PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M González

Publications and source records attributed to M González.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A high molecular weight proteoglycan is differentially expressed during development of the mollusc Concholepas concholepas (Mollusca; Gastropoda; Muricidae).

Incorporation of radioactive sulfate to hatched veliger larvae of the gastropod muricid Concholepas concholepas indicated that over 87% of the sulfated macromolecules were found in the detergent insoluble fraction, rich in extracellular matrix (ECM) components. The sulfated material was solubilized with guanidine salt followed by urea dialysis and fractionated by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. Three sulfated compounds eluting at 0.7, 1.1, and 3.0 M NaCl, called peaks I, II, and III, respectively, were obtained. The sulfated compound present in peak I was degraded by pronase or sodium alkaline treatment to a small sulfated resistant material, suggesting the presence of a proteoglycan (PG). Filtration analysis on Sephacryl S-500 and SDS-PAGE of the intact PG indicates that it has a high molecular weight (360,000 to over 1 x 10(6)). Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against this PG were produced. The specificity of one mAb, the 6H2, was demonstrated by size chromatography and ELISA analysis. The epitope recognized by this mAb seems to be present in the core protein of the PG. Both the extent of sulfation and the presence of different sulfated species of PGs were evaluated during the development of this mollusc. A twelvefold increase in the incorporation of sulfate to PGs per milligram of protein was found in veliger larvae compared to blastula-glastula stages. This change correlated well with the differential expression of the sulfated PG present in peak I. Biochemical and immunological analysis indicate that high levels of this PG are found in veliger and trocophore larvae in comparison with blastula-gastrula and early juveniles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Prognostic effect of beta 2-microglobulin in multiple myeloma].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the prognostic influence of beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) corrected according to renal function versus the uncorrected form and relate these values with other characteristics of the disease in a series of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: The serum levels of B2M were determined by the radioimmunoassay method (RIA) in 107 patients with newly diagnosed MM and the prognostic influence of B2M was statistically evaluated with univariant and multivariant analysis. RESULTS: The mean value of B2M obtained in patients with MM was 7.8 +/- 8.0 micrograms/ml, with a median of 5 micrograms/ml. Ninety percent of the patients studied presented serum values of B2M higher than the normal limit. The value of B2M corresponding to the median of the series (5 micrograms/ml) separated two groups of patients with different survival (48 vs 19 months) (p = 0.0001). Similarly, the most discriminative value of corrected B2M in agreement with creatinine (2.5 micrograms/ml) permitted the differentiation of two groups of patients although the differences in survival were less significant (36 vs 26 months, p = 0.03) demonstrating its lesser influence as a prognostic factor with respect to the uncorrected B2M. In contrast, a significant association was observed between high values of B2M and Bence Jones myeloma, clinical stage III, anemia, renal failure and intense involvement of the general state. Multivariant analysis demonstrated that B2M plays a greater prognostic role when used as a discrete rather than a continuous variable and that together with the degree of involvement of the general state, serum albumin and the proportion of plasma cells in the bone marrow, they make up the best set of variables for the prediction of prognosis in patients with MM. CONCLUSIONS: Beta 2-microglobulin is one of the most important independent prognostic factors in multiple myeloma with its prognostic value being greatest when used uncorrected according to the values of creatinine.

Bence Jones Protein↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus in chronic HBsAg carriers.

The presence of the anti-HCV antibody was investigated in sera from 102 chronic HBsAg carriers. The subjects varied as to the characteristics of the clinical states. It was found that HCV coinfection was more common in HBsAg positive intravenous drug addicts than in other parenteral risk groups. It also appears that HCV may be the causative agent of chronic liver disease in HBsAg carriers with undetectable HBV (and possibly HDV) replication.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of capsid protein VP1 of the viruses used for the production and challenge of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines in Spain.

A significant frequency of amino acid substitutions, that affect important antigenic sites on capsid protein VP1, has been found among viral preparations used for the production and for challenge, in protection assays, of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines. The amino acid substitutions present in one of the viruses studied abolished its reactivity with two neutralizing monoclonal antibodies that recognized different epitopes on VP1. Thus, the results obtained illustrate the high potential for antigenic variation introduced by the multiple cycles of growth usually undergone by the strains used for the production and challenge of FMD vaccines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Cholinergic blockade with scopolamine in adult cats. Effects on the behaviors evoked by apomorphine and amphetamine.

