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Biomedical subjects

J Garrido

Publications and source records attributed to J Garrido.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Proprioception in the ACL-ruptured knee: the contribution of the medial collateral ligament and patellar ligament. An in vivo experimental study in the cat.

In the absence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), secondary restraints such as menisci, ligaments, and tendons restrict anterior knee laxity. Strain detection at these sites could define the contribution of this alternative signalling system to knee proprioception after ACL injury. The hypothesis in this study questions if measurements of anterior tibial translation (ATT) from surface strain gauges on the insertions of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the patellar tendon (PT) are sufficiently sensitive and specific to differentiate normal, stable knees from acutely unstable knees due to ACL section. Twelve cats received miniaturized strain gauges on the surface of MCL and PT distal insertions. A purpose-made receiver transformed into measurements any voltage variation obtained during passive knee flexion-extension and anterior tibial translation manoeuvres. Variables under evaluation included first peak latency, normalized amplitude, and slope of voltage along time. Femorotibial displacements were video recorded, digitized, and used as the ATT reference. The proposed system detected significant changes in the slope of the voltage/time signal, with higher specificity and sensitivity during ATT after experimental ACL section. Changes were not significant during flexion or extension. It was found that a pattern of earlier and more intense strain in MCL and PT distal insertions was found during ATT in the ACL deficient knee. Enhanced pattern recognition learning from these structures could be a future target for proprioceptive training after ACL injury.

Animals↗

Hyperforin prevents beta-amyloid neurotoxicity and spatial memory impairments by disaggregation of Alzheimer's amyloid-beta-deposits.

The major protein constituent of amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta). In the present work, we have determined the effect of hyperforin an acylphloroglucinol compound isolated from Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort), on Abeta-induced spatial memory impairments and on Abeta neurotoxicity. We report here that hyperforin: (1) decreases amyloid deposit formation in rats injected with amyloid fibrils in the hippocampus; (2) decreases the neuropathological changes and behavioral impairments in a rat model of amyloidosis; (3) prevents Abeta-induced neurotoxicity in hippocampal neurons both from amyloid fibrils and Abeta oligomers, avoiding the increase in reactive oxidative species associated with amyloid toxicity. Both effects could be explained by the capacity of hyperforin to disaggregate amyloid deposits in a dose and time-dependent manner and to decrease Abeta aggregation and amyloid formation. Altogether these evidences suggest that hyperforin may be useful to decrease amyloid burden and toxicity in AD patients, and may be a putative therapeutic agent to fight the disease.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Storage stability of ketones on carbon adsorbents.

Activated coconut carbon constitutes the more widely used sorbent for preconcentration of volatile organic compounds in sampling workplace air. Water vapour is always present in the air and its adsorption on the activated carbon surface is a serious drawback, mainly when sampling polar organic compounds, such as ketones. In this case, the recovery of the compounds diminishes; moreover, ketones can be decomposed during storage. Synthetic carbons contain less inorganic impurities and have a lower capacity for water adsorption than coconut charcoal. The aim of this work was to evaluate the storage stability of various ketones (acetone, 2-butanone, 4-methyl-2-pentanone and cyclohexanone) on different activated carbons and to study the effect of adsorbed water vapour under different storage conditions. The effect of storage temperature on extraction efficiencies was significant for each ketone in all the studied sorbents. Recovery was higher when samples were stored at 4 degrees C. The results obtained for storage stability of the studied ketones showed that the performance of synthetic carbons was better than for the coconut charcoals. The water adsorption and the ash content of the carbons can be a measure of the reactive sites that may chemisorb ketones or catalize their decomposition. Anasorb 747 showed good ketone stability at least for 7 days, except for cyclohexanone. After 30-days storage, the stability of the studied ketones was excellent on Carboxen 564. This sorbent had a nearly negligible ash content and the adsorbed water was much lower than for the other sorbents tested.

Acetone↗

Succession of macrofauna on macroalgal wrack of an exposed sandy beach: effects of patch size and site.

