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Biomedical subjects

E García

Publications and source records attributed to E García.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

HLA--D typing with homozygous cells identified in an American indigenous isolate. I. Population studies.

Lymphocytes from six individuals homozygous for their HLA--A, --B, --C and --D loci belonging to an American indigenous group, the Warao, have been used as typing cells to detect HLA--D determinants in 121 donors from the same indigenous isolate and in 71 donors of mixed ethnic origin living in Venezuela. Two determinants responsible for strong proliferation in mixed lymphocyte cultures have thus been identified. Four HLA--A2, B5 cells (r values between 0l72 and 0.57) identify a determinant provisionally called LD5a showing a gene frequency of 0.30 among the Warao and of 0.09 among the population of mixed ethnic origin. The nearest B locus antigen to this new specificity among the Warao is HLA--B5 (r value = 0.20). A second determinant identified by two HLA--A2, B15 sisters (r values of 0.71) shows a gene frequency of 0.15 among the Warao and of 0.03 among the mixed population. The latter is related to Dw8 as shown by results of the VI and VII Histocompatibility Workshops, and is weakly associated (r value of 0.28) to HLA--B15 among the American indigenous population tested.

Epitopes↗
PubMed1977

Hemodynamic and angiocardiographic changes following nitroglycerin in coronary artery disease.

33 patients with suspected coronary artery disease were studied hemodynamically and angiocardiographically in the resting state and following administration of 0.4 mg of sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG). After NTG several parameters were changed: LVEDP, mean LV systolic pressure, EDVI, ESVI, SVI and SWI were decreased; EF, mean Vcf, MNSER, heart rate (P less than 0.01; r = 0.801) and chords, hemichords and shortening of long axis were increased. However, the changes after NTG were markedly different in patients with diffuse and localized LV asynergy, suggesting a more important inotropic effect of NTG in patients with localized LV asynergy, while reduction in venous return and EDV would be the main effect of NTG in patients with diffuse LV asynergy.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Competence in continuous cultures of Bacillus subtilis: inhibition by arginine and reversal of the inhibition by Mn2+.

Arginine inhibited the competence of Bacillus subtilis growing in a chemostat at a dilution rate of 0-277 h-1. The biosynthesis of competence-stimulating activity was only partially repressed. The inhibitory effect may be due to an alteration in the cell's capacity for being stimulated to competence and/or in its ability to take up DNA irreversibly. MnSO4 at 10(-6) M restored competence immediately.

Arginine↗
PubMed1976

Genetics of the HL-A system in a venezuelan heterogeneous population.

HL-A antigen and gene frequencies of 206 unrelated adults living in the cities of Caracas and Maracaibo have shown that this heterogeneous Venezuelan population sample possess 11 specificities of the first (LA) HL-A series and 15 specificities of the second (Four) series. HL-A2, HL-A9, HL-A5 and W5 showed frequencies higher than those observed in caucasoid populations. The most frequent haplotypes were 2, W5; 2, 5; 9, 12; 2, 12 and 2, X2. No outstandingly high value for gametic association between the alleles of the 2 HL-A series was observed, but haplotypes formed by antigens with dissimilar frequencies in Caucasoids, Negroids and American Indian tribes have shown statistically significant D values. Genetic distance calculated using the HL-A system alone showed that this population is closer to the average Caucasoid and Negroid population tested at the 5th International Histocompatibility Workshop than to 2 American Indian tribes living in the same country.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Topical tretinoin 0.1% for pregnancy-related abdominal striae: an open-label, multicenter, prospective study.

In an open-label, multicenter, prospective study, 20 women applied tretinoin (retinoic acid) cream 0.1% daily for 3 months to pregnancy-related stretch marks in the abdominal area. Efficacy was evaluated by analysis of one preselected target lesion, which was rated on a six-point scale (-1 = worse to 4 = cleared). At week 12, significant global improvement was noted from baseline in all stretch marks, and the target lesion decreased in length by 20% (P = .01). Erythema and scaling, the most common adverse events, occurred in 11 patients, decreased in severity after the first month of treatment, and were controlled with continued application of tretinoin and petroleum jelly ointment. In this small study, topical application of tretinoin significantly improved the clinical appearance of pregnancy-related stretch marks.

Abdomen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Postnatal handling reduces anxiety as measured by emotionality rating and hyponeophagia tests in female rats.

