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Biomedical subjects

M A Perez

Publications and source records attributed to M A Perez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

In situ detection of SOCS and cytokine expression in the uterine cervix from HIV/HPV coinfected women.

The purpose of this study was to look for associations between a newly described class of suppressors of cytokine signaling (SSI/SOCS) and cytokine expression in the uterine cervix from HIV/HPV coinfected women. We examined the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6 since their expressions are linked and responsible for many aspects of both localized and systemic inflammatory responses. Further, expression of SSI/SOCS has been implicated in the negative feedback regulation of cytokine receptor signaling. PCR-amplified HIV-1 cDNA was noted mainly in the stroma, showing a perivascular distribution, and most of the infected cells colabeled with the macrophage marker CD68. The distribution of IL-6 and TNF-alpha was in the same area to HIV-1 and much greater than normal cervices from women with no evidence of viral infection. SOCS/SSI-1 and -3 mRNA positive cells in the uterine cervix were commonly detected in these noninfected cervical tissues; however, very few cells that contained SOCS were evident in areas where HIV-1, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 expressing cells were found. This suggests that viral-related suppression of SOCS/SSI-1-3 expression may be a factor in the marked local enhancement of TNF-alpha and IL-6 production which, in turn, may help facilitate viral spread; however, further studies should be done in order to elucidate the exact mechanisms of SOCS in the cervix.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A program for the control of indoor pollution by metallic mercury.

The objective of this study was to develop an educational program for preventing metallic mercury emissions due to the burning of mercury-gold amalgams inside houses. The main participants were adolescents from a school in the city of Poconé, State of Mato Grosso. The program was developed in five stages, including discussions of the methods and exhibition of slides showing people working in activities including the garimpos, planning activities as dramatizations, making posters and preparing a screenplay for the production of a video, discussing how to prevent indoor burning of gold-mercury amalgams, and a final evaluation of the adolescents about what they had learned during the program. The evaluation of the impact was done through a comparison of correct answers from a questionnaire before and after the development of the educational activities and by means of a comparison of urinary mercury in school students and a group of residents (women) at three different times: before the program (2.30 microgram/L), 6 months after (2.90 microgram/L), and 11 months after (1.49 microgram/L).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: main clinical and epidemiologic characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Rio de Janeiro State in Brazil is an endemic area of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) induced by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Objective Our purpose was to describe the main clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of the disease in Rio de Janeiro State. METHODS: Patients from endemic areas of Rio de Janeiro State attending the Evandro Chagas Hospital were included in the study. A general physical, dermatologic, and otorhinolaryngologic examination was performed in all patients, as well as a Leishmanin skin test. Skin biopsy specimens were obtained and utilized for touch preparations (stained with Leishman dye), culture in special media (Nicolle, Nevy and McNeal; NNN), and histopathologic examination after hematoxylin and eosin stain. Positive cultures were identified with regard to species by the isoenzyme technique. Therapy with pentavalent antimonial compounds was employed in all cases. Eco-epidemiologic characteristics were studied through regular field visits to endemic foci. RESULTS: Cutaneous disease was present in 87.2% of patients, and mucosal disease in only 12.7%. A single ulcerative cutaneous lesion was the most common clinical presentation. Demonstration of the parasite was always difficult and culture in special media gave the best results for diagnosis. The species involved in transmission was Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Vectors included phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the genus Lutzomyia, and the most common species was Lutzomyia intermedia, captured mainly on the external walls of houses. CONCLUSIONS: ATL in Rio de Janeiro is mostly a cutaneous disease. In general, the cases showed great sensitivity to antimony. A pattern of peridomestic transmission seems to be the rule.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Lactose-containing starburst dendrimers: influence of dendrimer generation and binding-site orientation of receptors (plant/animal lectins and immunoglobulins) on binding properties.

