fibrin and Heart-Diseases

This paper reviews the current evidence on the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and management of cancer-associated non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE). NBTE is an underdiagnosed condition characterized by sterile valvular vegetations composed of platelets and fibrin which are susceptible to systemic embolization. Cancer is a leading cause of NBTE and should be excluded in NBTE cases without a clear etiology. Malignancies most frequently associated with NBTE are mucin-releasing adenocarcinomas of the lung, ovary, biliary system, pancreas, breast and stomach. NBTE carries a high risk of arterial thromboembolism, while cardiac valvular dysfunction is much less frequent. NBTE appears to be an important underdiagnosed cause of cancer-associated embolic stroke of undetermined source. Characteristics associated with cancer-associated NBTE include elevated D-dimer, visceral infarcts, cerebral infarcts in multiple vascular territories, transcranial doppler microembolic signals, disseminated cancer and adenocarcinoma histology. Transesophageal echocardiography is the diagnostic test of choice, and all suspected cases should be evaluated for the presence of elevated D-dimers and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Long-term anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin should be strongly considered, and surgical intervention is usually not needed. Underlying cancer must be diagnosed swiftly (if previously undiagnosed) and anti-cancer treatment should be initiated as soon as possible. The paucity of data regarding all aspects of NBTE, and the severe clinical consequences of untreated NBTE, are an urgent call for future research.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Anticoagulants; Endocarditis; Endocarditis, Non-Infective; Female; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; Humans; Mucins

This study was an initial phase II trial in humans of molecular magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for improved visualization of thrombi in vessel territories potentially responsible for stroke using a new fibrin-specific contrast agent (EP-2104R). Eleven patients with thrombus in the left ventricle (n = 2), left or right atrium (n = 4), thoracic aorta (n = 4) or carotid artery (n = 1) as verified by an index examination (ultrasound, computed tomograpy, or conventional MR) were enrolled. All MR imaging was performed on 1.5 T whole-body MR-system using an inversion-recovery black-blood gradient-echo sequence. The same sequence was performed before and 2-6 h after low-dose intravenous administration of 4 mumol/kg EP-2104R. Two investigators assessed image quality and signal amplification. Furthermore, contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) between the clot and the blood pool/surrounding soft tissue before and after administration of the contrast agent were compared using Student's t-test. MR imaging and data analysis were successfully completed in 10 patients. No major adverse effects occurred. On enhanced images, thrombi demonstrated high signal amplification, typically at the clot surface, with a significantly increased contrast in comparison to the surrounding blood pool and soft tissue (CNR for clot vs. blood pool, unenhanced and enhanced: 6 +/- 8 and 29 +/- 14; CNR for clot vs. soft tissue, unenhanced and enhanced: 0 +/- 4 and 21 +/- 13; P < 0.01 for both comparisons). EP-2104R allows for molecular MR imaging of thrombi potentially responsible for stroke. High contrast between thrombus and surrounding blood and soft tissues can be achieved with enhanced imaging.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Contrast Media; Female; Fibrin; Gadolinium; Heart Diseases; Humans; Image Enhancement; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Peptides; Pilot Projects; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Stroke; Thrombosis

Imaging with the 99mTc-T2G1s monoclonal antifibrin antibody fragment (Fab') has demonstrated promise in the noninvasive detection of venous thrombi in humans. The purpose of this study was to determine whether chronic arterial thrombi can also be detected by antifibrin antibody imaging.. Eighteen subjects with chronic arterial thrombi were studied with planar and tomographic imaging at 0 to 24 hr postinjection of 99mTc-labeled T2G1s monoclonal antifibrin antibody fragment. Imaging with 111In-labeled platelets was also performed. Images were visually graded by two observers as 0, 1, 2 or 3 (no, faint, moderate or marked) uptake, and quantitative analysis of tomographic images was done in 13 subjects.. On visual analysis of planar images, 44% (8 of 18) of antifibrin patient studies were 1.0 or more and 66% (10 of 18) were judged negative compared with 94% (15 of 16) of platelet patient studies judged 1.0 or more and 6% (1 of 16) judged as negative (p < 0.01). Visual analysis of tomographic images was similar, with 61% (11 of 18) of antifibrin studies graded 1.0 or more compared with 100% (17 of 17) of platelet studies (p < 0.01). The tomographic target-to-background ratio was higher with platelets than with antifibrin antibody (2.5 +/- 1.4 versus 1.8 +/- 1.0, p < 0.05).. In the large-vessel chronic arterial thrombi studied, the results of 99mTc-labeled monoclonal T2G1s antifibrin Fab' imaging were positive in only one-half of the patients studied, significantly less than the findings with platelet imaging, which were positive in all subjects. The higher rate of positive images with labeled platelets than with labeled antifibrin antibodies may be largely due to thrombus age, with continued platelet deposition but little active fibrin deposition.

