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Biomedical subjects

C Pinto

Publications and source records attributed to C Pinto.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Characterization of representative enzymes from a sulfate reducing bacterium implicated in the corrosion of steel.

This communication reports the isolation, purification and characterization of key enzymes involved in dissimilatory sulfate reduction of a sulfate reducing bacterium classified as Desulfovibrio desulfuricans subspecies desulfuricans New Jersey (NCIMB 8313) (Ddd NJ). The chosen strain, originally recovered from a corroding cast iron heat exchanger, was grown in large scale batch cultures. Physico-chemical and spectroscopic studies of the purified enzymes were carried out. These analyses revealed a high degree of similarity between proteins isolated from the DddNJ strain and the homologous proteins obtained from Desulfomicrobium baculatus Norway 4. In view of the results obtained, taxonomic reclassification of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans subspecies desulfuricans New Jersey (NCIMB 8313) into Desulfomicrobium baculatus (New Jersey) is proposed.

Corrosion↗
PubMed1996

Interleukin-2 promotes the motility of dendritic cells and their accumulation in lung and skin.

Dendritic cells (DC) play a critical role as antigen-presenting cells in vivo. It has previously been shown that DC accumulate in the lung in response to parenteral injections of IFN-gamma. In the current paper, we report that rat DC express the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) alpha-chain (OX-39) and display enhanced motility in response to IL-2 in Boyden chamber and video time-lapse microscopy assays. Increased motility was specifically inhibited by pretreating DC with OX-39 (anti-IL-2R) but not OX-22 (anti-CD45RC), an isotype-matched murine monoclonal antibody. The intratracheal injection of IL-2 increased the number of OX-6+ dendritic cells located around pulmonary venules and in the lung interstitium. When IL-2 was injected into the footpad of the rat. DC were increased around dermal venules at 24 h. This effect was blocked by the parenteral injection of anti-OX-39. We conclude that IL-2 is a potent enhancer of DC motility and may cooperate with other T helper(h)-1 proinflammatory cytokines in attracting DC to sites of inflammation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The effect of an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody on bleomycin-induced lymphokine production and lung injury.

Acute lung injury was produced in C57BL/6 mice by the intratracheal (i.t.) administration of bleomycin (BLM). Following injection of 0.1 U BLM, CD3+ lymphocytes and the production of the T-helper-1 (Th1) lymphokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were increased in lung and lymph nodes. The production of the Th2 cytokine IL-4 by lung lymphocytes was decreased. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of a rat antimurine CD3 (YCD3) monoclonal antibody (mAb) blocked the accumulation of pulmonary CD3+ cells for up to 14 d and effectively suppressed IL-2 and IL-4 but not IFN-gamma production by lung lymphocytes throughout the protocol. Secretion of all of the above lymphokines by lymph node cells was inhibited by YCD3 treatment. Administration of YCD3 diminished pulmonary fibrosis and increased survival (p < 0.01) following BLM administration compared with mice treated with an isotype-matched control mAb. Initiating treatment with YCD3 at Days 5-7 following BLM also decreased pulmonary fibrosis and significantly reduced mortality (p < 0.02). We conclude that BLM yields a potentially lethal fibroinflammatory response in the lung that is markedly diminished by antagonizing the functional activities of CD3+ cells in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Up & comers 1995.

Modern Healthcare's Up & Comers are working to improve the quality of medical care, expand access to healthcare and formulate a cost-efficient delivery system best suited to the needs of the 21st century. These professionals, 40 or younger, are nominated by our staff and readers as examples of the best healthcare has to offer.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. 1203 cases with ultraselective cholangiography].

We present our experience at the University of Chile Hospital with 1203 cases of laparoscopic cholecistectomy between April 1991 and July 1993. In only 36 patients ultraselective cholangiography was performed. In 88 cases an endoscopic cholangiography was performed prior to surgery because of suspicion of choledocolithiasis. In 31 of them choledocolithiasis was demonstrated, and was successfully treated by papilotomy in 30 of them. In 5.8% of cases coversion to open surgery was necessary: 1.4% in chronic cholecystitis, 13% in acute cholecystitis and 39% in cases with fibrosis and esclerosis of gallbladder with or without biliary digestive fistula. The intraoperative cholangiography has been advocated as a manner to prevent the common duct injury. In spite of the small number of cases operated on with cholangiography, we haven't seen serious injuries of biliary tract; a carefully disection, as far away as possible of the common duct, is the best way to prevent iatrogenic lesions. Postoperative morbidity was present in 15 cases, 8 of them required a new operation. Two patients died.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The T cell antigen receptor CD3:CD4 molecular complex is diminished on the surface of pulmonary lymphocytes.

