Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Martinez

Publications and source records attributed to J Martinez.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Characterization of soluble polymer supported organic compounds by LC/electrospray ionization MS toward a complete automation of the liquid-phase process in combinatorial chemistry.

In the case of a soluble polymer supported synthesis, the tuning of the support solubility depending on the solvent offers new opportunities for combinatorial chemistry for two reasons. First, organic syntheses in solution are generally easily translated on a soluble polymer supported substrate. Second, complete automation of the three successive steps of combinatorial chemistry (synthesis, analytical control, biological test) is approached without releasing the synthesized compound from the support. We report in this paper the preliminary results toward automation of both soluble polymer supported syntheses and their subsequent monitoring by ESI mass spectrometry.

Automation↗

Effect of covering pig slurry stores on the ammonia emission processes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different covers (oil, plastic film, perforated polystyrene float, peat and zeolites) on slurry settling characteristics and ammonia emission during storage and following surface application in the field. Laboratory trials were carried out for 15 days using a pilot scale device. Samples of 5 kg slurry were used. At the end of the storage period, distributions of dry matter, pH, total ammoniacal nitrogen and total Kjeldahl nitrogen in slurry were characterized. In the field, ammonia volatilisation was measured for three days using a wind tunnel system. Oil and plastic film retained all ammoniacal nitrogen forms in the slurry, whereas the others reduced ammonia volatilisation by reducing the emitting surface or by adsorbing/absorbing ammonia. Over the whole process studied (storage plus application) ammonia emissions were reduced by 40% by oil up to 65-71% by zeolites with different particle sizes.

Air Pollution↗

Simple method to determine the size of the laryngeal mask airway in children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The size of the laryngeal mask airway in children is determined by the patient's weight. However, in some instances an alternative method may be wanted. The aim was to search for a new method that would be easy to perform at the bedside. METHODS: The size of the laryngeal mask airway was determined in 183 children by choosing the laryngeal mask that best matched the combined widths of the patient's index, middle and ring fingers. The results were compared with the standard method recommended by the manufacturer's weight-related guidelines. The patients were classified in different groups depending on the laryngeal mask airway sizes determined by both methods. A kappa coefficient evaluated the agreement between both techniques. RESULTS: The kappa coefficient was 0.81, showing an 'excellent agreement' between both methods. The size was the same for both methods in 142 children (78%). The disagreement between both techniques was only of one size in the remaining 41 patients (22%). In such patients, the weight was a borderline value that would indicate a change in the size of the laryngeal mask airway using the classic method. CONCLUSIONS: This new approach is of valid and practical use in children, particularly as an alternative in those situations where the patient's weight is unknown, such as in emergency situations or in those borderline instances where an alternative measurement would be useful.

Adolescent↗

Formation of multiple complexes between beta-dystroglycan and dystrophin family products.

Beta-dystroglycan is expressed in a wide variety of tissues and has generally been reported with an Mr of 43 kDa, sometimes accompanied with a 31 kDa protein assumed to be a truncated product. This molecule was recently identified as the anomalous beta-dystroglycan expressed in various carcinoma cell lines. We produced and characterized a G5 polyclonal antibody specific to beta-dystroglycan that is directed against the C-terminal portion of the molecule. We provide evidence that beta-dystroglycan may vary in size and properties by studying different Xenopus tissues. Besides normal beta-dystroglycan with an Mr of 43 kDa in smooth and cardiac muscle and sciatic nerve extracts, we found it in skeletal muscle and brain proteins with an Mr of 38 and 65 kDa, respectively. Glycosylation properties and proteolytic susceptibilities of these different beta-dystroglycans are analysed and compared in this work. Crosslinking experiments with various beta-dystroglycan preparations obtained from skeletal and cardiac muscles and brain gave rise to specific new covalent products with Mr of 125 kDa (doublet band), or 120 and 130 kDa, or 140 and 240 kDa, respectively. We provide evidence, using various similar beta-dystroglycan preparations, that the immunoprecipitation procedure with G5 specific polyclonal antibody allows consistent pelleting of various dystrophin-family isoforms. Skeletal muscles from Xenopus reveals the presence of two distinct beta-dystroglycan complexes, one with dystrophin and another one which involves alpha-dystrobrevin. Cardiac muscle and brain from Xenopus are shown to contain three beta-dystroglycan complexes related to various dystrophin-family isoforms. Dystrophin or alpha-dystrobrevin or Dp71 were found in cardiac muscle and dystrophin or Dp180 or Up71 in brain. This variability in the relationship between beta-dystroglycan and dystrophin-family isoforms suggests that each protein--currently known as dystrophin associated protein--could not be present in each of these complexes.

Animals↗

From beta-N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl N-carboxyanhydrides to beta-aminoacid derivatives.

beta-N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-N-carboxyanhydrides are very reactive beta-amino acid derivatives. They react cleanly and smoothly with different nucleophiles like aminoesters, enolates, N-methyl-d-glucamine, amidoximes to afford in good to excellent yields peptides, beta-amino ketocompounds, beta-aminosugars and functionalized disubstituted 1,2,4-oxadiazoles.

