Greenhouse gas emission potential of sewage treatment plants in Himachal Pradesh.

In recent times, waste management has emerged as a significant environmental challenge, and sewage is among the major contributors due to the rapidly increasing population. Despite sewage treatment plants (STPs) being the solution for the treatment of sewage, they have been identified as sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study aimed to estimate the contribution of STPs to GHG emissions in the state. This was achieved by visiting the sites, filling scientifically designed questionnaires, sample collection as well as computational methods by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The assessment of direct and indirect emissions from the STPs revealed that emissions were caused by the activated sludge process, electricity consumption, transportation, and sludge storage. Electricity consumption by STPs was responsible for the highest emissions, accounting for 43% of the total emissions, equivalent to 20,823 tCO2 eq. The activated sludge process contributed 31% (14,934 tCO2 eq) of the emissions, while storage of sludge in landfills accounted for 24% (11,359 tCO2 eq). Additionally, transportation contributed 2% (1121 tCO2 eq) of the emissions. In total, the STPs in Himachal Pradesh had the potential to contribute 48,237 tCO2 eq GHG emissions annually. Thus, the study suggests process-level modifications in STPs of Himachal Pradesh to mitigate GHG emissions. This research provides insight into the GHG emissions from STPs and highlights the need for their management to reduce environmental impacts.

Emergence of pandemic 2009 influenza A H1N1, India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Pandemic H1N1 caused deluge of cases from 74 countries and prompted World Health Organization to raise warning to phase 6. The present study was conducted on throat and nasal swab samples received and tested at National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi, India during 2009-2010 to collect epidemiological and clinical information on positive cases. METHODS: Throat and nasopharyngeal swabs from category C influenza A H1N1 patients during May 2009-September 2010 along with their clinico-epidemiological details were collected from identified hospitals from Delhi and other States. Samples were tested by Real time reverse transcriptase PCR using primers and probes developed at CDC, Atlanta for four influenza target genes. RESULTS: A total of 33,751 samples, both throat and nasal swab samples from each patient were tested for H1N1 influenza virus, of which, 7943 (23.5%) were positive for pandemic influenza A H1N1 and 3759 (11.1%) were positive for influenza A (seasonal flu). Maximum number of positive cases (N=2792, 35.1%) were from 20-39 yr age group, comprising 1790 (22.5%) males and 1182 (14.8%) females. Only 2620 (33%) positive cases were close contact of influenza A H1N1 positive patient. Majority cases presented (N=2792, 35.1%) with fever 7005 (88.1%), followed by 6133 cases (77.2%) exhibiting fever and cough, 377 (4.7%) complained of fever, cough, nasal catarrh and 362 (4.5%) cases had fever with shortness of breath. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: The study showed a peak of cases of pandemic influenza A H1N1 in December 2009 and indicated predominance of H1N1 positive cases among 20-39 yr age group and among males compared to females.

Psoriasis-associated genetic polymorphism in North Indian population in the CCHCR1 gene and in a genomic segment flanking the HLA-C region.

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, recurrent, inflammatory, hyper proliferative disorder of the skin, which has a relatively high prevalence in the general population (0.6-4.8%). Linkage and association analyses in various populations have revealed a major locus for psoriasis susceptibility, PSORS1, at 6p21.3. Association of the disease with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Cw6, corneodesmosin (CDSN) and the coiled-coil alpha-helical rod protein-1 (CCHCR1) has also been reported. Though the PSORS1 locus accounts for 30-50% of familial psoriasis in various global population groups, yet no studies have been published from the North Indian population. Some of the SNPs in HLA-C and CCHCR1 genes have been reported as markers for disease susceptibility. Therefore in the present study, DNA samples from psoriasis patients from North India were genotyped for polymorphisms in CCHCR1 and HLA-C genes. The allele frequencies were calculated for patients and controls, and were compared for odds ratio and confidence interval values. SNPn.7*22222 (rs12208888), SNPn.7*22333 (rs12216025), SNPn.9*24118 (rs10456057), CCHCR1_386 (rs130065), CCHCR1_404 (rs130076) and CCHCR1_1364 (rs130071) were found to be significant in psoriasis patients. Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed two haplotypes (rs12208888, rs2844608, rs12216025, rs10456057, rs130065, rs130066, rs130068, rs130269, and rs12208888, rs2844608, rs12216025, rs130076, rs130066, rs130068, rs130269, rs130071) as highly susceptible haplotypes for psoriasis in the cohort studied. Preliminary analysis of the data also suggests the possibilities of ethnic group specific disease related polymorphisms, pending validation in future studies.

