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Biomedical subjects

M Borrell

Publications and source records attributed to M Borrell.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Acquired factor VIII inhibitor preceding chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

An acquired factor VIII inhibitor was found in an 82-year-old woman who presented with numerous spontaneously appearing ecchymoses. Coagulation studies revealed the presence of a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time that was not corrected by 1:1 mixture with normal fresh plasma after a 2-h incubation. Factor VIII:C was 4%, and the titer for factor VIII inhibitor was 9 Bethesda units. Three months later, after a retroperitoneal hemorrhage, a lymphocytosis was found in her peripheral blood with morphological and surface immunophenotype characteristics of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, later confirmed by bone marrow morphological and immunocytochemical examinations. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an autoimmune factor VIII inhibitor associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Aged↗

Rat myocardial tissue lipids and their effect on ventricular electrical activity: influence on dietary lipids.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the effect of diets with different lipid content on rat myocardial tissue lipid composition and their possible influence on myocardial electrical activity. METHODS: 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised in three dietary feeding groups. Half the animals were used for the myocardial lipid study and the other half for the ventricular refractory period and ventricular conduction velocity measurements. Synthetic diets of low fat, high fat (predominantly lard fat), and high fat plus marine oil, the last two with cholesterol, were supplied ad libitum for five weeks. After 2-propanol myocardial lipid extraction, lipid fractions were separated by thin layer chromatography and their esterified fatty acids by gas-liquid chromatography. Ventricular refractory period was obtained according to the extrastimulus technique and maximum conduction velocity by ventricular pacing. RESULTS: The experimental diets induced marked changes in fatty acid composition of myocardial phospholipids and in esterified cholesterol content. The high fat group showed a significant decrement in oleic and linoleic acids, with an increment in arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in their phospholipid composition. This dietary group had the highest esterified cholesterol content. These changes were related to lowering of maximum ventricular paced heart rate and lengthening of ventricular refractory period, and were partly corrected by marine oil supplement. CONCLUSIONS: Saturated fat diets cause profound changes in myocardial fatty acyl composition which are linked to sustained differences in myocardial electrical activity. These changes can be partly corrected by a moderate fish oil supplement.

Animals↗

[Polymorphism MI detected through the enzyme MspI in the study of congenital protein C deficiency].

BACKGROUND: In order to find alternatives for the diagnosis of hereditary protein C (PC) deficiency, we have studied the diagnostic informativity of the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) MI, located 7 kb upstream of the PC gene and detected with the restriction enzyme MspI. METHODS: The RFLP MI has been analysed in 77 individuals belonging to 27 families with congenital PC deficiency, as well as in a control group of 46 healthy donors. The analysis has been performed by PCR amplification and MspI digestion of the polymorphic DNA fragment. RESULTS: The allelic frequencies of the RFLP MI in the population studied are 0.69 for the allele A1, without the MspI restriction site, and 0.31 for the allele A2, with the MspI site. No differences have been found between the control and the PC deficient groups. The informativity of the polymorphism has been calculated to be 33.8%. Consegregation studies between this RFLP and PC deficiency have allowed the determination of the allele associated to the polymorphism in 21 out of the 27 studied families. Furthermore, an asymptomatic PC deficient carrier, with normal PC levels, has been identified. CONCLUSIONS: The study of this RFLP in families with hereditary PC deficiency may be useful for the identification of PC deficient carriers as well as for the prenatal diagnosis of the deficiency.

Alleles↗

Immunoglobulin fractions isolated from patients with antiphospholipid antibodies prevent the inactivation of factor Va by activated protein C on human endothelial cells.

We studied the effect of purified immunoglobulins (Ig) from 21 patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) on factor Va degradation by activated protein C (aPC) on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Sera from patients were tested on an ELISA aPL assay to determine the isotype with aPL activity. HUVEC were incubated with purified IgG or IgM fraction from controls or patients. Activated PC and factor Va were then added and factor Va degradation was measured after several reaction times. 13 of 14 IgM and 8 of 10 IgG from patients showed an inhibitory effect on factor Va degradation by aPC when compared with control Ig. We also observed the same inhibitory effect with patients' Ig on studying the degradation of factor Va by aPC in a purified system containing aPC, protein S and phospholipids. These results suggest that aPL antibodies disturb the anticoagulant activity of aPC, which may contribute to the thrombotic tendency of these patients.

