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Biomedical subjects

J Jimenez

Publications and source records attributed to J Jimenez.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Interaction of a bovine thymic peptide extract with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors.

Bovine thymic peptide extract (1-100 micrograms/ml) is shown to completely inhibit the binding of [125I]VIP to rat blood mononuclear cells, lymphoid cells of spleen, and liver plasma membranes. In the three models, the bovine thymic peptide extract inhibits [125I]VIP binding with a potency that is 4000-7000 times lower than that of the native VIP, on a weight basis. In rat liver plasma membranes, the bovine thymic peptide extract stimulates adenylate cyclase with a maximal efficiency that is similar to that of VIP. At maximal doses, VIP and thymic peptide extract do not exert an additive effect on adenylate cyclase, suggesting that the activation of the enzyme by the bovine thymic peptide extract occurs through VIP receptors. Finally, no VIP-like immunoreactivity was detected in the thymic peptide extract using an antiserum raised against mammalian VIP. All these data suggest the presence in the bovine thymic peptide extract of a new substance which behaves as a VIP agonist in rat.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Effects of massive obesity on insulin sensitivity and insulin clearance and the metabolic response to insulin as assessed by the euglycemic clamp technique.

Insulin sensitivity was studied in nine nondiabetic massively obese patients (one male and eight females ages 39.0 +/- 2.7 years, body mass index 47.1 +/- 1) by the euglycemic clamp technique (40 microU/m2/min) and compared to seven lean control subjects (three males and three females, ages 34.8 +/- 2.5 years, body mass index 23 +/- 1.1). Fasting plasma glucose, immunoreactive insulin, and C-peptide concentrations were higher in the massively obese patients than in the controls (P less than 0.025). Following exogenous insulin infusion, immunoreactive glucagon and C-peptide concentrations decreased similarly in the massively obese patients and controls, indicating normal sensitivity of the alpha and beta cell to insulin. Glucose uptake (M) expressed either as mg X min-1 of fat free mass was significantly reduced in the massively obese patients compared to the controls (P less than 0.001). Similarly, the M/I ratio (glucose uptake per unit of insulin) was significantly reduced in the massively obese patients (P less than 0.001). Free fatty acids and glycerol concentrations measured in the fasting state were significantly elevated in the massively obese patients (free fatty acids 678 +/- 51 v 467 +/- 55 mumol/L, P less than 0.05; glycerol 97 +/- 9 v 59 +/- 11 mumol/L, P less than 0.02). The effects of insulin on antilipolysis was assessed by measuring the reductions in free fatty acids and glycerol concentration during the glucose clamp study. Although the absolute levels remained higher in the massively obese patients, inhibition of lipolysis was similar in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

A thin-layer chromatographic method for separating methyl esters of mycobacterial mycolic acids.

A two-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic method was developed which allowed separation of the different mycobacterial mycolic acids as methyl esters. Dichloromethane (once) and petroleum ether:acetone (95:5, v/v twice or three times) were used as solvents. Alkaline saponification of freeze-dried cells followed by methylation of the mycolic acids using iodomethane gave satisfactory results, whereas methylation using boron trichloride-methanol complex or trans-esterification through direct acid methanolysis was found to degrade epoxy-mycolates. The chromatographic method developed here is rapid and informative, and should prove valuable in routine mycobacterial differentiation.

Chromatography, Thin Layer↗

Heating cells in acid methanol for 30 min without freeze-drying provides adequate yields of fatty acids and alcohols for gas chromatographic characterization of mycobacteria.

We studied the release of mycobacterial fatty acids (as methyl esters) and secondary alcohols after heating both wet and freeze-dried cells in methanolic hydrogen chloride for different time periods. A 30-min heating of the mycobacteria without prior freeze-drying was found adequate in a routine gas chromatographic procedure for strain and species characterization.

Alcohols↗

Cardiovascular manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus. Prospective study of 100 patients.