1. The aim of this work is to analyse the role that the cholinergic system could play in the production of the behaviors evoked by apomorphine and amphetamine in adult cats. These two drugs were injected s.c. in separate sessions, before and after a s.c. administration of scopolamine which blocked the muscarinic receptors. The pre and post-scopolamine results of the behaviors produced by the two catecholaminergic drugs were compared using the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank test. 2. In a previous step a dose-response study of the behavioral effects of scopolamine, in doses of 0.05, 0.1, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg was carried out in ten cats. The Kruskal-Wallis and the non-parametric multiple comparison tests were employed. A dose-dependent decrease in motility (locomotion) and a dose-dependent increase in inappetence and pupillary dilation were found. 3. In thirteen cats which were injected with 2 mg/kg of apomorphine and 2.5 mg/kg of amphetamine the findings were: 1--apomorphine after scopolamine produced a decrease in the hypermotility, compared with the results observed with the former drug previous to scopolamine; 2--with amphetamine an increase in immobility and a decrease in indifference were observed. 4. The authors conclude that the decrease in motility recorded with apomorphine and amphetamine after scopolamine, could be attributed to the proper effect of scopolamine. No explanation could be found for the decrease in indifference found by injecting amphetamine after scopolamine. 5. Considering the antagonistic effect between the dopaminergic and the cholinergic systems and that the latter one has an arousal effect, we postulate that the behavioral indifference produced by apomorphine and amphetamine could be the result of a kind of blockade of the cholinergic system when the catecholaminergic system is activated through the administration of the two cited drugs.

Amphetamine↗
PubMed1992

Measurement of general health status of non-oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a prevalent condition causing a high level of disability, and it is one of the leading causes of death. To assess the general health status of moderate to severe Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, we studied 76 male patients attending an outpatient hospital clinic who were not dependent on oxygen and who did not present bronchial obstruction reversibility. We assessed clinical status (dyspnea, six-minute walking distance) and functional respiratory impairment (spirometry, and blood gas analysis) of the patients and also asked them to respond to the Spanish version of the Nottingham Health Profile, a multi-dimensional generic health status measure. Patients scored especially higher than the general population (denoting more level of distress) in energy, physical mobility and sleep Nottingham Health Profile dimensions. The former two dimensions scores had a high correlation with dyspnea (respectively Spearman Rs = 0.60, and Rs = 0.64; P less than 0.01). High levels of sleep disturbances were found for patients reporting low or very low dyspnea level. Health status measurement (Nottingham Health Profile dimension scores) and functional respiratory impairment were not correlated. Results underscore the importance of measuring symptoms carefully when assessing these patients, whose health status is substantially affected by the Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They also suggest that it is relevant to assess sleep disturbances in these patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

Heterotypic lymphoproliferative response in pigs vaccinated with foot-and-mouth disease virus. Involvement of isolated capsid proteins.

The in vitro viral lymphoproliferative response of pigs vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) has been characterized. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from immunized animals up to 1 year post-immunization (p.i.) showed a time-dependent FMDV-specific response, as assayed by virus-specific cellular blastogenesis. The optimum viral concentration decreased with time (around 20 weeks p.i.), and the response was faster and weaker. Lymphoproliferation appeared to be mainly due to CD4+ T cells. The response was heterotypic, being induced by all FMDV serotypes tested (C, A and O) after only two vaccinations with FMDV of serotype C (C-S8). Each individual structural protein assessed (VP1, VP2 and VP3) induced proliferation, with VP3 and VP1 being more effective stimulators. In vitro serum neutralization activity and FMDV-specific IgG production were found to be active even at 1 year p.i.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Long-term treatment results for acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia patients: a multicentre study.

The prognosis and long-term results of a group of 57 acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia (M7-AML) patients was analysed from a multicentre perspective. Ages ranged from 4 to 83 years, median 49 years; 30 were males and 27 were females. The median follow-up time was 7 months, range 1-24 months. Early exits occurred in 12 cases, their median age being 71 years. Forty-five patients were treated with combined aggressive chemotherapy (CT) (n = 26) or low-dose cytarabine (LD-AraC) (n = 19). The following results were obtained with combined CT or AraC, respectively. Complete remission (CR) rates were 73% and 84%, 12-month survival (SV) were 37% and 26%, 24-month SV were 12% and 11%, median SV 10 and 4 months, and relapse rates (RR) were 68% and 94%. These differences were not statistically significant. Irrespective of the treatment modality, the results were better for children (n = 10) than for adults (n = 35): RR rates were 90% and 74%, median SV: 7 and 5 months, 12-month SV: 40% and 22%, 24-month SV; 30% and 9%, and RR: 78% and 81%, respectively; these differences also were not statistically significant. In addition, a literature review of 42 patients from 18 previous reports is presented, including seven cases treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The best results were obtained with BMT: 12 and 24 month SV was 86% and the RR was 0%. On the above-mentioned basis, we feel that children and young adults with M7-AML should be offered BMT. In patients over 60 years old or not eligible for aggressive chemotherapy or BMT, an interesting possibility would be the use of LD-AraC which allows a high CR rate, followed by a classical consolidation regimen in order to prevent early relapses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Lymphoid subsets and prognostic factors in multiple myeloma. Cooperative Group for the Study of Monoclonal Gammopathies.

