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Biomedical subjects

D Martin

Publications and source records attributed to D Martin.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Transformation of triclosan by Trametes versicolor and Pycnoporus cinnabarinus.

We investigated the ability of Trametes versicolor and Pycnoporous cinnabarinus to metabolize triclosan. T. versicolor produced three metabolites, 2-O-(2,4,4'-trichlorodiphenyl ether)-beta-D-xylopyranoside, 2-O-(2,4,4'-trichlorodiphenyl ether)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and 2,4-dichlorophenol. P. cinnabarinus converted triclosan to 2,4, 4'-trichloro-2'-methoxydiphenyl ether and the glucoside conjugate known from T. versicolor. The conjugates showed a distinctly lower cytotoxic and microbicidal activity than triclosan did.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
PubMed2000

Identification of group B streptococcal Sip protein, which elicits cross-protective immunity.

A protein of group B streptococci (GBS), named Sip for surface immunogenic protein, which is distinct from previously described surface proteins, was identified after immunological screening of a genomic library. Immunoblots using a Sip-specific monoclonal antibody indicated that a protein band with an approximate molecular mass of 53 kDa which did not vary in size was present in every GBS strain tested. Representatives of all nine GBS serotypes were included in the panel of strains. Cloning and sequencing of the sip gene revealed an open reading frame of 1,305 nucleotides coding for a polypeptide of 434 amino acid residues, with a calculated pI of 6. 84 and molecular mass of 45.5 kDa. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences from six different strains confirmed with 98% identity that the sip gene is highly conserved among GBS isolates. N-terminal amino acid sequencing also indicated the presence of a 25-amino-acid signal peptide which is cleaved in the mature protein. More importantly, immunization with the recombinant Sip protein efficiently protected CD-1 mice against deadly challenges with six GBS strains of serotypes Ia/c, Ib, II/R, III, V, and VI. The data presented in this study suggest that this highly conserved protein induces cross-protective immunity against GBS infections and emphasize its potential as a universal vaccine candidate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Seroepidemiological survey of infection by feline leukemia virus and immunodeficiency virus in Madrid and correlation with some clinical aspects.

A study of 180 healthy cats found that 15.6% were feline leukemia virus (FeLV) positive, 8.3% were feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) positive, and 1.1% were FIV and FeLV positive, which corresponded to 30.4, 13.8, and 2.6, of 115 cats with FIV- and FeLV-related symptoms, respectively. Differences were seen in the sexes and ages of the populations studied. Anemia, leukopenia, and lymphopenia were the most frequent hematological abnormalities in infected cats.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2000

Osteogenic protein-1 prevents renal fibrogenesis associated with ureteral obstruction.

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is a model of renal injury characterized by progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis and renal damage, while relatively sparing the glomerulus and not producing hypertension or abnormalities in lipid metabolism. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a major component of several kidney diseases associated with the progression to end-stage renal failure. Here we report that when a critical renal developmental morphogen, osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1; 100 or 300 microg/kg body wt), is administered at the time of UUO and every other day thereafter, interstitial inflammation and fibrogenesis are prevented, leading to preservation of renal function during the first 5 days after obstruction. Compared with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition with enalapril treatment, OP-1 was more effective in preventing tubulointerstitial fibrosis and in preserving renal function. The mechanism of OP-1- induced renal protection was associated with prevention of tubular atrophy, an effect not shared with enalapril, and was related to preservation of tubular epithelial integrity. OP-1 blocked the stimulation of epithelial cell apoptosis produced by UUO, which promoted maintenance of tubular epithelial integrity. OP-1 preserved renal blood flow (RBF) during UUO, but enalapril also stimulated RBF. Thus OP-1 treatment inhibited tubular epithelial disruption stimulated by the renal injury of UUO, preventing tubular atrophy and diminishing the activation of tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis and preserving renal function.

Actins↗
PubMed2000

The role of local induction of tumor necrosis factor by LPS within a subcutaneous air pouch in the development of a febrile response in guinea pigs.

