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J A Molina

Publications and source records attributed to J A Molina.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Pathologic gambling in Parkinson's disease: a behavioral manifestation of pharmacologic treatment?

We describe 12 patients with Parkinson's disease and pathologic gambling. This association has apparently never been reported. The patients were selected from a Parkinson's disease unit of 250 patients. They met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, criteria for pathologic gambling. All patients underwent a neurologic, psychiatric, and psychologic examination, specifically noting the presence or absence of psychopathology in the spectrum of impulse control disorder and the nature of the gambling. Ten patients started gambling after the onset of Parkinson's disease and treatment with levodopa. The pathologic behavior was exclusively present or was markedly increased in "on" periods in 11 patients. All patients had motor fluctuations at the time of the study. Slot machines were the preferred source of gambling for 10 patients, similar to the Spanish gambling population. That the gambling behavior appears more often in the "on" periods of motor fluctuations and that it begins after the onset of Parkinson's disease in most patients and worsens with levodopa therapy suggest that it could be related to the dopaminergic tone in patients with Parkinson's disease and motor fluctuations (that is, it could represent a behavioral manifestation of pharmacologic treatment).

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Serum levels of coenzyme Q10 in patients with Parkinson's disease.

We compared serum levels of coenzyme Q10 and the coenzyme Q10/cholesterol ratio in 33 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 31 matched controls. The mean serum coenzyme Q10 levels did not differ significantly between the 2 study groups. Coenzyme Q10 levels were not correlated with age, age at onset, duration of the disease, scores of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) or the Hoehn and Yahr staging in the PD group. The coenzyme Q10/cholesterol ratio had a significant correlation (although low) with duration of the disease (r = -0.46), total UPDRS score (r = -0.39), motor examination of the UPDRS (r = 0.45). These values were not influenced significantly by therapy with levodopa or dopamine agonists. The normality of serum coenzyme Q10 and coenzyme Q10/cholesterol ratio suggest that these values are not related with the risk for PD.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed2000

Serum levels of coenzyme Q10 in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

We compared serum levels of coenzyme Q10 and the coenzyme Q10/cholesterol ratio in 44 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 17 patients with vascular dementia (VD), and 21 matched controls. The mean serum coenzyme Q10 and cholesterol levels and the coenzyme Q10/cholesterol ratio of patients with AD or VD did not differ significantly from those of controls. Coenzyme Q10 levels and coenzyme Q10/cholesterol ratio of AD or VD patients were not correlated with age, age at onset, duration of the disease or scores of the MiniMental State Examination. These results suggest that these values are not related with the risk for AD or VD.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Serum levels of coenzyme Q10 in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

To elucidate whether serum coenzyme Q10 levels are related with the risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we compared serum levels of coenzyme Q10 and the coenzyme Q10/cholesterol ratio, in 30 patients with ALS and 42 matched controls using a high performance liquid chromatography technique. The mean serum coenzyme Q10 levels and the coenzyme Q10/cholesterol ratio did not differ significantly between the 2 study groups. These values were not influenced by the clinical form (spinal vs. bulbar) of ALS, and they did not correlate with age, age at onset, and duration of the disease. These results suggest that serum coenzyme Q10 concentrations are unrelated with the risk for ALS.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Serum levels of coenzyme Q10 in patients with multiple sclerosis.

To elucidate whether serum coenzyme Q10 levels are related with the risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) or are a marker for the activity of the disease, we compared serum levels of coenzyme Q10 and the coenzyme Q10/cholesterol ratio, in 31 patients with MS (during exacerbations) and 19 matched controls using a high performance liquid chromatography technique. The mean serum coenzyme Q10 levels and the coenzyme Q10/cholesterol ratio did not differ significantly between the 2 study groups. The values did not correlate with age, age at onset, and duration of the disease. These results suggest that serum coenzyme Q10 concentrations are unrelated with the risk for MS and are not a useful marker of activity of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of thiamine in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Thiamine is an essential cofactor for several important enzymes involved in brain oxidative metabolism, such as the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (KGDHC), pyruvate-dehydrogenase complex, and transketolase. The activity of KGDHC is decreased in the substantia nigra or patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We measured cerebrospinal (CSF) levels of thiamine-diphosphate, thiamine-monophosphate, free thiamine, and total thiamine, using ion-pair reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography, in 24 PD patients and 40 matched controls. The mean CSF levels of thiamine-derivatives did not differ significantly from those of controls, with the exception of lower CSF free thiamine levels in the PD-patient group. PD patients under levodopa therapy had significantly higher CSF thiaminediphosphate and total thiamine than those not treated with this drug. CSF thiamine levels were not correlated with age, age at onset, duration of the disease, scores of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale of the Hoehn and Yahr staging in the PD group. These results suggest that low CSF free thiamine levels could be related with the risk for PD.

