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Biomedical subjects

P S Freed

Publications and source records attributed to P S Freed.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Testicular myxosporidiasis in the flat-backed toad, Bufo maculatus (Amphibia: Bufonidae), from Cameroon, Africa.

Macroscopic cysts measuring less than or equal to 860 x 500 microns were found in the testes of a flat-backed toad, Bufo maculatus, collected in Cameroon, West Africa. On histologic examination, the cysts contained numerous spores of a Myxobolus sp. (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae). Spores in fixed tissues measured 9.2 microns long, 8.9 microns wide, and 4.0 microns thick; the range of values for length, width, and thickness were 8.8 to 9.6 microns, 8.6 to 9.4 microns, 3.6 to 4.4 microns, respectively (n = 20). The shape index (length/width) was 1.03, and ranged from 1.00 to 1.09. Pathology was limited to a slight constriction of adjacent seminiferous tubules by the cysts. No host inflammatory response was noted. This myxozoan is distinct from all other members of the genus infecting anurans and is assigned the name Myxobolus bufonis sp. n.

Animals

Percutaneous intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation.

Intra-aortic balloon pumping is the mainstay in the management of acute left ventricular dysfunction in the critical care setting. Percutaneous insertion affords rapid initiation of the procedure. Complications are in greatest part vascular and infectious. The advent of new-generation, totally automatic, closed-loop IABP systems offers the prospect of increasing the effectiveness of IABP support under most conditions, and especially during arrhythmias. This and other developments suggest that despite its standing as the most widely used temporary cardiac assist device, IABP has still to realize its full therapeutic potential.

Critical Care

Identification of a 15-kilodalton surface glycoprotein on sporozoites of Cryptosporidium parvum.

An immunoglobulin A monoclonal antibody (MAb5C3) was developed against a 15-kDa surface glycoprotein (GP15) of Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoites. Indirect immunofluorescence and colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the antibody reacted with both the sporozoite and merozoite surface plasma membranes. On Western immunoblots, MAb5C3 binding was found to be strongly inhibited when 200 mM N-acetylglucosamine was used as a competing sugar. N-Acetylgalactosamine inhibited binding of the antibody only slightly, whereas glucose, mannose, and galactose failed to inhibit binding. MAb5C3 was found to recognize a similar 15-kDa epitope associated with a Cryptosporidium sp. isolated from guinea pigs. However, MAb5C3 failed to react with any proteins or glycoproteins associated with C. baileyi from chickens, Cryptosporidium sp. (= bovine C. muris) from cattle, C. serpentis from a rat snake, bradyzoites of Besnoitia darlingi from an opossum, sporozoite/oocyst extracts of Caryospora bigenetica from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake, sporozoites of Eimeria nieschulzi and E. papillata from rats and mice, or tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain). When hybridoma supernatants containing MAb5C3 were administered orally to suckling mice experimentally infected with C. parvum, a 75% reduction in developmental stages was seen histologically at 72 h postinfection and a 67.5% reduction in mean oocyst output was found at 6 days postinfection.

Animals

A new host and locality record for Mesocestoides sp. tetrathyridia (Cestoidea: Cyclophyllidea), with a summary of the genus from snakes of the world.

A new host and distribution record is reported for tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. One of 5 (20%) Namib tiger snakes, Telescopus beetzi, from South Africa was infected. Numerous tetrathyridia were found encapsulated in mesentery attached to the small intestine. Morphological examination of tetrathyridia revealed absence of buds, multiple scoleces, or any other evidence of asexual proliferation. A summary of the snakes of the world reported as hosts of tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. is presented.

Animals

Cryptosporidium spp. in wild and captive reptiles.

Between 1986 and 1988, 528 reptiles originating from three continents were examined for Cryptosporidium spp. Fifteen specimens representing eight genera and 11 species were infected. Statistical evaluation of oocyst structure suggests that multiple species of Cryptosporidium may exist among the reptiles examined.

Animals

Intraaortic balloon pumping for prolonged circulatory support.

