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Biomedical subjects

M Diez

Publications and source records attributed to M Diez.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Akinetic mutism: a report of three cases.

OBJECTIVES: To report 3 new cases of akinetic mutism, a clinical syndrome defined by silent immobility with preserved visual alertness not accountable by lesion of the areas and/or effector pathways of speech and voluntary movements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Anatomopathological studies were performed in Cases 1 and 2; clinical follow-up, EEG, angiography and CT scans in Case 3. RESULTS: Case 1: Bipallidal necrosis; Case 2: Left pallidal necrosis with right frontoparietal cortico-subcortical infarction; Case 3: Striato-capsular infarction on the left side, involving the caudate nucleus and the anterior arm of the internal capsule, together with obstructive hydrocephalus. CONCLUSION: The roles of both globus pallidus and prefrontostriatal circuits in the onset of voluntary movements are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Different periods of feed restriction before compensatory growth in Belgian Blue bulls: I. animal performance, nitrogen balance, meat characteristics, and fat composition.

Thirty double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls were maintained at a rate of gain of .5 kg/d during four periods of time, 115 (G2), 239 (G3), or 411 (G4) d (low growth period, LGP), before fattening (rapid growth period, RGP). Ten control animals (CG) were fed a diet rich in energy and protein. The G2, G3, and G4 were fed a diet low in energy and protein and the same diet as CG during RGP. Live weight was recorded biweekly, feed intake (FI) daily, and nitrogen balance at three times for each group. At the slaughterhouse, the 7, 8, and 9th ribs were removed to determine carcass composition, meat quality, and meat and fat composition. Compensatory growth reached a maximum 2 mo after refeeding and then decreased rapidly, leading to a sharp increase in the feed conversion ratio. Nitrogen balance was higher in compensating groups ( P < .05). Compensating animals had higher carcass connective and adipose tissue contents (P < .05) but lower meat fat content (P < .05). Cattle exhibiting compensatory growth had higher redness, yellowness, cooking losses, and drip losses, but had lower Warner-Bratzler peak shear force values. The saturated fatty acid content of the fat decreased with the duration of the LGP. During the first 2 mo after refeeding, compensatory growth in double-muscled bulls was ascribed to one or more of the following mechanisms: higher FI, lower maintenance requirements, or better efficiency of lean meat production. Compensatory growth at the expense of higher FI increased peripheral fat but decreased intramuscular fat deposition.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1998

Different periods of feed restriction before compensatory growth in Belgian Blue bulls: II. Plasma metabolites and hormones.

Plasma metabolites and hormones were studied in 16 double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls maintained at low growth (.5 kg/d) for 114 (G2), 243 (G3), or 419 (G4) d (low growth period, LGP) before fattening (rapid growth period, RGP). Animals from the control group (CG) were fed a diet high in energy and protein. The animals from G2, G3, and G4 were fed a restricted amount of a diet low in energy and protein during LGP and the same diet as CG during RGP. Plasma glucose, alpha-amino nitrogen (AAN), NEFA, urea, creatinine, thyroxine (T4), 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine (T3), and IGF-I were measured in blood samples taken fortnightly. Plasma GH and insulin (I) profiles were measured in serial blood samples obtained at three times during growth. The RGP was characterized by an initial compensatory growth, by higher plasma glucose, AAN, and urea levels, and by lower plasma NEFA and creatinine levels. Plasma GH concentration decreased after refeeding. Plasma T4 increased linearly during refeeding, as opposed to T3, which showed a different profile in each group. Plasma IGF-I showed a curvilinear increase during RGP and reached a plateau after 3 mo in each compensating group. In G4, changes of plasma metabolites and hormones differed often distinctly from G2 or G3. During refeeding, higher nutrient supply improved the functionality of the somatotropic axis and increased the concentration of anabolic hormones, allowing rapid muscle deposition. However, animals underfed the longest period behaved differently from the other groups, possibly because they reached a more complete sexual maturity.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

In vitro genotoxicity of polycyclic musk fragrances in the micronucleus test.

The synthetic polycyclic musk fragrance compounds galaxolide (1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-(g)-2-b enzopyrane), tonalide (7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamerthyltetraline), celestolide (4-acetyl-1,1-dimethyl-6-tert-butylindane), phantolide (6-acetyl-1,1,2,3,3,5-hexamethylindane), cashmeran (6,7-dihydro-1,1,2,3,3-pentamethyl-4-(5H) indanone) and traseolide (5-acetyl-1,1,2,6-tetramethyl-3-isopropylindane) were examined for their genotoxicity in the micronucleus test (MNT) with human lymphocytes in vitro in the presence and absence of an exogenous metabolizing system containing rat liver S9 and the metabolically competent human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. Compound concentrations were employed up to cytotoxic doses. Galaxolide, tonalide, celestolide, phantolide, cashmeran and traseolide revealed no genotoxicity in the micronucleus test with human lymphocytes and with the human hepatoma cell line Hep G2.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Marked decrease of neuropeptide Y Y2 receptor binding sites in the hippocampus in murine prion disease.

