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J Mora

Publications and source records attributed to J Mora.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Anti HTLV-I antibody titers in seropositive infected individuals].

The aim of this study was to determine anti HTLV-I antibody titers in seropositive symptomatic and asymptomatic infected subjects. One hundred seven infected subjects (47 with spastic paraparesis and 60 asymptomatic) were studied. HTLV-I antibodies were determined using indirect immunofluorescence in cells infected with the retrovirus. The mean titer was 1/234 in asymptomatic subjects and 1/2138 in symptomatic patients (p < 0.001). These results suggest an association between HTLV-I antibody titers and clinical stage of infected subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

False elevations of alpha-fetoprotein associated with liver dysfunction in germ cell tumors.

BACKGROUND: Determination of serum concentration human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is crucial in diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with germ cell tumors. Elevation of these markers almost indicates progression or recurrence of the germ cell tumor. However, an increase in these tumor markers can be produced by several benign causes. METHODS: The authors report nine cases of gonadal germ cell tumors that had increased serum levels of AFP without tumoral progression, recurrence, or residual tumor. RESULTS: The AFP elevations were attributed to liver damage secondary to drugs (chemotherapy, anesthetics, or antiepileptics), virus, or alcoholism. No clinical evidence (or in some cases surgical evidence) of malignant tumor activity was found in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of serum levels of AFP in patients with germ cell tumors can be produced by liver dysfunction. These elevations must be interpreted with caution to avoid unnecessary treatments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Prognostic factors in follicular carcinoma of the thyroid.

Although there are numerous publications on the nomenclature, morphological diagnostic criteria, and prognostic factors of follicular carcinoma of the thyroid, these issues remain controversial. We present the findings of a retrospective and comparative study of 82 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for thyroid neoplasms. Of these patients, 58 had follicular carcinoma, 12 had atypical adenoma, and the remaining 12 patients had adenoma with partial capsular invasion in the surgical specimen. The goal of the study was to determine diagnostic criteria and prognostic factors in follicular carcinoma. Our results showed that encapsulated thyroid follicular neoplasms should be considered malignant when they demonstrate total capsular invasion and/or vascular invasion. Statistical analysis of the cases of follicular carcinoma showed that higher morbidity rates were seen in the patients with metastasis at the time of diagnosis, with extensively invasive tumors, with age older than 35 years, and with tumors with simultaneous vascular and capsular invasion. The accumulated survival rate over 5 years based on mortality was 91%, and based on morbidity it was 71% (84% for patients with encapsulated tumors and 56% for patients with extensively invasive tumors). In the univariate survival study based on morbidity, we found a relationship with the following parameters: metastasis at the time of diagnosis, grade of local invasion, presence of capsular and vascular invasion, cellular atypia, histologic pattern (insular vs others), presence of thyroid nodule, and age of the patient at the time of diagnosis. In the multivariate survival study based on morbidity, the factors that showed prognostic value were metastasis at the time of diagnosis, grade of local invasion, and age of the patient at the time of diagnosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Granulocyte-specific monoclonal antibody technetium-99m-BW 250/183 and indium-111 oxine-labelled leucocyte scintigraphy in inflammatory bowel disease.

Thirty-three patients suspected of suffering from inflammatory bowel disease were studied. Autologous leucocytes were labelled with indium 111 oxine and re-injected simultaneously with 0.3-0.5 mg of technetium 99m granulocyte-specific monoclonal antibody BW 250/183. Two scans were obtained, the early scan 3-4 h postinjection (p.i.) and the late scan 18-24 h p.i. Using the endoscopy study as standard, the diagnostic accuracy of both agents was determined. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 111In scans was 88.8%, 100.0% and 93.7% at 4 h and 94.7%, 100.0% and 96.9% at 24 h, respectively. Concerning the results using antibodies, the values were 61.1%, 100.0% and 78.1% at 4 h and 78.9%, 92.8% and 84.8% at 24 h, respectively. Segmental analysis showed concordance in 89.3% and 93.3% of the cases at 4 and 24 h, respectively. Though less sensitive and less accurate than scanning employing indium 111 leucocytes, BW 250/183 granulocyte-specific scintigraphy can be used for inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis and localization.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Drinking patterns and drinking-related problems of Mexican-American husbands and wives.

