[Primary hemorrhage of medulla oblongata. Letter].
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Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
M Mata
Publications and source records attributed to M Mata.
[Importance of Chlamydia pneumoniae as a new respiratory pathogen].
The incidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae as a cause of respiratory tract infection was evaluated in a one-year prospective study in 142 patients with community-acquired pneumonia. An indirect immunofluorescence method which detects antibodies in acute and convalescent serum samples was used. Serological evidence of current infection was a four-fold rise in IgG antibody titer or a positive IgM fraction. C. pneumoniae was the causative pathogen in nine patients. This result is similar to those obtained in other studies and suggests that C. pneumoniae is a common etiological agent of community-acquired pneumonia in the studied area.
Adolescent↗
[Usefulness of an ELISA for the diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients with pneumonia].
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the etiologic role of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a series of patients with community-acquired pneumonia. METHODS: By an direct ELISA the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide antigen in serum and urine from 125 patients with community pneumonia was evaluated. Horseradish peroxidase-labeled polyvalent antiserum (Omniserum) was used. Working dilutions of reagents were determined by checkerboarding. Positive control antigen consisted of Pneumovax 23 and negative control consisted of serum and urine samples from healthy subjects. RESULTS: Antigen detection was positive in 8 of 124 (6.45%; CI 95%: 2.80-12.30%) serum samples and in 15 of 115 (13.04%; CI 95%; 7.51-20.68%) urine samples concentrated 25-fold. Pneumococcal pneumonia was diagnosed by ELISA in 17 cases (13.60%; CI 95%: 8.15-20.95%), of which one had positive blood culture. The sensitivity of the ELISA in 24 patients with definite pneumococcal pneumonia diagnosed in this series was 70.83%. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the ELISA is a useful method in rapid diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients with pneumonia.
Adolescent↗
Na,K-ATPase beta subunit isoform expression in the peripheral nervous system of the rat.
Using the RNase protection assay (RPA) to study the distribution of isoforms of the non-catalytic (beta) subunit of Na,K-ATPase in the peripheral nervous system, we found both beta 1 and beta 2 isoform mRNAs in dorsal root ganglion (DRG), but only beta 2 mRNA in sciatic nerve. Using Western blot to measure accumulation of the polypeptides at a ligature on the nerve we found that beta 1 but not beta 2 polypeptide is carried by rapid axonal transport in the sciatic nerve. These results imply that beta 1 is the prominent isoform of Na,K-ATPase in neurons and beta 2 the prominent isoform in Schwann cells.
Animals↗
Isoform specific reductions in Na+,K(+)-ATPase catalytic (alpha) subunits in the nerve of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in nerve is reduced in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes; three different isoforms of the alpha (catalytic) subunit of the enzyme are present in nerve. Using western blot to determine subunit isoform polypeptide levels in sciatic nerve, we found a substantial reduction in alpha 1-isoform polypeptide (88% at 3 weeks, 94% at 8 weeks) after induction of diabetes by streptozotocin. Reductions in alpha 2 and alpha 3 polypeptide were smaller and not statistically significant. The reduction in amount of all three isoform polypeptides in the nerve of 3-week diabetic animals was corrected by administration of insulin. Accumulation of alpha 1 polypeptide at a nerve ligature indicated that rapid transport of that polypeptide in nerve occurs with normal kinetics. The results implicate a specific marked deficit in alpha 1, much more than alpha 2 or alpha 3, catalytic subunit isoform of Na+,K(+)-ATPase in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy.
Animals↗
Rapid construction of deleted DNA fragments for use as internal standards in competitive PCR.
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Animals↗
[The recommendable frequency for performing electrocardiograms in the hypertension patient].
OBJECTIVE: To obtain information on how often electrocardiograms (ECG) should be carried out during hypertense patients' follow-up. DESIGN: A retrospective, descriptive study. SETTING: La Mina Primary Care Centre. PATIENTS: Out of 1780 hypertense patients over 14 years old monitored at our Health Centre, 352 were selected by random sampling. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Their first ECG after the AHT diagnosis was analysed. Those patients with a normal initial ECG, a minimum of one year's monitoring, and absence of a chronic limitation of air flow, diabetes mellitus or cardiopathy were included in the study. The ECGs following the first ECG were analysed sequentially until an anomalous ECG was detected. Final sample: 98 patients (average age 53, SD 12.8; 33 men and 65 women). 89 (91.8%) had light-to-moderate AHT. The average interval between the initial normal ECG and the first pathological ECG was 36 months (SD 16.9). The most common electrocardiographic irregularities were the T minor wave (34.5%), the greater unevenness of the ST (17.2%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (13.8%). A total of 29 patients presented a pathological ECG during an average monitoring period of 61 months (C.I. 95%; 50-72). These were only significantly different from the remaining 69 as regards age. Those patients over 54 (n = 51) had significantly more irregularities (21) than those under 55 (n = 47) (8 irregularities) (p = 0.006), the main increase being between the ages of 55 and 60. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendation to carry out an ECG every 2 or 3 years when monitoring a hypertense patient with a normal initial ECG and without additional pathologies, could be extrapolated from our study. The time interval could be shortened for older patients.
