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Biomedical subjects

M H Yacoub

Publications and source records attributed to M H Yacoub.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Regional distribution and regulation of [125I]calcitonin gene-related peptide binding sites in coronary arteries.

Quantitative in vitro autoradiographic techniques were used to localize and characterize 125I-labelled human calcitonin gene-related peptide ([125I]hCGRP) binding sites in sections of bovine left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Specific high affinity (Kd 0.4 nM) [125I]hCGRP binding sites were localized to the media of both epicardial and myocardial coronary arteries. Binding site density was greater in distal epicardial and myocardial arteries than in proximal epicardial regions of the LAD. Binding sites exhibited a significantly higher affinity for alpha-hCGRP (Ki 1.1 nM) than for hCGRP-(8-37) (Ki 7.0 nM) and [Cys(ACM)2,7]hCGRP (Ki 27.4 nM). Guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) inhibited [125I]hCGRP binding in a concentration-dependent manner. Extrinsic denervation of the bovine heart resulted in a depletion of CGRP-like immunoreactive perivascular nerve fibres and an increase in the density of coronary artery [125I]hCGRP binding sites (P = 0.0092). The regional distribution of binding sites in human coronary arteries differed from that observed in bovine and porcine vessels. It is concluded that selective, G protein-coupled, CGRP receptors are present in the media of bovine coronary arteries; there are both regional and species differences in the distribution of CGRP binding sites in coronary arteries and endogenous CGRP may exert a tonic influence on coronary vasomotor tone.

Animals

Anti-endothelial antibodies and coronary artery disease after cardiac transplantation.

Accelerated coronary artery disease is the most serious complication after cardiac transplantation. The disease has a multifactorial aetiology, with little agreement about the relative importance of the various risk factors. We have investigated the frequency of anti-endothelial antibodies against human umbilical vein endothelial cells by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting. Peptide-specific anti-endothelial antibodies were found in 15/21 heart transplant recipients with accelerated coronary artery disease, and 1/20 transplant patients who had not developed the disease. Positive immunofluorescence of patients' serum on frozen sections of coronary vessels confirmed the endothelial specificity of antibodies. These results provide evidence of an immune aetiology for transplant-associated coronary artery disease and could have important implications for its diagnosis and therapy.

Adolescent

Endocardial localization and characterization of natriuretic peptide binding sites in human fetal and adult heart.

Specific, high affinity binding sites for 125I-human-alpha-atrial natriuretic peptide-(1-28)) (125I-hANP-(1-28)) were identified in human fetal and adult heart and the binding characterized using quantitative in vitro autoradiography. Binding sites were localized to atrial and ventricular endocardium, aorta, pulmonary arteries and epicardial mesothelium. Kinetic studies indicated a Kd value of 32 pM for ventricular endocardial 125I-hANP-(1-28) binding. The binding was completely inhibited by an excess (1 microM) of unlabelled hANP-(1-28), human brain natriuretic peptide-(1-32) (hBNP-(1-32)) and by the 'clearance receptor' specific ring-deleted analogue, C-ANP-(4-23). Competitive inhibition studies indicated a relative inhibitory potency for hBNP-(1-32) and C-ANP-(4-23) of 6% and 3% respectively. The data suggest that a distinct natriuretic peptide receptor subtype is expressed in the endocardium and in addition to a possible clearance function, may represent a site for feedback regulation and peptide interaction.

Analysis of Variance

Use of endotracheal silicone stents for relief of tracheobronchial obstruction.

In this article we describe our initial experience with bifurcated and longitudinal silicone stents that can be inserted entirely endoscopically. A total of 10 patients were stented; half had upper airways obstruction resulting from malignant disease and half had anastomotic obstruction after single-lung (3 patients), double-lung (1 patient), or heart-lung transplantation (1 patient). All patients derived immediate relief of life-threatening stridor. Stents were in place for between 5 days and 2 1/2 years (mean, 232.9 days). In the patients with malignant disease, the stents have provided effective relief from stridor for the remainder of their lives. In the transplant recipients, the medium-term results are encouraging, with the stents providing effective relief from stridor, although the longitudinal stents have been associated with distal migration, requiring that the stents be replaced on up to five occasions. The stents have not been associated with infection in the nonimmunosuppressed patients, and during the relatively short follow-up period there has been no tissue reaction to the material.

