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PubMed1997

The platelet proaggregating and potentiating effects of unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin and heparinoid in intensive care patients and healthy controls.

Heparin binds to platelets and can cause platelet proaggregating and potentiating effects, possibly causing thrombocytopenia, particularly in patients in intensive care with hyperaggregable platelets. In this study we compared the platelet proaggregating and potentiating effects of unfractionated heparin (UH), 2 low molecular weight (LMW) heparins, enoxaparin and dalteparin, and a heparinoid, danaparoid sodium (orgaran), to platelets of an ICU patient population and a normal control group. In both populations UH caused platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. This occurred in the therapeutic range of the drug, with as little as 0.5 U/ml UH. The LMW heparins caused less and the heparinoid least platelet aggregation. Generally, the aggregation observed in ICU patients was greater than in the normal population. The potentiating effects of the 4 drugs in association with physiological agonists was examined. Similar patterns of potentiation were observed in both populations, with UH causing significant enhancement of platelet aggregation, the LMW heparins intermediate and heparinoid least enhancement. There was substantial variability in the individuals' platelets' reactions to the drugs, in particular to UH. Our findings suggest that UH has the greatest effect, the low molecular weight heparins an intermediate effect and the heparinoid the least propensity to cause platelet activation.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1993

Effects of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty balloon compliance on angiographic and clinical outcomes.

The effect of balloon compliance on the safety and outcome of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is controversial. It has been proposed that PTCA balloons constructed from compliant polymers contribute to an increased risk of angiographic coronary dissection and potentially to adverse clinical results. To determine the effect of balloon material compliance on PTCA outcome, 1,076 PTCA procedures using balloons differing in compliance characteristics (polyethylene teraphthalate [noncompliant], polyethylene [intermediately compliant] or polyolefincopolymer [compliant]) were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline clinical, angiographic and procedural variables were similar among the 3 balloon material groups. In the noncompliant, intermediately compliant and compliant groups, the occurrence rates of intimal tears (10, 14 and 10%, respectively; p = NS for all comparisons) and coronary dissection (7, 9 and 8%, respectively; all p = NS) were also equivalent. The rates of acute occlusion, myocardial infarction, emergency bypass surgery and death were low and similar, and likewise unaffected by balloon material. The results provide evidence that the occurrence of adverse outcomes after PTCA is unrelated to balloon material compliance and support the clinical safety of balloons constructed of compliant or noncompliant polymers when used for appropriate coronary interventions.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1989

The kinetics of the thermal deactivation of transglutaminase from guinea-pig liver.

By incubating native (N) transglutaminase from guinea-pig liver at various temperatures and assaying it at 25 degrees C, two steps in the irreversible deactivation process to the denatured form (D) have been found. The fitting of the data to the equations of two possible models (the two-steps model and the two-isoenzymes model) is only compatible with the first one (N----X----D). It is shown that the structure of the active intermediate, X, depends on the deactivation temperature and on the thermal history of the enzyme. This may mean that transglutaminase exists in a large number of microstates. Surprisingly, the activation energy of deactivation is lower than that of activity (36.6 +/- 3.4 against 47.2 +/- 2.2 kJ.mol-1). By deactivating transglutaminase at a constant temperature (55 degrees C) and assaying it at variable temperatures, the activation energy of the intermediate, (X55), has been determined to be 40.2 +/- 5 kJ.mol-1, of the same order of magnitude as the native form. Among several agents assayed, only Ca2+ had a positive effect on the thermal stability of this enzyme. At 40 degrees C, transglutaminase was quite stable in the presence of Ca2+ (in its absence, the half-life was 65 min) and at 45 degrees C, its thermostability had been considerably increased, the half-life being raised from 47 min to 275 min.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Molecular characterization and Austrian Caucasian population data of the multi-copy Y-chromosomal STR DYS464.

