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A Salas

Publications and source records attributed to A Salas.

150 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

mtDNA analysis of the Galician population: a genetic edge of European variation.

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation has become a useful tool for human population studies. We analysed the first hypervariable region of mitochondrial DNA control region (position 16024-16383) in 92 unrelated individuals from Galicia (Spain), a relatively isolated European population at the westernmost continental edge. Fifty different sequences defined by 56 variable positions were found. The frequency of the reference sequence reaches in Galicians its maximum value in Europe. Moreover, several genetic indexes confirm the low variability of our sample in comparison to data from 11 European and Middle Eastern populations. A parsimony tree of the sequences reveals a high simplicity of the tree, with few and small well defined clusters. These results place Galicians on the genetic edge of the European variation, bringing together all the traits of a cul-de-sac population with a striking similarity to the Basque population. The present results are fully compatible with a population expansion model in Europe during the Upper Paleolithic age. The genetic evidence revealed by the analysis of mtDNA shows the Galician population at the edge of a demographic expansion towards Europe from the Middle East.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ethanol feeding aggravates morphological and biochemical parameters in experimental chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Instillation of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) into the rat pancreatic ducts induces morphological changes resembling human chronic pancreatitis. In humans, alcoholism is commonly associated with chronic pancreatitis, but ethanol feeding fails to induce pancreatitis in experimental animals. We hypothesized that ethanol would manifest its pathogenetic effects on a duct-injured pancreas. METHODS: Chronic pancreatitis was induced in rats by instillation of TNBS into pancreatic ducts. Thereafter, rats were fed a normal chow diet with or without ethanol supplementation. Control rats received vehicle and a normal diet. A separate group of vehicle-treated rats were also fed with ethanol. At 2 and 4 weeks pancreata were excised and processed for morphological examination or for biochemical assays. From crude homogenates, protein and hydroxyproline were quantified. After sonication, homogenates were also assayed for amylase and DNA. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed on the fourth week. RESULTS: TNBS induced chronic fibrogenic pancreatitis that was associated with a reduction in pancreatic weight, DNA, protein and amylase as compared to control rats. Ethanol feeding to TNBS-treated animals slowed weight gain, increased fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance test. Larger areas of gland atrophy were observed with a striking disruption of the normal architecture of the islets. Ethanol accelerated pancreatic involution and collagen deposition as measured by total amylase, protein, DNA and hydroxyproline content. CONCLUSIONS: In TNBS chronic pancreatitis, active fibrogenesis is associated with progressive atrophy of glandular elements. Morphological and biochemical parameters are aggravated by sustained ethanol intake.

Amylases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

160Thr mutation in the rhodopsin gene associated with retinitis pigmentosa.

Mutations in the rhodopsin gene were studied in 23 unrelated Spanish patients with sporadic retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A codon 160 Thr C-->A transition was found in 4 of the 23 patients vs. none of the 159 controls (p < 0.001) suggesting that this mutation may be an informative marker in RP.

Exons↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intraluminal crystalloids in prostatic carcinoma: morphologic and histochemical study].

The histological sections of 302 diagnosed cases of prostate carcinoma were analyzed for intraluminal crystalloids, correlating their presence, number and characteristics with other morphological parameters used for the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma. Evidence of these structures was found in 65 cases (21.5%). The majority developed in malignant glands though they were also found in benign glands adjacent to cancerous foci. Their presence indicates good tumoral differentiation and both their number and shape are dependent on the tumour's histological grade.

Adult↗