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Biomedical subjects

V Rasi

Publications and source records attributed to V Rasi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Constitutional translocation t(3;6)(p14;p11) in a family with hematologic malignancies.

We describe a family with an inherited constitutional balanced translocation t(3;6)(p14;p11) and hematologic malignancies. Of two proven translocation carriers, one had acute myeloid leukemia and the other had myelofibrosis. A third member who had died of acute leukemia was a possible translocation carrier (chromosome analysis had not been performed). Five healthy translocation carriers were detected. Neither the translocation nor additional hematologic malignancies were found outside the nuclear family. It could not be definitely clarified if this constitutional translocation predisposes to hematologic malignancies. Breakpoint 3p14 has previously been implicated in recurrent cancer-associated rearrangements but 6p11 has not. We suggest that other investigators look for involvement of these breakpoints in cancer patients.

Acute Disease↗

Platelet function and coagulation in normal and preeclamptic pregnancy.

Platelet function and coagulation activity were followed prospectively throughout normal pregnancy and in puerperium in 17 healthy women. Plasma beta-thromboglobulin reflecting platelet activation increased progressively during pregnancy. This was not accompanied by any changes in platelet count or lifespan nor in serum or plasma thromboxane B2 levels. The levels of both factor VIII:C and factor VIIIR:Ag increased, the former less than the latter resulting in a rise of the FVIIIR:Ag/FVIII:C ratio. Antithrombin III (AT III), however remained unaltered. FVIIIR:Ag/FVIII:C ratio was increased both in mild (n = 7) and severe (n = 9) preeclampsia, whereas beta-thromboglobulin was increased and AT III was decreased only in severe preeclampsia. Platelet count and lifespan, plasma and serum thromboxane B2 as well as FVIII:C were normal in severe preeclampsia.

Adult↗

Haemostatic parameters in Cushing's syndrome.

We have studied haemostatic parameters in 12 patients with Cushing's syndrome. Three patients had prolonged bleeding times, and in all seven patients whose bleeding times were measured 3-6 months after surgical treatment the postoperative bleeding times were shorter (mean 7.5 min) than the pretreatment times (mean 12.3 min). In ADP- or adrenaline-induced aggregation the second wave was lacking in six and the degree of aggregation was borderline or subnormal in five patients. One patient had, in addition, a severe defect in collagen-induced aggregation. However, thromboxane B2 production of the platelets from both endogenous and exogenous arachidonic acid was unaffected. Factor VIII:C, RAg and Rcof activities were all elevated, and in patients with severe disease F VIIIR:Ag and F VIII:Rcof activities were markedly more elevated than F VIII:C activity. The changes in both primary haemostasis and in factor VIII activities correlated clearly with the clinical severity of the disease.

Adolescent↗

Can ethanol intoxication affect hemocoagulation to increase the risk of brain infarction in young adults?

We studied the effects of acute ethanol intoxication on platelet function, coagulation factors, and fibrinolytic activity in 12 healthy men. During the ethanol session, 10 of the 12 developed a transient decrease in fibrinolytic activity. Ethanol ingestion increased factor VIII coagulant activity. VIII-related antigen, and VIII-ristocetin cofactor. The highest levels were detected 16 hours after beginning ethanol ingestion (p less than 0.001), and the bleeding time decreased at 12 hours (p less than 0.01). Ethanol had no effects on platelet count, beta-thromboglobulin, antithrombin III, ethanol gelation, or fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products. Decreased fibrinolytic activity, increased factor VIII complex, and shortened bleeding time may explain why ethanol intoxication increases susceptibility to cerebral thrombosis.

Adult↗

Plasma beta-thromboglobulin in severe infection.

The plasma concentration of beta-thromboglobulin was serially measured in nine patients with septicemia, ten patients with pneumonia and five thrombo- and granulocytopenic patients with acute leukemia. Six patients with septicemia out of the eight studied on days 1-3 and all eight patients studied 7-14 days after onset had an abnormal high beta-thromboglobulin level. One patient with pneumonia out of six studied on days 1-3 and six out of nine studied on 7-14 days after onset had an abnormal high value. A rising trend in plasma beta-thromboglobulin with the highest mean levels at one to two weeks after onset was common to both groups. Positive ethanol gelation, increased level of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products, decreased antithrombin III, increased FVIII complex and disproportionate ratio of FVIII:C to FVIIIR:Ag were common in both groups in the early stages of the disease. All the five patients with leukemia had a lower than normal beta-thromboglobulin level throughout the study but showed in the coagulation parameters changes similar to those observed in the other groups. Judging from the commonness of abnormal beta-thromboglobulin values in the two first patient groups, low grade platelet activation is a normal response in severe infection.

Acute Disease↗

Plasma beta-thromboglobulin in acute myocardial infarction.