One hundred consecutive female patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were studied from the cardiovascular point of view by means of non invasive methods. Seventy percent of the cases presented some type of cardiovascular anomaly. Seventy four percent of the resting electrocardiograms were abnormal as well as 72% of the M mode echocardiograms and 55% of the cardiac X ray series. The most frequent observed complications were: pericarditis and or pericardial effusion (39%), arterial hypertension (22%), ischemic heart disease (16%), myocarditis (14%), congestive heart failure (10%), pulmonary hypertension (9%), valvular heart disease (9%), pleural effusion (7%) and cerebro vascular accident (3%). We analyzed each one of these complications and found of special interest the high incidence of ischemic heart disease which is more frequent than has been hitherto reported. Ischemic heart disease was observed in two types of patients: a) Those with long term steroid therapy. In these, the mechanism seems to be an atherosclerotic disease probably induced by the chronic use of steroids. The management of these cases do not differ from other types of coronary heart disease due to atherosclerosis. b) Those with frank episodes of vasculitis in whom the basic mechanism is an inflammatory process of the coronary arteries and its treatment is fundamentally that of the vasculitis. We consider necessary to study routinely all patients with SLE through non invasive cardiological methods.

Adolescent↗

Long-term follow-up of children breast-fed by mothers receiving depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate.

A long-term follow-up study compared development and health of 128 breast-fed children whose mothers had received depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (depot-MPA) while lactating and 142 control children whose mothers had used mechanical contraceptives or no contraceptives or had undergone sterilization. The children, who were approximately 4-1/2 years old at follow-up, showed no ill effects on their growth and development and health status from exposure to depot-MPA. Depot-MPA-treated mothers lactated significantly longer than controls and also had greater parity than controls. These factors apparently contributed to a difference in weight at follow-up. Compared with the Sempe-Pedron standard, more of the depot-MPA group were underweight and more controls were overweight.

Adult↗

HLA-B27 and ankylosing spondylitis in the Mexican Mestizo population.

Two previous surveys of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Mexican Mestizos found HLA-B27 frequencies of 68.6% and 78% and a relative risk (RR) of 37.05 and 120.88, respectively. We examined an additional group of Mexican Mestizos with AS and found an HLA-B27 frequency of 80.77% and a RR of 99.24. Our results are statistically comparable to the previous studies, and they suggest that the Mexican Mestizo is similar to the Spaniard in regards to AS and HLA-B27 association.

Female↗

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy in hemiplegia.

Eighty-five consecutive post-CVA hemiplegic patients were assessed prospectively for radionuclide and clinical features of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). Scintigraphy, a safe and relatively noninvasive procedure, has proved to be more sensitive than clinical evaluation for early diagnosis of RSD. RSD was found to be more prevalent in the post-CVA hemiplegic patient than previously reported. Twenty-one patients (25%) exhibited radionuclide evidence of RSD based on delayed scan criteria of increased uptake in the hemiplegic wrist, metacarpal-phalangeal (MCP) and interphalangeal (IP) joints. Two patterns of soft tissue blood flow were observed. Eight scan-positive RSD patients presented a low flow pattern identical to the non-RSD hemiplegic patients while the remaining thirteen exhibited a high flow pattern. Neither demographic characteristics, co-morbid conditions, etiology of CVA, nor site of lesion had any bearing on RSD development. There was no clinical or radionuclide evidence of bilateral involvement commonly described in other heterogeneous RSD populations. Clinical diagnosis was difficult, as various features of the syndrome were often present for other reasons and the presentation was frequently incomplete. MCP tenderness to compression proved to be the most valuable clinical sign of RSD, with a predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity rates of 100%, 85.7%, and 100% respectively.

Age Factors↗

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in children: report of two cases and review of the literature.

In this article, we report two new cases of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in children and review the literature over the past twenty years. This series of 70 cases demonstrates that the clinical pictures observed in children are similar to those of adults. Rectal prolapse or extrusion of polyps can be the clue to the diagnosis at an early age, even in the absence of pigmentation, which can appear later. Gastroduodenal polyps were strikingly frequent in the less than or equal to 16-yr-old group (62%) a circumstance that can create operative difficulties. Five out of the 70 patients (7.14%) had tumors during childhood (two gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas, two ovarian and one testicular neoplasms). A higher risk of tumor development in these patients does exist either as a result of degeneration of the polyps or of a genetic predisposition. Whenever operation becomes necessary, a very cautious approach must be advised in order to preserve as much intestinal length as possible in these patients, who have a lifelong disease which may require repeated operations.

Child↗

Brain tumors in children. Results of treatment in 138 patients.

