Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Gonzalez

Publications and source records attributed to C Gonzalez.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Genetic and environmental determinants of type II diabetes in Mexico City and San Antonio.

To study genetic and environmental determinants of non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes, we compared a random sample of 35- to 64-yr-old Mexican-American men and women living in several low-income barrio neighborhoods of San Antonio to similarly aged Mexicans living in a low-income colonia of Mexico City (Colonia Liberales). A total of 1138 Mexican Americans, representing 64.3% of the original sample, and 646 Mexicans, representing 69.2% of the original sample, participated in the survey. Diabetes was diagnosed using World Health Organization criteria. Genetic susceptibility to type II diabetes was inferred from the percentage of Native American genetic admixture as estimated from skin reflectance measurements. The prevalence of diabetes was 36% higher among San Antonio Mexican Americans than among Mexicans in Mexico City; this difference was highly statistically significant (age- and sex-adjusted prevalence ratio 1.36, P = 0.006). This excess was observed despite the fact that genetic susceptibility, as inferred from the admixture estimates, was similar in the two cities. On the other hand, Mexicans were somewhat leaner as measured by body mass index and skin folds. Mexican women consumed fewer total calories than Mexican-American women, but there was no difference in the caloric intake of men. Mexico City residents ate less fat (18-19% of total calories vs. 31-32% in San Antonio, P less than 0.001), more carbohydrate (64-65 vs. 49%, P less than 0.001), and performed more physical activity than San Antonio Mexican Americans. Mexicans appeared to consume more refined sugar than Mexican Americans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Serous retinal detachment. Value of acetazolamide].

The effect of acetazolamide in the treatment of chronic macular edema has been well established. The pharmacologic action of this product suggested possible efficacy in the treatment of serous retinal detachment. We studied 38 patients presenting with serous retinal detachments of various etiologies divided into four groups: age related macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy or diffuse epithelial retinopathy, epiretinal membranes, and other causes. Treatment with acetazolamide, at a dosage of 0.375 g/day, in three divided doses was proposed for five weeks. We observed a reduction of metamorphopsia in all cases, a stability or even an improvement of visual acuity, and a resorption of serous retinal detachment confirmed by decreased pooling of fluorescein on the angiographic examination. Considering each etiology, clinical and angiographic findings demonstrated the value of this treatment, although this study was not prospective. The encouraging results observed in many cases, raise hopes concerning the treatment for these diseases, usually not amenable to treatment.

Acetazolamide↗

Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents and plasmid carrying in Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from two estuarine systems.

Susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents and the presence of plasmids was investigated in eleven strains of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from samples of sea water and these strains isolated from Aulacomya ater. Transference of resistance to Escherichia coli was attempted by conjugation and transformation experiments. The strains showed multiple resistance toward beta-lactam antibiotics and susceptibility to other antimicrobial agents. Five strains harboured plasmids with molecular weights below 5.7 MD. It was not possible to relate the resistance of the strains with the presence of their plasmids.

Aeromonas hydrophila↗

Ultrastructural changes in hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus neurons of ovariectomized estrogen-deprived young rats.

We report the occurrence of neuronal degeneration in the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus of prepubertal female rats as a consequence of ovariectomy followed by estrogen deprivation (OVX-EB). In contrast, no degenerating neurons were observed in ovariectomized rats treated with estrogens (OVX + EB) or sham-operated animals. The altered neurons in the OVX-EB group presented a cytoplasm with dilation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum lumen. The nuclear envelope also appeared dilated. There was mitochondrial swelling with disintegrated cristae, while lysosomes appeared intact. The cell nucleus showed a pattern of chromatin condensation and a nucleolus hardly distinguishable from the nucleoplasm. The neuronal alterations reported here may be due to altered gene expression in the cell nucleus resulting from induced hormonal loss during early postnatal development.

Animals↗

[Antilymphocyte serum, cyclosporine and corticoids, versus OKT3, cyclosporine, and corticoids in kidney transplantation].

UNLABELLED: The use of the antilymphoblast globulin (ALG) or OKT3 associated with cyclosporine (CyA) and steroids has been useful in kidney cadaveric transplantation. 101 patients who received their first cadaveric renal transplant were randomized according to the immunosuppression used. Group A (n = 53): horse ALG 15 mg/kg just before transplant surgery; ALG 12 mg/kg on the first day after transplant followed by 4 doses of 10 mg/kg on alternate days; Cya p.o 8 mg/kg/d; prednisone 0.25 mg/kg/d. Group B (n = 48): OKT3 5 mg just before transplant followed by 4 doses of 5 mg/d.; CyA and prednisone were administered using the same schedule as group A. RESULTS: the incidence of rejection during the first 3 months was: group A: 13 percent, group B: 17 percent (NS). The probability of being free of acute rejection (Kaplan-Meier) 24 months after transplant was 89 percent in group A and 79 percent in group B (NS). The day of onset of the first acute rejection episode was 25 +/- 20 days after transplant in group A, and 17 +/- 10 day in group B (NS). Incidence of tubular necrosis: group A 21 percent, group B 19 percent (NS).