Adult

Heterotopic heart transplantation and recipient heart operation in ischemic heart disease.

The role of heterotopic heart transplantation in coronary heart disease has not been defined. Between 1983 and 1988, 28 patients with end-stage ischemic heart disease were managed by heterotopic heart transplantation and adjunctive operation on the recipient heart: coronary artery bypass grafts and aneurysmectomy, 20; coronary artery bypass grafts, 5; and aneurysmectomy, 3. Indications were feasibility of operative procedures to the recipient heart and small donor size (61% of the donors were less than 15 years). The 1-year and 5-year actuarial survival was 79% and 63%. Of the 22 patients who survived to 2-year follow-up, all of whom had been severely limited (New York Heart Association grade III/IV) preoperatively, 20 were in grades I or II at 2-year follow-up (p less than 0.001). In 14 of 22 patients (64%), the recipient heart augmented the donor cardiac output substantially, and in 4 the recipient heart supported the patient when the donor heart failed to eject. In conclusion, this series demonstrates the efficacy of heterotopic transplantation combined with operation to the recipient heart in the management of patients with end-stage ischemic heart disease.

Adult

Adenine nucleotide catabolism and adenosine formation in isolated human cardiomyocytes.

The contribution of 5'-nucleotidase and AMP-deaminase to adenine nucleotide degradation in human cardiomyocytes isolated from diseased or normal heart was investigated. The preparation used contained 30 to 50% of viable cells and the nucleotide degradation was stimulated by addition of deoxyglucose and oligomycin. To distinguish pathways of nucleotide degradation, adenosine deaminase was inhibited by erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA). Under these conditions, ATP concentration was decreased by 60% after 45 min of incubation. Simultaneously, increases in intra- and extracellular catabolite concentrations have been observed. Adenosine was the predominant catabolite found in both the cells and in the extracellular medium accounting for more than 70% of all degradation products. Intracellular adenosine concentration rose to 300 times greater than that outside the cell. An increase in intra- and extracellular inosine was also seen. Only a small increase of IMP concentration was observed. No hypoxanthine accumulation was found. No significant change in initial adenine nucleotide concentrations were observed in isolated cells during aerobic incubation without deoxyglucose and oligomycin. In conclusion, a pathway involving adenosine production appears to be the principal route of nucleotide degradation in human cardiomyocytes.

Adenine Nucleotides

New fluorescent derivatives of cyclosporin for use in immunoassays.

The synthesis of new fluorescent derivatives of cyclosporin is described and their affinity with the specific Sandoz monoclonal antibody investigated. Synthesis was carried out using cyclosporin-C-hemisuccinate as the starting material with monodansylcadaverine, 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin, and 4-bromomethyl-6,7-dimethoxycoumarin as labels. After extraction the derivatives were purified by HPLC and their binding affinity with the monoclonal antibody evaluated by the Incstar Cyclo-Trac SP radioimmunoassay. All three derivatives showed good binding and it is suggested that they may be of use in an immunoassay for measuring cyclosporin.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

Dipyridamole vasodilator response after human orthotopic heart transplantation: quantification by oxygen-15-labeled water and positron emission tomography.

