Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Díaz

Publications and source records attributed to C Díaz.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Cloning and characterization of a gene coding for a protein (KAP) associated with the kinetoplast of epimastigotes and amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi.

We have cloned and characterized a gene of Trypanosoma cruzi which encodes a protein, KAP (kinetoplasts-associated protein), expressed in the kinetoplasts of epimastigotes and amastigotes, the replicative stages of the parasite, but not in kinetoplasts of trypomastigotes. The single-copy gene is transcribed into a 3900-nt polyadenylated mRNA. Its trans-splicing acceptor site is preceded by a run of 15 adenosine residues. An open reading frame of 1052 codons is followed by a 3' untranslated region containing short sequences characteristic of rapidly degradable RNAs. The potential translation product of the KAP gene contains a central region composed of four blocks of repeats of a 9-amino-acid motif. Rabbit antibodies raised against three synthetic peptides containing KAP sequence recognized a 175-kDa protein in epimastigotes and amastigotes which appears by indirect immunofluorescence to be associated with their kinetoplasts. The antibodies do not recognize the kinetoplast of trypomastigotes. The amino terminus of KAP contains features compatible with mitochondrial topogenic sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

[Choledochal cyst. Presentation of 5 cases in childhood].

Five cases of choledochal cyst diagnosed from 1976 to 1983 are presented. Four patients began in the neonatal period as a cholestatic syndrome resembling biliary atresia and one patient began later on as a cholangitis. It is important for diagnosis the use of ultrasounds and radionuclide hepatobiliary. Clinical course depends on early diagnosis and treatment, because there is often an atresia of the common hepatic duct associated.

Bile Ducts↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Concentrations of fluoride in wines from the Canary Islands.

Potentiometry using an ion-selective electrode has widely been used for determining fluoride because of its simplicity and rapidity. The concentration of fluoride was determined (Gran's method) in 70 wines from the main wine-producing regions of the Canary Islands. The mean concentration of fluoride in wines from a region with a high concentration of fluoride in drinking waters was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those mean concentrations obtained in the remaining wines. Non-important differences were found among the types of wine analysed. However, the fluoride concentrations of all the Canarian wines analysed here did not present a risk for the public health.

Atlantic Islands↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Air trapping in primary Sjögren syndrome: correlation of expiratory CT with pulmonary function tests.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to correlate the extent of air trapping on expiratory CT scans with results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in a large group of patients with primary Sjögren syndrome and to determine whether these techniques may be complementary in assessing small airways obstruction. METHOD: Thirty-four nonsmoking patients with proven primary Sjögren syndrome and 10 healthy nonsmokers underwent paired inspiratory-expiratory thin section CT and PFTs. Expiratory scans were scored for the presence and extent of areas of air trapping. Extent of air trapping was assessed visually and given a score. The functional significance of the extent of air trapping was evaluated in both groups and then correlated with the results of PFTs. RESULTS: Bronchiolar abnormalities were seen in 11 (32%) of 34 patients with primary Sjögren syndrome. On the expiratory CT scans, a mosaic pattern of lung attenuation was identified in 17 patients. Air trapping was found in 44 of 204 lobar observations on the expiratory scans. The median point scale score at end-expiration was 3.6 (20%, Grade 1), ranging from 1 (5.5%, Grade 1) to 9 (50%, Grade 2). The mean total score of air trapping was more prevalent in lower (46/68) lobes (22.4%) than in upper (22/136) lobes (5.3%) (p < 0.001). PFTs were normal in the primary Sjögren syndrome patients as well as the healthy subjects. Air trapping was found more frequently in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome than in the healthy group. Only during exhalation was there evidence of minimal lobular-sized areas or air trapping (Grade 1) in three of the healthy subjects. We did not find any correlation between air trapping and PFTs including the forced expiratory flow rate between 25 and 75% of the forced vital capacity (FEF25-75). CONCLUSION: Expiratory high resolution CT revealed the extent of bronchiolar disease in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome. We also found that the extent of air trapping did not correlate with PFTs, which suggests the existence of a subclinical bronchiolar inflammatory process that may precede detectable abnormalities in lung function tests.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of renal lesions using 99mTc-DMSA in children with urinary tract infection and the relation with vesicoureteral reflux].