Adult↗
Differential axonal transport of individual Na,K-ATPase catalytic (alpha) subunit isoforms in rat sciatic nerve.
Three isoforms of the Na,K-ATPase catalytic (alpha) subunit are present in neurons, demonstrated by in situ hybridization of neurons and Western blot of nerve. We used Western blot with antibodies specific for alpha 1, alpha 2 and alpha 3 peptides to measure the accumulation of individual peptides at a ligature on the sciatic nerve. alpha 1 peptide accumulated with kinetics suggesting rapid axonal transport of that isoform within nerve. alpha 2 and alpha 3 peptides did not accumulate at the ligature. These studies provide insight into the dynamics of axonal Na,K-ATPase isoforms.
Animals↗
Axotomy increases CNTF receptor mRNA in rat spinal cord.
In order to study the role of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and its receptor (CNTF-R) in the response of spinal cord neurons to axotomy, we measured the levels of CNTF mRNA in nerve and CNTF-R mRNA in spinal cord following transection of sciatic nerve, using reverse transcriptase PCR. We found CNTF mRNA levels in the nerve fell and that CNTF-R mRNA levels in spinal cord increased at both 1 and 7 days following transection.
Animals↗
[Major and minor changes in the electrocardiogram of the hypertensive patient].
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of electrocardiograph deviation in such hypertensive patients. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study of a representative sample of patients with high blood pressure. SITE. Primary attention centre. PATIENTS: The sample consists of 352 patients, systematically random selected from a pool of 1780 patients suffering from hypertension, aged over 14 years, attending the centre (119 males (34%) and 233 females (66%). Average age 59.4 +/- 13.5 years). MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The first ECG reading after diagnosis of hypertension was analysed and codified according to the pooling project criteria. 38.9% present electrocardiograph deviations, the most frequent being minor wave 1 (12%), significant breaking up of the ST (9%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (5.1%), the latter more frequent in women (p = 0.03). Age, systolic arterial blood pressure and the time the condition had been in existence, certain associated chronic diseases, and use of pharmaceutical drugs acting cardiovascularly, are positively related to the deviation in ECG (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The value of ECG in the treatment of high blood pressure sufferers is indicated.
Age Factors↗
New tools for the physical and genetic mapping of Lactococcus strains.
Tools for the genetic and physical analysis of the Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis genome were developed. Plasmid pRC1 does not replicate in Gram+ bacteria; it contains unique ApaI, NotI and SmaI restriction sites and an erythromycin-resistance (ErR) encoding gene, ermAM, functional in L. lactis subsp. lactis. When a chromosomal L. lactis subsp. lactis DNA fragment was cloned into this vector, the resulting plasmid became integrated, after transformation, into the bacterial chromosome by homologous recombination in a Campbell-like manner. The integration lead to the generation of new rare restriction sites near to the host fragment. This procedure allows precise mapping of cloned genes onto the chromosomal restriction map. The mapping of the his operon of L. lactis subsp. lactis provides an illustration. The cloning into pRC1 of an IS element able to transpose into the chromosome of the target cell, gave rise to an integration plasmid able to insert randomly rare restriction sites onto the bacterial chromosome. The L. lactis IS element, ISS1RS, was cloned into pRC1, yielding pRL1. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of ErR clones obtained after transformation with pRL1, showed that this plasmid was stably integrated at a number of different sites in the L. lactis subsp. lactis chromosome, via transposition. Plasmids pRC1 and pRL1 can greatly facilitate the construction of the physical and genetic map of the chromosome of lactococcal strains.
Cloning, Molecular↗
Phosphorylation-dependent neurofilament epitopes are reduced at the node of Ranvier.
Neurofilaments in axons are highly phosphorylated at multiple sites on the 200 kDa neurofilament (neurofilament-H) and 160 kDa (neurofilament-M) subunit peptides. We used a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against distinct neurofilament epitopes to study the distribution of these epitopes along the axons of large myelinated fibres in rat sciatic nerve using quantitative electron microscopic immunocytochemistry with colloidal gold. Antibodies specific for phosphorylated epitopes on neurofilament-H showed a 60% reduction in density of immunoreactivity at the node of Ranvier, compared to the internodal axon. Antibodies directed against neurofilament-M, which recognized phosphorylated epitopes preferentially, showed a 40% reduction in density of immunoreactivity at the node. Following dephosphorylation of the neurofilaments in tissue sections by alkaline phosphatase treatment, antibodies which recognized dephosphorylated forms of neurofilament-H showed no reduction in density of immunoreactivity at the node. Similarly, an antibody directed against the 70 kDa subunit (neurofilament-L), showed no reduction in density of immunoreactivity at the node. An antibody against tubulin also showed no decrease in the density of immunoreactivity at the node of Ranvier. Tubulin immunoreactivity was similar in myelinated and unmyelinated fibres. In contrast to phosphorylated neurofilament epitopes, immunoreactivity was much greater in myelinated than unmyelinated fibres. These results suggest that the degree of phosphorylation of neurofilament-H and neurofilament-M subunits is reduced at the node of Ranvier, in comparison to internodal neurofilaments, and imply that a post-translational modification of neurofilaments must occur along the length of the axon at the node.
