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Biomedical subjects

J M Rodriguez

Publications and source records attributed to J M Rodriguez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Relationship between gonadotrophin secretion, inhibin B and spermatogenesis in oligozoospermic men treated with highly purified urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (uFSH-HP): a preliminary report.

PURPOSE: To study the potential relationship between circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) gonadotrophin, inhibin B, spermatogenesis and the benefit of highly purified urinary FSH (uFSH-HP) treatment in men with oligozoospermia. METHODS: Twenty-nine normogonadotropic, normogonadal men with oligozoospermia were evaluated. Serum hormonal concentration and spermiogram were analyzed before and after 3-month treatment with uFSH-HP. RESULTS: Our results support the hypothesis that inhibin B is involved in the physiological regulation of FSH secretion and reflects the FSH-stimulated Sertoli cell function. After treating with uFSH-HP for 3 months a significant increase in all semen parameters was observed in most of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although the benefit of inhibin B as a prognosis factor in oligozoospermic patients treated with FSH is not defined, it can be considered as an important serum marker in reproductive and testicular functions. Treatment of oligozoospermic patients with uFSH-HP has shown to be an effective and safe therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Eversion thromboendovenectomy for organized portal vein thrombosis encountered during liver transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the technical experience acquired in the field of liver transplantation portal vein thrombosis is no longer considered a contraindication for transplantation. Nevertheless, the results obtained in patients with portal vein thrombosis are at times suboptimal, and there is no consensus on the appropriate surgical technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among the 455 liver transplants performed between May 1988 and December 2001, 32 (7%) presented with portal vein thrombosis. Twenty (62%) were type Ib, seven (22%) type II/III, and five (16%) type IV. Twenty-two were men (69%), with a mean age of 50 years (range: 30-70 years); the thrombosis in all cases developed in a cirrhotic liver. The surgical method in all cases consisted of an eversion thromboendovenectomy under direct visual guidance, with occlusion of the portal flow using a Fogarty balloon. RESULTS: Among the 32 cases undergoing thrombectomy, 31 (96%) were successful with a failure in a case of type IV thrombosis, which was resolved by portal arterialization. Of the 31 successful cases, only one with type IV thrombosis rethrombosed. The 5-year survival rate of the patients in the series was 69%. Only two patients died from causes related to the thrombosis, both showing type IV thrombosis. CONCLUSION: The ideal treatment for portal thrombosis during liver transplantation depends on its extension and on the experience of the surgeon. In our experience, eversion thromboendovenectomy resolves most thromboses (types I, II, and III), but management of type IV, which occasionally can be treated with this technique, may require more complex procedures such as bypass, portal arterialization or cavoportal hemitransposition.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Surgical management and complications of Meckel's diverticulum in 90 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To review controversial aspects of the pathology, management, and complications of Meckel's diverticula. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Spain. SUBJECTS: 90 patients who had Meckel's diverticula during the 32 year period April 1968-May 2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Epidemiological and histopathological findings (including a search for Helicobacter pylori); surgical management and morbidity. RESULTS: There were no differences in sex between patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic disease, although we did find differences in age. Signs of abnormalities on scintigraphy were associated with the presence of ectopic fundal mucosa, although not significantly so. No signs of Helicobacter pylori were found in any of our patients. Morbidity after intestinal resection was higher than after diverticulectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Meckel's diverticulum should be suspected particularly when there are symptoms of obstruction or gastrointestinal bleeding in children. The presence of both ectopic gastric mucosa and ulcers is related to the symptoms and we found no H. pylori in any of the cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Microsatellite instability and cytogenetic survey in myeloid leukemias.

Microsatellites are short tandem repeat sequences dispersed throughout the genome. Their instability at multiple genetic loci may result from mismatch repair errors and it occurs in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. This instability is also found in many sporadic cancers. In order to evaluate the importance of this process in myeloid leukemias, we studied five loci in different chromosomes of 43 patients, 22 with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase, 7 with CML in blast crisis, and 14 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), by comparing leukemic DNA extracted from bone marrow and constitutional DNA obtained from buccal epithelial cells. Only one of the 43 patients (2.1%), with relapsed AML, showed an alteration in the allele length at a single locus. Cytogenetic analysis was performed in order to improve the characterization of leukemic subtypes and to determine if specific chromosome aberrations were associated with the presence of microsatellite instability. Several chromosome aberrations were observed, most of them detected at diagnosis and during follow-up of the patients, according to current literature. These findings suggest that microsatellite instability is an infrequent genetic event in myeloid leukemias, adding support to the current view that the mechanisms of genomic instability in solid tumors differ from those observed in leukemias, where specific chromosome aberrations seem to play a major role.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Cloning of human junctional adhesion molecule 3 (JAM3) and its identification as the JAM2 counter-receptor.