In rats, fever can be induced by injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into a subcutaneous air pouch. This febrile response is in part dependent on the local action of interleukin-1beta within the pouch. In the present study, we tried to find out if this model of fever induction can be applied in guinea pigs and if the local LPS-induced formation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) participates in the development of the febrile response. A dose of 100 microg/kg LPS was injected into a subcutaneous air pouch along with solvent (0.9% saline), or 100 mg/kg pentoxifylline, or 1 mg/animal soluble 55-kD TNF receptor (referred to as TNF-binding protein, TNF bp). The mean LPS-induced concentration of TNF in the lavage of the air pouch (measured 60 min after injection) was 17,765 pg/ml in animals injected with LPS and solvent. This value was reduced to 7,631 pg/ml if pentoxifylline was injected along with LPS into the pouch. If LPS was injected along with TNF bp, no bioactive TNF was detected in the lavage of the air pouch. Simultaneously, TNF was measured in blood plasma. Circulating concentrations of TNF were about 5-8% of the values detected in the lavage of the air pouch (mean values: 1,366 pg/ml in response to LPS plus solvent; 377 pg/ml in response to LPS plus pentoxifylline; no circulating TNF at all in response to LPS plus TNF bp). These data indicated a small spill-over of TNF from the air pouch into the circulation. Neither the reduction of local TNF formation in the air pouch by pentoxifylline nor the complete neutralization of TNF within the pouch by TNF bp resulted in a significant attenuation of the febrile response induced by injection of LPS into the subcutaneous air pouch. If there were an activation of cutaneous nerves to induce fever by a local formation of cytokines within the air pouch, TNF would not represent a likely candidate to be responsible for such a neural stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Stroke associated with marijuana abuse.

We present the case of a 15-year-old with a cerebellar infarct that involved multiple arterial territories. It was temporally related to, and probably caused by, heavy marijuana use. While the mechanism of marijuana-associated stroke is unclear, the drug is known to cause hypotension and to impair peripheral vasomotor reflexes. We suspect that the child had diminished cerebral autoregulatory capacity and developed the stroke during a period of hypotension.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Surveillance for recurrent head and neck cancer using positron emission tomography.

PURPOSE: Earlier detection of head and neck cancer recurrence may improve survival. We evaluated the ability of [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) to detect recurrence in a prospective trial using sequential PET scans. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serial posttherapy FDG-PET was prospectively performed in 44 patients with stage III or IV head and neck cancer. PET was performed twice during the first posttreatment year (at 2 and 10 months after therapy) and thereafter as needed. After therapy, patients were grouped, based on tissue biopsies, into those who achieved a complete response (CR) and those who had residual disease (RD). Patients who achieved a CR were further grouped into those without evidence of disease and those who had recurrence by 1 year after completion of therapy. Disease status as determined by physical examination (PE), PET, and correlative imaging was compared. RESULTS: Eight patients were lost to follow-up and six had RD after therapy. Of the remaining 30 patients with a CR, 16 had recurrence in the first year after therapy. Five of these 16 patients had recurrence detected by PET only, four by PET and correlative imaging only, five by PE and PET only, and two by PE, correlative imaging, and PET. Only PET detected all recurrences in the first year. PET performed better than correlative imaging (P =.013) or PE (P =.002) in the detection of recurrence. CONCLUSION: PET can detect head and neck tumor recurrence when it may be undetectable by other clinical methods. FDG-PET permits highly accurate detection of head and neck cancer recurrence in the posttherapy period.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2000

The effect of modest monetary incentives on follow-up rates in sexually transmitted disease studies.

The purpose of the study was to determine if follow-up rates in sexually transmitted disease (STD) research could be improved by offering modest monetary incentives. Women aged 14-34, infected with Chlamydia trachomatis, and enrolled in either of 2 studies between May 1995 and January 1999 were included. Beginning in March 1996 participants were offered a $20 incentive to return to both the one- and four-month follow-up visits. Data were analysed using polychotomous logistic regression. Of 962 women followed, the majority (74.7%) received monetary incentives and 66% returned for at least one visit. Women who received the incentive were more likely (OR 1.9, CI 1.2-2.9) to return for either one or both of their follow-up visits after adjusting for interviewer and the months of work experience of that interviewer. Age and method of birth control were not associated with return rates. The study provides evidence that modest monetary incentives can improve follow-up rates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[The modiolus. Comparative anatomy, embryological and physiological review, surgical importance].