The present studies evaluated the short- and long-lasting effects of postnatal handling (administered during the first 21 days of life) on the emotional behavior of female Sprague-Dawley rats. The performance of postnatally handled (H) and control nonhandled (NH) animals was compared in two different situations: an emotionality rating (ER) test (when they were 40 days or 4 months old), and a hyponeophagia (neophobia) test of anxiety, at the age of 4 months. The results showed that postnatal handling induced both short-term and long-term reductions of spontaneous emotional reactivity in the ER test, although the effects on some measures disappeared in 4-month-old rats. Postnatal handling also induced enduring decreases of anxiety as measured by the hyponeophagia test. None of the observed effects were attributable to changes in basal locomotor activity. ER measures were significantly related to hyponeophagia, because animals showing the highest emotionality scores in the ER test (preferentially NH animals) were those that showed the highest eating latencies and spent less time eating in the neophobic situation (i.e., hyponeophagia test).

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The prediction of the minimum incidence of AIDS in Spain for the period 1992-1995].

In order to estimate minimum AIDS incidence in Spain between 1992 and 1995, annual AIDS incidence up to 1991 has been obtained from the June 1992 update of the National Register. Correction was made for reporting delays in cases diagnosed since July 1989, in order to run a subsequent back calculation on all cases and for each separate mode of transmission. It was assumed that no new HIV infections would appear after 1991. Since 1981 to 1995, more than 38,000 AIDS cases will have been diagnosed. Minimum AIDS incidence as forecast exhibits a rise between 1992 and 1995 for the total number of cases and for all categories of transmission, except for recipients of blood and blood products, and children of mothers at risk. Real incidence will probably prove higher than estimated owing to the effect of new infections which may arise, and to the underreporting of cases.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diagnostic considerations in unilateral hyperlucency of the lung (Swyer-James-MacLeod Syndrome)].

Swyer-James-MacLeod Syndrome (SJMS) is considered to be a relatively uncommon and complex disease characterized by roentgenographic hyperlucency of one lung, lobe, or part of a lobe, due the pulmonary vascular structure and alveolar overdistension. It is sometimes associated with bronchiectasis. This syndrome seems to be an acquired disease that develops after viral bronchiolitis and/or viral pneumonia in early childhood. Microscopically, there is evidence of patchy bronchitis and bronchiolitis.SJMS is usually asymptomatic and discovered accidentally by chest radiography in a child with respiratory symptoms and should be differentiated from other causes of unilateral hyperlucency on chest radiography, such as those related to congenital bronchial and/or vascular abnormalities. Treatment includes early control of lung infections, as well as influenza and pneumococcal vaccination. Few reports of this syndrome in children have been published. We describe the case of a 12-year-old boy with unilateral hyperlucency of the lung and respiratory symptoms of acute pneumonia and discuss the main diagnostic features of this syndrome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methylmercury increases glutamate extracellular levels in frontal cortex of awake rats.

A current hypothesis about methylmercury (MeHg) neurotoxicity proposes that neuronal damage is due to excitotoxicity following glutamate uptake alterations in the astrocyte. By sampling from a microdialysis probe implanted in the frontal cortex of adult Wistar rats, we measured the effects of acute exposure to either 10 or 100 microM MeHg through the microdialysis probe, on glutamate extracellular levels in 15 awake animals. After baseline measurements, the perfusion of MeHg during 90 min induced immediate and significant elevations in extracellular glutamate at 10 microM (9.8-fold, P<.001) and at 100 microM (2.4-fold, P=.001). This in vivo demonstration of increments of extracellular glutamate supports the hypothesis that dysfunction of glutamate neurotransmission plays a key role in MeHg-induced neural damage.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biological roles of two new murein hydrolases of Streptococcus pneumoniae representing examples of module shuffling.

We have found two murein hydrolases (LytB and LytC) tightly bound to the cell envelope that have completely changed the domain building plan previously reported for the murein hydrolases of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The active center of LytB and LytC is located at the C-terminal, whereas the binding domain is at the N-terminal. LytC has been characterized as the first lysozyme of S. pneumoniae and behaves as an autolysin at 30 degrees C. LytB appears as the main hydrolase responsible for cell separation since inactivation of lytB leads to the formation of long chains of more than 100 cells. These findings indicate that genetic adaptation of mobile domains is extremely efficient in pneumococcus.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Current trends in capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The capsular gene cluster (cap/cps) of 13 out of the 90 known pneumococcal types has been sequenced. The cap/cps operon, located between dexB and aliA in the Streptococcus pneumoniae chromosome, contains some of the genes responsible for the synthesis of the type-specific polysaccharide flanked by four conserved open reading frames. The biochemical function of only a few capsular genes has been established, whereas the role of the flanking regions is controversial. Remarkably, only one gene (tts) located outside the cap locus is required for the synthesis of type 37 capsule. Moreover, other genes not linked to the cap gene cluster are also needed for capsule synthesis in pneumococcus.