Tumors of the nervous system are the third most common malignant disease in Cuban children, after leukemia and lymphoma. In 138 patients with the diagnosis of brain tumor results of treatment by surgery and radiation were studied. The survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years was 50, 40 and 37.6%. The best results were achieved in astrocytomas, mid grain and brain stem tumors and oligodendrogliomas.

Astrocytoma↗

Induced release and metabolism of arachidonic acid from myeloid cells by purified colony-stimulating factor.

The in vitro incubation of cells from turpentine-induced rat myeloid hyperplastic marrow and peritoneal monocyte/macrophage with 14C-arachidonic acid resulted in the incorporation of the radiolabel into the particulate phospholipids. Challenge of the radiolabeled cells with a highly purified type I CSF (CSF I) from human pancreatic carcinoma cells in continuous culture resulted in the hydrolysis and release of the 14C-arachidonic acid from the cellular phospholipids. The simultaneous challenge of the prelabeled cells with CSF-I and its specific antibody (anti-CSF-I antibody) inhibited the CSF-I induced hydrolysis of 14C-arachidonic acid from the cells. These results confer a specificity on the CSF-I induced release of arachidonic acid from the cellular phospholipids. Our data also demonstrated that the 14C-arachidonic acid released from the cellular phospholipids was further transformed into products of the cyclooxygenation and lipoxygenation pathways by cellular enzyme systems in both populations of cells. Interestingly, our data also indicate that the challenge of the granulocytic hyperplastic marrow cells and the monocyte/macrophage cells with purified CSF-I resulted in a higher generation of lipoxygenase products in the predominantly granulocytic cell population than in the population rich in monocyte/macrophage cells. The biological significance of this observation remains to be further explored. Thus, the CSF-I induced release of cellular arachidonic acid explains, at least in part, the presence of prostaglandins and other metabolites of arachidonic acid that are found in the media of hemopoietic cells incubated with a variety of CSF preparations.

Arachidonic Acid↗

Cryptorchidism and persistence of Müllerian remnants in a normal male.

A four-year-old boy was explored for bilateral cryptorchidism. Operation led to the discovery of two intraabdominal testes with their corresponding vasa, two Fallopian tubes and a small uterus. No urological anomalies were found except for a vesico-ureteral reflux. Cystourethroscopy revealed a normal male tract. Sexual chromatine was negative and karyotype was 46, XY. A normal rise in testosterone serum level was recorded after stimulation with CGH. At operation both gonads could be placed extra-abdominally and the female internal structures were biopsied and left in place. This very unusual condition is derived from the absence of regression of Müllerian structures during fetal life due to a deficit in testicular secretion of anti-Müllerian hormone. The current knowledge on this topic is updated.

Child, Preschool↗

Results of radiation treatment in carcinoma of the oral cavity.

Treatment results in 391 patients with oral carcinoma after radiation therapy are reported. In the total series 5- and 10-year actuarial survival were 30.8 and 25.2 per cent, respectively. After irradiation alone the corresponding figures were 21.5 and 18.5 per cent, after combined radiologic and surgical treatment 33.3 and 28.7 per cent, and after interstitial radium therapy 56.1 and 43.8 per cent, respectively. These differences were mainly an expression of selection factors. Tumor doses above 60 Gy gave a higher survival than lower doses. The presence of neck node metastases was prognostically unfavourable.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Cervical spine disease and dysphagia. Four new cases and a review of the literature.

Four cases of dysphagia associated with disease of the cervical spine have been presented. One of the patients had cervical spondylosis with osteophyte formation while the other three had Forestier's disease or ankylosing hyperostosis. Symptoms of dysphagia dominated the clinical picture and led to their referral for further management. Two patients underwent surgical procedures and one died in the postoperative period. Two patients were managed conservatively, one with antibiotics, and both did reasonably well. The literature of 40 cases published in the last 54 years has been reviewed. We suggest that dysphagia due to cervical spine disease while an uncommon complication of these bony growths, is by no means rare. The dysphagia may be due to bony protuberances into the hypopharynx or into the esophagus and may be accompanied by soft tissue inflammation. Although most patients have been treated surgically, there may be a role for anti-inflammatory or antibiotic therapy in the first instance as surgery is often morbid and sometimes fatal.

Aged↗