Topics: Aged; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; Blood Platelets; Chronic Disease; Fibrin; Graft Occlusion, Vascular; Heart Diseases; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Indium Radioisotopes; Male; Radioimmunodetection; Technetium; Thrombosis

Occlusion of chest drainage tubes by thrombus is not uncommon after open heart operations. It has been suggested that by coating the tube with phosphatidylcholine (PC), the most prominent phospholipid in the erythrocytes outer membrane, it may be possible to overcome the blood-material interaction responsible for thrombus formation. To test this hypothesis 102 patients (75 males; mean age, 57 +/- 10 years) were randomly allocated to receive either PC-coated or noncoated 32F chest drainage tubes. Preoperative status, type and length of operation, and duration of drainage were similar in the two groups as was postoperative blood loss. Patients receiving PC-coated tubes, however, had less residual blood clot in the tube after removal (0.7 +/- 0.1 versus 3.1 +/- 0.3 g; p < 0.001), a reduced incidence of pericardial effusions (17.6% versus 41.2%; p < 0.01), fewer postoperative supraventricular arrhythmias (2 of 51 versus 10 of 51; p < 0.002), and a shorter hospital stay (8.4 +/- 0.3 versus 9.7 +/- 0.5 days; p < 0.05). Late cardiac tamponade developed in 2 patients in the noncoated group 6 and 10 days postoperatively, which required reexploration. The data show that PC-coated chest drainage tubes are less susceptible to occlusion by thrombus and their use is associated with a significant reduction in postoperative morbidity.

Topics: Aged; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Biocompatible Materials; Blood Platelets; Chest Tubes; Drainage; Erythrocytes; Female; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Humans; Incidence; Length of Stay; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Middle Aged; Pericardial Effusion; Phosphatidylcholines; Postoperative Care; Postoperative Complications; Prospective Studies; Surface Properties

Atrial fibrillation (AF), a risk factor for stroke and systemic thromboembolism, is associated with unfavorable fibrin clot properties and increased thrombus formation in peripheral blood. The left atrial appendage (LAA) is known to be the primary site of thrombus formation.. We investigated the relative differences in plasma fibrin clot features including plasma fibrin clot permeability (K. Sixteen patients with nonvalvular AF who stopped oral anticoagulant therapy at least 2 days before a LARIAT procedure participated in a single-center prospective study. We measured fibrinogen and plasminogen levels along with K. LAA clot porosity was reduced by 16.2% compared to peripheral blood (p = 0.026), also after adjustment for fibrinogen levels (p = 0.038). K. Patients with AF are characterised by a local prothrombotic state as reflected by formation of compact fibrin clots in the LAA compared to peripheral blood, which may contribute to LAA thrombus formation and device-related thrombi.

Topics: Aged; Atrial Appendage; Atrial Fibrillation; Blood Coagulation Factors; Cohort Studies; Female; Fibrin; Fibrin Clot Lysis Time; Heart Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Thrombosis

