Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Aznar.
The value of seven tumor markers to differentiate preinvasive and invasive gynecologic tumors is studied. CEA beta -hCH. alpha -FP and alpha-glycoprotein/prealbumin quotient allow such differentiation, while TPA, LDH-V and PRL have no value as markers of the gynecologic tumors and to not distinguish between preinvasive and invasive tumors.
Some correlations between plasma and platelet fatty acids (FA) were evaluated "ex vivo" in 94 normal subjects. The highest relationships between total FA from plasma and platelets were found for 18:1 (r = 0.74) and 18:2 (r = 0.67). Low correlations were obtained for free fatty acids (FFA). The most significant correlations between fatty acids esterifying plasma and platelet phospholipids were found for the 18:1 (r = 0.66); 18:2 (r = 0.74) and 20:5 (r = 0.66). Our results suggest that the platelet phospholipid FA could be more easily modified by plasma variation in the FA composition of phospholipids than by variations in the plasma FA composition of the FFA fraction. In addition, the incorporation of FA from plasma into the platelet phospholipids "in vivo" may take place through an acylation-deacylation process and also by the incorporation of whole plasma phospholipid molecules into the platelets, probably through an exchange of plasma lipoproteins and platelets. Finally, arachidonic acid seems to have a different and selective way of incorporation into platelet phospholipids.
A family with "in vitro" increased red-cell fall out from the blood clot was studied. One member of the family (JVM) had a clinical history of hemorrhages after minor trauma or dental extractions. Routine coagulation and platelet function were normal except for the fibrinogen level which was slightly low in several members. The antigenic as well as functional evaluation of factor XIII was within normal limits. No factor XIII inhibitors were present. An increase in the clot permeability index was observed in most family members. The study of the fibrinolytic system showed an enhanced lysis of euglobulins, a normal plasminogen value, normal level of fibrin/ogen degradation products, normal fibrinolytic inhibitors, and an increase in the activity of the plasminogen activator. The activity of this activator was inhibited by an antiserum against tissue-type plasminogen activator. The t-pA inhibitor was in the normal range. It is concluded that the family studied in this paper shows familial alteration in the fibrinolytic system due to an excess of plasminogen activator immunologically related to that in human tissue.
A relapsing clinical syndrome of skin lesions and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) that showed remission with the infusion of fresh frozen plasma is described in a newborn infant with homozygous deficiency of protein C antigen. This patient presented since birth a recurrent clinical picture of DIC and ecchymotic skin lesions that resembled typical ecchymosis except for the fact that they showed immediate improvement with the administration of fresh frozen plasma. Using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method, the determination of protein C antigen levels in the patient, without ingestion of coumarin drugs, showed very low values (less than 1%). No other deficiencies in the vitamin-K-dependent factors or in antithrombin III, antiplasmin, and plasminogen were found. Seven relatives of the infant had heterozygous deficiency in protein C antigen (values between 40-55%), without clinical history of venous thrombosis. The pedigree analysis of this family suggests an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance for the clinical phenotype, although an autosomal dominant pattern has been postulated until now in other reported families. We conclude that our patient has a homozygous deficiency in protein C and this homozygous state may be compatible with survival beyond the neonatal period.
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The functional activity and active site of plasmin in full-term newborns have been studied and compared to those in adults in order to investigate the nature of the abnormality found in newborn plasminogen described in a previous paper. The functional activity of newborn plasminogen measured on chromogenic substrate was approximately 18% that of adult plasminogen when streptokinase was used as an activator and 12% when urokinase was used. Proteolysis of newborn plasminogen by urokinase yielding a two-chain plasmin form occurred normally, but the incorporation of diisopropylphosphorofluoridate into the light chain of newborn plasmin was approximately 23% of that observed in the light chain of adult plasmin. These observations suggest that the abnormality of full-term newborn plasminogen is located in the active site of the molecule.
The effect of tobacco cigarette smoking on plasma and platelet fatty acid composition was studied in 219 male subjects. The effect of tobacco on plasma malondialdehyde-like material (MDA-LM) was also evaluated. In the total fatty acid percentage composition in plasma, an increase in the saturated fatty acids at the expense of polyunsaturated fatty acids was observed in those subjects who smoked more than 20 cigarettes/day. In the total fatty acid composition of platelets, an increase in myristic acid (14:0) and palmytoleic acid (16:1) was found. Additionally, when the fatty acid composition of the different platelet lipid fractions was evaluated, an increase in 14:0 and 16:0 + 16:1 was observed in phospholipids. Finally, the plasma MDA-LM level was significantly higher in those subjects who smoked more than 10 cigarettes/day. The biochemical variations found in this study may be compatible with the greater incidence of CHD observed in smokers.