DYS464 is a multi-copy STR system with four positions on the Y-chromosome (DYS464a, b, c, and d) which was recently identified and characterized [Forensic Sci. Int. 130 (2002) 97]. The aims of our study were to perform a population study, to estimate the mutation rate and an extensive sequence analysis in order to confirm the nomenclature. Fourteen different alleles were found in an Austrian population sample with an allele length varying from 9 to 19 repeats. All alleles were cloned and sequenced. Alleles 9-19 showed the general repeat structure (CCTT)n...(CCTT)2...(CCTT)3...(CCTT)4...(CCTT)2...(CCTT)2. The nomenclature is based on the number of repeated units of the variable (CCTT)n-stretch only. In 13% of the samples intermediate alleles, namely 14.3A, 14.3B and 15.3 were detected. In these alleles the variable repeat block is interrupted by a CTT motif (14.3A: (CCTT)3CTT(CCTT)11; 14.3B and 15.3: (CCTT)7CTT(CCTT)7/8). A comparison with GenBank entries revealed the existence of a length variant due to a deletion of one cytosine in the 5' flanking region of the first repeat block. We designed an alternative forward primer to circumvent possible ambiguities in the allele designation. A total of 54 different genotypes were identified in 135 men corresponding to a discrimination capacity (DC) of 40% and a gene diversity (GD) of 0.97. These values are much higher than those of other Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs). DYS464 has the same haplotype diversity (HD) as the combination of the five Y-STR loci with the lowest gene diversities of the Y-STR core set. On the other hand, a combination of the three most diverse loci (DYS464, DYS385 and DYS390) has the same capacity to distinguish between paternal lineages than the complete minimal haplotype (minHT) consisting of eight Y-STR loci. In our population sample the addition of DYS464 to the minHT increases the number of different haplotypes from 110 to 122. The mutation-rate estimate based on the 70 meioses analyzed amounts to 2.86 x 10(-2) (95% confidence interval 3.5 x 10(-3) to 9.95 x 10(-2)). This value is approximately 10 times higher than the average mutation-rate estimate for Y-STRs.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

Exercise tomographic thallium-201 imaging in patients with severe coronary artery disease and normal electrocardiograms.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incremental value and cost-effectiveness of exercise tomographic thallium-201 imaging compared with clinical and exercise electrocardiographic variables for detecting three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease in patients with normal at-rest electrocardiograms. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: 411 patients (77 [19%] had three-vessel or left main disease) with normal at-rest electrocardiograms who underwent exercise tomographic thallium-201 studies and subsequently had coronary angiography. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical, exercise, and thallium-201 variables; univariate followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine predictors of three-vessel or left main disease (clinical variables; clinical and exercise electrocardiographic variables; and clinical, exercise, and thallium-201 variables). Patients were classified by each of these models into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups. SETTING: A tertiary referral center. RESULTS: Among the clinical variables, diabetes mellitus, sex, age, and typical angina were independently associated with severe coronary disease (46% of patients were correctly classified into low- or high-risk groups). The peak exercise heart rate-blood pressure product and the magnitude of the exercise-induced ST depression added independent information to clinical variables. Among the thallium variables, the change in the global thallium-201 score (a measure of redistribution) added independent information to clinical and exercise variables, resulting in only 3% of the patients being reclassified regarding their predicted risk for severe coronary disease. The cost per additional reclassification was estimated to be $20,550. Twenty-one cardiac events occurred (7 cardiac deaths and 14 myocardial infarctions) after thallium study (follow-up, 2.8 +/- 1.0 years). Event-free survival was 94% to 97% regardless of the predicted probability of developing three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease by any model. CONCLUSIONS: When the at-rest electrocardiogram is normal, thallium-201 scintigraphy adds little information to clinical and exercise variables in identifying patients with severe coronary artery disease. The high cost of this information may not justify the routine use of sophisticated imaging for this purpose.

Coronary Angiography↗
PubMed1997

On the variability of dissolution data.

