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Biomedical subjects

U Abildgaard

Publications and source records attributed to U Abildgaard.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effect of alveolar hypoxia on segmental pulmonary vascular resistance and lung fluid balance in dogs.

In a biventricular bypass preparation with constant-flow perfusion, pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa), average pulmonary capillary pressure (Ppc), venous pressure (Pv), extravascular lung water volume (EVWd) and capillary permeability-surface area product for urea (PS) were determined in control animals and in animals subjected to alveolar hypoxia. During hypoxia, Ppa increased in a biphasic manner, the site of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction being located in the arterial upstream segment. At baseline, Ppc values were identical in control and experimental animals (3.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.6 +/- 0.2 mmHg). During 150 min of airway hypoxia, the rise in Ppc (5.1 +/- 0.3 mmHg) did not exceed the rise in Ppc (4.9 +/- 0.5 mmHg) recorded in control animals at same time interval during normoxic ventilation. EVWd increased during hypoxia to values significantly higher than those obtained in control animals (0.559 +/- 0.036 vs. 0.466 +/- 0.027 mL water g-1 lung). PS remained unchanged at baseline level throughout experiments in both groups of animals. Present data suggest that lung oedema formation during alveolar hypoxia may be caused by increased transcapillary fluid loss preferentially through transcellular hydraulic pathways in capillary endothelial cells.

Animals↗

Binding of tissue factor pathway inhibitor to cultured endothelial cells-influence of glycosaminoglycans.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is mainly bound to the vessel wall and is released to circulating blood after injections of heparin. It has been suggested that the highly positively charged carboxy terminal end of heparin releasable TFPI is bound to negatively charged binding molecule(s), presumably glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), on the luminal surface of endothelial cells. The aim of the present study was to characterize this binding. Confluent monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and Ea.hy926 cells were incubated with 125I-labelled recombinant TFPI (rTFPI). Two different rTFPI preparations were used in the experiments; one preparation was full-length rTFPI and one preparation was truncated at the C-terminal end (rTFPI1-161). Binding of 125I-rTFPI reached equilibrium conditions after 2 hours incubation at room temperature. Scatchard plots indicated a single class of binding sites with a mean Kd value of 164 +/- 16 nmol/L for HUVECs and a Kd value of 296 +/- 10 nmol/L for Ea.hy926 cells. The number of rTFPI binding sites per cell were approximately 1.10(7). Binding of 125I-rTFPI1-161 was non-specific. GAGs reduced binding of 125I-rTFPI in a dose-dependent manner by 50-75%. The potency of different GAGs to displace bound rTFPI was in the following order: Unfractionated heparin (UF) > low-molecular weight (LMW) heparin > hexadecasaccharides/octasaccharides/dodecasaccharides > heparan sulfate > dermatan sulfate. Treatment of the cells with heparinase III, with chondroitinase ABC lyase, or with sodium chlorate (to prevent sulfation) did not influence the binding of TFPI. We conclude that the C-terminal end is necessary for binding of TFPI to endothelial cells, but the binding is weak and does not involve GAGs.

Anticoagulants↗

Structure and anticoagulant activity of a fucosylated chondroitin sulfate from echinoderm. Sulfated fucose branches on the polysaccharide account for its high anticoagulant action.

A polysaccharide isolated from the body wall of the sea cucumber Ludwigothurea grisea has a backbone like that of mammalian chondroitin sulfate: [4-beta-D-GlcA-1-->3-beta-D-GalNAc-1]n but substituted at the 3-position of the beta--glucuronic acid residues with sulfated alpha--fucopyranosyl branches (Vieira, R. P., Mulloy, B., and Mourão, P. A. S. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 13530-13536). Mild acid hydrolysis removes the sulfated alpha--fucose branches, and cleaved residues have been characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy; the most abundant species is fucose 4-O-monosulfate, but 2,4- and 3, 4-di-O-sulfated residues are also present. Degradation of the remaining polysaccharide with chondroitin ABC lyase shows that the sulfated alpha-L-fucose residues released by mild acid hydrolysis are concentrated toward the non-reducing end of the polysaccharide chains; enzyme-resistant polysaccharide material includes the reducing terminal and carries acid-resistant -fucose substitution. The sulfated alpha-L-fucose branches confer anticoagulant activity on the polysaccharide. The specific activity of fucosylated chondroitin sulfate in the activated partial thromboplastin time assay is greater than that of a linear homopolymeric alpha-L-fucan with about the same level of sulfation; this activity is lost on defucosylation or desulfation but not on carboxyl-reduction of the polymer. Assays with purified reagents show that the fucosylated chondroitin sulfate can potentiate the thrombin inhibition activity of both antithrombin and heparin cofactor II.

