Tuberculous interstitial nephritis of the renal graft.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
A Alonso
Publications and source records attributed to A Alonso.
Glucocorticoids blunt neutrophil CD11b surface glycoprotein upregulation during cardiopulmonary bypass in humans.
Neutrophil-endothelial adhesion is the initiating event in neutrophil migration to areas of infection or injury. The binding of neutrophils to endothelium depends upon adhesive glycoproteins, of which the CD11/CD18 glycoproteins are the most important. Because of known upregulation of one of these adhesive glycoproteins (CD11b) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in humans, we evaluated CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c surface expression before, during, and after CPB in humans, with or without pre-CPB administration of a glucocorticoid (methylprednisolone). Fourteen patients were randomized into two groups: Group S received methylprednisolone (1 g intravenously) 5 min prior to CPB; Group N received no steroid. CD11b was significantly upregulated (P < 0.01) during, and 24 h after, CPB in Group N when compared with controls and Group S at similar time intervals, while in Group S no significant changes were found. Since interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor, and endotoxin are known to upregulate neutrophil CD11b surface expression and are released during CPB in humans, while steroids are known to suppress the release of these cytokines, the authors conclude that the blunting effect by steroids on CD11b surface expression upregulation during and after CPB in humans is attributed to suppressed cytokine release.
Antigens, CD↗
Selection response for growth in a Spanish Merino flock.
Weight and growth data on 5,136 lambs, from 104 sires and 1,552 dams were collected during 5 yr (13 lambing seasons) of selection for high weaning weight in a single flock under range conditions. Ewes were culled based on fertility and replaced by ewe lambs selected for high weaning weight. Heritabilities of birth weight, weaning weight (30 d), preweaning daily gain, postweaning daily gain, and weight at 90 d, respectively, were .13, .09, .03, .15, and .11. Genetic correlations were generally high. Genetic and phenotypic improvements of weaning weight were 22 +/- 3.0 and 198 +/- 11.3 g per lambing season, respectively, with three lambing seasons per year. At the end of the experiment, phenotypic mean weaning weight was 2.4 kg higher than the initial values. Estimated and theoretical responses were similar in the sire population. At the 13th lambing season, average breeding value of 30-d weight of the ram population was 600 g higher than the mean initial breeding value in the base population. Projected average breeding value of the lamb population under random mating at the 23rd lambing season was equal to 404 g.
Animals↗
[Controversies and progress in the diagnosis and treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Personal experience].
Historically, non surgical procedures awakened little interest among urologists because surgery represented a definite solution with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. Currently, the diagnosis and management of BPH is pointed towards a greater understanding of those prostate conditions with a trend to obstruction, using more refined methods to assess the severity of the obstruction, identification of predictive parameters of the therapeutical response, and evaluation of the various treatment alternatives based on safety and cost-efficiency parameters.
Humans↗
Neurotensin promotes oscillatory bursting behavior and is internalized in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons.
Cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain magnocellular complex (BF) constitute the primary source of ACh to the cerebral cortex and are thought to be instrumental in mediating cortical activation and plasticity. Recent light and electron microscopic studies have revealed a selective association of receptors for the neuropeptide neurotensin (NT) with BF cholinergic neurons, suggesting that this peptide may be playing a key role in the control of BF cholinergic function. In the present study, we have investigated by means of intracellular recording in guinea pig brain slices the neuromodulatory actions of NT on the intrinsic excitability of BF cholinergic neurons that were identified electrophysiologically by their low-threshold discharge, slow afterhyperpolarization, and transient outward rectification (TOR). In all cholinergic neurons tested (n = 39), bath application of NT (20-200 nM for 1-4 min) produced, via a direct mechanism, a membrane potential depolarization associated with a decrease in apparent input conductance. Most significantly, NT led to the emergence of a very prominent slow rhythmic bursting pattern that could shape into complex spindle-like sequences that were intrinsically generated by the cholinergic cells. These NT actions were also accompanied by a reduction of both the slow afterhyperpolarization and TOR. Bursting oscillations relied on the activation of Ca2+ conductances as opposed to Na+ conductances, since they were absent during Ca(2+)-conductance block with Mn2+, but still occurred in the presence of the Na(+)-channel blocker TTX. NT actions were specific, since they could be reproduced by application of the active (NT 8-13) but not of the inactive (NT 1-8) fragment of the peptide. Identification of the BF cholinergic neurons as direct NT targets was further provided by confocal laser scanning microscopic demonstration of internalization of a fluoresceinylated derivative of NT (fluo-NT) within biocytin-filled, electrophysiologically identified cholinergic neurons. The results demonstrate the electrophysiological functionality of NT receptors on BF cholinergic neurons and the existence of a receptor-mediated internalization of NT in these cells. They also suggest that the peptide is an important player in the control of BF function and, in particular, in the generation of forebrain network oscillations.
