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Biomedical subjects

G Blanco

Publications and source records attributed to G Blanco.

156 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy in large cleaved cell lymphomas.

The results of nuclear DNA content analysis of a series of 28 patients with large cleaved follicular centre cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are reported. DNA aneuploidy was found in 11 (39 per cent) cases. The DNA indices of the DNA-aneuploid peaks ranged from 1.14 to 2.28. Seven (25 per cent) cases were tetraploid. DNA ploidy was not associated with prognosis. The percentage of S phase cells (SPF) ranged from 2.0 to 30.5 per cent (median 5.1 per cent). Lymphoma patients with SPF higher than 9.7 per cent had a worse survival rate than patients with lymphoma with less than 9.7 per cent S phase cells but the difference did not reach statistical significance. The results of the DNA ploidy and SPF were comparable to those of intermediate and high grade malignancy NHLs.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical pharmacogenomics for CYP2C8 and CYP2C9: general concepts and application to the use of NSAIDs].

OBJECTIVE: To study the major mutations in genes CYP2C8 and CYP2C9, their frequency in populations of diverse ethnical descent, their analysis methods, and the major drugs with affected metabolism, with a special emphasis on NSAIDs. METHOD: Repeated searches of Pubmed (January 1966-January 2006) and Scholar Google were performed. All searches were restricted to studies in humans, and papers not written in Spanish or English were excluded. RESULTS: Ten allelic variants of CYP2C8 and 24 of CYP2C have been reported. Not all of them exert a relevant effect on drug metabolism. In Caucasians 22% of CYP2C8 genes and 31% of CYP2C9 genes have mutations. In Asians fewer than 1% and nearly 3% are mutated, respectively. Major identification methods include endonuclease digestion, PCR, pyrosequencing, and microarrays. Not all NSAIDs are exclusive substrates for CYP2C8/9. The usefulness of allelic variant analysis varies with each individual drug. The risk for digestive hemorrhage associated with the CYP2C9 genotype is particularly relevant when using aceclofenac, celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, lornoxicam, piroxicam, or naproxen. CONCLUSIONS: Although CYP2C8/9 activity plays an essential role in the metabolism of and clinical response to many NSAIDs, the use of pharmacogenomic techniques is not equally useful for all these drugs.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diet explains interpopulation variation of plasma carotenoids and skin pigmentation in nestling white storks.

Carotenoids have a dietary origin in birds, but mechanisms by which they are absorbed in the gut, transported in the blood, metabolized at various sites, and deposited in the integument remain poorly understood. Variation in both plasma carotenoid levels and external color may reflect different access to dietary carotenoids or individual physiological differences in the uptake and deposition of carotenoids. We compared total plasma carotenoid concentration in nestling white storks (Ciconia ciconia) from 11 Spanish colonies in two consecutive years. The main food item in one of the colonies was the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), a recently introduced species. Storks in the remaining colonies ate a variety of foods but no crayfish. Total plasma carotenoid levels in the colony where crayfish were consumed were about five times higher than in any other colony. These differences were maintained after controlling for the significant interyear variability, as well as for sex, age, and body mass of birds. Skin pigmentation also differed, being intensely orange in storks that consumed crayfish but white (unpigmented) in the remaining individuals. With thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and electronic absorption spectroscopy, astaxanthin was confirmed as the major carotenoid in crayfish as well as in the plasma, skin, and body fat of crayfish-eating storks, whereas lutein was the main carotenoid in plasma samples from the other colonies. These results indicate that a newly available carotenoid in the environment, astaxanthin, can be absorbed in large quantities from the gut and be transported in the blood before deposition in different tissues.

Adsorption↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of spectrophotometry and color charts for evaluating total plasma carotenoids in wild birds.