PURPOSE: To investigate dissolution data variability and its origins. METHODS: The Weibull function with four parameters t0 (dissolution lag-time), K (the rate parameter), beta (the shape parameter) and D (the fraction dissolved as t-->infinity), is used to describe the dissolution curve. The variance of the dissolution data is expressed in terms of these parameters and their individual variances sigma t02, sigma K2, sigma beta 2, and sigma D2. These four variances originate from variable physical properties of the dosage units and from a variable dissolution environment. Therefore, dissolution data variability depends on both, the functional form of the curve and on the variance of the physical conditions. The use of this method enables the elucidation of the sources of dissolution data variability. RESULTS: In the case of a sigmoidal dissolution curve (beta > 1), data variance is zero as dissolution begins (following dissolution lag-time). This initial variance diverges when the dissolution curve is non-sigmoidal (with beta < 1) but assumes a finite value, proportional to the dissolution lag-time variance (sigma t02) when the data fits a regular first order rate curve (beta = 1). Following a long dissolution time, data variance attains a constant value equal to the dissolution extent variance, sigma D2. When the dissolution curve is sigmoidal and the variability related to the dissolution extent is sufficiently small (sigma D/D < < 1), a maximum in the variance is expected at some intermediate time point (corresponding to the curve inflection point, when the main source of variability is dissolution lag-time t0, or around t = 1/K + t0, when the main sources of variability are the rate parameter K or the shape parameter beta). When the curve is sigmoidal (beta > 1) and the main source of variability relates to the dissolution extent, the overall variance grows with time all the way to the plateau of the dissolution curve. With a non-sigmoidal dissolution curve (beta < or = 1), data variability decreases with time soon after dissolution begins. In that case, if the main source of variability is the dissolution lag-time (t0), the variance decreases all the way to the plateau of the dissolution curve. If the dissolution extent, D, is the main source of variability, a minimum in the variance is expected at some intermediate time point. The dissolution relative variance, on the other hand, diverges as dissolution begins and decreases with time at least until 63% of the drug is released, irrespective to the Weibull parameter values. Later, it may decrease or increase, attaining a fixed value (sigma D2/D2) at the plateau of the dissolution curve. CONCLUSIONS: The particular time dependence of dissolution data variance is well defined in terms of the Weibull shape parameters and their individual variances. Dissolution data variability may decrease or increase with time long the curve. It may attain a maximum or a minimum value at some intermediate time point. It may converge or diverge as dissolution begins. When the dissolution data is well fitted to the Weibull function, the sources of data variability (in terms of the Weibull parameters) may be elucidated. The variability of dissolution data originates from physical sources but is also dependent on the functional form of the curve.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1999

Postatrophic hyperplasia of the prostate gland: a detailed analysis of its morphology in needle biopsy specimens.

Postatrophic hyperplasia is a histologic pattern showing atrophic and hyperplastic glands, sometimes with a small acinar configuration. Because distinction from small acinar carcinoma may be challenging, particularly in needle biopsy specimens, we studied 56 needle biopsy specimens containing 68 foci to ascertain the morphologic spectrum of postatrophic hyperplasia. All foci showed a distinct lobular small acinar proliferation with varying proportions of atrophic and hyperplastic glands. Gland size was typically variable, predominantly of small caliber but occasionally of intermediate to larger caliber. Round, oval, elongated, slitlike and stellate glands were seen. The nuclei were generally regular without hyperchromasia, with rare small nucleoli seen in 10 (15%) foci. The cytoplasm was variable, ranging from scant in atrophic glands to moderate or abundant and clear or occasionally eosinophilic in hyperplastic glands. An irregular internal gland contour was noted in glands with features of both atrophy and hyperplasia. Basal cells were apparent by light microscopy in most foci, although their distribution within foci and between foci varied. This finding was confirmed in all 26 cases studied with the high molecular weight cytokeratin immunohistochemical stain (34betaE12). Associated pathology included adenocarcinoma (12%), high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (3%), atrophy distinct from foci of postatrophic hyperplasia (55%), and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (2%). Adjunctive features of cancer were not seen in any of the foci of postatrophic hyperplasia. Familiarity with the histologic features of postatrophic hyperplasia will allow its confident separation from cancer, especially in limited biopsy material.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Relation between family history of coronary artery disease and coronary risk variables.

The relation between family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary risk variables was examined in 1,058 Utah adults. Subjects were divided into 3 family history score groups (low, intermediate and high) and the effects of 60 potential risk variables were assessed using multiple stepwise discriminant analysis. After controlling for age effects, the variables entering the discriminant function equation (p less than 0.01) were cholesterol, years smoking cigarettes, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triceps skinfold thickness. Although normal blood pressure variation did not discriminate among family history groups, those with a positive family history of CAD were more likely to develop hypertension than those without a family history (age-adjusted relative risk 1.79, with 95% confidence limits 1.03 and 3.09). In spite of significant differences among family history score groups with regard to risk variables, the discriminant analysis classified only 39% of subjects into the correct group. It was concluded that other unknown risk variables must mediate the effects of family history of CAD. Thus, family history should be considered an independent risk factor for CAD.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Simulating pseudogene evolution in vitro: determining the true number of mutations in a lineage.