OBJECTIVE: Paediatric patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) have risk of developing renal scarrings. Although it is known that vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) predisposes to UTIs and it seems to have an important role in the development of renal lesions, some recent published studies question that relation. The aim of the study was to evaluate renal scarring by using renal scintigraphy 99mTc-DMSA and see the relation with or without the presence of VUR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated retrospectively a total of 230 patients (460 renal units), mean age: 11 months (range: 12d-5y), with UTI probed by urinoculture. All were studied with voiding cistourethrography (MCU) to evaluate the presence or absence of VUR. Patients were evaluated with 99mTc-DMSA scan 6 months after UTI to determine if UTI caused renal scarring. RESULTS: Renal scans with 99mTc-DMSA 6 months post-infection were abnormal in 62 renal units, affecting 54 patients (23 %). From all patients studied, 110 were diagnosis of VUR being affected 161 renal units, 43 of them (27 %) presented renal scarrings. From the remaining 120 patients without VUR that is 240 renal units, 19 of them (8 %) presented parenchymatous damage. CONCLUSION: Renal scarring resulting from UTI are in some cases related to VUR, but sometimes are caused by the infection itself. Not all patients with VUR develop renal lesions, and neither the presence of VUR always predispose children to renal lesions. MCU and direct isotopic cystography are useful for diagnosis of VUR but we shouldn't avoid 99mTc-DMSA scan in the management of children with UTI.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neuroanatomy of the nuclear vestibular complex in the syrian hamster. Comparison with other mammals].

The vestibular complex has been studied since the fifties. The general conclusion of research on many mammals is that the vestibular complex has four main vestibular nuclei and some less constantly associated neuronal groups. The general distribution of the four main vestibular nuclei in the hamster does not differ substantially from that of other mammals: humans, many primates, cat, opossom, rabbit, chinchilla, guinea pig, etc. Of the many associated groups that have been described, we clearly identified groups < >, < >, < >, < >, and the interstitial nucleus of the vestibular nucleus of Cajal. However, the latter seems to be less developed than in other mammals. We present results and a map of serial sections of the vestibular area showing the most characteristic anatomic relations with brainstem structures, and the most relevant cytomorphometric results compared with other mammals.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparative analysis of resistance to insecticides in strains of Culex quinquefasciatus, from Camagüey].

The organophosphate, carbamate and pyrethroid resistance levels in 14 strains of Culex quinquefasciatus from Camagüey were studied by bioassays and biochemical tests in larvae with or without synergists. The use of electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel (PAGE) allowed to identify 8 patterns of esterases, among which A3A6B6, BiB6 and B1A6B6 were the most frequent. It was observed that 6 years after the suspension of malathion, there is still resistance to this product. There was also cross resistance to propoxur. Detoxification mechanisms for deltamethryn are being developed. The most important physiological mechanisms were: elevated esterases in the resistance to malathion, modified AchE for propoxur and oxidases of multiple function for deltamethryn. In relation to the genic frequencies, the modified AchE mechanisms was more extended than that of the elevated esterases in these populations of mosquitoes of the central region of Cuba.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Levels of insecticide resistance and its mechanisms in a strain of Aedes aegypti of Santiago de Cuba].

As a result of the most recent dengue outbreak in Santiago de Cuba province, a strain of this vector was studied to determine the levels of sensitivity and/or resistance to organophosphate and pyrethoid insecticides. The results of bioassays showed low levels of resistance to fention, malathion and deltametrine, moderate levels of resistance to temephos, metyl-pirimifos and cipermetrine and high levels of resistance to chlorpirifios. According to the results obtained from the use of S.S.S. phosphotrithiate trybutil synergist, it was shown that esterases play an important role in resistance to temephos and chlorpirifos. Piperonyl butoxide synergist disclosed that multifunction oxidases were not involved in the resistance to any of the evaluated insecticides. Biochemical techniques were applied to detect esterase-, glutathione-S-transferase- and acetylcholineaterase-mediated resistance mechanisms of Aedes aegypti. In accordance with the high frequency values observed in each of the mechanisms, it was proved that esterases and glutathione-S-transferase were involved in the insecticide resistance but acetylcholinesterases were not. However, acetylcholinesterase gen was found in Aedes aegypti for the first time though at low frequency. The polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis made it possible to observe a well-stained band with a relative mobility value of 0.779; this band was called A4 it was not observed in the reference strain and may be associated to organophosphate resistance which remains to be proved in future research.

Aedes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Characterization of resistance to organophosphate insecticides, carbamates, and pyrethroids in Culex quinquefasciatus from the State of Miranda, Venezuela].

Resistance of Culex quinquefasciatus from Miranda, Venezuela to the organophosphate insecticides malathion and chlorpirifos was higher than 30x whereas resistance to pyrethroids metylpirimifos, fention, cipametrine, deltametrine, permetrine and lambdacyalotrine and to organochlorate DDT was lower than 4x. Resistance mechanisms were analyzed with piperonyl butoxide synergist (multifunction oxidases) and S.S.S. phosphotrithiate tributyl (DEF, esterase inhibitor). Multifunction oxidases did not play a significant role in resistance to organophosphate insecticides and carbamate; however, esterases were only mechanisms of resistance to malathion and chlorpirifos. The only insecticide affected by DEF and PB was cipermetrine. Biochemical tests revealed a very low frequency of the altered acetylcholinesterase mechanism (0.13). Esterase frequencies were high (1). Electrophoresis exposed the B1, A6 and B6 esterase phenotypes.

Acetylcholinesterase↗