Activity of imipenem (N-formimidoyl thienamycin, ampicillin and vancomycin against 27 Streptococcus faecalis and 5 Str. faecium was determined. Also evaluated were the interactions of imipenem, ampicillin and vancomycin with streptomycin or amikacin or sissomicin. Imipenem showed the most inhibitory activity against Str. faecalis with MIC50 and MIC90 values 0.5 and 2 mg/l respectively, Str. faecium strains were less susceptible to imipenem with MIC50/MIC90 values of 2/16 mg/l. Imipenem showed good bactericidal activity against both groups of strains with MBC50/MBC90 values of 1/4 and 4/16 mg/l respectively. The most favourable interactions (synergy and addition) of imipenem were with streptomycin (72.2%) and sissomicin (53.2%). Combinations containing amikacin were the least favourable. Similar results were obtained with these combinations against Str. faecium.
A patient with functionally defective fibrinogen has been studied. Fibrinogen Almeria I was found to have a prolonged of latency time (LT) and a decrease in rate of gelation (RG) when plasma or isolated fibrinogen were activated by thrombin or reptilase. This fibrinogen also has the unusual formation of cross-linked fibrin; the existence of unpolymerized alpha chains was confirmed.
Studies of the turbidity profiles of diluted (1/55, v/v) normal plasma, thrombin activity free serum plus commercial fibrinogen, and 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.4, plus commercial fibrinogen, activated by thrombin or reptilase and measured at 350 nm, have shown that the latency time (LT) hardly varies for the fibrinogen concentration within limits of 0.03-0.15 mg/ml; however, it does vary for the thrombin concentration. The rate of gelation (RG) varies linearly with the fibrinogen (FG) concentration, conforming to the equation RG = 0.027 (FG)1.8; it hardly varies for thrombin concentrations greater than 0.50 NIH U/ml. On the other hand, RG values obtained for 0.46 NIH U/ml of thrombin or 0.92 BU/ml of reptilase show no significant differences. The variation in LT for the thrombin or reptilase concentration allows the rate of activation to be estimated, giving values of 5.9 X 10(-12) and 3.2 X 10(-12) mol/U/s, respectively, for a fibrinogen concentration in plasma of 1.1 X 10(-10) mol/ml. The mean value estimated for the ratio LT/FG in normal plasma is 35.76 +/- 18.3 and 85.62 +/- 18.3 s mg-1 ml for activation by thrombin and reptilase, respectively. We have studied in normal plasma the parameters that define the gelation of fibrin as measured by turbidity curves and their variation according to the fibrinogen concentration. This permits us to establish the kinetics of fibrin gel formation and normal range values.
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Serum malondialdehyde-like material (MDA-LM), as an index of lipid peroxidation, and the serum enzymes CK, CK-MB, LDH, LDH1 and, alpha-HBDH were evaluated in a group of 26 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), seven with angina pectoris (AP), and in a normal control group of 94 subjects. MDA-LM values were within the normal range in AP patients, while in AMI patients a significant increase in serum MDA-LM was observed in the days following the acute event, reaching a maximum 6-8 days later, when 90% of the patients had values higher than the upper normal limit (mean +/- 2SD) of the control group. A significant correlation was found between the integrated concentration-time MDA-LM curve and the integrated serum enzymes activity curves reached during the nine days after the acute event. The "in vivo" relevance of the increased serum MDA-LM in the post-infarct period is unknown at the present, but as lipid peroxides are known to harm cellular structures and to inhibit prostacyclin synthesis, it may be of interest with regard to the long term secondary effects in AMI patients.
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A total of 200 cases of thalassaemia trait, 102 of F thalassaemia and 98 of A2 thalassaemia were studied, evaluating haematometric, and morphological aspects of both groups. Significantly higher values were found in F thalassaemia for PCV, MCV and MCH, with 33.5% of women and 52% of men being found anaemic in F thalassaemia and 45% of women and 62% of men in A2 thalassaemia. Asthenia was usually present in A2 thalassaemia more so in women 50.9% as compared to 25% in man. Only 4% of F thalassaemia carriers were affected by asthenia. Cholecystectomy had been performed on 10% of the A2 thalassaemia group and on 5% of the F thalassaemia thamia group. Both groups show a high proportion of red cells with basophilic stippling (80%), the groups being morphologically indistinguishable. Intrafamilial segregation of Hb F values affected 22% of families carriers of F thalassaemia, whereas only 8% of families carriers of A2 thalassaemia showed segregation of HbA2 values. The values obtained in this study were compared with those of other authors.
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