CD4, a 55-kd cell surface glycoprotein, binds to class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (Ia) antigens and functions as a coreceptor for the T cell antigen receptor (Ti alpha beta)-CD3 complex. We have observed that critical elements of the T cell antigen multireceptor complex, including Ti alpha beta, CD3, CD4, but not CD8, were diminished on CD45RO+ pulmonary T lymphocytes but not CD45RO+ peripheral blood T lymphocytes (PBL). Epitopes mapping from the first (D1) to the fourth (D4) extracytoplasmic Ig-like domains of CD4 were expressed to a lesser degree on pulmonary T cells than on PBL (P = 0.002). CD4 expression on pulmonary T cells did not increase after 72 hours of ex vivo culture in complete medium but was restored toward control levels by stimulation with phytohemagglutinin, anti-CD3, or interleukin-2. CD4 mRNA isolated from lung T cells and PBL co-migrated on Northern blots and the total levels of CD4 mRNA were comparable, suggesting that diminished CD4 expression by pulmonary T cells might reflect a posttranscriptional change. To determine whether CD4bright T cells convert with mitogen stimulation to CD4dim cells, PBLs were stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3, anti-CD4, or a molecularly engineered anti-CD3:CD4 bispecific monoclonal antibody and the ratio of the CD4:CD3 mean fluorescence staining intensities was calculated at days 3 and 13. The CD4:CD3 ratio decreased primarily for cells stimulated with anti-CD3:CD4, suggesting that co-ligation of CD3 and CD4 is required for the generation of CD4dim T cells. We conclude that diminished Ti alpha beta-CD3:CD4 expression is a characteristic of T cells in lung that is not shared by peripheral blood T cells in vivo, and speculate that this change reflects T cell activation in a millieu of limited interleukin-2 availability.

Antibodies, Bispecific↗
PubMed1993

[Kidney transplantation and pregnancy: experience with 6 patients].

From 1983 to 1991, six pregnant women bearing a renal transplant were admitted at the P Universidad Católica de Chile Clinic Hospital. All of them were under immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine and prednisone. One patient was also receiving cyclosporine. Four had chronic hypertension; 1 presented intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy; 2, premature rupture of membranes, and 3, preeclampsia (superimposed to chronic hypertension). There were no abortions. The median gestational age at delivery was 35.5 weeks. Only one of the six newborns was small for gestational age; the others were of appropriate size. There were no neonatal problems or congenital anomalies. Deterioration of the renal function was observed in two patients. One patient presented rejection to the transplanted kidney. Pregnancy following renal transplantation is not exempt of risks, but multidisciplinary management, close prenatal control and opportune interruption of gestation play a key role in the successful outcome of these pregnancies.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Various genetic aspects of X-linked mental retardation].

X-Linked Mental Retardation constitutes an important pathologic entity in genetics. The overall significance, history and background of the concept of X-Linked mental retardation is reviewed with a special mention to the cases referenced under the term non-specific X-Linked mental retardation. The concept of lod-score has brought some improvement in the clinical delineation of the X-Linked mental retardation syndromes with some recent reports of suggestive linkage studies. The fragile-X syndrome is discussed with a special focus on reports of X-linked mental retardation with X chromosomal deletions or duplications. Linkage and molecular studies are reported viewing genetic approaches based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms. DNA probes spanning the length of the X and Y chromosomes which may prove critical to the development of diagnostic tests are referred. Computer assistance for a compilation of clinical findings in the X-linked mental retardation syndromes is specified as a diagnostic review and assistance program to check on the various entities. A joint collaborative investigation is reported to ascertain families with X-linked mental retardation in order to develop direct and linkage studies for the diagnosis of there disorders.

DNA, Recombinant↗
PubMed1991

Mesotheliomas due to asbestos used in railroads in Italy.

The available knowledge of the oncogenic risks of asbestos, the presentation of some data on the uses of asbestos in railroads, with particular regard to the Italian State Railroads (Ferrovie dello Stato = FS), and the identification of groups at risk because of exposure to asbestos used in railroads are briefly reviewed. The available data in the literature on the pathologic effects of such exposure, and in particular on the onset of mesotheliomas among machinists and other railroad workers, are also summarized. Eighty-three cases, in various Italian regions, of mesothelioma (78 pleural, 4, peritoneal, and 1 pericardial) are reported that are related to the exposure to asbestos used in railroads. Twenty-six of these cases (among which 25 were reported in the Emilia-Romagna region) were submitted to a detailed study at the Bologna Institute of Oncology. Forty-nine cases of mesothelioma occurred among FS workers, in particular machinists; 29 cases occurred among machinists of rolling-stock workshops not belonging to the FS; 3 cases occurred among travelling workers of rolling-stock not belonging to the FS; 2 cases were found in members of the family (a daughter and a wife) of FS workers. This series of cases, together with similar data from the literature, proves the existence and gravity of an actual health risk due to asbestos used in the railroads. On the basis of the available data, the following steps are considered necessary: the adoption of preventive measures, the performance of medical oncological surveillance, the promotion of systematic epidemiologic investigations, and, finally, the placement of greater emphasis on basic research, aimed at generating information on the biological events taking place during the incubation period of the tumors. This information, hopefully, could be used to reduce the biological effect of exposure, and therefore for controlling the neoplastic process before onset of the disease in those who, having been exposed, although healthy, are potentially at risk.

Epidemiologic Methods↗
PubMed1991

Self inflicted deaths in Auckland: a study of 1057 cases.

In the eleven year period from 1 January 1976 to 31 December 1986, 1057 people took their own lives in the Auckland colonial area. These cases were analysed with respect to age, sex and mode of death. The totals have increased from 68 (1976) to 116 (1986). There were 723 males and 334 females. The total number of males has increased from 41 (1976) to 80 (1986) and the females from 27 (1976) to 36 (1986). This shows that over the period studied there was a significant difference between male and female suicide rates and a greater increase in male rate compared with female rate. The largest number of deaths for both males and females occurred in the 20-29 years age group. Drugs and poisons were the most common method used followed by hanging and the inhalation of carbon monoxide from car exhausts.

Adolescent↗