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Biomedical subjects

A Blasco

Publications and source records attributed to A Blasco.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Combined Expression of Aspergillus nidulans Endoxylanase X24 and Aspergillus oryzae (alpha)-Amylase in Industrial Baker's Yeasts and Their Use in Bread Making.

The Aspergillus nidulans endoxylanase X24 and the Aspergillus oryzae (alpha)-amylase cDNAs were placed under the control of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae actin promoter (pACT1) and introduced into baker's yeast. Bread made with transformants expressing both enzymes (YEpACT-AMY-ACT-X24) showed a 30% increase in volume and reduced firmness in comparison with that produced with a commercial strain. Endoxylanase X24 and (alpha)-amylase seem to act synergistically to improve the quality of bread in terms of volume and density.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

DOGR1 and DOGR2: two genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae that confer 2-deoxyglucose resistance when overexpressed.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two genes (DOGR1 and DOGR2) that are able to confer 2-deoxyglucose resistance when they are overexpressed. These genes are very similar, sharing 92% identity at the protein level. They code for two isoenzymes with 2-deoxyglucose-6 phosphate (2-DOG-6P) phosphatase activity. These enzymes have been purified and characterized. DogR1p shows an optimum pH of 6, an optimum temperature of 30 degrees C and a KM on 2-DOG-6P of 17 mM. DogR2p shows a similar optimum pH, but the optimum temperature is 40 degrees C and it exhibits a KM on 2-DOG-6P of 41 mM. Both enzymes require 10 mM-MgCl2 for maximal activity and they are inhibited by inorganic phosphate.

Alleles↗
PubMed1995

Meningioangiomatosis: advanced imaging and pathological study of two cases.

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare benign intracranial tumour of uncertain pathogenesis, with only 33 cases reported in the literature. Imaging features have been described in 21 cases, only 3 with contrast-enhanced MRI. We present two cases of MA with MRI and/or CT findings and gross, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical characteristics. MRI is particularly helpful for establishing the origin of the lesion and its anatomical location, while CT shows calcification, if present. The pathological characteristics establish the diagnosis and underline the differences from other entities such as malignant meningioma, one of the most important differential diagnostic considerations.

Angiomatosis↗
PubMed1994

Myocardial viability assessment in ischemic cardiomyopathy: benefits of coronary revascularization.

Patients with ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and low ejection fraction are usually referred for orthotopic heart transplantation. Based on results of myocardial viability assessment, we have prospectively used either coronary artery bypass grafting or orthotopic heart transplantation. From January 1990 to June 1992, among 50 patients initially referred for heart transplantation, 46 showing myocardial viability underwent bypass grafting. Forty-five of these 46 patients were men, and the mean age was 58 +/- 12 years (range, 40 to 70 years). Congestive heart failure was present in all patients, and dyspnea was the main symptom in 80% (37/46). Patients were selected according to three criteria. (1) Myocardial viability was primarily assessed by thallium scintigraphy for up to 24 hours (28/46 patients). When results were negative, patients underwent positron emission tomography (20/46 patients). (2) Regional left ventricular function was assessed using gated blood pool single-photon emission computed tomography combined with (3) full hemodynamic evaluation. Results were as follows: end-diastolic volume, 129 +/- 35 mL/m2; ejection fraction, 0.23 +/- 0.06; cardiac index, 2.4 +/- 0.62 L.min-1.m-2; mean pulmonary artery pressure, 26 +/- 0.90 mm Hg; and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, 16 +/- 1.10 mm Hg. Operative mortality was 2.17% (1/46). During follow-up (mean duration, 18 months), there were three late cardiac-related deaths (arrhythmias) and two noncardiac-related deaths. The 40 long-term survivors are in New York Heart Association class II. Angiography (15 patients) or gated blood pool single photon emission tomography (32) showed improvement in mean ejection fraction to 0.39 +/- 0.13 (range, 0.22 to 0.46).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Relationships between components of litter size in unilaterally ovariectomized and intact rabbit does.