Prolonged circulatory support with an intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) is controversial, in part because it has not been performed frequently enough to base treatment policy on adequate data. To help clarify this problem, 733 cases of consecutive patients who were supported by IABP between 1967 and 1982 were analyzed. Twenty-seven patients were supported for 20 days or more (range 20 to 71). Twelve (44%) had prior histories of chronic congestive heart failure. Complications were more frequent in prolonged-support patients than in those assisted for less than 20 days (vascular, 37% vs 15%, p = 0.001; infectious, 67% vs 25%, p = 0.0001; and bleeding, 26% vs 15%, p = 0.04, respectively). The survival rate of prolonged-support patients, however, was 63% (17 of 27), essentially the same as that of the controls (57%, p = 0.5). Of 17 prolonged-pumping patients discharged alive from the hospital, 9 died within 6 months but 8 survived greater than 2 years. Among congestive heart failure patients, none was a long-term survivor. Prolonged IABP support in congestive heart failure patients lacking surgically correctable lesions can extend life while arrangements for definitive therapy are made (transplant, permanent mechanical assistance). Where definitive therapy is unavailable, IABP may provide additional months of life.

Adult

Risks associated with intraaortic balloon pumping in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Between 1967 and 1982, intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) was attempted in 733 patients. Of these, 132 were diabetic: 51 patients were managed with diet alone, 46 patients took oral hypoglycemic agents and 35 patients required insulin. Vascular complications associated with IABP occurred in 34% of the insulin-dependent diabetics, in 18% of other diabetics and in 14% of nondiabetic patients. Infectious complications were 37, 22 and 25%, respectively. Seventy-five diabetic patients (57%) were discharged alive from the hospital after balloon pumping, essentially the same proportion as among nondiabetic patients (58%). It is concluded that although diabetics incur a higher complication rate, IABP is not contraindicated.

Adult

Intraaortic balloon pump insertion: a randomized study comparing percutaneous and surgical techniques.

To compare the percutaneous and surgical techniques of intraaortic balloon pump insertion, 101 patients referred for this procedure were randomly assigned to either percutaneous or surgical insertion. Insertion using the designated technique was successful in 45 (88%) of 51 patients with percutaneous insertion and 48 (96%) of 50 patients with surgical insertion (difference not statistically significant). The time from the beginning of the insertion procedure to the initiation of counterpulsation was 13 +/- 8 minutes for the percutaneous technique versus 31 +/- 16 minutes for the surgical technique (p less than 0.001). In the percutaneous group, 10 patients required Fogarty thrombectomy after balloon pump removal, and 1 patient developed severe leg ischemia requiring immediate termination of balloon pump support. In the surgical group, one patient developed leg ischemia requiring surgical intervention, three patients developed sepsis with bacteremia (including one patient who required vein patch repair of the femoral artery), one patient developed a wound infection requiring debridement and one patient had a cerebral embolus. Aortic dissection, aortoiliac perforation or amputation did not occur in either group. Major vascular complications occurred in 11 patients (22%) with percutaneous insertion versus 2 patients (4%) with surgical insertion (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that although the percutaneous technique for intraaortic balloon pump insertion is faster than the surgical technique and is technically easy, it is associated with a higher incidence of vascular complications.

Blood Pressure

Intraaortic balloon pumping 1967 through 1982: analysis of complications in 733 patients.

Between June 1967 and December 1982, 872 attempts at intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) were made in 733 patients. Nearly 75% of the patients were men; the proportion of women has increased in recent years. The principal indication for IABP support initially was cardiogenic shock, but over the years, preoperative support, weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass and unstable angina have become the primary indications. Complications of IABP were classified and distributed by severity (minor: I [15%] and II [26%]; major: III [3%] and IV [1%]) and type ([vascular [22%], infectious [22%], and bleeding [7%]). Vascular complication rates were higher in women (32 vs 18%; p = 0.0001), in diabetic patients (32 vs 20%, p = 0.003), and in hypertensive patients (27 vs 20%, p = 0.02). These did not vary with the duration of IABP support (range of duration 0 to 76 days). The rate of infectious complications was related to location where IABP was performed (coronary care unit 26%, operating room 12%). The rate of fever and bacteremia increased significantly with duration of IABP support, but the rate of local wound infection did not. In conclusion, most IABP complications are minor, resolve after balloon removal, are related to vascular status of the patient and, with the exception of bacteremia, are independent of IABP duration.

