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Biomedical subjects

C Alonso

Publications and source records attributed to C Alonso.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Effects of acute valproate administration on carnitine metabolism in mouse serum and tissues.

Carnitine concentrations in serum, liver, kidney, muscle and heart were determined 30 min, 2 hr and 4 hr after administration of single 50 mg/kg doses of valproic acid (VPA) or octanoic acid (OTA) of fasting mice. Half an hour post-administration (p.a.) of VPA, free carnitine concentrations were smaller than in controls in serum, liver, kidney and heart. Four hr p.a., the effects of VPA had disappeared from all the carnitine sources, which now had concentrations that were not significantly different from those of controls. The effects of OTA are different from, and sometimes the opposite of, those of VPA, showing that the effects of VPA are specific to it. Hyperammonemia, on the other hand, was greatest 4 hr p.a. of VPA. These findings show that the effect of VPA on carnitine metabolism is immediate but transient, and accordingly suggest that the carnitine deficiency observed in patients under prolonged treatment with VPA-containing anticonvulsants must be due to a more complex mechanism than direct interaction between carnitine and VPA.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1990

Natural killer susceptibility is independent of HLA class I antigen expression on cell lines obtained from human solid tumors.

The susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity of 20 cell lines obtained from human solid tumors and their class I histocompatibility antigen (HLA) levels were studied in an attempt to determine whether major histocompatibility complex (MHC) products expressed on cells derived from human solid tumors influence NK susceptibility. The effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) treatment on these elements was also analyzed. The MHC class I (HLA-ABC, HLA-A and HLA-B) antigen levels and degree of NK lysis were very heterogeneous and no correlation was found on comparison. After treatment with IFN-gamma a marked decrease in NK susceptibility was observed in all the cell lines, including the control line K-562. However, the level of HLA class I expression was not modified in any of the lines with the exception of the K-562, which increased. In some cell lines the expression of HLA class I-like antigens. CDla, b and c, was also measured before and after IFN treatment; however, no correlation was found between CD1 levels and NK susceptibility. Consequently, from our results it is possible to conclude that HLA class I antigens do not play a decisive role in NK susceptibility of cell lines derived from human solid tumors and to suggest that molecules which are not HLA class I antigens but IFN-gamma inducible may confer NK resistance to these lines.

Antigens, CD1↗
PubMed1990

The heat shock protein hsp70 binds in vivo to subregions 2-48BC and 3-58D of the polytene chromosomes of Drosophila hydei.

Multiple interactions of members of the hsp70 family with cellular components have already been described. We present, however, the first evidence that upon heat shock treatment hsp70 molecules interact with specific chromosomal subdivisions of the polytene chromosomes of Drosophila hydei. After a heat shock treatment of 20 min the protein binds to subdivision 3-58D1 and to the heat shock inducible subdivisions 2-48B3-6 and 2-48C1-2. Hsp70 molecules were also observed in subdivision 3-58D1 during recovery at 25 degrees C but not in subdivisions 2-48B3-6 and 2-48C1-2. Our data suggest that this interaction is stress specific. DNase and RNase experiments suggest, moreover, that the hsp70 molecules bind to RNA from ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) in subdivisions 2-48B3-6 and 2-48C1-2 and to DNA in subdivision 3-58D1. The DNA sequences in subdivision 3-58D1 seem to have the potential to adopt the Z-DNA conformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A randomized multicentric study comparing alternating combination chemotherapy (VCMP/VBAP) and melphalan-prednisone in multiple myeloma.

Between January 1985 and December 1988, 386 patients with multiple myeloma were randomized to receive either MP or combination chemotherapy based on alternating cycles of VCMP and VBAP. The major prognostic parameters did not differ significantly between both treatment groups. A significantly higher proportion of objective responses was observed with combination chemotherapy as compared to MP (47.8 vs 32.2, P = 0.01). The median survival for all patients was 33.5 months. So far no significant differences were found when comparing the survival curves from both groups of patients. However, the median survival of MP-treated patients is 26.8 months, whereas the median survival of patients receiving VCMP/VBAP has not yet been reached. The definitive analysis must await the evaluation of all patients entered into the study and a longer follow-up time.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1990

[Usefulness of laparoscopy as a second-look method in neoplasms of the ovary].