Antiparkinson Agents↗
PubMed1999

Influence of dietary nucleotides on plasma immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte subsets of preterm infants.

We examined the effects of nucleotide supplementation to a preterm adapted milk formula on the lymphocyte subsets and plasma IgG, IgM and IgA levels in preterm infants for the first three months of life. Two groups of preterm infants received a milk formula or the same formula supplemented with CMP, AMP, UMP, GMP and IMP to mimic the concentration of acid-soluble nucleotides found in human milk. Blood samples were obtained at birth, 10 days, 20-30 days and 3 months of age. Preterm infants fed the nucleotide formula exhibited higher plasma levels of IgM in all postnatal study periods than neonates fed the standard formula; moreover, IgA was also higher at 3 months of age in nucleotide formula fed infants. No major differences were seen between groups for IgG levels and lymphocyte subsets. Thus, dietary nucleotides appear to exert actions on immature human neonate lymphocytes enhancing the in vivo production of Ig which may have a role in the defense capacity of neonates.

Aging↗
PubMed1999

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of selenium in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

We compared CSF and serum selenium levels, measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, in 27 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) (13 females, 14 males, mean +/- SD age 73.6 +/- 7.4 years) without major clinical signs of undernutrition, and 34 matched controls (18 females, 16 males, mean +/- SD age 70.7 +/- 7.8 years). CSF and serum selenium levels did not differ significantly between AD-patient (11.4 +/- 7.8 ng/ml and 28.5 +/- 13.0 ng/ml, respectively) and control groups (13.3 +/- 7.0 ng/ml and 22.5 +/- 17.5 ng/ml). These values were not correlated with age, age at onset, duration of the disease, and scores of the MiniMental State Examination in the AD group. Weight and body mass index were significantly lower in AD patients than in controls. These results suggest that CSF selenium concentrations are apparently unrelated with the reported oxidative stress processes in patients with AD.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Respiratory chain enzyme activities in spermatozoa from untreated Parkinson's disease patients.

We studied respiratory chain enzyme activities in spermatozoa homogenates from 12 untreated Parkinson's disease (PD) male patients and from 23 age matched healthy male controls. When compared with controls, PD patients showed significantly lower specific activities for complexes I+ III, II+III, and IV. However, citrate synthase corrected activities were similar in patients and controls. Values for enzyme activities in the PD group did not correlate with age at onset, duration, scores of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scales and Hoehn and Yahr staging. These results suggest that this tissue cannot be used to develop a diagnostic test for PD.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Serum levels of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and vitamin A in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

To elucidate the possible role of carotenoids and vitamin A as risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), we compared serum levels of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, and vitamin A, measured by isocratic high performance liquid chromatography, of 38 AD patients and 42 controls. The serum levels of alpha-carotene did not differ significantly between AD patients and control groups. However, the serum levels of beta-carotene and vitamin A were significantly lower in the AD-patient group. These values did not correlate to age, age at onset or score on the MiniMental State Examination. Weight and body mass index were significantly lower in AD patients than in controls. These results suggest that low serum beta-carotene concentrations in AD patients could be related to a deficiency in dietary intake of this provitamin, although its possible relationship with risk for AD could not be excluded.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Ternary complex structure of human HGPRTase, PRPP, Mg2+, and the inhibitor HPP reveals the involvement of the flexible loop in substrate binding.

