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PubMed1985

The capacity of animals to acquire language: do species differences have anything to say to us?

Following the Gardners' discovery that an ape named Washoe could learn to produce and combine a number of hand movements similar to those used by deaf human beings, a variety of 'ape-language projects' sprang up. Some projects used different symbol systems, others used different training techniques, and others used different species of apes. While debate still rages regarding the appropriate way to interpret the symbolic productions of apes, three species of great apes (gorilla, orangutan, and chimpanzee) have now been credited with this capacity while no lesser apes or monkeys have been reported, at present, to have acquired such communicative skills. Among all of the claims made for the various animal species, the philosophers have entered the fray attempting to define the essence of what it is about language that makes it 'human'. This paper will compare and contrast the above positions to arrive at behavioural definitions of symbolic usage that can be applied across species. It will then present new data on a fourth ape species Pan paniscus which is proving to be the first non-human species to acquire symbolic skills in a spontaneous manner.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The effect of sildenafil on pulmonary embolism-induced oxidative stress and pulmonary hypertension.

Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a major cause of pulmonary hypertension and death. We examined the effects of sildenafil on the hemodynamic changes caused by APE in anesthetized dogs. Sham-operated dogs (n = 3) received only saline. APE was induced by stepwise IV injections of 300 mum microspheres in amounts adjusted to increase mean pulmonary artery pressures by 20 mm Hg. Hemodynamic evaluation was performed at baseline, after APE was induced, and then after sildenafil 0.25 mg/kg (n = 8), or sildenafil 1 mg/kg + 0.3 mg . kg(-1) . h(-1) (n = 8) or saline (n = 9) infusions were started. Similar experiments were conducted to examine the effects of sildenafil in rat isolated perfused lung preparation. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive species were also determined in both studies to measure oxidative stress. Both doses of sildenafil reduced mean pulmonary artery pressures in dogs by approximately 8 to 16 mm Hg (both P < 0.05) and attenuated the increase in oxidative stress after APE. Mean arterial blood pressure remained unaltered after both doses of sildenafil. Sildenafil produced similar effects after APE in rat isolated perfused lung preparation. These findings indicate that IV sildenafil can selectively attenuate the increases in mean pulmonary artery pressures after APE, possibly through antioxidant mechanisms.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Inferior vena cava filter is a new additional therapeutic option to reduce mortality from acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: There are few reports that examine the current imaging and management techniques according to the severity of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) or that clarify whether the management strategy ameliorated the mortality from APE. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group were 456 patients with APE who were clinically diagnosed before their death. The severity at diagnosis, and the imaging and management techniques were analyzed. Mortality from APE was 0.8% in patients without shock nor right ventricular overload, 2.7% in patients with right ventricular overload without shock, 15.6% in patients with shock, and 52.4% in patients with cardiopulmonary arrest (p<0.0001). In the more severe cases, pulmonary angiography and trans-thoracic echocardiography were used more frequently, whereas both ventilation and perfusion lung scans were used less frequently. Computed tomography was used widely, regardless of the severity. Thrombolytic therapy and catheter therapy were used more frequently in the more severe cases, but an inferior vena cava filter was the only management strategy that reduced the mortality from APE. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of APE at diagnosis affected the selection of both the diagnostic techniques and the type of management. Implantation of inferior vena cava filters reduced the mortality from APE.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Verbal behavior at a procedural level in the chimpanzee.

Ape language research has typically employed cognitive descriptions of ape competencies. Recently, Epstein, Lanza, and Skinner (1980) attempted to simulate some of the ape findings with pigeons. They also used cognitive terms to describe their results, but with "tongue-in-cheek." In the hope of bringing about a better understanding of the ape research, this paper describes the main aspects of one ape language project, using a behavior-analytic framework. It then briefly compares and contrasts, from that perspective, the training programs used with pigeons and with apes. It is concluded that the behavior-analytic framework, and the procedures devised to produce language skills in apes, provide strong support for several of the major positions set forth in Skinner's (1957) Verbal Behavior.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Antibodies to phosphatidylethanolamine as the only antiphospholipid antibodies found in patients with unexplained thromboses.

