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M M Gebhard

Publications and source records attributed to M M Gebhard.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Comparison of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution versus University of Wisconsin (UW) solution for organ preservation in human liver transplantation. A prospective, randomized study.

Over a 30-month period, 60 patients (30 in each group) suffering from end-stage liver disease or primary hepatic malignancy and scheduled for liver transplantation were enrolled in a prospective, randomized study to compare two methods of liver preservation: histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution versus University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. Entry criteria for both groups were: age (18-65 years), elective surgery (transplantable or urgent category of the recipients), first transplantations and harvesting procedure performed by the same team. The parameters under investigation were the clinical and laboratory data pre- and post-transplantation, as well as follow-up data such as complications and survival. There were no significant differences in the two groups as far as the evaluation criteria were concerned, even when cold ischemia time was more than 15 h (n = 7). A slight, yet not significant, increase in late complications of the biliary anastomoses could be seen in the UW group. Hepatocellular injury (SGOT, SGPT, GLDH, lactate) appeared to be more marked in the HTK group. These results suggest that both HTK and UW solutions are appropriate for clinical use in liver transplantation, even if cold ischemia time is more than 15 h.

Adenosine↗

The contraction state of myofibrils during global ischemia and after reperfusion following different forms of cardiac arrest. Correlation with metabolic parameters in the canine heart.

This study was undertaken in order to obtain information on the mode of reaction of the contractile apparatus after different forms of cardiac arrest, global ischemia and reperfusion, as well as on possible correlations between the contraction state of myofibrils and biochemical parameters. During the survival time, before the level of 3 mumol/gww creatine phosphate (CP) is reached, the contraction state shows only minor changes. During the revival time in which ATP tissue concentrations decay to 4 mumol/gww, the contribution of ATP, lactate, anorganic phosphate (Pa) and acidosis to the degree of relaxation depends on the method of cardiac arrest. At defined biochemical values, the degree of relaxation is comparable after aortic cross clamping (ACC) and St. Thomas perfusion, but significantly different compared to HTK perfusion. Thus, during the revival time, the relaxation of sarcomeres depends predominantly on the composition of the solutions used for cardiac arrest. The re-entry of contraction below 3 mumol/gww ATP is correlated with the ATP concentration, independent of the form of cardiac arrest. Reperfusion after HTK or St. Thomas cardioplegia and reversible ischemia leads to the focal formation of contraction bands, which do not occur during ischemia. This contraction state is significantly more pronounced after reperfusion of St. Thomas arrested hearts. Thus, the contraction state of myofibrils is influenced not only by alterations in metabolite concentrations, but also by the composition of cardioplegic solutions and by the characteristic conditions (sufficient energy, oxygen and Calcium) during reperfusion.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

[Measuring impedance for evaluating ischemia damage to the human liver in preparation for transplantation].

In 22 human donor livers the measurement of the non-invasive bioelectrical impedance was performed prospectively to evaluate the degree of tissue damage sustained during cold ischemia. The results of the measurement were correlated with liver function, the method of organ preservation and the period of ischemia. The impedance was measured in vivo as 620 ohm (at 192 Hz), the phase angle as -7.4 degrees (at 5 kHz). The results were compared with the data obtained from 72 patients who underwent elective laparotomies. The 22 donor livers were studied further during ischemia. The method was found to be a reliable way of detecting severe damage to the hepatocytes during the cold ischemia.

Adolescent↗

The ultrastructural effects of global ischaemia on Purkinje fibres compared with working myocardium: a qualitative and morphometric investigation on the canine heart.

During open heart surgery, reperfusion-induced arrhythmias arising after short periods of ischaemia may originate from subendocardial Purkinje fibres. We investigated the ultrastructure of these fibres during 30 min of global ischaemia at 25 degrees C. The effects both with myocardial protection (HTK cardioplegia) and without it (pure ischaemia) were compared qualitatively and morphometrically. After 30 min pure ischaemia overcontraction of sarcomeres, hypercontraction and contraction bands, together with considerable changes in organelles, predominate over cellular oedema. In Purkinje fibres, both cellular and mitochondrial swelling were significantly increased within this 30-min time period from the onset of pure ischaemia. In contrast, following HTK cardioplegia and 30 min ischaemia, cellular and mitochondrial swelling remain moderate and over-contractions are almost entirely lacking. This means that despite remarkable differences between pure ischaemia and HTK cardioplegia in the degree of protection attained it is clear that, compared with the working myocardium, subendocardial Purkinje fibres do not display a higher resistance to early global ischaemia. Further investigations of this sensitivity of Purkinje fibres to global ischaemia and certain drugs may bring about new insights into myocardial protection and pharmacotherapy of arrhythmias.

