A sensitive and selective reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was introduced for the determination of salmon calcitonin (sCT) in solutions containing bovine serum albumin or gelatin. The method was based on the sensitive fluorescence detection of sCT by postcolumn derivatization with o-phthal(di)aldehyde. The sample was loaded onto a reversed phase column, purified by column switching and separated with linear gradient elution using the ion pair technique. A linear relationship was obtained between the peak height and the amount injected in the concentration range 1-40 ng. The detection limit was 10 ng/mL (S/N = 3) at a sample injection volume of 100 microL.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sensitive determination of salmon calcitonin, by means of pre-column derivatization, HPLC and fluorometric determination.

A high sensitive analytical method for salmon calcitonin (sCT) was established by means of derivatization with a fluorescence labelling agent, DBD-F, followed by HPLC separation and fluorescence detection at 558 nm with excitation at 430 nm. Under optimized conditions (DBD-F, 0.1 M borate buffer (pH 8.5):acetonitrile (70:30, v/v)), three molecules of DBD-F reacted with one sCT molecule in the presence of 1 mM sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) at 50 degrees C for 3 h. The detection limit for the sCT derivative was 20 fmol. A linear relationship was obtained between the amount of sCT on column and the peak heights in the range of 35-8000 fmol.

Analgesics↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acute renal infarction caused by Behçet's disease.

A case of acute renal infarction due to Behçet's disease is described. Selective renal arteriography revealed multiple microaneurysms of both kidneys and arterial obstruction distal to an aneurysm in the left kidney. Bilateral microaneurysms were no longer seen on the follow-up angiogram 5 years later. Behçet's disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute renal infarction in young adults.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Embolization of a thoracic aortic aneurysm; the straddling coil technique: technical note.

Occlusion of a patent postligated aortic aneurysm was performed percutaneously with modified use of giant steel coils in a 50-year-old man. Steel coils were placed across the short, narrowed segment of the aorta. Successful thrombosis of entire aortic aneurysm was accomplished. No complications occurred.

Aorta, Thoracic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aneurysm of the ventricular membranous septum: serial echocardiographic studies.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to examine the frequency, timing of formation of aneurysm of the ventricular membranous septum (AVMS), and prognosis in patients with a perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD). PATIENTS: One hundred forty-eight patients were diagnosed with a perimembranous VSD within 90 days after birth. They were classified into three groups: Group I, spontaneous closure; Group II, open; Group III, surgical closure. They were also divided into two further groups: 75 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and 73 patients without that. METHODS: An AVMS was observed by two-dimensional echocardiography, and spontaneous closure of the VSD was confirmed by color Doppler. RESULTS: An AVMS was formed in 69 (47%) of 148 patients: 50% in Group I, 66% in Group II, 15% in Group III. The timing of AVMS formation was at a median age of 6 months. In 14% of patients, AVMS was formed within 3 months of age. The frequency of AVMS at the time of the initial echocardiogram was low in patients with CHF (odds ratio, 3.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-8.79 p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: We believe that AVMS formation is related to avoidance of surgical closure during early infancy in patients with a perimembranous VSD, because the frequency of AVMS during early infancy is low in patients with CHF.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Follow-up assessment of the collateral circulation in patients with Kawasaki disease who underwent dipyridamole stress technetium-99m tetrofosmin scintigraphy.

To assess the alteration of myocardial ischemic findings and the role of collateral vessels in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), we used dipyridamole stress technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tf) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). A comparison study of coronary angiography and dipyridamole stress (0.70 mg/kg) Tf-SPECT was repeated at least twice in 20 patients. The subjects included 7 patients with coronary stenosis, 1 with pre- and post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) due to coronary stenosis, 1 with progression to coronary stenosis, and 11 with persistent coronary aneurysms. In the stenosis group, Tf-SPECT revealed that 6 of the 7 patients had some degree of ischemic findings, and 5 of these 6 did not show any change in their ischemic findings during follow-up. In 1 patient, the ischemic findings changed according to the collateral circulation changes. The patient who underwent CABG had pre-CABG ischemic changes that disappeared after CABG. In the patient whose coronary arteries progressed to stenosis, the ischemic findings progressed as the coronary stenosis progressed. In the persistent aneurysm group, there were no ischemic findings. In the future Tf-SPECT may become one of the most useful methods for monitoring the progressive changes of myocardial ischemia in KD.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Successful surgical repair of common pulmonary vein atresia in a newborn.

A 7-hour-old boy underwent an emergency operation with an anticipated diagnosis of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. The precise diagnosis of common pulmonary vein atresia (CPVA) was made during the operation. A side-to-side anastomosis between the common pulmonary venous chamber and the left atrium was performed. All procedures were successfully carried out on the beating heart under the cardiopulmonary bypass. A tentative diagnosis of CPVA should always be borne in minds in neonates with clinical conditions such as deep cyanosis unresponsive to the oxygen therapy, stubborn acidosis, severe pulmonary venous congestion, and rapid deterioration. The corrective repair of CPVA with the heart beating appears to be the procedure of choice in the setting of seriously damaged myocardium of the immature heart. To the best of our knowledge, this is the youngest survivor of the corrective surgery for CPVA and operation at time of diagnosis is the important principle.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