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Biomedical subjects

C E Blanco

Publications and source records attributed to C E Blanco.

117 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

The ratio of 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase to lipoamide dehydrogenase activity in individual muscle fibers: mitochondrial specialization for source of energy.

3-Hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HAD) has been widely used to assess the capacity for fatty acid oxidation by different muscle fiber types, with various Krebs cycle enzymes as a base for comparison. We have measured this enzyme in individual lyophilized fibers of the guinea pig soleus and the white and red portions of the vastus lateralis, and compared its activity in each fiber with that of lipoamide dehydrogenase (LAD), which as a part of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex fulfills a function similar to HAD in forming acetyl-CoA, but from pyruvate and, thus, mainly from a carbohydrate source. The mean HAD/LAD ratio was 17.2 +/- 3 in the red vastus, 24.9 +/- 3 in the white vastus, and 43.7 +/- 10 in the soleus, all differences being highly significant. The two types of fast fibers were not distinguished from one another by the enzyme ratio within either the white or the red portion of the vastus lateralis. Data from all of the fast fibers taken together indicate a close correlation (0.93) between the two enzymes, whereas values from the soleus indicate a specialization of the mitochondria of the slow muscle fibers for the oxidation of fatty acids.

3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1982

The response to stimulation of hindlimb nerves in fetal sheep, in utero, during the different phases of electrocortical activity.

The relationship between the amplitude of electrically evoked responses from nerves of a hindlimb and electrocortical activity has been determined in fetal sheep from 105-141 days gestation. Stimulation of the common sciatic, tibial or peroneal nerves and recording from the two nerves not stimulated revealed an early (4.5 ms) and late (18.6 ms) evoked neural response, probably reflex. These responses were reduced or absent in low voltage compared with high voltage electrocortical activity after 125 days gestation. Spontaneous gastrocnemius activity was more frequent during high voltage activity. The electrocorticogram was undifferentiated before 115 days, and the evoked responses in peripheral nerves were largest when breathing and eye movements were present. After electrocortical differentiation the responses were enhanced when brief episodes of augmented eye and breathing movements occurred during the transition between high and low voltage activity. The possibility that this indicates arousal or wakefulness in utero is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Fibrinolytic activity of plaques and white matter in multiple sclerosis.

Recent work has implicated plasminogen activator released from macrophages as a possible mediator of the demyelinating process in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis (MS). We have studied the capacity of white matter and plaques from MS patients to break down fibrin clots, using a histochemical technique. Fibrinolytic activity was localized exclusively to areas around blood vessels and capillaries in both patients and controls. While there was marked variation between individuals, the unaffected white matter from MS patients was, on the average, not more active than that of controls, but plaques tended to show more numerous foci of lysis, often also more intense, than adjacent white matter; there was no correlation with disease activity or age of the plaques as determined by histological criteria. The localization and degree of fibrinolysis observed were not related to the presence of lymphocytic infiltrates, gliosis, or macrophages. However, the findings do not exclude an involvement of fibrinolytic enzymes (although originating from vascular endothelium rather than macrophages) in the genesis of the MS plaque, which commonly starts around a small vein.

Brain↗
PubMed1980

Partition coefficients of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO0 in erythrocyte lipids in multiple sclerosis.

Electron spin resonance (ESR) was used in a search for a possible generalized membrane defect underlying myelin instability in multiple sclerosis (MS). In contrast to most ESR studies of biological membranes, a small, nonelectrolyte spin label, TEMPO, was chosen; its partition coefficient was determined in extracted erythrocyte lipids from MS patients and normal controls. No differences were observed the advantages and limitations of TEMPO in comparison with lipid spin labels as probes for the study of biological membranes are discussed.

Cyclic N-Oxides↗
PubMed1979

Systemic air embolism. A possible complication of artificial ventilation.

A baby of 1 100 g and a gestational age of 28 weeks with severe idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome was treated with pressure limited artificial ventilation and positive and expiratory pressure. After 30 hours the infant deteriorated and the chest radiograph showed air in the carotid, subclavian and aortic artery.

Embolism, Air↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Granule cell mRNA levels for BDNF, NGF, and NT-3 correlate with neuron losses or supragranular mossy fiber sprouting in the chronically damaged and epileptic human hippocampus.

This study determined in temporal lobe epilepsy patients if there were correlations among hippocampal granule cell expression of neurotrophin mRNAs, aberrant supragranular mossy fiber sprouting, and neuron losses. Consecutive surgically resected hippocampi (n = 9) and comparison tissue from autopsies (n = 3) were studied for: 1. Granule cell mRNA levels using in situ hybridization for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3); 2. neo-Timm supragranular mossy fiber sprouting; and 3. Ammon's horn neuron densities. Clinically, patients were classified into those with hippocampal sclerosis (HS; n = 7) and non-HS cases (i.e., mass lesions and autopsies; n = 5). Results showed that compared to non-HS cases, HS patients showed increased granule cell mRNA levels for BDNF, NGF, and NT-3 (p = 0.035, p = 0.04, p = 0.045 respectively; one-tail directional test). Moreover, granule cell BDNF mRNA levels correlated inversely with Ammon's horn neuron densities (p = 0.02) and correlated positively with greater supragranular mossy fiber sprouting (p = 0.02). NGF mRNA levels correlated inversely with Ammon's horn neuron densities (p = 0.02), and NT-3 mRNA levels correlated inversely with age at surgery (p = 0.04) and correlated positively with greater mossy fiber sprouting (p = 0.026). These results indicate in the chronically damaged human hippocampus that granule cells express neurotrophin mRNAs, and mRNA levels correlate with either hippocampal neuron losses or aberrant supragranular mossy fiber sprouting. These data support the hypothesis that in the epileptic human hippocampus, there may be pathophysiologic associations among mossy fiber synaptic plasticity, hippocampal neuron damage, and granule cell mRNA neurotrophin levels.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circulating blood volume in appropriate and small for gestational age full term and preterm polycythaemic infants.

Relative circulating volume (CV) was determined in 31 polycythaemic newborn infants who underwent a partial plasma exchange transfusion (PPET). The infants were divided in four sub-groups: appropriate for gestational age (AGA) term and preterm infants, and small for gestational age (SGA) term and preterm infants. CV was calculated using a regression line between the number of exchange steps and central venous haematocrit values obtained before the procedure and after every exchange step. The median relative CV in all polycythaemic newborn infants was 94.0 (range 69-143) ml/kg. Irrespective of gestational age and birthweight the median relative CV in AGA infants was 86.5 (range 69-107) ml/kg, which differed significantly from the value of 106 (range 85-143) ml/kg found in SGA infants. If a PPET is indicated we recommend to calculate the exchange volume in AGA infants using a relative CV of 86 ml/kg and in SGA infants using a relative CV of 106 ml/kg.

Blood Volume↗