In two patients with chronic corneal ulcer, resistant to conventional therapy, analysis of tear fluid and observation of the corneal state were performed before and after treatment using autologous fibronectin and aprotinin for the purpose of estimating the effect of treatment. The plasmin activity which was revealed before treatment was absent after treatment, and corneal reepithelialization was observed after treatment. We think the combined therapy with autologous fibronectin and aprotinin may be effective for the treatment of therapy-resistant chronic corneal ulcer.
Aprotinin* ; Corneal Ulcer* ; Fibrinolysin ; Fibronectins* ; Humans

In two patients with chronic corneal ulcer, resistant to conventional therapy, analysis of tear fluid and observation of the corneal state were performed before and after treatment using autologous fibronectin and aprotinin for the purpose of estimating the effect of treatment. The plasmin activity which was revealed before treatment was absent after treatment, and corneal reepithelialization was observed after treatment. We think the combined therapy with autologous fibronectin and aprotinin may be effective for the treatment of therapy-resistant chronic corneal ulcer.
Aprotinin* ; Corneal Ulcer* ; Fibrinolysin ; Fibronectins* ; Humans

Plasmin is an enzyme which plays an important role in the inflammatory process by activating vasoactive amine and lysis of fibrin. On the other hand, plasmin is also known to activate latent collagenase. Plasmin is an activated form of plasminogen which is stimulated by the plasminogen activator that exists in plasma and tissue. Gordon et al(1980) insisted that collagenase is important to the formation of corneal ulcer because it destroys the collagen which is the main component of the cornea. Berman et al(1980) reported that corneal tissue destruction by plasminogen activator-plasmin system can be a cause of corneal ulcer. We could obtain the following results by checking the plasmin activity in the tear of chronic corneal ulcer patients and necrotizing scleritis patients. 1. The plasmin activity in the tear was increased in all three chronic corneal ulcer patients in concentration of 1/16 sigma unit/ml to 1/8 sigma unit/ml. 2. There was no plasmin activity in the tear of the two necrotizing scleritis patients.
Collagen ; Collagenases ; Cornea ; Corneal Ulcer* ; Fibrin ; Fibrinolysin* ; Hand ; Humans ; Plasma ; Plasminogen ; Plasminogen Activators ; Scleritis ; Tears*

It is known that antithrombin III is a potent vasodilator and plasmin is a vasoconstrictor, and some patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) develop clinical vasospasm and some patients do not. Under the hypothesis that the development of clinical vasospasm might depend on the difference of the blood level of antithrombin III in each patient with SAH and that the plasmin might have a role in the development of clinical vasospasm, we repeatedly checked the levels of blood antithombin III with a single radial immunodiffusion method and CSF fibrinogen degradation products(FDP : indirect indicator of plasmin activity) with a latex-test(Thrombo-Wellcotest(R)) during the period between 1-4, 5-11 and 12-24 days after a SAH in 29 patients. 10 patients with diseases except those with a SAH were selected as a control group. First, we analyzed the difference of the average of blood antithrombin III and CSF FDP between aneurysmal SAH patients and control patients and then, between patients with clinical vasospasm(8 cases) and patients without clinical vasospasm(21 cases). Secondly, we also analyzed the difference of these data between patients with clinical vasospasm and patients without clinical vasospasm according to the sampling day after a SAH. As a result, there was no statistical difference between the average blood level of antithrombin III in control and in SAH patients(29.06+/-3.04 vs. 25.61+/-6.95, respectively), and in patients with clinical vasospasm and in patients without clinical vasospasm(26.59+/-7.65 vs. 23.67+/-7.40, respectively). The average CSF levels of FDP is higher in SAH patients than in control patients(18.16+/-14.36 vs. 1.00+/-3.16, respectively : p<0.01). It is also higher in patients with clinical vasospasm than in patients without clinical vasospasm. However, there is no statistical significance(28.75+/-9.91 vs. 21.75+/-12.07, respectively : p>0.05). In the analysis of the average CSF levels of the FDP according to the sampling day after a SAH, even though the average levels is higher in patients with clinical vasospasm than in patients without clinical vasospasm(1-4 days : 31.43+/-14.64 vs. 27.33+/-16.24, 5-11 days : 23.75+/-17.68 vs. 18.10+/-16.32, 12-24 days : 32.50+/-13.89 vs. 18.82+/-16.54, respectively), a statistical significant difference was noticed only in levels which were checked between 12 and 24 days after a SAH(p<0.05). This study concludes that the blood level of antithrombin III shows no difference between the control and SAH patients, and patients with clinical vasospasm and patients without clinical vasospasm. Although it suggests a causal relationship between the FDP itself or plasmin in CSF and the development of clinical vasospasm, it does not justify any valid conclusion.
Aneurysm* ; Antithrombin III* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Fibrinogen ; Fibrinolysin ; Humans ; Immunodiffusion ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Vasospasm, Intracranial

