PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Ruiz

Publications and source records attributed to T Ruiz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

In vitro effects of magnesium sulfate in isolated intrapulmonary and mesenteric arteries of piglets.

Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has been proposed to be an efficient treatment in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. We compared the ability of MgSO4 to inhibit the responses to several vasoconstrictors in isolated intrapulmonary and mesenteric arteries from 10-17-d-old piglets. MgSO4 (3-100 mM) produced a slight vasodilator effect in pulmonary arteries precontracted with the thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619 (10(-6) M), noradrenaline (10(-5) M), and KCl (80 mM) (15.1 +/- 3.7%; 20 +/- 3.33%; 10.4 +/- 0.9% at 100 mM MgSO4 respectively). In contrast, in mesenteric arteries MgSO4, produced a marked vasodilation (80.4 +/- 4.0%, 93.1 +/- 3.46%, and 87.5 +/- 1.93% at 100 mM MgSO4, respectively, p < 0.01 versus pulmonary arteries). The vasodilator effect of MgSO4 was endothelium-independent and reversed by increasing the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. After incubation for 1 h of pulmonary arteries with three different MgSO4 concentrations (0, 1.2, and 4.8 mM) there were no differences in the contractile responses to U46619 nor in the vasodilator effects of acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside. Rapid removal of Mg2+ from bath medium produced a transient vasodilation which was more marked in pulmonary than in mesenteric arteries and was greatly reduced by the removal of endothelium or by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (10(-4) M). We conclude that MgSO4 is a poor vasodilator of pulmonary arteries in vitro and at physiologic concentrations appears to inhibit nitric oxide release from the pulmonary endothelium. Thus, the possible beneficial clinical effects of MgSO4 in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn do not seem to be related to a direct effect on pulmonary vascular smooth muscle.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of the invertase from Pichia anomala.

Synthesis of invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) in Pichia anomala is controlled by the carbon source in the culture medium. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity from P. anomala cells fully derepressed for invertase synthesis and shown to be a multimeric glycoprotein composed of identical subunits with an apparent molecular mass of 86.5 kDa. The carbohydrate moiety accounts for approx. 30% of the total mass of the molecule and consists of manno-oligosaccharides N-linked to the polypeptide. Most of the characteristics of the enzyme analysed in this study were similar to those previously reported for other yeast invertases, with the remarkable exception of its thermal sensitivity which appears after 15 min incubation at temperatures above 32 degrees C.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed1995

[Approach to beliefs about health in 2 main health districts].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether doctors know users' beliefs about health and to investigate some of these beliefs. DESIGN: A crossover study. SETTING: The Cartuja and Almanjayar Health Centres in Granada. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: These were 204 users of the two centres, chosen at random and who attended for on-demand attention for whatever reason. Eleven patients refused the questionnaire. INTERVENTIONS: A 23-question questionnaire was administered during november and december 1993. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 64% were women and 36% men. Distribution by age and gender in both centres was similar. Coincidence (defined as 50% of replies totally in agreement and/or in agreement with the item in the questionnaire) between users' beliefs and doctors' opinions of those beliefs was slight (30%). Doctors' opinions concerning their patients' beliefs coincided with the beliefs shown by people with a lower educational level (F = 11.21, p < 0.00001) and over 45 years old (Sp = 0.25, p < 0.001). 70% thought that "illnesses are seen better on the screen"; and 57% that "if analysis and x-rays are not done, they don't feel satisfied". CONCLUSIONS: Doctors do not know their patients' health beliefs, attributing to the whole population the health beliefs of those who most consult the doctor. Users place great hopes in technology, with no relation to age, gender or educational level.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Group B Streptococcus and E. coli LPS-induced NO-dependent hyporesponsiveness to noradrenaline in isolated intrapulmonary arteries of neonatal piglets.

