Thrombosis is a pathophysiological disorder caused by accumulation of fibrin in the blood. Fibrinolytic proteases with potent thrombolytic activity have been produced by diverse microbial sources. Considering the microbial biodiversity of the Amazon region, this study aimed at the screening, production and biochemical characterization of a fibrinolytic enzyme produced by Streptomyces sp. isolat...

OBJECTIVES To examine circadian changes in the sympathovagal balance, the activity of the renin-angiotensin system and hemostatic variables in patients with stable coronary artery disease, and the effects of beta-adrenoceptor blockade and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. BACKGROUND Sympathovagal balance and key components of the fibrinolytic system show circadian variability. The eff...

Intravascular thrombosis due to fibrin aggregation in arteries is one of the main causes of cardiovascular disease in humans. Thrombolytic agents such as heparin and Streptokinase have been extensively used in the therapeutic treatment of thrombosis. Search for potent and effective thrombolytic agents from various sources such as bacteria and fungi continue around the world. In the present stud...

Consultant physicians and cardiologists were surveyed early in 1987 and 1989 to document the management policies for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction in United Kingdom hospitals and to assess the influence of major clinical trials on these policies. The response rate to both these surveys was high (84% (1178 physicians) in 1987 and 76% (982 physicians) in 1989). The percentage of ph...

Therapy for submassive pulmonary embolism (intermediate risk), remains controversial. New evidence has appeared that may help us in the process of decision making. We review the relevant literature, outline prognostic factors, and discuss current recommendations and controversies regarding the available alternatives such as systemic and catheter-directed thrombolytic use.

Patients with late potentials in the signal averaged electrocardiogram are more at risk of lethal arrhythmias in the period after acute myocardial infarction. To test the effects of thrombolysis on the incidence and evolution of late potentials, 158 consecutive patients were prospectively studied during the first 10 days after acute myocardial infarction. The study population consisted of two g...

A patient's refusal to receive blood products can pose both clinical and ethical challenges to the surgeon. In this report, we review the case of a Jehovah's Witness presenting with critical lower limb ischemia and severe anemia for whom the decision of whether to perform thrombolytic therapy was complicated by his refusal to accept blood products. The case demonstrates that thrombolytic therap...

Interest in thrombolytic therapy has given rise to a search for potent fibrinolytic substances which are safe for administration. Nicotinic acid (4) and pyrogens (12, 13, 15) have been tried in this connection. Von Kaulla, et al., (16, 17) have made an intensive study in this field using several organic compounds including numerous dyes and surfactants. In the course of an investigation of diff...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Reperfusion is the most beneficial of all therapeutic strategies for acute ischemic stroke. However, the standard cerebral reperfusion treatment of the first decade of the reperfusion era, noncontrast computed tomography (CT)-guided, < or =3 hours, intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, has many limitations. This review surveys emerging strategies that have the potenti...