Bacterial Capsules↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Continuous venovenous renal replacement therapy using a conventional infusion pump.

To evaluate continuous venovenous hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration with a conventional infusion pump in a pediatric sized animal model. Fourteen Maryland pigs weighing 8 to 13 kg were used. A conventional infusion pump (IVAC 571), with a flow of 900 ml/h and a pediatric hemofilter of 0.22 m2 were used. Ringer's solution was used for both the dialysate and the replacement fluid. Each experiment included 1 hour of hemofiltration and 1 hour of hemodiafiltration. Heart rate, arterial blood pressure, pH, Na, K, Cl, and hematocrit were measured every 30 minutes. Mean ultrafiltrate flow was 249.7 +/- 100.3 ml/hr, 240.5 +/- 109.5 ml/hr with hemofiltration and 271 +/- 101.1 ml/hr with hemodiafiltration, the differences not being significant. No significant changes were seen in heart rate, blood pressure, hematocrit, electrolytes, or pH. Pressure in the circuit rose from 107.7 +/- 70.3 mm Hg at the beginning of the experiment to 234.2 +/- 118.1 mm Hg after 2 hours (p < 0.05). The technique was well tolerated by all the pigs. Continuous venovenous hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration with a conventional infusion pump is a possible alternative to conventional methods of extrarenal replacement therapy in neonates and infants.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Strains of ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus].

BACKGROUND: In countries where the resistance of cytomegalovirus to ganciclovir has been studied, strains resistant to therapeutic doses of this drug have been isolated. When a change in treatment has been impossible the patient has shown bad clinical evolution. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of these strains in our medium, observe whether the resistances appear in patients previously treated with ganciclovir and determine its implication in the evolution of cytomegalovirus infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-three stains of cytomegalovirus, isolated during the period 1990-1998, corresponding to the following 94 patients were studied: 17 breast feeding children of healthy parents who were negative controls (sensitive strains), 43 organ transplant recipients, 29 AIDS patients, 2 with other immunodeficiencies and 3 children with intrauterine infection. Seventeen patients were studied due to the insidious course of the infection despite treatment. The remaining were random. The technique used was that of growth inhibition of the strains seeded on different gradients of ganciclovir: 0, 1, 5, 10 and 20 microM. The inoculate consisted in a cellular suspension evaluated according to the degree of viral growth. The strains presenting an inhibitory doses 50% (ID 50%) greater than 10 microM were considered as resistant. RESULTS: Eighty-two strains presented an ID 50% lower than 5 microM, 24 from 5 to 10 microM and in the 17 remaining strains, corresponding to 12 patients, the ID 50% was greater than 10 microM. The evolution of these latter 12 patients with strains considered to be resistant to ganciclovir was of death in 8. All were immunodepressed and with a history of having previously received ganciclovir. Another currently has a chronic evolution and the three remaining patients, who presented better immunity, became cured. All patients has a chronic evolution and the three remaining patients, who presented better immunity, became cured. All patients had undergone previous treatment with ganciclovir except two: one patient with Wegener disease treated with acyclovir 15 days before, and the other was an infant of an HIV positive mother who had received the drug. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of cytomegalovirus strains resistant to ganciclovir was confirmed in our patients. The previous use of ganciclovir and, in one case of acyclovir, appears to be implicated in the appearance of resistance. The evolution of the immunodepressed patients with infection by resistant strains was mortal except when their immunity was improved.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Family intervention in schizophrenia: long-term effect on main caregivers].

INTRODUCTION: The bulk of research on Family Interventions concentrates on assessing its efficacy in reducing psychotic relapses, there being very little research into its ability to reduce the morbidity of the main caregiver over the course of time. METHOD: Follow-up study at five years of a cohort of informal caregivers of persons with schizophrenia who had taken part in an empirical trial with two therapeutic approaches assigned at random. RESULTS: 87.7 % of main caregivers are women and they tend to care for more chronic and inactive patients than men (p < 0.041). More than 55% of main caregivers had high General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) scores, with women suffering more emotional repercussions than men. Morbidity gradually declines over time (GHQ scores: 8.1 before intervention; 6.9 at the end of intervention and 4.6 five years later) although statistical significance was only achieved when taking the entire period into account, i.e., from beginning to the end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Family intervention over a limited period followed by a support group gradually reduces morbidity of the caregiver to a significant level at five years, although this reduction is not associated with the type of setting or the absence or presence of the patient. Clinical implications are discussed and likewise the need for a more equitable distribution of responsibilities and risk.

Attitude to Health↗