Starburst glycodendrimers offer the potential to serve as high-affinity ligands for clinically relevant sugar receptors. In order to define areas of application, their binding behavior towards sugar receptors with differential binding-site orientation but identical monosaccharide specificity must be evaluated. Using poly(amidoamine) starburst dendrimers of five generations, which contain the p-isothiocyanato derivative of p-aminophenyl-beta-D-lactoside as ligand group, four different types of galactoside-binding proteins were chosen for this purpose, i.e., the (AB)(2)-toxic agglutinin from mistletoe, a human immunoglobulin G fraction, the homodimeric galectin-1 with its two binding sites at opposite ends of the jelly-roll-motif-harboring protein and monomeric galectin-3. Direct solid-phase assays with surface-immobilized glycodendrimers resulted in obvious affinity enhancements by progressive core branching for the plant agglutinin and less pronounced for the antibody and galectin-1. High density of binding of galectin-3 with modest affinity increases only from the level of the 32-mer onwards points to favorable protein-protein interactions of the monomeric lectin and a spherical display of the end groups without a major share of backfolding. When the inhibitory potency of these probes was evaluated as competitor of receptor binding to an immobilized neoglycoprotein or to asialofetuin, a marked selectivity was detected. The 32- and 64-mers were second to none as inhibitors for the plant agglutinin against both ligand-exposing matrices and for galectin-1 on the matrix with a heterogeneous array of interglycoside distances even on the per-sugar basis. In contrast, a neoglycoprotein with the same end group was superior in the case of the antibody and, less pronounced, monomeric galectin-3. Intimate details of topological binding-site presentation and the ligand display on different generations of core assembly are major operative factors which determine the potential of dendrimers for applications as lectin-targeting device, as attested by these observations.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Quality of life and sexuality following radical prostatectomy in patients with prostate cancer who use or do not use erectile aids.

OBJECTIVES: It is well established that prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy may experience disruptive side effects, most notably urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. The purpose of this study is to compare relevant outcomes between patients awaiting radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer and patients who already underwent the surgery, taking into account type of prostatectomy and use of erectile aids. METHODS: We compared self-reports of global quality of life, sexuality, urinary continence, and physical capabilities in 86 nerve-sparing patients, 89 standard-prostatectomy patients, 74 prostatectomy patients who used erectile aids, and a comparison group of 45 patients awaiting radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: Regardless of type of surgery, use of erectile aid, or preoperative status, most patients reported good quality of life. The best outcomes in sexuality were reported by patients who used erectile aids, who appeared similar in sexuality to patients awaiting surgery. When differences were detected, standard prostatectomy patients who did not use erectile aids scored worse in most areas of sexuality than nerve-sparing patients who did not use erectile aids. There were no differences in frequency of urinary leakage among the three surgery subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Although most patients reported problems in sexual and urinary function, global quality of life does not appear to be compromised following radical prostatectomy. Findings suggest that postsurgical sexuality differs depending on type of prostatectomy and use of erectile aids, while urinary function is similar across surgery groups. We conclude that erectile aids should be offered routinely to patients who are ineligible for nerve-sparing surgery or experience erectile difficulties following the nerve-sparing procedure.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Effects of tedisamil (KC-8857) on cardiac electrophysiology and ventricular fibrillation in the rabbit isolated heart.