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Muscarinic receptor localization and function in rabbit carotid body.

Acetylcholine and muscarinic agonists inhibit chemosensory activity in the rabbit carotid sinus nerve (CSN). Because the mechanism of this inhibition is poorly understood, we have investigated the kinetics and distribution of muscarinic receptors in the rabbit carotid body with the specific muscarinic antagonist [3H]quinuclidinylbenzilate ([3H]QNB). Equilibrium binding experiments identified displaceable binding sites (1 microM atropine) with a Kd = 71.46 pM and a Bmax = 9.23 pmol/g tissue. These binding parameters and the pharmacology of the displaceable [3H]QNB binding sites are similar to specific muscarinic receptors identified in numerous other nervous, muscular and glandular tissues. Comparisons of specific binding in normal and chronic CSN-denervated carotid bodies suggest that muscarinic receptors are absent on afferent terminals in the carotid body; however, nearly 50% of the specific [3H]QNB binding is lost following chronic sympathectomy, suggesting the presence of presynaptic muscarinic receptors on the sympathetic innervation supplying the carotid body vasculature. Autoradiographic studies have localized the remainder of [3H]QNB binding sites to lobules of type I and type II parenchymal cells. In separate experiments, the muscarinic agonists, oxotremorine (100 microM) stimulation of the in vitro carotid body. Our data suggest that muscarinic inhibition in the rabbit carotid body is mediated by receptors located on type I cells which are able to modulate the excitatory actions of acetylcholine at nicotinic sites.

Animals↗

Effects of phosphorothioate capping on antisense oligonucleotide stability, hybridization and antiviral efficacy versus herpes simplex virus infection.

Efforts have been made to improve the biological stability of phosphodiester (PO) oligonucleotides by the addition of various modifications to either the 3', 5' or both the 3' and 5' ends of an oligonucleotide. ISIS 1080, a phosphorothioate (PS) 21-mer oligonucleotide complementary to the internal AUG codon of UL13 mRNA in HSV-1, reduces the infectious yield of HSV-1 in HeLa cells to 9.0% +/- 11%. PO analogs of ISIS 1080 containing three PS linkages placed on the 3' (ISIS 1365), 5' (ISIS 1370), both the 3' and 5' (ISIS 1364) ends or with four linkages in the middle (ISIS 1400) demonstrated reduced antiviral efficacy compared to fully PS ISIS 1080. Thermal denaturation profiles demonstrated that these oligonucleotides hybridized to complementary DNA or RNA with equivalent binding affinities. All were able to support E. coli RNAse H cleavage of the HSV mRNA to which they were targeted. The stability of the congeners in cell culture medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), HeLa cytosolic extract, HeLa nuclear extract and in intact HeLa cells revealed that ISIS 1080 was most resistant to nucleolytic digestion through 48 hours. Partial PS oligonucleotides exhibited increased degradation compared to the fully thioated oligonucleotide by exonuclease activity in FCS and endonuclease activity in cell extracts or intact cells. Thus, the reduced efficacy of partial compared to fully PS oligonucleotides against HSV-1 in HeLa cells may result from increased degradation of the mixed PO/PS oligonucleotides.

Antiviral Agents↗

The spindle is required for the process of sister chromatid separation in Drosophila neuroblasts.

We have studied two aspects of the process of sister chromatid separation in the Drosophila melanogaster neuroblasts. First, we analyzed the requirement of a functional spindle for sister chromatid separation to take place using microtubule depolymerizing drugs such as colchicine or a reversible analogue (MTC). Incubation of this tissue in colchicine causes the cells to block irreversibly at metaphase and no significant levels of sister chromatid separation were observed even after long periods of incubation. Exposure of neuroblasts to MTC also causes cells to block at metaphase, but after reversion most of the cells enter anaphase and are thus able to complete sister chromatid separation. These results imply that a functional spindle is required for sister chromatid separation. Second, we studied the role of heterochromatin during chromatid pairing and subsequent separation in chromosomes which carry either one or two extra pieces of heterochromatin. The results indicate that sister chromatids establish strong pairing along the translocated heterochromatin. During the early stages of anaphase, these chromosomes separate first the centromeric region and later the regions bearing extra heterochromatin. These results indicate that constitutive heterochromatin plays an important role for sister chromatid pairing and might be involved in the process of separation.

Animals↗

polo encodes a protein kinase homolog required for mitosis in Drosophila.

