Orientation of gramicidin D incorporated into phospholipid multibilayers: a Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection spectroscopic study.

Polarized Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)-attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy was applied to study the orientation of the linear pentadecapeptide antibiotic gramicidin D incorporated into phospholipid multibilayers, which were cast on a germanium ATR plate from chloroform solution. In DMPC and DPPC multibilayers, the CH2 stretching bands of lipid hydrocarbon chains were slightly shifted to the higher frequency side and bandwidth was increased in the presence of gramicidin. However, in DPPE multibilayers, frequencies and bandwidths of these bands were unaltered. In each case, gramicidin produced little effect on the orientation of lipid hydrocarbon chains, suggesting that gramicidin penetrates into lipid layers without noticeable perturbations. Upon incubation of cast films in contact with water above the gel-liquid-crystalline transition temperature (Tc) of lipids, the reorientation of gramicidin in lipid multibilayers occurred, the degree thereof depending upon the fluidity of the lipid hydrocarbon chains and the amount of surrounding water. In DMPC multibilayers, the helix axis of gramicidin was oriented almost parallel to the lipid hydrocarbon chains after incubation. In DPPC multibilayers, on the other hand, the helix axis of gramicidin was tilted on average about 15 degrees from the lipid hydrocarbon chains after incubation. However, in DPPE multibilayers, which are known to have the most rigid bilayer structures, the reorientation of gramicidin could not be seen.

Orientation studies of hydrated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine multibilayers by polarized FTIR-ATR spectroscopy.

Polarized Fourier-transform infrared-attenuated total reflection spectroscopy has been applied to explore the temperature-dependence of molecular orientations in multibilayers of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (DPPC) of various degrees of hydration. The order parameter of the hydrocarbon chain, evaluated from the dichroic ratios of the antisymmetric and symmetric CH2 stretching bands, was drastically decreased at the main (or gel to liquid-crystalline phase) transition temperature (Tm) irrespective of the water content, suggesting that the hydrocarbon chain is in a disordered state as a result of chain-melting associated with an increase in the number of the gauche conformers. On the other hand, the dichroic ratios of the polar bands of hydrated DPPC assignable to the symmetric PO2- stretching and asymmetric N+ (CH3)3 stretching modes were increased mainly at the pretransition temperature (Tp), except for less hydrated case. The dichroic ratios of both the OH stretching and OH2 bending bands of water showed the same temperature-dependence as those of the polar bands. These results indicate that the pretransition is ascribable mainly to the reorientation of the polar groups of the DPPC and bound water, while the main transition is due to the orientational disorder of the hydrocarbon chains. For less hydrated DPPC, the reorientation of the polar groups and water did not occur around Tp, but in the higher temperature region around Tm. This is in accord with the previously reported observation that the pretransition disappears for less hydrated DPPC. In this case, the polar groups and water may reorient following the reorientation of the hydrocarbon chains near Tm.

A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study of the molecular interaction of cholesterol with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.

The temperature dependencies of the infrared spectra of pure and cholesterol-containing multibilayers of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine were studied using Fourier transform infrared techniques. A comparison of the spectroscopic data showed the retention of a melting phenomenon at 60 mol% cholesterol content, and the retention of some all-trans conformations in the liquid-crystalline phase. It is also demonstrated that at temperatures less than 30 degrees C, the cholesterol-containing 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine multibilayers still contain a small amount of pure 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, packed in an orthorhombic subcell lattice. Spectral changes were found in the absorptions characteristic of the phospholipid head groups. The addition of cholesterol results in changes in the ester bands, and demonstrates the induction by cholesterol of non-equivalent ester conformations.

Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection spectroscopy of hydration of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine multibilayers.

The effect of hydration on the structure and molecular orientation of multibilayers of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), cast on a germanium plate, was studied by means of polarized Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR)-attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. Compared with the dry state, the antisymmetric and symmetric CH2 stretching bands of fully hydrated DMPC in the liquid-crystalline state were shifted to the higher frequency side, indicating the increase in the number of the gauche conformers. However, the dichroism of these bands revealed that the hydrocarbon chains of DMPC were still ordered and titled. The absorption bands of the glycerol ester, phosphoryl, and choline groups were broadened upon hydration, suggesting the activation of the librational or torsional motion. Furthermore, the dichroism of the polar head group bands of DMPC indicated that these groups retained a slight orientation even in the fully hydrated and fluid multibilayers.