Cytogenetic characterization and fluorescence in situ hybridization of (GATA)10 repeats on established primary cell cultures from Indian water snake (Natrix piscator) and Indian mugger (Crocodylus palustris) embryos.

Sex determination among reptiles has continued to draw the attention of geneticists and the mechanisms involved have been extensively studied and documented in the past 3 decades. The setting up of primary cell lines of reptilian tissues is an important tool in the present study which is a unique aspect not applied in earlier studies. Establishing the cell lines from various species of reptiles would help in our understanding of the mechanisms of evolution and differentiation of sex chromosomes. Therefore, in the present study, we have established for the first time primary cell cultures from Indian water snake (Natrix piscator) and Indian mugger (Crocodylus palustris) embryos. In the preliminary growth stage, 2 types of cells, fibroblast- and epithelial-like, were found to be attached and proliferating in vitro. These fibroblast-like cell cultures were later overtaken by epithelial cells. The cell lines were grown in minimal essential medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum and subcultured for a period of 8-10 months. The morphology of cell types was kept under constant observation microscopically. Interestingly, at a subsequent passage of the cells sporadically scattered neuronal-like and beating cells were observed. The suitable temperature for growth of these cell cultures was 28-30 degrees C. Chromosome analysis was performed from the actively proliferating cells, which revealed 5 pairs of macrochromosomes and 15 pairs of microchromosomes in Natrix piscator, and 15 pairs of only macrochromosomes in Crocodylus palustris. (GATA)(n) repeats are well known to be associated with sex chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization performed with (GATA)(10) repeats delineated the W chromosome in the cells of Natrix piscator which has so far not been reported. This cell culture method has presently only been applied to water snakes and crocodile embryos in the current study, but it will be employed in other reptilian species and could go a long way to being a sustainable source of primary cells. This would eventually serve as an important tool for molecular studies in reptiles and other species in the future.

Microincision bimanual phacoemulsification and Thinoptx implantation through a 1.70 mm incision.

PURPOSE: To prospectively assess the efficacy of bimanual phacoemulsification and implantation of Thinoptx, an injectable intraocular lens (IOL), inserted through 1.70 mm clear corneal incision. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Southend Hospital NHS Trust, UK. METHODS: A total of 50 eyes of 49 randomly selected patients with cataracts had microincision clear corneal bimanual phacoemulsification (MICS) with implantation of Thinoptx IOL in the capsular bag. All patients underwent full preoperative assessment. Postoperative assessment was carried out at 3 and 6 weeks and at 15 months. RESULTS: In all 50 cases the IOL was inserted through 1.70 mm clear corneal incision. The mean best-corrected visual acuity was 0.02 (6/6-1) at 6 weeks and was 0.17 (6/10) at the final follow-up. The mean final surgically induced astigmatism at 6 weeks was 0.0106. Coloured haloes around artificial lights were perceived by 69.23% of patients at 6 weeks and by 61.29% at the final follow-up. One patient underwent IOL exchange for this. Posterior capsular opacification was noticed in 31.26% at 6 weeks and in 64.51% at 15 months. Anterior capsular opacification was noticed in 5.26% at 6 weeks and in 16.12% at 15 months. In one patient the IOL had to be exchanged because of tilt and displacement of the IOL due to anterior capsular phimosis. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude Thinoptx can be safely inserted through 1.70 mm incision used for bimanual phacoemulsification. Distance and near visual acuity achieved with this IOL is satisfactory. There is no significant change in keratometric astigmatism following this procedure. However, posterior capsular opacification rate was significantly higher with this IOL. Haloes around light sources were significant.

Phylogeography of olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) on the east coast of India: implications for conservation theory.

Orissa, on the east coast of India, is one of the three mass nesting sites in the world for olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea). This population is currently under threat as a result of fishery-related mortality; more than 100 000 olive ridleys have been counted dead in the last 10 years in Orissa. In general, the globally distributed olive ridley turtle has received significantly less conservation attention than its congener, the Kemp's ridley turtle (L. kempi), because the latter is recognized as a distinct species consisting of a single endangered population. Our study of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes suggests that the ridley population on the east coast of India is panmictic, but distinct from all other populations including Sri Lanka. About 96% of the Indian population consisted of a distinct 'K' clade with haplotypes not found in any other population. Nested clade analysis and conventional analysis both supported range expansions and/or long-distance colonization from the Indian Ocean clades to other oceanic basins, which suggested that these are the ancestral source for contemporary global populations of olive ridley turtles. These data support the distinctiveness of the Indian Ocean ridleys, suggesting that conservation prioritization should be based on appropriate data and not solely on species designations.