The objective of this study was to assess the interest of antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies (aPE) in unexplained thrombosis (UT) defined as thrombotic episode without any of the main autoimmune and hereditary thrombophilic defects. Results from 98 UT were compared to those of (I) 142 patients with thrombophilia: 67 antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and 75 hereditary hemostatic defects (HHD); (II) 110 patients without thrombosis: 60 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 50 with infectious diseases (ID). As compared to controls (100 blood donors), aPE prevalence was significantly higher in both autoimmune contexts (APS: 43%; SLE: 40%, p<0.0001) and among non-autoimmune pathologies, only in UT (18%, p = 0.001) conversely to HHD (8%) or ID (10%). aPE prevalence in UT was not statistically different from that found in Primary APS (32%, p = 0.076) but lower than in Secondary APS (65%, p <0.005). In UT, aPE were mainly of IgM isotype like in Primary APS and they were found alone whereas in SLE they were always associated with classical antiphospholipid antibodies. No significant association was found between any isotype of aPE and a site of thrombosis in UT as well as in APS. In conclusion, this study demonstrates an increase of the prevalence of aPE in patients with unexplained thrombosis. Thus, aPE investigation appears to be of interest in UT and their persistent presence could define a biological variant of APS.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[A suspected case of alcoholic pellagra encephalopathy with marked response to niacin showing myoclonus and ataxia as chief complaints].

We report a 47-year-old alcoholic man with alcoholic pellagra encephalopathy (APE) showing myoclonus and ataxia as chief complaints. He had been a heavy drinker for 30 years. He had noticed appetite loss and subsequently showed a subacutely progressive gait disturbance. He had no history of diarrhea, dementia, or dermatitis. On admission, he showed severe alcoholic liver cirrhosis with a large amount of ascites, limbs and truncal ataxia, myoclonus of the limbs and areflexia, although his consciousness was alert and there were no sign of dermatitis. Though the plasma level of ammonia was normal, we started administration of amino acids suspecting hepatic encephalopathy. Symptoms showed no improvement, and subsequent administration of thiamine was also ineffective. A decreased serum level of niacin was demonstrated. After administration of nicotinamide, the symptoms improved gradually. This patient received a diagnosis of APE. Endemic pellagra, characterized by the classical triad of dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia, is known to be caused by a dietary deficiency of the niacin, and has now become very rare in developed countries. At present, pellagra is encountered most often in patients with chronic alcoholism, which is called APE. APE patients often show only disturbance of consciousness. Although several reports has described ataxia and myoclonus in patients with APE, APE patients with myoclonus and ataxia as chief complaints have not previously been reported. On autopsy cases, central chromatolysis of neurons in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum, gracile and cuneate nuclei, and the Clarke's column has been demonstrated. The APE patients would show myoclonus and ataxia as their first symptoms. In conclusion, we would like to emphasize that administration of niacin should be started for the treatment of chronic alcoholic patients showing myoclonus and ataxia even without the classical triads found in endemic pellagra patients.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of two affinity states of adenosine A2a receptors with a new radioligand, 2-[2-(4-amino-3-[125I]iodophenyl)ethylamino]adenosine.

Adenosine analogs substituted in the 2-position with arylamino groups have been found to have high affinity and selectivity for A2a adenosine receptors. Two such compounds, 2-[2-(4-aminophenyl)ethylamino]adenosine and 2-[2-4-amino-3-iodophenyl)ethylamino]adenosine (I-APE), were synthesized and found to be potent coronary vasodilators (ED50 < 3 nm). These compounds bind weakly to A1 adenosine receptors of rat cortex (Ki > 150 nM). 125I-APE was synthesized and the new radioligand was found to bind to two affinity states of rat striatal A2a adenosine receptors (Kd = 1.3 +/- 0.1 nM and 19 +/- 4.5 nM). The high affinity site represents a previously unrecognized small (15-20%) fraction of A2a adenosine receptors coupled to G proteins. Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) reduces specific binding of 125I-APE half-maximally at a concentration of 45 +/- 2 nM. [3H]CGS21680 also binds to two affinity states of A2a receptors on striatal membranes (Kd = 3.9 +/- 0.9 and 51 +/- 5.5 nM), although in previous studies single Kd values ranging from 5 to 15 nM have been reported. This high affinity site is substantiated by the finding that the IC50 of CGS21680 in competition with 125I-APE binding to striatal membranes is shifted leftward in membranes diluted for 4 min before filtration, to selectively dissociate radioligand from low affinity receptors. Assuming that agonist radioligands bind to both coupled and uncoupled forms of striatal A2a adenosine receptors, we could simulate with the computer the finding that the decrease in specific binding induced by GTP gamma S (100 microM) is variable and depends on radioligand concentration, ranging from 20 to 90%. Unlike 125I-APE, [3H]CGS21680 is charged at physiological pH, and treatment of membranes with the pore-forming antibiotic alamethicin uncovers cryptic [3H]CGS21680 but not 125I-APE binding sites. We conclude that the GTP gamma S-sensitive high affinity form of the A2a adenosine receptor can be preferentially labeled by 125I-APE, due to both its high specific activity and its physicochemical properties. Possible functional manifestations of poor coupling of A2a adenosine receptors to G proteins are discussed.

