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Biomedical subjects

C M de Castro

Publications and source records attributed to C M de Castro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Lipid profile among school children in Campinas, Brazil].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the lipid profile and the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia among schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil. METHODS: Plasma cholesterol levels, fractions, ratios and triglycerides were determined according to age and gender in a total of 1,600 schoolchildren. Hypercholesterolemia was considered borderline for 170 mg/dl</= cholesterol <185 mg/dl, moderate for 185 mg/dl pound cholesterol <200 mg/dl and severe for cholesterol >/=200 mg/dl. RESULTS: Schoolchildren presented a cholesterol mean of 160 mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol mean of 49 mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol mean of 96 mg/dl, VLDL-cholesterol mean of 16 mg/dl, triglycerides mean of 79 mg/dl, cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol mean of 3.5 and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol mean of 2.1. In general, females had higher cholesterol and triglycerides values than males. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 35.0%: 15.6% was borderline high, 9.8% moderate and 9.5% severe. Females presented higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia than males. CONCLUSIONS: The results pointed to the emergence of hypercholesterolemia as a public health problem in Brazil.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Genomic structure and chromosomal localization of the novel ETS factor, PE-2 (ERF).

The members of the ETS family of transcription factors are grouped because they share a highly conserved DNA binding domain. These factors are involved in growth factor pathways and regulate both proliferation and differentiation. To identify ETS factors that may be involved in early hematopoietic progenitor regulation, we isolated a novel member of the ETS family by reverse transcriptase-PCR of the conserved DNA binding domain using degenerate oligonucleotides. This gene directs the synthesis of a 2704-nucleotide transcript whose largest open reading frame encodes a 548-amino-acid protein. Northern blot analysis reveals ubiquitous expression in all human tissues and cell lines tested, with highest levels in the testis, ovary, pancreas, and heart. Comparison of this gene with the available databases reveals very significant homology to the ETS factor PE-1 and probable near-identity with the recently cloned factor ERF. The PE-2 gene is composed of four exons spanning over 9 kb of genomic DNA. Sequence analysis of the promoter region reveals a GC-rich sequence without a TATA motif and with putative binding motifs for CREB, c-myb, and AP-1 factors. Using mouse-human somatic hybrids and FISH analysis, the PE-2 gene is localized to human chromosome 19q13.2, a region involved in translocations and deletions in leukemias and several solid tumors, suggesting that this novel ETS factor may play a role in carcinogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Interference of dexamethasone with leukocyte blood volume and albumin movements in lungs from endotoxemic guinea-pigs.

Using radioactive tracers, we measured blood volume, albumin exchanges and blood leukocyte sequestration within lungs, following an intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (0.1-1 mg/kg). Neutrophil infiltration into the airways was followed in parallel experiments. Dexamethasone pretreatment (20 mg/kg, subcutaneous) failed to prevent early pulmonary changes induced by lipopolysaccharide as decreased blood volume, leukocyte sequestration, leukopenia or the increased trans-endothelial albumin exchanges. However, dexamethasone provided a significant protection against the later albumin leakage through the endothelial/epithelial barrier and the neutrophil accumulation in the airways observed in lipopolysaccharide-treated guinea-pigs. Our results indicate that the protective effect of dexamethasone in lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury might derive from an initial reduction of leukocyte adhesion and a later decrease in alveolo-capillary permeability.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Assessment of intracardiac masses by transesophageal echocardiography.

Transesophageal echocardiography and 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography have proved to be extremely valuable in the diagnosis of cardiac masses. In this report, we review the echocardiographic findings, clinical history, and histopathologic findings in 21 patients with intracardiac masses who underwent transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, or both, at our institution. Of these patients, 14 had benign masses and 7 had malignant tumors. The potential role of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with intracardiac masses is discussed. We believe that transesophageal echocardiography offers the cardiologist and cardiovascular surgeon the capability of more accurate preoperative and intraoperative assessment of cardiac masses.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

A novel beta-globin mutation, beta Durham-NC [beta 114 Leu-->Pro], produces a dominant thalassemia-like phenotype.