Hypermutagenic PCR has been used to simulate pseudogene evolution of the Escherichia coli R67 dihydrofolate reductase gene. Each time the most divergent clone was used as template for another round of hypermutagenesis. After six rounds, with an average mutation rate of 0.05 per base per round, up to a 46% nucleic acid sequence variation was achieved. For a few clones the protein information content could be annihilated. As the intermediates were cloned and sequenced, it was possible to establish the real lineage and compute the true number of mutations. Not surprisingly the true number of forward and back mutations as well as variable sites exceeded those based on comparing any single intermediate to the initial sequence. However, the true number of forward and backward mutations, as well as the number of variable sites, increased linearly with sequence divergence from the original sequence, suggesting an empirical means to correct for branch lengths.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of body position, controlled breathing and exercise on the heart rate variability parameters in healthy subjects.

The behavior of temporal and spectral parameters of the heart rate variability was determined during 5 different maneuvers in order to characterize the level of sympathetic-vagal activity. The discriminating capacity of two spectral parameter estimation schemes were compared, and the respiratory influence was evaluated. One hundred and ten records of instantaneous heart rate and respiratory amplitude were analyzed, both in temporal and spectral perspectives. The records were obtained from 22 healthy subjects, under a five-stage protocol: supine, controlled breathing, standing, exercise, and recovery. A discriminating and characteristic behavior was found among the maneuvers, specifically for the dispersion parameters, low and intermediate partial components. The two integration-normalization procedures used in the estimation of the spectral components showed similarities, producing a functional interpretation independent of the selected procedure. The division of the low frequency component in two separate bands, allowed an improved discriminating capacity. The respiration had an important influence in the controlled breathing maneuver while being lower in the rest of the stages. In conclusion, the maneuvers determined a typical behavior of the dispersion and spectral parameters (low and intermediate partial components) of the heart rate variability, showing adequate distinctive levels in the sympathetic-vagal activity for each maneuver.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Nordic Back Pain Subpopulation Program: validation and improvement of a predictive model for treatment outcome in patients with low back pain receiving chiropractic treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model for treatment outcome in patients with low back pain (LBP) receiving chiropractic treatment. METHODS: This multicenter practice-based predictive validity study was conducted in private chiropractic practices in Sweden. Of 64 previously compliant chiropractors, 58 recruited a maximum of 30 consecutive patients with LBP each. Information was provided on 1061 patients, of which 1057 questionnaires were valid. Chiropractic treatment was decided by the treating chiropractor. The outcome variable was the self-reported "definite improvement" at the fourth visit. The predictor variables included model 1, 3 hypothesized prognostic groups (best, intermediate, and least favorable) based on clinical information collected at baseline and at the second visit; and 4 additional models based on the following variables: age, sex, pain intensity during past 24 hours, description of disability, duration and pattern of pain during present attack, total duration of pain, and pain pattern during the past 12 months. RESULTS: Three of our factors were best at predicting the absence of improvement by the fourth visit and were able to correctly classify 79% of patients and to cover 74% of the receiver operated characteristics curve. These were (1) no definite overall improvement by the second treatment, (2) presence of leg pain, and (3) the minimum total duration of pain over the last 12 months being 30 days. CONCLUSION: In this study, patients with LBP who also had leg pain and LBP occurring sufficiently frequently or having lasted sufficiently long to add up to at least 30 days in the past year, and who did not report definite general improvement by the second treatment were not good candidates for short-term recovery. It is suggested that patients who fit the criteria of potential nonresponders should be carefully monitored to allow a selective approach of care.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Density-driven instabilities of variable-viscosity miscible fluids in a capillary tube.

A linear stability analysis is presented for variable-viscosity miscible fluids in an unstable configuration; that is, a heavier fluid placed above a lighter one in a vertically oriented capillary tube. The initial interface thickness is treated as a parameter to the problem. The analysis is based on the three-dimensional Stokes equations, coupled to a convection-diffusion equation for the concentration field, in cylindrical coordinates. When both fluids have identical viscosities, the dispersion relations show that for all values of the governing parameters the three-dimensional mode with an azimuthal wave number of one represents the most unstable disturbance. The stability results also indicate the existence of a critical Rayleigh number of about 920, below which all perturbations are stable. For the variable viscosity case, the growth rate does not depend on which of the two fluids is more viscous. For every parameter combination the maximum of the eigenfunctions tends to shift toward the less viscous fluid. With increasing mobility ratio, the instability is damped uniformly. We observe a crossover of the most unstable mode from azimuthal to axisymmetric perturbations for Rayleigh numbers greater than 10(5) and high mobility ratios. Hence, the damping influence is much stronger on the three-dimensional mode than the corresponding axisymmetric mode for large Rayleigh numbers. For a fixed mobility ratio, similar to the constant viscosity case, the growth rates are seen to reach a plateau for Rayleigh numbers in excess of 10(6). At higher mobility ratios, interestingly, the largest growth rates and unstable wave numbers are obtained for intermediate interface thicknesses. This demonstrates that, for variable viscosities, thicker interfaces can be more unstable than their thinner counterparts, which is in contrast to the constant viscosity result where growth rate was seen to decline monotonically with increasing interface thickness.

