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Biomedical subjects

P Eyers

Publications and source records attributed to P Eyers.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Tourniquets in arterial bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: successful infra-popliteal bypass depends on precise, atraumatic technique in performing the distal anastomosis. The use of a tourniquet facilitates the distal anastomosis, reducing dissection, avoiding traumatising clamping of the vessels and providing an "uncluttered" operating field. Despite these advantages the technique is under-used. OBJECTIVES: to review the use of tourniquets in arterial reconstruction, with particular reference to safety issues and complications. DESIGN, METHODS AND MATERIALS: a Medline search was performed (last search Feb. 2000), and keywords from relevant papers were used to perform subsequent searches. References were reviewed from each relevant paper. RESULTS: no randomised controlled trials were found. The review details reported use of tourniquets in arterial reconstruction, including techniques, outcomes and potential complications. CONCLUSION: the use of a tourniquet is a safe and effective technique to facilitate arterial reconstruction.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Acute non-traumatic arm ischaemia.

BACKGROUND: Much attention has been paid to the management of acute leg ischaemia. Acute arm ischaemia is perceived as less of a problem because the risk of limb loss is lower. After conservative treatment up to half the patients have late symptoms, such as forearm claudication. METHODS: This study was a review of all published English language data on acute arm ischaemia. The entire Medline database was searched and other references were derived from the material perused. There were no randomized or controlled studies. RESULTS: The incidence of acute arm ischaemia is one-fifth that of acute leg ischaemia. Patients with arm ischaemia tended to be older with a mean age of 74 years compared with 70 years for acute leg ischaemia. Since the development of the embolectomy catheter, embolectomy can be performed in most patients under local anaesthetic. Collected outcome included successful restoration of the circulation in 65-94 per cent of patients and amputation in 0-18 per cent. The mortality rate ranged from 0 to 19 per cent, despite the use of local anaesthesia, mostly from associated cardiac disease. Management by a vascular specialist may be beneficial, particularly in complex cases. CONCLUSION: An active approach to the management of acute arm ischaemia is safe and effective and reduces the risk of late disabling symptoms.

Acute Disease↗

Inhibition of bovine nasal cartilage degradation by selective matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors.

N-terminal analysis of aggrecan fragments lost from bovine nasal cartilage cultured in the presence of recombinant human interleukin 1alpha revealed a predominant ARGSVIL sequence with an additional ADLEX sequence. Production of the ARGSVIL-containing fragments has been attributed to the action of a putative proteinase, aggrecanase. The minor sequence (ADLEX) corresponds to a new reported cleavage product; comparison of this sequence with the available partial sequence of bovine aggrecan indicates that this is the product of a cleavage occurring towards the C-terminus of the protein. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors inhibited aggrecan loss from bovine nasal explants incubated in the presence of recombinant human interleukin 1alpha. A strong correlation between inhibition of aggrecan metabolism and inhibition of stromelysin 1 (MMP 3) (r=0.93) suggests a role for stromelysin or a stromelysin-like enzyme in cartilage aggrecan metabolism. However, the compounds were approx. 1/1000 as potent in inhibiting aggrecan loss from the cartilage explants as they were in inhibiting stromelysin. There was little or no correlation between inhibition of aggrecan metabolism and inhibition of gelatinase B (MMP 9) or inhibition of collagenase 1 (MMP 1). Studies with collagenase inhibitors with a range of potencies showed a correlation between inhibition of collagenase activity and inhibition of collagen degradation in the cartilage explant assay. This indicates that in interleukin 1alpha-driven bovine nasal cartilage destruction, stromelysin (or a closely related enzyme) is involved in aggrecan metabolism, whereas collagenase is principally responsible for collagen degradation.

Aggrecans↗