The usefulness of second-look laparoscopy in the follow-up of ovarian cancer is evaluated. This procedure has been included in the protocol for the treatment of these tumors. During the period 1980-1987 a total of 3038 laparoscopies were performed; 205 (7%) were for ovarian cancer. We present the results of 72 explorations in 52 patients; after surgery and chemotherapy all of them were in complete remission. 44 explorations were second-look laparoscopy and 28 third-look laparoscopy. All the examinations were done under local anesthesia. There were two failures due to the presence of adhesions secondary to the previous surgery which prevented the pneumoperitoneum. In 35 (48.6%) explorations a neoplasia was found and a laparotomy was avoided. There were 31% (4/13) false negative in second-look laparotomy post-laparoscopy. The correlation between gross and microscopic findings was excellent. There were no complications in spite of the previous abdominal surgery. We recommend second-look laparoscopy in patients under treatment of ovarian cancer which in our experience avoided laparotomy almost in half of the cases; no complications were observed and the procedure was well-tolerated.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Radioimmune imaging of bone marrow in patients with suspected bone metastases from primary breast cancer.

Radioimmune imaging of bone marrow was performed by technetium-99m- (99mTc) labeled antigranulocyte monoclonal antibody BW 250/183 (AGMoAb) scans in 32 patients with suspected bone metastases from primary breast cancer. AGMoAb scans showed bone marrow defects in 25/32 (78%) patients; bone invasion was subsequently confirmed in 23 (72%) patients. Conventional bone scans performed within the same week detected bone metastases in 17/32 (53%) patients (p less than 0.001). AGMoAb scans detected more sites indicating metastatic disease than bone scans in 12 of these 17 patients (71%). All patients with bone metastases in the axial skeleton had bone marrow defects at least at the sites of bone metastases. Of 15 patients with normal, or indicative of, benign disease bone scans, 8 patients (53%) presented with bone marrow defects in the AGMoAb scans. Bone invasion was confirmed in six of them. AGMoAb bone marrow scans provide a method for the early detection of bone metastatic invasion in patients with breast cancer and suspected bone metastases.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

Indium-111-antimyosin scintigraphy after doxorubicin therapy in patients with advanced breast cancer.

Indium-111-antimyosin (111In-antimyosin) scans were performed in 20 women with advanced breast cancer after 10 cycles of chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin (total cumulative dose of doxorubicin of 500 mg/m2). Antimyosin uptake in the myocardium was quantified by means of a heart-to-lung ratio (HLR). Antimyosin uptake in the myocardium was observed in 17/20 (85%) patients, and HLR after chemotherapy was 1.86 +/- 0.25. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was determined before and after chemotherapy. Patients with decreased EF (8/20, 40%) presented with more intense antimyosin uptake (HLR of 2.11 +/- 0.10 versus 1.70 +/- 0.16 (p = 0.01]. HLR values correlated with EF values after chemotherapy (r = -0.47, p less than 0.05). Positive antimyosin studies after chemotherapy including doxorubicin, indicate the presence of myocardial damage in these patients. Antimyosin studies are a sensitive method to detect myocyte damage in patients after doxorubicin therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a comparative study of 2 methods of ascitic fluid culture].

The sensitivity in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis of ascitic fluid inoculation in blood culture bottles has been compared with the conventional method. We have analyzed 74 positive ascitic fluid cultures from 64 patients, the samples being processed by both techniques simultaneously. While all the ascitic fluid cultures performed by inoculation in blood culture bottles were positive, in only 42 from the 74 conventional cultures (56, 75%) bacterial growth was detected (p less than 0.001). Nineteen bacterascites were diagnosed by inoculation in blood culture bottles and 10 by the conventional method (p = NS). Gram stain was only positive in 3 spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (6%). We conclude that ascitic fluid inoculation in blood culture bottles improves significantly the sensitivity of the microbiological diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, without increasing the diagnosis of bacterascites.

