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Biomedical subjects

W A Scott

Publications and source records attributed to W A Scott.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Superiority of a vertical sternal lead for detection of arrhythmias during ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.

In a preliminary study comparing 7 sets of bipolar leads with standard modified V1 and V5 leads, a vertical sternal lead system with the negative lead just below the suprasternal notch, and the positive lead over the xiphoid had the greatest P-wave area. In the current study, the vertical sternal and modified V1 leads were obtained simultaneously using 2-channel ambulatory electrocardiographic recorders in 50 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic ambulatory electrocardiography for suspected arrhythmias. The vertical sternal lead provided tracings with a larger P-wave area compared with that of the modified V1 (0.58 +/- 0.44 vs 1.23 +/- 0.69 mm2; p less than 0.0001), and a greater QRS complex (9.23 +/- 4.16 vs 11.78 +/- 4.90 mm; p = 0.006). During premature atrial contractions and supraventricular tachycardia, P-wave visibility was significantly better in the sternal lead than in V1 (p less than 0.001). Furthermore, sternal lead tracings were superior with regard to overall quality and noise level. It is suggested that the vertical sternal lead replace the currently used modified V1 during ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. This lead system in conjunction with the standard modified V5 lead should be useful in the differential diagnosis of atrial arrhythmias.

Adolescent

Quantitative analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 antibody reactivity by western immunoblots: evaluation of relative antibody levels in seropositive individuals and mothers.

A quantitative analysis of antibody responses to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proteins using Western immunoblots and 125I-labeled protein A is reproducible and can be validated. The antibody levels obtained by Western immunoblots were compared with stoichiometric p24 radioimmunoassay over a wide range of antibody (correlation coefficient, .94; P less than .001). Antibody levels to gp160 and gp120 were validated using purified antigens. Analysis of antibody levels from 31 seropositive individuals revealed a statistically significant correlation between antibody levels to p24 and the other viral proteins except gp120. Anti-gag p24 antibody was strongly correlated with antibodies to other env products, specifically gp41 and gp160. Using the validated assay, HIV-1-infected mothers of infants were found to have highly variable levels of antibody to all viral proteins. Mothers of infected infants did not differ significantly from mothers of uninfected infants in antibody pattern or levels to any viral protein including gp120.

Adult

Evaluation of electrocardiographic leads for detection of atrial activity (P wave) in ambulatory ECG monitoring: a pilot study.

The usual lead systems for ambulatory ECG monitoring (AECG) used in the evaluation of arrhythmias is a modified bipolar V-1 and V-5. A comparison of various lead systems to enhance the detection of atrial activity (p waves) has not been reported. We evaluated various surface lead systems in 12 subjects comparing p waves recorded at 20 mm/mV and 50 mm/sec. We compared p wave area, amplitude, and duration from modified bipolar V1 and V5 as well as seven nonstandard leads recorded on a AECG monitor. Of the seven nonstandard leads, a vertical sternal lead, with the negative pole just below the suprasternal notch and the positive pole at the xiphoid process, had the largest area (1.46 +/- 0.65 mm2), and also had a greater area than the standard V1 (0.88 +/- 0.45 mm) and V5 (1.06 +/- 0.49 mm2) lead system (P less than 0.01). We conclude that the bipolar vertical sternal lead system provides a larger p wave area than seven nonstandard bipolar lead systems and the two standard lead systems currently used in AECG monitoring. Replacement of the modified bipolar V1 lead with a vertical sternal lead should improve the recognition of atrial activity and, therefore, enhance the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias.

Adult

Efficacy of epicardial controlled-release lidocaine for ventricular tachycardia induced by rapid ventricular pacing in dogs.

The effects of epicardial lidocaine on ventricular tachycardia (VT) induced by rapid ventricular pacing (50 Hz) were studied in dogs. Lidocaine-polyurethane (28% wt/wt) matrixes (40-50 mg, 5 x 5 mm) were placed proximal to bipolar left ventricular epicardial electrodes in open-chest anesthetized dogs (n = 9) after VT was established by rapid ventricular pacing. In the first set of experiments, matrices were removed immediately after VT had converted to sinus rhythm. Control animals underwent VT induction protocol with a nondrug-containing matrix positioned next to the epicardial electrode. In the lidocaine-treated animals, VT conversion was noted in all animals and occurred after 51.7 +/- 8.9 s (mean +/- SE), with a VT threshold current elevation of 73.5 +/- 11.2% above baseline at the time of conversion which progressed to 259 +/- 44% of the initial value by 5.4 +/- 0.5 min post-matrix placement. Lidocaine 1.4 +/- 0.1 mg was delivered to the myocardium at the time of VT conversion (0.11 +/- 0.01 mg/kg). In comparison, accelerated VT persisted for 5 min in three of five control animals, and progressed to ventricular fibrillation (VF) in the other two animals. In a separate series of eight dogs, the lidocaine-polyurethane matrixes were left in palce for 4 h so that we could study the sustained antiarrhythmic action of controlled-release lidocaine on VT induction. The results of these experiments demonstrated a maintenance of the VT threshold elevation at a level of 53.9 +/- 10.8% after 4 h, with a net lidocaine dose of 0.52 +/- 0.06 mg/kg after 4 h of controlled release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Alignment of P waves for signal averaging.