Animals↗

Thrombin-inhibitor complexes in the blood during and after delivery.

Activation of coagulation leads to generation of thrombin which in turn is inactivated by the formation of thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes, and thrombin-heparin cofactor complexes (T-HCII). These complexes were measured in plasma by ELISA methods. During normal delivery, the median TAT level in ten women increased from 4.1 to 7.8 times the median normal reference level. There was great individual variation, and levels 42 and 56 times normal median were found in two women shortly after normal delivery. The median T-HCII levels increased only moderately from 2.3 to 3.1 times median normal reference. D-dimer values were elevated in 28 out of the 30 samples. In blood sampled 1-2 days after delivery, the median TAT level was 2.5 times the median normal reference. The median T-HCII level was now 5.6 times the median normal reference value. The values were stable during the first 4 days post partum, and there was little difference between those delivered vaginally or by Caesarean section (C-section). D-dimer values were above normal reference in all women, and higher in women delivered by C-section. In conclusion, increasing TAT levels during labour and delivery indicated generation of thrombin which was mainly inactivated by antithrombin. The T-HCII levels increased less during delivery. In the early post partum period, the T-HCII levels were relatively more increased than the TAT levels. These results suggest that intravascularly generated thrombin is preferably inactivated by antithrombin, even in parturient women. In the post partum period, formation of T-HCII complexes was more evident, possibly reflecting extravascular inactivation of thrombin.

Adult↗

[Heparin as the cause of severe thrombosis].

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis occurs in one out of about 2,000 patients on heparin treatment for five days. The new thrombosis is often arterial and may carry a grave prognosis. If thrombocytopenia develops during heparin treatment, heparin must be discontinued immediately. Alternative antihrombotic medication should be considered. Organs is probably the best alternative. Vascular surgery can be considered. In order to reduce the risk of experiencing this serious complication, oral anticoagulation should be initiated rapidly after heparin therapy is started. Compared with standard heparin, low molecular weight heparin probably involves less risk of the patient developing thrombocytopenia and thrombosis.

Aged↗

Endogenous tissue plasminogen activator in neonatal cerebrospinal fluid.

Tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) plays a role in differentiation of neurones and activity-dependent structural changes in neurones. We hypothesised that tPA would also be present in CSF during fibrinolysis after intraventricular haemorrhage. We measured tPA antigen in CSF from 13 normal newborn infants and 14 infants with post-haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD). tPA was undetectable or at the limit of detection (1 microgram/l) in normal CSF. The CSF tPA concentration ranged from 1.3 to 3.5 micrograms/l in the infants with PHVD. Serial tapping in one infant showed persistence of tPA in the CSF from 3 to 8 weeks of age. We conclude that endogenous tPA may be part of the physiological response to intraventricular haemorrhage or may be present as a result of passive diffusion into the CSF.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗

[Antithrombotic therapy in cerebrovascular disorders].

Warfarin is recommended as primary prophylactic therapy for patients older than 60 years with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and for patients with additional risk factors for thromboembolism. Warfarin should also be given as secondary prophylaxis. Patients with contraindications to warfarin should be given aspirin. Anticoagulant therapy is recommended against progressive ischemic stroke and in cardiogenic cerebral embolism, although conclusive evidence of the benefit is lacking. In the case of transient ischemic attacks and minor stroke, antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of subsequent stroke by approximately 25 percent. Antiplatelet therapy is probably indicated in cases of acute, stable ischemic stroke.

