Coexistence of pituitary adenocarcinoma and intraocular melanoma in a sheep.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Gómez.
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INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were: a) to evaluate the effectiveness of intraoperative intact parathyroid hormone (PTHi) determination as a marker of hyperparathyroidism resolution; b) to establish the minimum number of blood samples required; and c) to determine whether cervical manipulation increases baseline PTHi levels. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We performed a prospective study in 45 patients. Three intraoperative blood PTHi determinations were performed: at baseline and at 10 and 25 minutes after excising the lesion. To analyze the effects of cervical manipulation, in 19 patients, 2 further determinations were made after 2 minutes of massage on both sides of the neck. A decrease of > 50% in PTHi values between postexeresis samples and the baseline sample (gradient > 50%) was used as diagnostic and therapeutic criteria and normalization of calcemia was used as a criteria for complete resolution. RESULTS: Whenever the lesion causing hyperparathyroidism was extirpated, PTHi levels decreased at 10 and 25 minutes after exeresis. This decrease was predictive of complete resolution when the gradient was > 50. Cervical manipulation (massage) did not increase PTHi values. In patients with complete resolution, blood calcium levels also returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Intraoperative PTHi determination with a gradient > 50 is an excellent prognostic marker of resolution. 2. Only 2 PTHi samples are required: one at baseline and another at 10 minutes after exeresis. 3. Preoperative cervical manipulation does not increase PTHi values.
This paper describes the processes leading to uranium distribution in the groundwater of five boreholes near a restored uranium mine (dug in granite), and the environmental impact of restoration work in the discharge area. The groundwater uranium content varied from <1 microg/L in reduced water far from the area of influence of the uranium ore-containing dyke, to 104 microg/L in a borehole hydraulically connected to the mine. These values, however, fail to reflect a chemical equilibrium between the water and the pure mineral phases. A model for the mobilization of uranium in this groundwater is therefore proposed. This involves the percolation of oxidized waters through the fractured granite, leading to the oxidation of pyrite and arsenopyrite and the precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides. This in turn leads to the dissolution of the primary pitchblende and, subsequently, the release of U(VI) species to the groundwater. These U(VI) species are retained by iron hydroxides. Secondary uranium species are eventually formed as reducing conditions are re-established due to water-rock interactions.
The complete nucleotide sequence of isolates of Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV) has been determined. The viral genome comprises 9734 nucleotides, excluding a 3'-terminal poly(A) sequence. The genome of CVYV has a 5'-non coding and a 3' non coding region of respectively 67 and 240 nucleotides. The RNA of CVYV encodes a single polyprotein of 3148 amino acid residues and has a deduced genome organization and motifs typical for a member of the family Potyviridae. However, CVYV is atypical because it lacks a coding sequence region for the putative helper-component as well as conserved helper-component-proteinase motifs which may account for its vector relations. All the present coding regions were compared to those from several members of the Potyviridae family. CVYV is most closely related to Sweetpotato mild mottle virus confirming its assignation to the genus Ipomovirus, despite similarities with tritimoviruses.
INTRODUCTION: The procurement of organs was evaluated in an area of 1,450,000 inhabitants. This area provides two international programs and two training courses for transplant coordinators. One of them deals with the entire process of donation and transplantation, and the other is a monographic course about family consent and donation request. One transplantation coordinator manages the area. METHODS: The results of the last 6 years have been analyzed concerning the procurement of organ donors (related to brain death [BD] donors, exitus at the hospital, and the intensive care unit [ICU]); loss in the process, such as medically unsuitable; problem detection; and family refusals. RESULTS: During the past 6 years the donor potential increased from 1.67% to 4.06%. The BD by exitus in the ICU increased from 7% to 14.01% (the average in Spain 12.2%); the cases of BD in ICU beds increased from 0.5% to 1.31% (average in Spain 0.8%). The loss for medical exclusion criteria decreased from 27% to 20% and in family refusals from 19.7% to 13.6%. The efficiency of the process in percentage of actual donations by BD increased from 52.4% to 65.3% (average in Spain 49%). The actual donors per million population (PMP) increased from 37 PMP to 59 PMP. The average number of organs obtained from donors increased from 3.1 to 3.6, and the transplants increased from 2.7 to 3.04 per donor. The average waiting period for a renal transplant was reduced from 365 days to 199 days. CONCLUSION: The training of coordinators and the net system of regional coordinator, area coordinator, and hospital coordinator improved our donation rate.