To assess coronary vasodilator reserve after orthotopic heart transplantation, regional myocardial perfusion was measured with oxygen-15-labeled water and dynamic positron emission tomography in 14 cardiac allograft recipients who were not experiencing rejection and who had no angiographic evidence of epicardial coronary sclerosis 15 to 73 months (mean +/- SD 43 +/- 19) after transplantation (group I). Twelve normal men with an average age of 31 years (group II) served as a control group. Regional perfusion was measured at rest and after the intravenous administration of 0.6 mg/kg body weight of dipyridamole. Rest regional myocardial blood flow was homogeneously distributed throughout the left ventricle and was significantly higher in transplant recipients (mean 1.16 +/- 0.26 ml/g per min [range 0.8 to 1.73] than in normal subjects (mean 0.85 +/- 0.13 ml/g per min [range 0.57 to 0.99]; p = 0.001) as was rest heart rate-systolic blood pressure product (rate-pressure product 11,255 +/- 2,540 vs. 7,073 +/- 1,306; p less than 0.001). After dipyridamole, perfusion in the transplant recipients was homogeneous and slightly lower (2.73 +/- 1.03 vs. 3.40 +/- 1.09 ml/g per min; p = NS), whereas rate-pressure product was slightly higher (12,179 +/- 2,266 vs. 10,885 +/- 1,895; p = NS) than the value in normal subjects. Dipyridamole vasodilator response (dipyridamole/rest myocardial blood flow) ranged from 1.23 to 4.92 (mean 2.50 +/- 1.13) in group I and from 2.65 to 5.45 (3.97 +/- 0.89) in group II (p = 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Improved preservation of endothelial function at 4 degrees C.

Hypothermia combined with chemical cardioplegia is routinely used clinically for perioperative myocardial protection and for donor heart preservation. Profound hypothermia can have an adverse influence on post-preservation endothelial and myocardial functions. In this study, we investigated the effect of temperature on endothelial and myocardial functions following global cardiac ischaemia in the isolated rat heart. A 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced increase in coronary flow was used as a selective probe to assess endothelial function, while myocardial function was measured by a working rat heart model. After recording control observations for endothelial and myocardial functions, hearts were kept ischaemic for 30 or 60 min without cardioplegia (groups 1 and 2, respectively) and for 60, 90 or 120 min following a single infusion of St. Thomas' Hospital solution (groups 3, 4 and 5, respectively). In each group, hearts were kept ischaemic at 20 degrees C or at 4 degrees C (n = 12 in each group). Endothelial and myocardial functions were reevaluated and compared with control values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Adenine nucleotide catabolism in human myocardium during heart and heart-lung transplantation.

The influence of ischemia and reperfusion on nucleotide concentration in human myocardium was investigated during heart and heart-lung transplantation. Myocardial preservation during heart transplantation was achieved by infusion of cold St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution followed by storage in Ringer's solution at 4 degrees C during transport. In contrast, the hearts of heart and lung donors were preserved by core cooling using cardiopulmonary bypass and infusion of cold blood cardioplegia containing 26 mM potassium. The heart-lung block was transported in cold donor blood. Nucleotides and their catabolite concentrations were measured in donor tissue specimens taken before organ collection, before commencement of implantation and 30 min after aortic clamp removal. During reperfusion, samples of coronary sinus and arterial blood were collected and analysed for nucleotide catabolite concentration. Myocardial ATP and total nucleotide pool remained almost unchanged during the ischemic transport of the donor organs with only very small increases in myocardial inosine and hypoxanthine concentrations. However, a significant decrease of total adenine nucleotide pool by 10%-20% was demonstrated between the start of implantation and 30 min post-reperfusion. A release of inosine + hypoxanthine was greatest in the 1st minute (15-25 microM), but was still substantial after 10 min of reperfusion (5-15 microM). Metabolic changes tended to be more pronounced during heart-lung transplantation than during heart transplantation.

Adenine Nucleotides

HIV-1 infection and cardiothoracic surgery: the difference in attitudes between consultants and junior surgeons in the United Kingdom.

