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Biomedical subjects

E A Garcia

Publications and source records attributed to E A Garcia.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Genes and hypertension.

The combination of investigation of rare Mendelian forms of hypertension, candidate gene studies, comparative mapping and genome-wide screening in both animal models and man has led to significant progress in determining new mechanisms of blood pressure control. In this review, the newly discovered blood pressure/cardiovascular genes, WNK kinases and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and the development of a new anti-hypertensive agent PST2238 are discussed. Major genes causing essential hypertension have yet to be discovered, however, there are now over 20 published genome-wide screens for blood pressure controlling genes. Several regions demonstrate suggestive linkage to the trait and there is some overlap of regions between the different studies. It is hoped that new blood pressure genes will ultimately be discovered using this method. Pharmacogenetic studies in hypertension have only been initiated recently, some are described in this paper. Small studies upon single candidate genes, suggest that the contribution of genetics to the inter-individual variation in blood pressure response to anti-hypertensive therapy, is small, approximately 3-5%. Recently micro-arrays with multiple polymorphisms in multiple genes have been used. After accounting for the additive affects of multiple blood pressure loci, an individual's genetic profile appeared to explain up to 50% of the variation in blood pressure response to therapy. Knowledge of the genetic variants that cause hypertension and influence response to anti-hypertensive therapy will ultimately provide a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying blood pressure control.

Androstanols↗
PubMed2001

Nuclear DNA content analysis by static cytometry in cervical intraepithelial lesions using retrospective series of previously stained PAP smears.

AIMS: To evaluate the nuclear DNA content in cytological smears of uterine cervix previously stained with Papanicolaou method, focusing the potential of the method in retrospective series. METHODS: Consecutive cases of Pap smears examined at the Adolfo Lutz Institute, a Public Health Laboratory of São Paulo State were selected. The diagnosis were: CIN 1 (n=20), CIN 2 (n=24), CIN 3 (n=20). Slides were previously stained with Papanicolaou method. The stain was removed with 5% hydrochloric alcohol-acid solution and the slides were stained with Thionin-Feulgen using a Becton & Dickinson kit. Ploidy evaluation was performed using the DNA Quantitative Measurement software 3.0 (version 8.1) from Becton & Dickinson and the CAS 200 system of image analysis. Cell ploidy was evaluated after analysis of atypical nuclei found in the selected cases. The DNA index was obtained using histograms for interpretation. MAIN RESULTS: CIN 1 cases showed the following DNA profile: 55% of diploid, 5% of tetraploid and 40% of aneuploid. CIN 2 cases showed 45.8% of diploid, 8.3% of tetraploid and 45.8% of aneuploid cells. CIN 3 cases showed 10% diploid, 15% of tetraploid and 75% of aneuploid cells. CONCLUSION: DNA analysis was useful to distinguish CIN 3 to CIN 1 and 2, but did not discriminate CIN 1 and 2 in these series. Aneuploidy was strongly associated to the CIN 3 cases.

Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1999

Electrophysiological effects of Ageratum conyzoides L. on the guinea-pig heart.

An extract obtained from the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides L. changed the electrocardiogram, atrial impulse velocity, and coronary vessels resistance on isolated guinea-pig heart. Electrocardiographic alterations were: (a) PR interval increased from 80 +/- 1.4 ms to 105 +/- 14 ms (p < 0.01); (b) QT interval decreased from 170 +/- 2 ms to 154 +/- 7 ms (p < 0.01); (c) heart rate decreased from 170 +/- 17 bpm to 152 +/- 21 bpm (p < 0.01);(d) atrial impulse velocity decreased from 51 +/- 2 cm/s to 45 +/- 3 cm/s (p < 0.01);(e) the time spent for the impulse to be conducted from the atrium to the His bundle increased from 73 +/- 13 ms to 100 +/- 24 ms (p < 0.01). These effects disappeared after a washout.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Angiotensin II blockade of long-term potentiation at the perforant path--granule cell synapse in vitro.

Field recordings of evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (pEPSPs) were carried out in the granule cell stratum moleculare following stimulation of the perforant path in rat hippocampal slices. Under control conditions tetanic stimulation produced long-term potentiation (LTP) as measured by an increase in the initial slope of the pEPSPs that lasted for at least 1 h. LTP experiments were repeated with 0.5, 5.0, 50, or 500 nM angiotensin II (AII) present in the bath at the time of tetanization. Induction of LTP was blocked by 50 nM AII; however, normal baseline responses were not affected. At the highest dose tested, 500 nM, a decrease in the amplitude and slope of baseline pEPSPs was observed. When the AII AT1 receptor antagonist losartan was present in the bath AII inhibition of LTP was blocked. The application of losartan alone had no effect on LTP expression. These findings support previous results from in vivo studies demonstrating that activation of AT1 receptors in the dentate gyrus blocks the induction of LTP at the perforant path-granule cell synapse.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1990

Sequential extraction--spectrofluorometric determination of lead and cadmium using cryptands.

A spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of ultratrace amounts of lead and cadmium is described based on the sequential extraction of the ternary ion-association complexes formed between the cation, a cryptand as the ligand and eosin as a counter ion. A linear working range from the detection limit (0.5 ng ml(-1) to 250 ng ml(-1) of lead and to 1 50 ng ml(-1) of cadmium was obtained. The relative standard deviation was 2-4%. The proposed method has been applied successfully to the determination of lead and cadmium in zinc metals and soft drinks.

Bridged Bicyclo Compounds↗
PubMedDate not supplied

PCR with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis specific primers: potential use in ecological studies.

The precise microenvironment of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has not yet been discovered perhaps because the methods used are not sensitive enough. We applied to this purpose the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using three sets of specific primers corresponding to two P. brasiliensis genes. This fungus as well as several other fungi, were grown and their DNA obtained by mechanical disruption and a phenol chloroform isoamylalcohol-based purification method. The DNA served for a PCR reaction that employed specific primers from two P. brasiliensis genes that codify for antigenic proteins, namely, the 27 kDa and the 43 kDa. The lowest detection range for the 27 kDa gene was 3 pg. The amplification for both genes was positive only with DNA from P. brasiliensis; additionally, the mRNA for the 27 kDa gene was present only in P. brasiliensis, as indicated by the Northern analysis. The standardization of PCR technology permitted the amplification of P. brasiliensis DNA in artificially contaminated soils and in tissues of armadillos naturally infected with the fungus. These results indicate that PCR technology could play an important role in the search for P. brasiliensis' habitat and could also be used in other ecological studies.

Animals↗