1. The effects of endotoxin (E. coli lipopolysaccharide, LPS) and heat inactivated group B Streptococcus (GBS) were studied on the contractile responses to noradrenaline (NA) in isolated pulmonary arteries and on the activity of the constitutive and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in lung fragments of neonatal piglets. 2. Short-term (< or = 5 h) incubation with LPS (1 micrograms ml-1) or GBS (3 x 10(7) colonies forming units ml-1) did not modify the vascular responsiveness to NA (10(-8) M-10(-4) M) in isolated intrapulmonary arteries. However, long-term incubation (20 h) with LPS or GBS produced a significant reduction in the maximal contractile responses and shifted the concentration-response curve for NA downwards. 3. Endothelium removal or the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor meclofenamate (10(-5) M) did not affect the GBS- and LPS-induced hyporesponsiveness to NA. 4. The presence of the nitric oxide (NO) precursor, L-arginine (10(-5) M), 30 min prior to the contractility challenge increased the LPS- and GBS-induced pulmonary vascular hyporesponsiveness to NA. In contrast, the addition, prior to the challenge with NA, of the NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10(-4) M) or coincubation with dexamethasone (3 x 10(-6) M), a potent inhibitor of the induction of NOS, or with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (10(-5) M) completely restored the reactivity to NA in LPS- and GBS-treated pulmonary arteries. 5. The incubation for 20 h of lung fragments with LPS and GBS produced a significant increase in the Ca2+-independent (inducible) NOS activity determined by the conversion of radiolabelled L-arginine to citrulline, but did not modify the constitutive NOS activity. This NOS induction was abolished by coincubation with dexamethasone (3 X 10-6 M).6. These results demonstrated that prolonged incubation with GBS and LPS causes an induction of NOS activity which results in a reduced vascular responsiveness to NA in pulmonary arteries of neonatal piglets. Thus, induction of NOS seems to be responsible for the delayed pulmonary vascular hyporesponsiveness induced by GBS (a Gram-positive) and E. coli (a Gram-negative), the most common causal agents of neonatal sepsis.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1994

Electron diffraction of helical particles.

The development of low-dose electron cryo-microscopy has provided the means to see structural details to better than 10 A resolution in helical structures. The application of techniques of image analysis to micrographs can yield accurate phases, but not amplitudes with which to generate three-dimensional maps of the structure. Electron diffraction can provide reliable amplitudes, which can be combined with the phases from the images. In order to collect amplitude data, two problems have to be overcome: the pattern should be obtained from a large well ordered sample of particles, and the inelastic background should be properly subtracted. In this paper, we present three simple methods to produce rafts of helical particles. Using these methods we have obtained electron diffraction patterns from TMV (with data out to 0.28 nm), TMV protein stacked disks (with data out to 0.3 nm) and bacterial flagellar filaments (with data out to 0.5 nm). In addition, we describe the algorithms used to extract the amplitudes from the diffraction patterns.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1994

Electron cryo-microscopy of vitrified biological specimens: towards high spatial and temporal resolution.

A decade after the development of electron cryo-microscopy for vitrified specimens, its advantages and limitations are analysed. Indeed, recent work carried out by different laboratories strengthens the idea that electron cryo-microscopy might soon be an alternative method to X-ray crystallography and NMR techniques for determining the structure of biological assemblies with both high spatial and temporal resolutions. High pressure freezing allows vitrification of larger volumes of biological suspensions. Thick vitrified objects can be cryosectioned. Electron cryo-microscopy of the sections gives images having a resolution better than 2 nm. Although the high resolution imaging mode under low dose conditions is not yet fully understood, microscopes are being developed to provide better and better images. Image averaging is being facilitated by the development of both crystallization and computer methods. Thus, we can expect that electron microscopy will soon become a potential technique for structural determination at atomic resolution. Finally, much effort is being devoted to improving the temporal resolution of electron cryo-microscopy. Soon, we may be able to observe molecules during their biological activity.

Biopolymers↗
PubMed1993

Size of the export channel in the flagellar filament of Salmonella typhimurium.

The size of the putative export channel in the bacterial flagellar filament appears small (25 A) in studies done by electron microscopy but large (60 A) in studies done by X-ray diffraction. We have undertaken additional studies by electron microscopy to examine some of the possible causes of the difference. A comparison of three-dimensional image reconstructions of native and reconstituted filaments rules out the presence or absence of flagellin monomers in the export channel as the source of the variation in apparent channel size. The channel seen in reconstructions from both kinds of filaments is 25 A in diameter. The difference in the previous studies is more probably a result of artifacts introduced in either the X-ray or the electron microscopical methodology. Comparisons of three-dimensional reconstructions from images of filaments embedded in various stains (anionic, cationic and neutral) and in ice, taken at a range of defocuses, rule out the two most likely sources of artifact in electron microscopy (i.e., staining artifacts and defocus phase contrast). Based on these studies we suggest that the channel seen in the image reconstructions is free of exported flagellin monomers, that its true diameter is about 25 A, and, therefore, that the flagellin monomer must be unfolded to pass along it.

Flagella↗
PubMed1993

Reabsorption of lung liquid produced by 2,4-dinitrophenol in in vitro lungs from fetal guinea pigs.