The present research builds on previous studies' findings of alcohol-related gender differences between Mexican-American men and women, through examination of drinking levels, norms and related problems within the context of marriage and family. A survey of husbands and wives in 206 married couples randomly selected from eligible households in East San Jose, California, was carried out. Highlights in our findings include significant gender differences in reports of drinking patterns, frequency of heavier drinking, tangible consequences of drinking and expectancies regarding alcohol. Most notably, correlations were found between husbands' and wives' quantity-frequency drinking measures, the frequency of heavier drinking, tangible consequences of drinking and expectancies regarding alcohol. Although men have higher levels of drinking and greater drinking-related problems, husbands' and wives' patterns are correlated with one another. These links between spouses' drinking-related variables have important implications for family prevention and education about alcohol use.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1991

[HIV infection. Diagnosis in the national network of laboratories in Chile].

A national network including 114 blood banks and laboratories performs screening for HIV infection on approximately 250,000 blood donors a year. This represents 100% coverage of blood transfusions performed in Chile. Up to December 1990. 4956 samples had been sent to the National Reference Center for AIDS for supplementary studies. HIV infection was confirmed in 1465 (29.6%). A prior study covering the first semester of 1989 showed a 26.9% confirmation rate for HIV infection on 845 serum samples. Technical errors including sample contamination, poor cleaning, decreasing titers of controls and erratic criteria regarding the need for supplementary studies may explain the low confirmation rate reported in this study.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1990

Twenty-four-hour blood pressure monitoring and effects of indapamide.

Twenty-four-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring with a noninvasive device (Kontron) has been used to assess the effect of a single dose of indapamide in a group of patients with essential hypertension. Originally 23 patients were selected. Three patients withdrew from the study because of refusal to go through the second 24-hour recording. Eight of the remaining patients had to be excluded for technical reasons, which left 12 patients available for analysis. All patients received a single dose of indapamide, 2.5 mg/day. Before treatment began, a 24-hour BP control was performed, and a second one a month later (37 +/- 8 days). The age of the patients was 46 +/- 10 years. Diurnal BP (8 am to 10 pm) and heart rate were, respectively, 148 +/- 15/101 +/- 6 mmHg and 79 +/- 9 beats/min; night BP (10 pm to 8 am) was 131 +/- 15/88 +/- 7 mmHg and heart rate 71 +/- 10 beats/min. After therapy, diurnal BP was 131 +/- 15/92 +/- 7 mmHg (-15 +/- 7/-8 +/- 4: p less than 0.0001/p less than 0.0001); heart rate 82 +/- 8 beats/min (difference not significant); night BP was 115 +/- 13/80 +/- 8 mmHg (-16 +/- 11/-8 +/- 7: p less than 0.0001/p less than 0.0001) and heart rate 70 +/- 9 beats/min (difference not significant). Twenty-four-hour systolic work values were 106 +/- 15 at the beginning of the trial and 96 +/- 14 (-9.7 +/- 14; p less than 0.05) after 1 month of indapamide treatment. Variability did not change with treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1990

Isolation and characterization of a Neurospora crassa mutant altered in the alpha polypeptide of glutamine synthetase.

We report the isolation and characterization of a Neurospora crassa glutamine synthetase (GS) mutant altered in one of the two polypeptides (GS alpha) of this enzyme. We used the gln-1bR8 mutant strain that synthesizes only the GS alpha monomer and lacks the GS beta monomer and selected for growth in minimal medium in the presence of alpha-methyl-DL-methionine-SR-sulfoximine (alpha-me-MSO), an inhibitor of GS activity. The GS activity of the gln-1bR8;alpha-me-MSOR strain drastically reduced its transferase activity and only slightly reduced its synthetase activity, and it was resistant to inhibition by alpha-me-MSO and L-methionine-DL-sulfoximine. The mutation that overcame the inhibitory effect of alpha-me-MSO also altered the antigenic, kinetic, and physical properties of GS alpha. The low GS activity of the alpha-me-MSO-resistant strain was compensated for by a higher glutamate/glutamine ratio and a lower glutamate synthase activity, allowing this strain to grow as well as the parental strain. The mutation that conferred resistance to alpha-me-MSO was not linked to the gln-1bR8 mutation, providing direct evidence of the existence of two genes involved with the structure of the two polypeptides of N. crassa GS.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1990

Glutamine metabolism and cycling in Neurospora crassa.