The study of the role of carotenoids on the physiology and evolutionary ecology of birds demands methods for their quantification in the bloodstream. We compared color-chart scores of plasma hue with the actual concentration of plasma carotenoids obtained by spectrophotometry in 356 wild birds from 26 species. Repeatability of chart scores between three independent observers was high. However, color scores did not correlate with the spectrophotometric results in interspecific analyses. Within species (n = 3), one showed no relationship and two showed weak but significant positive correlations. Hemoglobin, and probably other substances, may mask the color of carotenoids, making the accurate use of color charts difficult. Spectrophotometry should be the method of choice as it permits precise quantifications of total plasma carotenoids and objective comparisons among studies.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Home-making responsibilities and health of working women].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between the distribution of home-making responsibilities and perceived mental and physical health in working women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 1994 and October 1995, in Caracas, Venezuela. A total of 260 university teachers were surveyed on home-making management and activities. Statistical analysis consisted of central tendency measures, analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS: Considering the distribution of home-making responsibilities, it was found that women participated more in home-making management and planning and that they received support from their partner in those tasks related to home-making. Those women who perceived higher overload in home-tasks reported also higher levels of anxiety, depression and a lower self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the negative effects of household labor on mental health in working women.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Postoperative PINP in serum reflects metastatic potential and poor survival in node-positive breast cancer.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the postoperative serum markers of type I collagen synthesis (PINP,PICP) and degradation (ICTP) and their possible potential for predicting the spread of disease and survival. 373 node-positive breast cancer patients were enrolled. 120 patients (32%) developed recurrent disease in the follow-up. The mean time to recurrence was 17 months and the mean follow-up time was 45 months. The mean level of PINP was significantly elevated in the patients who developed metastatic disease in the follow-up as compared with those without metastases. PINP was statistically significantly higher in all the patients who developed bone metastases than in those without metastases. When patients with only bone metastases or patients with bone and soft tissue and/or visceral metastases and patients with only visceral or soft tissue metastases were compared with those not exhibiting metastases, PINP was significantly higher in the group with recurrence in the bone, but there were no significant differences in serum PINP, PICP or ICTP values between the patients with only bone metastases and those who developed soft or visceral metastases during the follow-up. Postoperative high PINP was also a factor for poorer survivaL Tumor size, malignancy grade and progesterone receptors were shown in multivariate analysis to be predictors of recurrence and tumor size and PINP and progesterone receptors to be predictors of survivaL

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Lukes-Collins and Kiel classifications for non-Hodgkin lymphomas. A retrospective study considering both classifications and their relationships to stage, sex, age, and survival.

359 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphomas referred to Oulu University Hospital between 1964 to 1981, inclusive, were reclassified histologically according to the criteria of Lukes-Collins as well as Lennert's histological classifications. The requirements to enter this study were fulfilled only in 280 cases. After the evaluation of the results certain observations emerged. Firstly, within the Lukes-Collins classification: Nodularity was predominantly related to the SC and LC types. Nodularity is indicative of better survival. The Lukes-Collins classification correlates well with clinical stage as well as with age. The Burkitt and convoluted types were found to be predominantly related to childhood or to younger patients and the non-Burkitt type most frequently to the older groups. The Lukes-Collins classification separates well two clear prognostic groups, the favourable group (LC, SC, PC, and SL types), with an overall median survival of 44 months, and the unfavourable group (LNC, IS, convoluted, undefined, and SNC types), with an overall median survival of 11 months. No differences in survival were observed between the LNC, LC, and IS diffuse types. Stage, general symptoms and laboratory findings were also evaluated. Secondly, within the Kiel classification: Nodularity has been found mainly in the CB-CC type, but also in 27% of the CC cases. The relationship of the subtypes according to the Kiel classification and age resembles the same relation found with the Lukes-Collins classification. According to the Kiel classification, the Burkitt, convoluted, and lymphoblastic types were related to children and young adults. A proportion of the LB type occurs also in older groups. Three prognostic groups were identified, the favourable (CB-CC foll. and PC types), with an overall median survival in excess of 80 months, an intermediate group (CB-CC foll. - diff., CC, and CLL), with an overall median survival of 38 months, and an unfavourable group (Conv, CB, CB-CC diff., UC, IB, and Burkitt types), with a median survival of 11 months. The CC type in this study was controversial in its morphological acceptability.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer: relationships to tumour histopathology and survival of patients.

Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) concentrations were measured in the tumours of 399 cases of primary breast carcinoma. Histological type and histological grading was also analysed. The correlation between survival and histological grading was observed and found to be of high significance statistically. Longer survival of patients with ER- and/or PR-positive tumours was also observed, but the ER and PR prognostic value did not reach the same magnitude as histological alone. The prognostic accuracy in breast cancer, when histological grading, ER and PR were used together, failed to reach statistically significant values. A lower proportion of ER- and PR-positive tumours were found in histological grade III. The majority of the tumours belonging to specific histological variants of carcinoma were ER- and/or PR-positive. Relationships between ER, PR, menopausal status, and age were also noted. It was apparent that the prognostic value of PR concentrations in the tumour was more relevant than that of ER alone.

Adult↗