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Biomedical subjects

M Cruz

Publications and source records attributed to M Cruz.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Occurrence and isotype of antibodies against peripheral nerve myelin in serum from patients with peripheral neuropathy and healthy controls.

Antibodies against peripheral nerve myelin have previously been demonstrated in serum from patients with peripheral neuropathy and IgM paraproteinaemia, and a causal relationship has been suggested. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), anti-myelin antibodies were found in sera from eight of 16 patients with polyneuropathy and paraproteinaemia, but also in 17% of 109 patients with peripheral neuropathy lacking monoclonal immunoglobulin, including five of 10 patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and in 16% of 142 blood donors. The antibodies were mostly of IgM class in the two neuropathy groups, while blood donors had mostly IgA antibodies, and a few subjects of each group had antimyelin antibodies of two different isotypes. Western blot confirmed the ELISA results in a majority of antibody positive sera and revealed a 25-30 kD myelin target antigen for sera from the three groups, and for some of the non-paraproteinaemic sera also a 100 kD myelin target antigen. Our results demonstrate that the presence of serum autoantibodies against peripheral nerve myelin does not necessarily indicate a pathological event.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Failure of maintained hyperprolactinemia to improve lactational performance in late puerperium.

Although stimulation of PRL secretion in the early postpartum period has been found to improve lactational performance, the effect of chronic maintenance of elevated plasma PRL levels on milk production is not known. In a randomized design, 66 lactating women were assigned to receive either a placebo (n = 32) or the dopamine antagonist sulpiride (n = 34; 100 mg, three times daily), for 4 days, followed by 50 mg, three times daily, for a 90-day period). Their basal and 30 min postsuckling plasma PRL levels as well as the weights of their infants were measured 1, 4, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days postpartum. Forty-one women (20 sulpiride-treated and 21 placebo-treated) completed the study. Compared with the placebo group, which had the expected postpartum plasma PRL decline, the sulpiride-treated women maintained significantly elevated basal plasma PRL values up to the 90th postpartum day. In contrast, the postsuckling plasma PRL level was significantly diminished in the latter group, and on day 90 was practically absent. On day 15, weight gain was significantly greater in the infants whose mothers received sulpiride, but later, no differences were detectable between groups of infants despite the disparity in PRL levels in their mothers. We conclude that enhancement of PRL secretion in the early postpartum period may transiently increase milk production, but chronic hyperprolactinemia has no effect on lactational performance. The plasma PRL response to suckling is not essential for the maintenance of milk secretion. Instead, basal plasma PRL levels and neurogenic reflexes may be more instrumental in maintaining established lactation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

High correlation between molecular alterations of the c-myc oncogene and carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

We have examined 35 human tumors of the uterine cervix (carcinoma presenting the highest incidence in Mexico; about 34% of women's malignant tumors) for alterations of the cellular myc (c-myc) protooncogene. Elevated amplification and/or rearrangement of the c-myc oncogene were detected in most (approximately 90%) samples (48% showed amplification and 43% presented both alterations). Most tumors were stage II cervical carcinomas and for some of them we detected up to 60-fold amplification of c-myc. These results suggest an important role for c-myc oncogene in the development of tumors of the uterine cervix.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Immunoblot detection of oligoclonal anti-myelin basic protein IgG antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis.

Migration properties and occurrence of antibodies against myelin basic protein (MBP) in paired CSF and serum specimens from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were demonstrated after agarose isoelectric focusing, immunoblot transfer, and immunoperoxidase staining. Oligoclonal IgG antibody bands directed against MBP were found in the CSF of 9 of 28 patients with MS (32%), but not in the CSF of any of 34 patients with other neurologic diseases. No serum showed anti-MBP antibody bands. The CSF anti-MBP antibodies migrated to the anodal region of the IgG area in a different fashion from oligoclonal IgG and anti-measles IgG antibodies, which were detected in parallel. The anti-MBP bands were transient in three of seven patients whom we studied consecutively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of serum and CSF for detection of IgG reactivity against MBP showed absorbance values above 2 standard deviations of controls in 44% of the MS patients and in 21% of those with other neurologic diseases. Results of this assay correlated partly with those of the immunoblot assay. ELISA positive and immunoblot negative results might be due to a broad polyclonal anti-MBP antibody response.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Perinatal aspects of the children of heroin addicts].

Maternal, perinatal and neonatal factors of 27 newborns of heroin addicted mothers were reviewed between 1980 and 1984. Results were compared with a control group of 2,587 normal newborns. A progressive increase in number of cases was observed in the last years. Mean age of heroin-addicted mothers was significant lower than control group (p less than 0.001). Only 18.5% were under obstetrical control for at least 4 times (p less than 0.001) and 40.7% had antecedents previous abortions (p less than 0.025). Four cases of maternal syphilis were diagnosed and also four mother were positive to HBsAg; statistical difference in both cases was highly significant with respect to control group (p less than 0.001). A higher index of premature rupture of membranes (11.1%, p less than 0.001) and cesarean sections (25.9%, p less than 0.001) was appreciated. No significant difference was observed attending to fetal presentation, instrumental delivery, Apgar test scores and pH of umbilical artery (p greater than 0.05). A higher incidence of preterm (18.5%, p less than 0.01) and small for gestational age babies (44.4%, p less than 0.001) was ascertained. Pregnancy control and no smoking habit might influence birth weight (p less than 0.001). Neonatal withdrawal syndrome was present in 44.4% and was related to mother's last dose and secondary to degree of heroin abuse (p less than 0.025).