Spin-state equilibrium in the model complexes of azide hemoprotein.

Addition of NaN3 to ferric protohemin biscoordinated with 1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm) or 2-methylimidazole (2-MeIm) in (CH3)2SO resulted in sizeable visible absorption changes, corresponding to the formation of the mixed ligand complexes, hemin X N-3 X 1-MeIm and hemin X N-3 X 2-MeIm. The visible absorption spectrum of the 1-MeIm complex was closely similar to those of azide hemoproteins, while the 2-MeIm derivative exhibited intensified 500 and 625 nm bands and depressed 540 and 570 nm peaks. The iron-bound N-3 of the model complexes exhibited two infrared stretching bands, which were assigned to the high- and low-spin peaks. The intensity of the high-spin infrared peaks increased at higher temperature. From the analyses of the infrared spectral changes, the thermodynamic values of the thermal spin equilibria were determined to be delta H = -3920 cal/mol and delta S = -11.1 e.u. for hemin X N-3 X 1-MeIm and delta H = -2150 cal/mol and delta S = 7.9 e.u. for hemin X N-3 X 2-MeIm. The thermodynamic values of the 1-MeIm complex are similar to the reported values for azide metmyoglobin, suggesting that the contribution from the nonbonded porphyrin-globin contacts to the spin equilibrium is small in azide metmyoglobin. Comparison of the delta H and delta S values among model systems indicates that delta H and delta S compensation similar to that observed in hemoprotein also holds in the models. This may suggest an underlying common denominator for the spin-equilibrium mechanisms in hemins and hemoproteins.

A comparative study on interactions of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid containing antibiotic peptides, trichopolyn I and hypelcin A with phosphatidylcholine bilayers.

Interactions of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid containing antibiotic peptides, trichopolyn I and hypelcin A with phosphatidylcholine bilayers were investigated to obtain some basic information on their bioactive mechanisms. Trichopolyn I as well as hypelcin A induced the leakage of a fluorescent dye, calcein, entrapped in sonicated egg yolk L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine vesicles. A quantitative analysis revealed that both the binding affinity and the 'membrane-perturbing activity' of trichopolyn I to the vesicles are about one-third of those of hypelcin A. The conformations and the orientations of the peptide and lipid molecules in the membranes were studied using polarized Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and differential scanning calorimetry. In phosphatidylcholine bilayers, both peptides mainly conformed to helical structures irrespective of the membrane physical state (gel or liquid-crystalline). The helix axes, penetrating the hydrophobic region of the bilayers, were oriented neither parallel nor perpendicular to the membrane normal. The disruption in the lipid packing induced by the peptide insertion seems to be responsible for the leakage by these peptides.

Regional work of the human left ventricle calculated by wall stress and the natural logarithm of reciprocal of wall thickness.

Regional left ventricular work is a more precise indicator of function than is simple shortening fraction. Regional work of the ventricle normalized to a unit volume of myocardium (RWM) is given by the following equation: RWM = - intergral of sigma d[ln(1/H)], where sigma is the mean wall stress and ln(1/H) is the natural logarithm of reciprocal of wall thickness. This method has been previously validated in animal experiments and it is now extended to the clinical setting for the first time. In 10 normal subjects and 6 patients with anteroseptal myocardial infarction, ventricular minor axis and wall thickness were measured by echocardiography and recorded simultaneously with high fidelity left ventricular pressure. Then, regional work of the interventricular septum and of the posterior wall of the left ventricle was calculated from the measured pressure and dimension data. In normal subjects, regional work of the septum and posterior wall was 6.1 +/- 1.7 and 7.0 +/- 1.8 mJ/cm3, respectively; the average of the septal and posterior wall regional work multiplied by the left ventricular myocardial volume correlated well (r = 0.93) with the total mechanical work done by the entire left ventricle. In patients with anteroseptal infarction, septal regional work was greatly reduced (0.6 +/- 1.7 mJ/cm3), compared with posterior wall regional work in the same patients (6.1 +/- 1.8 mJ/cm3). This simple method can be applied clinically in assessing the functional state of different regions of the myocardium.