A postal survey was carried out inviting the opinions of consultant and trainee cardiothoracic surgeons on the subject of operating upon patients who are either HIV-1 antibody positive or suffer from full-blown AIDS. The questionnaire contained both cardiac and thoracic clinical situations, all of which under normal circumstances would be managed surgically with low operative mortality and long median survival. The overall response rate was 72.4%. A significantly greater number of consultants replied compared to juniors, 80% and 51.6%, respectively (P less than 0.001). In both groups, surgeons were more likely to operate upon a patient who was HIV-1 antibody positive than one who had AIDS. There were no significant differences in the replies of consultants and juniors to the clinical scenarios presented. However, a greater number of juniors admitted to modifying their surgical practice in the light of the increasing incidence of HIV-1 infection (P less than 0.001). Routine preoperative HIV antibody testing was advocated by 77.8% of consultants and 75% of juniors and this rose to 95.1% and 97%, respectively, if patients were in the traditionally high risk groups. Four consultants admitted that they were already performing routine preoperative HIV antibody screening. This survey emphasized the real concern amongst cardiothoracic surgeons, irrespective of their grade, about HIV-1 infection and the need for both education and clear policy guidelines to deal with this difficult issue.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Antiheart antibodies following open heart surgery: incidence and correlation with postpericardiotomy syndrome.

One-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of myocardial proteins followed by Western blotting is a sensitive method for the detection of antiheart antibodies after cardiac transplantation. In a previous study we found that the majority of patients made antiheart antibodies after cardiac transplantation. It is possible that these antibodies were formed in response to cardiac damage caused during the surgical procedure rather than being specific to the transplantation situation. In this study we have evaluated the role of open cardiac surgery in the formation of antiheart antibodies for the first 9 months of the postoperative period using the Western blotting technique and correlated that with the development of post-pericardiotomy syndrome. Only 25% (9/36) of patients showed any increase in the pre-existing level of antiheart antibodies or developed antiheart antibodies with new reactivities. None of the patients in the study developed manifestations specific for post-pericardiotomy syndrome during the period of follow-up. The results support the contention that the high incidence of antiheart antibodies formed after cardiac transplantation is due to a humoral immune response to the presence of alloantigens on the grafted heart rather than as a result of the surgical procedure itself.

Adult

The perioperative use of blood components during heart and heart-lung transplantation.

Perioperative blood usage during 172 heart transplants (HTs) and 100 heart-lung transplants (HTLs) performed at the same center during 1986 and 1989 was reviewed. In 1986, 79 HTs were performed with a median (interquartile range) blood component use of 12 (range, 8-20) units, of which 6 (range, 4-8) constituted red cell components. The use of blood components was significantly reduced (p less than 0.05 by the Mann-Whitney U test) in 1989 to 10 (range, 8-20) units, of which red cell components constituted 5 (range, 3-7) units. Fifty HLTs in 1986 used a median (interquartile range) of 25.5 (range, 11.5-53) units of blood components. This use was significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) to a median of 18 (range, 9-29) units in 1989, of which 8 (range, 5-11) were red cell components, 4 (range, 2-8) were units of fresh-frozen plasma, and 5 (range, 0-10) were units of platelets. More blood components were used in patients who had previous cardiothoracic surgery and/or previous transplants; this reached significance in the 1986 HTs (p less than 0.001). Fresh blood was used in only one HT but in 12 (24%) of 1086 HLTs and 4 (8%) of 1989 HLTs. As the indication for fresh blood was excessive bleeding, there was a significantly greater use of blood components in 1989 HLT patients receiving fresh blood than in those not receiving fresh blood (median [range] of 163.5 [62-251] units compared to 15.5 [3-126]).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Comparison of cyclic GMP in human internal mammary artery and saphenous vein: implications for coronary artery bypass graft patency.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the capacity of the human saphenous vein (native and surgically prepared) and the internal mammary artery to generate cyclic GMP, the second messenger that mediates smooth muscle relaxation following production of nitric oxide. METHODS: 209 vessel segments were used from 22 patients undergoing coronary revascularisation. Isolated vessel segments were stimulated with a range of endothelium dependent and endothelium independent agonists and flash frozen for radioimmunoassay for cyclic GMP. RESULTS: Control/basal levels of cyclic GMP were significantly higher in the internal mammary artery than either native or distended saphenous vein. Endothelium dependent agonist stimulation with acetylcholine, bradykinin, or substance P induced significant increases in cyclic GMP in internal mammary artery and native saphenous vein, whereas distended veins showed non-significant changes in response to agonist stimulation. Endothelium removal abolished agonist stimulated increases in cyclic GMP. Glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitroprusside elicited significant further increases in cyclic GMP in native vein and internal mammary artery. All values obtained were significantly greater in arterial than in venous tissue. CONCLUSION: Differences in basal and stimulated cyclic GMP activity in arteries and veins have been shown. This could represent an additional protective mechanism against constrictor influences in arterial bypass grafts, which may explain their documented better long term performance.