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1986

Immunoglobulin abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid and blood over the course of lymphocytic meningoradiculitis (Bannwarth's syndrome).

The conditions of 5 patients with untreated lymphocytic meningoradiculitis (Bannwarth's syndrome, probably equivalent to Lyme disease) with serologically confirmed infection resulting from Borrelia spirochetes were followed with repetitive lumbar punctures up to 221 days after the onset of symptoms. Using a protein A plaque assay, high numbers of IgG-, IgM-, and IgA-producing cells were found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), whereas there were mostly normal numbers of immunoglobulin-producing cells in peripheral blood. A markedly increased CSF IgM index and an elevated IgG index were observed in all patients during the early phase, reflecting production of these immunoglobulins within the central nervous system. All patients had oligoclonal IgG bands in the CSF that persisted during follow-up; in the 2 patients tested, the bands contained Borrelia antibodies. Most serum immunoglobulin concentrations were normal and in only 1 patient was it possible to detect in serum some of the oligoclonal IgG bands present in CSF. Declining numbers of CSF cells producing immunoglobulin and decreasing immunoglobulin index values were observed during follow-up, but 3 patients had an elevated CSF IgM index in the presence of normal IgG and IgA indices when examined during the later phases of disease. An intense and prolonged IgM response within the central nervous system seems to be a characteristic of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Pulmonary blastoma at the site of a congenital pulmonary cyst].

Lung blastoma is a rare primary tumor of the lung. There are only 18 cases reported in medical bibliography under 15 years old. A girl 4 years old is reported. A pulmonary congenital cyst in right middle lobe was excised in other hospital at 15 months old. A pneumoblastoma developed at 4 years old in the same location. It was excised by bilobectomy and treated after words with radium and polychemotherapy. Evolution after 29 months of intervention is quite good. She is in good health without recidives or metastases. Lung blastoma is a mixed tumor composed by embryonic mesenchyma and endothelial cores of embryology origin. A review has been done about published cases and it's commented the relation between blastoma and peripheral pulmonary cysts. Three of the 4 cases in pediatric bibliography presented that association and in another the disorders merge with 3 years of influence. In our case the lapse was 31 months after cyst exeresis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1985

Urinary lipids in vesical carcinoma: a new biological marker. Preliminary study.

We have determined urinary lipids by thin-layer chromatography in 40 patients with bladder tumors, and have evaluated their modification following tumor removal and their predictive value in terms of the presence or absence of recurrences. The results obtained were compared with those of a control group without tumoral pathology (14 patients) and 11 cases with bacterial infection of the urinary tract. There is a marked difference between the lipidogram of the tumoral group of patients and the controls (p less than 0.005), especially in the phospholipid to fatty acid (PL/FA) relationship, with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 80%. With regard to recurrences, in non-recurrent cases the PL/FA value remained high in relation to the initial value (p less than 0.005), whereas in the recurrent cases the value rose to 'tumoral limits'. Macrohematuria and urinary infection modify the lipidogram, resulting in values similar to the tumoral cases. Their absence is therefore essential in order to evaluate the results. The urinary lipidogram appears to be a possible biological marker for bladder tumors.

Chromatography, Thin Layer↗
PubMed1985

[Intrahepatic portal venous hypoplasia in Alagille's syndrome].

One new case of arteriohepatic dysplasia (Alagille's syndrome) is reported. The case showed signs of progressive portal hypertension with the liver biopsy revealing evidence of hypoplasia of the intrahepatic portal venous branches without evident cirrhosis, next to the characteristic paucity of intrahepatic bile ducts. This venous abnormality might be responsible for the unfavourable outcome observed in some cases with Alagille's syndrome and corresponds to a severe form of the disease.

Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic↗
PubMed1984

Leukocyte kinetics in the human lung: role of exercise and catecholamines.

In six normal supine subjects epinephrine infusion produced a greater leukocytosis with smaller changes in heart rate and blood pressure than did norepinephrine or isoproterenol. Upright exercise in those subjects produced a greater leukocytosis than supine exercise at the same work load. To determine the lung's participation in these events, indium-labeled neutrophils (PMN) were given to four of the subjects. We found that 20-25% were retained in the first pass through the lung when compared with technetium-labeled erythrocytes. The number of labeled PMN in the lung gradually decreased and the number in the spleen and the liver increased. Exercise and catecholamine infusion caused an acceleration in the release of labeled cells from the lung, an increase in both labeled and unlabeled cells in the peripheral blood, and an increase in the number of labeled cells in the liver and spleen. This suggests that increased perfusion of low-flow areas in the lung may contribute to the increased leukocytosis seen in association with both exercise and catecholamine infusion.

Blood Pressure↗