Long-term survival after permanent pacemaker implantation: analysis of predictors for increased mortality.

AIMS: To determine long-term time-related survival and evaluate risk factors for increased mortality in patients following their first permanent pacemaker implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Analysis of patient records from implant to follow-up. Patient-specific time-lines were constructed to date of last review or death. Observed survival was estimated by event-free analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method. Expected survival was derived from age- and gender-matched cohorts. Risk factors for mortality were sought using the multivariate Cox proportional hazards method and risk ratios estimated. Eight hundred and thirty-three patients underwent implantation of their first permanent pacemaker from April 1992 to January 1994, and were locally followed up. Survival data were available for 803 (96.4%) patients (median age, 77.3 years [5th to 95th centile range: 53.5 to 89 5 years]) and follow-up was complete in 94.8%. At implant. dual-chamber systems were implanted in 443 (55.1%). single-chamber ventricular systems in 321 (40.0%), and single-chamber-atrial systems in 39 (4.9%). Observed survival after implantation was significantly worse than expected (P<0.001). Independent predictors of increased mortality were: age at implant (risk ratio [RR] 1.06: 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 1.12). VVI pacing mode (RR 1.64; 95% CI 1.34 to 1.93), cardiomyopathy (RR 5.86; 95% CI 4.86 to 6.86), male gender (RR 1.27; 95% CI 1.22 to 1 32) and valvular heart disease (RR 2.01: 95% CI 1.98 to 2.04). CONCLUSIONS: At the end of follow-up, mortality was much higher than expected. In this typical pacemaker population. age at implant and VVI pacing mode were independently associated with increased mortality with accompanying heart disease having the greatest individual impact.

Identification of Yersinia pestis as the causative organism of plague in India as determined by 16S rDNA sequencing and RAPD-based genomic fingerprinting.

Eighteen isolates of bacteria obtained from the sputum of pneumonic plague patients and from the liver and spleen of rodents from the plague-affected areas of India during 1994-1995 when analyzed by 16S rDNA analysis clearly demonstrated that all 18 isolates exhibit an average similarity of 98.5% with the genus Yersinia and 99.1% with Yersinia pestis, thus identifying the isolates as Y. pestis. The isolates from the human plague patients were found to be genetically more homogeneous compared to the isolates from the rodents which were more heterogeneous. An epidemiological linkage among the rodents and human patients is also indicated by 16S rDNA analysis, which suggests that only a sub-population of the rodents was probably the source of the infectious pathogen to the humans initiating the outbreak of the epidemic. The results of the randomly amplified DNA polymorphisms (RAPD)-based DNA fingerprinting are in agreement with the above conclusions.

Arthrobacter flavus sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from a pond in McMurdo Dry Valley, Antarctica.

CMS 19YT, a psychrophilic bacterium, was isolated from a cyanobacterial mat sample from a pond in Antarctica and was characterized taxonomically. The bacterium was aerobic, gram-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile, exhibited a rod-coccus growth cycle and produced a yellow pigment that was insoluble in water but soluble in methanol. No growth factors were required and it was able to grow between 5 and 30 degrees C, between pH 6 and pH 9 and tolerated up to 11.5% NaCl. The cell wall peptidoglycan was Lys-Thr-Ala3 (the A3alpha variant) and the major menaquinone was MK-9(H2). The G+C content of the DNA was 64+/-2 mol%. The 16S rDNA analysis indicated that CMS 19YT is closely related to group I Arthrobacter species and showed highest sequence similarity (97.91%) with Arthrobacter agilis. Furthermore, DNA-DNA. hybridization studies also indicated 77% homology between CMS 19YT and A. agilis. It differed from A. agilis, however, in that it was psychrophilic, non-motile, yellow in colour, exhibited a rod-coccus growth cycle, had a higher degree of tolerance to NaCl and was oxidase- and urease-negative and lipase-positive. In addition, it had a distinct fatty acid composition compared to that of A. agilis: the predominant fatty acids were C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, C16:0, iso-C16:0, C17:0, anteiso-C17:0 and C18:0. It is proposed, therefore, that CMS 19YT should be placed in the genus Arthrobacter as a new species, i.e. Arthrobacter flavus sp. nov. The type strain of A. flavus is CMS 19YT (= MTCC 3476T).

