[Pulmonary mucormycosis in a leukemic patient. Case report].
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Journal Article↗
Biomedical subjects
M A Torres
Publications and source records attributed to M A Torres.
Leukocyte-marrow scintigraphy in hyperostosis frontalis interna.
Hyperostosis frontalis interna is the term used to describe the thickening of the frontal bones of the skull. This thickening of the frontal bones is accompanied by an increase in the diploic space which results in an increased quantity of hematopoietically active marrow. Increased frontal bone uptake of labeled leukocytes has been reported in this condition, and the symmetric appearance of this activity may suggest its benign etiology. We have encountered a case of hyperostosis frontalis interna in which the uptake of labeled leukocytes was asymmetric and marrow scintigraphy confirmed that the activity seen was due to marrow not infection.
Aged↗
The maize caffeic acid O-methyltransferase gene promoter is active in transgenic tobacco and maize plant tissues.
The pattern of expression directed by the promoter of the maize caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene was studied by histochemical and fluorometric beta-glucuronidase (GUS) analysis in transgenic maize and tobacco plants. The COMT promoter directs GUS expression to the xylem and the other tissues undergoing lignification, and it responds to wounding and to elicitors. In transgenic maize plants, expression of GUS corresponds to the pattern of expression of the endogenous COMT gene as determined by northern analysis and in situ hybridization. The pattern in transgenic tobacco plants clearly shows that the maize promoter sequence is recognized by tobacco transcriptional factors, in spite of the anatomical differences and the evolutionary distance between these two species. The results suggest that the most significant promoter signals that induce the specific expression of the lignin COMT are conserved in different species.
Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic↗
rbohA, a rice homologue of the mammalian gp91phox respiratory burst oxidase gene.
It has been hypothesized that plants contain respiratory burst oxidase which, upon activation, oxidize NADPH and generate extracellular superoxide, O2.-. These proteins are proposed to play a central role in defence against pathogens. However, plant DNA sequences that encode proteins with similarity to components of respiratory burst oxidase have not previously been reported. This paper describes the complete cDNA and genomic DNA sequence of the rice rbohA (for respiratory burst oxidase homologue) gene. The predicted RbohA product is most similar to the main catalytic subunit, gp91phox, of the respiratory burst oxidase of neutrophils. Reverse transcriptase PCR detects rbohA transcripts in both roots and shoots of healthy rice plants.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Activities of the Wnt-1 class of secreted signaling factors are antagonized by the Wnt-5A class and by a dominant negative cadherin in early Xenopus development.
When overexpressed in Xenopus embryos, Xwnt-1, -3A, -8 and -8b define a functional class of Wnts (the Wnt-1 class) that promotes duplication of the embryonic axis, whereas Xwnt-5A, -4, and -11 define a distinct class (the Wnt-5A class) that alters morphogenetic movements (Du, S., S. Purcell, J. Christian, L. McGrew, and R. Moon. 1995. Mol. Cell. Biol. 15:2625-2634). Since come embryonic cells may be exposed to signals from both functional classes of Wnt during vertebrate development, this raises the question of how the signaling pathways of these classes of Wnts might interact. To address this issue, we coexpressed various Xwnts and components of the Wnt-1 class signaling pathway in developing Xenopus embryos. Members of the Xwnt-5A class antagonized the ability of ectopic Wnt-1 class to induce goosecoid expression and a secondary axis. Interestingly, the Wnt-5A class did not block goosecoid expression or axis induction in response to overexpression of cytoplasmic components of the Wnt-1 signaling pathway, beta-catenin or a kinase-dead gsk-3, or to the unrelated secreted factor, BVg1. The ability of the Wnt-5A class to block responses to the Wnt-1 class may involve decreases in cell adhesion, since ectopic expression of Xwnt-5A leads to decreased Ca2+-dependent cell adhesion and the activity of Xwnt-5A to block Wnt-1 class signals is mimicked by a dominant negative N-cadherin. These data underscore the importance of cell adhesion in modulating the responses of embryonic cells to signaling molecules and suggest that the Wnt-5A functional class of signaling factors can interact with the Wnt-1 class in an antagonistic manner.
Animals↗
[Fortification of fluid milk for the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children under 4 years of age].
The effectiveness of the use of chelate amino acid iron fortified fluid milk in the treatment of iron deficiency in children under four years of age was studied. The 269 children included in this trial received 1 liter/day of fluid milk fortified with 3 mg of chelate amino acid iron and were evaluated at six monthly intervals. At the beginning of the study 62.3% of the children presented anemia. After 6 months, this percentage had decreased to 41.8% and at the end of one year to 26.4%. The greatest decreases occurred in the groups comprising the subjects who were of 12 to 23 months of age and those under one year of age. Among the children who presented initial hemoglobin levels under 9.5 g/dl, 59.3% were free of anemia after one year of follow-up. Of those presenting initial hemoglobin levels between 9.5 and 10.9 g/dl, 66.7% recovered from their anemia. There was also greater hematological improvement in the children that ingested over 750 ml/day of fortified milk in those families that did not share the supply of supplement among their other members and in those families that had only one child under five years of age. These findings led to the conclusion that the fortification of fluid milk is a viable and effective method for the treatment of iron deficiency in pre-school children.
