Tetrazolium reductase activity in human heart valves.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomarkers↗
Biomedical subjects
M Concha
Publications and source records attributed to M Concha.
Effects of ultraviolet B radiation on human Langerhans cells: functional alteration of CD86 upregulation and induction of apoptotic cell death.
We have recently reported that in vitro low dose of ultraviolet B radiation (UVB, 100-200 J per m2) directly impaired the antigen-presenting function of human Langerhans cells. In this study, we analyzed the effect of UVB irradiation on the Langerhans cells expression of several accessory molecules, namely CD54, CD80, and CD86. Langerhans cells phenotype was determined either immediately after UVB exposure (100 J per m2) or after a 2 d culture. No modification in cell surface antigen levels was observed immediately after irradiation. Prior UVB exposure did not modify the levels of CD80 at the Langerhans cells surface after a 2 d culture. In contrast, CD54 and, above all, CD86 expression were significantly decreased. Addition of exogenous anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies partly restored the allostimulatory property of irradiated Langerhans cells in mixed epidermal cell-lymphocyte reaction, demonstrating that impairment of CD86 upregulation contributes to the UVB-induced immunosuppressive effect. Furthermore, we found that UVB irradiation at 200 J per m2 significantly reduced the number of viable Langerhans cells after 2 d of culture. UVB-induced cytotoxicity was due to apoptotic cell death, as demonstrated by typical morphologic alterations and by DNA fragmentation yielding a classical ladder pattern on gel electrophoresis. Interestingly, interaction of Langerhans cells with CD40-ligand transfected L cells improved the viability of irradiated Langerhans cells, counteracted the inhibition of CD86 expression, and efficiently reduced the number of apoptotic cells after a 2 d culture. Collectively, these results demonstrate that in vitro UVB exposure affects Langerhans cells via at least two distinct pathways: (i) decreased CD86 costimulatory molecule upregulation; and (ii) induction of Langerhans cells apoptosis, a phenomenon partly prevented by CD40 triggering.
Antigens, CD↗
Risk Factors for HTLV-I Mother to Child Transmission: Influence of Genetic Markers.
This study was designed to evaluate the influence of genetic markers on the seropositivity of offspring of HTLV-I positive mothers in Tumaco, Colombia, an endemic area for HTLV-I infection and a site where there exists a racially mixed population of Black and Caucasian ancestors. 33 HTLV-I seropositive women with at least one offspring were studied. A total of 111 offspring were tested using hemaglutination-inhibition for testing sera for the allotypic markers G1m (1, 2, 3, 17) and G3m (5, 6, 13, 21). Potential risk factors such as mother s age at child's birth, mother's age at the time of the study, breastfeeding months, TSP vs. asymptomatic HTLV-I carrier, sibship's size, children's age and sex, were not found to be associated with mother to child transmission. Mother's Negroid genetic marker genotype (1, 17, 5, 13/1, 17, 5, +/- 13) was marginally associated with mother to child transmission of HTLV-I (P=0.0057; OR=11.97; CI=0.92-155.96)
Journal Article↗
Bezafibrate and lovastatin decrease the oxidizability of low-density lipoproteins in heart transplant recipients with hyperlidemia.
BACKGROUND: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. We evaluated the effect of two lipid-lowering drugs, bezafibrate and lovastatin, on the susceptibility of low-density lipoproteins for oxidation in vitro in 21 heart transplant recipients with hyperlipidemia. METHODS: Patients were given the same diet for 3 months, and after that they were randomized to lovastatin or bezafibrate for a period of 8 weeks and then crossed over to an additional 8 weeks of either bezafibrate or lovastatin. Baseline parameters were also compared with those of a control group of healthy subjects and after both periods of pharmacologic treatment. RESULTS: The low-density lipoproteins of transplant recipients presents a shorter lag time than in control subjects (64+/-3 vs 80+/-4 minutes, respectively). This parameter increases after both bezafibrate and lovastatin treatment (83+/-5 and 80+/-4 minutes, respectively). Moreover, we did observe a negative correlation between insulinemia and the lag time of oxidation after bezafibrate treatment (r = -0.5014, P < .021) and between the polyunsaturated fatty acids/monounsaturated fatty acids ratio in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol esters and lag time after lovastatin treatment (r = -0.4631, P < .04). CONCLUSIONS: Bezafibrate and lovastatin decrease the oxidizability of low-density lipoproteins in heart transplant recipients with hyperlipemia.