Lungs from near-term fetal guinea pigs (62 +/- 2 days of gestation) were supported in vitro for 3 h, and lung liquid production was measured by a dye dilution technique. Twelve untreated preparations produced fluid at 1.54 +/- 0.29 mL.kg-1 body weight.h-1 during the 1st h, with no significant changes in later hours. Twelve preparations treated with 2 x 10(-4) M 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) showed strong reabsorptions (significant, ANOVA and regression analysis); total loss of lactate from the preparations doubled (significant, same tests). In 12 additional preparations, increasing DNP fivefold did not abolish reabsorption; results resembled those at the lower concentration. Amiloride at 10(-6) M abolished reabsorptions after 2 x 10(-4) M DNP, although fluid production still halted (n = 6; reductions significant, same tests). Amiloride alone had no effect (n = 6); untreated controls showed no change (n = 6). Similarly, 10(-4) M sodium iodoacetate virtually abolished reabsorptions after 2 x 10(-4) M DNP, although fluid production still stopped (n = 6; reductions significant, same tests). Iodoacetate alone only reduced fluid production (n = 6; significant, same tests); untreated controls showed no change (n = 6). The results suggest that reabsorptions seen after inhibition of oxidative processes depend on amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels and glycolytic metabolism.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗
PubMed1993

[The clinical spectrum of patients with anticentromere antibodies].

In order to define the clinical associations and diagnostic meaning of anticentromere antibodies in a random population of patients, clinical and serological findings were studied with the evolution of 16 patients selected only because of their positiveness to anticentromere antibodies, detected by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells and confirmed in chromosome spreads of HMcB cells. The most frequent diagnosis was systemic sclerosis in 9 patients (56%) especially in its variety Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis/CREST (7 patients). The rest of the cases (44%) showed different diseases (3 isolated Raynaud's phenomena, 1 Sjögren's syndrome, 1 seronegative polyarthritis, 1 undifferentiated connective tissue disease and a probable sarcoidosis). Therefore, even tough the more frequent clinical entity associated to anticentromere antibodies was systemic sclerosis and especially its variety Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis/CREST its diagnostic specificity is relatively low. The most frequent clinical association in our group of patients with positive anticentromere antibodies has been Raynaud's phenomena, alone or associated to other processes, being found in all but one of the studied patients (94%).

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1992

Changes in somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in lungs from perinatal guinea pigs and the effects of somatostatin-14 on lung liquid production.

Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was measured by radioimmunoassay with a monoclonal antibody in lungs from perinatal guinea pigs (62 +/- 2 days of gestation). Fetuses delivered by Caesarean section and dissected before breathing showed 4748 +/- 758 pg/lung (n = 25). Fetuses allowed to breathe (neonates) showed marked increases in activity: 7629 +/- 1355 pg/lung (n = 12) after breathing 30 seconds, and 10729 +/- 1064 pg/lung (n = 6) after breathing 3 minutes (2.3-fold increase, P < 0.005). Values then declined (5203 +/- 1050 pg/lung (n = 9) at 30 minutes; 1458 +/- 105 pg/lung (n = 4) at 60 minutes). Changes were similar in pg/g wet tissue. HPLC characterized the immunoreactive peptides as somatostatin-14 (SS-14) and somatostatin-28 (SS-28) in both fetuses and neonates (n = 11). SS-28 made up only 13.7 +/- 1.7% of the activity; this percentage did not change with breathing. The effects of synthetic SS-14 on lung liquid production were investigated in in vitro lungs from 42 fetal guinea pigs. All 21 preparations immersed in 10(-5)-10(-7) M SS-14 during the middle hour of 3 h incubations reduced production, often approaching zero after treatment (rates, ml/kg body weight per h, succeeding hours: 10(-5) M (n = 9), 3.09 +/- 0.68, 0.93 +/- 0.39, -0.05 +/- 0.60 (fall significant during and after treatment, P < 0.025-0.005); 10(-6) M (n = 6), 3.06 +/- 0.68, 1.29 +/- 0.58, 0.36 +/- 0.38 (P < 0.05-0.005); 10(-7) M (n = 6), 1.96 +/- 0.66, 1.11 +/- 0.34, 0.64 +/- 0.28 (P < 0.05-0.025).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Lung liquid production by in vitro lungs from fetal guinea pigs: studies with metabolic inhibitors.