In this study, we used experimental manipulation of algal wrack to test hypotheses about influences on macrofaunal assemblages inhabiting the upper shore level of different sites along an exposed sandy beach. First, we hypothesized that decomposition of algal wrack depends on wrack patch size and site. With respect to macrofauna, we tested the hypotheses that (1) abundance of colonising individuals and species vary with wrack patch size, (2) succession (i.e. sequence of colonisation and species replacement) depends on time, and (3) as a result, macrofaunal assemblages associated with wrack patches vary with the patch size and time. We also predicted that responses could be different across sites because of their slightly different environmental conditions. The decomposition of wrack patches was similar in all sites and was dependent on wrack patch size. It was strongly influenced by time-specific environmental and/or biological factors. The pattern of colonisation, i.e. total number of species and individuals, varied among wrack patch sizes. Small patches had fewer species and individuals than medium and large patches. Nevertheless, pattern of colonisation varied among species, across sites and through time. Colonisation of wrack patches was rapid (i.e. within 3 days) for most species. There was some evidence to support the hypothesis that macrofaunal assemblages change in response to patch size and time.

Animals↗

Urinary benzene determination by SPME/GC-MS. A study of variables by fractional factorial design and response surface methodology.

The urinary excretion of the unmetabolized benzene seems to be a very good index for biomonitoring benzene in occupationally exposed people. The use of solid phase microextraction (SPME) offers important advantages for its determination. Several variables can influence the benzene extraction process. Experimental design methodology was used to estimate the influence of the different variables and to evaluate the simultaneous effect of the more significant variables on the benzene extraction. The results showed that sample temperature, sample volume and their interaction were the more significant factors. A model was found that relates the amount of benzene extracted with the studied variables. The more adequate working conditions were: extraction temperature 15 degrees C, incubation time 1 min, extraction time 1 min and 2.5 ml of sample volume. The results indicate that this method is capable of providing sensitive and accurate results for the biomonitoring of benzene in urine.

Benzene↗

Age-specific seroprevalence of Border disease virus and presence of persistently infected sheep in Basque dairy-sheep flocks.

Using p125/p80 antibody and antigen-ELISA tests, age-specific seroprevalence and presence of persistently infected (PI) sheep were investigated in six commercial latxa dairy-flocks, housed for variable periods. The flocks all had a recent history of Border disease (BD). Every flock included seropositive sheep and seven 0.5-3-year-old PI sheep were detected in two of four flocks tested. Age-specific antibody patterns differed according to the presence or absence of PI sheep in the flock. In flocks free of PI sheep, seroprevalence was 6-13% in 1-year-old sheep and 42-93% in older sheep. In contrast, seroprevalence was 67-99% in sheep raised with PI sheep for at least 1 year and 29-33% in replacement 0.5-0.6-year-old sheep (including a PI sheep) indicating that Border disease virus (BDV) transmission in Basque dairy-flocks can be relatively slow. Moderate seroprevalence in young replacement sheep should not discourage further testing to detect PI sheep, and our results highlight the risk of failing to achieve "natural vaccination" prior to pregnancy by mixing PI sheep with BDV-unexposed ewes.

Age Factors↗

[Vascular Aspergillus infection in two recipients of kidneys from the same donor].

