Background: Streptokinase, which is injected intravenously with a standard dose of 1.5 MIU, is the most widely used thrombolytic agent around the world. What is so important about this bioproduct is the level of antistreptokinase (anti-sk) antibody in the population, which is directly correlated to the incidence of streptococcal infections in that population. Objective: Since Iran is an endemic...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Three major randomized controlled trials of streptokinase in acute ischemic stroke were curtailed because of safety concerns. The prospective Thrombolysis in Acute Stroke Pooling Project (TAS-PP) was established to examine the aggregate data to identify factors influencing the effect of streptokinase. METHODS Individual patient data from the Australian Streptokinase Tri...

The complex response of murine macrophages to infection with Streptococcus pyogenes was investigated at the level of gene expression with a high-density oligomer microarray. More than 400 genes were identified as being differentially regulated. Many of the up-regulated genes encode molecules involved in the immune response and in inflammation, transcription, signaling, apoptosis, the cell cycle...

This month's quiz is based on the article " Bacterial Skin and Soft Tissue Infections, " which begins on page 9 of this issue. Choose the single best answer for each question. 1. Which of the following organisms is the most commonly identified cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in the United States? (A) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (B) Staphylococcus aureus (C) Staphylococcus epidermidi...

The occurrence of ventricular late potentials in survivors of acute myocardial infarction treated with intravenous streptokinase was compared with that in a conservatively treated group and the relation between ventricular late potentials and patency of the infarct related artery was examined. Of 115 patients admitted with a first infarct, 55 were treated with intravenous streptokinase (strepto...

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...