In vitro evaluation of c7E3-Fab (ReoPro) eluting polymer-coated coronary stents.

OBJECTIVE: Stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis remain problematic in certain patient sub-groups. c7E3-Fab (ReoPro, abciximab) inhibits the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor as well as the smooth muscle cell alpha(v)beta3 receptor, and thus may influence both processes, especially if high local concentrations could be achieved. We have studied the adsorption and elution characteristics of c7E3-Fab on commercially available polymer-coated stents. We have also investigated the effect of such antibody binding on platelet deposition in vitro, and on antibody deposition into ex vivo human saphenous vein wall to assess whether such stents may influence stent thrombosis and restenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adsorption was measured using a radioisotope technique after immersing segments of polymer-coated stents in c7E3-Fab solutions. Uptake was dependent on antibody concentration and duration of immersion of wire in the solution. After 22 h (at 5 mg ml(-1)), 1146+/-101 ng cm(-1) wire was adsorbed. In an in vitro perfusion circuit, the antibody eluted slowly, with 53% remaining after 12 days washing. To determine the value that such stents might have in clinical practise, adsorption to balloon-mounted stents was assessed at room temperature, using commercially available c7E3-Fab (2 mg ml(-1)). Efficacy of eluting c7E3-Fab was determined by measuring deposition of 111-Indium platelets. Immersing stents in c7E3-Fab for 20 min inhibited platelet deposition by 82.3% compared to controls (P=0.018). Deployment of treated stents in ex vivo saphenous vein resulted in the deposition of c7E3-Fab in the intima and media. CONCLUSIONS: c7E3-Fab can be passively adsorbed onto polymer-coated stents. It elutes slowly and in a predictable manner, significantly inhibiting platelet deposition in vitro. These studies pave the way to developing stent-based delivery of a potent anti-platelet agent that may additionally affect smooth muscle cell activity.

Type A dissection of the ascending thoracic aorta during percutaneous coronary intervention.

Retrograde dissection of the aorta is extremely rare during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but is a recognized and potentially life-threatening complication. We describe a case in which retrograde dissection of the aorta, necessitating urgent surgical repair, occurred during an attempt to open a chronically occluded right coronary artery. Initially localized, the dissection extended during an attempt to seal the right coronary ostium. Our experience suggests that if localized aortic retrograde dissection occurs, the management will depend on the stability of the distal coronary vessel. If stable, a conservative approach may be preferable to an attempt to seal the dissection.

Widespread occurrence of the homologues of the early nodulin (ENOD) genes in Oryza species and related grasses.

Eighty accessions representing 23 species from the genus Oryza were examined for the presence of homologues of early nodulin (ENOD) genes. Southern analyses indicated a widespread distribution of homologues of ENOD genes across all the genomes of rice as well as other monocots. The degree of cross-hybridization of the legume ENOD genes with sequences in the genomes of various species, as revealed by hybridization differentials measured in terms of signal intensities, however, suggests that the homologues of ENOD genes are conserved to varied extents in different Oryza species. The presence of homologues of ENOD genes in a wide variety of plant species denotes that the biological functions of early nodulins may be diverse, and not restricted to nodule organogenesis alone. The fact that ENOD gene homologues exist widely both in dicots and monocots provides evidence that these homologues have arisen from a common ancestral plant.

A novel approach to fault diagnosis in multicircuit transmission lines using fuzzy ARTmap neural networks.

The work described in this paper addresses the problems of fault diagnosis in complex multicircuit transmission systems, in particular those arising due to mutual coupling between the two parallel circuits under different fault conditions; the problems are compounded by the fact that this mutual coupling is highly variable in nature. In this respect, artificial intelligence (AI) technique provides the ability to classify the faulted phase/phases by identifying different patterns of the associated voltages and currents. In this paper, a Fuzzy ARTmap (Adaptive Resonance Theory) neural network is employed and is found to be well-suited for solving the complex fault classification problem under various system and fault conditions. Emphasis is placed on introducing the background of AI techniques as applied to the specific problem, followed by a description of the methodology adopted for training the Fuzzy ARTmap neural network, which is proving to be a very useful and powerful tool for power system engineers. Furthermore, this classification technique is compared with a Neural Network (NN) technique based on the error backpropagation (EBP) training algorithm, and it is shown that the former technique is better suited for solving the fault diagnosis problem in complex multicircuit transmission systems.