We have identified a third member of the junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) family. At the protein level JAM3 displays 36 and 32% identity to JAM2 and JAM1, respectively. The coding region is distributed over 9 exons and maps to chromosome 11q25. The gene shows widespread tissue expression with higher levels apparent in the kidney, brain, and placenta. At the cellular level we show expression of JAM3 transcript within endothelial cells. Our major finding is that JAM3 and JAM2 are binding partners. Thus, JAM3 ectodomain binds firmly to JAM2-Fc. This heterotypic interaction is maintained when JAM3-Fc is used to capture Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing full-length JAM2. In static adhesion assays we show that JAM3 is unable to bind to leukocyte cell lines. This is consistent with the lack of JAM2 expression. However, using JAM2-Fc pull-down experiments in combination with polyclonal anti-JAM3 serum, we demonstrate that JAM3 is the previously uncharacterized 43-kDa counter-receptor that mediates JAM2 adhesion to T cells. Most significantly we demonstrate up-regulation of JAM3 protein on peripheral blood lymphocytes following activation. Finally we show the utility of JAM3 ectodomain as an inhibitor of JAM2 adhesion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

African swine fever virus-induced polypeptides in porcine alveolar macrophages and in Vero cells: two-dimensional gel analysis.

High-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by computer analysis has been used to study quantitatively the patterns of protein synthesis produced in porcine alveolar macrophages and in Vero cells infected with African swine fever virus (ASFV). Initially, a protein database for each cell type was constructed. The porcine alveolar macrophage database includes 995 polypeptides (818 acidic, isoelectric focusing (IEF) and 177 basic, nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis (NEPHGE)) whereas the Vero database contains 1,398 polypeptides (1,127 acidic, IEF and 271 basic, NEPHGE). Taking these databases as reference, ASFV highly virulent strain E70 induces 57 acid and 43 basic polypeptides in porcine alveolar macrophages, which account for most of the information content of the virus DNA. The kinetics of synthesis of the virus-induced polypeptides showed the existence of three classes of proteins: one whose synthesis starts early after infection, continues for a period and then switches off; another whose synthesis also starts early but continues for prolonged periods; and a third which requires DNA replication. The attenuated, cell adapted, strain BA71V induces 92 acidic and 37 basic proteins in Vero cells. Significant differences were observed when comparing the patterns of polypeptides induced by the two viral strains. In both cell systems studied, ASFV infection produces a general shutoff of protein synthesis that affects up to 65% of the cellular proteins. Interestingly, 28 proteins of porcine alveolar macrophages and 48 proteins of Vero cells are stimulated at least two times by ASFV infection.

African Swine Fever Virus↗
PubMed2001

Factors that affect recurrence after incisional herniorrhaphy with prosthetic material.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk factors for recurrence after prosthetic incisional herniorrhaphy. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre, Spain. PATIENTS: 246 patients who had incisional herniorrhaphy with a prosthetic material (polypropylene) between 1990 and 1997 INTERVENTIONS: A reinforcement mesh was inserted when the hernia was more than 5 cm. In incisional hernias less than 5 cm the reinforcement mesh was inserted when the repair was under tension or when tissues were noted to be weak during the operation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age, sex, obesity, the presence of bronchial disease, previous repair of the incisional hernia, type of surgery, size and site of hernia and presence of local complications during the immediate postoperative period. RESULTS: Mean (SD) follow-up was 77 (6) months (minimum follow up two years). The hernia recurred in 43 cases (17%) (mean time of recurrence 10 (8) months). Age over 60 years, previous herniorrhaphy, size of hernia, and postoperative local complications were significant risk factors (p < 0.01) in both the univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Patients at the greater risk of recurrence are those aged over 60 years, with large, recurrent hernias and who develop local complications during the postoperative period.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

A novel protein with homology to the junctional adhesion molecule. Characterization of leukocyte interactions.

