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J van der Wijk

Publications and source records attributed to J van der Wijk.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Additional use of immunostaining for active caspase 3 and cleaved actin and PARP fragments to detect apoptosis in patients with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis might play a role in the pathophysiology of chronic heart failure (CHF). Detection of apoptosis in tissue mostly relies on the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. Recent studies showed, however, that TUNEL-positive cardiomyocytes were not in apoptosis. Therefore, additional methods are warranted. In this study, we tested the specificity of the TUNEL method by additional immunostaining for enzymes and cleaved proteins that are considered specific for apoptosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We tested 25 myocardial tissue sections from 16 patients with severe CHF (caused by either idiopathic or ischemic cardiomyopathy) for the existence of apoptosis. We compared TUNEL with immunostaining for caspase 3, active caspase 3, cleaved actin, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). TUNEL-positive myocytes were seen in 68% of the specimens. Immunostaining in myocytes for active caspase 3 and caspase 3 was positive in only a few patients, whereas staining for cleaved actin and PARP was negative in all patients. CONCLUSION: We found variable myocyte labeling with TUNEL in the failing myocardium of patients with CHF and only obtained scarce additional immunohistochemical evidence for myocyte apoptosis with immunostaining for active caspase 3 and caspase 3 and no positive myocytes with immunostaining for cleaved actin or PARP fragments. These findings support the notion that TUNEL-positive cardiomyocytes are not conclusive for the existence of apoptosis.

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PubMed1983

Six-day kidney preservation in a canine model. Influence of a one-to-four-hour ex vivo perfusion interval.

Continuous hypothermic perfusion (CHP) was improved when interrupted by an interval of ex vivo perfusion. The influence of the length (1-4 hr) of this interval of ex vivo perfusion was studied in a dog model. Kidneys were subjected to CHP for 72 hr, then connected with the donor for 1, 2, 3, and 4 hr, then returned to CHP and, after a total preservation time of 144 hr, autotransplanted. Simultaneous contralateral nephrectomy was performed. Life-sustaining kidney function was obtained in all of the 6 animals in the 3-hr group and in 5 of the 6 in the 4-hr group. Shorter ex vivo perfusion intervals (1-hr and 2-hr) resulted in no survivors and 2 survivors out of 6, respectively. Creatinine levels of animals that received autotransplants of 3-hr and 4-hr ex vivo perfused kidneys returned to near normal values within 10 days after transplantation.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Machine perfusion versus cold storage for preservation of kidneys before transplantation.

Machine preservation was introduced into the Groningen Transplant Group in December 1972. Thirty five of the 90 kidneys transplanted in the following period of four years were preserved on a machine. The other kidneys were preserved by the so-called cold storage method. The advantages and disadvantages of both methods are outlined. Evidence is found in the literature and in this study that cold storage is sufficient for preservation-times up to 24 hours. When the preservation time exceeds this period, then machine preservation may be an advantage. Kidneys damaged by ischaemia were found to have a higher percentage of immediate function when preserved by the machine compared to those preserved by cold storage. There was no significant difference in one-year graft survival for the kidneys preserved by either method. Machine preservation helps to select between viable and non-viable kidneys from non-heartbeating donors. This is especially important in view of the lack of kidneys for transplantation. Therefore, in the opinion of the authors, it is necessary to continue with machine preservation in selected centres and to make the facilities of these centres available to every donor hospital in The Netherlands.

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