The purpose of the present study was to compare neurotransmitter amino acid concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and CSF/plasma ratios in 21 patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and 26 matched controls. To this purpose, we used an ion-exchange chromatographic method. DLB patients exhibit higher CSF concentrations of asparagine (+25%) and glycine (+21%) compared to a control group, whereas no differences in CSF/plasma ratios were found between both groups. On the other hand, no alterations in concentrations of glutamate, aspartate and GABA were detected in CSF of patients compared to a control group. There was no correlation among amino acid levels and CSF/plasma ratios with age, age of onset, body mass index, duration of the disease or scores of the Mini Mental State Examination, UPDRS and Hoehn and Yahr stage. These results suggest a possible role of glycine and asparagine in the pathogenic mechanism of dementia with Lewy bodies.
Phytophthora citrophthora causes serious losses in Citrus fruits through brown rot lesion. The effect of infection with P. citrophthora on Citrus sinensis (cv. Valencia Late) fruits was studied, with particular reference to the levels of the flavanones hesperidin and isonaringin and the polymethoxyflavones sinensetin, nobiletin, tangeretin, and heptamethoxyflavone, because flavonoids are most probably involved as natural defense or resistance mechanisms in this genus. Changes in the levels of these flavonoids were detected after infection. The hesperidin and isonaringin contents fell by 13 and 67%, respectively, whereas the contents of their corresponding aglycons, hesperetin and naringenin, increased, suggesting the hydrolyzing effect of this fungus on the glycosylated flavanones. The heptamethoxyflavone, nobiletin, sinensetin, and tangeretin levels increased by 48, 28, 26, and 24%, respectively. The in vitro study revealed that these compounds acted as antifungal agents, the most active being the aglycons (naringenin and hesperetin), followed by the polymethoxyflavones and flavanone glycosides. The participation of these flavonoids in the defense mechanism of this Citrus species is discussed.
BACKGROUND: Mediterranean and high carbohydrate diets play a dominant role in the prevention of atherosclerosis as a result of their lipid lowering effect. However, diets can also have a protective effect in other ways, such as modulating tissue factor expression in circulating monocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-one subjects participated in this randomised crossover study consisting of three dietary periods: a saturated fat enriched diet (SFA), a low fat and high carbohydrate diet (CHO), and a Mediterranean diet. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) were determined at the end of each dietary period, as was the expression of tissue factor (TF) in circulating monocytes isolated from blood samples. Total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and TF expression were lower after the Mediterranean and high carbohydrate diets than after the SFA diet, and there was a positive correlation between LDL-C levels and monocyte TF expression. CONCLUSIONS: High carbohydrate and Mediterranean diets reduce the expression of TF in circulating monocytes.
The authors retrospectively analyzed the long-term outcome of 67 patients over 1 year of age at diagnosis with high-risk neuroblastoma (stage 4 or stage 3 with N-myc amplification) who were treated with megatherapy and stem cell rescue from 1984 to 1998. Median age at transplant was 4 years (range 1.6-15 years). The source of cells was peripheral stem cells in 29 and bone marrow in 38 patients. In 12 patients, an in vitro purging of bone marrow harvest was performed. Most patients were conditioned with melphalan, BCNU, and VM-26. After transplant 19 patients received complementary treatment with IL-2 (16) or 13-cis-retinoic acid (3). Six patients (8%) died from transplant-related toxicity and 39 from disease progression. Three patients were alive with active disease at the time of analysis. Nineteen patients are alive and disease-free at a median follow-up of 104 months. Five-year event-free survival is 0.30. Survival of patients who received a purged graft was not significantly better than the rest. Post-transplant complementary treatment significantly improved overall and event-free survival (p = .01 and p = .04, respectively).