Lungs from fetal guinea pigs (62 +/- 2 days of gestation) were supported in vitro for 3 h, and lung liquid production was measured by dye dilution. Eighteen untreated preparations produced fluid at 1.76 +/- 0.30 mL.kg-1 body weight.h-1 during the first hour, with no significant changes in later hours. When inhibitors of respiratory processes were placed in the outer saline during the middle hour, production changed significantly, as follows: (a) sodium iodoacetate at 10(-3) M stopped production (87.2 +/- 10.3 and 100% reductions, successive hours; n = 6), at 10(-4) M it reduced production (60.0 +/- 10.3 and 63.4 +/- 9.3% reduction, successive hours; n = 12); (b) sodium fluoride, 10(-3) M, almost stopped production (93.2 +/- 12.1 and 89.5 +/- 9.3% reductions, successive hours; n = 6); (c) sodium cyanide at high concentration (10(-3) M) reduced production slowly (35.5 +/- 12.3 and 73.1 +/- 22.4%; successive hours; n = 6); (d) sodium azide, 10(-3) M, also reduced production (67.6 +/- 14.2 and 59.7 +/- 14.0%, successive hours; n = 6); total lactate lost rose 1.8 +/- 0.5 fold; (e) dinitrophenol produced strong reabsorptions; at 10(-3) M, production fell 115.4 +/- 15.9 and 113.1 +/- 47.3%, successive hours (n = 4), and at 2 x 10(-4) M it fell 143.8 +/- 33.8 and 153.4 +/- 26.7%, successive hours (n = 6); total lactate lost rose 2- to 3-fold. Control preparations showed no significant changes. The results suggest that lung liquid production requires glycolysis and aerobic metabolism. However, reabsorption appears to continue on glycolysis alone, a particularly useful situation for neonates suffering respiratory distress.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Fluid production by in vitro lungs from fetal guinea pigs.

Lungs from fetal guinea pigs (54-67 days of gestation) were supported in vitro, and lung liquid secretion rates were measured by a dye-dilution technique. The average secretion rate in the first hour was 2.14 +/- 0.08 (SE) mL x kg-1 body weight.h-1 (0.21 +/- 0.01 mL/h) (n = 450); this was comparable to intact preparations. In an independent study of 30 lungs, secretion continued unchanged for 3 h, with no significant change in fluid composition. Between 54 days and term, production appeared to fall in terms of millilitres per kilogram per hour. The following agents were placed in the supporting saline during the middle hour of incubation. (i) Sodium iodoacetate: at 10(-4) M this produced a fall in secretion (fall, succeeding hours; 55.4 +/- 23.0 and 64.9 +/- 17.5%; n = 6); at 10(-3) M it stopped secretion (fall, succeeding hours; 87.2 +/- 10.3 and 100%, n = 6). (ii) Ouabain: at 10(-5) M there was no change in production (n = 6); at 10(-4) M, four preparations were unaffected, two reduced production. (iii) Epinephrine (10(-7) M) produced a significant fall in production in all cases (n = 6); in four preparations secretion reduced (average fall, 64.4 +/- 10.8%); in two preparations there was reabsorption (average rate, -1.03 mL.kg-1.h-1). This extends the effect of epinephrine to the guinea pig, and suggests that the in vitro preparation is a useful model for studies of the fetal lung.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Birefringence of macromolecules. Wiener's theory revisited, with applications to DNA and tobacco mosaic virus.

We summarize Wiener's theory of the dielectric constant of heterogeneous systems and extend its application to suspensions of particles with corrugated surfaces and interstitial solvent. We retain a simple geometrical shape for the particles and account specifically for the solvent associated with the particles. We calculate the birefringence of the rodshaped Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) particle and of DNA and find excellent agreement between our numerical results and experimental values from the literature.

Birefringence↗
PubMed1989

Effect of alpha factor pheromone on the activity of enzymes which catalyze the synthesis and hydrolysis of cell wall structural polymers from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae of the a mating type treated with alpha factor contain an increased amount of structural polymers (beta-glucans and chitin) in their cell walls and, consequently, exhibit higher glucan synthetase and chitin synthetase activities than untreated cells. However, alpha factor has no detectable effect on the activities of these enzymes when they are assayed, "in vitro", in the presence of the pheromone. On the other hand, the activity of beta-glucanases remains constant during the time that growth of a cells is kept arrested by alpha factor at the G1 phase of the cell division cycle and starts to increase when budding of the cells is reinitiated.

Catalysis↗
PubMed1988

Birefringence of tropomyosin crystals.

The birefringence of tropomyosin crystals was measured in the temperature range 5 degrees-35 degrees C. The experimental results are compared with a simple model calculation based on the theory developed by Wiener for the optical properties of colloidal systems. The difference between experimental and theoretical values is less than 15%, which denotes a good agreement given the simplicity of the model. A value of 0.011 was obtained for the intrinsic birefringence of the tropomyosin molecule. The temperature dependence of the crystal birefringence could be accounted for in part by a change of the unit cell parameters; this change was experimentally observed by others in x-ray diffraction experiments.

Birefringence↗
PubMed1986

Effect of anticalmodulin drugs on the action of yeast alpha factor pheromone.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha factor pheromone arrest growth of cells of the a mating type (MAT a) at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. When treatment of MAT a cells with alpha factor was carried out in the presence of anticalmodulin drugs, trifluoperazine or chlorpromazine, the extent of cell growth arrest induced by alpha factor was reduced or even became undetectable. These results lend support to the hypothesis that calmodulin plays a role as mediator in the action of alpha factor on MAT a cells.

Calmodulin↗