Recently, many works to treat chronic corneal ulcer have been progressed. It has been reported that the Aprotinin, one of them, is serine protease inhibitor and is useful to treat therapy-resistant chronic corneal ulcer because it decreases the plasmin level in tear fluid that was increased in corneal ulcer. We performed this study to evaluate the effect of Aprotinin to the reepithelization of cornea according to its concentration. We made corneal burn in rabbits and instilled topical antibiotics and Aprotinin 500u/ml and 200u/ml, four times a day. After instillation, we compared the process of corneal epithelial wound healing, according to the time interval, clinically and histopathologically in each group. As a result, wound healing of cornea treated with combination of antibiotics and Aprotinin was delayed rather than that treated with antibiotics only. And combination therapy with Aprotinin 500n/ml is more effective than with Aprotinin 2000n/ml. This data suggests that high concentration of Aprotinin alone is not helpful to tresat the therapyresistant chronic corneal ulcer.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aprotinin* ; Burns* ; Cornea ; Corneal Ulcer ; Fibrinolysin ; Rabbits* ; Serine Proteases ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the plasma concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, main regulator of fibrinolytic system in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and to clarify whether it may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic anovulation. METHODS: Fibrinolytic system (plasma fibrinogen, plasminogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 concentration) was assayed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and compared to normal controls. RESULTS: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome had significantly higher plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and fibrinogen concentration compared to normal controls. CONCLUSION: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome may have an imbalance in the fibrinolytic system that is tilted towards a reduced production of the proteolytic enzyme plasmin. It may result in impaired follicular rupture and anovulation at cellular level in the ovaries.
Anovulation ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Fibrinolysin ; Humans ; Ovary ; Plasma ; Plasminogen ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Rupture

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to quantify and compare the vitreolytic effect of plasmin, hyaluronidase, and a combination of the two. METHODS: Thirty-six rabbits were randomized into 3 groups: (A) twelve rabbits had an intravitreal injection of plasmin 1 U with hyaluronidase 10 U/0.1 mL into the right eye, (B) twelve rabbits had an injection of plasmin alone (1 U/0.1 mL), and (C) twelve rabbits had an injection of hyaluronidase alone (10 U/0.1 mL). The left eye of each rabbit was used as control, which was injected with 0.1 mL phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The eyes were enucleated 1 hour and 24 hours after injection. The volume of fluid-type vitreous and gel-type vitreous was measured with a micropipette using the melting point as the difference. Statistical analysis was performed and light microscopy was used to assess potential damage to the retinal tissue. RESULTS: The volume of remaining gel-type vitreous was measured as 52.5%, 60.3%, 59.2%, and 76.5% after 1 hour enucleation and as 44.6%, 56.7%, 56.1%, and 74.7%, after 24 hours enucleation in group A, B, C, and control group, respectively. Group A, B, and C showed statistically significant differences against the control group. Group A (plasmin with hyaluronidase) showed less remaining gel-type vitreous volume than a single injection of plasmin or hyaluronidase alone. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal injection of plasmin with hyaluronidase showed more vitreolytic effect than a single injection of plasmin or hyaluronidase alone. The enzyme may be useful in liquefying the vitreous, and may be a useful biochemical adjunct to vitrectomy.
Eye ; Fibrinolysin ; Freezing ; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase ; Intravitreal Injections ; Light ; Microscopy ; Rabbits ; Retinaldehyde ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; Vitrectomy

