Streptokinase is an extracellular protein secreted by various strains of streptococci and is used clinically as an intravenous thrombolytic agent for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. It is well established that the fibrinolytic activity of streptokinase originates in its ability to activate plasminogen. The present investigation was carried out to determine the extent of streptokin...

The role of proactivators for the streptokinase activation of human plasminogen was studied. It was found that plasmin, as well as plasminogen, can form activator complex with streptokinase. The relative importance of these two proactivators for the streptokinase activation of human plasminogen is discussed. The use of the active center-specific reagent, p-nitrophenylp-guanidinobenzoate (NPGB) ...

Streptokinase activates platelets, limiting its effectiveness as a thrombolytic agent. The role of antistreptokinase antibodies and proteases in streptokinase-induced platelet activation was investigated. Streptokinase induced localization of human IgG to the platelet surface, platelet aggregation, and thromboxane A(2) production. These effects were inhibited by a monoclonal antibody to the pla...

OBJECTIVES To determine whether patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing thrombolysis with streptokinase develop changes in renal function. DESIGN Prospective assessment of renal function in 60 consecutive patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction. SETTING Tertiary referral centre and city general hospital. PATIENTS 60 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarc...

A functionally active human plasmin light (B) chain derivative, stabilized by the streptomyces plasmin inhibitor leupeptin, was isolated from a partially reduced and alkylated enzyme preparation by an affinity chromatography method with a L-lysine-substituted Sepharose column. This light (B) chain derivative was found to be relatively homogeneous by electrophoretic analysis in both an acrylamid...

Thirty-four patients with acute myocardial infarction were treated prospectively using a new strategy of prehospital intravenous streptokinase given by a physician-operated mobile intensive care unit. The 29 prehospital-treated patients who had experienced no previous myocardial infarction were compared to a similar group treated with streptokinase inhospital. Patients receiving streptokinase i...

Background Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) retains a very high mortality rate despite prompt and adequate antibiotic treatment and surgical debridement. Necrotizing fasciitis has recently been associated with Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE). Methods We investigated the causes of a very severe clinical manifestation of SDSE-NF by assessing both host and pathogen factors. ...

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling regulates fundamental cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation, and survival. We have demonstrated previously that inhibiting MAPK signaling induces apoptosis in melanoma cells but not in normal melanocytes, suggesting that the MAPK pathway propagates essential survival signals in melanoma cells. Here, we report that the 90-kD...

Highly purified human (Lys-forms), cat, dog, and rabbit plasminogens showed significantly different sensitivities to activation by highly purified streptokinase. The most sensitive plasminogen is the human zymogen, followed by the cat, dog, and rabbit zymogens, respectively. These human, cat, dog, and rabbit zymogens reacted with streptokinase to form homogeneous equimolar plasminogen-streptoki...

BACKGROUND The nonsurgical medical approach with use of fibrinolytic agent is an alternative modality in management of chronic empyemas. With the introduction of purer forms of streptokinase, there has been renewed interest generated in the use of intrapleural thrombolytics with documented successful drainage of difficult to drain chronic empyemas. To evaluate the utility of streptokinase in th...