1. The direct cardiac electrophysiological and antifibrillatory actions of tedisamil (KC-8857) were studied in rabbit isolated hearts. 2. Tedisamil (1, 3, and 10 microM), prolonged the ventricular effective refractory period (VRP) from 120 +/- 18 ms (baseline) to 155 +/- 19, 171 +/- 20, and 205 +/- 14 ms, respectively. Three groups of isolated hearts (n = 6 each) were used to test the antifibrillatory action of tedisamil. Hearts were perfused with 1.25 microM pinacidil, a KATP channel activator. Hearts were subjected to hypoxia for 12 min followed by 40 min of reoxygenation. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) developed during hypoxia and reoxygenation in both the control and 1 microM tedisamil-treated groups (5/6 and 4/6, respectively). Tedisamil (3 microM) reduced the incidence of VF (0/6, P = 0.007 vs. control). 3. In a separate group of hearts, VF was initiated by electrical stimulation. The administration of 0.3 ml of 10 mM tedisamil, via the aortic cannula, terminated VF in all hearts, converting them to normal sinus rhythm. 4. Tedisamil (3 microM) reversed pinacidil-induced negative inotropic effects in rabbit isolated atrial muscle which were equilibrated under normoxia, as well as in atrial muscle subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation. 5. The results demonstrate a direct antifibrillatory action of tedisamil in vitro. The mechanism responsible for the observed effects may involve modulation by tedisamil of the cardiac ATP-regulated potassium channel, in addition to its antagonism of IK and Ito.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Predicting CD4 counts in HIV-infected Brazilian individuals: a model based on the World Health Organization staging system.

CD4 cell counts are one of the best available surrogate markers for disease progression; they are widely used laboratory parameters in clinical trials and commonly used indicators for the introduction of primary prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy. However, measurement is too expensive to be done in most developing countries. The objective of this study was to derive a model for prediction of CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3 based on the proposed World Health Organization (WHO) staging system for HIV infection and widely available laboratory parameters. One hundred and six consecutive patients enrolled in a prospective cohort study who were not taking anti-HIV drugs or prophylaxis for opportunistic infections were included. Blood tests were performed within 72 h of the outpatient visit. Lymphocyte phenotyping was done by flow cytometry. Two models based on the WHO staging system, hematocrit and total lymphocyte counts, were developed. The two models had sensitivity > 90% and specificity > 83%. These results indicate that the combined use of simple clinical and laboratory parameters can predict CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3 with high sensitivity and specificity. Similar studies should be conducted in other countries. Should our findings be confirmed, intervention strategies based on this model of potential universal applicability should be devised and validated.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Sustained release phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride from ATO 888 matrix.

Sustained release phenylpropanolamine HCl tablets were prepared with compritol as a retardant material. The effects of varying wax levels and methods of matrix formation on drug release were investigated. Also the compaction profiles were recorded for all formulations. The amount of drug in the formula was held constant (10% w/w), while the wax level was varied from 10% to 50% w/w. Two methods were used for the preparation of drug: wax systems; physical mixture and solid dispersion. The drug release from tablets containing 10% Compritol and prepared by solid dispersion was 97% after six hours of testing dissolution. Tablets prepared with 30% wax released 72% of the drug, while tablets containing 50% wax released only 30% of the drug after six hours. Tablets prepared by physical mixture gave higher drug release than tablets prepared by solid dispersion method. The incorporation of Compritol decreased the ejection forces of tablets during compaction. The drug release from tablets prepared by solid dispersion followed the diffusion controlled model described by Higuchi for inert porous matrix.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗
PubMed1991

[Neurological complications in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: experience at the Hospital Universitario Clementino Fraga Filho-Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro].

The frequency of neurological manifestations was evaluated in 653 HIV infected patients admitted in a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil, in the 1985-1989 period. A total of 172 (26%) patients developed neurological symptoms. Central nervous system complications included: cerebral toxoplasmosis (80), cryptococcal meningitis (57), subacute encephalitis (17), tuberculosis (8) and aseptic meningitis (2), progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (2) and vacuolar myelopathy (6). Peripheral neuropathy occurred in three cases. The clinical and tomographic aspects were analysed. The majority of the patients died within six months after the onset of the neurological disease.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1990

Neurofilament and chromogranin expression in normal and neoplastic neuroendocrine cells of the human gastrointestinal tract and pancreas.

