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Biomedical subjects

A Grigorescu

Publications and source records attributed to A Grigorescu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Evidence for immune defects in breast and lung cancer patients.

Immunosuppression is often identified in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate several immune parameters for patients with breast and lung cancer. Immunophenotyping analysis showed that the cancer patients investigated had significantly lower absolute numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes than controls. The immunosuppression was more evident for the breast cancer subgroup. The most severe immune defect noticed was the marked impairment of IFN-gamma secretion. A shift toward the Th2 phenotype as revealed by assessment of intracellular level of IFN-gamma and IL-4 was also noticed. The secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in whole blood cultures was not impaired. Although the proportion of activated cells was slightly lower than in the control group, our results showed that both peripheral T lymphocytes and NK cells of cancer patients could be induced to express early activation marker CD69 after ex vivo mitogen stimulation. In conclusion, our study revealed several immune defects in cancer patients. This suggests that an appropriate immunotherapeutical approach might be used to restore compromised immune functions with beneficial effects on both antitumor and general immunity.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A CD2-based model of yeast alpha-agglutinin elucidates solution properties and binding characteristics.

We have previously shown that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell adhesion protein alpha-agglutinin has sequence characteristics of immunoglobulin-like proteins and have successfully modeled residues 200-325, based on the structure of immunoglobulin variable-type domains. Alignments matching residues 20-200 of alpha-agglutinin with domains I and II of members of the CD2/CD4 subfamily of the immunoglobulin superfamily showed > 80% conservation of key residues despite low sequence similarity overall. Three-dimensional models of two alpha-agglutinin domains constructed on the basis of these alignments were shown to conform to peptide mapping data and biophysical properties of alpha-agglutinin. In addition, the residue volume and surface accessibility characteristics of these models resembled those of the well-packed structures of related proteins. Residue-by-residue analysis showed that packing and accessibility anomalies were largely confined to glycosylated and protease-susceptible loop regions of the domains. Surface accessibility of hydrophobic residues was typical of proteins with extensive domain interactions, a finding compatible with the hydrodynamic properties of alpha -agglutinin and the hydrophobic nature of binding to its peptide ligand alpha-agglutinin. The procedures used to align the alpha-agglutinin sequence and test the quality of the model may be applicable to other proteins, especially those that resist crystallization because of extensive glycosylation.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The distribution of nucleic acid chromophores at cellulose-water interfaces. 1. Photometric parameters.

A computer-assisted calculus of the chromophores distribution in the contiguous layer around the scattering centers of a multiple scattering medium, using bichromate photometric data and an extended Kubelka-Munk expression, was developed. Explanatory examples of nucleic acid impregnated chromatography paper disks show the efficiency of the method proposed for the study of macromolecular structures and the dependence upon the physico-chemical peculiarities of the solutions used.

Cellulose↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Incomplete chronic duodenal stenosis caused by compression by the aorta and mesenteric artery].

In the light of data from the literature, as well as on the personal observations made in 5 cases of chronic, imcomplete duodenal stenosis through aortic-mesenteric pincers that have been hospitalized and operated, the authors stress: the complexity of the syndrome, the difficulties encountered in the establishment of the diagnosis, the severe consequences of the evolution, the necessity to apply surgical treatment as soon as possible.

Adolescent↗