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Biomedical subjects

M Solé

Publications and source records attributed to M Solé.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Androgen receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma and surrounding liver: relationship with tumor size and recurrence rate after surgical resection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the parameters associated with the presence of androgen receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma and surrounding non-tumoral liver. Furthermore, we have assessed whether androgen receptor positivity influences disease recurrence after surgical resection. METHODS: Androgen receptor concentration was calculated by receptor binding assay in tumoral and non-tumoral liver in 43 patients (40 of them with cirrhosis) with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent surgical resection. RESULTS: Androgen receptors were found in 28 of the tumoral and in 30 of the non-tumoral samples, at concentrations ranging between 5 and 211 fmol/mg protein. The presence of androgen receptors within the tumor was significantly related to a smaller tumor size. Thereby, 22 of the 29 nodules < or = 3 cm contained androgen receptors, while this occurred in only six of the 14 tumors larger than 3 cm (p < 0.05). In contrast, the only parameter associated with the presence of androgen receptors in the non-tumoral liver was a lower gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase concentration. Disease recurrence after surgical resection was not only related to some tumor characteristics (increased alfa-fetoprotein concentration, presence of satellites, differentiation degree), but also to the presence of androgen receptors in the surrounding liver. Thus, the probability of recurrence after 1- and 2-year follow up in patients with androgen-positive livers was 33% and 50%, respectively, while it was 0% and 20% in those with androgen-negative livers (p < 0.05). In contrast, the presence of androgen receptors within the tumor was not associated with a higher recurrence rate. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that only two thirds of hepatocellular carcinomas contained androgen receptors and that this feature was more frequent in small tumors. In addition, our data indicate that the presence of androgen receptors within the tumor does not imply a different outcome after surgical resection. In contrast, the presence of these receptors in the surrounding non-tumoral liver may be considered a risk factor for a higher incidence of disease recurrence.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

[Tracheobronchomegaly associated with light chain deposition disease].

Tracheobronchomegaly, also known as Mounier-Kühn's Syndrome, is characterized by market dilation of the trachea and main bronchi and has been reported in association with several conditions, particularly connective tissue disease. The pathogenesis and clinical signs of light chain deposition disease are similar to those of light chain amyloidosis, in which these chains are deposited as amorphous material lacking the tinctorial features of the amyloid. We present a case involving both entities, an association that has not been previously reported, and we review the main characteristics of both diseases.

Aged↗

The effect of pH on prodigiosin production by non-proliferating cells of Serratia marcescens.

The synthesis of prodigiosin by non-proliferating cells of Serratia marcescens was examined at various pH values between 5.5 and 9.5. During incubation in unbuffered medium, pH changed and prodigiosin production was similar regardless of the initial pH. Variations in pigment production were noted when buffers were employed in cultures of non-proliferating cells. The optimum pH for prodigiosin production was 8.0-8.5. Proline oxidase was also measured. The results suggest that the effect of pH may be related to the amount of proline which can be incorporated into prodigiosin.

Hydrogen-Ion Concentration↗

Buffering Capacity of Pigmented and Nonpigmented Strains of Serratia marcescens.

The pigmented strain Serratia marcescens ATCC 274 had a higher buffering capacity and a higher membrane H conductance than S. marcescens GP, a spontaneous nonpigmented mutant of ATCC 274. The data suggest that mutations which apparently affect only the synthesis of a secondary metabolite can modify buffering capacity and passive H conductance.

Journal Article↗

[Compression of the spinal cord by the amyloid tissue in the thoracic vertebral amyloidoma].

Solitary amyloidoma consists of amyloid tissue deposits in the absence of systemic amyloidosis or plasma cell dyscrasia. Single vertebral amyloidoma is an unusual cause of spinal cord compression. We present the case of a 72-year-old man with medullar compression by amyloidoma affecting the sixth dorsal vertebra and with nuclear magnetic resonance images that were indistinguishable from epidural metastasis. The patient improved notably after resection.

Aged↗

Composite, large spirochetes from microbial mats: spirochete structure review.