Adenosine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Posttransplantation function of hearts preserved with fluorochemical emulsion.

This study was designed to determine whether the novel perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene-egg yolk phospholipid emulsion, APE-LM, was an effective oxygen carrier for long-term hypothermic heart preservation. We postulated that hearts preserved with APE-LM would be well oxygenated during 24-hour preservation and that reperfusion of such hearts with blood would not produce functional or metabolic evidence of myocardial ischemia. Four groups of rabbit hearts were studied (n = 7 per group): fresh controls: nonpreserved, nontransplanted hearts; surgical controls: fresh hearts transplanted heterotopically for 75 minutes before explant and study for 4 hours as isolated working hearts perfused at 37 degrees C; crystalloid-preserved: hearts preserved with crystalloid medium, followed by transplantation and isolated heart perfusion; APE-LM-preserved: hearts treated as those in the crystalloid-preserved group, but preservation was with medium containing APE-LM emulsion (10 ml/dl). Preservation was with continuous coronary perfusion at 18 mm Hg pressure, 12 degrees C, and oxygen tension 838 +/- 11 mm Hg. During preservation, APE-LM hearts had significantly higher pyruvate consumption, and correspondingly higher oxygen consumption, than that of crystalloid hearts. No significant differences were found among fresh controls, surgical controls, and APE-LM-preserved hearts with respect to contractile or output function, oxygen consumption and efficiency indexes, or lactate production during in vitro perfusion. Left ventricular peak systolic pressure and peak rate of pressure development were significantly lower for crystalloid-preserved hearts than for fresh and surgical controls. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure of crystalloid-preserved hearts was higher than that of the other three groups. The data indicate that rabbit hearts in this model were well preserved with APE-LM and that this emulsion produced better recovery of function than did crystalloid preservation, possibly as a consequence of the high oxygen delivery by the fluorocarbon during preservation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Differential cellular and subcellular expression of the human multifunctional apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE/ref-1) DNA repair enzyme.

The multifunctional mammalian apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE) is responsible for the repair of apurinic/apyrimidinic sites in DNA. In addition, this enzyme has been shown to function as a redox factor facilitating the DNA-binding capability of JUN and FOS, as well as numerous other transcription factors through the alteration of the transcription factor redox state. Biochemical studies of organ homogenates have shown that APE is present in the different tissues studied at similar concentrations. The present study examines the immunohistochemical distribution of APE in several organs and demonstrates new and unexpected patterns of cellular and subcellular localization of this enzyme. In the hippocampus, the APE protein was highly expressed in neurons of the dentate gyrus and regions CA3 and CA4, and unexpectedly, the staining was primarily cytoplasmic. AP endonuclease immunoreactivity in the cerebellum was found in the granule and Purkinje cells, both cytoplasmic and nuclear. APE staining of the hypoglossal nucleus of the brainstem, where motor neurons that control tongue movement reside, showed reactivity in the cytoplasmic Nissl substance. Skin, liver, and duodenum demonstrated nuclear staining; however, in the duodenum, only the enterocyte nuclei of the proximal villus and the crypts of Lieberkuhn were stained, with no staining of the distal villus. These results suggest that APE has different regulatory and functional roles in different cells and organs of the body. This study shows the importance of correlating in vitro findings in tissue culture cells with the organism as a whole. The cytoplasmic staining seen in parts of the brain and in liver suggests that there may be additional functions for the APE yet to be described.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1996

Antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies as the only antiphospholipid antibodies. I. Association with thrombosis and vascular cutaneous diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To detect antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies (aPE) as the only antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in 122 patients we investigated for aPL and to correlate the presence of aPL with clinical manifestations. METHODS: Patients with autoimmune diseases (n = 41), thromboembolic episodes (TEE) (n = 34), livedo reticularis (LR) without (n = 17) or with (n = 14) thrombosis or recurrent fetal losses (RFL), systemic vasculitides (n = 10), and miscellaneous disorders (n = 6) were investigated for antibodies directed against 4 anionic phospholipids (PL) (cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine, inositol, phosphatidic acid) and lupus anticoagulant (LAC) and then for aPE by modified ELISA. RESULTS: 15 patients had aPE and no antibodies to anionic PL including LAC. 7 had IgM, 4 had IgG plus IgM, and 4 had IgG. These aPE were significantly more often associated with TEE alone, with TEE and LR, or with LR alone (p = 0.004) than with autoimmune diseases. CONCLUSION: The detection of aPE as the sole aPL in one patient with mesenteric infarcts and RFL led to the diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid syndrome. Followup of 3 patients showed that aPE cannot be considered as transient autoantibodies. Therefore, patients whose clinical symptoms suggest antiphospholipid syndrome but whose sera are negative for antibodies to cardiolipin or another anionic PL should be screened for aPE, particularly patients with thrombosis, RFL, and/or LR.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE/ref-1) DNA repair enzyme is elevated in premalignant and malignant cervical cancer.

The multifunctional mammalian apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease (APE) is responsible for the repair of AP sites in DNA. In addition, this enzyme has been shown to function as a redox factor facilitating the DNA-binding capability of JUN and FOS, HeLa AP-1, and numerous other transcription factors, including Myb, members of the CREB family and nuclear factor-kappa B. Although previously presumed to be ubiquitously expressed at comparable levels in all tissues and cell types, recent evidence has shown APE to vary significantly in its expression between tissues and even within tissues. To further characterize APE expression at various stages of cervical neoplasia, we investigated the levels of APE protein expression using immunohistochemistry in normal cervix, pre-invasive and invasive squamous lesions of the cervix, as well as in cervical cancer cell lines. We report here that the APE protein is predominantly expressed in the nuclei of cells from both primary tumors and cervical cell lines, but the level of APE protein is significantly and dramatically elevated in cervical cancer tissue. These results implicate the use of anti-APE antibodies as an effective reagent in the early detection of premalignant and malignant cancer of the cervix. These findings are suggestive that the increase of a DNA repair enzyme in cancerous cells may allow these cells to be refractive to chemotherapy.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed2000

Linear enamel hypoplasia in gibbons (Hylobates lar carpenteri).

This study describes the expression of linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH), a sensitive dental indicator of physiological stress, in Thailand gibbons (Hylobates lar carpenteri). Previous studies of enamel hypoplasia in hominoids have focused on great apes, with little attention given to the expression of this stress indicator in gibbons. In that gibbons differ from both monkeys and great apes in numerous life history features, LEH expression in gibbons might be expected to show significant differences from both. In this study, 92 gibbon specimens from two sites in Thailand were compared with several samples of monkeys and great apes in their expression of LEH. The intertooth distribution of LEH in gibbons was compared to that of chimpanzees and rhesus monkeys. Gibbon populations from both sites exhibit LEH frequencies intermediate between those of the monkey samples, in which LEH prevalence is usually low, and those of the great ape samples, in which LEH prevalence is high. Gibbons differ significantly from monkeys, but not great apes, in the number of individuals whose teeth record multiple stress events. Multiple episodes of stress are rarely recorded in the teeth of monkeys, while multiple stress events occur with higher frequency in gibbons and great apes. Taxonomic variation in the duration of crown formation, the prominence and spacing of perikymata on dental crowns, life history features, and/or experience of physiological stress may explain these patterns. The intertooth distribution of LEH in gibbons is, for different reasons, unlike that of either chimpanzees or rhesus monkeys. The mandibular canines of gibbons have significantly more LEH than any of their other teeth. Aspects of crown morphology, perikymata prominence/spacing, enamel thickness, and crown formation spans are potential causes of taxonomic variation in the intertooth distribution of LEH.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The brain and its main anatomical subdivisions in living hominoids using magnetic resonance imaging.

