Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L Costa.
Newer markers of bone formation and bone resorption are now available. Alone these new markers do not appear to be useful to diagnose metastatic bone disease. Several markers appear to be of prognostic importance and correlate with the extent of tumour in the skeleton. Serial monitoring of bone markers may be useful to monitor the efficacy of bisphosphonate and/or systemic therapy of both lytic and blastic bone metastases.
The purpose of this review of patients was to look at the current role of transureteroureterostomy in children. In addition, this study should give an indication of the long-term safety of transureteroureterostomy in children with neurogenic bladder. From 1972 on, 70 subjects between the ages of 2 and 13 underwent transureteroureterostomy. In 68 patients (97 %), transureteroureterostomy was used as a salvage renal procedure after unsuccessful ureteroneocytostomy attempts at other institutions. In 2 patients (3 %), transureteroureterostomy was used as a diversion procedure. The postoperative course was uneventful except for 1 case of early anastomotic occlusion successfully treated by application of a double-J stent. No patient required surgical revision of the ureteral anastomosis. However, 4 patients with neurogenic bladder from myelomeningocele developed sequelae. Of these, 1 presented with stenosis at the end of the recipient ureter, 2 had occurrence of vesicoureteral reflux in nonreimplanted recipient ureter, 1 developed calculi in the donor pelvis. This study supports the view that transureteroureterostomy is highly useful for the management of children with a wide spectrum of urological anomalies. However, long-term monitoring of patients with neurogenic bladder who have undergone this procedure is essential to achieve a long-term good outcome.
A minimum thickness of 1 mm has been suggested for the residual root wall in post preparation. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the reliability of radiography when used to measure root thickness. In 106 upper first premolars with one and two root canals, post preparations were made with Peeso reamers to a depth in the root equal to the crown length. Bucco-palatal radiographs were taken of each tooth. The films were processed and projected with a magnification of x20. The smallest thickness of the mesial and distal walls of each root at the apical end of the preparation was measured and recorded. The teeth were then cut at the level of the measurement, and the smallest thickness of the proximal walls was measured using a microscope with a micrometric eyepiece. Fourteen percent of the teeth with one root canal and 27% of the teeth with two root canals could not be measured due to blurred radiographic contours. Variance analysis showed a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) when radiographic and anatomical measurements were compared. The radiograph showed greater thicknesses than were actually present and should not therefore be considered to be a reliable method for measuring residual thickness of tooth walls after post preparation.
OBJECTIVE: The present investigation was designed for the purpose of revealing functional brain impairments associated with alcoholism, anxiety and depression. METHOD: The subjects were 56 women, with an average (SD) age of 34.8 (7.3) years. None reported a history of neurological or major medical disorders, or drug abuse. Twenty-nine of the women met DSM-IV lifetime criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence. Twenty-five women reported mild or higher levels of anxiety, as indexed by a Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score greater than 7. Electroencephalographic activity was recorded while subjects performed a visual ("oddball") selective attention task comprised of rare target, rare nontarget and frequent nontarget stimuli. P300 event-related potentials elicited by the rare target and rare nontarget stimuli were analyzed. RESULTS: The initial analysis was structured as a 2 (alcoholism) by 2 (anxiety) factorial. Analyses revealed no significant effects of alcoholism on P300. However, women reporting a BAI score greater than 7 exhibited significantly smaller P300 amplitudes than their nonanxious counterparts. The P300 decrement remained significant when depression level (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI-II]) and age were entered as covariates. A separate analysis was conducted in which the 56 subjects were classified by alcoholism and depression level (BDI-II score < or =13 vs >13). The analysis revealed no significant P300 differences associated with these factors. CONCLUSIONS: It is hypothesized that anxiety might play a role in mediating or amplifying the P300 decrements that have been attributed to alcoholism and depression in women. Additional and more comprehensive studies are needed to discern the validity ofthis hypothesis.