Animals↗

Influence of glycogen content, temperature, and Euro Collins solution on membrane potential and sodium activity of superfused porcine liver slices.

The influence of glycogen content, temperature, and Euro Collins (EC) solution on membrane potential (Vm) and intracellular sodium activity (aNai) were measured in cells of superfused porcine liver slices by means of double-barrelled ion-sensitive microelectrodes. Vm was -26.1mV in fasted pigs and -20.6mV after glucose feeding, when measured in HEPES-buffered solution (P less than 0.0001). aNai was not measurably affected by glucose feeding. During superfusion with Tyrode solution, lowering the temperature from 35.5 degrees C to 15.5 degrees C led to a fast Vm decrease of roughly 2mV followed by an increase of 1-3mV. At the same time, aNai increased from 12.8 to 18.2mM within 10 min. Superfusion with EC solution for 10 min caused comparable changes in fed and fasted pigs. Vm depolarized at either temperature by about 16mV. At 35.5 degrees C the initial aNai of 17.5mM was roughly halved, whereas at 15.5 degrees C it decreased from 21.0 to 14.3mM. The results suggest that the nutritional state markedly affects the electric properties of liver. However, the effect on membrane potential of high-potassium organ-protective solutions seems to be distinctly more pronounced. Moreover, cellular Na+ activity decreases in consequence of an extracellular Na+ reduction with protective solutions, which might be balanced to some extent by a simultaneous temperature decrease.

Animals↗

Patterns of structural deterioration due to ischemia in Purkinje fibres and different layers of the working myocardium.

Cellular and mitochondrial swelling are regarded as typical intra-ischemic alterations ("IIA"), contraction band lesions (CBL), in contrast, as products of post-ischemic reperfusion. The occurrence of both types of structural deterioration was investigated in Purkinje fibres and subendocardial and intramural working myocardium: initially after St. Thomas- or HTK cardioplegia, then during ensuing global ischemia up to the "practical limit of resuscitability", and following post-ischemic reperfusion. Generally, Purkinje fibres are not better preserved than neighbouring working myocardium. Comparing St. Thomas- and HTK cardioplegia, considerable quantitative, but not qualitative differences in the reaction patterns of different cell types or layers arise. Immediately after cardioplegia, CBL are completely lacking in both cell types. During ischemia, CBL occur occasionally in Purkinje fibres and seldom in subendocardial working myocardium, "IIA" predominate. During post-ischemic reperfusion "IIA" tend to reverse in all layers, whereas CBL are found to remain in the subendocardial cell types. In intramural layers, CBL occur only during reperfusion. Thus, we deduce that cardioplegia only modulates the severity of "IIA" and the frequency of CBL, but cannot abolish the particular sensitivity of subendocardial Purkinje fibres to global ischemia. Prerequisites for the development of irreversible CBL are on the one hand ischemic metabolic alterations and corresponding energy deficits, and, on the other hand, a supply of oxygen. The oxygen may be inadequately supplied via diffusion during ischemia or may be subsequently provided by reperfusion.

Animals↗

[Measuring electric impedance of organs--methodologic principles].

Ischemia causes changes in organ tissue (e.g. during operation or transplantation) which may finally lead to irreversible injury, so that the organ can no longer be resuscitated. To the extent that these changes affect the electrical properties of the tissue they are manifested in the impedance spectrum. As an example, the course of impedance of a HTK-protected porcine liver is presented in the frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz, which includes two dispersion--alpha- and beta-dispersion. Using a suitable electrical equivalent circuit analogue to the structure of the liver, the behavior of the alpha- and beta-dispersion is explained on the basis of gap junction closure and narrowing of the extracellular space due to cell swelling.