We describe a clinical case of two patients who received a cadaveric renal graft from the same donor in a multi-organ extraction procedure. The donor was a 39-years-old woman who died of intracranial tumour. A benign ganglioma was shown in biopsy. The two recipients received the same immunosuppressive regimen. Induction comprised cyclosporin A, steroids and basiliximab while cyclosporin A and steroids were used in maintenance immunosuppression. The A patient was a 53-year-old woman with chronic renal failure due to chronic pyelonephritis. She had been undergoing periodic haemodialysis for five years. She was hospitalised for sciatic pain refractory to rest and analgesics 35 days after transplantation. Two days later, her graft function deteriorated. Ultrasonography ruled out a urinary tract obstruction. Cyclosporine levels was normal. It was interpreted as an acute rejection episode and was treated with boluses of methylprednisolone (500 mg for 3 days). At the same time, her right leg began to show paraesthesia, coldness and a decreased arterial pulse. A spinal magnetic nuclear resonance was performed. It showed an aneurysm of right common iliac artery (fig. 1). An arteriography confirmed the existence of a pseudoaneurysm and an arteriovenous fistula to inferior vena cava (fig. 2). The B recipient was a 56-year-old woman with chronic renal failure due to chronic pyelonephritis. She required haemodialysis for two years. In the 4th month after transplantation her graft function deteriorated. Graft biopsy did not show acute cellular rejection, so she was kept on immunosuppressive treatment. A second graft biopsy was taken and no changes with the previous one was observed. Renal function deteriorated and haemodialysis was required. During the 6th month she began to show paraesthesia, coldness and decreased arterial pulse in her right leg. Ultrasonography showed pyelocaliectasis with an adjacent solid-liquid mass, abdominal CT scan confirmed. Arteriography proved the presence of a pseudoaneurysm of the right common iliac artery (fig. 3). Transplantectomy and pseudoaneurysm resection was performed in the two cases. Culture analysis revealed fungi identified as Aspergillus in both pseudoaneurysms. Medical treatment was started immediately with liposomal amphotericin B. The clinical evolution of the two recipients were different. While recipient A died, B patient recovered, requiring haemodialysis.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Evaluation of lercanidipine in the general practice setting].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and tolerability of a long-acting dihydropyridine in the clinical settings of general practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 110 essential hypertensives were included (age 62.3 +/- 10.8 years, 51 men and 53 women, 38/ obese -IMC >30 kg/m2, ten diabetics). 104 patients ended the followup. Patients were treated with lercanidipine 10 mg once daily in the morning. Follow-up lasted 6 months. When blood pressure was not controlled (BP < 140/90 mmHg) in any visit, a second drug was added, excluding calcium channel blockers. Antiadrenergic drugs were recommended. If patients were not controlled ittwo consecutive visits they were excluded from follow-up. RESULTS: Significant reductions in both systolic (baseline 157.4 +/- 11.7 vs 131.1 +/- 6.8 mmHg, p < 0,001) and diastolic BP (baseline 94.7 +/- 5.8 vs 80.0 +/- 5.5 mmHg, p < 0,001) were attained at six months. Mean SBP decrease was 26.7 mmHg and mean DBP reduction was 15.6 mmHg. At the study end, 84.3/ of the patients achieved a BP < 140/90 mmHg. Thirty patients needed a second drug to become controlled (26 at the study end). The overall incidence of adverse effects was 4,4/ (n=6) and just three patients withdrew the treatment due to untoward effects. Plasmatic cholesterol lowered from 225.3 +/- 41.0 to 216.7 +/- 25.3 mg/dl (p = 0,03) and urate decreased from 5.6 +/- 1.6 to 5.1 +/- 1.4 mgldl, p = 0,03). CONCLUSIONS: Lercanidipine is a calcium channel blockers of high efficacy and low incidence of adverse effects in the clinical settings of general practice. It seems to have a positive metabolic effects on plasmatic levels of cholesterol and urate.

Aged↗

Coprophagy: an unusual source of essential carotenoids.

The rare Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) stands out among the Old World vultures (Family Accipitridae) because of its brightly ornamented head, which is coloured yellow by carotenoid pigments, and its practice of feeding on faeces. Here we show that Egyptian vultures obtain these pigments from the excrement of ungulates. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that faeces can be used as a source of carotenoids by a vertebrate.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

[Effect of antihypertensive combinations on arterial pressure, albuminuria, and glycemic control in patients with type II diabetic nephropathy: a randomized study].

Type II diabetic patients with albuminuria are at high risk for cardiovascular complications; the intense antihypertensive treatment required often involves using drug combinations. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of two different, renin-angiotensin blocking combinations, on blood pressure (BP), albuminuria and glycemic control. Its design was prospective, randomised, controlled, of parallel branches, and performed in one Endocrinology Department, in Spain. 77 type-II diabetic patients, with stable albuminuria (30-1,000 mg/day) were included. After a pre-inclusion time of 2 weeks, patients were randomised to verapamil SR/trandolapril 180/2 (VT) or losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (LH) 20/12.5 mg/day. Duration of treatment was 1 year. The evaluated parameters were changes in blood pressure, urinary albumin excretion for 24 hours, glycated hemoglobin and plasmatic urea. Overall BP significantly decreased from 161.6 +/- 18.7/83.6 +/- 10.2 mmHg to 137.2 +/- 15.7/70.9 +/- 8.3 mmHg (p < 0.0005). Values, by treatment, were: For VT, 164.3 +/- 18.5/87.2 +/- 10.7 mmHg at baseline and 135.0 +/- 15.1/71.3 +/- 8.4 mmHg at conclusion. For LH, 158.8 +/- 17.4/80.1 +/- 8.4 mmHg at baseline and 139.3 +/- 16.1/70.5 +/- 8.2 mmHg at conclusion. Albuminuria significantly decreased from 308.2 +/- 544.7 mg/day to 198.0 +/- 285.3 mg/day. Both parameters showed no significant difference between treatments. Glycated hemoglobin decreased from 7.59 +/- 1.3% to 7.14 +/- 1.2% in the VT group, and from 7.96 +/- 1.29% to 7.84 +/- 1.62% in the LH group (ANOVA, p = 0.022). Changes adjusted from baseline values showed a trend to the difference between both treatments (p = 0.092). Plasmatic urea increased from 39.8 +/- 12.7 to 40.5 +/- 11.1 mg/dL in the TV group and from 43.4 +/- 12.0 mg/dL to 52.4 +/- 19.4 mg/dL in the LH group (ANOVA, p = 0.028). In conclusion, both treatments reduce blood pressure and albuminuria in a similar way in type II diabetic patients. The verapamil/trandolapril combination contributes to a better carbohydrate metabolism than losartan/hydroclorothiazide.