Aged↗

Relative roles of tissue factor pathway inhibitor and antithrombin in the control of thrombogenesis.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) controls activation of blood coagulation while antithrombin (AT) regulates the final stage. Both inhibitors inhibit the intermediate stage of activation. Subnormal levels of TFPI increase the risk of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in septic conditions, and the risk of occlusive thrombi over damaged vascular intima or fissured arteriosclerotic plaques. The risk of venous thrombosis is increased by subnormal AT or subnormal activity of the protein C system. In contrast, TFPI may be little involved in the control of deep venous thrombosis. Heparin strongly accelerates AT and releases TFPI to the blood. Both these effects may contribute to the antithrombotic effect of heparin. In septic DIC, heparin may contribute little to quench activation of coagulation. Once hereditary deficiency of TFPI is described, its biological role will be better understood.

Antithrombins↗

Long-term anticoagulant therapy in cerebrovascular disease: does bleeding outweigh the benefit?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine the risk of major haemorrhagic complications, stroke and other cardiovascular events, and mortality during long-term anticoagulant therapy (ACT) in patients with cerebrovascular disease not included in any prospective trials. DESIGN: The data were collected retrospectively. SETTING: All patients with symptomatic cerebrovascular disease discharged from the Stroke Unit, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, with ACT (warfarin) during 1983 through to 1986 were included. SUBJECTS: The material consists of 161 patients with a mean age of 67.8 (range 40-90) years. The reason for initiating ACT was frequent transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) in 52 patients, stroke in progression (SIP) in 33 patients, and probable embolic stroke in 76 patients. International normalized ratio (INR) of 4.2-2.8 was aimed at. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Major haemorrhagic complications, recurrent stroke and survival was determined for the total material, and in the subgroups non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF, n = 49), TIAs, and SIP. RESULTS: The mean duration of ACT was 21.1 (range 0.5-60.2) months with a total of 282.9 patient-years. The rate of major (including fatal) haemorrhagic complications was 4.6% per year, and the rate of fatal haemorrhagic complications was 1.4% per year. The complication rates in the subgroups of patients did not differ significantly from that in the total material. Only two out of the 13 major haemorrhagic complications occurred during the initial 6 months of ACT. No strokes occurred in the TIA subgroup. The rate of recurrent stroke (excluding intracranial haemorrhage) was 3.9% per year for all patients, 4.7% per year for the patients with NVAF, and 4.2% per year for the patients with SIP. CONCLUSIONS: The total results suggest a positive net effect of ACT in patients with NVAF and TIAs. Without comparable data, no definite conclusions concerning the effect of ACT on patients with SIP can be drawn. The rate of bleeding complications was similar to that in other studied materials and is not negligible. In patients with SIP and TIAs, ACT beyond 6 months should probably only be continued if aspirin is not tolerated or has proven ineffective in the particular patient.

Adult↗

Low levels of plasminogen in cerebrospinal fluid after intraventricular haemorrhage: a limiting factor for clot lysis?

The aim of this study was to measure plasminogen in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of control neonates with no infection or haemorrhage and in infants who had suffered intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). A chromogenic substrate method was used. The 16 reference infants had a median CSF plasminogen level of 0.74% of that of normal adult plasma (range 0.17-1.1%). The 11 infants with IVH had a median CSF plasminogen level of 0.55% of normal adult plasma (range 0-4.4%). Six of the IVH infants went on to develop permanent hydrocephalus despite the use of intraventricular plasminogen activators. Endogenous fibrinolysis and the potential for fibrinolytic treatment in the CSF may be limited by low concentrations of plasminogen, and administration of recombinant plasminogen may assist attempts to clear intraventricular blood clots.

Adult↗

The transplanted human kidney does not achieve functional reinnervation.