Animals↗

The surface to volume ratio of mitochondria, a suitable parameter for evaluating mitochondrial swelling. Correlations during the course of myocardial global ischaemia.

Cellular changes occurring in the left ventricular myocardium during ischaemia after different methods of cardiac arrest have been evaluated by morphological and morphometric parameters: volume densities of mitochondria (VVMi), sarcoplasm (VVSp), myofibrils (VVMf), surface densities of mitochondria (SVMi). The surface to volume ratio of mitochondria (SVratioMi) has been used as an independent parameter of mitochondrial swelling. Since ischaemic swelling of myocardial cells increases the volume of the reference space and ischaemic swelling of mitochondria decreases the free sarcoplasm, VVMi and VVSp cannot be considered as reliable indicators of the degree of oedema. SVMi/VVMf remains nearly constant after different forms of cardiac arrest, demonstrating the integrity of mitochondrial outer membranes. The inverse linear ratio between SVratioMi and the mean mitochondrial volume indicates that the increase in mitochondrial volume is achieved by surface smoothing. Loss of matrix structure and fragmentation of cristae occur at an SVratioMi of about 5.8, cristolysis at 5.5 to 5.6 and amorphous matrix densities at an SVratioMi of less than 5.5 micron2/micron3. The SVratioMi is a suitable parameter for evaluating mitochondrial swelling both at the onset and during global myocardial ischaemia, independent of the method of cardiac arrest used. It serves as an indicator of the state of structural preservation of mitochondria during ischaemia.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural effects induced by global ischaemia on the AV node compared with the working myocardium. A qualitative and morphometric investigation on the canine heart.

The cardiac conduction system is considered to be particularly resistant to ischaemia. Nevertheless, following open heart surgery with short periods of ischaemia disturbances in AV conduction or ventricular arrhythmia have been reported. We compared the ultrastructure of AV node and working myocardium following 30 min global ischaemia at 25 degrees C, during pure ischaemia and with HTK cardioplegia qualitatively and morphometrically. After 30 min of pure ischaemia, interstitial and intracellular oedema together with considerable changes in organelles in AV nodes predominate over mainly cellular oedema in working myocardium. Sometimes irregular overcontractions of sarcomeres occur in the AV node, though very seldom in working myocardium. In pure ischaemia, mitochondrial swelling is comparable in both types of tissue. Following HTK cardioplegia and 30 min ischaemia, cellular oedema and mitochondrial swelling are significantly reduced in AV nodal cells and working myocardium, but remain more extensive in the AV nodes. Irregularities in the contractile state of sarcomeres are not observed. The extent of the ultrastructural alterations corresponds to the degree of metabolic change in the working myocardium. Thus, despite considerable differences during pure ischaemia and HTK cardioplegia, ultrastructurally the AV nodal cells do not display a greater resistance to ischaemia than working myocardium.

Animals↗

Occurrence and prevention of contraction bands in Purkinje fibres, transitional cells and working myocardium during global ischaemia.

Contraction bands usually occur in the intramural working myocardium following post-ischaemic reperfusion. In the subendocardium, however, they are found during ischaemia. Thus, we ascertained the contraction states of Purkinje fibres, transitional cells, subendocardial and intramural parts of the working myocardium during 30 min global ischaemia at 25 degrees C. The effects with and without myocardial protection were compared. At the onset of pure ischaemia contraction bands are completely lacking in all cell types. During pure ischaemia contraction bands are found in all subendocardial cell types but not in the intramural working myocardium. A peak of pathological contraction states is found in the intramural working myocardium at the onset (0 min), in the subendocardial working myocardium at 10 min, in the transitional cells and Purkinje fibres at 30 min of pure ischaemia. Histidine-, tryptophan-, ketoglutarate-enriched (HTK) cardioplegia prevents contraction bands completely at the onset of ischaemia and prevents both contraction bands and pathological contraction states during ischaemia almost completely. Striking differences in the physiological contraction states are seen only in the working myocardium: HTK cardioplegia brings about dominance of relaxation during ischaemia. These findings may be due mainly to the effects of global ischaemia on the one hand and to catecholamines, calcium and oxygen on the other.

