Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Vazquez.
We report a case of arterioportal fistula which was probably the result of percutaneous liver biopsy. Portal hypertension with hemorrhage by esophageal varices was the clinical presentation. We describe the features of the ultrasound, selective arteriography and Doppler ultrasound examination. The fistula was catheterized superselectively and successfully embolized with steel coils.
A new type of surface coil is described which allows the user to continuously vary the size of the field of view. This utilizes a modified radiofrequency trombone for size adjustment that results in a stable frequency over a wide range of dimensions. Results show that the coil may be increased in area by as much as 60% while maintaining frequency stability to ca. 1 MHz at 63.5 MHz. Images of the human spine are presented to demonstrate the clinical utility of the new design.
In this article we show how the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and primers designed for conserved sequences of leader (L), framework one (FR1) and constant (CONST) regions of immunoglobulin light and heavy chain genes can be used for the cloning and sequencing of rearranged antibody variable regions from mouse hybridoma cells. RNA was extracted from the mouse hybridoma cells secreting MAbs: IOR-T3a (anti-CD3), C6 (anti-P1 of N. meningitidis B385), IOR-T1 (anti-CD6), CB-CEA.1 (anti-carcinoembryonic antigen), and CB-Fib.1 (anti-human fibrin). First strand cDNA was synthesized and amplified using PCR. The newly designed primers are superior to others reported recently in the literature. Isolated PCR DNA fragments of C6 and IOR-T3a were sequenced after asymmetric amplification, or M13 cloning. The FR1/CONST primer combinations selectively amplified mouse lights chain of groups kappa II, V, and VI, and heavy chains of groups IIa and IIc. The L/CONST primers for light chains amplified light chains from all four hybridomas. These methods greatly facilitate structural and functional studies of antibodies by reducing the efforts required to clone and sequence their variable regions.
The distribution of methionine-enkephalin-like structures in the cat thalamus after electroacupuncture was studied using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. We have observed some alterations on the distribution of methionine-enkephalin-like fibres in the thalamus of the cat after electroacupuncture. Thus, in the nuclei habenularis lateralis and lateralis dorsalis, in the tractus mamillo-thalamicus and in the tractus habenulopeduncularis, we have found methionine-enkephalin-like fibres in the animals treated with electroacupuncture, however in such nuclei and tractus no immunoreactivity was observed in the control animals. On the contrary, after electroacupuncture we have not found methionine-enkephalin-like fibres in the thalamic nuclei centrum medianum, parascicularis and subparafascicularis, in which in the animals no pretreated with electroacupuncture, immunoreactive fibres were observed. In other thalamic nuclei such as habenularis medialis, paraventricularis anterior, centralis medialis, medialis dorsalis and in the stria medullaris no alteration on the distribution of immunoreactive fibres was observed in the animals treated with electroacupuncture in comparison with the distribution of such fibres found in the control animals. These observations suggest that the electroacupuncture might induce alterations on the distribution of methionine-enkephalin-like in certain nuclei of the thalamus of the cat.
The growing problem of candidemia and systemic candidiasis reflects the enormous increase in the pool of patients at risk as well as the increased opportunity that exists for Candida sp to invade tissues normally resistant to invasion. Candida sp, as truly opportunistic pathogens, exploit recent technological advances to gain access to the circulation and deep tissues. The increased prevalence of local and systemic disease caused by Candida organisms has resulted in new clinical syndromes, the expression of which depends upon the immune status of the host. These new syndromes include the focal hepatosplenic candidiasis, Candida peritonitis and systemic candidiasis. Management of serious and life-threatening invasive candidiasis remains severely hampered by the lack of reliable diagnostic methods that would allow early detection of both fungemia and tissue invasion by Candida organisms. Amphotericin B remains the cornerstone of effective antifungal therapy in systemic candidiasis. Over the last decade, new principles have emerged, including shorter and lower dosage regimens for catheter-related candidemia. The newer oral azoles may play a useful role in the management of invasive candidiasis.