Antibodies↗

Protein C deficiency: identification of a novel two-base pair insertion and two point mutations in exon 7 of the protein C gene in Spanish families.

We have applied single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) to the analysis of exon 7 of the anticoagulant protein C (PC) gene, in 13 PC-deficient Spanish families. Abnormal patterns were visualized in three samples from type I or quantitative PC deficient proposita. A previously undescribed mutation due to a TT insertion after nucleotide 6139, between codons Gly-142 and Arg-143 was found in one family. The mutation (6139,ins TT) should result in a frameshift with a stop at codon 156, which agrees with the presence of a type I or quantitative PC deficiency in the affected members of the family. The second mutation identified was a C to T transition at nucleotide 6274, 9 base pairs into intron G. This mutation (6274,C-->T), found for the first time in a Spanish family, is identical to the previously characterized PC Sant Louis. The third mutation was a G to A transition that replaces arginine 178 with glutamine (178,R-->Q). This is the third case of 178,R-->Q mutation in 17 apparently unrelated Spanish families with type I PC deficiency. Furthermore, SSCP analysis allowed the detection of another previously described mutation in a PC-deficient Spanish family (178,R-->W).

Base Sequence↗

The release of plasminogen activators (t-PA and u-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) after venous stasis.

The aim of the present study was to compare plasma levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), before and after 20 min of venous stasis, with those of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and t-PA/PAI-1 complexes, to determine whether both plasminogen activators and their inhibitor respond similarly to the same stimulus. We studied 36 patients with recurrent venous thrombosis in whom no coagulation defects predisposing them to thrombosis had been detected (mean age 38.2 years, range 15-70 years). Twenty healthy individuals (mean age 34.3 years, range 20-60 years) served as a control group. t-PA, PAI-1 and u-PA activity and antigen, as well as the t-PA/PAI-1 complex antigen, were measured before and after venous stasis. Post-stasis fibrinolytic parameters were corrected for the haemoconcentration which occurred during the venous occlusion test. Pathologically high PAI-1 levels (antigen and activity) were found in four out of 36 patients who were excluded from study. Functional and antigenic u-PA increased significantly after venous stasis when analysed as the absolute differences between paired samples (P less than 0.01). This increase in u-PA did not correlate with changes in t-PA or PAI-1 (r = 0.28 and r = 0.36 respectively). This leads us to suggest that different mechanisms relating to clearance and/or release from diverse sources might be involved in elevations of u-PA in response to a local endothelial stimulus. We conclude that venous stasis might not be the elective choice when evaluating 'bad responders' predisposed to thrombosis.

Adolescent↗

[Importance of antiphosphatidylserine antibodies in patients with lupus anticoagulant. Analysis of 30 cases].

Anti-phosphatidylserine (APS) and anticardiolipin (ACL) antibodies were measured in 30 patients with lupus anticoagulant. In 17 cases there were clinical features of thrombosis (56.7%). The number of patients with IgG APS and ACL levels higher than seven standard deviations from the normal mean was significantly higher in the group with thrombosis (p less than 0.017 and p less than 0.02, respectively). The IgG APS level was higher in the group without systemic lupus erythematosus (p less than 0.029). There was a positive correlation between IgG APS and the activated thromboplastin time (r = 0.654, p less than 0.001). The correlation between IgG APS and IgG ACL was rho = 0.61. Two of the 5 patients with increased IgG APS and normal IgG ACL had thrombosis. We think that, in this group of patients, IgG APS titer may be, like IgG ACL, a biological marker of thrombosis risk.

Adult↗

Fibrinogen Barcelona II: a new case of A alpha 16 Arg----His substitution.

We describe a new congenital dysfibrinogenemia: fibrinogen Barcelona II in 8 members of a family with no major bleeding or thrombotic tendency. Incubation of this fibrinogen with thrombin at low concentration releases half of the expected normal fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and with some delay it releases an abnormal FPA. Abnormal FPA was purified and sequenced and showed a change in the normal amino acid sequence: arginine in position 16 has been substituted by a histidine. This is another case of dysfibrinogenemia in which A alpha 16 Arg----His has been identified as the cause of abnormal behavior of the fibrinogen molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Detection of thrombin-antithrombin complexes in hypercoagulability conditions. Analysis of 182 cases].