Evaluation of epidemiological and serological predictors of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection among high risk professional blood donors with western blot indeterminate results.

BACKGROUND: Indeterminate pattern of results in Western blot (WBI) for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection may represent early HIV-1 infection or may be non-specific in origin. This issue can be resolved by follow up testing upto at least 6 months resulting in psychological distress as well as in high drop out rates among those undergoing investigation pointing out the need for additional parameters that could help in determining the status of HIV-1 infection at the time of initial testing itself in individuals with WBI pattern. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the present study were: (i) to determine the frequency of HIV-1 infected individuals in a group of professional donors showing WBI patterns in initial testing on the basis of follow up serological studies; (ii) to find out if any HIV related epidemiological or serological characteristics recorded at the time of initial testing could be considered as predictor for HIV-1 infection in WBI specimens; and (iii) to evaluate two alternative serodiagnostic strategies for HIV-1 infection viz. multiple EIAs based on different antigen preparations/principles and a line immunoassay (LIA) employing recombinant antigens in resolving status of HIV-1 infection in specimens showing WBI results at initial testing. STUDY DESIGN: Professional donors with WBI patterns belonging to EIA reactive and EIA nonreactive groups were subjected to study of epidemiological profile, prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) markers and follow up serological testing for HIV-1 at 6, 12, 24 and 48 weeks intervals to record any seroconversion. The initial and follow up specimens from the donors with initial WBI results were subjected to two EIAs (one based on dot immunoassay using synthetic HIV-1 antigens and other based on microwell EIA using recombinant HIV-1 proteins) as well as to LIA. RESULTS: Professional donors with initial WBI results, from the EIA reactive group had higher proportion of unmarried individuals (90.3%), with history of heterosexual promiscuity (75%) and visit to STD clinics (36.1%) compared with the WBI donors from the EIA nonreactive group (72.7, 42.4 and 12.1%, respectively, P values < 0.001). Prevalence of antitreponemal antibodies was higher in the former group (16.7%) compared with the later group (1.5%, P value < 0.002). Seroconversion was recorded in 4 (7.3%) out of 55 EIA reactive WBI donors from the EIA reactive group that were characterised by high optical density (OD) values in EIA, 'p24 only' pattern of band in WB and positivity by LIA at the time of initial testing. LIA was found to be more reliable test compared with combination of EIAs to determine status of HIV-1 infection in WBI specimens at the time of initial testing. CONCLUSION: The present study points out that parameters like history of heterosexual promiscuity, prevalence of STD markers, high OD values in screening EIA, 'p24' only pattern of bands in WB and positivity by LIA could have individual predictive values for HIV-1 infection in specimens showing WBI pattern of results at initial testing.

Genetic variation in Asiatic lions and Indian tigers.

Previous reports have suggested that Asiatic lions and tigers are highly inbred and exhibit very low levels of genetic variation. Our analyses on these species have shown much higher degrees of polymorphism than reported. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of 38 Asiatic lions, which exist as a single population in the Gir Forest Sanctuary in India, shows an average heterozygosity of 25.82% with four primers. Sperm motility studies by our colleagues corroborate this data. In Indian tigers, microsatellite analysis of five CA repeat loci and multilocus fingerprinting using Bkm 2(8) probe on a population of 22 individuals revealed a heterozygosity of 22.65%. Microsatellite analysis of loci Fca 77 and Fca 126 revealed polymorphism amongst the Asiatic x African lion hybrids, which has enabled us to use these as markers to discriminate the pure Asiatic lions from the hybrids. A similar analysis was used to identify hybrids of Indian and Siberian tigers through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of hair samples. To ascertain the variation which existed before the population bottleneck at the turn of the present century, microsatellite analysis was performed on 50- to 125-year-old skin samples from museum specimens. Our results show similar levels of genetic variability as in the present population (21.01%). This suggests that low genetic variability may be the characteristic feature of these species and not the result of intensive inbreeding. DNA fingerprinting studies of Asiatic lions and tigers have helped in identifying individuals with high genetic variability which can be used for conservation breeding programs.