We have cloned a novel cDNA belonging to the Ig superfamily that shows 44% similarity to the junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) and maps to chromosome 21q21.2. The open reading frame of JAM2 predicts a 34-kDa type I integral membrane protein that features two Ig-like folds and three N-linked glycosylation sites in the extracellular domain. A single protein kinase C phosphorylation consensus site and a PDZ-binding motif are present in the short intracellular tail. Heterologous expression of JAM2 in Chinese hamster ovary cells defined a 48-kDa protein that localizes predominantly to the intercellular borders. Northern blot analysis showed that JAM2 is preferentially expressed in the heart. JAM2 homotypic interactions were demonstrated by the ability of JAM2-Fc to capture JAM2-expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells. We further showed that JAM2, but not JAM1, is capable of adhering to the HSB and HPB-ALL lymphocyte cell lines. Neutralizing mouse anti-JAM2 polyclonal antibodies provided evidence against homotypic interactions in this assay. Biotinylation of HSB cell membranes revealed a 43-kDa counter-receptor that precipitates specifically with JAM2-Fc. These characteristics of JAM2 led us to hypothesize a role for this novel protein in adhesion events associated with cardiac inflammatory conditions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Life-supporting human complement regulator decay accelerating factor transgenic pig liver xenograft maintains the metabolic function and coagulation in the nonhuman primate for up to 8 days.

BACKGROUND: It is not known whether the pig liver is capable of functioning efficiently when transplanted into a primate, neither is there experience in transplanting a liver from a transgenic pigs expressing the human complement regulator human complement regulator decay accelerating factor (h-DAF) into a baboon. The objective of this study was to determine whether the porcine liver would support the metabolic functions of non-human primates and to establish the effect of hDAF expression in the prevention of hyperacute rejection of porcine livers transplanted into primates. METHODS: Five orthotopic liver xenotransplants from pig to baboon were carried out: three from unmodified pigs and two using livers from h-DAF transgenic pigs. FINDINGS: The three control animals transplanted with livers from unmodified pigs survived for less than 12 hr. Baboons transplanted with livers from h-DAF transgenic pigs survived for 4 and 8 days. Hyperacute rejection was not detected in the baboons transplanted with hDAF transgenic pig livers; however, it was demonstrated in the three transplants from unmodified pigs. Baboons transplanted with livers from h-DAF transgenic pigs were extubated at postoperative day 1 and were awake and able to eat and drink. In the recipients of hDAF transgenic pig livers the clotting parameters reached nearly normal levels at day 2 after transplantation and remained normal up to the end of the experiments. In these hDAF liver recipients, porcine fibrinogen was first detected in the baboon plasma 2 hr postreperfusion, and was present up to the end of the experiments. One animal was euthanized at day 8 after development of sepsis and coagulopathy, the other animal arrested at day 4, after an episode of vomiting and aspiration. The postmortem examination of the hDAF transgenic liver xenografts did not demonstrate rejection. INTERPRETATION: The livers from h-DAF transgenic pigs did not undergo hyperacute rejection after orthotopic xenotransplantation in baboons. When HAR is abrogated, the porcine liver maintains sufficient coagulation and protein levels in the baboon up to 8 days after OLT.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Relation of biochemical, cytologic, and morphologic parameters to the result of gammagraphy with technetium 99m sestamibi in primary hyperparathyroidism.

The aim of this study was to analyze the possible relation of biochemical, cytologic, and morphologic parameters to the results of parathyroid gammagraphy with Tc 99m sestamibi in primary hyperparathyroidism. We studied 46 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who were undergoing surgery. All the patients were given a preoperative parathyroid gammagraphy with Tc 99m sestamibi and a complete preoperative biochemical study. During the surgical intervention we recorded the weight and size of the pathologic glands to calculate the volume of each. We also determined the percentage of the chief and oxyphil cells in the pathologic glands. Tc 99m sestamibi sensitivity is higher in adenomas (91%) than in hyperplasia (67%) or double adenomas (50%). No relation was found between biochemical or cytologic parameters and gammagraphic results. Weight and gland volume were significantly greater for adenomas than for hyperplasia (P < 0.0014 and P < 0.0004, respectively), and statistically significant differences in both of them were observed between the glands with positive and negative sestamibi.

Adenoma↗