Analysis of Variance↗
[Powdered milk enriched with iron and ascorbic acid as an intervention measure for treating iron deficiency anemia in children seen at a Basic Health Care Unit].
This study was undertaken to verify the influence of the use of iron and Vitamin C fortified powdered whole milk on the hemoglobin levels of 238 children, aged 6 to 18 months, seen at a Basic Health Care Unit in the State of São Paulo. The powdered milk was fortified with 9 mg of iron (ferrous sulfate) and 65 mg of Vitamin C for each 100 g of powder. 4 kg/month were distributed to children under one year and 2 kg/month to those over one year of age. Clinical, anthropometric and hematological (hemoglobin level measurements) evaluations were performed at the onset of the study and at three month intervals after the beginning of the supplementation. At the end of the trial, there was still enough milk available to extend the intervention for a group of 39 children who had presented the worst evolution in the first six months. At the onset of the study, 72.6% of the children presented anemia. After 3 and 6 months, these percentages had decreased to 38.9% and 18.5%, respectively. Among the children that were followed-up for 9 months, their were only 2.5% who presented anemia at the end of the intervention. The highest prevalences were found in the 6 to 12 months age group and the best results in the 10 to 18 month group. There was intrafamilial dilution of the milk in 30.7% of the cases. With or without intrafamilial milk sharing, there were significant decreases in anemia occurrences with no differences between the two groups. The use of fortified milk did not affect the children nutritional condition. This study permitted the conclusion that the fortification of foodstuffs, besides being the method of election for the prevention of iron deficiency, is an excellent alternative for the treatment of and recovery from iron deficient anemia in children under two years of age.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
Sequence analysis and chromosomal localization of human Cap Z. Conserved residues within the actin-binding domain may link Cap Z to gelsolin/severin and profilin protein families.
From a human retinal cDNA library, we have isolated cDNAs that are homologs for the alpha 2 and beta subunits of chicken Cap Z. The derived human alpha subunit shares 95% amino acid identity with the chicken alpha 2 subunit; the beta subunit is 99% identical to the chicken subunit residues 1-243. The remaining portion of the human beta subunit (244-272) diverges significantly with only 8 out of 29 C-terminal amino acids conserved between the two species. This lack of conservation is of particular interest because the chicken C terminus contains an actin-binding domain. Cosedimentation assays with F-actin show that human Cap Z binds actin with an affinity equal that of chicken Cap Z. These results point to the eight shared amino acids as critical for actin binding, three of which are regularly spaced leucines. These apolar residues and one outside the region of divergence align well with those residues of the actin-binding alpha-helix proposed for gelsolin segment 1. The apolar residues as well as three polar amino acids are also conserved in other capping, capping and severing, and monomer-binding proteins. Amino acid substitutions in the chicken beta subunit of the two most highly conserved leucines result in significant decreases in F-actin binding activity. The human alpha 2 gene (CAPZA2) has been mapped to chromosome 7 position q31.2-q31.3 and the beta gene (CAPZB) to chromosome 1 region p36.1.
Actins↗
Coagulation disorders in bushmaster envenomation.
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Adult↗
Quantitation of Cap Z in conventional actin preparations and methods for further purification of actin.
Gel-filtration is commonly used to remove contaminants from conventional actin prepared by the method of Spudich and Watt. It has been shown that this procedure removes the majority of a factor that reduces the low-shear viscosity of actin. We have previously reported that this factor is Cap Z, a barbed end capping protein. We now establish that, even after gel-filtration, enough Cap Z can be present in conventionally prepared actin to affect events occurring at the barbed ends of actin filaments. We also demonstrate that the concentration of Cap Z can be reduced to more than a log below the KD for binding of Cap Z to actin by either 1) immunoabsorbtion of conventionally prepared actin with anti-Cap Z antibodies, or 2) an additional cycle of polymerization/depolymerization followed by repeat gel-filtration.
Actins↗
The brown midrib3 (bm3) mutation in maize occurs in the gene encoding caffeic acid O-methyltransferase.