Models, Theoretical↗
PubMed2003

Occurrence of intermediate hosts and structure of digenean communities of the black-headed gull, Larus ridibundus (L.).

The factors contributing to the similarity between digenean parasite assemblages parasitizing the black-headed gull were investigated. Thirteen different digenean species from the digestive tract and the bursa of Fabricus were found. We predicted that the structure of parasite communities is not random at either component community or infracommunity levels. We searched for nested patterns in the digenean community, and explored the possible factors contributing to nestedness. We found that digenean species which occupy a narrow range of intermediate hosts are placed out of order in the nested matrix. The influence of several variables related to the water reservoir, geographical distances, and the abundance of intermediate hosts on the species diversity and similarity of parasite communities were tested as well. Because of the complexity in bird digenean life-cycles we supposed that intermediate hosts and ecological characters of their environment could play a major role. We showed that the presence of intermediate hosts is the factor limiting the qualitative and quantitative similarity of parasite communities among different host populations as well as influencing the digenean species diversity in the definitive host. The similarity in abundance of intermediate hosts between different localities was facilitated by the presence of vegetation in water reservoir and more diversified type of water bottom. Digenean species diversity was higher when the water reservoir was exposed to temporal drying. We hypothesized that this factor could facilitate the inclusion of molluscs infected by digeneans in the diet of birds. Both species diversity and dominance were influenced by the bottom type of water reservoir and temporal drying up. Geographical distances between localities influenced the quantitative similarity of digenean communities as well as species richness.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Variability of the computerized single-breath nitrogen washout test in healthy adults. Results from a field survey in a French rural area.

Within-subject (difference between paired tests, or coefficient of variation [c. var.] of three consecutive measurements) and between-subjects (standard deviation of the mean group) variability were assessed for the variables derived from the single-breath nitrogen (SBN2) test in a group of healthy, asymptomatic subjects (n = 289) aged 20-64 years, from a rural area in North-East France. Duplicate measurements in 99 subjects showed excellent agreement between the two attempts (correlation coefficients between 0.94 and 0.98) for static lung volumes and the alveolar N2 slope (PIII); closing volumes (CV) were more variable (r = 0.77 for absolute value, 0.79 for % VC) while closing capacities (CC) were in intermediate position (r = 0.86 for absolute value, and 0.88 for % TLC). The variability of three consecutive measures in 190 subjects showed the coefficients of variation to be low for static volumes and closing capacity (2.4-7.4%) and higher for PIII (15.1%) and CV or CV/VC (18.2 and 17.8%). The analysis of variance did not detect significant differences between the three sets of measurements, with the exception of a progressive increase of vital capacity (VC), and decrease in residual volume (RV) from test 1 to test 3, the total lung capacity being the same. Variability was uninfluenced by age or sex, except a higher c. var. for female VC as compared to males (2.8 vs. 2.2%, P = 0.02) and a higher variability of TLC (2.9 vs. 2.3%, P = 0.03) and VC (2.8 vs. 1.9%, P = 0.003) in people older than 40 years as opposed to those younger than 40 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Differential effects of oxygen and barotrauma on lung injury in the neonatal piglet.

In order to differentiate the effects of hyperoxia and barotrauma in the pathogenesis of acute neonatal lung injury, piglets were either hyperventilated (Paco2, 15-20 torr) for 48 hours with 100% oxygen (Group I), hyperventilated with 21% oxygen (Group II), normally ventilated (Paco2, 40-45 torr) with 100% oxygen (Group III), or normally ventilated with 21% O2 (Group IV) and compared to unventilated controls. Pulmonary function was tested, and biochemical indicators of lung injury were analyzed in tracheo-bronchial aspirates at 0, 24, and 48 hours. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was analyzed for surfactant composition and activity at the end of the study. At 48 hours, hyperoxic, hyperventilated piglets had significantly decreased dynamic lung compliance (30%) and increased pulmonary resistance (16%), aspirate cell count (190%), elastase activity (88%), albumin (214%), and total protein (150%) concentration. Qualitative light microscopy showed moderate to severe atelectasis, fibrinous exudate, edema, and inflammation. Normoxic, hyperventilated animals had comparable changes in pulmonary mechanics, but significantly milder cellular, biochemical, and morphologic changes. In hyperoxic, normocarbic animals pulmonary physiologic, cellular, and biochemical variables changed comparably to hyperoxic, hyperventilated animals; the pathologic changes were intermediate between hyperoxic, hyperventilated and normoxic, hyperventilated piglets. Normoxic, normocarbic animals had no significant changes in most variables over 48 hours; on morphologic examination their lungs were similar to unventilated controls and showed only mild edema. Surfactant had normal biophysical activity in all animals. Our results demonstrate that hyperoxia causes more significant physiologic, inflammatory, and histologic changes than barotrauma alone. Future attempts to prevent lung injury in neonates should be directed primarily at oxygen toxicity.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Assessment for prognosis during and after myocardial infarction. A plea for a stratified approach.

