[Fever, stomatitis, and cutaneous eruption on the hands and feet. "Gloves and socks" papular purpuric syndrome].
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
A Rodríguez
Publications and source records attributed to A Rodríguez.
[Secondary bladder lymphoma in a patient with AIDS].
Contribution of one case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with vesical involvement, that presented clinically with urological symptomatology. Vesical involvement is typical of NHL, and is becoming more frequent in association with the increased number of AIDS patients under immunosuppressive therapy. It should be expected that this currently unusual entity will become more common in the future.
Adult↗
Clinical usefulness of free PSA fraction as an indicator of prostate cancer.
The usefulness of the fPSA fraction in the differential diagnosis of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer was evaluated, with the aim of improving the diagnostic efficacy of PSA. Serum PSA and fPSA determinations were performed by an enzymoimmunoassay technique on an ES-300 system. fPSA constitutes a minor fraction both in normal subjects and in patients with prostate disease, being significantly lower in patients with untreated prostate cancer than in patients with BPH. Likewise, the authors have observed that the sensitivity of the fPSA/PSA ratio has an inversely proportional relationship with the stage of the disease. The results obtained in patients with PSA levels between 4 and 20 micrograms/l are also of note. In this series of patients, the efficacy of the fPSA/PSA ratio was higher than that of PSA, showing a sensitivity of 44% and a specificity of 95% at the cut-off of 0.08.
Biomarkers, Tumor↗
Functional ambivalence of the Kp43 (CD94) NK cell-associated surface antigen.
We originally characterized the Kp43 (CD94) surface Ag, whose expression is restricted to human NK cells and a minor T lymphocyte subset. As shown in the present study, anti-Kp43 mAbs but not their F(ab')2 fragments markedly inhibited the cytolytic activity of polyclonal-activated NK cells in a redirected lysis assay against the murine P815 cell line. Furthermore, anti-Kp43 mAbs also down-regulated the CD16-dependent redirected killing and PHA-induced lectin-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. However, the intensity of the inhibitory effect was variable and no significant down-regulation of cytotoxicity was substantiated in NK cell populations from some individuals. A similar variability in the responsiveness to anti-Kp43 mAb was noticed when fresh CD3- lymphocyte populations were tested: in some donors we observed the induction of redirected lysis, whereas in other samples the Kp43-specific mAb inhibited cytotoxicity. The analysis of single cell-derived microcultures provided a clue to interpret the variable responsiveness of polyclonal cell populations; remarkably, the cytolytic activity of some NK clones was inhibited, whereas that of others was either stimulated or unaffected. The pattern of responsiveness in the cytolytic assay correlated with TNF production upon stimulation with solid phase-bound anti-Kp43 mAbs. The different types of clones could be derived from the same individual, although their relative proportions varied from donor to donor. Moreover, Kp43 appeared to be coupled differently to signal transduction pathways, because (Ca2+)i mobilization in the presence of the Kp43-specific mAbs was substantiated only in clones that were activated in the redirected lysis assay.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
[Fulminant liver failure due to bendazac].
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Aged↗
Molecular characterization of human CD94: a type II membrane glycoprotein related to the C-type lectin superfamily.
Natural killer (NK) cells preferentially express several genes of the C-type lectin superfamily which have been implicated in the regulation of NK cell function. We demonstrate that CD94 is a type II membrane protein encoded by a unique gene of the C-type lectin superfamily. While homology of CD94 with the NK cell-associated NKR-P1 and NKG2 C-type lectin genes is limited to the structural motifs conserved in the carbohydrate recognition domain, all of these genes are on human chromosome 12, the syntenic of mouse chromosome 6, where genes of the NK complex (NKR-P1 and Ly-49) are located. An unexpected feature of CD94 is the essential absence of a cytoplasmic domain, implying that association with other receptors may be necessary for the function of this molecule.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
In vitro synthesis of foot-and-mouth disease virus specific antibodies by porcine leukocytes.
We have characterized the in vitro secondary antibody response to FMDV of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from immunized pigs. The results obtained indicated that primed swine leukocytes can support an in vitro T-B cell cooperation which is functional and leads to the production of viral specific antibodies. The response was shown to be independent of viral replication, being induced by both infective and inactivated virus as well as by recombinant polypeptides VP1 and VP3. In all cases, concentration of PBMC supernatants allowed the detection of viral-specific IgG antibodies by ELISA. Significant titers of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) specific neutralizing antibodies were detected in concentrated supernatants after stimulation with either infective or inactivated whole virus, whereas no neutralizing activity was found in supernatants from PBMC responding to individual capsid polypeptides. The titers of IgG1 and IgG2 were similar for PBMC incubated with viruses, while IgG2 predominated when VP1 or VP3 were used as stimulators. In addition, significant titers of IFN-gamma were detected in supernatants of PBMC stimulated with infectious or chemically inactivated FMDV.