Phenomena previously unknown in free-living spirochetes are reported: large-sized cells with variable diameter (length to 100 microns, width between 0.4 and 3.0 microns), composite structure (smaller spirochetes inside larger ones), and positive phototropic behavior. These bacteria, Spirosymplokos, are compared with all other spirochete genera. The large spirochete, grown in mixed culture, was studied live and by transmission EM. The protoplasmic cylinder was replete with spherical granules 20-32 nm in diameter, and three to six periplasmic 26-nm flagella were inserted subterminally. Comparably granulated and flagellated small spirochetes were located inside the protoplasmic cylinder and in the periplasm of the large ones. When exposed to air, movement became erratic, protoplasmic cylinders retracted to lie folded inside the outer membrane, and refractile membranous structures formed. From one to four structures per still-moving spirochete were seen. Spirosymplokos was enriched from laboratory samples exposed to oxygen-rich and desiccating, but not dry, conditions for at least 4 mo after removal of microbial mat from the field.

Microscopy, Electron↗

Carboplatin, methotrexate, vinblastine and epirubicin (Carbo-MVE) for transitional cell bladder carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: MVAC is considered the most effective chemotherapy regimen for transitional cell bladder carcinoma. However, due to its significant toxic effects we substituted carboplatin for cisplatin and epirubicin for adriamycin in an attempt to produce the same response with less toxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with invasive transitional cell bladder carcinoma received Carbo-MVE: carboplatin (300 mgr/m2 d2), methotrexate (30 mgr/m2 d1, 15, 22), vinblastine (3 mgr/m2 d2, 15, 22) and epirubicin (30 mgr/m2 d2) every 4 weeks. RESULTS: There were 2 complete clinical responses (8.4%), 5 partial clinical responses (20.8%), 8 stabilizations (33.3%) and 9 progressions (37.5%). The overall clinical response rate was 29.2% (11%-47.4%, 95% CI), but 2 partial clinical remissions were not pathologically confirmed; were they to be considered as non-responses the response rate would fall even lower (20.8%). Toxicity was moderately severe, with 77.8% developing WHO grade III-IV granulocytopenia, 22.2% grade III-IV thrombocytopenia and 59.3% grade II-III vomiting. There were no toxic deaths nor any renal toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Carbo-MVE is less active and at least as hematotoxic as multiagent CDDP-based regimens.

Aged↗

[Prostatic adenocarcinoma presenting as retrovesical cystic formation. Report of a case].

Presentation of one case of prostate adenocarcinoma with a peculiar evolution towards a large cystic formation at the expense of the left prostate lobe, clinically revealed as a picture of poor performance status and impaired consciousness secondary to obstructive renal failure. The benign evolution of the case, even though the patient received no specific therapy, is emphasized.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Systemic chronic candidiasis following typhlitis caused by Candida albicans].

Typhlitis is an infrequent infectious complication which may appear during a period of intense granulocytopenia, generally in patients with acute leukemia. The most common causal germs are Gram negative bacilli although the importance of Candida sp. as an etiologic agent of this disease is ever more frequent. The case of a 14 years old patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who, after chemotherapy treatment, presented typhlitis by Candida albicans followed by chronic systemic candidiasis (CSC) is described. The role that Candida albicans may play in some cases of typhlitis is discussed as is the relation between the appearance of typhlitis and the posterior development of CSC.

Adolescent↗

Tumor size determines the efficacy of percutaneous ethanol injection for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma.

This study was aimed at defining the therapeutic value of percutaneous ethanol injection in patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma less than 4 cm. Ultrasound-guided ethanol injection was performed in 24 cirrhotic patients (9 Child A, 10 Child B and 5 Child C), with hepatocellular carcinoma not suitable for surgical treatment. Its efficacy was assessed by repeated ultrasound, computed tomography and tumor biopsy during a follow-up ranging between 4 and 41 mo. Ethanol injection did not achieve a complete tumor necrosis in five cases after a minimum of 12 injections. Seven of the remaining 19 cases, with initial success, have shown recurrence during follow-up, thus resulting in 50% success rate, which was significantly related to baseline tumor size. The six patients with nodules less than 2 cm achieved a complete response, whereas this was recorded in 2 of the 7 with tumor size between 2 and 3 cm, and in only 1 of the 11 cases between 3 and 4 cm. The 1- and 2-yr survival of Child's A and B patients was 87% and 70%, respectively. These results indicate that percutaneous ethanol injection is a useful treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in tumors less than 3 cm. The high survival rate among patients with nonadvanced liver disease suggests that this therapeutic approach can be considered an alternative approach to surgical resection for tumors smaller than 3 cm.

Aged↗

The carcinogenic effect of 2,2-dioxopropylnitrosamine on the renal pelvic epithelium of Sprague-Dawley rats, after chronic subcutaneous injections.

