Since mammalian atria were recently found to contain vasoactive and natriuretic peptides, we investigated the following in normal humans: plasma human atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations, effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinary water and electrolyte excretion, blood pressure (BP), and catecholamine, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), angiotensin II, and aldo...

In a group of normal subjects going from sea level to approximately 16,000 feet we observed that very soon after arrival at high altitude there was hemoconcentration, as indicated by an increased red cell count and hematocrit, but a normal total red cell volume and a low plasma volume. This "apparent increase" in the number of red blood cells in the early days after arrival at high altitude is,...

BACKGROUND Dengue, although endemic in Puerto Rico, is often not mentioned in the death certificates of decedents with laboratory results positive for dengue. Because confirmatory results are usually not available during hospitalization, we examined the utility of 2 instruments for diagnosis on the basis of clinical findings: the definition of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and the publicized (...

To study the effect of plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI) on fibrinolysis it is essential to be able to specifically measure these proteins in plasma. To this end PAI-1 was purified from cortisol-stimulated HT 1080 fibrosarcoma cells and antisera raised in rabbits. The immunologic relationship of the purified inhibitor to PAI-1 in plasma and platelet extracts was established by immunoblotti...

BACKGROUND The Dengue Score is a model for predicting pleural effusion and/or ascites and uses the hematocrit (Hct), albumin concentration, platelet count and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ratio as independent variables. As this metric has not been validated, we conducted a study to validate the Dengue Score and assess its clinical application. METHODS A retrospective study was performed a...

Responses of tumor microcirculation (RBC flux) to i.p. glucose or mannitol injections were studied in early generation isotransplants of a spontaneous C3Hf/Sed mouse fibrosarcoma (FSaII). RBC flux in superficial tumor microregions was assessed using laser Doppler flowmetry. After administration of glucose or mannitol (a nonmetabolized sugar alcohol), a dose-dependent reduction in laser Doppler ...

The leukotrienes and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) play an important role in the pathophysiology of septic shock, in which hypotension, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hemoconcentration are observed. This study was performed to examine the effects of a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor (AA-861), a selective leukotriene receptor antagonist (ONO-1078), and a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin) on endo...