Evidence for the existence of a glutamine cycle in Neurospora crassa is reviewed. Through this cycle glutamine is converted into glutamate by glutamate synthase and catabolized by the glutamine transaminase-omega-amidase pathway, the products of which (2-oxoglutarate and ammonium) are the substrates for glutamate dehydrogenase-NADPH, which synthesizes glutamate. In the final step ammonium is assimilated into glutamine by the action of a glutamine synthetase (GS), which is formed by two distinct polypeptides, one catalytically very active (GS beta), and the other (GS alpha) less active but endowed with the capacity to modulate the activity of GS alpha. Glutamate synthase uses the amide nitrogen of glutamine to synthesize glutamate; glutamate dehydrogenase uses ammonium, and both are required to maintain the level of glutamate. The energy expended in the synthesis of glutamine drives the cycle. The glutamine cycle is not futile, because it is necessary to drive an effective carbon flow to support growth; in addition, it facilitates the allocation of nitrogen or carbon according to cellular demands. The glutamine cycle which dissipates energy links catabolism and anabolism and, in doing so, buffers variations in the nutrient supply and drives energy generation and carbon flow for optimal cell function.

Glutamine↗
PubMed1990

[Evolution of the yeast microflora during the first days of fermentation in inoculated Majorcan musts].

Three fermentations were carried out with grape must of the Callet variety. This cultivar is considered autochthonous from the island of Majorca. Two tanks were inoculated with starting cultures of selected yeasts and the last was fermented spontaneously by wild yeasts. The frequency of yeast isolates during the early stages of the fermentation, showed that Candida stellata was more affected by the inoculation than the other wild yeasts with the exception of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The chemical analyses of wines showed a better alcoholic rate and less volatile acidity in the inoculated wines. Two sensorial analyses were performed and significant differences between the wines were noted.

Fermentation↗
PubMed1990

[Patients with an indeterminate serological diagnosis of HIV-1 infection].

Western blot is the technique most frequently used to determine the presence of HIV-1 antibodies. However, some patients remain with an indeterminate diagnosis for HIV-1 according to the technique. We followed 8 such patients for 2 to 18 months. Immunologic studies included standard ELISA, immunofluorescence and Abbott anti-p24 ELISA. We found selective reactivity for certain viral proteins such as isolated p24, p24 plus p51 or p55, gp41 plus gp 120, p17 plus p24 and p25.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1990

[Utility of myocardial scintigraphy with Tc-99m methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile in the diagnosis of coronary disease].

We have studied 24 patients (21 males and 3 females) with coronary artery disease. Stress and rest myocardial scintigraphy was performed in all cases with 15-20 mCi of Tc99m methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile. The examination was done in 2 sessions. Usually the stress scan was obtained and within 2-4 days the rest study was obtained. All patients underwent selective coronary arteriography within a week of the scintigraphy and, in 13 cases, rest radiologic ventriculography was also performed. In 5 patients coronary arteriography and myocardial scintigraphy were normal. In 19 cases the coronary arteriography showed lesions, the myocardial scintigraphy showed ischemia or necrosis in 17 of them and was normal in two. To localize the pathologic vessel the myocardium was divided into 3 segments and segmentary analysis localized the abnormal coronary artery in 51 out of 72 cases. The best availability of the new myocardial agent and the results obtained make it a good tracer for myocardial studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Peripheral nerve repair across a gap studied by repeated observation in a new window implant chamber.

We have developed a new peripheral nerve chamber system which allows high resolution observation of the cellular events involved in nerve regeneration. The growth into the chamber is confined to a two-dimensional sheet resembling tissue culture. An intact blood supply forms within the chamber and by 100 days the nerve bridging the chamber has a nearly normal perineurium surrounding unmyelinated and myelinated axons. Degenerating axons are very rarely seen. The early growth in the chamber has a tendency to spread widely and form a two-dimensional sheet. This results in morphologies similar to those found in tissue culture and facilitates observation of individual elements. The initially wide tissue growth gradually re-models to form a bridge with a constant width similar to the width of the peroneal nerve. Occasionally a 'side arm' containing myelinated axons was retained even though the majority of axons appeared to loop back and rejoin the main bridge. Prefilling the chamber with Matrigel did not produce a significant enhancement of growth rate over that found following prefilling with sterile saline but did result in a more normally organized structure in the long term. Proximal ingrowth occurred at a similar rate in the absence of the distal stump. The structure of the proximal stump in the absence of the distal stump was similar to the structure when both stumps were present, including the presence of myelinated axons near the proximal port by 20 days. However, at subsequent stages the absence of a distal stump led to withdrawal of the proximal growth.

Animals↗