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to replace Lys68 of the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) with alanine to exploit this less reactive form of the enzyme to gain additional insights into the structure activity relationship of HGPRTase. Although this substitution resulted in only a minimal (one- to threefold) increase in the Km values for binding pyrophosphate or phosphoribosylpyrophosphate, the catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/Km) of the forward and reverse reactions were more severely reduced (6- to 30-fold), and the mutant enzyme showed positive cooperativity in binding of alpha-D-5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) and nucleotide. The K68A form of the human HGPRTase was cocrystallized with 7-hydroxy [4,3-d] pyrazolo pyrimidine (HPP) and Mg PRPP, and the refined structure reported. The PRPP molecule built into the [(Fo - Fc)phi(calc)] electron density shows atomic interactions between the Mg PRPP and enzyme residues in the pyrophosphate binding domain as well as in a long flexible loop (residues Leu101 to Gly111) that closes over the active site. Loop closure reveals the functional roles for the conserved SY dipeptide of the loop as well as the molecular basis for one form of gouty arthritis (S103R). In addition, the closed loop conformation provides structural information relevant to the mechanism of catalysis in human HGPRTase.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Serum levels of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and vitamin A in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

To elucidate whether serum alpha and beta-carotene and retinol levels are related with the risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we compared serum levels of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and retinol (vitamin A), measured by HPLC, in 40 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 87 matched controls using an isocratic high performance liquid chromatography technique. The mean serum alpha and beta-carotene, and retinol levels did not differ significantly between the 2 study groups. These values were not influenced by the clinical form (spinal vs bulbar) of ALS, and they did not correlate with age, age at onset, and duration of the disease. These results suggest that serum alpha and beta-carotene and retinol concentrations are unrelated with the risk for ALS.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Cerebrospinal fluid nitrate levels in patients with multiple sclerosis.

It has been suggested that nitric oxide (NO) could be implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Recently, two groups reported increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) nitrate levels (oxidation product that provides an indirect estimation of NO) in MS patients. However, another group did not confirm these findings. We studied the CSF and plasma levels of nitrate with a kinetic cadmium reduction method in 11 MS patients and 25 matched controls. The CSF nitrate levels and the CSF/plasma nitrate ratio did not differ significantly between the two study groups. Plasma nitrate levels were nearly significantly lower in MS patients. CSF and plasma nitrate levels did not correlate with age at onset and duration of the disease in the patient group. These data suggest that measurement of CSF levels of nitrate is not a marker of the activity of MS.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Estimation of the neurologic demand in a health care area of Madrid, Spain (area 11, University Hospital, 12 of October)].

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the demand for neurologic care and the neurological resources in a health district. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Demographic, medical care aspects, neurologic care demands and neurological resources of the health district 11 of Madrid (University Hospital "12 de Octubre"), referred to 1996, were reviewed. RESULTS: The rate of aging (17%) and the consulting rates in the National Health System (86%) versus private care were high in this health district. The neurologic care demands were 17.5-18.1 and 36 consultations respectively per 1,000 inhabitants/year. There were 2 patient-care neurologists and 3.7 neurologic beds per 100,000 inhabitants. CONCLUSIONS: The neurologic care was considered high and with a tendency to increase. The available neurological resources were judged to be insufficient.

Catchment Area, Health↗
PubMed1998

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of alpha-tocopherol in patients with multiple sclerosis.

We compared cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum levels, and the CSF/serum ratio of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), measured by HPLC, in 36 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 32 matched controls. The mean CSF vitamin E levels and the CSF/serum vitamin E ratio did not differ significantly between the two study groups. The serum levels of vitamin E and the serum vitamin E/cholesterol ratio were significantly lower in MS patients when compared with controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). These values were not correlated with age, age at onset and duration of the disease in the patients group. These results suggest that CSF vitamin E concentrations are not a marker of activity of MS activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cerebrospinal fluid carnitine levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

We assessed free carnitine (FC) and acylcarnitine esters (AC) in both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma from 24 patients with diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and from 28 healthy matched-controls. We found no significant correlation between FC and AC levels in CSF. FC and AC levels in CSF did not differ significantly between AD patients and controls, but plasma FC levels were significantly lower in AD patients. CSF and plasma FC and AC levels did not correlate with age, age at onset of AD, duration of AD, and scores of the Minimental State Examination of Folstein. Although these results suggest that CSF carnitine levels are apparently unrelated with the risk for AD, the trend of the FC/AC ratio to be higher in AD patients might suggest the possibility of a lower carnitine acetyltransferase activity in AD, as previously reported in some brain areas.

Aged↗