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It has recently been reported that carriers of the less common allele at the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) exon 1 polymorphism are more susceptible to the presence of saturated fatty acid in the diet because of a greater increase in LDL cholesterol. Our aim was to determine if this polymorphism could also influence postprandial lipoprotein metabolism, because the SR-BI has been described as a possible mediator in the intestinal absorption of triacylglycerols. Forty-seven normolipidemic volunteers who were homozygous for the E3 allele at the APOE gene were selected [37 homozygous for the common genotype (1/1) at the SR-BI exon 1 polymorphism and 10 heterozygous (1/2)]. They were given a fat-rich meal containing 1 g fat and 7 mg cholesterol per kg body weight and vitamin A 60,000 IU/m2 body surface. Fat accounted for 60% of calories, and protein and carbohydrates accounted for 15% and 25% of energy respectively. Blood samples were taken at time 0, every 1 h until 6 h, and every 2.5 h until 11 h. Total cholesterol and triacylglycerols in plasma, and cholesterol, triacylglycerols and retinyl palmitate in triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (large and small triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins) were determined. Postprandial responses for triacylglycerols and retinyl palmitate in small triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins were higher in 1/1 individuals than in 1/2 individuals. No other significant differences were noted. Our data show that the presence of the genotype 1/2 is associated with a lower postprandial lipemic response.
Reconstruction of the burned breast poses several clinical challenges, since scarring can adversely affect the development, contour and positioning of the breast as well as the cosmetic appearance of the skin surface. Conventional management entails contracture release and thick split-thickness skin grafting. We investigated an alternative approach employing dermal regeneration template (Integra) for breast reconstruction in 12 consecutive patients who had suffered anterior chest wall burns in childhood. Integra is a bilayer material consisting of a collagen and chondroitin-6-sulfate dermal regeneration template and a temporary silicone epidermal layer. Portions of the scar contracture preventing the breast from assuming the desired shape and position were excised. Unmeshed Integra sheets were applied to the wound bed immediately following excision. Sufficient vascularization of the forming neodermis occurred within 28 days on average to enable removal of the silicone layer and placement of unmeshed 0.005in. epidermal autografts. Upon histological examination one month postoperatively, naturally-formed collagen fibres were observed in the dermal regeneration template. By one year, host collagen had typically completely replaced the Integra matrix, and elastic fibres were evident throughout the neodermis. Durable improvements in breast contour and shape were attained in all patients, and clinically-relevant recontracture of the graft site did not occur within the follow-up period. A statistically significant improvement of 6.0 (95% CI, 5.0-6.5) in Vancouver Scar Scale score was demonstrated at one year. A very high level of satisfaction in the outcome of reconstruction was expressed by 92% of the patients. Grafting with Integra provides an effective and well-tolerated alter-native to thick split-thickness grafting for breast reconstruction. Chief advantages are the availability of a biocompatible material in unlimited quantity that can be tailored to the particular wound site and the avoidance of a deep donor site wound with attendant potential for infection, scarring and permanent pigment changes.
Three available sources of information used in the surveillance of AIDS in Spanish prisons were used to carry out a capture-recapture study. Results showed the register of AIDS cases (RCS) considerably underestimates the incidence of this disease in prisons as it covers only 50% of cases. This study highlights the need to use additional sources to the RCS to evaluate the real incidence of AIDS in prisons in Spain.
SETTING: Microbiology laboratories constitute a special working environment that may pose a risk of infectious disease to persons in or near them. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether clinical mycobacteriology laboratories in Spanish hospitals comply with occupational health and safety guidelines, and if laboratory workers are protected against the risk of exposure to biological agents in the workplace. DESIGN: A transversal epidemiological study was carried out in 26 hospitals from October to December 2000 by means of a standardised survey questionnaire to evaluate the workers, workload, training and information and safety practices in mycobacteria laboratories. RESULTS: Less than half of employees receive periodic information on the health hazards involved in their work. More than a third of the workers in mycobacteriology laboratories stated that the laboratories lack effective air filtering systems and more than half stated that negative pressurisation was not maintained in the work area. Biosafety masks are used by little more than half of the workers. The most frequently used Biological Safety Cabinets are Class IIB. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that clinical microbiology laboratories in Spanish hospitals comply poorly with the prevention measures outlined in the applicable directives and regulations.
