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Biomedical subjects

J M Klausner

Publications and source records attributed to J M Klausner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Malignant melanoma in different ethnic groups in Israel. Incidence and biologic behavior.

BACKGROUND: The Jewish population of Israel is divided into two ethnic groups: Ashkenazic Jews (AJ) who immigrated from Europe and are fair-skinned, and Sephardic Jews (SJ) who immigrated from the Orient and Africa and who are dark-skinned. The biologic behavior of malignant melanoma (MM) in these two groups has not been investigated. METHODS: Three hundred forty-eight of 380 patients with MM, who could be accurately grouped ethnically, constitute this study group. The gender, site and depth of primary tumor, metastatic involvement and survival analysis, including univariate analysis for level of invasion, were examined. RESULTS: Of 348 patients with MM, 285 were AJ and 63 were SJ. The female:male ratio was 2:1 and 0.9:1, for AJ and SJ, respectively (P < 0.05). Lesion site distribution was similar. The lesions were more invasive in SJ, 53% Clark level 4-5 versus 41% in AJ (P < 0.05). The 5-year survival was worse in SJ relative to AJ--50% versus 71% for female patients and 30% versus 62% for male patients--but did not reach statistical significance (NS). The actuarial 10-year survival showed poorer survival for female SJ: 27% versus 67% in female AJ (P < 0.05) and male SJ; 32% versus 65% in male AJ (P < 0.01). For all stage I MM, the actuarial 10-year survival was in male patients 32% versus 79% (P < 0.05), and in female patients, 27% versus 72% (P < 0.05) in SJ and AJ, respectively. For the more invasive lesions (Clark levels 4 and 5), the actuarial 10-year survival was for male patients 19% versus 75% (P < 0.05) and for female patients, 65% versus 67% (NS) in SJ and AJ, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The dark-skinned SJ tend to have MM less than the fair-skinned AJ, but once MM occurs in SJ, it appears to have a more virulent nature.

Female↗

Fecal peritonitis--the effect on anastomotic healing.

The present study evaluates colonic anastomosis healing in the presence of fecal peritonitis in rats. After induction of fecal peritonitis, the animals were treated by surgery alone or with the addition of systemic supportive treatment. It is shown that survival in the latter group was significantly better, while burst strength of anastomoses in surviving animals in both groups was identical. The results suggest that the outcome of fecal peritonitis depends mainly on fluid resuscitation and antimicrobial therapy, but not on primary repair.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Metastases-induced acute pancreatitis: a rare presentation of cancer.

Cancer as the etiology of acute pancreatitis is considered rare. Presented are three patients in whom acute pancreatitis was the first manifestation of malignancy due to primary or metastatic cancer within the pancreas. In one case, metastatic large cell bronchogenic carcinoma was found in the pancreas and in two patients non-Hodgkin's lymphoma confined to the pancreas induced the acute pancreatitis. One of the patients did not survive a severe acute pancreatitis, one died 8 months later due to metastatic lung carcinoma, and the third has been disease-free for the past 18 months following chemotherapy. Several reports described acute pancreatitis secondary to metastasis in the pancreas, mostly small cell lung carcinoma. It seems that the immediate survival of such patients depends on the severity of the pancreatitis. If this is overcome, specific chemotherapy could be beneficial.

Acute Disease↗

Leukocytes mediate acid aspiration-induced multiorgan edema.

BACKGROUND: Acid aspiration leads to lung injury characterized by polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMN) sequestration and edema. This study investigates whether localized acid aspiration leads to activation of circulating PMN and triggers both local and remote PMN sequestration and whether these cells are responsible for increase in pulmonary permeability and systemic organ edema. METHODS: Rats pretreated with intravenous saline solution or rendered neutropenic (nitrogen mustard or antineutrophil serum) underwent tracheostomy and insertion of a cannula into a lung segment. This was followed by instillation of either 0.1 N HCl or saline solution. RESULTS: After 30 minutes leukopenia was noted (2650 white blood cells/mm3) in saline-treated, acid-lavaged rats, and circulating PMN produced H2O2 (20 femtomole dichlorofluorescein/PMN compared with 3 femtomole in control animals (both, p < 0.05). PMN were progressively sequestered in the nonaspirated lung, the heart, and kidney. Permeability and edema developed in the lungs and systemic organs. In neutropenic rats there was a reduction of aspiration-induced thromboxane B2 and leukotriene B4 synthesis (p < 0.05), decrease in lung wet to dry weight and protein level in bronchoalveolar lavage of the aspirated and nonaspirated lungs, and reduction in myeloperoxidase activity in the heart and kidney and in wet to dry weight of these organs (all, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that localized acid aspiration activates circulating neutrophils and promotes their sequestration in the lungs and systemic organs. These cells are largely responsible for the multisystem organ edema.