Alkaline Phosphatase↗
In vivo expression of beta-galactosidase in hippocampal neurons by HSV-mediated gene transfer.
Stereotactic inoculation of a herpes simplex virus (HSV) gene transfer vector into the hippocampus and caudate of rat brain resulted in limited and transient viral replication and the establishment of latency. Virus attenuation was achieved by insertional inactivation of a viral gene, Us3. Insertion of a lacZ reporter gene, under the control of the HSV glycoprotein C (gC) late gene promoter, allowed viral replication to be monitored in vivo. Unlike unattenuated virus, the Us3::pgC-lacZ recombinant caused little apparent damage to normal hippocampal morphology. Transient lacZ expression was detected in a considerable population of neurons of the dentate gyrus following hippocampal injection, whereas few positively staining neurons were present within the caudate after injection at that site. Latency-associated transcripts, the hallmark of latent infection, were detected in the brain 10 months after injection. This recombinant virus may be useful as a gene transfer vector for long-term expression of foreign genes in the central nervous system.
Animals↗
Activity-dependent regulation of Na+, K(+)-ATPase alpha isoform mRNA expression in vivo.
To investigate the functional role of the different Na+, K(+)-ATPase alpha (catalytic) subunit isoforms in neuronal cells, we used quantitative in situ hybridization with riboprobes specific for alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3 isoforms to measure the level of alpha isoform-specific expression in the neuroendocrine cells of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of rat hypothalamus. A prolonged increase in electrical activity of these cells, achieved by 5 days of salt treatment, increased the amount of alpha 1 isoform mRNA in the SON and PVN by 50%. Levels of alpha 1 mRNA in other brain regions and levels of alpha 2 and alpha 3 mRNAs were not affected by salt treatment. We conclude that the alpha 1 isoform Na+, K(+)-ATPase may be specifically adapted to pump out Na+, which enters the cells through voltage-gated channels during neuronal depolarization.
Animals↗
Characterization of Lactococcus lactis phage antigens.
Phage phi 197 is representative of a widespread lactococcal phage group characterized by a particular morphology (prolate head with a noncontractile tail). In order to develop an immunoenzymatic phage detection test, fusion proteins containing beta-galactosidase fused to epitopes of phage phi 197 structural proteins were constructed by cloning random DNA fragments from the phage genome upstream of a lacZ gene on a plasmid vector. Recombinant plasmids containing certain fragments encoded the synthesis of fusion proteins which react with polyclonal antibodies against the phage and confer a Lac+ phenotype on Escherichia coli. Three different epitopes were represented; phage-specific DNA fragments encoding these epitopes were mapped at three locations on the phage genome, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Two fused phage antigens were conformational epitopes, whereas the phage epitope of protein encoded by the recombinant plasmid designated pOA17 was a denaturation-resistant epitope. This epitope was very immunogenic. Protein encoded by plasmid pOA17 was synthesized in large amounts from a strong promoter. Antibodies raised against this hybrid protein were used to identify the 46-kDa minor phage protein which provides the epitope. Antibody cross-reactivity of phages related to phi 197 showed that this epitope is well conserved in this genetic group.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Physical and genetic map of the chromosome of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis IL1403.
A combined physical and genetic map of the chromosome of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis IL1403 was determined. We constructed a restriction map for the NotI, ApaI, and SmaI enzymes. The order of the restriction fragments was determined by using the randomly integrative plasmid pRL1 and by performing indirect end-labeling experiments. The strain IL1403 chromosome was found to be circular and 2,420 kb in size. A total of 24 chromosomal markers were mapped on the chromosome by performing hybridization experiments with gene probes for L. lactis and various other bacteria. Integration of pRC1-derived plasmids via homologous recombination allowed more precise location of some lactococcal genes and allowed us to determine the orientation of these genes on the chromosome. Recurrent sequences, such as insertion elements and rRNA gene (rrn) clusters, were also mapped. At least seven copies of IS1076 were present and were located on 50% of the chromosome. In contrast, no copy of ISS1RS was detected. Six ribosomal operons were found on the strain IL1403 chromosome; five were located on 16% of the chromosome and were transcribed in the same direction. A comparison of the physical maps of L. lactis subsp. lactis IL1403 and DL11 showed that these two strains are closely related and that the variable regions are located mainly near the rrn gene clusters. In contrast, despite major restriction pattern dissimilarities between L. lactis IL1403 and MG1363, the overall genetic organization of the genome seems to be conserved between these two strains.
Chromosomes, Bacterial↗
[Electrocardiogram in the hypertensive patient].
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Electrocardiography↗
Calpain II in rat peripheral nerve.
We used a polyclonal antiserum directed against calpain II to study the distribution of that enzyme in rat sciatic nerve. Western blot of nerve homogenate showed that the antibody reacted with a single protein band of 80 kDa, corresponding to the catalytic subunit of calpain II. By light microscopy, immunoreactivity appeared predominantly in Schwann cell cytoplasm. By electron microscopy, calpain II was especially dense along the plasmalemma of Schwann cells, and was also seen in axoplasm.
Animals↗