Bezafibrate↗
HIV-1 proviral DNA load across neuroanatomic regions of individuals with evidence for HIV-1-associated dementia.
A definitive relation between HIV-1 load and the clinical diagnosis of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD) has not yet been established. Knowledge of the neuroanatomic distribution of HIV-1 load in the brain of individuals with HAD and HIV-1 encephalitis may facilitate elucidation of this relation. Nine individuals with AIDS were analyzed postmortem by three independent methods with each assessment performed blinded to the others: 1) a neuropsychiatric review of clinical records for evidence of possible HAD, 2) HIV-1 DNA load determination by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) across several neuroanatomic regions, and 3) a pathologic examination for diagnosis of HIV-1 encephalitis by immunohistochemical techniques. Of eight AIDS cases with clinical records sufficient for neuropsychiatric review, seven were shown to have evidence for HAD. HIV-1 DNA was detected and quantified in specimens from all of the medial temporal lobe regions analyzed but was not detectable in the frontal lobe at the same level of sensitivity in two of these cases (<1 per 1000 cellular genomes). HIV-1 DNA load in the medial temporal lobe region was significantly larger than that in the frontal lobe. Only four of seven cases with evidence for HAD were also diagnosed with HIV-1 encephalitis.
AIDS Dementia Complex↗
Comparison of bezafibrate versus lovastatin for lowering plasma insulin, fibrinogen, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentrations in hyperlipemic heart transplant patients.
Accelerated coronary artery disease is the most serious obstacle to long-term survival in heart transplant recipients. Hyperlipemia, hyperinsulinism, and changes in endothelial cell hemostatic function have been implicated in cardiac allograft vascular disease. Both lovastatin and bezafibrate are safe, effective, and well tolerated therapies for hyperlipidemia. Our study compares the effect of these lipid-lowering drugs in 21 patients with post-heart transplantation hyperlipidemia on different risk factors related to insulin resistance syndrome. Patients were given the same diet for 3 months, then randomized to lovastatin or bezafibrate for a period of 8 weeks, and crossed over to an additional 8 weeks of either bezafibrate or lovastatin. Baseline parameters were also compared with those of a control group of healthy subjects and after both periods of pharmacologic treatment. Transplant patients had higher insulin (35 +/- 3 vs 24 +/- 3 microIU/L), fibrinogen (298 +/- 15 vs 261 +/- 14 mg/dl), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (17 +/- 2 vs 11.7 +/- 2 arbitrary units/ml) plasma levels than controls. Significant decreases in insulin (-37 +/- 3%), fibrinogen (-12 +/- 4%), and PAI-1 plasma levels (-18 +/- 12%) were only observed after bezafibrate treatment. In conclusion, bezafibrate decreases plasma insulin, fibrinogen, and PAI-1 in hyperlipidemic heart transplant recipients.
Bezafibrate↗
Epidural anaesthesia for ureteral reimplantation in an infant with congenital tracheal stenosis.
PURPOSE: We report a case of an infant with severe congenital tracheal stenosis who underwent ureteral reimplantation using lumbar epidural anaesthesia combined with light general anaesthesia. CLINICAL FEATURES: A six-month-old girl with symptomatic tracheal stenosis, demonstrated by computed tomography, was scheduled for ureteral reimplantation. She received continuous lumbar epidural anaesthesia with bupivacaine 0.25% through a 21 gauge catheter positioned at L3-4 interspace. Nitrous oxide/oxygen 50% and sevoflurane 1.5-2% were administered through a face mask and spontaneous breathing was preserved. Anaesthesia and surgery were uneventful. Postoperative epidural analgesia with bupivacaine 0.2% was excellent. The epidural catheter was withdrawn 48 hr postoperatively and she was discharged from the hospital five days later. CONCLUSION: Airway management is a major anaesthetic consideration in an infant with tracheal stenoses requiring abdominal surgery. We have demonstrated that regional anaesthesia combined with light general anaesthesia via face mask is an acceptable option, providing good analgesia during and after surgery. The technique preserves spontaneous ventilation and avoids tracheal manipulation.
Anesthesia, Epidural↗
Donor characteristics and hospital survival in cardiac transplantation. The Spanish Groups of Heart Transplantation.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
[Primary cardiac lymphoma: presentation of a case and review of the literature].
