional psychosis and anxiety disorders are less prevalent, but nevertheless disorders causing great concern. Psychiatric morbidity frequently coexists with physical illness. An elderly patient suffering from a mental disorder often has a combination of psychological, social and physical needs. The resources allocated to psychiatric services for old people are scarce. Efforts should be made to establish a special unit for geriatric psychiatry in every county in Norway. Each unit should serve approximately 150-200,000 inhabitants, and should consist of both an in-patients' and an out-patients' clinic. It is recommended that there should be 1 to 1.5 beds per 1000 elderly aged 65 years and over.
The effects of enalaprilate on duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion (in situ titration) and mean arterial blood pressure were investigated in chloralose-anesthetized male rats. A bolus injection of enalaprilate (0.7 mg/kg intravenously) increased alkaline secretion by about 60%, and this response was resistant to guanethidine (5 mg/kg intravenously), splanchnicotomy, and vagotomy. Furthermore, angiotensin II infusion (0.25-2.5 microg/kg/hr intravenously) following the administration of enalaprilate failed to influence this response. Bradykinin (10(-6)-10(-4) M) applied topically to the serosal surface of the duodenal segment under study increased dose-dependently the duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion, an effect that could be blocked by the selective bradykinin receptor subtype-2 antagonist HOE140 (100 nmol/kg intravenously). HOE140 also antagonized the response to enalaprilate. These data suggest that enalaprilate increases duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion via a local bradykinin pathway involving receptors of the bradykinin receptor subtype-2 antagonist, rather than by blockade of endogenous angiotensin II or by central autonomic neural regulation.
Duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion increases in response to hydrochloric acid exposure. The tentative role of nitric oxide (NO) in the mediation of this response was investigated. The mucosal alkaline output by a duodenal segment was recorded by in situ titration in chloralose-anaesthetized rats. In some experiments the duodenal blood flow was estimated by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Exposure of the duodenum to acid (0.01 M HCl, 5 min) increased the alkaline secretion by approximately 85%. The NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 mg kg-1 intravenously or 0.3 mM intraluminally) blocked the secretory increment after mucosal acid exposure. Mean arterial pressure and basal alkaline secretion were markedly raised, whereas duodenal blood flow was decreased, when L-NAME was given intravenously (i.v.). Intraluminal (i.l.) administration left mean arterial pressure as well as duodenal blood flow unaltered, and the duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion was only slightly elevated. The stereoisomer NG-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME) had no effect on either basal or acid-induced duodenal alkaline output. In animals receiving L-arginine (10 mg kg-1 min-1 i.v., or 3 mM i.l.) and L-NAME, the acid exposure elicited an increase in duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion, similar to that observed in controls. The results suggest that the acid-induced increase in duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion involves NO synthesis, which takes place close to the lumen, probably within the mucosa.
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BACKGROUND & AIMS: The pathophysiology behind Helicobacter pylori-induced gastroduodenal dysfunction is incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate if a water extract of H. pylori distorts acid-induced duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion. METHODS: Chloralose-anesthetized rats were prepared for duodenal luminal perfusion and in situ pH-stat titration of mucosal alkaline secretion. RESULTS: Mucosal bicarbonate secretion increased approximately 55%-60% after a 5-minute exposure to 10 mmol/L HCl. This response was absent when water extracts of three strains of H. pylori (protein content, 0.2-20 microg/mL) had been added to the perfusate. Presence of 3 mmol/L L-arginine, but not the stereoisomer D-arginine, in the luminal perfusate reversed the H. pylori extract blockade of acid-induced mucosal alkaline secretion. High-performance liquid chromatography-based analyses showed that the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) increased fourfold in duodenal perfusate and fivefold in duodenal tissue after H. pylori extract exposure. In vitro proteolysis of H. pylori extract also resulted in a substantial accumulation of ADMA. Exogenously administered ADMA, giving similar tissue concentrations, inhibited the mucosal alkaline response to acid exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Water extracts of H. pylori inhibit acid-induced mucosal alkaline secretion via interference with mucosal NO synthase.