A study was performed to evaluate the use of unilateral ovariectomy for the measurement of uterine capacity in rabbits through a comparison of the relationships between ovulation rate, number of implanted embryos, and litter size in unilaterally ovariectomized (ULO) and intact does. Data from 211 ULO and 323 intact does were analyzed. The animals were derived from a synthetic line previously selected on litter size. Laparoscopy was performed on all does during their second gestation 12 d after mating and the number of corpora lutea and implantation sites were recorded. Intact and ULO does had the same ovulation rate, confirming the presence of compensatory ovarian hypertrophy in the remaining ovary of the ULO does. The number of implantation sites in the ULO group (11.3) approached the number found in the control group (12.6). Embryonic survival (until implantation) was lower (P < .01) in ULO does (.77) than in intact does (.88), but fetal survival (after implantation) was the same in both groups. The ULO females produced litters 77% of the size of those of the normal control females. Pre- and postimplantation survivals were not related in intact does but seemed to be related in ULO does through an effect on the number of implantation sites. The coefficient of the regression of number of implantation sites on ovulation rate was positive in control does (.62 +/- .06) and was also positive in ULO does (.31 +/- .07), showing that a higher ovulation rate would have resulted in a higher number of embryos being implanted in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Granular cell tumor of the esophagus].

We report a new case of granular cell tumor (GCT) is a benign neoplasm in the esophagus (a rare location of which there are only described 80 cases. The tumor was diagnosed in a man aged 55 by endoscopy (asymptomatic from the esophagus point of view) during a chronic liver disease survey. The biopsies of the 3 cm polyp suggested a GCT. The patient died and the necropsy confirmed the presence of a submucous tumor with polygonal cells, wide cytoplasm, eosinophil, granular and ovoid nucleus. The cytoplasm granules were positive PAS and a resistant diastase, without signs of malignancy. In our case, the endoscopy resection was not possible because the state of the patient, although it is the most reasonable therapeutic choice in the most cases.

Esophageal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Coronary surgery can be an alternative to heart transplantation in selected patients with end-stage ischemic heart disease.

Patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) low ejection fraction (EF), and congestive heart failure (CHF), are usually referred for orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). This study reports our experience with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients initially referred for OHT, and suggests guidelines to facilitate the choice of procedure (OHT or CABG). Between January 1990 and December 1991, 32 patients with IHD, proposed for OHT, underwent CABG 31/32 patients were male, the mean age was 58 +/- 12 years (40 to 70). Congestive heart failure was present in all patients and was the main symptom. The mean EF was 23 (14 to 31%), mean cardiac index (CI) 2.4 l/min per m2 (1.6 to 3.1 l/min per m2), mean pulmonary artery mean pressure (MPAP) 26 (20 to 37 mmHg) and mean pulmonary wedge pressure 16 (12 to 22 mmHg). Every patients underwent a myocardial viability study by thallium scintigraphy (n = 32) and/or by positron emission tomography (n = 10). The perioperative mortality was 9.3% (3/32). All long-term survivors (n = 27) are in NYHA Class II with a complete follow-up (mean 18 +/- 6 months). Ejection fraction control either by angiography (n = 15) or by single photon emission computed tomography (n = 12) showed an increase of up to 38% (22%-46%). Three determinant factors influenced the choice of CABG. 1) CI > 21/min per m2, 2) MPAP < 35 mmHg. 3) Detection of myocardial viability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Wilson's disease. A histological review of 7 patients and the value of histological copper positivity in relation to other hepatopathies].

BACKGROUND: Wilson's disease is an infrequent entity. Biopsy is essential for establishing its presence and degree of hepatopathy but it lacks diagnostic specificity. It is necessary to know the significance of positivity or negativity of histochemically demonstrated copper when faced with the diagnosis of Wilson's disease and cholestatic diseases. METHODS: Nine hepatic sample from 7 patients with clinical-biochemical Wilson's disease were reviewed. The rodanine histochemical technique was used for demonstration of copper in the samples aforementioned and in another 3 kinds of liver diseases: 16 biopsies of primary biliary cirrhosis, 86 biopsies of cholestatic hepatopathies (serum bilirubin greater than 68 mumol/l) and control biopsies with serum bilirubin less than 42.5 mumol/l. RESULTS: Among the 7 patients with Wilson's disease, 6 were diagnosed with cirrhosis and one chronic active hepatitis. The incidence of erosive necrosis (86%), Mallory hyaline (86%), macrovacuolar steatosis (71%), glucogenated nuclei (71%) and giant mitochondria (29%) was evaluated. Histologic copper deposit with Shikata orcein was objectified in 3 cases (43%) and with rodanine in 5 (83%). Positivity with rodanine was 69% among the series of primary biliary cirrhosis, 20% among the cholestatic hepatopathies and 0 in the control series. CONCLUSIONS: Histology of Wilson's disease remains without definitive diagnostic criteria. The disease is diagnosed in a late phase in Spain. The sensitivity of the histochemical demonstration of copper with rodanine is high (6/7) but its specificity is low, being positive in 68% of primary biliary cirrhosis and 19% of other cholestatic hepatopathies.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1992

[Wilson's disease. A retrospective analysis of 12 cases].