Animals↗

Oxygen free radicals are required for ischemia-induced leukotriene B4 synthesis and diapedesis.

Hind limb ischemia and reperfusion have been shown to result in high plasma levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) sequestration in the pulmonary microvasculature. This study tests whether LTB4 is derived from PMNs and its role in mediating ischemic plasma-induced diapedesis. Plasma derived from rabbit hind limbs after 3 hours of tourniquet ischemia and 10 minutes of reperfusion (n = 6) showed an increased LTB4 level of 560 pg/ml, higher than sham plasma values of 106 pg/ml (p less than 0.05). Introduction of ischemic plasma in abraded skin chambers placed on the dorsum of normal rabbits (n = 6) led after 3 hours to PMN diapedesis of 1175 PMN/mm3, associated with a further increase in LTB4 levels to 820 pg/ml (both p less than 0.05). In contrast, ischemic plasma derived from neutropenic animals (n = 4; nitrogen mustard, 2 mg/kg; PMNs less than 30/mm3) contained lower levels of LTB4, 160 pg/ml (p less than 0.05). When introduced in skin chambers in normal rabbits (n = 4), this plasma induced accumulations of only 163 PMN/mm3, accompanied by a smaller increase in LTB4 levels in the blister fluid after 3 hours, 397 pg/ml (both p less than 0.05). A correlation was found between LTB4 levels in ischemic plasma and PMN accumulations in blister fluid (r = 0.92; p less than 0.05). Intravenous pretreatment of rabbits (n = 4) used in the blister chamber bioassay with the LT receptor antagonist FPL-55712, 40 micrograms/kg/hr, attenuated diapedesis induced by ischemic and ischemic-neutropenic plasma, 103 and 35 PMN/mm3, respectively (both p less than 0.05). Pretreatment with superoxide dismutase, 1500 units/kg, and catalase, 5000 units/kg, both conjugated to polyethylene glycol (n = 4), prevented ischemic plasma-induced LTB4 synthesis, as well as ischemic plasma-induced diapedesis, 12 PMN/mm3 (p less than 0.05). Finally, pretreatment with allopurinol, 25 mg/kg, was similarly effective in preventing LTB4 synthesis and PMN migration. These data suggest that oxygen free radicals are essential for ischemia-induced PMN synthesis of LTB4 that in turn mediates their diapedesis.

Allopurinol↗

Mast cells and leukotrienes mediate neutrophil sequestration and lung edema after remote ischemia in rodents.

Reperfusion of ischemic hindlimbs leads to leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-dependent lung injury. Pulmonary mast cells are capable of synthesizing LTB4 and are potential mediators of this inflammatory response. This study tests their role in PMN sequestration and pulmonary edema after hindlimb ischemia. Anesthetized, mast cell-sufficient mice (n = 8) or their congeneic mast cell-deficient strain (n = 8) were subjected to 3 hours of hindlimb ischemia. After another 3 hours of reperfusion, plasma LTB4 levels rose to 651 pg/ml, higher than sham ischemic control (n = 8) values of 202 pg/ml (p less than 0.05). At this time there was sequestration of neutrophils in the pulmonary microcirculation (54 PMN/10 high-power fields [HPF]) and an increase in lung wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of 4.4. Both these values were higher (p less than 0.05) than those in sham ischemic animals that showed sequestration of 18 PMN/10 HPF and a lung W/D of 3.1. In contrast, mast cell-deficient mice showed an attenuation of ischemia- and reperfusion-induced rise in plasma LTB4 (507 pg/ml), fewer sequestered neutrophils (34 PMNs/10 HPF), and a reduction in lung W/D to 3.9 (all p less than 0.05). To test the role of lung LTB4 in determining PMN sequestration, rats (n = 78) were subjected to 3 hours of hindlimb ischemia. After 3 hours of reperfusion, plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) LTB4 concentrations rose to 956 and 211 pg/ml, respectively--higher than sham values of 460 and 121 pg/ml (both p less than 0.05). After 4 hours, plasma LTB4 levels had returned to baseline, whereas BAL LTB4 had increased further to 658 pg/ml, indicating lung origin. Treatment of other rats by localized lung lavage of the lipoxygenase inhibitor diethylcarbamazine (80 mg/kg in 0.1 ml twice) prevented the ischemia- and reperfusion-induced rise in BAL LTB4 (267 pg/ml) and limited local neutrophil sequestration (from 51 PMN/10 HPF after saline aspiration to 36 PMN/10 HPF) and lung W/D (from 4.5 to 4.1) (all p less than 0.05). The data indicate that after hindlimb ischemia pulmonary mast cells and localized LTB4 synthesis mediate, in part, the lung inflammatory response.