We show that mutation in polo leads to a variety of abnormal mitoses in Drosophila larval neuroblasts. These include otherwise normal looking mitotic spindles upon which chromosomes appear overcondensed; normal bipolar spindles with polyploid complements of chromosomes; bipolar spindles in which one pole can be unusually broad; and monopolar spindles. We have cloned the polo gene from a mutant allele carrying a P-element transposon and sequenced cDNAs corresponding to transcripts of the wild-type locus. The sequence shows that polo encodes a 577-amino-acid protein with an amino-terminal domain homologous to a serine-threonine protein kinase. polo transcripts are abundant in tissues and developmental stages in which there is extensive mitotic activity. The transcripts show no obvious spatial pattern of distribution in relation to the mitotic domains of cellularized embryos but are specifically concentrated in dividing cells in larval discs and brains. In the cell cycles of both syncytial and cellularized embryos, the polo kinase undergoes cell cycle-dependent changes in its distribution: It is predominantly cytoplasmic during interphase; it becomes associated with condensed chromosomes toward the end of prophase; and it remains associated with chromosomes until telophase, whereupon it becomes cytoplasmic.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genomic distribution of a serotype 1-specific antigen-coding DNA fragment of Pasteurella haemolytica.

A genomic fragment of Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A coding for a serotype 1-specific agglutinating antigen was used as a probe in a series of hybridization experiments to determine distribution of the fragment in various P. haemolytica serotypes as well as other bacteria. Results showed presence of the fragment in seven out of the 12 serotypes tested, all of which belonged to biotype A. Two other serotypes belonging to biotype A, all three serotypes belonging to biotype T, two Pasteurella multocida isolates and Escherichia coli did not have the fragment in their genome. Thus the expression of the P. haemolytica biotype A serotype 1-specific agglutinating antigen (PHA1SAA) seems to be due to serotype-specific regulation of protein expression rather than to genetic deletion. Differences in methylation of the PHA1SAA-coding fragment was also noted in DpnI and Sau3AI genomic DNA digests from the various serotypes analyzed by Southern blot. However, no apparent correlation was observed between methylation and PHA1SAA expression. E. coli with a recombinant plasmid containing a homologous genomic fragment derived from P. haemolytica serotype 2 also expressed PHA1SAA.

Animals↗

Enhanced resolution of pituitary fossa by three-dimensional fat-suppressed gradient-echo magnetic resonance: before and after gadolinium enhancement.

In imaging small anatomical parts such as the pituitary fossa, thin sections enhance the spatial resolution. Gradient recalled images (GRASS) using three-dimensional volume data produce ultrathin contiguous sections with a high signal-to-noise ratio. In this study, conventional spin-echo magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of the pituitary fossa were compared to three-dimensional gradient recalled MRI in 5 volunteers and 10 patients suspected of having pituitary gland abnormalities. Utility of fat suppression was also assessed, along with gadolinium enhancement. Conventional spin-echo and three-dimensional spoiled GRASS images, three-dimensional spoiled GRASS images without and with fat suppression (Group II), and three-dimensional spoiled GRASS images with fat suppression before and after gadolinium enhancement were compared. Three-dimensional spoiled GRASS images provided better delineation of the pituitary fossa structures. There was differential enhancement between the normal gland and pituitary tumors. The fat suppression technique following gadolinium administration helped separate the high signal of tumor from the high signal of the clivus marrow. In conclusion, T1-weighted three dimensional gradient-echo images with fat suppression following gadolinium enhancement appear promising in evaluation.

Adenoma↗

Release of dopamine and chemoreceptor discharge induced by low pH and high PCO2 stimulation of the cat carotid body.

1. Cat carotid bodies were incubated with the precursor [3H]tyrosine to label the catecholamine deposits and then mounted in a superfusion chamber which allowed simultaneous collection of the released [3H]dopamine (DA) and recording of action potentials from the carotid sinus nerve. 2. Low pH (7.2-6.6) superfusion of the carotid bodies for periods of 10 min produced a parallel increase in the release of [3H]DA and chemoreceptor discharge. 3. Carotid sinus nerve denervation of the carotid body 12-15 days prior to the experiments did not modify the release of [3H]DA elicited by low pH. 4. Superfusion of the carotid bodies with Ca(2+)-free, high-Mg2+ (1.6 mM) media reduced basal release of [3H]DA and chemoreceptor discharge by about 30%. Release evoked by low pH was reduced by 82%. Peak and average chemoreceptor discharge recorded in response to low pH were reduced by 28%. 5. Solutions containing weak acids (sodium acetate, 10 mM), adjusted at pH 7.4, elicited release of [3H]DA and increased chemoreceptor discharge. 6. With HCO3-CO2-buffered superfusion media, a reduction of bicarbonate to 5.6 mM (pH 6.8), an increase in CO2 to 20% (pH 6.8), or a simultaneous increase in CO2 to 20% and bicarbonate to 90 mM (pH 7.4), resulted in all cases in a corresponding increase in [3H]DA release and chemoreceptor discharge. The most effective stimulus was 20% CO2-pH 6.8 and the least effective 5% CO2-5.6 mM-HCO3-pH 6.8. 7. Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase with acetazolamide while perfusing the carotid bodies with a 20% CO2-equilibrated (pH 7.4) solution resulted in comparable reductions in the release of [3H]DA and chemoreceptor discharge. 8. It is concluded that the effective acidic stimulus at the carotid body chemoreceptors is an increase in hydrogen ion concentration in type I cells. It is also concluded that DA plays a critical role in the genesis of carotid sinus nerve discharges.

Acetazolamide↗