PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Coady

Publications and source records attributed to A Coady.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Inflammation and matrix metalloproteinases in the enlarging abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The risk of rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm increases with aortic diameter. To obtain insight into the pathological processes associated with the vascular remodeling that accompanies aortic dilatation, we compared the histological features and the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in biopsies from 21 small (4.0 to 5.5 cm in diameter) and 45 larger abdominal aortic aneurysms. The histological feature most clearly associated with enlarging aneurysm diameter was a higher density of inflammatory cells in the adventitia, P = .018. This inflammation was nonspecific, principally macrophages and B lymphocytes. Fibrosis of the adventitia provided compensatory thickening of the aortic wall as the aneurysm diameter increased. A combination of zymography and immunoblotting identified gelatinase A (MMP-2) as the principal metallogelatinase in small aneurysms, whereas zymography indicated an increasing activity of gelatinase B (MMP-9) in large aneurysms. Homogenates prepared from both small and large aneurysms had similar total activity against gelatin or type IV collagen. However, the concentration of gelatinase A, determined by immunoassay, was highest for small aneurysms: median concentrations, 385, 244, and 166 ng/mg protein for small aneurysms, large aneurysms, and atherosclerotic aorta, respectively. Immunolocalization studies indicated that gelatinase A was concentrated along fibrous tissue of both the acellular media and the atherosclerotic plaque. The recruitment of inflammatory cells into the adventitia, with subsequent elaboration of metalloproteinases, including gelatinase B, may contribute to the rapid growth and rupture of larger aneurysms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Is thickening of the basal lamina in the saphenous vein a hallmark of smoking?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether smoking causes ultrastructural changes in the intima of the proximal saphenous vein. DESIGN: Proximal saphenous veins from heavy smokers and non-smokers were examined with scanning and transmission electron microscopy to determine changes in surface ultrastructure, in the intercellular junction, and in the thickness of the basal lamina. Immunogold labelling was used to identify specific components of the endothelial basal lamina. MATERIAL: Vein specimens were obtained from patients undergoing varicose vein surgery (12 patients) or distal bypass surgery (eight patients). MAIN RESULTS: The only ultrastructural change that discriminated between specimens was thickening of the endothelial basal lamina. All specimens with a thickened basal lamina were from heavy smokers. Immunogold labelling studies showed that the thickened basal lamina contained specific accumulations of fibronectin but not heparan sulphate proteoglycans, type IV collagen, or laminin. CONCLUSIONS: Two ultrastructural characteristics are associated with smoking: thickening of the endothelial basal lamina and a specific accumulation of fibronectin in the thickened basal lamina. Such abnormalities in the saphenous veins from smokers may contribute to the poorer performance of these veins as bypass conduits.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Follow-up of patients with aspirated breast cysts is necessary.

A review was conducted of 401 women who presented with breast lumps that proved to be cysts by yielding fluid on aspiration. The aim was to determine the proportion of patients with cancers that masqueraded as cysts and to establish whether short-term follow-up was necessary. After the first visit, six patients had biopsies because of a residual mass or a bloodstained aspirate. Of these patients, two were found to have cancer. After the follow-up visit, 20 further biopsies were carried out for presence of a mass, bloodstained fluid, or recurrent fluid, and two more cancers were diagnosed. Of the four patients with malignancy, only one had an intracystic carcinoma, two had necrotic grade 3 ductal carcinomas, and one had a malignant phyllode tumor. These findings underline the value of a single return visit after cyst aspiration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1966

Kwashiorkor.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child, Preschool↗