Animals↗

Malignant melanoma of the mucous membranes.

Primary malignant melanoma occurring in mucous membranes is uncommon. Of 410 patients with malignant melanoma, 14 (3.4%) had their primary tumour located in mucosal membranes. Five of the tumours were in the mucosal lining of the head and neck, five in the gastrointestinal tract mucosa and four in the female genitalia. Eight of the tumours were ulcerated, necrotic and deeply invasive. The most common histological subtype was acral lentiginous melanoma. Surgical resection of the primary tumour was performed in 10 patients. In the other four, surgery was not feasible, and they were treated by irradiation and immunotherapy. Six patients underwent regional lymph node dissection. In four of them, regional metastases were found. Chemotherapy was given to seven patients for widespread metastases. Nine patients (64%) died of metastatic melanoma within 2 years. The remaining five patients are alive after 3 to 8 years. It appears that mucosal membrane melanoma is a distinct variant of the disease due to both its aggressive biological behaviour and its relative inaccessibility for surgical removal, and may therefore be classified separately.

Adult↗

Are malignant melanoma patients at higher risk for a second cancer?

This study tests whether malignant melanoma (MM) patients are at higher risk of having an unrelated second cancer by comparing the observed incidence of a second cancer in a given population of MM patients with the expected number in an age-matched and sex-matched group of healthy people followed for a similar period. The analysis was based on the person-years method in which the main consideration is the follow-up period after the diagnosis of MM. Of 370 patients with histologically confirmed MM, 27 (7.3%) had a second noncutaneous invasive cancer, diagnosed either simultaneously (within 6 months, five patients) or after the diagnosis of MM (22 patients). The follow-up period for the entire MM group was 1253 person-years, a period during which the expected number of cancer cases in the normal population, according to the Israel Cancer Registry, was 6.6. The observed-expected ratio or the relative risk (RR) was 4.1 (P less than 0.01). After excluding the five patients with simultaneous diagnosis of MM and a second cancer, analysis of the remaining 22 patients in whom MM definitely preceded the second cancer showed an RR of 3.3 (P less than 0.01). For the entire group, there were nine patients with breast cancer, five with head and neck cancer (two with thyroid and three with oral cavity cancer), five with gynecologic cancer (one with uterine and four with ovarian cancer), five myeloproliferative malignancies (one with lymphoma, three with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and one with myeloma), three gastrointestinal carcinomas (two with colon and one with stomach cancer), and two soft tissue sarcomas. When the differential analysis according to gender and age was done, it was found that the RR was higher for women (5.5, P less than 0.01) than for men where the RR was 2.2 (P less than 0.05). Differential analysis for various age groups showed that the trend for second cancer was consistent in all age groups, with a slight increase in the younger ones. None of the variables of MM, such as location of the primary tumor, level of invasion, or stage, were predictive for a second cancer. Furthermore, the RR for a second cancer did not relate significantly with the treatment given to the MM patient. Concerning the type of second cancer, it was found that the RR was especially high for breast cancer--6.6. These data indicate that MM patients may be at higher risk for having a noncutaneous invasive cancer compared with the general population.