Aged↗

Central role of the observable electric potential in transport equations.

Nonequilibrium systems are usually studied in the framework of transport equations that involve the true electric potential (TEP), a nonobservable variable. Nevertheless another electric potential, the observable electric potential (OEP), may be defined to construct a useful set of transport equations. In this paper several basic characteristics of the OEP are deduced and emphasized: (i) the OEP distribution depends on thermodynamic state of the solution, (ii) the observable equations have a reference value for all other transport equations, (iii) the bridge that connects the OEP with a certain TEP is usually defined by the ion activity coefficient, (iv) the electric charge density is a nonobservable variable, and (v) the OEP formulation constitutes a natural model for studying the fluxes in membrane systems.

Journal Article↗

Effect of two antihypertensive combinations on metabolic control in type-2 diabetic hypertensive patients with albuminuria: a randomised, double-blind study.

The objective of this study was to compare, at equal blood pressure (BP) reduction, the effect of two different combinations on metabolic control and albuminuria in type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients with albuminuria. This was a prospective, randomised, double-blind, parallel, controlled trial carried out in 11 Spanish hospitals. A total of 103 type 2 diabetic patients with stable albuminuria and BP not controlled on monotherapy were randomised of which 93 finished the study. After a 4-week single-blind placebo period, patients were randomised to verapamil SR/trandolapril 180/2 mg (VT) or to enalapril/hydroclorothiazide 20/12.5 mg (EH). Treatment duration was 6 months. The main outcome measures were changes in BP, 24-h albuminuria, blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin. Overall BP was significantly reduced from 157.3 +/- 12.0/98.3 +/- 6.4 mm Hg to 140.5 +/- 14.5/86.1 +/- 8.2 mm Hg (P < 0.001) and albuminuria significantly decreased from 508.6 +/- 693.8 mg/24 h to 253.4 +/- 517.2 mg/24 h (P < 0.001), both without significant differences between treatments. Glycated haemoglobin was not modified on VT: baseline, 5.91 +/- 1.43%; end of treatment, 5.94 +/- 1.62%, but increased on EH: baseline, 5.96 +/- 1.25%; final, 6.41 +/- 1.51%, (ANOVA interaction P = 0.040). At the end of the study, a blood glucose <126 mg/dL was attained in 72.7% of the VT group-improving in 29.5% and worsening in 6.8% of patients (P = 0.021)-and in 50% of the EH group, 13.6% of patients improved and 11.4% worsened (P = 1.000). There were no changes in body weight, serum creatinine, uric acid, potassium, cholesterol, tryglicerides and serum albumin. In hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients not controlled on monotherapy, both treatments similarly reduced albuminuria. The combination verapamil/ trandolapril seems to allow a better metabolic control than enalapril/hydroclorothiazide.

Aged↗

Genotoxicity of the coating lacquer on food cans, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), its hydrolysis products and a chlorohydrin of BADGE.

The epoxy resin bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), its hydrolysis products and a chlorohydrin of BADGE (BADGE.2HCl), were examined for their genotoxicity in the micronucleus test (MNT) with human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro, in presence and in absence of an exogenous metabolizing system S9 rat liver. The treatment was done using different compound concentrations up to cytotoxic doses. The concentrations tested ranged between 12.5 to 62.5microg/ml of BADGE, 12.5 to 62.5microg/ml of first BADGE hydrolysis product (BADGE.H(2)O), 25.0 to 100.0microg/ml of second BADGE hydrolysis product (BADGE.2H(2)O) and 6.25 to 50.0microg/ml of BADGE.2HCl. These compounds are able to induce both cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, as revealed by the increases observed in cytokinesis block proliferation index (CBPI) and in micronuclei (MN) frequencies, respectively.

Animals↗

Influence of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae selected strain in the volatile composition of rosé wines. Evolution during fermentation.

