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Biomedical subjects

J Ferrer

Publications and source records attributed to J Ferrer.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Immune response and in vivo production of cytokines in patients with liver hydatidosis.

Cytokines play an important role in the human immunological response, but the exact role of cytokines in the human immune response against parasites, especially against Echinococcus granulosus, remains unclear. IL-1, IL-2, IL-4 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) levels in peripheral blood of 21 patients with liver hydatidosis were evaluated before surgical treatment, and the levels of IgA, IgM, IgG, IgE, specific IgE against E. granulosus, C3, C4 and DF complement fractions and CD20, CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD16 cell percentages were also determined, as was the relationship between these variables and cytokine levels. Data from hydatid patients were compared with data obtained from 21 healthy volunteers. Hydatid patients showed increases of IgG, IgE, IgEs and IL-2 (P < 0.01), and decreases of IL-1 and TNF levels (P < 0.001), but these variables (respectively) increased in patients showing cysts in the central area of the liver or with a wide opening of cysts in the biliary tract. The increase of IL-1, IL-2 and IL-4 showed a close relationship with the number, characteristics and above all the location of cysts within the liver itself. IgG and IL-4 levels and also IgG and IgE levels showed a significant correlation (P < 0.05).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

IgA antigliadin antibodies as a screening method for nonovert celiac disease in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

One hundred forty-one children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were screened for serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) antigliadin antibodies by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. None of them had gastrointestinal symptoms, and no major nutritional disturbances were detected except for a girl with moderate growth delay. Twelve patients with positive IgA antigliadin antibodies on two or more consecutive measurements underwent a small intestinal biopsy; four of them had a subtotal villous atrophy, and celiac disease was diagnosed; in another patient, a partial villous atrophy was observed. Children suffering from both diabetes and celiac disease showed an onset of diabetes at a younger age than did nonceliac patients. Prevalence of celiac disease in the screened population is 2.85%, which is higher than in the general population of the Comunidad Valenciana (one in 2,500 live births).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Cocaine-induced Churg-Strauss vasculitis.

A freebase cocaine-smoking woman developed relapsing fever, bronchoconstriction, arthralgias and weight loss. Pulmonary infiltrates, arthritis, microhaematuria, pruriginous skin rash and mononeuritis multiplex were later added to the clinical picture. Both skin and muscle biopsies showed eosinophilic angiitis. Improvement or worsening of her clinical picture repeatedly coincided with avoidance or use of smoked cocaine, respectively. We suggest that Churg-Strauss vasculitis may be a complication of smoking freebase cocaine.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Cloning of an alternatively spliced human islet-cell cDNA, tissue distribution, physical mapping, and identification of a polymorphic genetic marker.

Pancreatic beta-cell mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH) plays a major role in glucose-induced insulin secretion. Decreased activity of this enzyme has thus been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of NIDDM. Cloning of human insulinoma mGPDH cDNAs disclosed the existence of two variant transcripts with different 5' ends. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the presence of both mGPDH mRNAs in purified native human pancreatic islets and other tissues. A major 6.5-Kb mGPDH transcript was detected by Northern blot analysis in RNA from human and rat pancreatic islets, with distinctly lower levels in other human tissues, indicating that previously reported high mGPDH enzymatic activity in beta-cells is determined by high transcript levels. The mGPDH gene was mapped to chromosome 2 by PCR analysis of genomic DNA from human/rodent somatic cell hybrids, and five independent overlapping yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones containing the mGPDH sequence were identified from the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain YAC library. Analysis of these YAC clones identified a highly polymorphic chromosome 2q21-q33 dinucleotide repeat genetic marker (D2S141) physically linked to the mGPDH gene. These studies provide the means to investigate the role of the human mGPDH gene in the pathogenesis of NIDDM and illustrate the value of a novel strategy to identify genetic markers for diabetes candidate genes.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1996

Sequence variants in the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) gene are associated with NIDDM in Caucasians.