Amino Acids↗

Prevalence of agr specificity groups among Staphylococcus aureus strains colonizing children and their guardians.

PCR-based assays were used to evaluate agr locus nucleotide polymorphism for the identification of agr autoinducer receptor specificity groups within a population of Staphylococcus aureus isolates colonizing children and their guardians. All isolates could be assigned to one of three major agr groups that had similar prevalences, regardless of whether isolates were implicated in transmission of S. aureus within families. Among healthy carriers, agr groups I to III appear to be equally fit, which may reflect selection for the coexistence of S. aureus strains in a population.

Adult↗

Dystrophin and dystrophin-associated protein in muscles and nerves from monkey.

Since all organs (i.e. skeletal, cardiac, smooth muscles and sciatic nerve) are never only taken from a single patient, all these tissues were obtained from one cynomolgus monkey, a model closely resembling humans. This work describes an up-to-date reinvestigation of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex and related molecules in various monkey tissues such those cited above. We used monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies produced in our laboratory, which are directed against dystrophin, utrophin, short-dystrophin products, alpha-dystrobrevin, beta-dystroglycan, alpha-syntrophin, alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-, epsilon-sarcoglycan, and sarcospan. For each molecule, we determined their molecular weight and tissue localization. Regardless of the tissue analyzed, at least one dystrophin or utrophin as full-length molecule and one short-dystrophin product or dystrobrevin as proteins belonging to the dystrophin superfamily were found. Beta-dystroglycan, beta and delta sarcoglycans were always detected, while other sarcoglycans varied from all to only three components. Epsilon sarcoglycan appears to be specific to smooth muscle, which is devoid of alpha sarcoglycan. Sarcospan is only absent from sciatic nerve structures. Among the different muscles investigated in this study, short dystrophin products are only present in cardiac muscle. All of these findings are summarized in one table, which highlight in one single animal the variability of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex components in relation with the organ studied. This statement is important because any attempt to estimate protein restoration needs in each study the knowledge of the expected components that should be considered normal.

Animals↗

Carbon and nitrogen removal from tannery wastewater with a membrane bioreactor.

A 3.5 L Membrane Sequencing Batch Reactor (MSBR) was used for the treatment of a wastewater coming from the beamhouse section of a tannery. The wastewater, produced after the oxidation of sulphide compounds, contained average COD and ammonium concentrations of 550 and 90 mg/L respectively. The system was operated for a period of 150 days, with no sludge removal during the whole period of operation. The biomass concentration inside the reactor varied considerably, with maximum values close to 10 g/L at the end of operation. Low biomass yield values were achieved probably due to the low feed/microorganisms (F/M) ratio. An important accumulation of organic matter in the reactor was noticed, although the COD effluent was not affected due to the permeation through the membrane. The nature of this organic matter is finally discussed. Removal efficiencies close to 100% in ammonium and 90% in COD were achieved and the TN removal efficiency ranged from 60 to 90%.

Biomass↗

X-ray diffraction and (1)H NMR in solution: structural determination of lanthanide complexes of a Py(2)N(6)Ac(4) ligand.

Complexes between the Py(2)N(6)Ac(4) (H(4)L) ligand containing four carboxylate pendant arms and trivalent lanthanide ions have been synthesized, and structural studies have been made both in the solid state and aqueous solution. The crystal structures of the La, Ce, Sm, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Lu complexes, with chemical formulas [LaH(2)L](NO(3)).3H(2)O (1), [Ce(4)L(2)](NO(3))(4).30H(2)O (2), [SmHL].EtOH.3H(2)O (5), [TbHL].EtOH.3H(2)O (8), [DyHL].2EtOH.2H(2)O (9), [HoHL].3H(2)O (10), [ErHL].EtOH.3H(2)O (11) [TmHL].EtOH.3H(2)O (12), and [LuHL].3H(2)O (14), have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, the complexes of the lighter lanthanide ions La(3+)-Dy(3+) show a 10-coordinated geometry close to a distorted bicapped antiprism, where the carboxylate pendants are situated alternatively above and below the best plane that contains the nitrogen donor atoms. The complexes of the heavier ions, Ho(3+)-Lu(3+), have a 9-coordinated geometry close to distorted tricapped trigonal prism, with one of the pendant carboxylate groups uncoordinated. The ligand is in a "twist-fold" conformation, where the twisting of the pyridine units is accompanied by an overall folding of the major ring of the macrocycle so that the pyridine nitrogen atoms and the metal are far from linear. The aqueous solution structures of the complexes were thoroughly characterized, the diamagnetic ones (La(3+) and Lu(3+)) by their COSY NMR spectra, and the paramagnetic complexes using a linear least-squares fitting of the (1)H LIS (lanthanide-induced shift) and LIR (lanthanide-induced relaxation) data with rhombic magnetic susceptibility tensors. The solution structures obtained for the La(3+)-Dy(3+) complexes (10-coordinate) and for the Tm(3+)-Lu(3+) complexes (9-coordinate) are in very good agreement with the corresponding crystal structures. However, the 10-coordinate structure is still exclusive in solution for the Ho(3+) complex and predominant for the Er(3+) complex.