Acetylcholine↗
Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease in a renal transplant recipient.
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Erythrocyte Transfusion↗
Pharmacological and immunohistochemical evidence for serotonergic modulation of cholinergic nucleus basalis neurons.
Identified electrophysiologically by low threshold bursts and transient outward rectification, cholinergic nucleus basalis neurons were recorded and labelled intracellularly in guinea-pig basal forebrain slices. By means of a triple labelling immunofluorescent technique, serotonin-immunoreactive fibres were visualized in close proximity to the soma and dendrites of the biocytin-labelled, choline acetyl transferase (ChAT)-immunoreactive cells. By bath application, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) produced a direct hyperpolarization of the identified cells which was mimicked by 5-HT1A receptor agonists, suggesting that it may inhibit the tonic firing but also modulate the low threshold bursting of the cholinergic nucleus basalis neurons.
Animals↗
Basal level transcription of the histone H1(0) gene is mediated by a 80 bp promoter fragment.
The replacement histone H1(0) of the H1 group, known to interact with general transcription factors, has been found associated with transcriptionally repressed chromatin. Transcription of the gene in F9 stem cells is low but can be stimulated by treating the cells with retinoic acid. Using mutant deletions, we now demonstrate that basal level transcription in F9 cells is mediated by an 80 bp DNA fragment, located 430 bp upstream of the TATA box, which does not include the retinoic acid responsive element (RARE) known to bind retinoic acid receptors and stimulate transcription from an heterologous promoter after retinoic acid treatment. By footprinting, DMS interference, site-directed mutagenesis and UV-cross linking techniques we demonstrate that at least two nuclear factors, with MW of 90,000 and 30,000, bind to the 80 bp fragment and that this binding is necessary for transcription. Furthermore, positioning of this fragment upstream of the HSV-tk gene promoter stimulates transcription 2-3 times over control values, far less than the activity observed for this fragment in the homologous promoter, indicating that full activity of this fragment requires sequences located in the proximal part of the promoter.
Animals↗
Phospholipase C-promoted membrane fusion. Retroinhibition by the end-product diacylglycerol.
The catalytic activity of phospholipase C induces fusion of pure lipid vesicles. When large unilamellar liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine/cholesterol (2:1:1 mole ratio) are treated with phospholipase C, in the presence of 10 mM Ca2+, two enzyme effects can be distinguished: a fast one (half-time on the order of seconds) consisting mainly of vesicle-vesicle fusion and a slow one (half-time on the order of minutes) representing bulk lipid hydrolysis. The fast fusion process is inhibited by the end-product diacylglycerol, as well as by lysophosphatidylcholine and by low Ca2+ concentrations. The temperature dependence of enzyme activity (phospholipid hydrolysis), vesicle aggregation, and vesicle fusion (mixing of aqueous contents) has been separately studied. Enzyme activity and vesicle aggregation rates increase monotonically with temperature, while an optimum temperature is found for vesicle fusion, depending on liposome composition and assay conditions. The presence of diacylglycerol incorporated to the membrane (up to 10 mol %) does not produce any fusion effect even at temperatures as high as 80 degrees C: in situ diacylglycerol production by the enzyme appears to be required. The data are interpreted in support of a hypothesis according to which a "fusion intermediate" would be required, depending (among others) on bilayer composition, temperature, and Ca2+ concentration, for vesicle fusion to occur.
Bacillus cereus↗
Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of the VNTR locus D1S80 in central Spain.
The polymorphism of the D1S80 locus has been analyzed in a population sample of 203 unrelated individuals living in Madrid (central Spain) by PCR and subsequent semi-dry discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Tris-chloride/Tris-glycine buffer system) followed by silver staining. The electrophoretic system described in this study offers high resolution in the separation of the different D1S80 alleles allowing the detection of microvariability around the allele T22 in the spanish population. Twenty different alleles containing 17-40 repeats of the basic 16 bp unit were distinguished. The alleles T18 and T24 were found to be relatively common in Spain, as in other populations, with frequencies of 0.224 and 0.372, respectively. No evidence of significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was found in these preliminary population data.
Alleles↗
Genetic polymorphism of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI) in the Basque Country (northern Spain).
The genetic polymorphism of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI) was analyzed in 2 samples of 554 residents and 303 autochthonous healthy unrelated individuals from the Basque Country (northern Spain), by isoelectric focusing on miniaturized polyacrylamide gels followed by immunoblotting. The allele frequencies were ITI*1 = 0.586, ITI*2 = 0.402 and ITI*3 = 0.012 in residents and ITI*1 = 0.548, ITI*2 = 0.449 and ITI*3 = 0.003 in the autochthonous population. These allele frequencies were compared with those reported in other European populations.
Alpha-Globulins↗
Genomic rearrangements of retroviral vectors carrying two genes in F9 EC cells.