There has been considerable controversy about the use of selected pure strains in wine fermentation. For that reason it is important to determine the influence of this vinification technique in the composition of wine because it arises from the type of yeast and the subsequent evolution during fermentation. This study researches the volatile composition of rosé wines from the Garnacha must, inoculated with one selected NA33 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The inoculated yeast did not predominate in all of the samples. These samples showed a behavior intermediate between those of the control and samples in which NA33 did predominate. The greatest concentration of higher alcohols was in the control wine, and its evolution was similar in all fermentations. The esters formed at the end of the fermentation and their concentrations were higher in the control than in the inoculated samples. In the control, acids were produced above all, in the first half of fermentation, and decreased from then onward. In the sample in which the yeast predominated, the synthesis occurred later and to a lesser extent than in the control.

Biological Evolution↗

Synaptotagmin I and IV define distinct populations of neuronal transport vesicles.

Mammalian synaptotagmins constitute a multigene family of at least 11 membrane proteins. We have characterized synaptotagmin IV using antibodies directed against the C2A domain of the protein. Antibodies reacted specifically with a protein band that migrated as a 41-44 kDa doublet. Synaptotagmin IV expression was regulated throughout development. A strong decrease in the amount detected by Western blotting occurred between postnatal day 5 and adulthood, in agreement with studies on the expression of synaptotagmin IV transcripts. In subcellular fractionation, synaptotagmin IV was not detected in the synaptic vesicle-enriched fraction. Immunofluorescence microscopy was concordant with this finding. In 6-day-old rat cerebellum and cultured hippocampal neurons the subcellular distribution of synaptotagmin IV was clearly different from that of synaptotagmin I. Synaptotagmin IV displayed a punctate non-polarized distribution on neuronal extensions, whereas synaptotagmin I staining was essentially synaptic. Synaptotagmin IV staining was also observed in the soma in strong perinuclear fluorescent puncta superimposed on that of Golgi/TGN markers. Furthermore, synaptotagmin IV was seen in the proximal part of the growth cone domain and not in the microfilament-rich region which includes filopodia. Co-localizations with the adhesion molecules vinculin and zyxin at the proximal part of growth cones were observed. Synaptotagmin IV may thus be involved in the regulation of specific membrane-trafficking pathways during brain development.

Animals↗

Classification of lesions observed in natural cases of paratuberculosis in goats.

Sixty-eight adult goats with clinical or sub-clinical paratuberculosis, from naturally infected flocks, were subjected post mortem to a pathological examination that focused on the intestinal lymphoid tissue. The lesions were divided into four categories. Focal lesions, found in 16 goats, consisted of small granulomata in the ileocaecal Peyer's patches or related lamina propria. Diffuse multibacillary lesions (34 goats) consisted of a granulomatous enteritis, affecting different intestinal sites. Numerous macrophages containing many mycobacteria were present, resulting in macroscopical changes in the normal gut morphology; in the ileum of nine of the 34 animals, however, these changes were confined to the apex of the villi and the intestinal wall was not thickened. In diffuse lymphocytic lesions (10 goats), the lymphocyte was the main inflammatory cell, with some macrophages (containing few if any mycobacteria). In diffuse mixed lesions (eight goats) the infiltrate consisted of numerous lymphocytes and macrophages, with small numbers of mycobacteria. The three types of diffuse lesion were often associated with necrosis in the lymph vessels of the mucosa, mesentery and lymph nodes, and with greater thickening of the jejunum than of the ileum. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis was cultured from 69% of goats with diffuse lesions and from 44.4% of those with focal lesions.

Animals↗

Synthesis of proteoglycans is augmented in dystrophic mdx mouse skeletal muscle.

Mdx mice uniquely recover from degenerative dystrophic lesions through an intense myoproliferative response. The onset and progression of this process are controlled by a complex set of interactions between myoblasts and their environment. The presence of the extracellular matrix is essential for normal myogenesis. Proteoglycans are abundant components of the extracellular matrix. The synthesis of proteoglycans in mdx mice during skeletal muscle regeneration was evaluated. Incorporation of radioactive sulfate demonstrated a significant increase in the synthesis of several types of proteoglycans in mdx animals compared to age-matched controls. The size and charge of proteoglycans synthesized by the mdx mice remained unchanged. In particular, one of the up-regulated proteoglycans, the small chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycan decorin which is known to bind and to sequester transforming growth factor-beta, was investigated. Immunocytolocalization and in situ hybridization studies showed that decorin mainly accumulated in the endomysium, i.e. around individual skeletal muscle fibers from M. tibialis anterior and diaphragm.

Age Factors↗