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Biomedical subjects

A Portoles

Publications and source records attributed to A Portoles.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of soft tissue: description of 10 cases].

We analyze the clinical and histological features of 10 cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of soft tissue. Nine belonged to the pleomorphic-verticillate variety and one was myxoid. The initial clinical feature was a palpable mass in all cases except three with retroperitoneal localization, where constitutional symptoms predominated. After therapy (surgery in all, associated with radiotherapy in four), seven patients had local relapse and two had distant metastases. 50% died, with a mean survival of 13 months. We discuss the prognostic factors and the therapeutic approach, with emphasis on aggressive therapy and the need for radical surgery and postoperative adjuvant therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Pericardial mesothelioma: apropos of a case].

We report a case of primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma in a 53-year old male with no asbestos previous exposure. The first clinical sign was a massive pericardial effusion causing hemodynamic disturbances. CT confirmed the initial ecochardiographic diagnosis. The patient underwent pericardiocentesis which improved his hemodynamic status as well as showed malignant cellularity in the liquid examination. Surgical treatment, including pericardiectomy and tumor resection, together with chemotherapy restored normal hemodynamics, the patient being now asymptomatic. We want to emphasize the rarity of this tumor and its insidious clinical presentation even leading to hemodynamic impairment, as well as the great value of echocardiography and CT in its diagnosis, although, in some cases, thoracotomy has been the only valid diagnostic procedure.

Heart Neoplasms↗
PubMed1982

Effects of several neuroleptic compounds on the blastogenic response of spleen cells from mice.

The effects of chlorpromazine, haloperidol, clozapine and clotiapine on the mitogenic activation of spleen and bone-marrow cells were investigated. The use of two types of treatments (in vitro with 1.5 to 3 x 10(-3) mM for three days and in vivo with 0.3 mM for four days) permitted the demonstration that chlorpromazine was the most effective drug to inhibit DNA synthesis in mitogen stimulated mouse spleen cell cultures. However, in more prolonged in vivo treatments with a lower dose (0.075 mM for two weeks), clozapine and clotiapine frequently appeared as the most active inhibitors of mitogen-induced lymphoblastic transformation. In any case splenic T lymphocytes were more affected than B cells of the same origin. (3H) TdR uptake in DXS-stimulated bone-marrow cell cultures was also variably inhibited by in vivo drug treatments of mice as compared to groups of untreated animals. Occasionally, the effect of the drugs in vivo depend on the length of the treatment, rather than the dose administered. All these inhibitory effects did not appear as a phenomenon of cytotoxicity since doses used in vitro inhibit by less than 5% the cell viability. It is suggested that the variable depressions of the different mitogenic responses, produced by these neuroleptic drugs, may reflect an alteration in the cyclic AMP levels as a consequence of its inhibition of a phosphodiesterase activator.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Influence of some antineoplastic agents on genetic exchange in Bacillus subtilis.

The influence of three categories of anti-cancer agents on competence development and on the binding of homologous DNA to cells have been studied in the Bacillus subtilis transformation system. Treatment of cells developing competence with testolactone resulted in a slight enhancement of transforamtion at high doses (50 and 100 micrograms/ml) of the drug, but this process was inhibited at 25 micrograms/ml. DNA binding was unaffected by this drug. DNA-interacting agents (daunomycin, prospidine, peptichemio and mithramycin) usually inhibited DNA-mediated transformation in a higher extent than DNA binding. Antimetabolites of DNA synthesis were also tested: dacarbazine did not greatly inhibit the binding and expression of donor DNA. 5-Fluorouracil appeared to slightly enhance transformation at low levels 1 microgram/ml), although it was inhibited at higher doses.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1978

Further studies on the competence development in exponentially growing cultures of Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis, growing in Bott and Wilson's medium, develops two peaks of competence in batch cultures. The first maximum developed during the exponential growth phase and it has been studied comparatively with the competence level reached in continuous culture at Dt = 2.5 h. In both cases, 100 microgram/ml of arginine inhibited competence. Continuous cultures treated with arginine recovered competence specifically after the addition of Mn2+. In addition, a reduction in the synthesis of aconitase and fumarase was observed in the arginine-inhibited continuous cultures.

Aconitate Hydratase↗
PubMed1978

Transfection of Streptococcus pneumoniae with bacteriophage DNA.

It was possible to transfect Streptococcus pneumoniae with DNA obtained from a newly isolated bacteriophage, diplophage-4 (Dp-4). Optimal frequency of transfection (0.9%) required the use of a nuclease-defective mutant; with wild-type bacteria, the transfection frequency was about 100-fold lower. Transfection requires physiological conditions that appear to be similar to the competent state needed for genetic transformation (A. Tomasz, J. Bacteriol. 91:1050--1061, 1966).

Bacteriophages↗
PubMed1978

Indomethacin esters acting as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs.

Administration of indomethacin and ten different indomethacin derivatives led to a variable depression in the mice immume response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as shown either by direct hemolytic-plaque assay or hemagglutination tests. Compounds with a lower toxicity than indomethacin and predominant immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory activity were obtained. According to the variations in the primary immune response and to their variable anti-inflammatory actions, the structure-activity relationships are documentted and some possible explanations, relative to their immunodepressive effect, are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Properties of "diplophage": a lipid-containing bacteriophage.

We describe the purification and properties of Dp-1, a bacteriophage isolated from Diplococcus pneumoniae. The phage was sensitive to the organic solvents deoxycholate and Sarkosyl, and its infectivity was reduced by treatment with phospholipase C. Electron microscopy indicated the presence of a double-layered coat around the phage particles. Purified phage preparations contained lipid amounting to about 8.5% of the dry weight of the phage, and thin-layer chromatography resolved the lipids into four components. The phage had a buoyant density in CsCl of 1.47 g/cm3, and a sedimentation constant in 0.1 M NaCl of 313S. Analysis in acrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated the presence of three major proteins. Dp-1 DNA shows a density of 1.681 g/cm3. Neutralizing antisera against the phage have a low potency (K less than 120/min).

Adsorption↗
PubMed1975

Evaluation of different antibiotic actions combined with rifampicin. In vitro synergism against Pseudomonas and Proteus.

Associations of penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline and polymyxin B with rifampicin were tested for synergism against Pseudomonas and Proteus pathological strains. The combination of rifampicin and polymyxin B was clearly synergistic for all strains as it was evaluated by isobolograms and killing curvesmthe bactericidal action of this association, without any cross-resistance between its components, may eradicate gram-negative bacteria infections with marked polyvalent drug resistances.

Drug Synergism↗
PubMed1975

Penicillin immunogenicity in the presence of different pharmaceutical adjuvants.

Preliminary results in the variations of the penicillin immunogenicity in the presence of aminosugars, polysaccharides and terpenic substances are presented and the decreasings of the potential antigenicity of the penicillin molecule appeared in the presence of hexosamine molecules are estimated. It might be possible as a consequence of modifications in the early immunogenic interactions between antibiotic and serum proteins of the hipersensitive animals.

Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic↗