It is unclear whether clot composition analysis is helpful to predict a stroke mechanism in acute large vessel occlusion. In addition, the relationship between early vessel signs on imaging studies and clot compositions has been poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between clot composition and stroke etiology following mechanical thrombectomy and to investigate the effect of varied clot compositions on gradient-echo MR imaging of clots.. Histopathologic analysis of retrieved clots from 37 patients with acute MCA occlusion was performed. Patients underwent gradient-echo imaging before endovascular therapy. Retrieved clots underwent semiquantitative proportion analysis to quantify red blood cells, fibrin, platelets, and white blood cells by area. Correlations between clot compositions and stroke subtypes and susceptibility vessel signs on gradient-echo imaging were assessed.. Stroke etiology was classified as cardioembolism in 22 patients (59.4%), large-artery atherosclerosis in 8 (21.6%), and undetermined in 7 (18.9%). The clots from cardioembolism had a significantly higher proportion of red blood cells (37.8% versus 16.9%, P = .031) and a lower proportion of fibrin (32.3% versus 48.5%, P = .044) compared with those from large-artery atherosclerosis. The proportion of red blood cells was significantly higher in clots with a susceptibility vessel sign than in those without it (48.0% versus 1.9%, P < .001), whereas the proportions of fibrin (26.4% versus 57.0%, P < .001) and platelets (22.6% versus 36.9%, P = .011) were significantly higher in clots without a susceptibility vessel sign than those with it.. The histologic composition of clots retrieved from cerebral arteries in patients with acute stroke differs between those with cardioembolism and large-artery atherosclerosis. In addition, a susceptibility vessel sign on gradient-echo imaging is strongly associated with a high proportion of red blood cells and a low proportion of fibrin and platelets in retrieved clots.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atherosclerosis; Blood Platelets; Erythrocytes; Female; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Humans; Intracranial Embolism; Leukocytes; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Stroke

One of the complications related to central venous catheters is the so-called "fibrin sheath or sleeve", the persistence of this structure after central venous catheter removal is uncommon, especially within a cardiac chamber. A neonate with symptoms of infection and portal vein thrombosis with suspected umbilical catheter fragment retained in right atrium was consulted for possible removal by catheterization. Prior to the procedure, the echocardiography findings guided us to the diagnosis of persistent fibrin sheath. The procedure was discontinued and the patient received anticoagulant therapy and antibiotics. In our case, echocardiography was useful in confirming the diagnosis of retained fibrin sheath and rule out the presence of residual central venous catheter after its removal, thereby avoiding an unnecessary and invasive procedure.

Topics: Central Venous Catheters; Female; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Ultrasonography

Cell therapy approaches for biologic cardiac repair hold great promises, although basic fundamental issues remain poorly understood. In the present study we examined the effects of timing and routes of administration of bone marrow cells (BMC) post-myocardial infarction (MI) and the efficacy of an injectable biopolymer scaffold to improve cardiac cell retention and function.. (99m)Tc-labeled BMC (6 x 10(6) cells) were injected by 4 different routes in adult rats: intravenous (IV), left ventricular cavity (LV), left ventricular cavity with temporal aorta occlusion (LV(+)) to mimic coronary injection, and intramyocardial (IM). The injections were performed 1, 2, 3, or 7 days post-MI and cell retention was estimated by gamma-emission counting of the organs excised 24 hs after cell injection. IM injection improved cell retention and attenuated cardiac dysfunction, whereas IV, LV or LV* routes were somewhat inefficient (<1%). Cardiac BMC retention was not influenced by timing except for the IM injection that showed greater cell retention at 7 (16%) vs. 1, 2 or 3 (average of 7%) days post-MI. Cardiac cell retention was further improved by an injectable fibrin scaffold at day 3 post-MI (17 vs. 7%), even though morphometric and function parameters evaluated 4 weeks later displayed similar improvements.. These results show that cells injected post-MI display comparable tissue distribution profile regardless of the route of injection and that there is no time effect for cardiac cell accumulation for injections performed 1 to 3 days post-MI. As expected the IM injection is the most efficient for cardiac cell retention, it can be further improved by co-injection with a fibrin scaffold and it significantly attenuates cardiac dysfunction evaluated 4 weeks post myocardial infarction. These pharmacokinetic data obtained under similar experimental conditions are essential for further development of these novel approaches.

Topics: Animals; Biopolymers; Bone Marrow Cells; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Hemodynamics; Humans; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Technetium; Time Factors