Adolescent↗

Intravascular chemoattractants inhibit diapedesis by selective receptor occupancy.

An extravascular chemoattractant leads to migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) to that site, whereas intravascular administration leads to PMN oxidative activity and sequestration in microvessels but no diapedesis. This study examines the inhibitory role of intravascular chemoattractants. Rabbits (n = 37) were pretreated with zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP), leukotriene (LT) B4, or thromboxane (Tx) mimic. These agents were given intra-arterially, topically into plastic chambers taped atop sites of dermabrasion on the back, or into a lobar bronchus (n = 35). Intra-arterial injection of each chemoattractant resulted, 10 min later, in a 29-42% increase in intracellular PMN H2O2. In saline-infused animals, topical administration of the chemoattractants into dermabrasion chambers resulted in PMN accumulation per cubic millimeter after 3 h of 600 with ZAP, 536 with LTB4, and 643 with Tx mimic; all values higher than 46 with saline and 63 with normal plasma (all P less than 0.05). In other saline-infused animals, lobar lung aspiration of chemoattractants led to diapedesis as measured in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (PMN x 10(4)/ml) after 3 h: 19.0 with ZAP, 11.2 with LTB4 and 14.5 with Tx mimic, all greater than aspiration with saline or normal plasma 4.0 and 4.9, respectively (all P less than 0.05). Intra-arterial chemotactic administration inhibited subsequent PMN diapedesis in response to that same chemoattractant, both in dermabrasion chambers and in BAL fluid. When different intra- and extra-vascular chemoattractants were used diapedesis was promoted. Thus Tx infused intra-arterially and ZAP applied to a blister or lobar bronchus led to rapid cell migration and increased cell numbers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Neutrophil accumulations due to pulmonary thromboxane synthesis mediate acid aspiration injury.

Acid aspiration leads to lung injury associated with high levels of plasma thromboxane (Tx). This study tests the role of Tx synthesis by the aspirated lung segment in mediating local and remote neutrophil (PMN) sequestration, alveolar diapedesis, and permeability edema. Anesthetized rats underwent tracheostomy and insertion of a fine-bore cannula into the anterior segment of the left lung. This was followed by the installation of either 0.1 ml saline (n = 18) or the Tx synthase inhibitor OKY 046 (0.1 mg/kg in 0.1 ml, n = 18). Twenty minutes later either 0.1 ml 0.1 N HCL or 0.1 ml saline was similarly introduced (n = 18). Three hours later, in the saline-HCl group, the rise in Tx concentration in both plasma (1,340 pg/ml) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (2,100 pg/ml) was higher than that in the saline-saline aspirated control group (350 and 115 pg/ml, respectively; both P less than 0.05). In the acid-aspirated lung PMN sequestration [87 PMN/10 high-power fields (HPF)] and diapedesis (96 x 10(4) PMN/ml in BAL) were higher than control values of 7 PMN/10 HPF and 3 x 10(4) PMN/ml (both P less than 0.05). Acid aspiration induced local permeability edema with a high protein concentration in BAL of 3,350 micrograms/ml and an increase in lung wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D) of 6.6, both higher than control values of 482 micrograms/ml and 3.4, respectively (P less than 0.05). Leukosequestration in the aspirated side started at 30 min and was progressive over a 3-h monitoring period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Thromboxane mediates diapedesis after ischemia by activation of neutrophil adhesion receptors interacting with basally expressed intercellular adhesion molecule-1.