To differentiate neuroendocrine (NE) neoplasms arising at different levels of the gut and pancreas, the authors studied the expression of neurofilament (NF) proteins and chromogranin (CR) in normal and neoplastic NE cells of the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) (14 ileal/jejunal carcinoids, six appendiceal carcinoids, 11 rectal carcinoids) and pancreas (23 islet cell tumors). Among pancreatic islet cell tumors, those with middle molecular weight (NF-M)-positive cells were more abundant than those with high molecular weight (NF-H)-positive cells; nearly all of these tumors expressed CR. Although NF-M was abundantly expressed in greater than 50% of tumor cells in a subset of these tumors, only one of these tumors exhibited diffuse immunoreactivity with NF-H. Among rectal carcinoid tumors, NF-M and NF-H-positive cells were present in approximately the same number of tumors, yet only diffuse immunoreactivity to NF-H could be detected. Chromogranin immunoreactivity in greater than 50% of tumor cells was present in 74% of islet cell tumors, 93% of ileojejunal carcinoids, and 83% of appendiceal carcinoids, but only in a minority of rectal carcinoids (36%). Although ileojejunal carcinoid tumors rarely expressed NF-M and did not express NF-H, diffuse immunoreactivity with CR was present in nearly all of these tumors. None of the appendiceal carcinoid tumors expressed NF-M or NF-H, yet all of these tumors demonstrated immunoreactivity with CR. Neurofilament immunoreactivity was not detected in normal GIT and pancreatic NE cells, whereas CR immunoreactivity was always present. These results suggest that for NE neoplasms of the GIT and pancreas the differential expression of NF subtypes appears to be related to tumor site; and CR is a marker of most GIT and pancreatic NE neoplasms although NF may discriminate subtypes of GIT and pancreatic NE tumors. Neurofilament subtyping may be useful in the evaluation of the origin of NE tumors presenting as metastatic lesions.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMed1989

Paget's disease primarily involving the scrotum.

Three cases of Paget's disease primarily involving the scrotum are reported. One case exhibited positive staining for prostate specific antigen (PSA) and was associated with an underlying, invasive poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of unknown primary. The other cases were not associated with any underlying or visceral malignancy. The literature on Paget's disease primarily involving the scrotum including clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and possible histogenetic mechanisms of this disease is discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

[Dermatophytosis and atopy].

The association of dermatophytosis and atopy on patients from the University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, was carried out during 1984-1985 as follows: a) 141 cases exhibiting lesions on feet, glabrous skin, groins, nails and scalp. The dermatophytes were demonstrated in the material from skin and nail scrapings and depilated hairs by direct microscopic examination and culture; b) 131 cases of several skin diseases other than dermatophytosis (control group). Both were inquired about personal history of atopic dermatitis, asthma and rhinitis. In the first group 14 (9.9%) patients gave a positive personal history of atopy while in the control group only one (0.7%) did it. The comparison between the studied groups was made be means of the chi-square test and a statistically significant difference was established (p less than 0.001) giving a greater risk for getting dermatophytosis to those suffering from atopic disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Cell death in the embryonic brain of Gallotia galloti (Reptilia; Lacertidae): a structural and ultrastructural study.

In the striatum, thalamus and cerebellum of a Lacertid reptile, we have found three types of cellular death during embryonic development, both at the light and electron microscopic level. The first affects the undifferentiated neuro-epithelial cells and is commonest during the early stages (E. 32-E. 36). The second corresponds to the type of 'nuclear' death described in the bibliography and reaches a maximum in the middle embryonic period (E. 37-E. 39); nevertheless important variations were observed in different zones. The third is the same as the 'cytoplasmic' death type and appears in the perinatal stages. Phagocytosis involved in the elimination of dead cells is of two types. One is associated with early death and is carried out by undifferentiated neuro-epithelial cells. The other is carried out by microglial cells which appear around Stage 37. Much cellular debris was observed in the intermediate zone and this was associated with the second type of phagocytosis. In both cases lipid production was associated with the degenerative process. Comparison of the temporal cellular death pattern with synaptogenesis, gliogenesis and maturation of neuronal processes is consistent with the view that the various types of cellular death found by us had different causes.

Animals↗