Primary comparative data on the hominoid brain are scarce and major neuroanatomical differences between humans and apes have not yet been described satisfactorily, even at the gross level. Basic questions that involve the evolution of the human brain cannot be addressed adequately unless the brains of all extant hominoid species are analyzed. Contrary to the scarcity of original data, there is a rich literature on the topic of human brain evolution and several debates exist on the size of particular sectors of the brain, e.g., the frontal lobe. In this study we applied a non-invasive imaging technique (magnetic resonance) on living human, great ape and lesser ape subjects in order to investigate the overall size of the hominoid brain. The images were reconstructed in three dimensions and volumetric estimates were obtained for the brain and its main anatomical sectors, including the frontal and temporal lobes, the insula, the parieto-occipital sector and the cerebellum.A remarkable homogeneity is present in the relative size of many of the large sectors of the hominoid brain, but interspecific and intraspecific variation exists in certain parts of the brain. The human cerebellum is smaller than expected for an ape brain of human size. It is suggested that the cerebellum increased less than the cerebrum after the split of the human lineage from the African ancestral hominoid stock. In contrast, humans have a slightly larger temporal lobe and insula than expected, but differences are not statistically significant. Humans do not have a larger frontal lobe than expected for an ape brain of human size and gibbons have a relatively smaller frontal lobe than the rest of the hominoids. Given the fact that the frontal lobe in humans and great apes has similar relative size, it is parsimonious to suggest that the relative size of the whole of the frontal lobe has not changed significantly during hominid evolution in the Plio-Pleistocene.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Evolution of human Y-chromosome DNA.

We have used human male-specific 3.4 kb Hae III restriction endonuclease fragments to explore the evolutionary history of man's Y-chromosome. We have identified four sets of reiterated sequences on the basis of their relative sequence homology with autosomal DNA. The sequences account for approximately 40% of the human Y-chromosome, are interspersed within the same 3.4 kb Hae III fragments, are heterogeneous and contain all reiterated DNA previously demonstrated to be specific for the Y-chromosome (it-Y DNA). Y-specific 3.4 kb Hae III sequences do not reassociate with either human female or ape DNA at standard reassociation criteria. However, approximately half of it-Y DNA (cross reacting it-Y) reassociates with both human female and ape DNA at reduced reassociation criteria. The remaining half (Y-specific it-Y) retains its specificity for the human Y-chromosome. These two sets of it-Y DNA have distinct reiteration frequencies and thermal stabilities with their Y-chromosome homologs. Non-Y-specific 3.4 kb Hae III sequences reassociate with both human female and ape DNA at standard reassociation criteria. The abundance of these non-Y-specific sequences decreases as a function of their evolutionary distance for man. One subset of non-Y-specific 3.4 kb Hae III sequences forms stable duplexes with human Y-chromosome DNA and with human and ape autosomal DNA. No detectable base-mismatch occurs among these homologs suggesting complete conservation of these sequences during primate evolution. The second subset of Non-Y-specific Hae III sequences form stable duplexes with human Y-chromosome DNA but highly mismatched duplexes with human and ape autosomal DNA. The finding that homologs of 3.4 kb Hae III sequences are not found within the Y-chromosome of apes but are only present in autosomes suggests that 3.4 kb Hae III sequences are largely autosomal in origin. Since autosomal homologs of most 3.4 kb Hae III-sequences exhibit a greater degree of divergence that those localized to the Y-chromosome, their evolutionary history seems to be chromosome-dependent. Our findings are not easily correlated with the comparative morphology of primate Y-chromosomes and suggest that sequence rearrangement has been a major event in the evolution of the human Y-chromosome. The significance of the specific interspersion of four sets of reiterated sequences, with distinct evolutionary histories, within a repeating unit specific to the human Y-chromosome is not clear. The apparent conservation of at least some of these reiterated sequences suggests they may be of functional importance.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Outcome of scorpion sting envenomation after a protocol guided therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Scorpion sting (SS) envenomation is a life threatening emergency in children, though not so severe in adults. Attempt to develop protocol using prazosin and dobutamine and few other drugs to treat SS. METHODS: Children aged 0-13 years with a history of scorpion sting were studied. Clinical features, complications, drug therapy and outcome of the cases for the period 1992-97(N = 186) was collected by the authors and also from the medical records department (RETROSPECTIVE GROUP). Cases treated during 1997-2000 (N = 198) as per the protocol were recorded as PROSPECTIVE GROUP. All the cases were observed for at least for 24 hours. Cases coming within 4 hours of a sting were given a dose of Prazosin (30 mic.gm/Kg/dose) and were observed. Those who came after 4 hours & were asymptomatic received only symptomatic treatment. Cases with signs of envenomation received Prazosin every 6 hourly till recovery. Cases having acute pulmonary edema (APE) were treated with dobutamine and sodium nitroprusside drip. Complicated cases were monitored in PICU as per the protocol. RESULT: Complications associated with excessive parasympathetic and sympathetic stimulation were observed. Myocarditis was observed due to the toxin and excessive catecholamine, which complicated in left ventricular failure (LVF) and APE. Nearly half of the children with acute myocarditis developed APE. Death was mainly due to myocarditis and APE, with or without encephalopathy. Mortality was high in children who received steroid and antihistaminics outside and who came late (> 4 hours). CONCLUSION: Complication rate remained almost same in both the groups. There was a significant reduction in overall mortality (P = < 0.0155) and in deaths associated with APE (P = < 0.0001) after the protocol guided therapy. There was also a reduction in mortality in encephalopathy group though not statistically significant. This treatment protocol and aggressive management of APE reduced the mortality due to SS significantly.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effect of M2 muscarinic receptor antagonist 4-DAMP, on prostaglandin synthesis and mechanical function in the isolated rabbit heart.