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Insulin resistance is considered to be a risk factor for diabetes and coronary heart disease and is determined by the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The SstI polymorphism in the apolipoprotein C-III gene has been related to the presence of different features of the insulin resistance syndrome. We investigate if this mutation influences the peripheral effect of insulin in healthy young subjects (30 men and 29 women) eating a westernised diet. METHODS: We investigated peripheral insulin sensitivity with the insulin suppression test after a 28-day westernised high-saturated fat diet (38% total fat and 18% saturated fat with 115 mg of cholesterol per 1000 Ju). RESULTS: Steady state plasma glucose values were lower in S1-S1 compared with S1-S2 men (p=0.018 by ANOVA), but not in women (p=0.723). CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: There was no difference between carriers and non-carriers of the S2 allele in relation to incidence and sensitivity; although on subgroup analysis there was an effect in men but not in women.
The exact mechanism of cell death in neurodegenerative diseases remains obscure, although there is evidence that their pathogenesis may involve the formation of free radicals originating from the oxidative metabolism of catecholamines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of neurodegenerative changes and behavioral impairments induced by unilateral injection into the rat substantia nigra of cyclized o-quinones, aminochrome and dopachrome, derived from oxidizing dopamine and L-DOPA, respectively, with Mn(3+)-pyrophosphate complex. The behavioral changes were compared with those induced after selective lesions of dopaminergic neurons with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Intranigral injection of aminochrome and dopachrome produced impairment in motor and cognitive behaviors. The behavioral impairment was also revealed by apomorphine-induced rotational asymmetry. Apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg sc) significantly increased rotational behavior in rats injected with aminochrome and dopachrome. These rats presented a clear motor bias showing a significant contralateral rotation activity, similar but less vigorous that in rats injected with 6-OHDA. The avoidance conditioning was seriously impaired in rats injected with aminochrome and dopachrome although only dopachrome-injected rats showed a similar hypomotility to 6-OHDA-injected rats. The behavioral effects were correlated to the extent of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive fiber loss. Rats receiving unilateral intranigral aminochrome and dopachrome injections exhibited a 47.9+/-5.1% and a 39.7+/-4.4% reduction in nigrostriatal TH-positive fiber density. In conclusion, this study provided evidence that oxidizing DA and L-DOPA to cytotoxic quinones, aminochrome and dopachrome appears to be an important mediator of oxidative damage in vivo.
OBJECTIVES: Some previous reports suggested a potential role of insulin in memory and in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We assessed the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of insulin in patients with AD and in age and sex-matched controls trying to elucidate whether this value could be related with the risk or severity of AD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We measured the CSF insulin levels in 27 patients with AD and 16 matched controls using a RadioImmunoanalysis method. RESULTS: CSF insulin levels did not differ significantly between AD-patient and control groups. These values were not correlated with age, age at onset, duration of the disease, and scores of the MiniMental State Examination in the AD group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CSF insulin concentrations are not related with the risk or severity of AD.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover study, 15 stable mild hyperglycemic patients without treatment and with features of metabolic syndrome were treated with cerivastatin (0.4 mg/day) or placebo for 3 months. The insulin sensitivity index during the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (EHC; 5.4 mmol/l; 80 mU x m(-2) x min(-1)) was increased by cerivastatin treatment (66.39 +/- 3.9 nmol x lean body mass [LBM](-1) x min(-1) x pmol(-1) x l(-1)) as compared with placebo (58.37 +/- 3.69 nmol x LBM(-1) x min(-1) x pmol(-1) x l(- 1); P < 0.01) by 13.7%. Glucose oxidation during EHC was significantly higher with statin treatment (16.1 +/- 1.37 micromol x LBM(-1) x min(-1)) as compared with placebo (14.58 +/- 1.48 micromol x LBM(-1) x min(-1); P < 0.05). During hyperinsulinemia (approximately 800 pmol/l) in EHC steady-state, lipid oxidation was significantly decreased and respiratory quotient was significantly increased with statin treatment (0.33 +/- 0.05 mg x LBM(-1) x min(- 1), 0.94 +/- 0.01) as compared with placebo (0.48 +/- 0.06 mg x LBM(-1) x min(-1), 0.91 +/- 0.01; P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). During statin treatment, the first-phase insulin response increased from 2.07 +/- 0.28 to 2.82 +/- 0.38 pmol x l(-1) x pmol(-1) (P < 0.05). The second phase of insulin responses examined by C-peptide and insulin levels averaged during the hyperglycemic clamp (20 mmol/l) was unchanged. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that 0.4 mg cerivastatin therapy improves first-phase insulin secretion and increases insulin-mediated glucose uptake and respiratory quotient in the early state of obese type 2 diabetes.