Animals↗
Upregulated expression of IL-4 receptors and increased levels of IL-4 in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
The level of IL-4R expression on peripheral lymphocyte subsets from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and controls was studied by flow cytometric analysis of the binding of phycoerythrin-labelled IL-4 (PE-IL-4). In normal lymphocytes, IL-4R is mainly expressed on CD19+ cells, although it was also seen, at lower levels, on CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells. In RA patients, a significantly increased spontaneous expression of IL-4R was observed, compared with controls, in the CD3+, CD4+ and CD19+ cell subsets. No significant differences in IL-4R expression were found between patients receiving steroids and those who were not, suggesting that steroids are not involved in upregulating IL-4R levels in vivo. Because IL-4 is a potent upregulator of IL-4R, we considered the possibility that incremented levels of circulating IL-4 in RA accounted for the high surface expression of IL-4R. By ELISA, we found abnormally high levels of immunoreactive IL-4 in 35.13% of patient serum samples, while it was undetectable in control sera. In addition, we examined IL-4 mRNA expression by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the PBMC of patients and controls. IL-4 PCR products were observed in four out of 10 patients studied but in none of the controls. No correlation was observed between the seric concentrations of IL-4 and IL-4R, indicating that activator factors other than IL-4 contribute to the upregulation of IL-4R expression in RA. Since the patients' sedimentation rate and CRP values did not correlate with the concentration of circulating IL-4, we conclude that this lymphokine does not contribute to the deleterious effect of the disease. Rather, due to its antiinflammatory properties, the overproduction of IL-4 in RA may be a compensatory mechanism neutralizing the harmful effect of activated macrophages.
Aged↗
Production of active anti-CD6 mouse/human chimeric antibodies in the milk of transgenic mice.
The expression of chimeric genes in the mammary gland of transgenic farm animals has become an alternative for the large-scale production of recombinant proteins and for the modification of milk composition. In this paper, we show that a mouse/human chimeric antibody against the human CD6 leukocyte antigen can be assembled and correctly folded by the mammary gland, and secreted to milk, where it maintains its specificity. The base sequences encoding for the heavy and light chain variable regions of the anti-CD6 mouse monoclonal antibody IOR-T1 were cloned by the polymerase chain reaction from hybridoma cDNA, coupled to human heavy and light chain constant region genes, and inserted in a vector containing the 5' regulatory region of the rabbit whey acidic protein gene. Transgenic mice were produced by conventional pronuclei microinjection techniques. Integration and transgene copy number were determined by Southern blot. Assembled human immunoglobulin was detected in milk using a sandwich ELISA. Expression levels of chimeric antibodies in milk were determined to be around 400 micrograms/ml by Western blot, using CHO-derived chimeric IOR-T1 antibodies as reference. The chimeric antibodies produced in milk recognized human peripheral blood T lymphocytes by indirect immunofluorescence, with the classical patch-like pattern of IOR-T1.
Animals↗
Zinc supplementation and growth of infants born small for gestational age.
To analyze the effect of zinc supplementation on postnatal growth of infants born small for gestational age, we selected 68 infants at birth and followed them monthly for 6 months. They were randomly assigned to a supplemented group (group S, n = 35) receiving 3 mg of Zn (acetate) per day, or to a placebo (group P, n = 33), in a double-blind study. Weight increments in group S were significantly higher than those in group P at 2 months (p < 0.003); z scores showed catch-up growth only in group S. Length increments were also greater in group S than in group P, ending at 6 months were 64.9 +/- 1.8 versus 63.4 +/- 3.5 cm (mean +/- SD; p < 0.01); changes in z scores for 6 months were -1.28 to -0.66 in group S and -1.43 to -1.47 in group P (p < 0.001). Weight-for-length improved similarly in both groups (z score, -2.2 to +0.2). The increase in weight-for-age was higher in group S girls (p < 0.034), ending at 6 months with -0.13 +/- 0.59, versus -0.52 +/- 0.62 in group S boys, -1.15 +/- 0.49 in group P girls, and -1.05 +/- 0.80 in group P boys (+/- SD). More infants in group P received cow milk-based formula before 4 months because of inadequate weight increments. An additive effect on weight increase was observed between Zn supplementation (p < 0.02), exclusive breast-feeding after 4 months of age (p < 0.001), and gender (p < 0.02). Plasma and hair Zn values showed a downward trend, less marked in group S than in group P. We conclude that Chilean infants born small for gestational age have better weight and linear growth during the first 6 months of life if they receive Zn supplementation.
Acetates↗
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis syndrome in a dog.
We performed a clinical and pathological study of a 5 year old female mongrel dog (Drahthaar) with eosinophilic gastroenteritis. The animal was presented with vomiting and was reported to have had bloody diarrhoea for 4 months. The lesions were in atypical locations: in the fundus of the stomach, the ileocaecal valve and the rectum, near the anal sphincter. The lesions in the stomach wall were particularly severe and included severe fibroplasia, especially in the muscle layer and submucosa. Fibroplasia was less visible in the other locations. The presence of eosinophilic granulomatous masses led us to suspect a possible parasitic infection, although some authors note that this pathological condition may have an allergic aetiology.