Mutations within exon 3 of the beta-globin gene are relatively uncommon, and many of these mutations produce a dominant thalassemia-like phenotype. We describe a novel thalassemic hemoglobinopathy caused by a single nucleotide substitution (CTG-->CCG) at codon 114 resulting in a leucine to proline substitution and designate it beta Durham-NC [beta 114 Leu-->Pro]. The mutation producing this thalassemic hemoglobinopathy is located near to the beta Showa-Yakushiji mutation (beta 110 Leu-->Pro). Both of these hemoglobinopathies share similar phenotypic features with moderately severe microcytic anemia. Using computer imaging of the hemoglobin molecule, we examined several reported point mutations within exon 3 of the beta-globin gene. These point mutations cause a single amino acid substitution in the G helix, and result in a thalassemic and/or hemolytic phenotype. Computer imaging of nine separate examples suggests that amino acid substitutions affecting side chains that project into the heme pocket may destabilize the heme moiety within the beta-globin chain, resulting in a thalassemic phenotype. Hemolytic phenotypes may be the result of decreased alpha 1 beta 1 interactions. The beta Durham-NC mutation further characterizes a novel group of thalassemias/hemoglobinopathies that are clinically difficult to identify and require accessory laboratory testing.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Doppler echocardiography in 180 normally functioning St. Jude Medical aortic valve prostheses. Early and late postoperative assessments.

Limited Doppler echocardiographic data are available regarding velocities and gradients across normally functioning St. Jude Medical valves in the aortic position. To establish a standard reference for Doppler characteristics of normal aortic St. Jude Medical prostheses, we recorded continuous-wave Doppler measurements of peak and mean velocities and peak and mean gradients in 180 patients with normally functioning St. Jude aortic valves. There were 119 men and 61 women in the study; the mean age was 57 years. Minimal valvular regurgitation was present in 56 patients (31 percent). Velocities and gradients were reported in five patient groups according to valve sizes of 19 mm, 21 mm, 23 mm, 25 mm, and 27 mm; the mean gradients were 16 +/- 6, 16 +/- 6, 14 +/- 5, 12 +/- 5, and 12 +/- 6, respectively. Differences in velocities and gradients among the five valve sizes were not statistically significant (p = 0.05). Velocities and gradients were also analyzed in three patient groups according to time intervals after valve replacement. The first group (n = 64) underwent Doppler evaluation one to seven days postoperatively (mean, six days); the second group (n = 60) was evaluated after 8 to 30 days postoperatively (mean, 12 days); and the third group (n = 56) was evaluated after more than 30 days postoperatively (mean, 691 days). There were no significant differences in measurements for the three groups.

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed1986

Hemodynamic compromise (tricuspid stenosis and insufficiency) caused by an unruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva.

A patient is described with an unruptured aneurysm of the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva that occupied the right ventricular inflow tract and caused dynamic tricuspid stenosis and insufficiency. Results of two-dimensional echocardiography delineated the anatomy of the aneurysm and pulsed Doppler examination provided evidence that the aneurysm was unruptured. The unruptured aneurysm was resected successfully.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The echocardiographic spectrum of atrial myxoma: a ten-year experience.

We analyzed the echocardiograms of 28 patients with a left atrial myxoma and two with a right atrial myxoma. Our purpose was to evaluate the value of echocardiography for the diagnosis of these cardiac masses. Only 59% of the m-mode echocardiograms in patients with a left atrial myxoma showed the characteristic findings of multiple diastolic echoes within the mitral orifice as well as abnormal systolic echoes within the left atrium. M-mode echocardiograms were atypical for left atrial myxoma in the remaining patients, and a definitive diagnosis could not be established on the basis of this procedure in six of the patients (22%). Two-dimensional echocardiography showed the presence of a left atrial mass in all 16 patients who had the procedure, and aided in understanding the atypical m-mode recordings. There was a close relationship (r =.82) between two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the myxomas' size and pathologic measurements. Both right atrial myxomas could be identified on the m-mode echocardiogram. Our experience indicates that two-dimensional echocardiography is superior to the m-mode technique for the diagnosis and characterization of left atrial myxomas.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Collateral circulation in coronary artery disease.

The coronary arteriograms and left ventriculograms of 202 consecutive patients were reviewed. All had at least 75% diameter reduction of 1 or more major coronary arteries. In 127 patients (63%), at least 1 major branch was totally occluded. Collateral circulation was seen in 125 of these 127 patients (190 of 192 totally occluded arteries). Of the 75 patients without total occlusion, only 2 with 99% (or near-total) occlusion had demonstrable collateral circulation (2 of 208 arteries). In no patient with 75 to 98% diameter narrowing was collateral circulation demonstrated (0 of 164 arteries). An analysis was made of the relation between left ventricular (LV) segmental wall motion and the quality of collateral circulation in 190 totally occluded arteries among 125 patients. Of 126 arteries with good collateral circulation, LV contraction was normal in 21%, hypokinetic in 48% and akinetic/dyskinetic in 29%. Of 64 arteries with poor collateral circulation, LV contraction was normal in 23%, hypokinetic in 55% and akinetic/dyskinetic in 20%. There was no statistically significant difference between the effect of good or poor collateral circulation on LV function. These data indicate that collateral circulation cannot be seen angiographically unless there is total or near-total occlusion, and that the presence of collateral circulation does not correlate with LV wall motion abnormalities, i.e., akinetic area, despite good collateral flow or normal wall motion despite absent or poor collateral flow.

