Digoxin concentration of 14 left ventricular papillary muscles and 36 right atrial appendages of 45 patients undergoing cardiac surgery were determined by the NEN 125J-radioimmunoassay. Blood specimens for digoxin assay were withdrawn immediately before operation, 12 to 16 hr after the last digitalis dose. Mean papillary muscle digoxin concentration was 76.1 ng/g +/- 25.5; mean ratio to plasma digoxin level, 36.8:1. The mean concentration of right atrial appendages was 41.8 ng/g; mean ratio, 29.9:1. Most of the tissue specimens were examined histologically using Hematoxylin-Eosin and van Gieson stains. No clear relation between tissue digoxin concentration and hisological alteration, i.e., the degree of fibrosis or lipomatosis, could be found, although most severe alterations were found in right atrial appendages corresponding to a higher variation in tissue concentrations and a poorer correlation to plasma digoxin (r = 0.47, respectively for papillary muscle r = 0.73).
Journal Article Treatment of acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in hospitalised patients — a comparison of meropenem and imipenem/cilastatin Get access J. Hamacher, J. Hamacher aDepartment for Chest and Infectious DiseasesCity Hospital Zehlendorf, Berlin Germany Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar F. Vogel, F. Vogel bMTK-Hospital Hofheim/TaunusFrankfurt am Main, Berlin, Germany Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar J. Lichey, J. Lichey cSpecial Hospital, Medical Centre for Lung Disease and Thoracic SurgeryBerlin, Germany Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar F. V. Kohl, F. V. Kohl dCity Hospital NeukollnBerlin, Germany Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar K. Diwok, K. Diwok eClinic for Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of RostockRostock, Germany Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar H. Wendel, H. Wendel fDepartment for Chest and Infectious Diseases, Clinic for Internal Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt UniversityGreifswald, Germany Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar H. Lode On behalf of the COPD Study Group H. Lode * aDepartment for Chest and Infectious DiseasesCity Hospital Zehlendorf, Berlin Germany *Address for correspondence: Prof. H. Lode, Pulmonary Division I, City Hospital Zehlendorf, Affiliated Free University of Berlin, Zum Heckeshorn 33, D-14109 Berlin, Germany. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Volume 36, Issue suppl_A, July 1995, Pages 121–133, https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/36.suppl_A.121 Published: 01 July 1995
The protective effect of the calcium antagonist diltiazem on methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction was investigated in 19 extrinsic asthmatics. A double-blind cross-over design was used (diltiazem vs. placebo, administered orally for 1 week). We found no significant difference between the two treatment regimens when expressed as the provocation dose of methacholine causing a 20% drop in forced expired volume in 1 s (PD20 FEV1). Some individual patients might nevertheless gain some benefit from diltiazem as an additional treatment in difficult-to-manage asthma
The aim of this study was, first, to examine pressure effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on pulmonary vasculature and bronchi in isolated perfused and ventilated rat lungs and, second, to investigate pulmonary uptake of tritium-labeled PAF injected into the pulmonary artery. Four different perfusates were used: Krebs-Ringer solution (KRS) and KRS with 0.2, 2.0, and 4% albumin. In the KRS, perfusion and inflation pressure increased by 100 and 47%, respectively, after 100 micrograms PAF. By increasing the albumin concentration, the pressure effects were reduced significantly (P less than 0.01). These changes were paralleled by increasing tritium outflow rates (15.9 +/- 3.6, 49.7 +/- 12.5, 78.3 +/- 8.7, 87.8 +/- 2.6%, respectively). Comparable changes in tritium outflow rates (19.2 +/- 3.9, 38.2 +/- 7.2%) occurred when tracer amounts of labeled PAF were injected, but, in KRS with 2.0 and 4.0% albumin, tritium outflow was significantly lower (52.8 +/- 8.0 and 60.8 +/- 11.8%, respectively). Pressure effects are related to extraction rates. Both pressure effects and extraction rates depend on binding to the albumin in the perfusion medium used. PAF might act on smooth muscle tissue of the pulmonary vasculature. Inflation pressure increases are probably due to concomitant occurrence of edema.