Animals↗
A trypanosome-soluble factor induces IP3 formation, intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and microfilament rearrangement in host cells.
Lysosomes are recruited to the invasion site during host cell entry by Trypanosoma cruzi, an unusual process suggestive of the triggering of signal transduction mechanisms. Previous studies showed that trypomastigotes, but not the noninfective epimastigotes, contain a proteolytically generated trypomastigote factor (PGTF) that induces intracellular free Ca2+ transients in several mammalian cell types. Using confocal time-lapse imaging of normal rat kidney (NRK) fibroblasts loaded with the Ca(2+)-sensitive dye fluo-3, we show that the initial intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca2+]i) transient detected a few seconds after exposure to trypomastigote extracts is a result of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Removal of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium or inhibition of Ca2+ channels with NiCl2 did not affect the response to PGTF, while depletion of intracellular stores with thapsigargin abolished it. [Ca2+]i transients induced by PGTF were shown to be coupled to the activity of phospholipase C (PLC), since the specific inhibitor U73122 completely blocked the response, while its inactive analogue U73343 had no effect. In addition, polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) were detected upon cell stimulation with PGTF, suggesting the participation of IP3-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ channels. An immediate effect of the signaling induced by PGTF and live trypomastigotes was a rapid and transient reorganization of host cell microfilaments. The redistribution of F-actin appeared to be a direct consequence of increased [Ca2+]i, since thrombin and the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin produced a similar effect, with a time course that corresponded to the kinetics of the elevation in [Ca2+]i. These observations support the hypothesis that PGTF-induced disassembly of the cortical actin cytoskeleton may play a role in T. cruzi invasion, by facilitating lysosome access to the invasion site. Taken together, our findings suggest that the proteolytically generated trypomastigote factor PGTF is a novel agonist that acts through the PLC/phosphoinositide signaling pathway of mammalian cells.
Actin Cytoskeleton↗
Psoriatic arthropathy after BCG immunotherapy for bladder carcinoma.
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Arthritis, Psoriatic↗
[Deep cystic enteritis in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (pseudoinfiltrating lesions in a patient with enteric polyps)].
We report a case of enteritis cystica profunda observed in a patient who, owing to both his personal and familial history, had been diagnosed and suffering from Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. The patient was operated because of a clinical picture of intestinal invagination. Together with hamartomatous polyps, anatomopathological study of the segment of the small intestine removed revealed the presence of lesions typical of Enteritis cystica profunda consisting in the presence of benign encysted glands and pools of mucous in the deep layers of the intestinal wall. The main characteristics of this interesting and rare entity are briefly commented.
Adult↗
[Leukemia and pregnancy. Review apropos of a clinical case].
A clinical case is presented of a 37 year old patient with acute myelocytic leukemia who conceived while in therapy. The pregnancy was controlled in our department in association with the Hematology Department. A cesarean section was performed in the 37th week of gestation, resulting in a healthy newborn. A review of literature is presented, analyzing the association between these two conditions, as well as repercussion on the mother and infant and the recommended obstetric management.
Adult↗
[Pustular psoriasis in pregnancy].
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Administration, Topical↗
[Complex and multiple vessel angioplasty].
The authors present the clinical history of a 66 year old woman with a previous anterior myocardial infarction and periinfarct ischemia as well as ischemia in another area not related to the scar (in the posterolateral region of the left ventricle) in whom they successfully performed percutaneous coronary angioplasty of the anterior descending and circumflex arteries since the patient was not a candidate for surgical revascularization because of her clinical condition.
Aged↗
[Hospital course of acute myocardial infarction: significance of the therapeutic procedures of early reperfusion].
Reperfusion therapy has contributed to decreased morbidity and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Implementation of thrombolytic therapy; primary angioplasty and emergency coronary artery by-pass surgery have proved to be effective in well designed controlled clinical trials. There is little information, however, about the impact of reperfusion therapy in the general clinical population that is usually seen in the coronary care unit. In this paper we have compared the clinical course, morbidity and mortality of patients attended for a first AMI in 2 different periods. Group I comprised 431 patients seen during the period 1981-1986 and group II bad 113 patients seen during the period 1992-1993. Age, gender distribution and AMI location were similar in both groups. Patients in group I had a significantly higher incidence of tobacco use and previous angina pectoris. In group I, 4% of patients received streptokinase, 0.9% of patients had emergency by-pass surgery and none had primary angioplasty, whereas in group II, 29% of patients received trombolytics, 6.5% had primary angioplasty and 6.5% had by-pass surgery. Heart failure Killip class II-III occurred in 35% of patients in group I and in 13% of patients in group II (p < 0.05). Intrahospital mortality was 19.6% in group I and 11.5% in Group II (p < 0.045). There were no differences in the incidence of cardiogenic shock in both groups. Multivariate analysis showed that age and heart failure were significant independent predictors of mortality in both periods. Thus, there has been a significant change in the therapeutic approach to AMI patients in recent years. Widespread utilization of reperfusion therapy appears to be associated with decrease in morbidity and mortality in a general population of patients with a first AMI.
Adult↗