Ischemic injury is characterized by neutrophil (PMN)--endothelial cell adhesion and diapedesis associated with thromboxane (TX) generation. Neutrophil-endothelial cell interaction is regulated in part by the leukocyte adhesion receptor CD 18 glycoprotein complex and the endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). This study tests the role of TX in ischemia-induced diapedesis and evaluates whether the diapedesis is regulated by neutrophil or endothelial adhesion receptors. Plasma derived from rabbit hind limbs made ischemic for 3 hours (n = 6) and reperfused for 10 minutes had increased levels of TXB2 3,450 pg/ml, which was higher than sham rabbit (n = 6) values of 653 pg/ml (p less than 0.05). When introduced into abraded skin chambers placed on the dorsum of other normal rabbits (n = 6), this ischemic plasma induced 1,000 pg/ml of new TX synthesis and diapedesis of 1,235 PMN/mm3. The total TX concentration and PMN accumulations in blister fluid were correlated (r = 0.88, p less than 0.05). In contrast, sham rabbit plasma induced no TX synthesis and diapedesis of only 77 PMN/mm3 (p less than 0.05). Administration of 50 ng/ml of authentic TXB2 into blisters induced an accumulation of 453 PMN/mm3, which was higher than that in saline controls (18 PMN/mm3) (p less than 0.05). Pretreatment of normal rabbits used for the diapedesis assay (n = 4) with the TX synthetase inhibitor OKY 046 (2 mg/kg/hr) limited ischemic plasma and authentic TXB2 induced diapedesis to 142 and 76 PMN/mm3, respectively (both p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Modulation of pulmonary permeability in vivo with agents that affect the cytoskeleton.

In vitro studies show that the cytoskeleton of the microvascular barrier moderates polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) diapedesis and the transport of macromolecules. This in vivo study tests indirectly whether the cytoskeleton of the pulmonary microvasculature responds similarly to agents known to reorganize the cytoskeleton to alter diapedesis and permeability in vitro. One of four agents, saline solution, cytochalasin B (which promotes actin microfilament disassembly), leukotriene (LT) B4 (PMN chemoattractant), or phalloidin (which promotes and stabilizes F-actin polymerization) was introduced into the bronchus of the anterior segment of the left lung of anesthetized rats (n = 152) through a tracheostomy and fine-bore cannula. Twenty minutes later, saline solution, cytochalasin B, LTB4, or phalloidin was similarly introduced. PMN accumulations (x 10(4) cells/ml), protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung wet/dry weight ratios were measured 3 hours later. When the initial and secondary treatments were saline solution, PMN accumulations were 3 +/- 1 cells/ml and the protein level was 274 +/- 48 micrograms/ml. Secondary treatment of the saline-treated group with cytochalasin B or LTB4 led to increases in PMN to 18 +/- 2 and 9 +/- 2 cells/ml and protein to 960 +/- 50 and 840 +/- 40 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.05); secondary treatment with phalloidin was similar to that with saline solution. With saline solution used for both treatments, the wet/dry ratio was 3.4 +/- 0.2. Primary saline solution and secondary treatments with either cytochalasin B or LTB4 led to a similar increase in wet/dry ratios to 3.9 +/- 0.1 (p less than 0.05), whereas phalloidin was without effect (3.5 +/- 0.3). Initial cytochalasin B treatment followed by LTB4 led to increased PMN diapedesis (43 +/- 6 cells/ml and wet/dry ratio 4.3 +/- 0.2) (p less than 0.05). Secondary phalloidin treatment attenuated the cytochalasin B effect with counts of 12 +/- 2 PMN/ml, protein levels of 460 +/- 30 micrograms/ml, and a lower wet/dry ratio of 3.7 +/- 0.1 (p less than 0.05). Even more striking, phalloidin as initial treatment further reduced the cytochalasin B effect to 7 +/- 1 PMN/ml, whereas protein level was 490 +/- 60 micrograms/ml and wet/dry ratio was 3.5 +/- 0.1 (p less than 0.05). Further, phalloidin, given initially, attenuated the effect of secondary treatment with LTB4, resulting in fewer cells (4 +/- 2 PMN/ml), a lower wet/dry ratio (3.4 +/- 0.1), and protein level of 650 +/- 20 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Interleukin-2-induced lung injury is mediated by oxygen free radicals.