1. Previous histological studies have demonstrated partial reinnervation of the human transplanted kidney. However, it remains unknown whether this reinnervation is of any functional significance. 2. The effects of noradrenaline infusion (2 micrograms h-1kg-1) and lower body negative pressure (-27 mmHg) on renal haemodynamics, sodium excretion and tubular function were investigated in 25 renal transplant recipients and 10 normal subjects. Sixteen of the transplant recipients had all been transplanted for more than 27 months, and nine had all been transplanted for less than 2 months. 3. After an overnight fast, the subjects were water-loaded, and clearance studies were performed with a 1 h baseline period, a 1 h period with noradrenaline infusion, another 1 h baseline period, and a final 1 h period with lower body negative pressure. 4. During noradrenaline infusion the relative decrease in effective renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate and clearance of lithium and sodium was significantly more pronounced in the long-term transplanted patients than in the control subjects. 5. Lower body negative pressure only depressed the glomerular filtration rate significantly in the control subjects. Further, the relative decrease in effective renal plasma flow and clearance of lithium and sodium was significantly greater in the control subjects than in the two groups of transplanted patients. 6. The present study thus demonstrated that in short- and long-term transplanted kidneys in man, supersensitivity to circulating noradrenaline and an inadequate response to lower body negative pressure was present. This strongly suggests that the human transplanted kidney remains functionally denervated.

Adolescent↗

Intraventricular streptokinase increases cerebrospinal fluid D dimer in preterm infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation.

Failure to lyse multiple small blood clots in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reabsorption pathways may be one of the mechanisms leading to posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD). It has been suggested that intraventricular administration of streptokinase may resolve PHVD but it is not known whether such treatment produces an increase in fibrin degradation products in the CSF. Ventricular CSF was collected from six infants with PHVD before and during intraventricular treatment with streptokinase 1000 units/h. In all six infants, CSF D dimer increased during streptokinase treatment. Median D dimer before treatment was 1642 micrograms/l and during treatment 5440 micrograms/l (p < 0.05). Undetectable D dimer levels in plasma during streptokinase treatment ruled out the possibility that D dimer had merely diffused into the CSF. This augmentation of local fibrinolysis may have therapeutic potential. There was no evidence of systemic fibrinolysis.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗

Plasma thrombomodulin level in malignancy varies according to the tumor type.

Plasma thrombomodulin (TM) level was measured by ELISA in patients with either digestive tract cancers or malignant melanomas. A striking difference was seen between tumor types with an increase in the TM level of the former and a decrease in the latter. This finding is in agreement with the classification of tumors previously proposed by Zacharski et al.

Digestive System Neoplasms↗

Microheterogeneity of antithrombin III: effect of single amino acid substitutions and relationship with functional abnormalities.

Microheterogeneity of antithrombin III (AT-III) was investigated by crossed immunoelectrofocusing (CIEF) on eleven molecular variants. A normal pattern was found in five variants while two different abnormal CIEF patterns were found in the other four and two variants, respectively. Point mutations causing a major pI change (exceeding 4.0) of the amino acid substituted lead to alterations in the overall microheterogeneity. The variants thus substituted share a first type of abnormal CIEF pattern with alterations throughout the pH range, regardless of the location of the mutation (reactive site and adjacent regions or heparin binding region). Minor amino acid pI changes in these regions do not alter the AT-III overall microheterogeneity, whatever the resulting functional defect. However, if the mutation is placed in the region around positions 404 or 429, then even minor changes of the amino acid pI seem able to alter the overall charge, leading to a second type of abnormal CIEF pattern with the main alteration at pH 4.8-4.6. Neuraminidase treatment leads to disappearance of microheterogeneity except for the variants with the Arg393 to Cys substitution. Addition of thrombin induces CIEF modifications specifically related to the functional defect. A normal formation of thrombin-antithrombin complexes induces a shift towards the more acid pH range, whereas in the variants substituted at the reactive site the CIEF pattern is substantially unaffected by thrombin; variants substituted at positions 382-384 show a maximal thrombin-induced increase of the isoforms at pI 4.8-4.6. Therefore mutant antithrombins with different functional abnormalities but sharing a common CIEF pattern were well distinguished.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alanine↗