The carcinogenicity of 2,2-dioxopropylnitrosamine on the urinary tract was investigated in three experimental groups of Sprague-Dawley rats (15 males, 15 females/group) by weekly subcutaneous administration for the life of the carcinogen at dose levels 1/5, 1/10 and 1/20 of the LD50, and compared with that in a similar group of untreated controls. It resulted in the induction of urinary tract tumours in 42 out of 79 effective animals (53%). Of these animals, 38 developed tumours within the renal pelvis. In the high-dose group, females had a 100% incidence of renal pelvic tumours, and males 73%. In all experimental groups, renal pelvic tumours were more frequent than ureteral and vesical ones. Histologically, the tumours were transitional cell papillomas and carcinomas, except for one squamous carcinoma. Out of 66 tumours, 42 (64%) were low-grade. High-grade tumours arose mainly in the renal pelvis of animals belonging to the highest-dose group. This experiment offers a useful model for the study of mechanisms involved in renal pelvic carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Demonstration of plasma proteinase inhibitors in beta 2-microglobulin amyloid deposits.

beta 2-microglobulin-related amyloidosis (A beta 2M) represents a frequent complication in long-term dialysis patients. Although the pathogenetic mechanism has yet to be fully understood, it is known that amyloid fibrils usually consist of intact molecules of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m). Plasma proteinase inhibitors (PPI) are a broad family of glycoproteins with the function of eliminating unwanted proteolysis of serine proteases. Their role in amyloidogenesis has become a subject of intense discussion, especially since the recent identification of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin in the beta-protein amyloid deposits of Alzheimer's disease. We evaluated immunohistochemically and biochemically the presence and distribution of several PPIs (alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, antithrombin III, alpha 2-macroglobulin and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase) and amyloid P component in A beta 2M deposits in osteo-articular and visceral tissues from dialysis patients with amyloidosis, as well as two carpal tunnel synovia from non-dialysis patients and one Alzheimer's brain as controls. The immunohistochemical study demonstrated that all but one (anti-alpha 1-antichymotrypsin) of the PPI antibodies tested showed varying degrees of positive reaction against A beta 2M deposits. All the antibodies (including anti-alpha 1-antichymotrypsin) also reacted to some extent with other non-amyloid visceral and connective tissue elements diffusely and/or selectively. Among them, only the reaction of anti-amyloid P component had significantly distinctive localization to A beta 2M deposits, which were identified in adjacent serial sections by Congo red staining and immunohistochemical reaction against anti-beta 2m.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

In vitro spontaneous synthesis of beta 2-microglobulin amyloid fibrils in peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture.

beta 2-microglobulin-related amyloidosis (A beta 2M), in long-term dialysis patients, is a new and frequent complication for which the pathogenesis remains unknown. The authors documented, by light and high resolution electron microscopy, the spontaneous polymerization of beta 2-microglobulin to amyloid fibrils in mononuclear cell culture supernatants from dialysis patients. These data provide significant information about the pathogenesis of dialysis-amyloidosis, revealing an unusual and different fibrillogenic mechanism for beta 2-microglobulin and dialysis-amyloidosis than for other forms of amyloidosis. beta 2-microglobulin does not appear to require a proteolytic process before polymerization into amyloid fibrils and deposits. This study represents the first cell culture system in which beta 2-microglobulin amyloid fibrils have been spontaneously created.

Amyloid↗

[Aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of renal transplant rejection].

BACKGROUND: The use of fine needle aspiration for the diagnosis of renal transplant rejection is advantageous for its innocuousness, thereby making it an acceptable method for monitoring. However, the clinical use reported among several groups has been variable and indeed, the influence it may have on the results of the use of different lines of immunosuppressors is little known. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive renal transplanted patients were studied prospectively over the 2 months following the transplantation of the organ. The basal immunosuppressor treatment consisted in the administration of prednisone and antilymphocytic serum in patients presenting acute post-transplant tubular necrosis with the remaining patients receiving cyclosporin in monotherapy. One hundred seventy-three double punction were carried out. RESULTS: No complications were observed as a consequence of the punction. The material obtained was insufficient for evaluation on 18 occasions. The use of the method for diagnosis of rejection obtained a sensitivity and specificity of 73% and 81% respectively. Furthermore, in the group of patients with stable renal function, higher immunoactivation indexes were observed in those treated with cyclosporin in monotherapy (1.7 +/- 1.7) with respect to those who received triple treatment (0.5 +/- 0.4). CONCLUSIONS: The use of fine needle aspiration cytology is safe and clinically useful in the monitoring of the post renal transplantation period. The results should be interpreted in terms of different immunosuppressive lines.

Adolescent↗