In a uniform series of 170 untreated myeloma patients (MM) we investigated the distribution of T cell subsets in peripheral blood (PB) and their relationship with the most relevant disease characteristics, including survival. CD4 cells were significantly decreased both in percentage and absolute numbers (P less than 0.0001). On the other hand, the CD8 cells only showed a slight increase in relative numbers. Upon correlating the abnormalities in the distribution of T cells with other clinical and biological disease characteristics the most remarkable correlation was with survival. A low number of CD4 cells (less than 700 x 10(6)/l) was associated with both an advanced clinical stage and a shorter survival (20 v. 43 months, P = 0.01). Moreover, a significant correlation also exists between the decrease in CD4 cells and both high beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) levels and anaemia. On the other hand, no relationship was found with the type of M-component nor with the plasma cell phenotype. Finally multivariate analysis showed that the number of CD4 cells add independent prognostic information to other well-established tests for the assessment of disease outcome in patients with multiple myeloma.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Immunocytochemical study of the diffuse neuroendocrine system cells in equine lungs.

This study was undertaken to investigate the presence of neuroendocrine cells (N.E.C.) by immunocytochemical means in equine lungs during three distinct evolutionary periods: fetal, neonatal and adult. The authors identified bombesin, somatostatin and calcitonin secretory cells. In the fetal lungs the N.E.C. were located in the interstitial tissue and exhibited greater immunoreactivity to bombesin than to the other two neuropeptides studied. A large number of calcitonin-producing cells and a smaller number of bombesin-positive cells were seen in the bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium of newborn Equidae. In the adult equine lungs far fewer N.E.C. were observed than in the earlier stages. Somatostatin-producing cells were not seen in neonatal or adult lung tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Development of acute leukaemia after idiopathic myelofibrosis.

AIMS: To determine the characteristics of blastic transformation of idiopathic myelofibrosis. METHODS: The clinical and haematological features, as well as the morphological characteristics of blast cells, were analysed in nine adults with blast transformation. RESULTS: Most of the patients were male and had enlarged spleens and livers. Five of the patients had normal platelet counts, while all had pronounced anaemia and a moderate degree of leucocytosis. The duration of the acute phase was usually short: 16 (SD 8) weeks. Most myeloid cell lineages--granulocytic, monocytic, and megakaryocytic--were similarly distributed. One patient also had a hybrid (lymphoid-myeloid) phenotype. The morphological assessment of blast cells agreed with immunophenotyping in five out of the nine cases. The onset of the blastic phase was not related to previous treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A pluripotential stem cell with preferential myeloid commitment would be the target cell of blast transformation in idiopathic myelofibrosis. Our immunophenotypic data do not support the concept of a preferential association between megakaryocytic lineage and the acute transformation of idiopathic myelofibrosis. The absence of previous treatment in some cases suggests that this kind of evolution is part of the natural history of idiopathic myelofibrosis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy associated with osteonecrosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Osteonecrosis is related to the use of steroids in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); its association with the use of 'pulses' of methylprednisolone (PMP) is not clear at present. In a retrospective analysis of 190 patients with SLE we found that 19% of 36 patients treated with PMP had osteonecrosis compared with 6% of 154 patients without that treatment (P < 0.04). Risk factors associated with osteonecrosis were PMP treatment, cushingoid appearance, steroid doses > or = 40 mg/day during the first month of treatment, a ratio of steroid dose in grams/year > or = 12, hematuria and proteinuria. In a stepwise regression model, when cushingoid appearance was excluded, PMP became the only significant factor (P = 0.045). We conclude that osteonecrosis can be considered a long-term complication of PMP treatment in SLE patients.

Adolescent↗