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Biomedical subjects

R J Connolly

Publications and source records attributed to R J Connolly.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Evaluation of arterial prostheses in a baboon ex vivo shunt: the effect of graft material and flow on platelet deposition.

Surface thrombogenicity is recognized as an important factor in the failure of small caliber vascular prostheses. The baboon ex vivo shunt was developed to study small caliber grafts under controlled conditions at different flow rates. The shunt was created by percutaneous insertion of catheters into the baboon femoral artery and vein. Platelet-graft interactions were studied using autogenous indium 111 labeled platelets. Two graft materials were placed in series and exposed to blood flow for 2 1/2 hours at flow rates of 25 and 200 ml/min. At the end of this period, the grafts were removed for morphologic examination. Platelet adhesion to the grafts, especially with the less thrombogenic materials (PTFE and HUV), was found to be independent of flow rate. PTFE was found to be the least platelet-reactive material, HUV was intermediate, and knitted Dacron was the most thrombogenic surface. Platelet deposition on the flow surface was confirmed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

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Healing pattern of small caliber dacron grafts in the baboon: an animal model for the study of vascular prostheses.

Although dogs have been used widely to study the healing of large caliber synthetic grafts, hypercoagulability probably makes the dog a poor model for studies of small caliber vascular prostheses. The baboon's coagulation system is similar to man's, but large caliber baboon grafts were reported to endothelialize rapidly. In this study the healing pattern of 4 mm internal diameter Dacron carotid interposition grafts in baboons was determined using specimens harvested at time points between 2 weeks and 18 months post-implantation and examined with light and scanning electron microscopy. The luminal surface of baboon grafts in the acute healing phase (less than 1 month) was comparable to that reported in the literature for dogs. Baboon grafts did not completely endothelialize until 10-12 weeks post-implantation. For work with small caliber vascular prostheses, the dog appears to have no advantage over the baboon as an animal model on the basis of graft healing.

Animals↗

A baboon flow-regulated shunt for the study of small caliber vascular grafts.

Synthetic vascular grafts often occlude when used in low-flow high-resistance reconstructions. In order to study the pathophysiology of graft failure a flow-regulated ex vivo shunt was designed for insertion into the baboon femoral artery and vein. Synthetic graft materials (4 mm i.d.) can be placed into the shunt circuit and studied at known rates of flow for uptake of 111In-labeled platelets. Segments of the grafts can be removed from the shunt circuit at specified time intervals for morphologic study with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In this paper the shunt model is described in detail and early experiments with it are reported. Labeled platelet uptake and SEM studies suggest that flow rate and graft composition influence the deposition of platelets and other blood components on graft surfaces. At high-flow knitted Dacron attracts large numbers of platelets, and becomes covered with a nearly confluent platelet-protein carpet within 1 hr. At low flow platelet uptake and development of the platelet-protein carpet is slower. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) attracts few platelets at high-flow rates, but at lower-flow rates begins to develop a platelet-protein carpet similar to that seen on knitted Dacron. Flow-related factors influencing platelet deposition are discussed and further experiments to be carried out with this model are described.

Animals↗

Aspirin decreases platelet uptake on Dacron vascular grafts in baboons.

The influence of a single dose of aspirin (5.4-7.4 mg/kg) on platelet uptake on 4-mm Dacron interposition grafts was studied in a baboon model using gamma camera scanning for 111-Indium labeled platelets. In vitro assessment of platelet function after aspirin administration revealed that in the baboon, as in the human, aspirin abolished arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation, prolonged the lag time between exposure to collagen and aggregation, and decreased plasma thromboxane B2 levels. Aspirin also prolonged the template bleeding time. Scans for 111-Indium labeled platelets revealed that pretreatment with a single dose of aspirin decreased platelet uptake on 4-mm Dacron carotid interposition grafts. This decrease in platelet uptake was associated with a significant improvement in 2-hour graft patency and with a trend toward improved 2-week patency.

Animals↗

Comparative extraocular muscle blood flow.

This study was designed to quantitatively determined blood flow to the extraocular muscles (EOM) of animals showing a wide range of ocular motility Blood-flow values (ml/minute/gm) for EOM in primates (0.25 +/- 0.03), dogs (0.33 +/- 0.06), sheep (0.12 +/- 0.01), and geese (0.12 +/- 0.04) were determined using the Reference Sample Method with 15 +/- 3 micrometer 103Ru microspheres and complete cardiovascular monitoring. Mammalian EOM blood flow was significantly higher than that determined for other skeletal muscle; however, EOM blood-flow values for sheep were significantly lower than those for primates and dogs. No significant blood-flow differences were found between avian EOM and other skeletal muscle, reflecting the unique avian ocular anatomy. These data indicate that high blood flow is not a general property of EOM and suggest a relationship between functional ocular motility and blood flow.

Animals↗

Muscle physiology during functional activities and parafunctional habits.

Many of the signs and symptoms of muscle pathosis and fatigue are better treated when the underlying cellular and biochemical mechanisms of muscle function are approached. The basic structural and functional components of muscle tissue and the biochemical cellular activity of muscle contraction have been described. The muscle physiology of the functional activities of chewing and swallowing have been compared to the muscle physiology of the parafunctional habits of clenching and bruxing.

Action Potentials↗

The effect of complete tenotomy on blood flow to the anterior segment of the canine eye.

The relative importance of the anterior ciliary arteries to blood flow to the anterior segment and the quadrant distribution of blood to the iris, ciliary body, and ciliary processes were determined in canines with the use of 15 +/- 3 mum 103Ru microspheres with the reference blood flow method. Recti muscles were isolated in both eyes. Then with one eye serving as a sham-operated control, anterior ciliary artery blood flow was disrupted by recti tenotomy immediately prior to microsphere injection. Tenotomy resulted in a significant decrease in blood flow to the anterior segment (0.14 +/- 0.03 ml/min/gm vs. 0.26 +/- 0.05 in the untenotomized control) and to the unit iris, ciliary body and ciliary processes (I, CB, CP) (0.92 +/- 0.16 ml/min/gm vs. 1.44 +/- 0.22 in the untenotomized control). Blood flow values for the anterior segment and the unit I, CB, CP in the tenotomized eye were 50% to 60% of those of the control eyes, indicating that the majority of blood flow to the canine anterior segment is not disrupted by complete tenotomy. In the control eye, blood flow values for the medial quadrant of the unit I, CB, CP were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of the inferior or superior quadrants. Blood flow values for all quadrants in tenotomized eyes were 55% to 70% of those for control eyes. Therefore the anterior ciliary arteries do not contribute the majority of blood flow to the canine anterior segment.

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