Ascitic Fluid↗
PubMed1990

[The training of the internist].

A critical situation surrounds Internal Medicine and the training of internists. The crucial role of Internal Medicine as an integrating discipline in clinical medicine and its relationship with primary care medicine and the specialties is analyzed. The goals of a training program for general internists and specialists are described. The scope of knowledge, skills and attitudes as well as the general training necessary to become an internist are summarized.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1989

Molecular cloning of a Drosophila potential Z-DNA forming sequence hybridizing in situ to a developmentally regulated subdivision of the polytene chromosomes.

We describe the selection of a group of plasmids with potential to form Z-DNA, from libraries of Drosophila hydei nuclear DNA using anti Z-DNA monoclonal (22) or polyclonal (10c) antibodies. The supercoiled closed circular forms of most of the selected recombinant plasmids from the 10c Z-DNA library show affinity to the polyclonal 10c antibody as indicated by DNA binding assays. One of these plasmids, pF17, was selected for further study. The insert in this plasmid adopts the Z conformation at bacterial supercoiled density. Analysis of deletion plasmids indicates that a Z-epitope is located within a short fragment of the insert in which 3 GC repetitions are found. The Drosophila DNA insert in pF17 hybridizes in situ with locus 4-75C1-2 of the polytene chromosomes, a locus whose transcriptional activity is developmentally regulated during the third instar.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Comparative study on the clinico-serologic course of acute hepatitis B and hepatitis B with delta co-infection].

The clinical and serological course of 35 instances of hepatitis B (22 hepatitis B alone and 13 with delta co-infection) was comparatively and prospectively studied for a mean follow-up period of 7.19 +/- 2.69 months. There were no significant differences between the clinical presentation and course between both types of patients. There were not, either, outstanding differences in the mean bilirubin and transaminase levels between both types of hepatitis, although the patients with delta co-infection initially showed a more pronounced cholestatic pattern than did patients with hepatitis B alone (p less than 0.05). In hepatitis B with delta co-infection, the serological markers of activity and/or replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) showed an earlier serum clearance than in patients with hepatitis B alone, basically in relation with the "e" antigen of HBV. Serum measurement of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) antigen by means of ELISA was shown to be a high sensitivity test (69.23%) for the diagnosis of acute HDV hepatitis, which was carried out in an early stage since the development of symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Ultrasonic patterns observed in hepatic metastases from breast carcinoma: diagnosis and evolution.

A retrospective analysis was made of 78 patients presenting breast neoplasm with hepatic metastases confirmed by ultrasound. Clinical hepatomegaly was present in 61%. The serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) was elevated in 72%, the serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) in 56%, the serum alkaline phosphatase (Aph) in 86%, and the gamma-glutamil transpeptidase (GGT) in 76%. A hypoechogenic multiple nodular pattern (HMN) was observed in 69%, a diffuse hypoechogenic pattern (DH) in 15%, and a mixed multiple nodular pattern (MMN) in 11%. No single nodular pattern was presented in any patient. The univariate analysis showed a better survival rate in patients with a mixed pattern (mean 11 months, range 1-29 months) (p = 0.027). No significant differences were observed regarding the remaining patterns, age, presence or not of hepatomegaly, or altered enzymatic values.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Identification of a tumour factor inducing resistance to NK cell lysis.

The mechanisms involved in the resistance or susceptibility of tumour cells to NK cytotoxicity are poorly understood. The role of different molecules on the target cell surface which could act as recognition elements by NK effectors has been postulated. However, there are also some tumour cell lines which release factors capable of inhibiting NK cytotoxicity. This paper presents a new factor (NK-RIF), produced and released by different tumour cell lines, making K562 resistant to NK lysis without affecting the cytotoxic function of NK effector cells. This soluble factor is shown to be thermolabile, non-dialyzable and to have a molecular weight of 36,000 daltons. It does not block the binding capacity of the target and effector cells, nor does it affect target susceptibility to LAK or cytotoxic T-cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