Journal Article↗

EP1572: a novel peptido-mimetic GH secretagogue with potent and selective GH-releasing activity in man.

EP1572 UMV1843 [Aib-DTrp-DgTrp-CHO]) is a new peptido-mimetic GH secretagogue (GHS) showing binding potency to the GHS-receptor in animal and human tissues similar to that of ghrelin and peptidyl GHS. EP1572 induces marked GH increase after s.c. administration in neonatal rats. Preliminary data in 2 normal young men show that: 1) acute i.v. EP1572 administration (1.0 microg/kg) induces strong and selective increase of GH levels; 2) single oral EP1572 administration strongly and reproducibly increases GH levels even after a dose as low as 0.06 mg/kg. Thus, EP1572 is a new peptido-mimetic GHS with potent and selective GH-releasing activity.

Adult↗

Oxidative and cold shock cause enhanced induction of a 50 kDa stress protein in Trichinella spiralis.

The anti-heat shock protein (Hsp)-90 monoclonal antibody AC-16 reacts on blots with Hsp90 and a 50 kDa protein (prot-50) from infective-stage (L1) larvae of the nematode Trichinella spiralis. We examined Hsp90 and prot-50 levels by densitometric analysis of immunoblots of T. spiralis larval extracts prepared before (time 0, 37 degrees C) and after oxidative [hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)] stress, or cold shock at 4 degrees C. Extracts from H2O2-exposed L1 were obtained after 2 h; the others at 2, 4, and 8 h after the temperature shift. After H2O2 shock, the constitutive Hsp90 and prot-50 were both significantly induced and appeared as slower migrating inducible isoforms. However, whereas Hsp90 levels decreased after cold shock, prot-50 levels immediately and persistently increased after shock at 4 degrees C. These data present compelling evidence that the prot-50 described here functions as a Hsp and a cold shock protein.

Animals↗

Nitrogen transformations during biological aerobic treatment of pig slurry: effect of intermittent aeration on nitrous oxide emissions.

A laboratory scale aeration treatment system was built to study the fate of nitrogen during aeration of pig slurry. For each run evaluated, the nitrogen mass balance was determined including measurement of the nitrous oxide gas emissions. Intermittent aeration led to a nitrogen removal of about 53% of the total nitrogen content of the raw slurry. About 18% of the total nitrogen content of the raw slurry was emitted as N2O during aeration with an aerobic to anoxic ratio equal to 0.625. In contrast, the extension of the anoxic period (aerobic to anoxic ratio = 0.375) allowed complete denitrification and avoided N2O emissions.

Aerobiosis↗

Influence of buffered propionic acid on the development of micro-organisms in hay.

We tested the benefit of using buffered propionic acid (BPA) as a means of preventing farmer's lung disease (FLD). BPA, a new formulation of propionic acid, a hay preservative with no deleterious effect on farm machinery or cattle, reduces the development of micro-organisms in hay. Twenty pairs of round bales were analysed for concentration of micro-organisms measured in the winter following hay treatment. Each pair included one untreated bale and one bale treated with BPA during haymaking. Our results showed the following decreases in concentration in treated bales: total fungal species, 40% (P < 0.05); Eurotium amstelodami (the main species found), 65% (P < 0.01); and thermophilic actinomycetes, 60% (not significant), respectively. We conclude that BPA could be used to prevent FLD.

Actinomycetales↗

Expression of Hsp90, Hsp70 and Hsp60 in Trichinella species exposed to oxidative shock.

Stress response and phosphorylation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) 60, 70 and 90 were studied in Trichinella nativa, T. nelsoni, T. pseudospiralis and T. spiralis larvae at 30-min intervals following exposure to 20, 100 and 200 mM H2O2. There was a time- and dose-dependent differential survival for the infective stage larvae (L1) of these four Trichinella species. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that constitutive Hsp60 and Hsp70, but not Hsp90, from test Trichinella species are constitutively phosphorylated on serine/threonine residues as they converted to forms with increased sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) mobility by treatment with alkaline phosphatase. After exposure to H2O2, while there was a time-related occurrence of the three HSPs with decreased SDS-PAGE mobility, these HSPs were insensitive to alkaline phosphatase except in the case of exposure to 20 mM H2O2 for Hsp60 from all Trichinella species and Hsp70 from T. spiralis and T. nelsoni. The synthesis of HSPs forms with decreased SDS-PAGE mobility is a susceptibility signal because the lower concentration of peroxide (20 mM) did not cause a decrease on HSPs SDS-PAGE mobility in T. spiralis and T. nelsoni, the two more resistant selected Trichinella species.

Animals↗