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C Diaz

Publications and source records attributed to C Diaz.

132 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis of disulfide-containing phospholipid analogs for the preparation of head group-specific lipid antigens: generation of phosphatidylserine antibodies.

In this report, we describe a new approach for the production of lipid antigens that elicit specific immune responses against phosphatidylserine (PS). Because phospholipids are small nonimmunogenic haptens, PS analogs containing activated coupling groups were synthesized and covalently attached to carrier proteins. Sulfhydryl-reactive PS was generated by acylation of 1-oleoyl-2-(aminocaproyl)-phosphatidylcholine with N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate, converted to PS by phospholipase D-catalyzed base exchange with L-serine, and conjugated to carrier proteins by thiol-disulfide exchange. Antisera to these lipid hapten-protein carrier conjugates were developed in rabbits. Antibodies bound PS but not phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, or phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) when presented together with PC. Inhibition studies using water-soluble lipid analogs and sonicated vesicles indicated that antibody specificity was directed toward the lipid's polar head group. These antibodies also inhibited the PS-dependent prothrombinase activity assay by approximately 60%. These data show that the covalent coupling of phospholipid haptens to protein carriers via the lipid's fatty acyl side chains preserves its primary head group moiety for the production of specific lipid antibodies.

Acylation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Systemic treatment of venous leg ulcers with high doses of pentoxifylline: efficacy in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Several small studies have indicated that the systemic administration of pentoxifylline may accelerate healing of venous leg ulcers. The goal of this study was to further evaluate these findings in a larger scale placebo controlled trial and to explore the effect of the dose of pentoxifylline on healing. The study used a prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel group placebo controlled design in a multicenter outpatient setting. Patients with one or more venous ulcer were enrolled, with all patients receiving standardized compression bandaging for treatment for their ulcers. Patients were also randomized to receive either pentoxifylline 400 mg, pentoxifylline 800 mg (two 400 mg tablets), or placebo tablets three times a day for up to 24 weeks. The main outcome measure was time to complete healing of all leg ulcers, using life table analysis. The study was completed as planned in 131 patients. Patients receiving 800 mg three times a day of pentoxifylline healed faster than placebo (p = 0.043, Wilcoxon test). The median time to complete healing was 100, 83, and 71 days for placebo, pentoxifylline 400 mg, and pentoxifylline 800 mg three times a day, respectively. Over half of all patients were ulcer free at week 16 (placebo) and at week 12 in both pentoxifylline groups. Whereas the placebo group had only achieved complete healing in half of the cases by week 16, all of the subjects remaining in the group receiving the high dose of pentoxifylline had healed completely. Treatment with pentoxifylline was well tolerated with similar drop-out rates in all three treatment groups. Complete wound closure occurred at least 4 weeks earlier in the majority of patients treated with pentoxifylline by comparison to placebo. A higher dose of pentoxifylline (800 mg three times a day) was more effective than the lower dose. We conclude that pentoxifylline is effective in accelerating healing of leg ulcers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Icodextrin effluent leads to a greater proliferation than glucose effluent of human mesothelial cells studied ex vivo.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of glucose (Glu) and icodextrin (Ico) dialysate on in vitro culture of mesothelial cells (MC) from peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled comparative study on the effects of two PD solutions. SETTING: A tertiary-care public university hospital. PATIENTS: Sixteen PD patients regularly using Glu dialysate were asked to collect an 8-hour dwell peritoneal effluent on 2 different days, with an interval shorter than 7 days. In the first collection, 2.27% Glu solution and in the last, 7.5% Ico solution was infused. Human MC were isolated from the nocturnal peritoneal effluent bags and grown ex vivo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mesothelial cell proliferative capacity ex vivo. RESULTS: Mesothelial cells were present in all patient dialysates except that of a single patient's Glu dialysate. The number of MC drained was similar with both solutions. After the initial culture reached confluence, MC were identified in 14 and 12 patients receiving Ico and Glu, respectively. However, in 1 patient using Ico and in 2 using Glu, the MC count at this stage was so low that further subculture could not be performed. Cells from Ico-derived solutions exhibited a higher degree of proliferation than cells from Glu-derived solutions. The morphology of MC was also different. Cells from drained effluent were typical in 11 patients using Glu solution in contrast with 14 patients using Ico. At confluence, the percentages of typical appearance were 50% and 92.9% (p < 0.05) in Glu and Ico respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mesothelial cells taken from icodextrin effluent show a greater proliferation ex vivo than those taken from glucose effluent.

Cell Division↗