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E Batlle

Publications and source records attributed to E Batlle.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Cardiac tamponade with the absence of a paradoxical pulse. The practical utility of echocardiography].

A patient with cardiac tamponade but without hypotension and pulsus paradoxus is reported. In this patient, echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade, showing diastolic collapse of the right ventricle and also the presence of an atrial septal defect (ostium secundum) that explains the absence of pulsus paradoxus. The role of echocardiography in those rare clinical situations that in the presence of cardiac tamponade showed no pulsus paradoxus are discussed.

Cardiac Tamponade↗

Antipeptide antibodies directed against the C-terminus of protein kinase C zeta (PKC zeta) react with a Ca(2+)- and TPA-sensitive PKC in HT-29 human intestinal epithelial cells.

We have studied the PKC isoforms present in HT-29 M6 colon cancer cells, the differentiation of which to mucus-secreting cells is blocked by TPA. In addition to a major 72 kDa band, a 77 kDa PKC isoform was recognized by two different antibodies raised against a C-terminus-specific peptide for the TPA-insensitive isoform, PKC zeta. By different criteria (association to the membrane, down-regulation, PKC activity in immunoprecipitates) we conclude that, contrary to the 72 kDa band, the 77 kDa band corresponds to a Ca(2+)- and TPA-sensitive PKC. These results suggest that antipeptide antibodies directed against the C-terminus of PKC zeta react in human cells with a member of the conventional PKC subfamily besides PKC zeta. Therefore, the data indicating that PKC zeta is sensitive to different agents in various cell lines should be carefully re-evaluated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate blocks differentiation of HT-29 human colon cancer cells.

Recently developed HT-29-derived cell lines, which display variable differentiated phenotypes provide an invaluable opportunity to analyze the mechanism by which cell differentiation is regulated in the intestine. We have studied the effects of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in the differentiation phenotype of mucus-secreting (HT-29 M6) and absorptive (HT-29 M3) cells. TPA prevented the accumulation of differentiation markers such as dipeptidylpeptidase IV, villin or mucins, down-regulated the expression of these molecules in post-confluent differentiated cell cultures and induced the loss of the functional integrity of the tight junction in the monolayer (i.e. decreased transepithelial resistance and inhibited dome formation). These effects were mediated by activation of protein kinase C (PK-C), as demonstrated using the specific inhibitor GF109203x. Analysis by immunoblotting of the PK-C isoforms present in HT-29 M6 cells revealed that the most abundant TPA-sensitive isoform was PK-C epsilon, although low levels of cPK-C were also detected. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of the different PK-C isoforms in the differentiation of HT-29 cells.

Biomarkers↗

Tobacco prevention in hospitals: long-term follow-up of a smoking control programme.

This paper presents the results of a smoking control programme carried out in Sant Jaume i Santa Magdalena Hospital in Mataró (Barcelona, Spain) involving the entire hospital staff. The general objectives of the programme were: (1) to reduce tobacco consumption among hospital staff and (2) to create an awareness of their exemplary role as health professionals. In order to achieve these aims, different activities were carried out: lectures on the consequences of smoking; restrictions on smoking in hospital areas; and smoking cessation help for those who wished to give up smoking. To measure the effectiveness of the intervention, a survey of smoking habits and attitudes among the hospital staff was conducted before the start of the programme in 1986 and repeated two and a half years later in 1989. The population studied in both surveys (n = 298 and n = 304) was similar by sex, age, and professional status. Regarding tobacco consumption there was the same proportion of never smokers, while the percentage of current smokers was reduced by 11 between the two surveys (51 to 40%), and the ex-smokers group showed an increase (16 to 23%). These differences were significant. There was also a remarkable change in attitudes among the health professionals, especially with regard to their disposition to give advice to stop smoking. The results show a reduction of the prevalence of smoking among the hospital staff and a positive change in their attitudes towards smoking.

Adult↗