1. Muscarinic agonist acetylcholine (ACh) (non-selective) and arecaidine propargyl ester (APE) (M2 selective agonist) produced a increase in the output of 6-keto PGF1 alpha and a decrease in the heart rate and myocardial developed tension in a dose-dependent manner. 2. Lower doses of ACh (1.0-5.0 nmol) caused coronary vasodilation, whereas higher doses of ACh (10.0 nmol) and lower as well as higher doses of APE produced a biphasic effect--an initial vasodilation followed by vasoconstriction. 3. The increase in 6-keto PGF1 alpha output elicited by 3 nmol of ACh or APE was inhibited by 10 nM of classical muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine or by the selective M2 beta muscarinic receptor antagonist 4-(diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl piperidine) methiodide (4-DAMP). 4. The decrease in heart rate and myocardial developed tension produced by ACh and APE was attenuated by atropine and 4-DAMP. The coronary vasodilator effect of ACh and APE and the vasoconstrictor effect of APE were also attenuated by both of these muscarinic antagonists.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Plasma heart-type fatty acid binding protein is superior to troponin and myoglobin for rapid risk stratification in acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Irreversible right ventricular (RV) failure with myocardial damage may precipitate fatal outcome in acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Cytoplasmic heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is a sensitive and specific biomarker of myocardial damage. We assessed which biomarker of myocardial damage or RV stretching is the most useful for short-term risk stratification in APE. METHODS: We analyzed 77 patients (51 F, 26 M) aged 65.3+/-16.0 years with confirmed APE. On admission, systemic blood pressure and transthoracic echocardiography (for RV overload) were recorded and plasma concentrations of myoglobin (Mb), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) and H-FABP were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifteen (19.5%) patients died and 24 (31.2%) experienced complicated clinical course (CCC)-death/thrombolysis/cardiopulmonary resuscitation/intravenous vasopressors. Hazard ratio analysis demonstrated that plasma H-FABP, Mb, cTnT and NT-proBNP concentrations predicted fatal outcome. When only APE-related deaths were considered, plasma H-FABP concentrations indicated fatal outcome. Multivariate hazard ratio analysis revealed H-FABP as the only 30-day mortality predictor (HR 1.02 CI 95% 1.01-1.05). CONCLUSIONS: H-FABP measured on admission is useful for short-term risk stratification in APE. It appears to be superior to cTnT, NT-proBNP and Mb in the prediction of 30-day APE-related mortality.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

The cross-sectional geometry of the hand and foot bones of the hominoidea and its relationship to locomotor behavior.

Cheiridia are valuable indicators of positional behavior, as they directly contact the substrate, but systematic comparison of the structural properties of both metacarpals and metatarsals has never been carried out. Differences in locomotor behavior among the great apes (knuckle-walking vs. quadrumanous climbing) can produce biomechanical differences that may be elucidated by the parallel study of cross-sectional characteristics of metacarpals and metatarsals. The aim of this work is to study the cross-sectional geometric properties of these bones and their correlation with locomotor behavior in large-bodied hominoids. The comparisons between bending moments of metacarpals and metatarsals of the same ray furnished interesting results. Metacarpals III and especially IV of the knuckle-walking African apes were relatively stronger than those of humans and orangutans, and metatarsal V of humans was relatively stronger than those of the great apes. Interestingly, the relative robusticity of the metacarpal IV of the quadrumanous orangutan was between that of the African apes and that of humans. The main conclusions of the study are: 1) cross-sectional dimensions of metacarpals and metatarsals are influenced by locomotor modes in great apes and humans; 2) interlimb comparisons of cross-sectional properties of metacarpals and metatarsals are good indicators of locomotor modes in great apes and humans; and 3) the results of this study are in accord with those of previous analyses of plantar pressure and morphofunctional traits of the same bones, and with behavioral studies. These results provide a data base from which it will be possible to compare the morphology of the fossils in order to gain insight into the locomotor repertoires of extinct taxa.

Analysis of Variance↗