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J J Corrales

Publications and source records attributed to J J Corrales.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cytoplasmic enzyme activities involved in energy and amino acid metabolism in pathological human renal cortex.

Enzyme levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured in the cytosol of renal cortex samples from either normal and pathologic kidney tissue. The mean enzyme activity values, expressed in Units per gram of cytosolic protein decreased in the following order: normal cortex (LDH = 4,299 +/- 654; AST = 522 +/- 101; ALT = 197 +/- 44). chronic pyelonephritis (LDH = 2,360 +/- 876; AST = 297 +/- 117; ALT = 90 +/- 48), hydronephrosis (LDH = 2,208 +/- 1,264; AST = 279 +/- 165; ALT = 82 +/- 61), pyonephrosis (LDH = 1,410 +/- 596; AST = 158 +/- 69; ALT = 23.4 +/- 16.4) and renal tuberculosis (LDH = 1,149 +/- 481; AST = 93 +/- 34; ALT = 5.6 +/- 2.8). The decrease in the enzyme activities paralleled tissue damage and it was shown to affect cellular functionality in relation with energy and amino acid metabolism.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Cytoplasmic creatine kinase in normal and pathological human kidney tissue.

Cytoplasmic creatine kinase (CK) activity was measured in 39 renal cortex samples from various kidney diseases. The highest CK values were observed in normal tissues (507 +/- 71). The mean values of CK enzymatic activity in the other groups decreased in the following order: chronic pyelonephritis (273 +/- 98), hydronephrosis (233 +/- 102), renal tuberculosis (133 +/- 34), pyonephrosis (96 +/- 46), and hypernephroma (45 +/- 33). The decrease in CK activity in kidney tissue paralleled tissue damage, and affects cellular functionality in relation with the processes that use adenosine 5'-triphosphate, such as the ionic pumps.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

Androgen receptor content in cytosol from non-tumoral human kidney and its relation to steroid hormone environment.

The content of cytoplasmic androgen receptors (Bmax) was analyzed in non-tumoral renal tissue of 12 men and 15 postmenopausal women using a synthetic androgen (methyltrienolone) as ligand and a method of dextran-coated charcoal. The Bmax in both sexes was compared, establishing correlations between it and circulating levels of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and estradiol to find out the possible influence of the hormonal environment on androgen receptors in the human kidney. No differences in Bmax were observed between males (46.3 +/- 24 fmol/g of tissue) and females (45.4 +/- 26 fmol/g), in spite of the significantly greater (p less than 0.01) levels of circulating testosterone in the former group. No significant linear correlations existed between any of the steroids analyzed and the Bmax. These results demonstrate the existence of androgenic receptors in non-tumoral human kidney and indicate that its content is not regulated by circulating levels of testosterone. The concentrations of the principal extratesticular androgens and estradiol do not seem to have a quantitative influence on these androphilic proteins either.

Adult↗

Serum glycosidases in diabetes mellitus in relation to the retinopathy and to the length of the disease.

The following glycosidase activities in sera have been studied: alpha-D-mannosidase, beta-D-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-galactosaminidase, alpha-D-galactosidase, beta-D-galactosidase, alpha-D-glucosidase, beta-D-glucosidase and beta-D-fucosidase, in diabetic patients in relation to the presence of microangiopathy, evident by retinopathy, and to the length of the disease. A significant increase of all the enzyme activities, except for alpha-D-galactosidase was found. These elevations were independent of the development of retinopathy and the duration of the diabetic process.

Adolescent↗

Hormone levels in serum and seminal plasma of men with different types of azoospermia.

Hormone concentrations in the serum and seminal plasma of 15 normozoospermic, 17 excretory azoospermic and 14 secretory azoospermic men were measured. The results indicate that: (a) serum FSH and LH levels are markedly elevated in secretory azoospermia, as compared with excretory azoospermia and normozoospermia; (b) serum 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone levels are somewhat raised in secretory azoospermia as compared with excretory azoospermia and normozoospermia; (c) serum testosterone levels are lower in both types of azoospermia with respect to normozoospermia; (d) in secretory azoospermia the oestradiol serum levels are relatively high and dihydrotestosterone serum levels relatively low, whereas the serum levels of these hormones in excretory azoospermia are similar to those in normozoospermic men; (e) in the seminal plasma of azoospermic patients the levels of prolactin, progesterone, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and oestradiol were depressed, but only dihydrotestosterone levels could be of value in differentiating types of azoospermia because they are lower in secretory azoospermia. We suggest that the measurement of FSH, LH, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, dihydrotestosterone and oestradiol in serum and dihydrotestosterone in seminal plasma may be used in the differential diagnosis between secretory and excretory azoospermia when invasive tests are unavailable.

Androstenedione↗

N-acetyl beta-D-glucosaminidase and alpha-L-fucosidase activities in relation to glycosylated hemoglobin levels and to retinopathy in diabetes.

N-Acetyl beta-D-glucosaminidase and alpha-L-fucosidase were determined in human sera from 25 control subjects, in 23 diabetic patients without retinopathy and in 22 diabetic patients with retinopathy. The results show significantly higher N-acetyl beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in diabetic patients independently of the development of retinopathy and also independently of the length of diabetes. No correlation was found between either serum enzymes and serum glucose concentration and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1).