The brown midrib mutations are among the earliest described in maize. Plants containing a brown midrib mutation exhibit a reddish brown pigmentation of the leaf midrib starting when there are four to six leaves. These mutations are known to alter lignin composition and digestibility of plants and therefore constitute prime candidates in the breeding of silage maize. Here, we show that two independent brown midrib3 (bm3) mutations have resulted from structural changes in the COMT gene, which encodes the enzyme O-methyltransferase (COMT; EC 2.1.1.6), involved in lignin biosynthesis. Our results indicate that the bm3-1 allele (the reference mutant allele) has arisen from an insertional event producing a COMT mRNA altered in both size and amount. By sequencing a COMT cDNA clone obtained from bm3-1 maize, a retrotransposon with homology to the B5 element has been found to be inserted near the junction of the 3' coding region of the COMT gene intron. The second bm3 allele, bm3-2, has resulted from a deletion of part of the COMT gene. These alterations of the COMT gene were confirmed by DNA gel blot and polymerase chain reaction amplification analyses. These results clearly demonstrate that mutations at the COMT gene give a brown midrib3 phenotype. Thus, the gene genetically recognized as bm3 is the same as the one coding for COMT.
Alleles↗
Rapid diagnosis of ocular herpes simplex infections.
BACKGROUND: The Surecell herpes (HSV) test kit is a test for detecting the presence of herpes simplex viral antigen by means of a monoclonal antibody based immunoassay. The test has proved to be highly sensitive and specific in diagnosing genital, oral, and dermatological herpes infections. METHODS: In this study, samples from patients with ocular keratitis were evaluated by tissue cultures and the Surecell test. The eyes of New Zealand rabbits were then inoculated with HSV type 1 acute keratitis, acute Staphylococcus keratitis, and HSV type 1 postkeratitis (healed corneas). Tear film samples collected from each eye with a cotton swab were evaluated by routine culture (A-549 monolayers) and by the Surecell test with and without prior placement of the swab in Hank's medium. RESULTS: The Surecell system had a 70% sensitivity and a 100% specificity in the detection of HSV antigen in ocular infections, and was shown to be a quick, efficient, and accurate method of testing for HSV antigen in humans. CONCLUSION: These results from humans and rabbits indicate that the Surecell test, which requires no special equipment, can be a useful in office adjunct in the clinical diagnosis of ocular herpes simplex.
Animals↗
[The effect of the use of milk fortified with iron and vitamin C on hemoglobin levels and nutritional status of children under 2].
The impact of the use of fortified powdered whole milk (9 mg of iron and 65 mg of vitamin C/100 g of milk) on the hemoglobin levels of children under 2 years of age was evaluated, over a period of 6 months, in 107 children enrolled in municipal Day Care Centers (DCC) and in 228 seen at a Basic Health Care Unit (BHCU). Before the beginning of the intervention, 66.4% of the children in the DCC and 72.8% of those seen at the BHCU had hemoglobin levels under 11.0 g/dl. After 6 months of fortified milk intake, these percentages fell to 20.6% and 18.0% respectively. The average hemoglobin before the intervention was 10.3 g/dl in the DCC and 10.5 in the BHCU. After 6 months these increased to 11.6 g/dl in the populations studied. Concerning the nutritional condition, evaluated according to Gomez's criteria, 57% of the DCC children presented an improvement, 41.1% showed changes and only 1.9% became worse. In the BHCU, 11.4% presented better condition, 70.6% remained the same and 18% worsened, which demonstrated differences in response regarding improvement of nutritional condition, when fortified milk was used in closed and open environments. The authors conclude that the utilization of enriched foods is an excellent alternative in the treatment of iron deficiency in populations of children under 2 years of age.
Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
Interaction of Cap Z with actin. The NH2-terminal domains of the alpha 1 and beta subunits are not required for actin capping, and alpha 1 beta and alpha 2 beta heterodimers bind differentially to actin.
Cap Z is a widely distributed, highly conserved, heterodimeric protein that binds to the barbed ends of actin filaments, but does not sever filaments. In chicken, two variant cDNAs (alpha 1 and alpha 2) encoding proteins homologous to the alpha subunit of Cap Z have been described versus one for the beta subunit. To establish the effect of each subunit and of the two potential heterodimers (alpha 1 beta and alpha 2 beta) on actin and to explore the functional domains of the proteins, RNA transcripts derived from these cDNAs were studied using in vitro translation. Sequential deletion mutants at the carboxyl and amino termini of the alpha subunit and at the amino terminus of the beta subunit were constructed, and the ability of each mutant to recombine with its heterologous subunit was assessed by gel filtration. The interaction of the individual subunits, heterodimers, and mutants with actin was studied using cosedimentation and quantitative binding assays. This study demonstrates that 1) both alpha 1 beta and alpha 2 beta heterodimers assemble in vitro after translation and bind selectively to the barbed ends of actin filaments; 2) the affinity of alpha 1 beta heterodimers for actin (KD = 1.6 x 10(-10) M) is approximately 4-fold higher than that of alpha 2 beta heterodimers (KD = 6.3 x 10(-10) M); 3) the amino-terminal 40% of the alpha 1 subunit (amino acids 1-115) and the amino-terminal 31% of the beta subunit (amino acids 1-86) are not required for high affinity binding of Cap Z to the barbed ends of actin filaments; and 4) the carboxyl-terminal 55 amino acids of the alpha subunit appear to be required for binding to actin, as are the carboxyl-terminal 15 amino acids of the beta subunit.