Signal averaged atrial activity recorded from the body surface is finding increased use in assessing atrial arrhythmias. The process of signal averaging is critically dependent upon precise alignment of the waveform of interest. The alignment accuracy of wide (0.01-300 Hz) and narrow (10-300 Hz) bandpass filtered P waves recorded from the body surface were compared to atrial electrograms recorded from temporary pacing wires. The locations of the filtered P waves relative to the atrial electrogram were calculated beat-by-beat for 100 beats in 15 patients aged 1 month to 71 years. The standard deviation of the alignment error for the wide filtered surface P wave averaged 1.7 +/- 0.8 msec and for the narrow filtered P waves was 0.8 +/- 0.4 ms. These results demonstrate that high pass filtering will improve alignment accuracy, and therefore, improve frequency resolution for the analysis of signal averaged P waves.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac

Purification and characterization of calcium-binding protein from chick chorioallantoic membrane.

A procedure is described for the purification of the calcium-binding protein (CaBP) from the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo. With this scheme, a 180- to 200-fold purification was achieved with a 40% yield. Characterization of the CaBP revealed that its properties differ from those of previously studied calcium-binding proteins. The CaBP has a molecular weight of 95,000 to 100,000 and appears to be composed of four subunits of identical molecular weight (22,000 to 25,000). The CaBP is a basic protein as indicated by its high electrophoretic mobility under acidic conditions and its relatively high isoelectric point of 8.06. The calcium-binding activity of the CaBP is sulfhydryl dependent and highly specific for calcium ions (10 high affinity sites, ka = 2.35 X 10(7) m-1; 100 to 120 low affinity sites, ka = 2.00 X 10(5) M-1). Amino acid analysis indicated that the CaBP contains 2 to 10 residues of a modified amino acid, gamma-carboxyglutamate (gamma-CGlu). The presence of gamma-CGlu residues suggested that vitamin K may be involved in the expression of the CaBP in the chorioallantoic membrane.

Allantois

Calcium-binding protein of the chick chorioallantoic membrane. I. Immunohistochemical localization.

The preparation of a specific antiserum (anti-CaBP) against the calcium-binding protein (CaBP) of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is described. The anti-CaBP appeared to be specific for the CaBP by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis. Application of the anti-CaBP in immunofluorescence histochemistry revealed that the CaBP is present in the CAM only at developmental ages corresponding with the expression of the calcium transport function of the membrane. Furthermore, the CaBP is localized to the ectoderm of the CAM, appears to be exposed to the entire external surface of the ectoderm, and can be shown to be associated with cells enzymatically dissociated from the CAM. These results are consistent with a functional role of the CaBP in the CAM calcium transport process.

Animals

Calcium-binding protein of the chick chorioallantoic membrane. II. Vitamin K-dependent expression.

A simple method was devised for the maintenance of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of chick embryos in organ culture. Explants of CAM survived for up to 5 days in this system and retained the characteristic three-layered morphology (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm). Induction of the CAM calcium-binding protein (CaBP) by effectors of calcium metabolism was studied in these organ cultures. Vitamin K was found to elicit a seven- to eightfold increase in CaBP, whereas no increase in CaBP activity occurred on supplementation with vitamin A, parathyroid hormone, an analogue of vitamin D, vitamin D and its hydroxylated metabolites, or with elevated calcium levels. The vitamin K-mediated induction of CaBP was dose-dependent, inhibited by the vitamin K antagonists warfarin and dicoumarol, selective for vitamin K5, and maximal at the developmental stage (13-15 days of incubation) corresponding to the onset of calcium transport by the CAM in vivo. CaBP levels increased after 60-70 h in cultures of 13-15 day CAM supplemented with vitamin K and reached maximal levels around 80-90 h of culture. The CAM ectoderm underwent extensive proliferation and often assumed a villuslike morphology in the vitamin K cultures.

Age Factors

Response of endocytosis to altered fatty acyl composition of macrophage phospholipids.

Mouse peritoneal macrophages incubated in serumless medium containing a 19:0 or trans-18:1 fatty acid complexed to bovine serum albumin incorporate the exogenous fatty acid supplement into cellular phospholipids. Within 8 hr, 25% of the total phospholipid fatty acids are derived from the supplement, with cell viability remaining greater than 95%. The incorporation of either of these supplements increases the saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio in the phospholipids 2-fold over that of cells cultured in serum and effects striking changes in endocytic activities. The levels of both fluid-phase pinocytosis and receptor-mediated phagocytosis are decreased at all temperatures examined between 15 degrees and 37 degrees. The increased degree of saturation of cell phospholipids correlates with decreased endocytic rates for both processes and with increased activation energies (Eact) for phagocytosis. The Eact values for phagocytosis, which range from 54 to 90 kcal/mol, depend on the supplementation conditions used. Although the levels of pinocytosis are depressed, the Eact values for pinocytosis (17--25 kcal/mol) are not strikingly affected by saturated fatty acid enrichment. These observations suggest that the degree of lipid fluidity of macrophage membranes influences both phagocytosis and pinocytosis in macrophages.

Acetates