Survival following cardiogenic shock caused by acute left main coronary artery total occlusion. A case report and review of the literature.

The authors describe a fifty-five-year-old Japanese man with an acute extensive anterior myocardial infarction associated with a total occlusion of the left main coronary artery. The patient suffered cardiogenic shock and was treated successfully with rescue percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and an intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) after unsuccessful intracoronary thrombolysis. Ten days after admission, he was weaned from IABP, and recovery-phase coronary angiography revealed no significant coronary artery stenosis and an ejection fraction of 32% by left ventriculography. The patient was discharged from the hospital without any ischemic findings.

[Physical and biophysical aspects of high energy intracardial electrical discharges. 4. Effects of fulguration beads in an isotropic diphasic medium]. / Aspects physiques et biophysiques des décharges électriques intracardiaques à haute énergie. 4. Effets des bulles de fulguration en milieu diphasique isotrope.

Study of the effects of fulgurating electric shocks on an isotropic protein gel more supple than ordinary myocardium provides better understanding of the mechanical effects of fulguration on biological tissues. With a shock and energy level of the type used clinically, a central crater is produced measuring 4 to 6 mm in diameter and a few millimetres deep, surrounded by a crown 30 mm in diameter. Damage due to the mechanical effects of fulgurating shocks is thus 3 to 15 times greater than the size of the electrode. The size of lesions is generally proportional to the energy level and is greater at the anode than cathode. It is also greater with impulses having a short rise time. When the electrode is almost parallel to the wall, the surface area of mechanical lesions is larger and more irregular and it is less deep than when the electrode is perpendicular to the gel.

[Duration of QRS complexes in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. A new non-invasive diagnostic marker]. / La durée des complexes QRS dans la dysplasie ventriculaire droite arythmogène. Un nouveau marqueur diagnostique non invasif.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) may result in sudden death of young and sometimes athletic individuals, while if properly treated it is associated with a good prognosis. It is probably more widespread than currently thought. Comparison of the electrocardiograms of 43 ARVD patients with those of 44 normal individuals provided a new criterion enabling identification of the disease. Measurement of a QRS interval longer than 110 ms in sinus rhythm in lead V1 in an individual with an apparently normal heart enabled identification of the disease with a sensitivity of 55 p. cent and specificity of 100 p. cent if used alone, and a sensitivity of 60 p. cent if used in combination with a prolongation of QRS in lead V3 to greater than 110 ms, but with a specificity of 82 p. cent. After elimination of appearances of right bundle branch block, sensitivity was 50 p. cent for V1. This parameter studied in a hospital population should be validated in minor forms before leading to compulsory ECGs for individuals in high-risk occupations (athletes, public vehicle drivers, etc.).

[Determining factors of successful percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy and eligible indications for the procedure].

The aim of this report is to investigate the factors which influence mean left atrial pressure (LAP) after percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) and the characteristics of patients in whom PTMC is most effective. Fifty one patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis underwent PTMC. The patients included 8 males and 43 females, aged 26-66 years (mean age of 46). These patients were classified into two groups according to LAP after PTMC: 31 cases with LAP after PTMC of 12 mmHg or less (group A) and 20 cases with LAP after PTMC greater than 12 mmHg (group B). The patients of group A were younger (44 +/- 6 vs 48 +/- 6 years, p < 0.05), and had atrial fibrillation (af) less frequently (35 vs 65%, p < 0.05), and had mitral valve calcification less frequently (29 vs 65%, p < 0.01). Before PTMC, LAP (19 +/- 6 vs 23 +/- 5 mmHg, p < 0.01) was lower and mitral valve area (MVA) (0.95 +/- 0.24 vs 0.81 +/- 0.15 cm2, p < 0.05) larger in group A. Symptoms graded according to the New York Heart Association functional classification system were similar in both groups before PTMC. After the procedure, final MVA (1.79 +/- 0.69 vs 1.40 +/- 0.50 cm2, p < 0.05) was larger and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (32 +/- 9 vs 39 +/- 7 mmHg, p < 0.01) lower in group A. Mitral regurgitation > or = 3-grade tended to complicate more frequently (3 vs 20%, NS) in group B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)