Serial measurements of plasma beta-thromboglobulin concentration were made in 25 patients with acute myocardial infarction. The beta-thromboglobulin level was elevated in 18 patients on the day of presentation and the mean beta-thromboglobulin of the patients (83 ng/ml) differed significantly from the normal mean (26 ng/ml; p less than 0.001). When grouped according to the clinical severity, the most severely affected patients had the highest values (mean 128 ng/ml; n = 11). Two patients with a mild or moderate clinical course had a normal beta-thromboglobulin level throughout the study. The patients showed a distinct pattern in the evolution of the plasma beta-thromboglobulin values. The initial elevation was followed by a decrease in beta-thromboglobulin levels (mean 37 ng/ml on day 3), when only the severely affected patients differed from the normals. The beta-thromboglobulin level started to increase thereafter, reaching in many cases the highest and in some cases the only abnormally high values at the end of the second week (mean 75 ng/ml) in the survivors. The levels were mostly normal again 4-6 months after the infarction.

Adult↗

Joint involvement in patients with severe haemophilia A in 1957-59 and 1978-79.

Clinical findings of joint involvement in patients with severe haemophilia A were compared between two surveys made in 1957-59 and 1978-79. Permanent joint changes wee seen in 50 (81%) of 62 patients in 1957-59 and in 70 (86%) of 81 patients in 1978-79. The incidence of permanent changes was the same in the two surveys in all 10-year age groups, but the degree of involvement was less severe in the two youngest age groups in 1978-79. It is concluded that effective replacement therapy can delay but not prevent completely the development of progressive arthropathy in patients with severe haemophilia A.

Adolescent↗

Changes in the life expectancy of patients with severe haemophilia A in Finland in 1930-79.

Important advances have been made in the treatment of haemophilia during the past 30 years. We have analysed the data of all the known 163 patients with severe haemophilia A living in Finland in 1930-79 in order to study changes in the prognosis of severe haemophilia A. During the period of 50 years the mean age at death of the patients has increased from 7.8 years in 1930-39 to 25.5 years in 1970-79 and the annual death rate has markedly decreased in all age groups. The decline has been greatest in patients under 10 years of age. In this age group the annual death rate decreased from over 50 per thousand in 1930-39 and 1940-49 to 4.8 per thousand in 1970-79. The prognosis of patients with inhibitors has remained poor, however. Five of the six deaths during the last decade occurred in patients with inhibitors. The overall annual death rate of patients without inhibitors was only 1.2 per thousand in 1970-79, suggesting that at the present time the life expectancy of patients who do not develop inhibitors does not markedly differ from that of the general male population.

Adolescent↗

Coagulation factors in women using oral contraceptives or intrauterine contraceptive devices immediately after abortion.

The changes in coagulation parameters were studied in 24 women who started using microdose combined oral contraceptives immediately after first-trimester abortion. Another 24 women who had an intrauterine contraceptive device inserted at the end of the abortion procedure were studied as control subjects. In pill users, a slightly increaed tendency toward hypercoagulability was observed 1 week after abortion in terms of elevated fibrinogen and Factor VIII as well as decreased antithrombin levels. Other studies have shown that the new follicle development after first-trimester abortion starts beyond the first week. It would therefore seem that by postponing oral contraceptive use until 1 week after abortion, no decrease in the effectiveness of contraception occurs and the possible risks of hypercoagulabilty during the postabortal period can be avoided.

Abortion, Induced↗

Platelet function in preleukaemia.

Platelet function was studied in 17 patients with preleukaemia and the results were compared with those of 28 patients with other chronic myeloproliferative disorders. The test pattern included bleeding time (Ivy), platelet retention (Hellem II), PF-3 activity and availability after exposure to ADP and kaolin, and ADP-, epinephrine-, collagen- and ristocetin-induced aggregations. Platelet function was frequently impaired in patients with preleukemia. The defects were similar to those found in other myeloproliferative disorders. The most consistent finding was defective aggregation. Patients with thrombocytosis and/or with increased amounts of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow had fewer defects in platelet function. Retention defect was more common in patients with hypolobulated megakaryocytes, especially in those having a specific marker, the 5q- chromosome, in their bone marrow cells.

Adult↗

beta-Thromboglobulin in acute myocardial infarction.

The plasma beta-thromboglobulin level was studied serially in 14 patients with acute myocardial infarction. In 7 patients the plasma beta-thromboglobulin was initially high. The most severely affected patients had the highest values. Three patients with a mild or moderate clinical course had a normal beta-thromboglobulin level at every stage. The remaining patients had a distinct pattern in the evolution of the plasma beta-thromboglobulin values. The initial phase was followed by a uniform fall during the first days and then by an increase. The highest values were in many cases measured at discharge. Platelet counts showed a similar pattern. Signs of activation of platelets were seen before changes in coagulation and fibrinolysis.

Adult↗

A coated-tube radioimmunoassay for beta-thromboglobulin.

A solid phase radioimmunoassay for beta-thromboglobulin is presented which has the advantage of easy technical performance. The antibody was absorbed onto polystyrene tubes and the separation of free and bound radiolabelled tracer was performed by simply sucking the tubes empty after incubation. The assay is precise and accurate but not particularly rapid, since an overnight incubation is needed. Maximum assay sensitivity was found to be 5.6 ng/ml beta-thromboglobulin for plasma samples. Preliminary studies showed that the sensitivity can be increased by the use of a more dilute antiserum. The plasma concentration of beta-thromboglobulin in 37 normal subjects was 17 +/- 4 ng/ml. The analytical performance of the assay corresponds to a commercial liquid-phase kit used for reference.

Beta-Globulins↗