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Biomedical subjects

B Martinez

Publications and source records attributed to B Martinez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Genetic instability of microsatellites in hematological neoplasms.

Genetic instability has been recently related to point mutations on genes involved in DNA repair pathway of errors produced during replication. These molecular alterations have been described in hereditary and sporadic colon carcinomas and related tumors. To examine genetic instability on lympho- and myeloproliferative processes, we analyzed the behaviour of 10 microsatellite markers and one VNTR on different chromosomes in 10 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), one patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 10 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Mobility shifts were found in three of those cases. One of them showed genetic instability for several markers--microsatellites and VNTR- and the other two showed differences for only one marker. As a correlation between point mutations in MSH2 gene and the presence of genetic instability in hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) and related tumors has been found, we analyzed the sequence of a conversed region of this gene in the cases showing this phenomenon. We only found a polymorphism, previously described, in 669 codon from cDNA.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗
PubMed1992

Effects of genetic and environmental factors on the a-b, b-c and c-d interdigital ridge counts.

A study of 100 MZ (55 female and 45 male) and 97 DZ (50 male and 47 female) same-sexed twin pairs was carried out to analyse the genetic component of the variance of the a-b, b-c and c-d interdigital ridge counts by means of the Christian method. Especially for the a-b interdigital ridge count, we found it important to analyse both sexes separately. Our results suggest that the a-b count in males seems to be more influenced by environmental factors than the other counts. For females, the three interdigital counts seem to have a strong genetic component influencing their phenotypic expression. Factor analysis with VARIMAX rotation showed each interdigital ridge count to be genetically independent.

Dermatoglyphics↗
PubMed1992

Genetic and dermatoglyphic distances among Basque Valleys.

Palmar dermatoglyphics of a sample including 552 males and 701 females from 8 Basque valleys were analyzed. We studied the frequency of palmar pattern types and compared them using correspondence the frequency of palmar pattern types and compared them using correspondence analysis. The results of this comparative study show that there is diversity among valleys and also that this diversity depends on the trait and on sex. Genetic drift could explain this variability found in the Basque population.

Dermatoglyphics↗
PubMed1991

Fluctuating asymmetry in quantitative dermatoglyphic traits: twins and singletons.

Fluctuating asymmetry for the digital quantitative value was analyzed in a sample of twins (mono and dizygotic) and singletons. The aim was to check if the influence of twinning on the development is expressed in a higher fluctuating asymmetry in twins than in singletons. The results have shown that significant differences exist among the three groups studied, and these differences are fundamentally expressed when the radial and ulnar counts are considered separately.

Dermatoglyphics↗
PubMed1990

Dermatoglyphic analysis of autistic basque children.

We have analyzed the digital and palmar dermatoglyphics in a sample of autistic children from the Basque Country. The results have been compared with those from a control sample having the same characteristics relative to the ethnic region. We found significant differences between the digital dermatoglyphics of autistic boys and control boys. Autistic children have a higher frequency of transitional radial loops and a lower frequency of dicentric whorls; also the total finger ridge count (TFRC) and radial count are lower in autistic individuals. There were no significant differences in the girls. In palmar dermatoglyphics, autistic girls have a lower frequency of radial loops in the hypothenar area, and the value of the "atd" angle is higher than in control girls. These differences were significant. The a-b interdigital ridge count is significantly lower in autistic boys. Autistic children of both sexes have a higher frequency of aberrant palmar creases. The results obtained in the present study do not contradict the hypothesis that genetic factors may be important in autism of unknown cause.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMed1990

Cytotoxic/suppressor (CD8+, CD4-) cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with aggressive course.

A case of cutaneous cytotoxic/suppressor T-cell (CD8+, CD4-) lymphoma is reported. The tumor was characterized by its rapid growth and no response to polychemotherapy. This unusual immunophenotype seems to be associated, in this and other cases reported previously, with a more aggressive course than the classic indolent course of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗
PubMed1990

Analysis of digital patterns in the Basque valley of Deba: multivariate comparison with other populations.

Eighty-six females and 79 males from the Basque valley of Deba were analyzed with respect to their digital patterns using correspondence analysis. We found that there was a significant sexual difference for only one type of pattern, tented arch. Also, this population was compared with other Basque valley populations and with other Spanish populations. We found great variability among Basque subpopulations, despite their supposed common origin. Dermatoglyphic distances for some traits can be interpreted as genetic distances because there is high heritability of these traits. The results of the comparison between the Deba valley population and other Spanish populations showed that the Deba population is markedly distant from the other populations.

Dermatoglyphics↗
PubMed1990

An application of the empirical Bayes approach to directly adjusted rates: a note on suicide mapping in California.

A simple, reliable, and comparable measure for suicide mapping and other health problems is needed. Because standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) may not indicate the relative meaning of their magnitudes when compared with one another, and statistical significance levels of tests for SMRs overlook the areas that have small populations, neither of these approaches provides a satisfactory index. The results using directly adjusted rates can be ordered directly according to their magnitudes. However, because of the lack of reliable estimates of local age-specific rates, the usefulness of directly adjusted rates in mapping suicide is also limited. To extend the usefulness of directly adjusted rates, an empirical Bayes approach whereby information from other areas is borrowed to improve the precision of the estimates of local age-specific rates in calculating directly adjusted rates--especially in the areas with small population sizes--is proposed. When an empirical Bayes approach was applied to the 1983 suicide data for California counties, a more reasonable conclusion than could be obtained by using directly adjusted rates was reached.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Quantitative and qualitative finger dermatoglyphics in the Basque Valley of Urola, Spain.