BACKGROUND: Yukpa aborigines start early in life their sexual activity and promiscuity with native and foreign individuals is common among women. This behavior allows the installation and propagation of Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). AIM: To determine the presence of antibodies to HSV-2 in a Yukpa Amerindian community at Zulia State, Venezuela. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 96 natives, between 13 and 49 years old (62.3% of the whole population, 100% of individuals in fertile age). Control population consisted of 76 individuals, with similar sex and age range distribution, of the urban population from Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela. HSV-2 serologic status was determined by an indirect fluorescent antibody test. RESULTS: Antibodies to HSV-2 were detected in 53.1% of Yukpa population and 21.1% of urban population. Aboriginal women aged 21 to 40 years old had a prevalence of antibodies against HSV-2 of 66.7%. Among pregnant native women, the prevalence of antibodies against HSV-2 was 54.6%. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of antibodies against HSV-2 among Yukpa natives in Venezuela.
BACKGROUND: The release of CD30 molecule in the soluble form (sCD30) is considered a feature of Th2 activation and proliferation of the cellular phenotype Th2. AIM: To analyze the immunoregulatory role of sCD30 in the evolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three study groups were formed: 15 patients with acute infection by HBV who remitted toward the resolution of the infection; 15 patients who evolved to the carrier state and 15 subjects without clinical history of infection by this or other viruses. The determination of serological markers for the HBV was done by the Microparticles Enzymatic Immunoanalysis techniques (MEIA). The method of double antibody by ELISA was used For sCD30 determination. RESULTS: A significant sCD30 increase (p < 0.05) was observed in patients with acute infection, during the acute phase (135.7 +/- 36.7). These values decreased to 16.2 +/- 2.5 during the convalescent phase. Patients that evolved to the carrier state, did not experience a rise in sCD30 values (40.2 +/- 6.7, 38 +/- 9.2 and 36.1 +/- 8.3 during the acute phase, at 120 and 240 days respectively). The value in the control group was 34.8 +/- 6.7. CONCLUSIONS: The group that evolved towards remission experienced a higher activation of the Th2 cellular phenotype, promoting humoral immune response. An inactivity of sCD30 values was observed in the group that evolved to the carrier state.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of growth factors and their receptors regulate normal and cancerous epithelial cell proliferation, a process that can be suppressed by antireceptor blocking antibodies. To identify genes whose expression may be modulated by antireceptor blocking antibodies, we performed a differential display screen with cells grown in the presence or absence of antireceptor blocking antibodies; isolates from one cDNA clone were 100% identical to human heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K), a protein with a conserved KH motif and RGG boxes, has been implicated in such functions as sequence-specific DNA binding, transcription, RNA binding, and nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Both EGF and heregulin-beta1 induced expression of hnRNP K mRNA and protein in human breast cancer cells. This growth factor-mediated hnRNP K expression was effectively blocked by pretreatment of cultures with humanized anti-EGF receptor (EGFR) antibody C225, or anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) antibody. Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody also caused regression of human tumor xenografts and reduction in hnRNP K levels in athymic mice. Samples from grade III human breast cancer contained more hnRNP K protein than samples from grade II cancer. Finally, overexpression of hnRNP K in breast cancer cells significantly increased target c-myc promoter activity and c-Myc protein, hnRNP K protein levels, and enhanced breast cancer cell proliferation and growth in an anchorage-independent manner. These results suggested that the activity of human EGF receptor family members regulates hnRNP K expression by extracellular growth promoting signals and that therapeutic humanized antibodies against EGFR and HER2 can effectively block this function.
We prove for any pure three-quantum-bit state the existence of local bases which allow one to build a set of five orthogonal product states in terms of which the state can be written in a unique form. This leads to a canonical form which generalizes the two-quantum-bit Schmidt decomposition. It is uniquely characterized by the five entanglement parameters. It leads to a complete classification of the three-quantum-bit states. It shows that the right outcome of an adequate local measurement always erases all entanglement between the other two parties.
