Antithrombin III activity in cerebrovascular accidents.

Cerebrovascular accidents are commonly due to occlusive or haemorrhagic lesions. The present prospective study was planned to find out role of antithrombin in possible etiopathological process, which might predispose an individual for stroke. METHOD: Biological activity of antithrombin III was done by the method as described by Innerfield et al (1976). Immunological estimation of an antithrombin III was done by single radial immunodiffusion by the technique of Mancini et al modified by Fahey and Mckelvey. RESULTS: The biological and immunological activity of antithrombin III was measured in 98 patient of occlusive and 56 patients of haemorrhagic strokes. Significant depression in biological as well as immunological activity (p<0.001) was observed in occlusive stroke. In haemorrhagic stroke both, biological and immunological activity was increased. In follow up study, there was progressive normalization of both, biological as well as of immunological activity in both group. CONCLUSION: Decrease of antithrombin III in occlusive and increase in haemorrhagic stroke indicates that these changes have at least an additive role in the pathogenesis of stroke.

Lead monitoring in air, soil and foliar deposits at Indore city with special reference to automobile pollution.

Ambient lead levels in air, soil and dust deposits on selected plant species at ten distinctly located sampling stations of Indore city are presented. The maximum lead level in air was recorded at Palasia, where the traffic density was found to be the highest. Out of the plant species studied, the maximum lead was recorded on Dalbergia sissoo leaves. A possible relationship between leaf morphology and dust accumulation tendency is also discussed.

Hereditary combined coagulation factor V and factor VIII deficiency: report of two Indian families from Varanasi.

Hereditary deficiencies of blood coagulation factors usually involve a single protein defect. Herewith we are describing clinical features and laboratory approach for the diagnosis of combined coagulation factor V/VIII deficiency which we encountered in 3 patients from 2 unrelated Hindu families of Varanasi.

Danazol in Indian haemophiliacs.

Danazol, 10 mg/kg/day (maximum 600 mg/day) was given in two divided doses for 14 days in 30 patients with haemophilia-A. Rise in factor-VIII level was observed in all the patients after one week of danazol therapy, irrespective of initial factor-VIII Levels. In haemophiliacs with less than 1% factor VIII level, rise was maximum (3-6 folds); mean factor-VIII level at 7th and 14th day of danazol therapy was 2.3 +/- 0.6% and 4.8 +/- 1.1%, respectively. Only marginal increase in factor-VIII was noted in haemophiliacs with initial factor-VII levels more than 3%. The raised level of factor-VIII persisted after stopping the therapy during the observation period of 2 more weeks, irrespective of initial levels. No adverse effect was observed during or after.

Antithrombin III in liver disorders.

Biological and immunological antithrombin III was studied in 26 patients of viral hepatitis including 6 with encephalopathy, and in 11 patients with cirrhosis of liver. There was a significant reduction in both biological and immunological activity of antithrombin III in all the groups of liver disorders studied. There was a good correlation between biological and immunological activity of antithrombin III (P less than 0.05). Further, there was a significant inverse correlation between immunological activity of antithrombin III and SGOT/SGPT (P less than 0.01) as well as serum bilirubin (P less than 0.001), signifying the prognostic value of antithrombin III in hepatitis. Biological activity on the other hand did not show any relation with the hepatic enzymes or bilirubin elevation. The antithrombin III levels appeared to decline in direct proportion to the degree of hepatic necrosis, probably due to reduced synthesis.

Physical microenvironment of platelet membrane in acute myocardial infarction.

Patients with acute myocardial infarction have more reactive platelets than those from normal population. These pathological platelets had more viscous plasma membrane, as inferred from fluorescence polarisation studies, and a lower fusion activation energy (delta E) of the membrane, reflecting a higher degree of order within lipid-lipid interactions.

Hemostatic changes in neonates with anoxia and sepsis.

Hemostatic profile (prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), kaolin cephalin clotting time (KCCT), plasma fibrinogen, serum fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and platelet counts) was examined in 153 neonates with birth anoxia and 86 with sepsis. Remarkable hemostatic alterations occurred in neonates with severe anoxia and sepsis, while those with moderate anoxia exhibited minimal or no change. Vitamin K administration to anoxic babies showed no improvement in the hemostatic profile after 48-72 hours. The hemostatic alterations were presumably due to incipient disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In spite of the marked coagulation changes, only 3 neonates with sepsis and none of the anoxic newborns presented with clinical bleeding indicating a well balanced hemostatic mechanism.