Monkeys, imitators of man's gesture never shared smile with him and their facial expressions only result in grimaces. Study of animal anatomy may explain why subtle expressions of the lips are a more man's special gift than laughter. These fine movements are related to a subcutaneous muscular structure termed modiolus, which is the meeting point of muscles involved in the motion of mouth and comparative anatomy shows this structure to be better defined in Man than in other primates. Embryologically, muscles that form the modiolus derive from a cellular concentration in the region of the second branchial arch. It is then logical to see these muscles converge to the corner of the mouth to form the modiolus, as they emerge from a common area. Functioning of the modiolus is complex, as its position may change many times in a minute to allow the orbicularis oris muscle to take any position and do any movement as if it was inserted on bone. With its complex physiology, the modiolus is of critical importance in the subtle expressions of the lips and must be preserved or reconstructed when performing repair of full-thickness tissue defects of lips.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Pseudo-inherited form of left heart obstructive defects revealing maternal phenylketonuria].

If an adequate diet is not given to mothers with phenylketonuria, their offsprings often exhibit intra-uterine growth retardation with associated microcephaly and various malformations. Here, we report two families in whom we observed recurrent left heart malformations associated with microcephaly masquerading as a mendelian condition and revealing a maternal phenylketonuria. These observations suggest that when confronted to recurrent heart malformations with extra-cardiac defects that are not due either to an inherited chromosomal anomaly or to a well characterized mendelian disease, a maternal teratogen should be identified and more particularly maternal hyperphenylalaninemia if an intra-uterine growth retardation or a microcephaly is part of the syndrome.

Female↗
PubMed2000

Severe carotid arterial disease: a diagnostic enigma.

The development of the duplex scanner has made the diagnosis of carotid arterial disease easy to those trained in its interpretation. The difficulty lies in the ability to define the patient population most likely to benefit from early diagnosis and treatment. All patients referred to the vascular laboratories at two major hospitals for evaluation of neurologic symptoms were entered into the study. The indications for the study, comorbid conditions, and medications were tabulated and compared with the results of the carotid duplex scan. The purpose was to see whether there was a relationship between the severity of carotid arterial disease and symptoms. A total of 5,807 carotid duplex scans were performed on 5,001 patients. There were 525 patients (11%) with an internal carotid artery stenosis of >70 per cent and 252 patients (5%) with an occlusion of the internal carotid artery. In addition, there were a group of 139 patients with severe bilateral carotid disease. Bruit and a history of known carotid disease were the only indications that were statistically related to severe carotid arterial disease. Smoking, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, cardiac conditions, and hyperlipidemia were also statistically related to patients with significant carotid disease. This study indicates that the classic indications for carotid duplex scans such as transient ischemic attack, amaurosis fugax, and dizziness have no correlation with the severity of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Autologous bone grafts. Anatomo-physiology, technique and actual location for bone reconstructions].

The authors discuss the indications for conventional nonvascularized bone grafts, of which the scope of utilisation has been considerably reduced since the advent of vascularized bone grafts. The objective of this study is to highlight the essential knowledge regarding the biology and biomechanics of the incorporation of bone grafts. The principal donor sites are examined with respect to the operative techniques and the advantages and disadvantages. The authors then derive the principal indications for conventional bone grafting and illustrate them with examples selected for limb reconstruction.

Bone Transplantation↗
PubMed2000

[The iliac crest. Perspective on a donor site of exceptional free flaps, 20 years after its initial description].

The iliac crest represents the principle 'reservoir' for the cortico-spongy bone. After having been used for a long time in the form of a conventional graft, it has been the object, in the last 20 years, of increasingly sophisticated transfers, making it possible to extract it in vascularized form. The authors present the anatomical bases of these transfers, which can be conceived on four different vascular axes: the superficial circumflex iliac axis, which was the first used, the deep circumflex iliac axis, the superior gluteal axis, and the lateral femoral circumflex axis. After having presented the various techniques of extraction of the anterior and posterior crests, the authors attempted to delineate the indications of each variant in the reconstruction of the members and the cervico-facial sphere. A comparison with the fibula flap will be finally carried out in order to parallel the advantage and respective disadvantages of these two transfers.

Bone Transplantation↗