Digital dermatoglyphics of an indigenous sample of 87 males and 101 females from the Urola Valley in the Spanish Basque Country are compared with those from the nine other Basque valleys previously analyzed. In both sexes of the Urola Valley, there is a very high frequency of radial loops; the mean found in this valley extends the range of variation for South European-Mediterranean populations, and it is in the superior limit of all Caucasian populations. There are bimanual and sex differences in the frequencies of whorls and loops. Contrary to what occurs normally in populations, in the Urola Valley the frequency of whorls is higher in females and the quantitative value of digital patterns is lower in males. The results of this study show the existence of heterogeneity among valleys for digital trait frequencies and for finger ridge count, and this heterogeneity is more marked in females.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1990

Ethanol sulfation by the pulmonary ethanol metabolizing system (PET).

Rat lung slices incubated in a Krebs Ringer bicarbonate buffer metabolized ethanol by sulfocunjugation at a rate of about 500 mumoles/g x hr when the ethanol concentration was 11 mM. Tissue slices from dog and rabbit lung also were able to metabolize this alcohol showing similar time curves and rates. In all cases ethanol metabolism showed a dependence on the concentration of ethanol which is typical of allosteric enzymes. The calculated Hill coefficient was between 1.69 and 2.07 in the three species studied. Sulfoconjugation of ethanol by rat lung slices showed a Km for ethanol of 26.59 mM and a Vmax of 11,357 mumoles/g x hr. The Km for ethanol determined with dog lung slices was 20.93 mM and Vmax was 8,052 mumoles/g x hr. In the case of rabbit lung, Km for ethanol was 20.15 mM whereas Vmax was 17,379 mumoles/g x hr. Preliminary evidence would seem to indicate that the human lung is also able to metabolize ethanol by conjugation with sulfate. These results suggest that the lung is endowed with a remarkable potential to metabolize ethanol by sulfoconjugation. In vivo, however, sulfoconjugation may be limited by substrate availability.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Isolated systolic hypertension: declining prevalence in the elderly.

Isolated systolic hypertension is a prevalent condition among elderly U.S. residents of all age, sex, and race groups. In a population-based survey conducted on 4,672 adult residents of Georgia in 1981, prevalence rates were considerably below those noted in earlier surveys, such as Baldwin County, Georgia (1962), National Health Examination Series I (1960-1962), Evans County, Georgia (1967-1969), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I (1971-1974) and/or II (1976-1980). The lower 1981 prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension in Georgia was observed in association with a much greater likelihood of anti-hypertensive therapy in adult and elderly patients. The overall trend for early and more aggressive therapy of diastolic hypertension might account for less arterial rigidity and occurrence of isolated systolic hypertension in later life.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Financial cost as an obstacle to hypertension therapy.

A home health interview, including blood pressure measurements, was conducted on 4,688 adults representing the noninstitutionalized population of Georgia. Subjects with diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg or on antihypertensive medication were considered hypertensive. The prevalence of uncontrolled moderate or severe hypertension (diastolic greater than or equal to 105 mm Hg) was 1.9 per cent. With the exception of White women, all race-sex groups with uncontrolled moderate or severe hypertension reported substantially lower per capita income than their mild or controlled hypertensive counterparts. A larger percentage of the uncontrolled moderate to severe hypertensives on medication, as compared to their mild or controlled counterparts, reported economic barriers to pharmacologic and medical care on cost of medicines (36 per cent vs 22 per cent); refills (36 per cent vs 16 per cent); and office visits (26 per cent vs 16 per cent). Black women reported these barriers more than Whites. These findings suggest that costs of antihypertensive care may be an obstacle in blood pressure control for certain population subgroups.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The physiological effects of Aralia, Panax and Eleutherococcus on exercised rats.

Relative and total amount of saponins in Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, Aralia mandshurica and Eleutherococcus senticosus were determined by thin-layer chromatography and by a spectrophotometric method. The ginsenoside Rg1 was present in American ginseng. Aralia and Eleutherococcus did not contain diol- and triol-type ginsenosides. Low concentrations of ginsenosides were found in Oriental red ginsengs (1.4-2.7%). Orally administered Araliaceae saponin extracts did not affect plasma lactic acid, glucagon, insulin or liver glycogen levels in exercised rats and did not prolong their swimming time. Plasma glucose levels in resting rats were decreased by saponin extracts of Canadian white, American red, Sanchi, Aralia, Eleutherococcus, Korean red and Shiu-Chi ginsengs.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

[Treatment of anterior sternoclavicular dislocations. Apropos of 18 cases].

Eighteen cases of subluxation or dislocation of the sterno clavicular joint are reported. Six subluxations have been treated conservatively with prompt and good recovery. Out of twelve dislocations, three have not been operated on : two have recovered satisfactorily, after wiring and capsular suture (two recent cases) and after wiring and ligamentoplasty with palmaris longus (two old cases). But capsular suture and wiring gave only a fair result in one case of recurring dislocation, while tenodesis after Jackson Burrows gave excellent results in three cases. In recent cases, open reduction with wiring and capsular suture is advised, and tenodesis with subclavius, every time capsular suture is unsatisfactory and in all ancient and recurring cases, when troublesome.

Adolescent↗