Cardiac tumors other than myxomas are rare. We report a series of 10 intracavitary polypoid myofibroblastic proliferations in children and young adults emphasizing gross, histologic, and clinical features. There were 6 females and 4 males, with a mean age of 10 years (range 5 wk to 21 y). All lesions were endocardial-based, located in the right atrium (1), right ventricular inflow/tricuspid valve (1), right ventricular outflow (3), mitral valve (3), aortic valve/left coronary sinus (1), and left ventricular free wall (1). Symptoms included shortness of breath or dyspnea (3), syncope (2), chest pain (1), transient ischemic attacks (1), and fever with myalgias (1). All tumors were surgical resections, except 1 tumor that resulted in sudden coronary death and that was diagnosed at autopsy, and 1 tumor that embolized into the coronary artery and was treated by cardiac transplant. Two tumors, present in the aortic and mitral valves, respectively, caused cardiac ischemia. The tumors were polypoid or filiform and histologically resembled inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors of extracardiac sites, with loose spindle cell growth with sparse inflammation. Although there were frequent collagen bundles interspersed among the tumor cells, there were no large areas of dense fibrosis. Surface fibrin was present on the polypoid projections in 7 cases. Symptoms resulted from prolapse into coronary ostia or embolization, but no patient developed metastasis. Long-term follow-up in 2 patients demonstrated no evidence of disease or recurrence. Although metastatic potential was not identified, these tumors may result in serious symptoms, including myocardial infarct, syncope, and sudden death. These cardiac myofibroblastic tumors are readily distinguished from other endocardial-based cardiac tumors, including papillary fibroelastoma and myxoma, which may present clinically in the same manner.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Biomarkers; Child; Child, Preschool; Death, Sudden; Female; Fibrin; Granuloma, Plasma Cell; Heart Diseases; Humans; Infant; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Retrospective Studies; Syncope

To investigate the latest development of tissue engineered regenerative medicine in industrialization, with the intention to direct work in practical area.. A complete insight of regenerative medicine in industrialization was obtained through referring to update publications, visiting related websites, as well as learning from practical experience.. The aerial view of the future of regenerative medicine was got based on knowledge of four different tissue engineering projects.. All present efforts should be devoted to regenerative medicine area meeting the industrialized trends.

Topics: Animals; Biocompatible Materials; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Chitosan; Diabetes Mellitus; Fibrin; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Heart Diseases; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Mice; Regenerative Medicine; Spinal Injuries; Stem Cell Transplantation; Stem Cells; Tissue Engineering

Adult angiogenesis, associated with pathologic conditions, is often accompanied by the formation of a fibrinous exudate. This temporary matrix consists mainly of fibrin but is intermingled with plasma proteins and collagen fibers. The formation of capillary structures in a fibrinous matrix in vivo was mimicked by an in vitro model, in which human microvascular endothelial cells (hMVECs) seeded on top of a fibrin-10% collagen matrix form capillarylike tubular structures after stimulation with basic fibroblast growth factor/tumor necrosis factor alpha (bFGF/TNF-alpha) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/TNF-alpha. In the fibrin-collagen matrix the metalloproteinase inhibitor BB94 inhibited tubule formation by 70% to 80%. Simultaneous inhibition of plasmin and metalloproteinases by aprotinin and BB94 caused a nearly complete inhibition of tubule formation. Adenoviral transduction of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-3 into endothelial cells revealed that TIMP-3 markedly inhibited angiogenesis, whereas TIMP-1 had only a minor effect. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), MMP-2, and membrane-type 1 (MT1)-MMP, whereas MMP-9 was absent. The endothelial production of these MMPs was confirmed by antigen assays and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MT1-MMP mRNA was markedly increased in endothelial cells under conditions that induced tubular structures. The presence of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MT1-MMP was also demonstrated in vivo in the newly formed vessels of a recanalized arterial mural thrombus. These data suggest that MMPs, in particular MT-MMPs, play a pivotal role in the formation of capillarylike tubular structures in a collagen-containing fibrin matrix in vitro and may be involved in angiogenesis in a fibrinous exudate in vivo.

Topics: Adenoviridae; Aprotinin; Cells, Cultured; Collagen; Culture Media; Defective Viruses; Drug Synergism; Endothelial Growth Factors; Endothelium, Vascular; Fibrin; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; Genetic Vectors; Heart Diseases; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Lymphokines; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; Metalloendopeptidases; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Phenylalanine; Protease Inhibitors; Thiophenes; Thrombosis; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3; Transduction, Genetic; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