NIDDM is a common heterogeneous disorder, the genetic basis of which has yet to be determined. The sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) gene, now known to encode an integral component of the pancreatic beta-cell ATP-sensitive potassium channel, IKATP, was investigated as a logical candidate for this disorder. The two nucleotide-binding fold (NBF) regions of SUR are known to be critical for normal glucose regulation of insulin secretion. Thus, single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis was used to find sequence changes in the two NBF regions of the SUR gene in 35 NIDDM patients. Eight variants were found; and three were evaluated in two Northern European white populations (Utah and the U.K.): 1) a missense mutation in exon 7 (S1370A) was found with equal frequency in patients (n = 223) and control subjects (n = 322); 2) an ACC-->ACT silent variant in exon 22 (T761T) was more common in patients than in control subjects (allele frequencies 0.07 vs. 0.02, P = 0.0008, odds ratio (OR) 3.01, 95% CI 1.54-5.87); and 3) an intronic t-->c change located at position -3 of the exon 24 splice acceptor site was also more common in patients than in control subjects (0.62 vs. 0.46, P < 0.0001, OR 1.91, 95% Cl 1.50-2.44). The combined genotypes of exon 22 C/T or T/T and intron 24 -3c/-3c occurred in 8.9% of patients and 0.5% of control subjects (P < 0.0001, OR 21.5, 95% CI 2.91-159.6). These results suggest that defects at the SUR locus may be a major contributor to the inherited basis of NIDDM in Northern European Caucasians.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1995

Pancreatic islet cells express a family of inwardly rectifying K+ channel subunits which interact to form G-protein-activated channels.

Insulin secretion is associated with changes in pancreatic beta-cell K+ permeability. A degenerate polymerase chain reaction strategy based on the conserved features of known inwardly rectifying K+ (KIR) channel genes was used to identify members of this family expressed in human pancreatic islets and insulinoma. Three related human KIR transcript sequences were found: CIR (also known as cardiac KATP-1), GIRK1, and GIRK2 (KATP-2). The pancreatic islet CIR and GIRK2 full-length cDNAs were cloned, and their genes were localized to human chromosomes 11q23-ter and 21, respectively. Northern blot analysis detected CIR mRNA at similar levels in human islets and exocrine pancreas, while the abundance of GIRK2 mRNA in the two tissues was insufficient for detection by this method. Using competitive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, CIR was found to be present at higher levels than GIRK2 mRNA in native purified beta-cells. Xenopus oocytes injected with M2 muscarinic receptor (M2) plus either GIRK2 or CIR cRNA expressed only very small carbachol-induced currents, while co-injection of CIR plus GIRK2 along with M2 resulted in expression of carbachol-activated strong inwardly rectifying currents. Activators of KATP channels failed to elicit currents in the presence or absence of co-expressed sulfonylurea receptor. These results show that two components of islet cell KIR channels, CIR and GIRK2, may interact to form heteromeric G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ channels that do not possess the typical properties of KATP channels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

A rapid and sensitive method of identification of HTLV-II subtypes.

There are 2 subtypes of human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus type II (HTLV-II), A and B. HTLV-II is increasingly associated with rare forms of lymphocytic neoplasia and a neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by hyperspasticity and ataxia. We have used PCR to amplify, clone and sequence 140 bp of the pol gene from many isolates of HTLV-IIA and HTLV-IIB from around the world. Analysis of these and other published sequence established that all HTLV-IIA sequences contained a unique Hinf I site and all HTLV-IIB sequences a unique Mse I site. A rapid and specific oligomer restriction (OR) assay was developed utilizing the primer pair SK110/SK111 and subsequent digestion with these enzymes. Concordance between sequenced and OR-based subtyping of DNA amplified by PCR was absolute among 22 HTLV-II isolates tested. Further OR or sequence analyses on an additional 30 other isolates indicated that the majority of North American non-indian HTLV-II isolates were subtype A, while all Paleo-Amerindian samples, including those from the Seminole of Florida; the Guaymi from Panama; and the Toba, Chorote, Wichi, and Chulupe of Argentina, belonged to subtype B. The SK110/SK111 PCR-OR format should facilitate molecular epidemiology studies of HTLV-II infection and allow for subtype stratification in assessing the sensitivity and specificity of HTLV detection formats and HTLV-II disease association.

Argentina↗
PubMed1995

Clinical characteristics of 16 cystic fibrosis patients with the missense mutation R334W, a pancreatic insufficiency mutation with variable age of onset and interfamilial clinical differences.

We present the genotype/phenotype correlation analysis for 16 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who carry mutation R334W. Current age and age of diagnosis was significantly higher in the R334W/any-mutation group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), compared with the delta F508/delta F508 group. A slightly, but not significantly, worse lung function was found in the R334W/any-mutation group, when compared with the delta F508/delta F508 patients. The proportion of patients with lung colonization with bacterial pathogens was slightly, but not significantly, higher in the R334W/any-mutation group (71.4%), compared with the delta F508/delta F508 or R334W/delta F508 groups (55.5%). None of the R334W patients had meconium ileus but 60% were pancreatic insufficient (PI), a significantly lower proportion (P << 0.001) than delta F508/delta F508 patients. Two R334W/N1303K compound heterozygous sisters of three sibs with genotype R334W/delta F508 showed interfamilial discordant clinical data for lung and pancreatic function. The data provided here for mutation R334W demonstrate that this mutation is responsible for a less severe form of CF than delta F508. Interfamilial differences for PI and lung function suggest that other factors, viz. genetic, environmental and medical, contribute to the wide spectrum of clinical differences observed in CF patients with the same CF transmembrane conductance regulator genotypes.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1995

Pancreatic islet GLUT2 glucose transporter mRNA and protein expression in humans with and without NIDDM.

