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F Ofosu

Publications and source records attributed to F Ofosu.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Respective role of antithrombin III and heparin cofactor II in the in vitro anticoagulant effect of heparin and of various sulphated polysaccharides.

The in vitro anticoagulant effects of standard heparin (SH) and of seven other sulphated polysaccharides (SPS) were investigated by measuring activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) prolongation of normal plasma and of plasmas selectively depleted of antithrombin III (AT III), of heparin cofactor II (HC II) and of both heparin cofactors. This allowed the determination of the relative contribution of each of the two heparin cofactors to the SPS anticoagulant effect. The SPS varied in their relative activities as catalysts of thrombin inhibition by purified AT III or HC II. The anticoagulant activities of heparin and dermatan sulphate were primarily attributable to their ability to enhance thrombin inhibition by AT III and HC II respectively. Heparin had an additional minor anticoagulant activity which was independent of both AT III and HC II. Pentosan polysulphate, high molecular weight dextran sulphate, heparin with low affinity for AT III and a sulphated heparin derivative had weaker anticoagulant activities in normal plasma than standard heparin. The anticoagulant activities of these last four SPS in plasma depleted of both AT III and HC II were similar to their respective activities in normal plasma. This suggests that these SPS act by directly preventing thrombin generation rather than by enhancing thrombin inhibition.

Antithrombin III↗

Cephalosporin-induced hypoprothrombinemia: is the N-methylthiotetrazole side chain the culprit?

The reported high incidence of vitamin-K-reversible hypoprothrombinemia associated with the new beta-lactamase-stable cephalosporins prompted us to evaluate the effect on hemostasis of three cephalosporins (cefamandole, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime) in 30 patients with serious infections. Cefamandole and ceftriaxone, both containing a sulfhydryl group, induced a significant and similar prolongation of prothrombin time and decrease in factor VII activity. Ceftazidime, in contrast, had no effect on these two parameters.

Azoles↗

Rationale behind the development of low molecular weight heparin derivatives.

There is now considerable evidence that the antithrombotic and the hemorrhagic effects of heparin can be dissociated by using low molecular weight heparins and by using heparin with low affinity to AT III. The findings with low-affinity heparin suggest that hemorrhage is contributed to by heparin properties that are independent of AT III binding and thus of their major anticoagulant effect. The current evidence supports the suggestion that the hemorrhagic effect of heparin is contributed to by a reversible platelet functional defect that is relatively less important than its AT III dependent anticoagulant effect for preventing experimental venous thrombosis. Whether these promising results in animals also apply to human thromboembolism disease will require careful evaluation by suitably designed clinical trials.

Animals↗

The relative importance of thrombin inhibition and factor Xa inhibition to the antithrombotic effects of heparin.

The relative importance of antithrombin and anti-factor Xa activities of heparin fractions required to achieve optimal antithrombotic effects is unknown. To study this, we measured the effects of standard heparin, an octasaccharide heparin fraction (anti-factor Xa activity only), and dermatan sulfate (antithrombin activity only) on the prevention of thrombosis and related this to their anticoagulant effects in vivo in rabbits. Thrombosis was measured as the incorporation of 125I-fibrinogen into tissue thromboplastin-induced thrombi using a Wessler-type model. Ex vivo changes in thrombin clotting time (TCT) were used as an index of antithrombin activity, and a chromogenic anti-factor Xa assay was used to measure anti-factor Xa activity. In addition, the ability of the three sulfated polysaccharides to simultaneously inhibit the generation of thrombin activity and to enhance the inactivation of the factor Xa added to initiate thrombin generation in plasma was determined. Standard heparin, in a dose of 10 anti-factor Xa U/kg, inhibited thrombus formation by 90%, prolonged the TCT by two seconds, and resulted in an anti-factor Xa level of 0.32 U/mL. The octasaccharide heparin fraction, in a dose of 10 anti-factor Xa U/kg, inhibited thrombus formation by 41%, had no effect on the TCT, and resulted in an anti-factor Xa level of 0.28 U/mL. Higher doses of the octasaccharide resulted in a further increase in the anti-factor Xa levels but had no further effect on thrombus formation. Dermatan sulfate, in a dose of 500 micrograms/kg, inhibited thrombus formation by 95%, but had no affect on the TCT. These results indicate that the antithrombotic effect achieved by inhibiting factor Xa is limited and that better antithrombotic effects are achieved by heparin or heparin-like substances capable of influencing the inactivation and/or the generation of thrombin.

Animals↗

Immunodepletion of human plasma factor VIII.

Affinity chromatography of human cryosupernatants on anti-human factor VIII-Sepharose yielded a plasma devoid of detectable factor VIIIC, VIIIR:Ag, and VIIIR:WF activities. This plasma was indistinguishable from severe congenital hemophilic plasma when used as substrate in factor VIII coagulant assays.

Absorption↗

Mucin degradation in the intestine.

Rat intestinal mucin was labelled biologically by intraperitoneal injection of radioactive amino acids and monosaccharides 3--6 h prior to killing, followed by isolation and purification of the mucin from mucosal scrapings. The labelled product was then introduced into intestinal segments of rats under ether anesthesia for periods up to 3 h, removed by washing and assessed for evidence of degradation. In segments containing the pancreatic ducts the total mucin precipitable by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide fell from 80% to 5% in 3 h. At 3 h, chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and Sepharose 4B revealed multiple products, including very small molecular weight fragments deficient in carbohydrate label. With the introduction of neomycin sulfate into the segments to reduce bacterial growth, only two products were found, one corresponding in size to the original mucin and one somewhat smaller, although still in excess of 200,000 daltons. These products occurred independently of the presence of the pancreatic ducts in the segments, and in chronically pancreatectomized rats. The smaller product could not be produced by incubation with trypsin or elastase. Both products were altered antigenically as compared with the original mucin. Both products also retained the same ratio of carbohydrate and protein label as the original. It is concluded that mucins undergo early degradative changes in the intestine which do not involve deglycosylation but which involve partial loss of antigenicity and a fall in molecular weight. The pancreas is not responsible for these changes.

Animals↗