Seven heat shock genes are clustered within 15 kilobases of DNA at the Drosophila melanogaster chromosomal site 67B. They show a complex pattern of expression in the absence of external stress during normal development of this organism. In this paper, we quantitatively compare the abundance of the messenger RNAs for these seven genes at all major stages of Drosophila development and then focus on hsp23 and hsp27 for which available antibodies allow the comparison between the accumulation of the mRNAs and that of their corresponding polypeptides. Transcripts for both genes are maximally abundant in white prepupae. We observe that the amount of hsp23 message decreases more rapidly than that of hsp27 mRNA throughout the pupal period. The maximal abundance of the proteins occurs at the middle of the pupal stage, when their corresponding RNAs have almost completely disappeared. The peaks of expression of the proteins are also broader than those of their transcripts, indicating that the half-lives of the polypeptides are longer. These observations suggest that complex mechanisms regulate the expression of the small heat shock genes during Drosophila development.
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The standard surgical approach for tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is right dorso-lateral thoracotomy. The late musculoskeletal consequences of the operation have been evaluated only rarely. Two hundred and seventy-seven patients with TEF were operated upon during the past 16 years, 117 of whom were available for long term (3 to 16 year) study. Twenty-nine of the patients had significant musculoskeletal deformities: (1) Twenty-one patients (23.8%) had prominent elevation of the right shoulder or "winged" scapula secondary to partial paralysis of the latissimus dorsi muscle; (2) Eighteen (20%) had marked asymmetry of the thoracic wall from atrophy of the serratus anterior muscle; (3) Nine (10%) had fusion of the ribs, in one of whom major respiratory dysfunction was a consequence; (4) Seven (7.8%) had severe thoracic scoliosis. The deformity was not of sufficient severity to warrant surgical correction but all patients required physiotherapy; (5) In two children (2.2%), fixation of the skin cicatrix to the bony thorax limited the mobility of the ipsilateral shoulder; (6) And finally, in three girls (3.3%), the thoracotomy scar disfigured the right breast leading to mammary maldevelopment in one adolescent. The latter child required plastic release of the entrapped breast. The dorso-lateral thoracic incision for tracheoesophageal atresia may lead to significant musculoskeletal complications and, since other alternatives are available, should be reevaluated as the recommended surgical approach.
A study was made of the incidence of Neisseria meningitidis and N. lactamica in a school population; 2470 children aged between 5 and 7 years were studied from four schools in Alcala de Henares (Madrid). Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken in June, November and March, between 1979 and 1983. In all the surveys except one, the proportion of carriers of N. lactamica was higher than that of N. meningitidis, reaching a ratio of about 2:1 in the complete study. The predominant serogroup of meningococcus found was B (41%), with nongroupable strains reaching 43%. A study of serotypes within group B showed a predominance of nontypable strains (48.5%), while those strains considered to be most virulent (types 2 and 1, 8, 15) reached 40%. Eighteen per cent of N. lactamica strains were observed to agglutinate with antimeningococcal sera whilst the remainder of the strains were rough. When these strains were studied with the antiserum-agar technique, using antimeningococcal sera, a high percentage of strains cross-reacted with the meningococci. The susceptibility of strains to sulphadiazine, penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, rifampicin and spiramycin was determined. Finally an analysis was made of the effect that an elevated colonization rate of N. lactamica might have on colonization by meningococci. The necessity of using fine epidemiological markers in tracing virulent strains in a population at risk is stressed. Selective prophylactic measures are also necessary.
We studied the prevalence of maltose-negative variants of Neisseria meningitidis in Spain from 1978 to 1980. Sugar utilization studies were performed with both CTA medium and Mueller-Hinton medium; bromothymol blue was used as the indicator in Mueller-Hinton medium. Of 1,714 isolates of N. meningitidis recovered from the cerebrospinal fluid or blood of patients with meningococcal infections, 64 (3.7%) were maltose-negative variants; 13 (3.3%) of the 363 isolates found in carriers had the same characteristic. All maltose-negative cultures isolated from both patients and carriers belonged to serogroup B and were resistant to sulfadiazine at a minimal inhibitory concentration, 10 micrograms/ml or more. Serotype 2 isolates were the most prevalent isolates in patients (68.8%), followed by nontypable isolates (20.3%). Only serotype 2 isolates (66%) and nontypable isolates (33%) were found in carriers.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.