Two new genomes in the Oryza complex identified on the basis of molecular divergence analysis using total genomic DNA hybridization.

The genus Oryza to which cultivated rice belongs has 24 species (2n = 24 or 48), representing seven genomes (AA, BB, CC, EE, FF, BBCC and CCDD). The genomic constitution of five of these species is unknown. These five species have been grouped into two species complexes, the tetraploid ridleyi complex (O. ridleyi, O. longiglumis) and the diploid meyeriana complex (O. granulata, O. meyeriana, O. indandamanica). To evaluate the genomic structure of these species in terms of divergence at the molecular level vis-a-vis other known genomes of Oryza, we used the total genomic DNA hybridization approach. Total genomic DNA (after restriction digestion) of 79 accessions of 23 Oryza species, 6 related genera, 5 outgroup taxa (2 monocots, 3 dicots) and 6 F1s and BC1s derived from crosses of O. sativa with wild species were hybridized individually with 32P-labeled total genomic DNA from 12 Oryza species: O. ridleyi, O. longiglumis, O. granulata, O. meyeriana, O. brachyantha, O. punctata, O. officinalis, O. eichingeri, O. alta, O. latifolia, O. australiensis, and O. sativa. The labeled genomic DNAs representing the ridleyi and meyeriana complexes cross-hybridized best to all the accessions of their respective species, less to those representing other genomes of Oryza and related genera, and least to outgroup taxa. In general, the hybridization differential measured in terms of signal intensities was >50-fold under conditions that permit detection of 70-75% homologous sequences, both in the presence and in the absence of O. sativa DNA as competitor. In contrast, when total DNAs representing other Oryza genomes were used as probes, species of the O. ridleyi and O. meyeriana complexes did not show any significant cross-hybridization (<5%). These results demonstrate that the genome(s) of both of these complexes are highly diverged and distinct from all other known genomes of Oryza. We, therefore, propose new genomic designations for these two species complexes: GG for the diploid O. meyeriana complex and HHJJ for the allotetraploid O. ridleyi complex. The results also suggest that the uniqueness of these genomes is not restricted to species-specific highly repetitive DNA sequences, but also applies to dispersed sequences present in single or low to moderate copy numbers. Furthermore these appear to share relatively more genome-specific repeat sequences between themselves than with other genomes of rice. The study also demonstrates the potential of total genomic DNA hybridization as a simple but powerful tool, complementary to existing approaches, for ascertaining the genomic makeup of an organism.

Antithrombotic potential of polymer-coated stents eluting platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antibody.

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal anti-rabbit platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antibody (AZ1) was adsorbed onto cellulose polymer-coated intracoronary stents to enhance their thromboresistance. We evaluated the antithrombotic efficacy of AZ1 antibody-eluting stents. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-three polymer-coated stents with AZ1 antibody bound by passive adsorption (AZ1-eluting) were compared with 23 control polymer-coated stents adsorbed with either no antibody (base-polymer, n = 12) or isotype-matched irrelevant antibody (anti-CMV-eluting, n = 11) by implantation into balloon-damaged, flow-reduced iliac arteries of New Zealand White rabbits. In 13 animals (acute group), flow measurements were made with transit-time flow probes and platelet adhesion was ascertained by use of 111In-labeled autologous platelets. In the other 10 animals (chronic group), stent occlusion was assessed macroscopically after they were killed 28 days after stenting. Arteries with AZ1-eluting stents had significantly less platelet deposition (15.8 +/- 4.5 x 10(7)) than either base-polymer (32.1 +/- 4.3 x 10(7)) or anti-CMV-eluting (35.2 +/- 8.8 x 10(7)) controls (ANOVA, P < .0001). Compared with base-polymer or anti-CMV-eluting controls, arteries with AZ1-eluting stents showed a marked reduction in cyclic blood flow variation (P < .0001) and a significantly greater mean blood flow 2 hours after stent deployment (P < .0001). There was a significant improvement in the patency rate of AZ1-eluting stents compared with controls at both 2 hours (92% versus 46%, P = .034) and 28 days (100% versus 40%, P = .015). CONCLUSIONS: Platelet GP IIb/IIIa antibody eluting from polymer-coated stents reduces platelet deposition, improves blood flow, virtually abolishes cyclic flow variation, and improves patency rates after stent implantation in a rabbit iliac artery model. Its potential for reducing stent-related thrombosis in humans warrants further evaluation.