As a therapeutic agent in thrombosis the fibrinolytic enzymes are of interest and the search for a new enzyme continues. A novel fibrinolytic enzyme was produced from Rhizopus chinensis 120, which was screened from the starter for brewing rice wine in the South of China, by solid fermentation, and purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydrophobic interaction, ionic exchange and gel filtration chromatographies. The purified enzyme hydrolyzed fibrin, it cleaved the alpha-, beta- and gamma-chains of fibrinogen simultaneously, and it also activated plasminogen to plasmin. The enzyme hydrolyzed N-Succinyl-Ala-Ala- Pro-Phe-pNA, and Km was 0.23 mmol/L and Kcat 16.36 s(-1). The optimal temperature of the enzyme for hydrolying fibrin was 45 degrees C, and the optimal pH range of 6.8 - 8.8. The isoelectric point of the enzyme estimated by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis was 8.5 +/- 0.1. The enzyme was a glycoprotein. EDTA, PCMB, PMSF inhibited the activety of the enzyme, and SBTI, Lys, TPCK, Aprotinine had none obvious inhibition, which suggested that the activity centre of the enzyme had hydrosulfuryl, metal and serine. The first 12 amino acids of the N-termimal sequence of the enzyme were NH2-Ser-Val-Ser-Glu-Ile-Gln-Leu-Met-His-Asn-Leu-Gly, and had none homology with that of other fibrinolytic enzyme from other microbes. The novel fibrinolytic enzyme from Rhizopus chinensis 12# has potential to become a therapeutic agent in thrombosis.
Enzyme Stability ; Fermentation ; Fibrinolysin ; metabolism ; Fibrinolysis ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; chemistry ; Humans ; Plasminogen ; metabolism ; Rhizopus ; enzymology

The exact pathomechanism of anti-epidermal cell pemphigus antibodies in developing acantholytic changes is unknown. Recent investigations have suggested that pemphigus antibodies, after binding to the antigenic site, induce activation of epidermal plasminogen activator. This increased activity of the plasminogen activator converts plasminogen to plasmin in high level degrades intercellular bridges resulting in loss of adhesion between epidermal cells. Author examined, by modified direct immunofluorescence, the deposition of plasmin and its inhibitor proteins such as alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin, with the early lesional skin specimens from 5 patients of pemphigus All these lesional skin demonstrated intense deposits of plasmin and aIpha 2-mscrogIobulin, and to a less degree alpha l-antitrypsin, all having indentical patterns to that of IgGautoantibodies. These proteins were also stained at the dermoepidermal junction and upper dermis, but less intensely. The identification of these particular proteins ; plasmin, alpha 1 antitrypsin, and alpha 2 macroglobulin, could be an alternate mean for the enzyme-histologic diagncsis of pemphigus.
alpha 1-Antitrypsin ; alpha-Macroglobulins ; Antibodies ; Dermis ; Fibrinolysin* ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Pemphigus* ; Plasminogen ; Plasminogen Activators ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: Thrombin/thrombomodulin complex activates thrombin activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) to active TAFI (TAFIa), which in turn catalyzes the hydrolysis of C-terminal lysine residues of partially degraded fibrin. The fibrin that is partially degraded by TAFIa is not degraded by plasmin. Thus, TAFI inhibits fibrinolysis. An increase in plasma TAFI level is suggested to be associated with thrombotic disorders. In this study, we measured TAFI levels and investigated the distribution of C+1542G polymorphism in Korean patients with ischemic stoke. And, we intended to investigated the role of TAFI in the occurrence of ischemic stroke. METHODS: We enrolled 44 patients who had experienced ischemic stroke episodes more than 6 month ago and had not been treated with oral anticoagulant. We also tested 44 age and sex-matched healthy controls. TAFI antigen levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (VisulizeTM TAFI antigen kit; Affinity Biologicals Inc., Ancaster, Canada) and TAFI activity levels were measured by a chromogenic assay (Actichrome TAFI activity kit ; American diagnostica Inc., CT, USA). Genotyping of C+1542G polymorphism was performed by an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The range of TAFI antigen was 2.4-12.7microgram/mL (mean+/-2SD) and that of TAFI activity was 4.9-17.9microgram/mL (mean+/-2SD) in healthy controls. TAFI antigen level was not correlated with TAFI activity. TAFI activity was the highest in CC polymorphism and the lowest in GG polymorphism (P= 0.03). The levels of TAFI antigen and activity were lower in the patients with ischemic stroke than in healty controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was no difference in the distribution of C+1542G polymorphism between the patients with ischemic stroke and healthy persons. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, TAFI antigen and activity were not significantly associated with the occurrence of ischemic stoke in Korean. And, TAFI may not be a risk factor for ischemic stroke in the Korean population.
Carboxypeptidase U ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibrin ; Fibrinolysin ; Fibrinolysis* ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; Lysine ; Plasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors ; Stroke* ; Thrombin*