We have used two classes of double-expression retroviral vectors for the expression of foreign genetic information in embryonal carcinoma cell lines. The splice-vector pM5neo takes advantage of mutated sequences that mediate an LTR-driven expression in F9 EC cells. The second vector (pXT1 type) uses an internal HSV-tk promoter as the control element for the transcription of the second gene. Genomic analysis of DNA from infected F9 cell lines revealed that most of the proviruses have rearranged upon integration into the host genome. This reorganization always included the nonselected gene and is sequence independent, but depends on the selective pressure applied. No retroviral genomic rearrangements were observed in F9 cells infected with pM5 proviruses carrying only the neo resistance gene. On the contrary, gross rearrangements were found in cells infected with parental pXT1 retroviruses. In both vectors the transcriptional activity was very low. A direct correlation between selective pressure, proviral reorganization, and transcription was observed.
Animals↗
Potency control of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in cattle. Comparison of the 50% protective dose and the protection against generalization.
Potency tests of a total of 658 foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine batches by bovine protective dose (PD50) showed that 22% of the tests did not follow the expected theoretical model and the results could not be interpreted because of the lack of a dose-response relationship. The protection against generalization (PG) method, using undiluted vaccine, proved to be highly reliable from the analysis of the results of 65 replicate potency tests of three hydroxide-saponin (HS) vaccines and two oil-adjuvanted (OL) vaccines. The PG results were consistent in 64 out of the total of 65 tests. The data obtained indicated that, with regard to direct tests in cattle, the PG test is the preferred method for FMD vaccine potency control. This study also showed that the incorporation of a reference vaccine in routine potency tests is essential to ensure normality of the test system and that good quality HS and OL FMD vaccines may maintain immunogenic stability for at least 27 and 36 months, respectively, when stored at 2-8 degrees C.
Animals↗
A heart-like Na+ current in the medial entorhinal cortex.
Acutely dissociated neurons from the superficial layers of the medial entorhinal cortex of the rat were studied under voltage clamp using the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration. Neurons from the medial entorhinal cortex exhibit a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant Na+ current (ITTX-R; IC50 approximately 146 nM), in addition to the normal TTX-sensitive Na+ current (ITTX-S; IC50 approximately 6 nM). ITTX-R was found in both putative stellate and putative pyramidal neurons from the medial entorhinal cortex. ITTX-R is kinetically indistinguishable from ITTX-S, but can be distinguished from ITTX-S based on its enhanced sensitivity to block by Cd2+, La3+, and Zn2+. ITTX-R is kinetically and pharmacologically similar to the TTX-resistant Na+ current found in cardiac muscle.
Animals↗
Seasonal variations of 25 hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone in Ushuaia (Argentina), the southernmost city of the world.
Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 250HD, 1.25(OH)2D and PTH were studied in a group of 42 children aged 8.5 +/- 1.8 years (X +/- SD) from the city of Ushuaia (latitude 55 degrees S), at both the end of the winter and the end of summer. Calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and 1.25(OH)2D serum levels were not different in summer and winter. The levels of serum 25OHD were significantly higher in summer (18.4 +/- 7.3 ng/ml) than in winter (9.8 +/- 3.8 ng/ml P < 0.001). The levels of 25OHD in children with fair or dark skin were similar in winter but were significantly higher in children with fair skin in summer (20.0 +/- 7.2 ng/l vs 15.3 +/- 5.1 ng/ml (P < 0.05). Serum levels of PTH were higher in winter (58.2 +/- 30.5 pg/ml) than in summer (47.9 +/- 28.3 pg/ml) (P < 0.03). The results demonstrate the existence of a population with low serum levels of 25OHD in winter. The higher levels of PTH in winter when serum 25OHD levels are lower could be the cause of the lack of seasonal variation in serum calcium and 1.25(OH)2D levels. Further studies are needed to establish whether these changes besides increasing the incidence of rickets, could also affect the mineral density of the skeleton in the population of this vitamin-D-deficient area.
Alkaline Phosphatase↗
Character change in group therapy.
The treatment of character pathology in group therapy becomes ever more relevant in the current climate of health care delivery with the mounting awareness of the importance of the long-term treatment needed for such problems. This article reviews the psychodynamic meanings of character pathology and addresses the specific ways that psychodynamic group therapy is suited to its treatment. Clinical examples are offered to illustrate how the resolution of character difficulties occurs in group therapy.
Character↗
AGPA and the village well.
This article is based on the author's presidential address, which was presented at the 50th anniversary meeting of the American Group Psychotherapy Association in February of 1992. Using the metaphor of the village well, Dr. Alonso argues that AGPA faces both the opportunity and challenge to serve as the leader in facilitating communication among four diverse groups: colleagues in other professional organizations; academia and its training programs; the world of managed care and third-party payers; and, the consumers of our services, our patients.
Humans↗