We describe a case of primary cardiac lymphoma presenting with chest pain, complete AV block, negative T waves, and infiltration of the basal segments and right free ventricular wall on echocardiography, interpreted initially as hypertrophy. One month later the patient was readmitted with systemic disease and cardiac insufficiency. Furthermore multicentric myocardial infiltration with a nodular mass in the right atrium producing severe tricuspid stenosis was demonstrated. Surgical biopsy was performed and a high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed. The patient died during the immediate post-operative period without receiving specific chemotherapeutic treatment. Reviewing the published cases, we found that primary cardiac lymphomas are fast growing tumors that infiltrate predominantly the right cavities and have limited therapeutic options.
Fatal Outcome↗
Identification of a novel TAP2 allele in a Colombian black population: gene conversion, ancestral intermediate or convergent change?
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
Comparison of neuropsychological performance between AIDS-free injecting drug users and homosexual men.
We performed a cross-sectional comparison of the baseline neuropsychologic performance of 107 injecting drug users and 230 homosexual men participating in two longitudinal studies. Cognitive tests measured attention, memory and psychomotor speed. Using multiple regression modelling, the analysis adjusted for age, IQ score, race, six-month history of alcohol, cocaine, opiates and marijuana use, HIV serostatus and CD4+ lymphocyte count. Injecting drug users showed significantly poorer scores in all neuropsychologic tests in the univariate analysis. However, once adjusted for age, IQ score and race, only Rey Complex Figure tests were significantly worse among injecting drug users. These data indicate that age and IQ score rather than risk group account primarily for the differences in the cognitive performance, regardless of serostatus and CD4+ count.
Adult↗
Subtle neuropsychological impairment and minor cognitive-motor disorder in HIV-1 infection. Neuroradiological, neurophysiological, neuroimmunological, and virological correlates.
HIV-1 infection of brain may be associated with multiple treatment targets, only the most severe of which is represented by HAD. Focusing on earlier treatment targets such as MCMD and cognitive-motor impairment in the absence of any clinical disorder (as well as neuroprotection) may prove to be of greater clinical utility in the treatment and prevention of such impairment than a focus on later-stage cognitive-motor disease, when neuronal cell death is already extensive. This may be especially important now that improvements using the protease inhibitors in triple-drug combination regimens have reduced plasma viral load to unmeasurable levels, while these drugs do not penetrate the CSF well. Currently, peripheral blood markers do not appear to be highly sensitive for central nervous system impairment, and specific CSF laboratory markers have some limited value at present-while requiring a lumbar puncture to obtain. Hence, a role for noninvasive techniques using neuroimaging exists in the clinical management of HIV-1-infected patients. To date, structural imaging techniques have proven limited in value for HIV-1-specific impairment. Several functional techniques (PET, SPECT, and MR spectroscopy) have now provided promising results for the purposes of identifying clinically significant dysfunction, relating such dysfunction to clinical neuropsychiatric symptom status, and for treatment response monitoring. Further studies are needed to examine the extent to which such imaging modalities not only parallel clinically relevant aspects of HIV-1 disease progression, but also match specific types of neuropsychologic performance deficits with potential significance for neuroanatomical localization. It is particularly important to include neurophysiological, neuroimmunological, and virological measures in studies that examine clinical neuropsychiatric status with neuroimaging techniques. In addition, the inclusion of neuropathology data, where possible, is important because demonstration of HIV-1 encephalitis cannot be equated with clinical disorder and because specific HIV-1-associated pathological changes have not yet been proven to be assessed well with neuroimaging techniques (e.g., the extent of microglial cell and macrophage activation). Also, treatment response studies are needed in conjunction with primary antiretroviral therapy regimens specifically aimed at central nervous system penetration (e.g., GW1592, GW141, and nevirapine). The results of such work will provide the data required to determine whether these promising functional neuroimaging techniques will aid in meeting the expected, imminent increase in clinical burden of this frequent complication of HIV-1 infection.
AIDS Dementia Complex↗
[Liver transplantation: preoperative assessment].
Candidates for hepatic transplant require a careful identification of risk factors present in the preoperative period. Child C patients have a higher incidence of renal function derangement, septic complications and mortality than Child A or B patients. Alterations in cardiovascular, renal, respiratory and neurologic systems, that sometimes constitute clearly defined syndromes, have important prognostic implications. These alterations shed doubts on the moment and indications for transplantation and on the correct preoperative management of these patients.
Humans↗
Glass wool filtration reduces reactive oxygen species by elimination of leukocytes in oligozoospermic patients with leukocytospermia.
