Non-antigenic and low allergic gelatin produced by specific digestion with an enzyme-coupled matrix

Porcine gelatin (heat-denatured collagen) was digested with a bioreactor using an enzyme-coupled matrix (ECM) with purified collagenase. The digested gelatin, FreAlagin type R (M.W. range 200-10000 Da), was further purified by an HPLC system depending upon molecular size. The molecular weight range of the purified fractions, FreAlagin type P and type AD, were 200-500 and 2000-10000 Da, respectively, and glycine was the N-terminal amino acid of both types (> or =93%). ECM has the capability of digesting gelatin at a specific point in the sequence before glycine, and it was determined that FreAlagin type P consists of a tri-peptide fraction with the amino acid sequence Gly-X-Y. No types of FreAlagin exhibited any reactivity with gelatin-specific IgG antibody raised in guinea pigs, and they also possessed an extremely low reactivity with gelatin-specific IgE antibody from the sera of patients who had experienced an anaphylactic reaction against gelatin after vaccination or after eating gelatin-containing foods. From these results, it was determined that FreAlagin types R and AD were non-antigenic, low-allergic gelatins. FreAlagin type R, and especially type AD, had strong adsorption-blocking activity comparable to the level of bovine serum albumin, whereas type P and glycine had virtually no adsorption-blocking activity. Therefore, the new types of gelatin, FreAlagin types R and AD, are suitable for pharmaceutical use to avoid gelatin allergy.

Effects of magnesium sulphate on the cardiovascular system, coronary circulation and myocardial metabolism in anaesthetized dogs

We have studied the effects of i.v. bolus doses of magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) 60, 90 and 120 mg kg-1 on haemodynamic state, the coronary circulation and myocardial metabolism in nine dogs anaesthetized with pentobarbitone and fentanyl. MgSO4 produced dose-dependent decreases in arterial pressure, heart rate, left ventricular dP/dtmax and left ventricular minute work index (LVMWI) and an increase in the time constant of left ventricular isovolumic relaxation. Stroke volume increased, systemic vascular resistance decreased and cardiac output did not change significantly. MgSO4 produced decreases in coronary perfusion pressure, coronary vascular resistance and myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2). Coronary sinus blood flow, lactate extraction ratio and the ratio of LVMWI to myocardial MVO2, that is an index of cardiac efficiency, did not change significantly. This study indicated that the depressant effect of MgSO4 on cardiac function was offset by lowering of peripheral vascular resistance, so that cardiac pump function remained effective, and the almost constant coronary sinus blood flow resulted from the decrease in coronary vascular resistance even at higher doses.

Effects of magnesium sulphate on atrioventricular conduction times and surface electrocardiogram in dogs anaesthetized with sevoflurane

We have studied the effects of magnesium on atrioventricular (AV) conduction times and surface electrocardiogram during both sinus rhythm and atrial pacing in seven dogs anaesthetized with 1 MAC of sevoflurane. A bolus dose of magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) 30, 60 and 90 mg kg-1 significantly increased plasma magnesium concentrations from 1.3 (SEM 0.1) to 15.3 (1.3) mg dl-1. MgSO4 significantly prolonged A-H (AV nodal conduction time during sinus rhythm), St-H (intra-atrial and AV nodal conduction time during atrial pacing) and H-S (total ventricular conduction time) intervals at doses > or = 30 mg kg-1 ; H-V interval (His-Purkinje conduction time) at doses > or = 60 mg kg-1; RR and PR intervals and QRS duration at doses > or = 30 mg kg-1 in a dose-related manner during both sinus rhythm and atrial pacing. QTc interval remained unchanged during sinus rhythm. The doses of MgSO4 used did not have deleterious effects on AV conduction times and surface electrocardiogram during 1 MAC of sevoflurane anaesthesia. This finding suggests that MgSO4 in high doses was safe and may be indicated for cardiac arrhythmia and hypertension during sevoflurane anaesthesia. However, further study is required to apply these findings to clinical anaesthesia.

Atrioventricular conduction during adenosine-induced hypotension in dogs anaesthetized with sevoflurane

We have studied the effects of adenosine-induced hypotension on A-H interval (atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction time during sinus rhythm), St-H interval (intra-atrial plus AV nodal conduction time during atrial pacing), H-V interval (His-Purkinje conduction time) and H-S interval (total ventricular conduction time) by His-bundle electrocardiography in addition to surface electrocardiogram during both sinus rhythm and atrial pacing in nine dogs anaesthetized with 1 MAC of sevoflurane. Stepwise increases in infusion rates of adenosine to 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 mg kg-1 min-1 produced a dose-related decrease in mean arterial pressure from 91 (6) to 38 (2) mm Hg. Adenosine significantly increased the A-H interval at infusion rates of 0.5 mg kg-1 min-1 and above, and the St-H interval at 1.0 mg kg-1 min-1. The H-V and H-S intervals remained unchanged. Heart rate decreased significantly only at 1.0 mg kg-1 min-1 with a significant increase in the PR interval. Adenosine-induced hypotension did not have deleterious effects on AV conduction times and the surface electrocardiogram in dogs anaesthetized with 1 MAC of sevoflurane. This may indicate that the effects of adenosine on AV conduction were small and therefore are unlikely to be a contraindication to the use of adenosine for inducing hypotension in patients with initially normal conduction during sevoflurane anaesthesia.

Effects of graded infusion rates of propofol on cardiovascular haemodynamics, coronary circulation and myocardial metabolism in dogs

We have studied the effects of a 30-min infusion of propofol 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 mg kg-1 h-1 on cardiovascular haemodynamics, coronary circulation and myocardial metabolism in 12 mongrel dogs. Mean plasma concentrations of propofol after infusion of 6 and 21 mg kg-1 h-1 increased from 2.9 (SEM 0.3) to 11.5 (0.1) micrograms ml-1. Propofol produced a progressive decrease in arterial pressure. Heart rate tended to decrease at 15, 18 and 21 mg kg-1 h-1 and cardiac index decreased significantly at infusion rates > or = 9 mg kg-1 h-1. Systemic vascular resistance tended to increase except at 21 mg kg-1 h-1 and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function were depressed. Both coronary sinus blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption decreased in parallel with a decrease in left ventricular minute work index without producing lactate. Propofol produced progressive decreases in coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption but did not exert adverse effects on the coronary circulation.

Comparison of the effects of halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane on atrioventricular conduction times in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs

It is not known how sevoflurane affects the cardiac conduction system. We compared the effects of halothane, isoflurance, and sevoflurane on specialized atrioventricular (AV) conduction times in eight pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. AV conduction times with three inhaled anesthetics at end-tidal concentrations of 1 and 2 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC), were measured by His-bundle electrocardiography during both sinus rhythm and right atrial pacing at a slightly higher rate than sinus one. Heart rate and arterial pressure were simultaneously recorded. Halothane prolonged AV nodal conduction time during sinus rhythm (A-H interval) at 2 MAC compared with the control value, whereas isoflurane and sevoflurane did not alter the A-H interval, His-Purkinje conduction time (H-V interval), and ventricular conduction time (H-S interval) during sinus rhythm at 1 and 2 MAC. All three inhaled anesthetics did not change AV conduction times during right atrial pacing. No significant difference in AV conduction times was observed between isoflurane and sevoflurane. Heart rate during sinus rhythm remained unchanged despite a decrease in arterial pressure with three inhaled anesthetics. The property of sevoflurane and isoflurane which does not affect the cardiac conduction system may be important in the stability of the cardiac rhythm during anesthesia with these drugs.