Adolescent

Prolonged left ventricular dysfunction induced by sequential multifocal ischemic infarcts in dogs.

A method of creating multifocal ischemia in animals leading to left ventricular (LV) functional impairment is described. In a series of 10 mongrel dogs, electrodes were implanted in multiple branches of the coronary arteries. Subsequently, in seven animals, an 800-microA anodal current was applied for 3 h repeatedly over a span of 4-9 weeks. After current application, serum creatine kinase cardiac isoenzyme increased by 12.2 +/- 4.6 U/L (p less than 0.01) and ischemic electrocardiographic changes were consistently present. After an average of 10.7 current applications, all animals were tachypneic on mild exertion. Repeated measurement of LV function demonstrated a substantial reduction in cardiac reserve. No significant changes in three control animals were observed. The animals were sacrificed 80 days (range 49-108 days) after the initial current application. Presacrifice cineangiography and postmortem examination disclosed coronary artery occlusions, stenoses, recanalizations, and collateralization in the distributions expected on the basis of the time elapsed since electrode activation. In all cases, the myocardium exhibited diffuse fibrosis. This method reliably brings about multifocal myocardial ischemic changes in dogs and may provide a chronic LV failure model particularly suitable for the evaluation of LV assist systems.

Animals

A prosthetic myocardium for repair of localized defects of the left ventricle: concept and hemodynamic feasibility.

As an approach to the treatment of patients with large but circumscribed akinetic or dyskinetic regions in the left ventricular myocardium as sequelae of acute myocardial infarction, excision of the defect and implantation of a mechanical functional equivalent of myocardium is suggested. Experimental investigation of this technique is described. Hemodynamic data from a series of dog experiments indicate that activation of the prosthetic myocardium after excision of the left ventricle is followed by improvement in various hemodynamic parametres of interest. Although substantial experimental work must be completed and difficult bioengineering problems solved, preliminary results have encouraged us to continue our investigations of the prosthetic myocardium. An imposing array of treatment methods is now available to the clinician who must deal with the sequelae of acute myocardial infarction. Selecting from pharmacologic, electrophysiologic, and surgical approaches the physician can in many instances design a treatment plan precisely tailored to the clinical problem. Large left ventricular aneurysms and their functional equivalents of ventricular dyskinesis or hypokinesis continue, however, to represent a class of problems in which established techniques have been less than satisfactory. Surgical excision with closure of the defect is regarded as effective for small aneurysms, but such procedures may so compromise cardiac output in patients with large ones as to be unacceptable. Unfortunately, it is just the latter group in which medical palliation is least likely to be effective in managing congestibe failure, angina, and other pathophysiologic manifestations. A relatively unusual approach derived from in-series techniques of mechanical assistance to the failing circulation (1) offers the theoretical possibility of a treatment tailored to the problem of a large ventricular aneurysm. Experimental investigation of this technique in the Surgical Research Laboratory at the Sinai Hospital of Detroit has progressed to the point that a report of our experiences to date may be of interest.

Animals

Biocompatibility tests of components of an implantable cardiac assist device.

A permanently implantable in-series left ventricular assist device, the dynamic aortic patch (DAP), has been tested in chronic animal experiments. The DAP replaces a section of the intrathoracic aortic wall. Hemothorax and hematocele at the implantation site have been complications in recent experiments. Primary postoperative hemorrhage was ruled out, and the biocompatibility of all components was therefore examined. Dacron velour, Teflon felt, conductive polyurethane, segmented polyether polyurethane, and Teflon-coated polyester fiber sutures were implanted in the pleural cavities of dogs and tested in vitro by culturing canine saphenous vein explants on them. In vivo experiments demonstrated that all components elicited mild to moderate inflammatory reactions, but hematocele occurred only when the components were implanted in the aorta with direct blood contact and exposed to arterial blood pressures. In vitro, cells were cultured on all components with no signs of toxic reactions. These results indicated that the host tolerated all implant components without major inflammatory responses. However, histological data indicated that chronic slow bleeding into or through the Dacron velour in contact with the arterial blood serum could account for hemothorax or hematocele formation. Therefore, a configuration of the assist device using materials impermeable to blood may obviate these difficulties.

Animals