The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Although hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) has become routine practice in cardiac surgery, it is associated with substantial neurotoxicity. We tested the hypothesis that increased nitric oxide production during HCA participates in neuronal death. We previously described a canine survival model of HCA that produces a consistent neurologic deficit and histopathologic pattern of selective neuronal death. ⋯ We conclude that neurotoxicity after HCA involves a significant, early induction in neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in neuronal processes leading to widespread augmented nitric oxide production in the brain.
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Comparative Study
Relative importance of prostaglandin/cyclic adenosine monophosphate and nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathways in lung preservation.
Modulation of vascular tone and platelet and neutrophil function through the prostaglandin/cyclic adenosine monophosphate or nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway can benefit lung graft function. The relative importance of these pathways is unclear. ⋯ Lung graft integrity after storage in Euro-Collins solution was better preserved by glyceryl trinitrate than by prostacyclin in this model.
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Air embolism remains a potential hazard of cardiopulmonary bypass. We describe a simple technique for deairing the heart that is inexpensive and requires no manipulation or extra cannulation of the heart.
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The operative mortality associated with surgical thromboendarterectomy of the pulmonary arteries has decreased at the University of California in San Diego with the application of new techniques. For universal performance of the procedure, however, those factors that contribute to the high operative mortality must be identified. We analyzed our results in 34 consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy to determine those preoperative factors that contribute to operative mortality. ⋯ Patients with severe hemodynamic disease (PVR > 1,100 dynes.s.cm-5 and PAP > 50 mm Hg) have a high likelihood of operative mortality and perhaps should not undergo pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, except at institutions where the operation is performed frequently.
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These experiments were conducted to determine whether p185 can be therapeutically targeted in adenocarcinoma of the lung using an anti-p185-gelonin conjugate. c-erbB-2/p185 is overexpressed in up to one third of non-small cell lung cancers. CALU-3 is a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line that overexpresses p185. muMoAb-4D5 is a murine anti-p185 monoclonal immunoglobulin G1. Gelonin is a potent type 1 ribosomal inhibitory protein. ⋯ Selective and efficient killing of human lung adenocarcinoma cells can be achieved in vitro using c-erbB-2/p185-directed therapy.