The detection of TATC may inform about the presence of thrombin generation and, and hence of a pre-thrombotic status. An ELISA test (Enzygnst TAT) has been developed here in order to evaluate the predictive role played by TATC, and it was applied on 182 patients who distributed in 14 with cirrhosis of the liver, 11 with sepsis, 17 with chronic arterial insufficiency, 55 with neoplasms, 9 with thrombosis, 15 in postoperative period, 15 with pneumonia, 16 with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), 14 with multiple injuries and 16 with pancreatitis. TATC levels were significantly increased in all groups with regard to the control group. Patients with thrombosis, sepsis, multiple injuries, DIC and in the postoperative period showed especially high TATC figures. No correlation between TATC and fibrinogen, platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time or prothrombin complex assay was found in the post-operative patient-group. It was concluded that TATC are a good indicator of hypercoagulability.

Adult↗

Serial measurements of a plasma prostacyclin inhibitor in a patient with recurrent abortions and lupus anticoagulant; a case report.

Defective plasmatic stimulation of prostacyclin (PGI2) production by vascular cells has been described in patients with lupus anticoagulant (LAC). A young woman with recurrent abortions, LAC and evidence for deficient PGI2 production was studied. Serial measurements of a plasma PGI2 inhibitor, LAC and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) have been performed before and throughout her fourth pregnancy. Antenatal care and treatment with prednisone and heparin started at 10 weeks gestation. The plasma of our patient continued to inhibit PGI2 production by vascular cells despite treatment. The presence of inhibitor(s) of PGI2 release was confirmed by mixing the patient's plasma with normal plasma. In addition, an IgM lupus anticoagulant fraction (but not the IgG fraction) interfered with the release of arachidonic acid in human endothelial cells induced by thrombin. Despite prednisone and heparin treatment we did not find a complete correction of the LAC activity and the ACA (IgM type) still remained positive before the detection of a fetal death at 26 weeks. The placenta showed abundant infarcts and areas of ischaemic necrosis. We suggest that the defect in vascular PGI2 release could compromise fetal outcome.

Abortion, Habitual↗

Dysfunctional activated protein C (PC Cádiz) in a patient with thrombotic disease.

The partial characterization of a dysfunctional protein C (PC), provisionally named "PC Cádiz", in a 45-year-old male patient suffering from recurrent venous thrombosis is described. The only defect found in laboratory assays for haemostasis and hepatic function was a half normal level of both amidolytic and anticoagulant protein C activity, measured by different functional assays that use thrombin-thrombomodulin complex and a snake venom to activate protein C. Protein C antigen was always found to be within normal levels. Two young daughters of the propositus were found to have the same defect. Double-crossed immunoelectrophoresis, performed in the presence and absence of Ca2+ in the first dimension, showed no clear differences between patient and control PC. PC adsorption to barium salts was also found to be normal. Measurement of the PC activation peptide in the barium citrate eluates after PC activation showed no significant differences between patient and 10 normal controls, the concentration of this peptide being very similar to that of PC zymogen in the same eluates before PC activation. These results indicate that this abnormal PC is able to be normally activated by thrombin-thrombomodulin complex but does not exhibit serine protease activity, probably due to a defect in the PC molecule near the active site center.

Humans↗

Two cases of dysfibrinogenemia characterized by abnormal FPB release: fibrinogen Madrid I & II.

Congenital dysfibrinogenemia was found in two non related and asymptomatic families. Low levels of plasma fibrinogen were found using a chronometric assay but normal levels were found using both an immunologic method and a method to measure the fibrin formed after two hours incubation with thrombin. Kinetic analysis of fibrinopeptide release revealed a delay in the thrombin catalyzed release of fibrinopeptide B from both abnormal fibrinogens. Timed release of fibrinopeptide A was normal. Analysis of fibrinopeptides by high-performance liquid chromatography showed the same retention times in both normal and abnormal fibrinogens. Polymerisation of fibrin monomers and the sialic acid content per mol of fibrinogen were normal. Although these cases seem similar, until their structural defects are determined, it is proposed to provisionally designate them fibrinogens Madrid I & II.

Afibrinogenemia↗