Collateral Circulation↗
PubMed1985

Correlations of systolic time intervals and radionuclide angiography at rest and during exercise.

Systolic time intervals (STI) were correlated with radionuclide angiography studies (RAS) in 57 patients at rest, during maximal semisitting bicycle exercise, and at 4 minutes following the cessation of exercise. Eleven were judged as being free of coronary artery disease (group 1), while 14 had coronary artery disease without (group 2A), and 27 (group 2B) with a previous transmural myocardial infarction. For RAS, resting radionuclide ejection fraction (REF), the changes in REF and end-systolic volume, and the development of a wall motion abnormality at peak exercise were each highly correlated with the presence of coronary disease (p less than 0.001). The accuracy of STI parameters in predicting the presence of coronary disease was poor (less than 60%). Changes in end-diastolic volume (EDV) correlated significantly with PEP/LVET and LVET1 changes following exercise. Moreover, patients with an abnormal (greater than 25%) increase in EDV at peak exercise had a greater increase in LVET1 in the postexercise period (p less than 0.01). We conclude that STI is not accurate enough a predictor of coronary disease or left ventricular function to serve as a useful screening test. Changes in STI parameters appear to be more related to changes in ventricular volume than to ventricular function.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Cyanosis after surgical correction of pulmonary valve stenosis: an old problem revisited.

The presence of cyanosis following repair of congenital cardiac defects may result from several different mechanisms. We report two patients in whom early postoperative arterial hypoxemia manifested by cyanosis was caused by right-to-left interatrial shunting. Two-dimensional contrast echocardiography correctly identified the site and direction of shunting, leading to surgical correction of the complication.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

The noninvasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease in patients with left bundle-branch block.

The prognosis in patients with left bundle-branch block (LBBB) is related primarily to the presence or absence of underlying cardiac disease. Because coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common underlying disease found in these patients, it would be desirable, in the presence of LBBB, to have a noninvasive method of differentiating between patients with and without CAD. We reviewed our experience in patients with LBBB who had undergone coronary arteriography with regard to electrocardiographic (ECG) stress testing, exercise radionuclide ventriculography (RNV), and exercise thallium scintigraphy; we also reviewed their clinical histories. A clinical history of typical angina pectoris was specific for CAD, a false-positive history being present in only one of 12 patients without CAD. The frequency of a positive ECG ST response to exercise was equal in patients with and without CAD. False-positive ejection fraction and wall-motion responses to exercise were frequent by RNV. A modification of the usual RNV criteria for positivity improved specificity but resulted in poor sensitivity for CAD. False-positive thallium study results also were. frequent in these patients. The perfusion defects usually involved the ventricular septum; the inferior and posterior walls were involved only in patients with CAD. We conclude that the usual noninvasive diagnostic tests for CAD are of limited value in patients with LBBB.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1980

Is postextrasystolic potentiation dependent on Starling's law? Biplane angiographic studies in normal subjects.

The cineangiograms of 26 normal subjects were analyzed to study the effect of Starling's mechanism on postextrasystolic potentiation. The end-diastolic volumes (single plane and biplane) of the left ventricle were similar in the regular sinus beat before an extrasystole and sequential sinus beats after an extrasystole. However, the ejection fraction, mean normalized systolic ejection rate, mean velocity of fiber shortening and long-axis shortening were consistently larger in the first sinus beat after an extrasystole. We conclude that postextrasystolic potentiation is independent of left ventricular end-diastolic volume in normal human hearts and the compensatory pause after an extrasystole does not result in increased end-diastolic volume.

Angiography↗
PubMed1980

Prolonging life with coronary bypass surgery in patients with three-vessel disease.

In this study we examined survival after coronary bypass surgery in patients with three-vessel disease. First, survival data were analyzed from selected of patients who had a poor prognosis without surgery; second, data were analyzed in subsets classified by severity of disease. The data strongly suggest that patients with three-vessel disease, especially patient with a poor medical prognosis, benefit from coronary bypass surgery.

Actuarial Analysis↗