We report the first case of cleft palate in a newborn male gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).. The full-term infant was born to clinically healthy, wild-caught parents and survived 5 days. Autopsy disclosed a unilateral cleft palate, moderate scalp hemorrhage (birth versus postnatal trauma), cerebral edema, and a sterile fibrin vegetation in the heart. The palate was also shorter and narrower than expected, and the biorbital breadth was reduced; otherwise, growth and development appeared normal. Standard cranial and intraoral radiographs and three-dimensional reconstructions of computerized tomographic (CT) scans provided thorough and noninvasive methods of studying the craniofacial complex and extracranial skeleton. By this technique, major findings were: intact premaxilla, interpremaxillary, and premaxillary/maxillary sutures; intramaxillary cleft with ipsilateral choanal atresia; mildly asymmetric inferior turbinates; and normal nasal septum and vomer.. Except for choanal atresia, cleft palate was not associated with other major craniofacial or extracranial anomalies in this case. Choanal atresia has been observed at times with cleft palate, but to our knowledge, the association has not been reported in nonhuman primates. Cleft palate, with or without cleft lip, has been recognized in a variety of nonhuman primates, including the lemur, marmoset, tamarin, squirrel monkey, and macaque. Some occurrences are spontaneous, while others are syndromic and/or arise from genetic or teratogenic influences. Each mode of presentation is poorly understood in nonhuman primates, but in this case, the absence of relevant environmental or parental history suggests that the occurrence was spontaneous. Anatomic studies of nonhuman primates are particularly valuable when they involve endangered species and will hopefully increase our understanding of the pathogenesis and etiology of congenital disorders, as well as other relationships between nonhuman primates and humans.

Topics: Animals; Ape Diseases; Brain Edema; Cephalometry; Choanal Atresia; Cleft Palate; Cranial Sutures; Facial Bones; Fibrin; Gorilla gorilla; Heart Diseases; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Male; Maxilla; Nasal Septum; Orbit; Palate; Scalp; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Turbinates

During episodes of dental bacteremia, viridans group streptococci encounter platelets. Among these microorganisms, certain Streptococcus sanguis induce human and rabbit platelets to aggregate in vitro. In experimental rabbits, circulating streptococci induced platelets to aggregate, triggering the accumulation of platelets and fibrin into the heart valve vegetations of endocarditis. At necropsy, affected rabbit hearts showed ischemic areas. We therefore hypothesized that circulating S. sanguis might cause coronary thrombosis and signs of myocardial infarction (MI). Signs of MI were monitored in rabbits after infusion with platelet-aggregating doses of 4 to 40 x 10(9) cells of S. sanguis 133-79. Infusion resulted in dose-dependent changes in electrocardiograms, blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac contractility. These changes were consistent with the occurrence of MI. Platelets isolated from hyperlipidemic rabbits showed an accelerated in vitro aggregation response to strain 133-79. Cultured from immunosuppressed children with septic shock and signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation, more than 60% of isolates of viridans streptococci induced platelet aggregation when tested in vitro. The data are consistent with a thrombogenic role for S. sanguis in human disease, contributing to the development of the vegetative lesion in infective endocarditis and a thrombotic mechanism to explain the additional contributed risk of periodontitis to MI.

Topics: Animals; Bacteremia; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Blood Platelets; Blood Pressure; Cells, Cultured; Child; Coronary Thrombosis; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Electrocardiography; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Heart Rate; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Immunocompromised Host; Mouth; Myocardial Contraction; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Ischemia; Periodontitis; Platelet Aggregation; Rabbits; Shock, Septic; Streptococcus sanguis; Thrombosis

Topics: Animals; Anticoagulants; Antithrombin III; Blood Loss, Surgical; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Dermatan Sulfate; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Heparin; Heparin Cofactor II; Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis; Sternum; Surface Properties; Swine; Thoracotomy; Thrombin; Thrombosis; Whole Blood Coagulation Time

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood Platelets; Blood Volume; Cell Adhesion; Cellulose; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Heparin; Humans; Leukocytes; Male; Membranes, Artificial; Methylmethacrylates; Renal Dialysis; Thrombosis

Among the serious complications encountered with long-term, indwelling Silastic central venous catheters are catheter-induced intravascular thrombi. These thrombi are usually treated by removal of the catheter to prevent thrombus propagation, embolization, or infection. We treated ten patients with urokinase infusion who had experienced 12 incidents of induced intravascular thrombi. Catheter phlebography and two-dimensional echocardiography were used for diagnosis and follow-up. Eleven of the 12 episodes were treated successfully, with complete dissolution of the thrombus. One patient with a calcific thrombus had only partial clot lysis and required catheter removal. By utilizing urokinase infusion to treat Silastic catheter-induced intravascular thrombi, nine of ten central venous catheters were preserved and the possible need for thrombectomy was averted. No serious complications were encountered. In our experience, urokinase therapy has been an effective and safe method for treating Silastic catheter-induced intravascular thrombi.