We reviewed retrospectively 12 patients with Wilson's disease diagnosed during a 16-year period (1974-1989). The prevalence rate was 0.6 per 100,000 individuals. Clinical onset was hepatic (50%) or neurologic (50%), but at diagnosis (6.4 years later) 67% of patients showed several clinical manifestations: hepatic, neurologic, renal and haematologic. Among the essential diagnostic indices we find false negative results for Kayser-Fleischer ring (25%), serum ceruloplasmin (8%) and total serum copper (34%). Ten patients were treated with penicillamine. This drug was effective and well tolerated, although one patient (10%) developed membranous nephritis and required to change successively to BAL and trien. In a 61 months follow-up 5 patients (42%) died from severe liver failure. Patients with poor prognosis had a diagnostic delay and a liver failure degree significantly greater than patients with good prognosis. Our results suggest the following conclusions: a) in Spain the prevalence rate of Wilson's disease is near the lower reported rate; b) the early diagnosis of Wilson's disease is rare; c) diagnosis should be made only when several essential indices are positive; d) early hepatic transplantation showed carried out in patients with acute or chronic severe liver failure.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

[Sixteen-year experience with gallbladder cancer. Review of 120 cases].

We reviewed retrospectively 120 patients with histologically diagnosed gallbladder carcinoma and collected during 16-years (1974-1989). Age and sex, annual distribution, predisposing factors, histological findings, clinical manifestations, complementary diagnostic methods, therapeutic measures and follow-up of patients were analyzed. Our results suggest the following conclusions: a) the annual incidence of gallbladder carcinoma remains unchanged; b) there is a close association with gallstones; c) the late diagnosis is due to unspecificity of clinical manifestations and low diagnostic effectivity of complementary methods; d) computed tomography and laparoscopy are the more effective complementary diagnostic methods in advanced gallbladder carcinoma; e) early gallbladder carcinoma is only diagnosed casually in cholecystectomy pieces; f) only the early carcinoma (grade I or II) is curable.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Evaluation by celioscopy of the corpus luteum and embryos. Influence on litter size in the rabbit].

Twenty-one does were laparoscopized on d 12 of gestation and immediately killed after observation in order to estimate the ovulation rate and number of embryos. The accuracy was very high: 91% and 98% respectively, for ovulation rate and number of embryos. To measure the effect of coelioscopy on fetal survival rate 40 does were laparoscopized on d 12 of gestation. The coelioscopy did not show a significant effect on litter size and birth, or on the current or the subsequent gestation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Value of bone angioscintigraphy (isotope transit) in atraumatic osteonecrosis of the head of the femur].

Bone angioscintigraphy (isotopic transit) imaging provides a time-activity curve of two symmetrical joint regions (one of which is supposedly diseased) during the first few seconds following radioisotope injections, in this case 99mTc MDP. The curve obtained presents as two parts: a short rapid slope corresponding to the presence of the marker in the arteries of the region, and a slowly ascending slope corresponding to invasion of capillary bed without extravascular diffusion during the first minute. This method was used to study 22 cases of confirmed unilateral osteonecrosis of hip. In 20 of the 22 cases the height of the curve differed from one side to another: lower on the diseased side in 9 cases (negative gradient), 8 of these 9 patients having stages I and II (early stages) of the affection. It is suggested that this reduction in activity of the diseased side is due to a reduction in capillary bed from medullary necrosis, and that it constitutes a sign in favor of necrosis, particularly when radiologic signs are few or absent as in the early stages.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Evaluation of the sensitivity of bone scintigraphy and bone function tests for the diagnosis of aseptic osteonecrosis of the femur head in adults].

From 300 cases of primary osteonecrosis of the femoral head, proven histologically, the authors report: in 154 cases where a bony scintigraphy of the pelvis was performed, a definite hyperfixation is demonstrated 128 times (sensitivity of 83.1 per cent); in 104 cases where a functional exploration of the hip was performed, a hyperpressure was established 101 times (sensitivity of 97 per cent); in 84 cases, both examinations were performed. Most of the time (71 times), it concerns patients presenting few or no radiological signs: the sensitivity of scintigraphy is only 69 per cent when the sensitivity of functional exploration remains at 96.4 per cent. The authors report, in addition, that bony scintigraphy may be at fault when there is, histologically, an isolated reticular oesinophilic necrosis of the bone marrow.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