Acetylcholine

A modified model of global ischaemia: application to the study of syncytial mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to develop a simple modified global ischaemia preparation to study the relation between ischaemic zone size and the incidence of ischaemia induced and reperfusion induced arrhythmias, to test the hypothesis that arrhythmias are initiated by flow of injury current between the ischaemic zone and the uninvolved myocardium. The new model was used to examine whether injury current suppression is involved in the mechanism of action of a new antiarrhythmic intervention, substitution of chloride anion by nitrate. METHODS: Isolated perfused (Langendorff mode) rat hearts (n = 12 per group) were subjected to 30 min global or regional ischaemia. Ventricular arrhythmia incidence during ischaemia and during reperfusion were related to the size of the involved region. The modified model of global ischaemia employed right intra-atrial superfusion to maintain normal sinus rate and 1:1 atrioventricular (AV) conduction. RESULTS: Sham ligation, low left coronary ligation, high left coronary ligation, and global ischaemia produced, as a percentage of total ventricular weight, 0%, 21.0(SEM 0.8)%, 47.0(1.0)%, and 100% regions of ischaemia (occluded zones). Heart rates were similar in each group and AV block did not occur. The incidences of ischaemia induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) were 0, 17, 75, and 17% with increasing occluded zone sizes. Incidences of reperfusion induced VF were 0, 8, 92, and 92% respectively. The antiarrhythmic action of substitution of extracellular chloride by nitrate, previously shown using models of regional ischaemia, was confirmed in the modified global ischaemia model. CONCLUSIONS: These findings strongly support the theory that current of injury between ischaemia and adjacent non-ischaemic zones is necessary for initiation of ischaemia induced VF, since susceptibility was maximal when ischaemic and uninvolved regions were equivalent in size (and the scope for injury current was maximal) whereas susceptibility was negligible when scope was minimal. In contrast, reperfusion induced VF appears to depend only on the presence and amount of reperfused tissue, indicating that flow of injury current between involved and uninvolved tissue is unnecessary for its initiation. Discrimination of the mechanism of action of antiarrhythmic interventions may be possible since drugs effective solely via amelioration of flow of injury current (or incrementation of collateral flow) will not influence arrhythmias in this model. Modification of injury current and collateral flow do not appear to contribute to the antiarrhythmic action of substitution of extracellular chloride by nitrate.

Animals

Lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis.

Significant progress has been made since the first successful human heart-lung transplantation (HLT) for pulmonary vascular disease performed in 1981. The refinement of surgical techniques, use of cyclosporin as the main immunosuppressant, technique of distant organ procurement to expand the donor organ pool, and improved diagnosis and management of pulmonary infection and rejection have all contributed to this accomplishment. This has inevitably coincided with the extension of this procedure to other groups of patients with end stage heart and lung disease. Initially, HLT was offered to patients with cardiac disease associated with pulmonary hypertension. Because of the success, consideration was given to transplantation for parenchymal pulmonary diseases, initially pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, and then suppurative lung disease such as in cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the application of HLT to patients with CF lagged behind because of concern related to the risk of sepsis, the systemic nature of the disease, malnourishment, and fear of recurrence of the epithelial CF defect in the transplanted lungs.

Adolescent