Animals↗

Myocardial protection and ischemia tolerance of the globally ischemic heart.

The pathophysiological fundamentals of the tolerance of the heart to the ischemic condition are discussed, with special reference to three contributions in Issue 1/1990 of this journal. The relationship 'duration of/damage done by' ischemia is of sigmoidal form. The time needed to recover from the damage caused is dependent on the extent of the damage and not on the duration of ischemia. This time is thus a measure of the damage caused. The two main means of reducing this damage are cardioplegia and hypothermia. The fundamental differences in the various cardioplegic methods, and the factors on which their effectiveness depends, are explained. The background to the use of hypothermia and the limits in its application are presented. The dependence on hypothermia to extend the useful duration of ischemia demands, however, a careful consideration of the physiological thermodynamics involved, when estimating the probable extent of damage reached at any time.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Influence of pretreatment on interstitial and intracellular space of canine left-ventricular myocardium.

In this study, the interstitial space and myocytes were investigated qualitatively and morphometrically in samples from beating, fibrillating as well as from cardioplegically HTK-arrested hearts fixed by immersion or perfusion. The size of tissue clefts separating bundles of myocytes and that of the interstitial space within bundles of myocytes depend on the functional state and on the kind of fixation. Cellular preservation is significantly better in HTK-arrested hearts compared to beating or fibrillating hearts. Thus, for the structural evaluation of myocytes and interstitium, the pretreatment constitutes a highly significant factor.

Animals↗

The cardioplegic solution HTK: effects on membrane potential, intracellular K+ and Na+ activities in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres.

The effects of the cardioplegic solution HTK on membrane potential (EM) and intracellular K and Na activities (aiK, aiNa) were studied in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres by means of conventional and ion-selective microelectrodes. HTK contains (mM): Na 15, K 10, Ca 0, Mg 4, histidine 180. (1) In control conditions EM was -74.3 +/- 3.3 mV (n = 25), aiK was 116.4 +/- 4.1 mM (n = 7) and aiNa was 8.2 +/- 1.4 mM (n = 15). (2) Exposure to HTK led to a depolarization to -59.7 +/- 3.6 mV (n = 25) which exceeded by about 5-7 mV that induced in a Tyrode solution of 10 mM K and in a modified HTK solution supplemented by 2 mM Ca (n = 6). (3) Addition of 0.5 mM barium eliminated the difference in the steady-state depolarization. (4) HTK superfusion increased aiK to 120.1 +/- 4.4 mM (n = 7) and decreased aiNa to 3.9 +/- 0.9 mM (n = 15). (5) The decrease in aiNa was insensitive to amiloride (1 mM) and to external alkalization but was slightly increased by addition of 2 mM calcium. (6) When the calcium in Tyrode solution was lowered from 2.0 mM to 0.05 mM, aiNa hardly decreased during subsequent exposure to unmodified HTK and it increased in the presence of 0.1 mM dihydroouabain. We propose the hypothesis (1) that the difference in membrane depolarization between HTK and a 10 mM K-Tyrode is caused by a decrease in K conductance by the HTK solution and (2) that the aiNa decline mainly results from a coupled Ca influx via Na-Ca exchange due to a delayed washout of external calcium.

Animals↗

Intracellular pH, Na+- and K+-activities at the onset of St. Thomas' cardioplegia: a study with ionselective microelectrodes.