Topics: Catheters, Indwelling; Child, Preschool; Echocardiography; Fibrin; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Diseases; Humans; Infant; Infusions, Parenteral; Phlebography; Silicone Elastomers; Thrombophlebitis; Thrombosis; Time Factors; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Eighteen percent of heart specimens with isolated ventricular septal defect also had a floppy mitral valve. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of floppy mitral valve in the three age groups considered (less than 1 year, 1 to 16 years and 17 to 91 years). In no patient was a floppy mitral valve considered to be the cause of death. Complications of floppy mitral valve (ruptured chordae tendineae, bacterial endocarditis, mitral regurgitation and fibrin deposits at the mitral valve-left atrial angle) occurred at approximately the same frequency as that reported in autopsy studies of isolated floppy mitral valve. In the specimens with floppy mitral valve and ventricular septal defect, 63% also had floppiness of the tricuspid valve, 16% of the pulmonary valve and 5% of the aortic valve. The anatomic basis for floppy mitral valve was considered to be spongiosal invasion and disruption of the fibrosa of the valve leaflet. In this study, spongiosal invasion of the fibrosa was fully developed by 3 months of age and there was no evidence that the incidence or severity of spongiosal invasion increased between the ages of 3 months and 88 years. These data suggest that the floppy mitral valve is a congenital lesion that reaches full anatomic expression in infancy. No evidence was found that ventricular septal defect and floppy mitral valve share a common etiology.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Chordae Tendineae; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Female; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve; Mitral Valve Insufficiency; Mitral Valve Prolapse; Rupture, Spontaneous

The authors examined serial sections of the myocardium of rats sacrificed at periods of from 1 to 24 hours after adrenalin administration. The results of histoenzymatic reaction to succinic dehydrogenase (a test for cell injury) were compared with the data obtained in fibrin detection by Coons' method. Plasmorrhagia into the irreversibly injured muscle cells had a characteristic appearance in the test with nitro-BT; there proved to be no fibrin in the fibers with fatty dystrophy marked by macrogranular depositions of formazan. A supposition was put forward on different pathogenesis of the reversible and irreversible injuries of the myocardium caused by adrenalin administration.

Topics: Animals; Epinephrine; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Histocytochemistry; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Myocardium; Rats; Succinate Dehydrogenase

The effects of various combinations of streptokinase-induced hyperfibrinolysis, electric shock, myocardial ischemia, and ventricular fibrillation on cat pericardial and epcardial fibrinolytic activity were studied. Streptokinase alone or electric shock alone slightly increased the periepicardial fibrinolytic activity but epicardial rebleeding did not occur. However, streptokinase infusions followed by electric shock and/or myocardial ischemia and/or ventricular fibrillation significantly incrased the periepicardial fibrinolytic activity and rebleeding of the epicardium occurred. Topical application of the fibrinolytic inhibitor epsilonaminocaproic acid (EACA) prevented the epicardial rebleeding.

Topics: Aminocaproates; Animals; Blood Coagulation; Blood Coagulation Tests; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Cats; Electric Stimulation; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Fibrinolysis; Heart Diseases; Hemorrhage; Injections, Intravenous; Ischemia; Pericardium; Postoperative Complications; Streptokinase; Ventricular Fibrillation

Topics: Adult; Aged; Alpha-Globulins; Arm; Constriction; Female; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Fibrinolysis; Heart Defects, Congenital; Heart Diseases; Heart Failure; Humans; Macroglobulins; Male; Middle Aged; Plasminogen; Serum Globulins; Trypsin Inhibitors; Veins

Topics: Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Humans; Immunochemistry; In Vitro Techniques; Specimen Handling

Topics: Carcinoid Tumor; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Ceruloplasmin; Fibrin; Fluorescent Dyes; Heart Diseases; Humans; Oxidation-Reduction; Serotonin

Topics: Aorta; Aorta, Thoracic; Aortic Diseases; Disease; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Humans; Thrombosis

Topics: Fibrin; Heart; Heart Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Heparin; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Thrombosis

Topics: Blood Coagulation; Cardiovascular Abnormalities; Fibrin; Heart Diseases; Heparin; Hypoxia