The effect of OP-41483, a stable prostacyclin (PGI2) analog, on ischemic acute renal failure (ARF) was investigated in dogs. Administration of OP-41483 for three days after ischemia significantly increased renal cortical blood flow (RCBF) when compared with dogs treated with the saline vehicle. In the OP-41483-treated group, serum creatinine levels remained relatively low during postoperative days 1-3 and mean survival time was prolonged. Injection of a silicone rubber vascular casting compound (Microfil) revealed increased numbers of visible renal cortical glomeruli and microvessels compared to the saline vehicle group. Histologic sections showed only very limited tubular necrosis, whereas sections of kidneys treated with saline showed extensive tubular necrosis. In conclusion, this stable prostacyclin analog provided a significant degree of protection for the kidneys from ischemic injury and may be useful in a clinical setting.
As a diagnostic aid of malignant hepato-biliary tract disease, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in the bile and serum were evaluated in 12 patients with benign and 19 patients with malignant hepato-biliary diseases. Of the 12 patients with benign disease, 3 had a residual choledocholithiasis. CEA levels were determined in 7 patients with cancer of the head of pancreas or of the duodenal ampulla. Bile samples were obtained via biliary tract drainage after allowing for sufficient time to exclude the effects of pre-existing bile stasis or inflammation. The average serum CEA levels from 8 patients with benign disease were 1.5 +/- 0.23 ng/ml in contrast to 3.3 +/- 0.55 ng/ml in 18 with a malignancy (p less than 0.05). The average CEA levels in bile from 9 patients with benign and 19 with a malignancy were 1.7 +/- 0.31 ng/ml and 7.6 +/- 1.70 ng/ml respectively (p less than 0.01). In 3 with residual choledocholithiasis, serum and bile CEA levels were 2.0 +/- 0.46 ng/ml and 13.1 +/- 6.47 ng/ml. The serum and bile CEA levels from 7 patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas or of duodenal ampulla were 2.5 +/- 0.32 ng/ml and 8.8 +/- 3.3 ng/ml, respectively. Although measurement of both serum and bile CEA levels in patients with hepato-biliary tract disease proved to be useful for differentiation of malignant from benign disease, the high value obtained strongly suggests the presence of a malignancy in addition to the residual choledocholithiasis and cancer of the head of the pancreas or of the duodenal ampulla.
The effect of OP-41483 (Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Osaka, Japan), a stable prostacyclin analogue, on canine renal allograft rejection was investigated. Administration for 4 days after transplantation significantly increased renal cortical blood flow and urine output when compared with untreated dogs with renal allografts. Serum creatinine levels remained relatively low during postoperative days 1-4. Mean animal survival time was prolonged. Vascular lesions and mononuclear cell infiltration were greatly diminished in biopsy specimens removed on day 4. This stable prostacyclin analogue provided a degree of protection against canine renal allograft rejection.
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