Actins↗
Effect of intradialytic parenteral nutrition on mortality rates in end-stage renal disease care.
Several studies have now demonstrated that low serum albumin and/or low protein catabolic rates correlate with increased risk of death in the chronic hemodialysis patient. A study involving 81 patients receiving thrice-weekly hemodialysis treatments and who had either a low serum albumin and/or protein catabolic rate was conducted to compare the effect of intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) on mortality rates. Fifty patients received IDPN and 31 patients did not. Thirty-eight of the patients were black (47%), 34 were white (42%), and 9 were Hispanic (11%). The study included 33 diabetic patients (41%), 20 of whom received IDPN. Nondiabetic patients received an average of 725 kcal/hemodialysis treatment and diabetic patients received an average of 670 kcal/hemodialysis treatment. The average length of treatment was 9 months. The results of the study revealed a better survival rate (64% v 52%) for patients treated with IDPN. Using Cox analysis, the IDPN-treated group had a significantly better survival rate (P < 0.01). Serum albumin increased by 12% in the survivors. There was no difference in survival when considered separately for diabetic and nondiabetic patients who received IDPN (mortality rate for diabetics: 50% for treated patients and 54% for untreated patients; mortality rate for nondiabetics: 26% for treated patients and 44% for untreated patients). However, the nondiabetic treated patients had the lowest mortality rates. In conclusion, correction of hypoalbuminemia by IDPN significantly reduced mortality rates overall.
Body Weight↗
[Anemia in children under 2 years in basic health care units in the State of São Paulo, Brazil].
The present study sought to determine the prevalence of anemia in 2,992 children, aged between 6 and 23 months, who voluntarily attended 160 Basis Health Care Units, located in 63 cities of the 5 Regional Health Coordinating areas of the State of S. Paulo, Brazil. Blood samples were collected by venous puncture and hemoglobin was measured by the cianometahemoglobin method. The WHO criteria for the diagnosis of anemia (Hb < 11.0 g/dl) were used: 59.1% of the children were shown to be anemic, with prevalence varying from 47.8% to 68.7% in the 5 RHCs. RHC 1, which comprises the Greater S. Paulo Region, presented a prevalence of anemia significantly lower than the other 4 RHCs, which cover the rest of the State. Hemoglobin levels 9.5 g/dl were found in 25.1% of the children. Anemia was more frequent in male children in male children, in those born, with a weight of less than 3,000 gr, in those who were breastfed for less than 2 months and in those that who presented some degree of energy deficient proteic malnutrition, according to Gomez's criteria. This is the first of a series of 4 articles whose purpose is the determining the prevalence of anemia in the State of S. Paulo and of testing the intervention alternatives with a view to curtailing the incidence of this pathology which today is the most prevalent nutritional disturbance in the world.
Age Factors↗
[Treatment with prophylactic doses of ferrous sulphate as an intervention measure in the campaign++ against iron deficiency in children cared for in basic health units].
The efficacy of medical prophylaxis in the fight against iron deficiency anemia in 620 children aged from four to thirty-six months, attended in two health units of the municipality of S. Paulo, Brazil, was tested. First, the children's blood was tested for hemoglobin level and electrophoresis. Then they received daily doses of iron sulphate in the form of drops, corresponding to 12 mg/day of elementary iron, over a 30-day period. Afterwards, they were asked to return for re-evaluation. Twenty-five percent of children under 6 months presented hemoglobin levels under 11.0 g/dl. The highest occurrences of anemia were detected among children aged 9 to 11 months (49.5%) and in the age bracket between 12 and 23 months (50.4%). After the established period, only 37.4% of the children with anemia and 52.4% of children who did not present anaemia returned for further evaluation. Of the 299 evaluated, only 157 (52.5%) had taken the medication correctly. Frequency of hemoglobin inferior to 9.5 g/dl dropped from 17.1% at the beginning to 8.1% at the end of the intervention. On the other hand, the percentage of children with hemoglobin above 12.0 g/dl increased from 13.4% to 33.4%. Those children who took their iron supplements correctly registered a significantly higher drop in the number of cases of anemia than that observed in those who had not taken the supplement correctly. The great majority (80.3%) did not present any side effects of medication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Anemia, Hypochromic↗
Prolongation of human pancreatic islet xenografts by pretreatment of islets with anti-human ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody.
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Animals↗