Right after the first signs and symptoms of acute myocardial infarctions the prognosis is determined by the interventions which are carried out at that time. Preservation of as much myocardial tissue is the key element. Early deobstruction and reperfusion of the myocardium at jeopardy can lead to limitation of the ultimate infarct size, improved ventricular function and a halving of the 1-year mortality. Early supportive therapy with beta-blockade and calcium antagonists may enhance this effect. Data in 533 patients randomized to either a reperfusion strategy or to conventional therapy, combined with those from the recent literature on thrombolysis and early beta-blockade, provide the basis for this point of view. Once infarction is unavoidable and in the process of completion, probably 3-4 h after onset of symptoms, only supportive therapy is recommended, which will hardly change the outcome except for interventions during clinical care such as defibrillation. In 351 other survivors of myocardial infarction the value of clinical variables, a symptom-limited bicycle stress test at discharge, radionuclide ventriculography and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram was compared in predicting 1-year survival. A history of previous myocardial infarction and heart failure during the current episode proved to be the strongest clinical predictors of death. Similarly, a low ejection fraction (less than 40%) and an insufficient blood pressure rise during stress testing (less than 30 mm Hg) identified a high risk group. Stress-test-induced angina and ST depression as well as ventricular arrhythmias from 24-hour electrocardiography were less good as predictors. In these patients treatment should be individualized and may require arteriography. Patients eligible for and completing a normal bicycle stress test after myocardial infarction proved to be a low risk group, which may constitute 65% of the total, seen in tertiary referral centers and even more in community hospitals. They neither require therapy nor further investigation. A subgroup with an intermediate risk can be identified when clinical variables, stress testing and/or resting radionuclide ventriculography are abnormal. This group requires 'tailored' therapy. Therefore, after infarction recovery, we recommend a pre-discharge stress test routinely to complement the clinical evaluation, since it also provides information on physical capacity, the indication of arrhythmias and the presence of myocardial ischemia. Thus, optimal management of acute myocardial infarction requires a stratified approach, which does not require expensive testing procedures.

Female↗
PubMed1980

Morphogenesis and wall chemistry of the yeast, "intermediate," and hyphal phases of the dimorphic fungus, Mycotypha poitrasii.

When Mycotypha poitrasii (Zygomcetes) is grown under standard conditions in liquid culture containing 1% polypeptone, 0.5% yeast extract, and variable glucose concentrations (0-6%), it displays mycelial--yeast conversion. "Intermediate" cells, isolated from cultures containing 2% glucose, are considered to represent a developmental phase in the process of morphogenesis. Distinct differences in the morphology and wall chemistry of the intermediate cells were demonstrated when compared to the yeast and hyphal forms. It is suggested that the trends evident from these comparative analyses reflect relationships between the alterations in cell wall chemistry and morphogenetic aspects of dimorphism.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1976

Differential variation of parthenogenetic and bisexual Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae).

Morphological characters are measured from each tick specimen from samples of 10 "populations" of Haemaphysalis longicornis. The 10 populations consist of 6 diploid bisexual and 4 triploid parthenogenetic populations from Australia, Japan, and Korea. Statistical analyses (univariate and multivariate) of differential morphological variation are made among sex, method of reproduction, and chromosome ploidy level in attempts to determine the effects of these parameters on overall variation. In general, laboratory-reared thelytokous females (3n = 33y are least variable, laboratory-reared bisexual females and males (2n = 22 female; 21 male) are intermediate in variation, and field-collected bisexual males and females are most variable. However, the only field-collected thelytokous "population" (3n = 33) in the analyses is more variable than even the field-collected bisexual ticks.

Animals↗