Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Silva.
We describe the cloning of a novel antigen of Plasmodium falciparum which contains a hydrophobic domain typical of an integral membrane protein. This antigen is designated apical membrane antigen 1 because it appears to be located in the apical complex. Apical membrane antigen 1 appears to be transported to the merozoite surface near the time of schizont rupture.
The authors describe a data retrieval system called REDATAM, Retrieval of Data for Small Area by Microcomputer. "The interactive REDATAM system, in English and Spanish versions, was created to solve the problem of providing small-area population and housing information by using an IBM or fully compatible microcomputer to store the microdata of an entire census on a hard disk (or laser disks for larger countries) and to permit any tabulation to be produced rapidly for any area down to city blocks or smaller....REDATAM may play an important role in the 1990 censuses in the Latin American and Caribbean countries since the system will permit the provision of timely small-area services (and at the national level in the Caribbean countries) before, as well as after, the regular data processing and publication of results are ready."
During 1981 we started an intensive programme for the development of biotechnology in Cuba. The first project was related to the production of leucocyte interferon and the cloning an expression of these genes in prokaryotic and yeast cells. These products are currently obtained in large amounts and their physical and chemical characterization are presented. The use of mammalian cells in culture for the production of recombinant proteins has also been carried out. The results obtained with the expression and amplification of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in CHO cells are discussed and compared with that obtained in yeast. The construction of a recombinant vaccinia virus carrying the HBsAg was also achieved. The specific transcripts were characterized and the Ab levels tested in animals. The results presented here indicate that the host system is a very important aspect to be taken into consideration and in some cases mammalian cells appear to be the best choice.
It was determined if Periodontic students of the years 1986 and 1987 indicated periodical maintenance care in their patients treated of Periodontal disease. 598 cards were revised. 130 of them showed the indication of maintenance care. These patients received registered letters for controlling. Only 20 of them complied. A clinical examination was made: Radiographic control wasn't made because there wasn't a radiographic Kardex of old radiographies of previous years.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
We have analyzed the effect mediated by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and different reagents that increase intracellular cAMP on the expression of the p55 subunit (CD25) of interleukin 2 receptors (IL 2R), on the levels of CD25-specific mRNA and on the expression of high affinity IL 2R. In purified T cells, activated either by an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody or phytohemagglutinin, the addition of PGE2 (10(-6) M), forskolin (5 X 10(-5) M), cholera toxin (0.2 microgram/ml) or dibutyryl cAMP (dBcAMP) (10(-4) M) decreased the cell surface expression of IL 2R by reducing (40%-78% inhibition) the proportions of CD25+ cells as well as the expression of high affinity IL 2R, detectable after 24 h. Furthermore, it was observed that PGE2 reduced the concentration of IL 2R-specific mRNA after a 6-h period of activation, indicating that its regulatory activity takes place at a pretranslational level. The addition of exogenous recombinant IL 2 only partially reversed the inhibition, thus suggesting that PGE2 and increased intracellular concentration of cAMP directly interfered with CD25 expression and that their effect could not be merely attributed to a lack of IL 2-dependent positive feedback. Cells cultured under the same conditions in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate, that activates protein kinase C, were refractory to the cAMP-mediated regulation. Finally, we demonstrate that both PGE2 and dBcAMP inhibit the generation of inositol metabolites after T cell activation, thus indicating that these reagents interfere with early signal transduction mechanisms which precede the synthesis of IL 2R.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This paper describes the application of bivariate flow karyotyping to (1) classification of chromosomes isolated from cultures of cells taken by amniocentesis and (2) detection of numerical and structural aberrations. Chromosomes were isolated from primary cultures 2-5 wk after amniocentesis, stained with Hoechst 33258 and chromomycin A3, and analyzed using dual beam flow cytometry. Information about chromosome DNA content and DNA base composition was derived from the locations of the peaks in the flow karyotypes, each peak being produced by one or more chromosome types with similar DNA content and DNA base composition. Information about the relative frequency of each chromosome type was determined on the basis of the relative volume of the peak for that chromosome type. Cytogenetic information determined on the basis of flow karyotypes was compared with that obtained by visual analysis following G-banding. Variability among the peak means and volumes in flow karyotypes was determined from analyses of 50 normal amniocyte cultures. Numerical aberrations involving chromosomes 21, 18, and Y were detected correctly in all of 28 analyses, including eight in a blind study. Structural aberrations involving chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 6, 9-12, 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22 were detected in all of seven cultures in a blind study. Flow karyotypes proved to be insensitive to small, normally occurring chromosome polymorphisms detected by banding analysis. In addition, a few samples were erroneously scored as having numerical aberrations.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
"The purpose of this paper is to define the data processing methods that will be used in the 1990 population censuses in the different countries of Latin America.... The countries are divided into four groups, and procedures and methodologies are suggested for each of the main eight stages of a census processing." In general, microcomputers are recommended at the initial stages of processing census data, with the exception of data entry for populations over 10 million, for which the utilization of optical readers is recommended. For the final stages of consistency, tabulation, and data base management, microcomputers are recommended only for populations less than a million. (SUMMARY IN ENG)
We studied the non-specific responses of GH and PRL to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in eleven male patients aged 18-30 in whom a diagnosis of acute schizophrenia was made according to Crow's criteria. GnRH administration was followed by a significant increase in plasma GH in five patients; plasma PRL increased in two patients. The two prolactin responders were also GH responders. Non-specific GH response was confirmed on repeated testing in two patients in whom GnRH stimulation was performed twice. During saline control, non-specific hormone responses were not observed. The abnormal hormone responses observed in acute schizophrenia are probably due to the disordered monoamine regulation characteristic of this condition.
To evaluate hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in acute schizophrenia, plasma FSH and LH concentrations were estimated both in basal conditions and after stimulation with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, 200 micrograms i.v.) in 14 young male patients with acute schizophrenia and in a age-matched group of 14 healthy male controls. Basal plasma PRL and testosterone levels were also measured. The mean basal levels of LH and FSH were slightly lower in schizophrenics, while the mean testosterone and prolactin levels were similar in the two groups. The FSH response to GnRH was significantly reduced in patients with acute schizophrenia, while the response of LH was similar in schizophrenics and in the controls. The possible significance of these findings is discussed in the contest of the complex neuroendocrine regulation of gonadotropin secretion and the overactivity of dopaminergic systems in acute schizophrenia.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.