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Fluid inhibition as a factor in estrogen-induced increase of prostatic weight in castrated rats.

The mechanism by which estrogens inhibit castration atrophy has been investigated morphologically and biochemically utilizing ventral prostate from Copenhagen rats. The suppression of weight loss and gross edematous appearance of the prostate associated with the in vivo effect of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) could not be accounted for by DNA and protein synthesis. Increase in the fluid content in the tissues was confirmed by demonstration of significant increase in the ratio of wet/dry tissue weights. Light microscopy demonstrated that the main effects were on the stroma, characterized by large interglandular areas almost totally devoid of collagen resulting in an edematous appearance. Electron microscope studies showed an abundance of fluid localized adjacent to the capillary endothelium and some red blood cells indicating disturbances in capillary permeability. The combination of a prolactin secretion inhibiting agent with E2 alone, indicating an involvement of prolactin the estrogen effect. Differences in blood prolactin concentration between the strains of rats may influence the sensitivity of the prostate to estrogens.

Animals↗

Estramustine binding in rat, baboon and human prostate measured by high pressure liquid chromatography.

High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine 3H-estramustine (estradiol-17 beta 3N-bis-[2-chlorethyl] carbamate), 3H-17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one (3H-dihydrotestosterone or 3H-DHT), 3H-estradiol-17 beta (3H-E2) and 3H-3 beta-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (3H-pregnenolone) binding in 50(2) microliter of cytosol utilizing a column which separates proteins in the molecular weight range of 2,000 to 70,000 daltons. The rat prostate contains a protein in considerable concentration and with the highest affinity for estramustine (375,000 dpm 3H-estramustine per mg. cytosol protein) among the substances tested. Operationally, we have named this protein "estramustine binding protein" (EBP), though it is very likely similar to other previously described prostatic proteins (e.g., alpha-protein, prostatein, prostatic binding protein). The sensitivity of the HPLC method disclosed EBP-like proteins, but in much lesser concentrations, in some of the other tissues tested. The concentration of these proteins in the human and baboon prostates was much lower (average for the baboon cranial lobe 4800 dpm/mg cytosol protein, with a somewhat higher value for the caudal lobe) than that in the rat gland. The amount of the EBP-like protein was higher in prostatic cancer than in that of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) (range 9350--25,900 vs. 2200--18,900 dpm/mg cytosol protein). In the human, the highest value was found in one normal prostate tested (106,000 dpm/mg cytosol protein).

Animals↗

Prospective study of the enzymatic activities in urine of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, alpha-D-mannosidase, alpha- and beta-D-glucosidases, alpha-L- and beta-D-fucosidases, and beta-D-galactosidase in type I diabetes mellitus with early nephropathy.

Different surveys have been carried out on the plasma activities of different glycosidases in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, but research on urinary glycosidases in this disease is scanty and incomplete. To elucidate the behavior of these lysosomal enzymes in the metabolic alterations occurring in the glomerular basal membrane during the initial stages of diabetic nephropathy, we conducted a prospective study to examine the urinary activities of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), alpha-D-mannosidase, alpha- and beta-D-glucosidase, alpha-L- and beta-D-fucosidase, and beta-D-galactosidase in patients with type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, surveyed over 18 months, whose early diabetic nephropathy was detected by the presence of microalbuminuria. The simultaneous determination of beta 2-microglobulin in urine confirmed the glomerular origin of the albuminuria. No statistically significant correlation was found between the levels of albuminuria and the activities of any of the glycosidases analyzed. In the diabetic patients, a significant decrease was observed in the activities of all the enzymes (p < 0.05), except NAG and alpha-D-mannosidase, although the decrease in the latter was very close to statistical significance (p = 0.028, unilateral; p = 0.057 bilateral). Similarly, in the patients, there was a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) with the serum levels of fructosamine, except with beta-D-galactosidase, which showed a positive correlation (p < 0.05) with fructosamine and blood HbA1c.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

The distribution of the major peripheral blood T, B and NK cell subsets does not predict the clinical outcome of Graves' disease patients after methimazole therapy.

Biological markers capable of predicting the clinical outcome of antithyroid drug therapy could be clinically useful in selecting the modality of treatment for Graves' disease, but at present they are unavailable. In the present study we prospectively explore the value of 22 different peripheral blood T, B and NK lymphocyte subsets to predict remission and relapse in a group of 42 Graves' disease patients. Eighteen patients were studied at diagnosis, before treatment, and 24 during antithyroid drug therapy. All cases were followed-up for at least one year after finishing an 18 month cycle of methimazole therapy. The combination of flow cytometry and 3- color immunofluorescence did not reveal significant differences in the distribution of the major peripheral blood T, B and NK cell subsets between the relapsed patients and those in remission, both in the groups studied at diagnosis and in those analyzed during the cycle of antithyroid drug therapy. In our search for a prognostic marker for relapse prediction we found that some lymphoid subpopulations such as total B cells, total NK and NK CD8+ cells showed high sensitivity (88-100%). In turn, other subsets such as TCD8+, total T and B cells expressing the CD25 antigen displayed high specificity (77-88%).

Adult↗