GLUT2 glucose transporter mRNA has been shown to be underexpressed in pancreatic islets of numerous animal models of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). It has been proposed that this molecular defect contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetes, although information concerning the expression of GLUT2 in human pancreatic islet tissue is lacking. In contrast to the high abundance of GLUT2 in rat islets, human islets were found to express distinctly low levels of this glucose transporter mRNA and protein. Thus, a sensitive competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay was developed to quantify human GLUT2 mRNA. We obtained pancreases from 4 human organ donors with previously diagnosed NIDDM and 11 nondiabetic donors and found no significant differences in GLUT2 mRNA between the two groups. GLUT2 mRNA was 0.24 +/- 0.08 amol/micrograms RNA (mean +/- SE) in pancreases from humans with diabetes and 0.27 +/- 0.06 amol/microgram RNA in those without this diagnosis. Similarly, human pancreatic islet GLUT2 protein was measured by immunoblot and found to be present at similar levels in two individuals with diabetes relative to six control samples. These results thus demonstrate the existence of species differences in the abundance of islet GLUT2 mRNA and protein. Furthermore, the analysis of islet GLUT2 in a small sample of human organ donors with and without diabetes raises the possibility that decreased beta-cell GLUT2 may not represent a widespread feature of humans with NIDDM.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of the LIM/homeodomain gene islet-1 and single nucleotide screening in NIDDM.

Islet-1 (Isl-1) is a unique transcription factor that binds to the enhancer region of the insulin gene. To evaluate this gene in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), a full-length human Isl-1 cDNA was isolated and the genomic structure was characterized. The cDNA [2,395 bp plus additional poly(A) residues] contained an open reading frame from an initiator methionine at nucleotide 240 to an opal stop codon at nucleotide 1,286 (GenBank accession number UO7559), encoding a predicted protein of 349 amino acids (39 kDa). From their ends, 23 additional clones were sequenced, revealing 15 incomplete cDNAs and 8 intron-containing partially processed precursors. As determined by Northern blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, Isl-1 was most abundantly expressed as a 2.4-kb mRNA in human islets, with a restricted pattern of expression in other adult human tissues. Analysis of genomic clones revealed that Isl-1 is encoded by six exons, varying in size from 168 bp (exon 5) to 1,230 bp (exon 6). Exons 2 and 3 each encode a LIM domain, while the homeodomain is completely contained within exon 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Vaginal melanoma. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of primary vaginal melanoma were treated between 1984 and 1986 at the Asturias Central Hospital, University Centre. Radical surgery was carried out in the first case--the patient surviving six months--and irradiation in the second case--living for only four months. Genital melanoma is a rare tumor--accounting for 3 per cent of female melanomas--with only 125 patients having been reported in the literature concerning vaginal melanoma. There is great disagreement as to the optimal treatment although radical surgery is the most frequently used. Primary vaginal melanoma is a lesion of poor prognosis, even more serious than cutaneous localizations, such as vulvar melanoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Postgraduate training program for the diagnosis and follow-up of cancer: experience of the University of Oviedo, Spain.

In anticipation of the expected worldwide increase in cancer deaths, the University of Oviedo in 1987 launched a two-year-long doctorate program entitled "Training Programme for the Diagnosis and Follow up of Cancer." The course was organized in three modules, General Basis, Methods, and Applications. Doctoral candidates acquired experience in these areas by means of theoretical lessons, practical work, and seminars with required preparation of special projects. From 1987 to 1990, 30 doctoral candidates completed the program. Some developed impressive projects and doctoral theses on aspects of cancer in the course of the program, which was offered twice, in 1987-88 and in 1988-89.

Aftercare↗
PubMed1995

Thyroid carcinoma originating in a teratoma of the ovary.

The malignant degeneration of a cystic teratoma of the ovary is a rare complication which different authors place at between 0.8 to 4%. Adenocarcinomas represent a relatively rare complication, 8% of secondary cancers, those of thyroid origin being reported in only 5 cases. The aim of this paper is to present the sixth such case of thyroid carcinoma developed in a mature teratoma in the ovary.

Cystadenoma, Mucinous↗