Interleukin-2 therapy leads to respiratory dysfunction caused by increased vascular permeability. This study examines the role of oxygen-derived free radicals (OFR). Sheep (n = 6) with chronic lung lymph fistulae were given interleukin-2, 10(5) units/kg, as an intravenous bolus. The mean pulmonary artery pressure rose from 13 to 23 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) at 1 hour and remained elevated for 4 hours, although the pulmonary artery wedge pressure was unchanged at 4 mm Hg. Arterial oxygen tension fell from 88 to 77 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). Lung lymph flow rose from 2.2 to 6.4 ml/30 min (p less than 0.05) at 3 hours. This rise coincided with an increase in the lymph/plasma protein ratio from 0.67 to 0.77 (p less than 0.05) and lymph protein clearance from 1.5 to 4.4 ml/30 min (p less than 0.05), indicating increased lung microvascular permeability. Interleukin-2 led to transient increases in plasma thromboxane B2 from 168 to 388 pg/ml (p less than 0.05) and lung lymph thromboxane B2 from 235 to 694 pg/ml (p less than 0.05). The leukocyte count fell from 8156 to 4375/mm3 (p less than 0.05) primarily caused by a 78% drop in lymphocyte count. Platelet count declined from 292 to 184 X 10(3)/mm3 (p less than 0.05). Pretreatment with the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylthiourea, 1 gm/kg, intravenously, (n = 6) prevented the interleukin-2-induced increase in mean pulmonary artery pressure, lung lymph flow, lymph/plasma protein ration, lymph protein clearance, and thromboxane B2 levels in plasma and lung lymph. The arterial oxygen tension decreased from 85 to 80 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). The leukocyte count declined from 7854 to 6229/mm3 (p less than 0.05), but this was not as low nor as prolonged as the interleukin-2 group. Further, the decrease in platelet count was prevented (p less than 0.05). Interleukin-2 incubated with sheep or human leukocytes led to a dose-dependent increase in intracellular hydrogen peroxide production by neutrophils as measured by flow cytometry of dichlorofluorescein oxidation. These data indicate that interleukin-2 stimulates OFR generation and that OFR moderate the interleukin-2-induced increased lung permeability.

Animals↗

Interleukin-2-induced lung permeability is mediated by leukotriene B4.

Interleukin (IL)-2 therapy leads to respiratory dysfunction due to increased vascular permeability. This study examines the role of the chemoattractant, immunomodulator, and permeability-promoting agent leukotriene (LT) B4 in this setting. Sheep with chronic lung lymph fistulae were given IL-2, 10(5) U/kg as an IV bolus (n = 6). Within 2 hours this led to a significant increase in LTB4 levels in both plasma and lung lymph. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) rose while the pulmonary artery wedge pressure was unchanged. Arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) fell. Lung lymph flow (QL) was tripled (P less than 0.05) at 3 hours, coinciding with an increase in the lymph/plasma (L/P) protein ratio (P less than 0.05) resulting in an increase in the lymph protein clearance (P less than 0.05), data documenting increased microvascular permeability to protein. Mild leukopenia and thrombocytopenia (P less than 0.05) occurred. Body temperature rose and shaking chills were common. Pretreatment with the lipoxygenase inhibitor diethylcarbamazine (DEC; n = 6) reduced baseline plasma LTB4 levels and prevented the IL-2-induced increases in LTB4 in plasma and lung lymph (P less than 0.05). In contrast to IL-2 treatment alone, DEC blunted the increase in MPAP and prevented the rises in QL (P less than 0.05), L/P protein ratio (P less than 0.05), and lymph protein clearance (P less than 0.05). DEC also prevented the IL-2-induced leukopenia, the fall in platelet count, and the rise in body temperature (P less than 0.05, respectively). Infusion of IL-2 excipient control (n = 5) did not affect plasma or lymph LTB4 levels but there were mild increases in MPAP (P less than 0.05). The QL also rose but this occurred while the L/P protein ratio fell (P less than 0.05). Body temperature rose moderately. The PaO2, leukocyte, and platelet counts were unaffected. These data indicate that IL-2 administration leads to pulmonary dysfunction manifest by pulmonary hypertension and increased vascular permeability, events associated with LTB4 synthesis and prevented by DEC. Leukotriene B4 appears therefore to mediate the IL-2-induced lung injury.

Animals↗

Enhanced thromboxane synthesis with extradural anaesthesia.