Cellular edema and cardiac arrhythmias are often closely related to intracellular ionic alterations and, moreover, are an actual problem of clinical cardioplegia and ischemia of the heart. In order to investigate whether the clinically widely used cardioplegic solution of the St. Thomas' Hospital may predispose for these complications, membrane potential (EM), intracellular pH (pHi), and intracellular sodium and potassium activity (aiNa- and aiK) in sheep heart Purkinje fibres were directly measured by means of neutral-carrier ion-selective microelectrodes during equilibration of the fibres' extracellular space with the cardioplegic solution. The experimental temperature was 35 degrees C throughout. During control conditions under superfusion of a HEPES-buffered Tyrode solution EM was -74.4 +/- 5.1 mV (n = 39), pHi was 7.18 +/- 0.05 (n = 16), and aiNa and aiK were 7.6 +/- 1.4 mmol/l (n = 15) and 118.9 +/- 4.6 mmol/l (n = 15) respectively. Superfusing the Purkinje strand for 10 minutes with the cardioplegic St. Thomas' solution led to a depolarization to -57.3 +/- 4.7 mV (n = 21), a slight aiNa decrease to 6.7 +/- 1.6 mmol/l (n = 15; p less than 0.01; cardioplegic solution without procaine) and an increase of aiK to 127.1 +/- 4.4 mmol/l (n = 6; p less than 0.01). pHi needed 15 minutes to reach a steady state value of 7.25 +/- 0.05 (n = 9). The alterations on post-cardioplegic reperfusion with Tyrode solution were reversible within 15 minutes. Simulation of the clinical situation of ice-cold application of the solution by inhibiting the cellular Na/K pump via 0.1 mmol/l dihydroouabaine added to the St. Thomas' solution resulted in a marked increase of aiNa to 10.7 +/- 1.5 mmol/l (n = 6; p less than 0.01; no procaine) during cardioplegic superfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Impedance spectroscopy: a method for surveillance of ischemia tolerance of the heart.

UNLABELLED: During myocardial ischemia the phase angle phi of the complex electric impedance of myocardial tissue at 5 kHz AC exhibits a characteristic behaviour, the progress of which depends on the cardioplegic method applied. By extending the frequency range to 200 Hz and 10 MHz and by analyzing in addition to phase and magnitude also real and imaginary part of the impedance it was possible to elucidate which ischemic changes in the myocardium are responsible for the course of phi (5 kHz). This method we call impedance spectroscopy. Canine hearts were cardioplegically perfused with either the standard solution HTK[4] or the solution HTK[4] + 50 mumol/l Ca++. During the following ischemia at 25 degrees C energy-rich phosphate level, the ultrastructure, the real part, imaginary part and phase angle of the impedance between 200 Hz and 10 MHz were analyzed. RESULTS: phi (5 kHz) displays very similar characteristics during the ischemic period to those of the real part of the impedance at 200 Hz, Re (200 Hz). Re (200 Hz) increases, when--according to electron microscopic findings--an intracellular myocardial edema begins to develop. The changes of Re(200 Hz) are always smaller, however, than those of phi (5 kHz). This indicates that phi (5 kHz) increases in the course of ischemia not only as a consequence of confinement of the extracellular space by myocardial cellular edema but also because of changes of passive electrical characteristics of the myocardial cell membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Myocardial protection: left ventricular ultrastructure after different forms of cardiac arrest.

Clinically applied methods of cardioplegia show very different effects on the rapidity of decay of energy-rich phosphates as well as on kind and progression of ultrastructural alterations of the ischemic myocardium. Comparing the methods of cardioplegia according to Kirklin, St. Thomas's Hospital and Bretschneider (solution HTK) with pure ischemia at 25 degrees C (model A) and Kirklin's or St. Thomas's cardioplegia and subsequent 210 min or HTK cardioplegia and 300 min ischemia at 22 degrees C plus 20 min subsequent reperfusion (model B) leads to the following results: Model A: Compared with pure ischemia cardioplegia according to Kirklin and the St. Thomas's Hospital slows down the decay of the left ventricular ATP-concentration by a mean factor of 3 and the progression of structural alterations of the left ventricular subendocardium by a factor of 2. HTK retards the ATP-decay by a factor of 6, the alterations of ultrastructure by a factor of 6.5. St. Thomas's solution, in contrast to all other methods of cardioplegia, at the onset of ischemia already causes a cellular edema of myocytes; the edema increases during ischemia, and at the ATP-concentration of 4 mumol per gram myocardium is more pronounced than with pure ischemia, Kirklin or HTK. After application of Kirklin's solution, in contrast, a cellular edema of capillary endothelia develops during ischemia, which at 4 mumol ATP is more pronounced than with each of the other methods. Model B: After global ischemia until the ATP-concentration of left ventricular myocardium is 4 mumol/g and a subsequent 20 minutes post-ischemic recovery the ultrastructural alterations in principle resemble those occurring during ischemia (model A).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