The effects of remote ischaemic preconditioning on coronary artery function in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a cardioprotective intervention invoking intermittent periods of ischaemia in a tissue or organ remote from the heart. The mechanisms of this effect are incompletely understood. We hypothesised that RIPC might enhance coronary vasodilatation by an endothelium-dependent mechanism. METHODS: We performed a prospective, randomised, sham-controlled, blinded clinical trial. Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing elective invasive management were prospectively enrolled, and randomised to RIPC or sham (1:1) prior to angiography. Endothelial-dependent vasodilator function was assessed in a non-target coronary artery with intracoronary infusion of incremental acetylcholine doses (10-6, 10-5, 10-4mol/l). Venous blood was sampled pre- and post-RIPC or sham, and analysed for circulating markers of endothelial function. Coronary luminal diameter was assessed by quantitative coronary angiography. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in the mean percentage change in coronary luminal diameter following the maximal acetylcholine dose (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02666235). RESULTS: 75 patients were enrolled. Following angiography, 60 patients (mean±SD age 57.5±8.5years; 80% male) were eligible and completed the protocol (n=30 RIPC, n=30 sham). The mean percentage change in coronary luminal diameter was -13.3±22.3% and -2.0±17.2% in the sham and RIPC groups respectively (difference 11.32%, 95%CI: 1.2- 21.4, p=0.032). This remained significant when age and sex were included as covariates (difference 11.01%, 95%CI: 1.01- 21.0, p=0.035). There were no between-group differences in endothelial-independent vasodilation, ECG parameters or circulating markers of endothelial function. CONCLUSIONS: RIPC attenuates the extent of vasoconstriction induced by intracoronary acetylcholine infusion. This endothelium-dependent mechanism may contribute to the cardioprotective effects of RIPC.

Hyperglycemia and arterial disease.

Clinical and autopsy evidence support the increased risk of atherosclerotic disease in diabetes mellitus (DM). However, mechanisms other than arterial occlusion may also contribute to clinical syndromes often assumed to be atherosclerotic in origin. There is considerable geographical variability in the frequency of arterial disease in the diabetic. Glucose intolerance short of unequivocal DM is found in some (though not all) populations to carry increased atherosclerotic risk. Morbidity and mortality data suggest that women are particularly vulnerable (as with DM). The Whitehall prospective study of cardiovascular mortality shows that risk does not rise smoothly with increasing degrees of glucose intolerance but that it doubles sharply at the 95th percentile of the 2-h post-glucose blood sugar distribution.

Improved purification of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Ascaris suum body wall muscle and characterization of PDHa kinase activity.

An improved purification scheme for the isolation of the Ascaris suum pyruvate dehydrogenase complex directly from body wall muscle has been developed which yields a fully activated pyruvate dehydrogenase complex with substantial PDHa kinase activity. The apparent Km for coenzyme A (CoA) is much lower than previously reported and can only be accurately measured in the presence of a CoA-regenerating system. The alpha-pyruvate dehydrogenase subunit of the ascarid complex is unique and its migration on sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gels is altered after phosphorylation. PDHa kinase activity is inhibited by ADP, thiamine pyrophosphate, and physiological levels of pyruvate and propionate. In contrast, PDHa kinase activity is stimulated by elevated NADH/NAD+ and acetyl CoA/CoA ratios, although it appears that the NADH/NAD+ ratios required for half-maximal stimulation are more than an order of magnitude greater than those reported for mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes.

