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Biomedical subjects

C Ruíz

Publications and source records attributed to C Ruíz.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Phosphatase-1 and -2A inhibition modulates apoptosis in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes independently of nitric oxide production.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the role of phosphatase-1 and -2A (PP1/2A) in the modulation of apoptosis in human osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes. METHODS: Human OA chondrocytes were isolated from cartilage obtained from the femoral heads of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Apoptosis was quantified by ELISA, which measures DNA fragmentation. Nitric oxide (NO) production was evaluated by the Greiss method, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein synthesis was studied by western blotting. RESULTS: Inhibition of PP1/2A by the specific inhibitor okadaic acid (OKA) dose and time dependently caused a reduction of cell viability (OKA at 50 nmol/l: a reduction to 60% and 43% at 48 and 72 hours, respectively). Genomic DNA from chondrocytes treated with OKA at 50 and 100 nmol/l for 48 hours displayed increased internucleosomal DNA fragmentation by 11 and 13 fields, respectively. Light microscopy and DAPI studies showed that OKA induced DNA condensation and fragmentation, typical of death by apoptosis. The caspase inhibitors Z-VAD-FMK and Z-DEVD-FMK increased cell viability, reduced by OKA at 50 nmol/l to 87% and 73%, respectively. OKA did not increase iNOS protein synthesis or NO production. CONCLUSION: PP1/2A modulate apoptosis in human OA chondrocytes; this is independent of NO production but dependent on caspases.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗
PubMed2002

Treatment of winery wastewater by an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor.

Treatment of winery wastewater was investigated using an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR). Biogas production rate was monitored and permitted the automation of the bioreactor by a simple control system. The reactor was operated at an organic loading rate (ORL) around 8.6 gCOD/L.d with soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency greater than 98%, hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2.2 d and a specific organic loading rate (SOLR) of 0.96 gCOD/gVSS.d. The kinetics of COD and VFA removal were investigated for winery wastewater and for simple compounds such as ethanol, which is a major component of winery effluent, and acetate, which is the main volatile fatty acid (VFA) produced. The comparison of the profiles obtained with the 3 substrates shows that, overall, the acidification of the organic matter and the methanisation of the VFA follow zero order reactions, in the operating conditions of our study. The effect on the gas production rate resulted in two level periods separated by a sharp break when the acidification stage was finished and only the breaking down of the VFA continued.

Automation↗
PubMed1998

Selenium, zinc and copper in plasma of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in different metabolic control states.

The Studies of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) levels in diabetic patients have led to contradictory findings as the possible relationship between the degree of diabetic control and the changes in mineral contents. In the present study the plasma Cu, Se, and Zn contents of diabetic patients and healthy people were measured and the relationship between these contents and diabetic metabolic control, as determined by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), was studied. The mean plasma Se content in diabetic patients was significantly lower than in controls (p < 0.01) and a negative correlation between the plasma contents of Se and HbA1c was found. No statistically significant differences in plasma Zn contents, either between patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and control, were found. A statistically significant sex difference in plasma Cu contents was observed in the control population. In females, statistically significant differences were found in plasma Cu contents between the control subjects and the diabetic patients with medium or poor metabolic control, as well as between diabetic patients with good and poor metabolic control. In males, the only statistically significant differences were between the control subjects and diabetic patients with poor metabolic control. The correlation between plasma contents of Cu and HbA1c is not significant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Scintigraphic findings in a Brodie's abscess.

A 9-year-old girl had a 6-month history of left hip pain. Radiographs of the left hip showed a metaphyseal osteolytic lesion with sclerotic borders in the femoral neck. Tc-99m MDP bone imaging and a Ga-67 scan showed focal areas of increased activity in the left femoral neck. These areas of increased uptake corresponded to a lytic area on x-rays, which was due to a Brodie's abscess. The combination of Tc-99m MDP bone and Ga-67 imaging has been widely used in the confirmation of bone infection, increasing the accuracy in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis. However, nuclear scintigraphy has not been previously reported in the confirmation of a Brodie's abscess.

Abscess↗
PubMed1991

Colovesical fistula secondary to vesical gangrene in a diabetic patient.

We present a case of colovesical fistula secondary to vesical gangrene. Precipitating factors were diabetes and vesical distension caused by the obstruction of an indwelling catheter. This complication is an exceptional outcome in gangrenous cystitis and it requires emergency surgical treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Reduced levels of uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase activity in fetal and neonatal human and guinea pig liver.

Uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (UDPGPP) is the first enzyme in the bilirubin conjugation pathway. A study aiming to screen for red blood cell UDPGPP deficiency in newborns with hyperbilirubinemia was carried out. No individuals with severe UDPGPP deficiency were found, however, levels of UDPGPP in premature and at term newborns were lower than in adults. These findings led to the study of UDPGPP in human fetal, neonatal and adult liver, using guinea pig tissues as a parallel control. UDPGPP activities in fetal and neonatal samples were also significantly lower than in adult ones in both species. Therefore, it is postulated that the reduced levels of UDPGPP in fetal and neonatal liver could be a factor which contributes to the pathogenesis of the physiologic jaundice in human newborns.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

[Modification of complement factors and their inhibitors during meningococcal sepsis (author's transl)].

Various complement components (C'1s, C'3, C'4, C'5, C'8, C'9, C'3 act., C'1 inh., C'3b inact.) and seric immunocomplexes (by polyethylene glycol, PEG) were evaluated in 43 children with meningococcal sepsis. 28 patients had disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), group I, and 15 did not show it, group II; 14 patients died in group I and none of group II. In 21 cases studies were repeated 24 hours later. In group I all complement components were decreased, specially C'3 (x: 67 mg./100 ml., p < 0.01) and C'5 (x: 8 mg./100 ml., p < 0.01) and they were lower 24 h. later. Results of group II were normal, except a decrease of C'5. Catabolic products of C'3 were founded in 11/14 cases of group I and two/nine of group II and products of C'3 act. in four/14 and one/10. PEG precipitation was positive in 10/14 cases of group I and 10/12 of group II and IgG, IgM, C'3 and C'4 were found in precipitations. This complement components were more frequently present in sepsis without DIC and after 24 h. of evolution. C'1 and C'3b inhibitors decreased after evolution in group I and by contrast increased in group II. This fall enhances complement activation.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1979

[Tuberculous cerebral abscess. Morphopathologic study (author's transl)].

A 73-year-old patient with a cerebral abscess of tuberculous etiology localized in the left parietooccipital region is presented. Clinically it had behaved like an expansive process. The inside of the abscess contained a purulent exudate with polynuclear cells and necrotic material. The wall of the abscess was formed by a predominantly histiocytic internal layer and an external one composed by histiocytes with the morphology of epithelioid cells. No tuberculous granulomas were found. The histiocytes contained a large number of acid-alcohol resistant bacilli. In the exudate Mycobacterium tuberculosis hominis was bacteriologically isolated. After the surgical operation the patient developed an acute tuberculous sepsis with tuberculous exudative meningitis and miliary dissemination in various organs. As regards the pathogenesis of the tuberculous cerebral abscess the authors consider the possible influence of a deficitary immune state of the patient and the aggressiveness of the infective organism.

Aged↗