Biomedical subjects

Julio González

Publications and source records attributed to Julio González.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Reading cinnamon activates olfactory brain regions.

Some words immediately and automatically remind us of odours, smells and scents, whereas other language items do not evoke such associations. This study investigated, for the first time, the abstract linking of linguistic and odour information using modern neuroimaging techniques (functional MRI). Subjects passively read odour-related words ('garlic', 'cinnamon', 'jasmine') and neutral language items. The odour-related terms elicited activation in the primary olfactory cortex, which include the piriform cortex and the amygdala. Our results suggest the activation of widely distributed cortical cell assemblies in the processing of olfactory words. These distributed neuron populations extend into language areas but also reach some parts of the olfactory system. These distributed neural systems may be the basis of the processing of language elements, their related conceptual and semantic information and the associated sensory information.

Amygdala↗

PubMed2004

Selective alteration of native, but not second language articulation in a patient with foreign accent syndrome.

The present study deals with a right-handed female polyglot suffering from a Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS) which affects her native language (L1), but not her other languages learnt since the age of 12. She had a small infarct in the left corona radiata as the result of a carotid occlusion. Her L1 was Spanish, but she also had a good command of French, English and Catalan (L2). Aphasia tests did not reveal any other significant alteration in any language. Analyses of pre-morbid and post-morbid voice recordings revealed that FAS affected Spanish dramatically, but no important changes were observed for French. Results were interpreted as showing that different brain areas control articulation of L1 and L2 learnt after a critical period.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed2003

[Activation in the metaloproteinases complex in the follicle-embryonic generative capability].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the enzymatic inhibition complex of metaloproteinases [TIMP(MMP-3 stromelisine-1)] in follicle/genesis processes and their ovule/embryonic subsequent development in stimulated cycles. TYPE OF STUDY: Prospective longitudinal in research center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients were evaluated in vitro fertilization cycles measuring matrix metaloproteinases concentrations in days 3 and 12 of ovarian stimulation, as well as in the follicular liquid at the moment of ovarian retrieval. The determination of [TIMP/(MMP-3 stromelisine-1)] was done by ELISA and monoclonal antibodies type of immunoassay methods. For its statistical evaluation were applied linear regression models ( r/r2 ) and Kolmogorov-Smirov test comparing the two groups where values were expressed in agreement at its mean, standard deviation and a significance of p < 0.05. RESULTS: For regression models was found a positive correlation between basal FSH and the age of patients [(r2 = 0.26)(p = 0.003)], dividing groups in older and younger patients than 35 years; it was observed significant difference in metaloproteinases concentration as in serum concentration (days 3 and 12 of stimulation) as in the follicular liquid. A decrease in the 14% [(TIMP/(MMP-3/stromelisine-1)] complex concentration was increasing in accordance at the female patients age. CONCLUSIONS: The matrix metaloproteinases complex study has allowed observing a status not only in the ovular quality but in the embryonic development and fertilization processes too.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Markovian chemicals "in silico" design (MARCH-INSIDE), a promising approach for computer aided molecular design II: experimental and theoretical assessment of a novel method for virtual screening of fasciolicides.

A novel method for in silico selection of fluckicidal drugs is introduced. Two QSARs that permit us to discriminate between fasciolicide and non-fasciolicide drugs (the first) and to outline some conclusions about the possible mechanism of action of a chemical (the second) are performed. The first model correctly classified 93.85% of compounds in the training series and 89.5% of the compounds in the predicting one. This model correctly classified 87.7, 93.8, 92.2 and 93.9% of compounds in leave- n-out cross validation procedures when n takes values from 2 to until 6. The model seems to be stable in around 92% of good classification in leave- n-out cross validation analysis when n>6. The second model correctly classified 70% of non-fasciolicide compounds, 85.71% of beta-tubulin inhibitors and 100% of proton ionophores in the training set. This model recognizes as proton ionophores 100% of any nitrosalicylanilides in the predicting series. Both models have a low p-level <0.05. Finally, the experimental assay of six organic chemicals by an in vivo test permit us to carry out an assessment of the model with a fairly good 100% agreement between experiment and theoretical prediction.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sharing of antigens between Plasmodium falciparum and Anopheles albimanus.

The presence of common antigens between Plasmodium falciparum and Anopheles albimanus was demonstrated. Different groups of rabbits were immunized with: crude extract from female An. albimanus (EAaF), red blood cells infected with Plasmodium falciparum (EPfs), and the SPf66 synthetic malaria vaccine. The rabbit's polyclonal antibodies were evaluated by ELISA, Multiple Antigen Blot Assay (MABA), and immunoblotting. All extracts were immunogenic in rabbits according to these three techniques, when they were evaluated against the homologous antigens. Ten molecules were identified in female mosquitoes and also in P. falciparum antigens by the autologous sera. The electrophoretic pattern by SDS-PAGE was different for the three antigens evaluated. Cross-reactions between An. albimanus and P. falciparum were found by ELISA, MABA, and immunoblotting. Anti-P. falciparum and anti-SPf66 antibodies recognized ten and five components in the EAaF crude extract, respectively. Likewise, immune sera against female An. albimanus identified four molecules in the P. falciparum extract antigen. As far as we know, this is the first work that demonstrates shared antigens between anophelines and malaria parasites. This finding could be useful for diagnosis, vaccines, and the study of physiology of the immune response to malaria.

Animals↗