Reperfusion of a limb following tourniquet ischaemia increases plasma concentrations of thromboxane (TxB2). The study examined TxB2 production during the ischaemia and reperfusion of femoral-popliteal bypass surgery and the effect of anaesthetic technique. Patients (n = 19) were randomly allocated to receive either general (GA) or extradural (EA) anaesthesia. TxB2 concentrations were similar both before and after anaesthesia in the two groups. Clamping the femoral artery in patients given GA resulted in a small but insignificant increase in TxB2 concentration. However, in the EA group clamping resulted in a 10-fold increase in TxB2 concentration (P less than 0.05). To demonstrate that anaesthesia itself was not the stimulus to TxB2 synthesis, patients undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy (n = 13) received either GA or EA. There were no subsequent changes in TxB2 concentrations in each group. The results indicate that EA but not GA maintains collateral flow during femoral arterial clamping and provides the oxygen needed for generation of TxB2 during ischaemia.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗

Ischemia activates neutrophils but inhibits their local and remote diapedesis.

Hindlimb ischemia and reperfusion results in local limb and distant lung injury. This study tests whether the mechanism of injury is by ischemia mediated polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) activation and diapedesis. Anesthetized rabbits were subjected to three hours of hindlimb ischemia (n = 8) or sham ischemia (n = 4). PMN derived solely from the reperfused ischemic limb and assayed flow cytometrically displayed an oxidative burst of 135 /- 8 fentamoles dichlorofluorescein (fmDCF)/cell compared to preischemc levels of 74 +/- 14 fmDCF/cell (p less than 0.05). Additional aliquots of isolated neutrophils were treated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) 10(-7) M. In contrast to a 162% increase in oxidative burst before ischemia, neutrophils at ten minutes of reperfusion had an enhanced response to PMA of 336% (p less than 0.05). Plasma collected from the ischemic hindlimb at ten minutes of reperfusion when introduced into an abraded skin chamber or intratracheally induced diapedesis in nonischemic animals. PMN accumulations in the skin chamber were 1636 +/- 258 PMN/mm3 after three hours (n = 8) compared to 63 +/- 18 PMN/mm3 induced by sham plasma (n = 4, p less than 0.05). Introduction of ischemic plasma intratracheally into a lobar bronchus (n = 4) induced PMN accumulations after three hours, measured by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 19 +/- 2 X 10(4) PMN/mm3 compared to 5 +/- 1 X 10(4) PMN/mm3 with sham plasma (n = 4, p less than 0.05). Diapedesis was completely prevented (0-3 PMN/mm3, p less than 0.05) by introducing ischemic plasma into skin chambers in animals whose hindlimbs had been made ischemic (n = 6) or into chambers located on skin regions that had been previously made ischemic (n = 6). Similarly after hindlimb ischemia, lavage of the lung with ischemic plasma yielded few PMN 0-3/mm3 (p less than 0.05). These data indicate that ischemia and reperfusion lead to generation of a circulating component in plasma that causes an oxidative burst in PMN and inhibits their diapedesis but promotes diapedesis when applied extravascularly to a naive animal.

Animals↗

Attenuation of acid aspiration edema with phalloidin.

Acid aspiration leads to pulmonary endothelial and epithelial cell (EC/EpC) injury characterized by increased permeability and polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte diapedesis. Actin in the EC/EpC cytoskeleton has been shown to play a significant role in maintenance of the microvascular junction barrier. This study tests indirectly whether the development of permeability and diapedesis following acid aspiration is via disruption of the pulmonary cytoskeleton. Manipulation was achieved by the actin microfilament assembler phalloidin. Anesthetized rats (n = 88) underwent segmental lung installation of 0.1 ml saline or phalloidin (2 x 10(-6) M). Twenty minutes later 0.1 N HCl, saline, or phalloidin was introduced. After 3 h there was an increase in wet-to-dry weight (W/D) ratio of 6.6 and 5.1 in the HCl-injected and noninjected sides, protein concentration, 3,970 and 2,530 micrograms/ml, and accumulation of 93 PMN/ml (x 10(4] in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of the HCl-injected lung. These values were higher than control animals. Local pretreatment with phalloidin attenuated acid-induced localized but not generalized permeability with reduction in W/D ratio, BAL protein concentration, and diapedesis (P less than 0.05). Acid injection into airways also led to elevated thromboxane B2 and leukotriene B4 levels in plasma and BAL (P less than 0.05) and generalized lung leukosequestration, events not affected by phalloidin. Taken together, these data suggest that acid aspiration lung injury is determined largely by loss of integrity of the pulmonary EC/EpC cytoskeleton with resultant loss of barrier function.

Administration, Inhalation↗