Accuracy and implications of a reported family history of glaucoma: experience from the Glaucoma Inheritance Study in Tasmania.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the prevalence of previously undiagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) within 5 large POAG pedigrees and to evaluate the reliability of a reported family history of glaucoma within these pedigrees. METHODS: The Glaucoma Inheritance Study in Tasmania (GIST) identified several large adult POAG pedigrees. Intraocular pressure (IOP), optic disc stereophotography, and automated perimetry were performed on all adult pedigree members. Participants were classified as normal (IOP <22 mm Hg and normal optic disc and field); glaucoma suspect (normal field, but an IOP >/=22 mm Hg and/or suspicious optic disc); or POAG (field defect and glaucomatous optic disc). Some individuals with POAG had been previously diagnosed by their local ophthalmologist; others were diagnosed as a result of the GIST project. Family members with a prior diagnosis of POAG were asked to report if they were aware of any relatives with POAG. This reported family history was then directly compared with the actual pedigree (before the diagnosis of new cases) to calculate agreement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The rate of glaucoma in pedigrees and percentage of previously diagnosed glaucoma cases who were aware of the positive family history of POAG. RESULTS: Four hundred forty-two subjects (mean age, 54 years [range, 13-97 years]) from 5 pedigrees were examined: 316 subjects (71%) were normal, 47 (11%) were previously diagnosed with POAG, and 8 (2%) were previously diagnosed glaucoma suspects; 30 cases (7%) of POAG and 41 suspects (9%) were newly diagnosed as a direct result of the GIST examination. Of the 47 previously diagnosed POAG cases, 41 were questioned about their prior knowledge of any family history and 11 (27%) were unaware of their family history of POAG. CONCLUSIONS: Examination of all adult subjects from POAG families yields new cases. Even in large POAG pedigrees, 27% of previously diagnosed POAG patients were unaware of their positive family history. These findings suggest that a higher percentage of adult POAG may be inherited than hitherto reported. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118:900-904

The 'GIST' score: ranking glaucoma for genetic studies. Glaucoma Inheritance Study of Tasmania.

The 'GIST' score was developed to facilitate linkage analysis of adult-onset primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) pedigrees in the Glaucoma Inheritance Study of Tasmania (GIST). Previous genetic linkage studies on juvenile open angle glaucoma pedigrees have relied upon an analysis of definitely affected individuals using the 'single best diagnosis' convention. Studies of adult-onset POAG have been complicated by limited numbers of unequivocally affected members identified even in very large pedigrees due to the later onset of the disease. Many members of the pedigree may have equivocal clinical features or are too young to show signs of the disease. The 'GIST score' is a numeric value between zero and one where zero is clinical certainty of absence of the disease and one is the definitive diagnosis of POAG. The score is developed by assigning relative weighting to key clinical features which results in a 'pedigee probability' of the diagnosis being present or absent in a member of a pedigree. Ranking of borderline and unaffected glaucoma subjects allows the laboratory more flexibility in the use of the members of the pedigree for linkage analysis. The score is not intended to have clinical usefulness in management of glaucoma.

The problem of overlapping glaucoma families in the Glaucoma Inheritance Study in Tasmania (GIST).

The Glaucoma Inheritance Study in Tasmania (GIST) is a population survey of Australia's island state, Tasmania (population 450,000). Its aim is to find families with autosomal dominant, adult-onset, primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) suitable for genetic linkage analysis. POAG is relatively common, affecting around 3% of the Australian population. By finding the large families with POAG and identifying all the descendants in a captive population, it is possible that there may be overlap of different glaucoma pedigrees. Three of the first thirteen families in the study were composed of overlapping pedigrees. In one GIST family, GTas3, there has been intermarriage with other pedigrees with glaucoma on five occasions. The possibility of multiple genotypes was also reinforced by the inability to determine a single glaucoma phenotype in this family. When finding large families of POAG for linkage analysis, researchers must be aware of the risk of affected individuals inheriting their gene from the alternate parent. Thus, the alternate parents or their families must be examined, especially if the phenotype is atypical for the rest of the family.

Computer analysis of the fetal heart rate.

Computer analysis of the fetal heart rate is a technology of the Information Age commercially available for research and clinical practice. Intelligent systems are engineered with algorithms or neural networks designed to simulate expert knowledge. Automated analysis has provided objective, standardized, and reproducible data used to research fetal heart rate responses in the antepartum and intrapartum setting. Perinatal information systems can integrate FHR analysis and data management.

History and development of fetal heart assessment: a composite.

Methods of assessing the fetal heart remained unchanged for approximately 150 years until the first commercial monitor suitable for clinical practice was sold in 1968. The impact and events of the last 30 to 40 years surrounding fetal heart assessment are revealed in perspectives of the past, present, and near future. Assessment practices have been shaped by the development of biotechnology, unrealistic expectations, interpretation disagreement, consumer response, and the practice and educational resources written by nursing and medicine.

Information technology in maternal/child nursing: past, present, and future.

This issue commemorates the remarkable 25-year span of MCN, a journal born at the dawn of the microcomputer revolution. Key events in computer history and nursing informatics are chronicled, followed with visions of future technologies. A review of the technology literature published in MCN is summarized. Clinical implications include four nursing strategies for integrating electronic technology into practice and a list of online information resources.