BACKGROUND: Skeletal metastases are common occurrences in patients with malignancies such as breast and prostate carcinoma, but they are difficult to diagnose nonradiologically, and treatment is difficult to follow clinically. Recent developments suggest that biochemical markers of bone remodeling, such as the bone collagen breakdown product N-telopeptide and the bone formation marker known as bone specific alkaline phosphatase, hold great promise as clinical tools for the management of patients with metastatic bone disease. METHODS: Serum levels of the bone formation marker known as bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), along with serum levels of the bone collagen breakdown product carboxyterminal telopeptide of Type I collagen (ICTP) and urine levels of pyridinoline (PYD), deoxypridinoline (DPD), and N-telopeptide (NTx), were measured in a large cohort of patients with newly diagnosed or progressive cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, and other sites. Bone marker levels were correlated with the presence or absence of bone scan-documented metastases; metastatic disease extension in terms of the number of skeletal sites involved; and the type of lesion, whether blastic or lytic. Sites examined included the pelvis, spine, skull, ribs, and long bones. RESULTS: All of the bone markers examined, including BAP and NTx, were abnormally elevated in a high proportion of patients with confirmed metastases to bone. Urine NTx levels and bone specific alkaline phosphatase were significantly correlated with the number of skeletal sites involved, and a significant correlation between marker level and extent of skeletal involvement was also observed. In addition, both markers were higher in patients with a blastic disease presentation than in patients with osteolytic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical markers of bone resorption and bone formation are abnormally raised in the blood and urine of patients with metastatic bone disease. Markers of bone collagen breakdown, such as N-telopeptide, as well as markers of osteoblast function, such as bone specific alkaline phosphatase, appear to be of use in assessing and managing patients with malignancies that metastasize to bone. In this study, both NTx and BAP showed a significant correlation with both the presence of bone metastases and the extent of skeletal involvement. Biochemical markers of bone remodeling can also be used to guide decision making regarding the treatment of metastatic bone disease and to determine the effectiveness of therapy for patients with cancer to bone whose broad-based symptoms make it difficult to discern true response to therapy.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the independent and interactive effects of alcohol dependence, antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and age on brain function. METHODS: P300 event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 393 alcohol-dependent and 170 non-alcohol-dependent adults while they performed a visual oddball task. The two subject groups were further subdivided based upon age and the presence/absence of ASPD. RESULTS: Alcohol dependence was associated with a significant P300 amplitude decrement at anterior electrode sites only. Antisocial personality disorder was also associated with reduced P300 amplitudes at anterior electrode sites; however, the effects were only significant among subjects 30 years of age or younger. To validate this association between ASPD and P300 amplitude a correlational analysis was performed; the correlation between anterior P300 amplitude and the total number of childhood conduct disorder and adult ASPD symptoms was significant. CONCLUSIONS: The P300 amplitude decrement found at anterior electrode sites among subjects with ASPD is consistent with the results of numerous ERP, neuroimaging, or neuropsychologic studies of anterior brain function. Our study is unique in suggesting that the effects of ASPD on anterior brain function are best detected during early adulthood. The study also suggests that the detrimental neurophysiologic effects of alcohol dependence predominantly involve the anterior brain.
The expression pattern of K(+) currents is the principal regulator of electrical activity during development of the nervous and muscular system. We report here a study showing the expression pattern of HERG K(+) currents-encoding (erg) genes in various nervous and muscular tissues at different stages of quail embryo development.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of infection in the management of children with urachal cysts. METHODS: A retrospective study on 10 children with urachal cysts operated on over an 11-year period (from 1987 to 1998) was performed. Uncomplicated urachal cysts were found in 2 children who underwent primary cyst removal. The remaining 8 were admitted with severe sepsis due to the presence of a urachal abscess; they were managed by a staged approach including percutaneous drainage and delayed cyst removal. The diagnosis of urachal cyst was readily made by ultrasound in all the 10 patients (100%). In 1 patient with urachal abscess, computed tomography provided additional information. RESULTS: The postoperative course was uneventful in 9 of 10 children (90%). A 5-year-old female patient developed peritonitis following urachal abscess rupture into the peritoneal cavity, which resulted in additional surgery and prolonged hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Ultrasound is an excellent diagnostic tool for patients with urachal cysts. (2) A renal screening ultrasound must be included in the preoperative work-up. (3) A thorough urological assessment is indicated in patients with abnormal renal ultrasound of recurrent urinary infections. (4) At present, a staged surgical procedure still remains the most effective surgical option in children with urachal cyst.