PURPOSE: Two types of glass wool were used to remove leukocytes in semen for evaluation of reactive oxygen species production by spermatozoa in oligozoospermic patients with leukocytospermia. METHODS: Semen samples were prepared using fine-structure glass wool (SpermFertil) and coarse-structure glass wool. In each treatment group, native semen was evaluated for sperm concentration, percentage motility, viability, leukocyte concentration, and production of reactive oxygen species. RESULTS: Electron microscopically, SpermFertil showed a higher number of leukocytes attached to the fibers compared to coarse-structure glass wool. Leukocytes in native semen and after glass wool filtration as determined by peroxidase cytochemistry confirmed this observation. Reactive oxygen species decreased from 45.303 counts/10(7) viable cells in native semen to 15.806 counts/10(7) cells in coarse structure wool and 7.465 counts/10(7) cells in Spermfertil, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of leukocytes from semen of oligozoospermic patients by means of glass wool filtration is a useful method to distinguish production of reactive oxygen species by leukocytes versus sperm cells.
Glass↗
[Value of a short (7 days) prophylactic course of ganciclovir in the prevention of cytomegalovirus disease after heart transplantation].
BACKGROUND: The incidence of cytomegalovirus disease remains important after heart transplantation, mainly in the first months after transplantation. We undertook a study to evaluate a short (7 days) prophylactic administration of ganciclovir to prevent cytomegalovirus disease after heart transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were two groups of patients: patients transplanted in 1993 (37) and patients transplanted in 1992 (38). In the first group, ganciclovir was given intravenously at a dose of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight every day from postoperative day 1 through day 7. In the second group, ganciclovir was not given. Similar regimens of immunosuppression (ATG, deflazacort, azathioprine and cyclosporine) were given. RESULTS: Age, sex, serology in recipients and donors and incidence of acute rejection were comparable between both groups. Mortality was slightly higher in ganciclovir group (35%) than in control group (26%), although this difference was not statistically significant. There were two cases of cytomegalovirus disease in the ganciclovir group (6%) and nine cases in the control group (27%) (p < 0.05), all of them treated successfully. Cytomegalovirus disease in ganciclovir group occurred in two children, who were seronegative before transplantation. The incidence of cytomegalovirus disease in the pediatric recipients of ganciclovir group were 50% (2 of 4) and 100% in the control group (1 of 1). The incidence of cytomegalovirus disease were therefore 0% in the adult subgroup of ganciclovir group and 24% in the adult subgroup of control group. CONCLUSIONS: A short (7 days) prophylactic administration of ganciclovir reduces the incidence of cytomegalovirus disease. In the pediatric group, the effectiveness is lower.
Adult↗
[Intraoperative monitoring of gastric intramucosal pH].
BACKGROUND: Gastric mucosal pH may be a good indicator of splanchnic tissue oxygenation. AIM: To study the effects of abdominal surgical procedures on gastric mucosal pH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients subjected to abdominal surgery were studied. All patients received general anesthesia and hemodynamic parameters were maintained within 20% of basal values. A tonometer was placed in the stomach after induction of anesthesia. Arterial blood gases and samples from the tonometer were obtained 30 minutes after induction and at 2 hours of surgery. Intramucosal pH was calculated using Henderson-Haselbach equations. RESULTS: Basal gastric mucosal pH was 7.4 +/- 0.1 and did not change during surgery. Two patients had a pH persistently below 7.35 without hemodynamic alterations or systemic acidosis. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric mucosal pH is not modified by abdominal surgery and some patients have low values despite the absence of hemodynamic derangement.
Abdomen↗
Comparison of lovastatin and bezafibrate on lipoprotein(a) plasma levels in cardiac transplant recipients.
Our results suggest that bezafibrate may be useful in the treatment of high Lp(a) levels in heart transplant patients.
Bezafibrate↗
Normative data for a brief neuropsychologic test battery in a cohort of injecting drug users.
Recent epidemiologic studies of the cognitive performance of injecting drug users have demonstrated the need to establish appropriate test norms for this population. This report provides normative data from a group of 150 injecting drug users on a battery of standardized tests of cognitive performance stratified by age group (range 20 to 49 years) and educational level (mean 11.6, standard deviation 2.0). The analysis also includes estimation of partial correlations between neuropsychologic test scores and age and education. The analysis demonstrates that age and education are important determinants of performance for several of these tests, and provides norms that may be of use as a reference for clinical evaluation and research in drug user populations.
AIDS Dementia Complex↗