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Activation of heregulin (HRG) signaling has been implicated in the development of aggressive phenotype in breast cancer cells. The mechanisms through which HRG regulates the progression of breast cancer cells to a more invasive or motile phenotype are currently unknown. Because the process of cell migration must involve dynamic changes in the formation of new focal adhesions at the leading edge and dissolution of preexisting focal points, we explored the potential HRG regulation of paxillin, a major component of focal adhesion. Here, we report that HRG stimulation of noninvasive breast cancer MCF-7 cells resulted in the up-regulation of paxillin mRNA and protein. The observed HRG stimulation of paxillin mRNA expression was completely blocked by actinomycin D (a transcriptional inhibitor) as well as by cycloheximide (a protein synthesis inhibitor), suggesting the involvement of an inducible protein factor(s) and transcriptional regulation of paxillin mRNA by HRG. Extension of these observations to other HRG-responsive human cell lines also demonstrated that HRG has a significant capacity to up-regulate the paxillin expression. Furthermore, the levels of paxillin expression were closely linked with the coexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/HER3 receptors in breast cancer cell lines and in grade III human breast tumors. This study is the first demonstration of regulation of paxillin expression by a polypeptide growth factor, and it suggests a potential role for paxillin in the HER2 pathway in breast cancer.
From 1993 to 1997, 327 strains of Haemophilus parasuis were isolated from spanish swine in our Diagnostic Laboratory and 174 strains (53.2%) were serotyped. Four serotypes, sv. 5 (18.4%), sv 4 (16%), sv. 2 (9.2%) and sv. 13 (8%) were the most frequently isolated and 29.3% of the studied strains were classified as non typable. The results obtained indicate that the distribution of the serotypes in Spain is very similar to that found by other researchers in Germany, Australia, Canada and alike to that found in the United States.
It has been suggested that, to ensure tooth strength, a minimum of 1 mm of root wall thickness should be left after post preparations. The purpose of this study was to determine the instrument diameter that will not affect this measurement in maxillary first premolars. Post preparations were made in 106 teeth with one and two root canals at a working depth equal to the anatomical crown length, with 0.70, 0.90, 1.10, 1.30, 1.50, and 1.70 mm diameter instruments. Sections were cut perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth at the cervical and apical ends of each preparation, and the minimum width of residual root was measured on each wall, at both sites. A binocular microscope with a micrometer eyepiece was used. At the cervical level of the preparation, no group showed a wall thickness < 1 mm. Data for the apical sections was statistically analyzed, and the corresponding confidence limits were calculated with 95% confidence on the mean. The results show that the minimum residual thickness was only preserved when 0.70 mm instruments were used in single-canal roots and when 1.10 mm or smaller instruments were used for two-canal roots. This seemingly anomalous result occurs because fluting on both the mesial and distal sides of the root impinge on single canals, whereas dual canals are buccally or lingually displaced to an area of thicker root diameter.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the vessel transposition technique in ureterovascular hydronephrosis in children. METHODS: Over a 25-year period, we treated 111 patients with 112 instances of ureterovascular hydronephrosis. In order to determine the obstructive effect of the vessels, we performed an intraoperative diuretic test. Using this approach, 61 patients judged to have only vascular pyeloureteral junction obstruction underwent vessel transposition. However, 50 patients in whom the intraoperative diuretic test proved doubtful needed pyeloplasty. RESULTS: Surgical success was achieved in 98% of the patients. Only 1 child treated by vessel transposition had an unsatisfactory outcome which necessitated a subsequent pyeloplasty for persistent hydronephrosis. This was due to a previously unrecognized intrinsic pyeloureteral junction obstruction. CONCLUSION: Based on our clinical experience, the intraoperative diuretic test has proven to be a safe and effective diagnostic tool in children with ureterovascular hydronephrosis. Its use may contribute to treating some cases of ureterovascular hydronephrosis without resorting to pyeloplasty.
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