Using autoradiographic binding methodology with monoiodinated peptide YY together with the agonists neuropeptide Y (NPY) and NPY (13-36), as well as in situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes complementary to the NPY Y2 receptor (Y2-R) mRNA, we have studied whether or not intracerebral prion inoculation affects Y2-Rs in male CD-1 mice. Monoiodinated peptide YY binding, mainly representing Y2-Rs, was down-regulated by 85% in the CA1 strata oriens and radiatum and by 50-65% in the CA3 stratum oriens 110-140 days postinoculation. In the CA3 stratum radiatum, where the mossy fibers from the dentate granule cells project, there was a significant decrease in PYY binding at 110-120 days. Y2-R mRNA, moderately expressed both in the CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cell layers and the granule cell layer in the dentate gyrus, showed a slight, but not significant, decrease in CA3 neurons 130 days postinoculation. The results indicate that the accumulation of the scrapie prion protein in the CA1-3 region strongly inhibits NPY binding at the Y2-Rs, which, however, is only marginally due to reduced Y2-R mRNA expression. The loss of the ability of NPY to bind to inhibitory Y2-Rs may cause dysfunction of hippocampal circuits and may contribute to the clinical symptoms in mouse scrapie.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Genomic organization of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.

We produced electrophoretic karyotypes of the reference strain E150 and of seven other isolates from different geographical origins to study the genomic organization of the dimorphic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. These karyotypes differed in the number and size of the chromosomal bands. The karyotype of the reference stain E150 consisted of five bands of between 2.6 and 4.9 Mb in size. This strain contained at least five rDNA clusters, from 190 to 620 kb in size, which were scattered over most of the chromosomes. The assignment of 43 markers, including rRNA genes and three centromeres, to the E150 bands defined five linkage groups. Hybridization to the karyotypes of other isolates with pools of markers of each linkage group showed that linkage groups I, II, IV and V were conserved in the strains tested whereas group III was not and was split between at least two chromosomes in most strains. Use of a meganuclease I-SceI site targeted to one locus of E150 linkage group III showed that two chromosomes actually comigrated in band III of this strain. Our results are compatible with six chromosomes defining the haploid complement of strains of Y. lipolytica and that, despite an unprecedented chromosome length polymorphism, the overall structure of the genome is conserved in different isolates.

Ascomycota↗
PubMed1997

Prediction of recurrence by quantification of p185neu protein in non-small-cell lung cancer tissue.

The concentration of c-erbB-2 oncogene-encoded protein (p185neu) in fresh tumour samples obtained at the time of surgery from 94 non-small-cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) was determined by an enzyme immunoassay. The relative prognostic importance was estimated, and the influence of other predictors was assessed by means of a Cox's proportional regression model. Median concentration of p185 in tumour tissues was 206 U mg(-1) (range 21-1050 U mg(-1)). p185 level did not differ significantly among subgroups defined by TNM classification, histological type, sex and age. Categorization of patients by p185 level, with 206 U mg(-1) and 343 U mg(-1) taken as cut-off values (corresponding to the 50th and 80th percentiles of the frequency distribution), showed that the recurrence rate, cumulative disease-free likelihood at the 36-month follow-up and median time from surgery to the diagnosis of recurrence worsened progressively as the level of p185 increased. Multivariate analysis confirmed the independent prognostic value of p185 level. Risk of recurrence increased by 1.304 for every increase of 100 units in p185 concentration (95% CI 1.141-1.490) (P<0.001). These findings encourage the inclusion of p185 concentration assay in a future predictive multifactorial prognostic index in NSCLC.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Comparison of hindquarter metabolite uptakes in Belgian Blue double-muscled bulls at maintenance or during fattening.

Metabolism of muscle growth in the hindquarter was investigated by the arterio-venous difference (AVD) technique in Belgian Blue double-muscled type bulls at maintenance or at fattening. The bulls were fitted with an aortic ultrasonic blood flow probe and with catheters in the aorta and vena cava. They were offered a diet allowing for maintenance (MP) during a period of 15 d, at the end of which measurements were made over 3 d. Bulls were then given a fattening diet (FP) and the measurements were repeated. Arterial blood flow was approximately 1 L/min greater when the bulls were standing than when lying. Blood flow was 2 L/min higher during FP than during MP. The AVD and uptake of glucose were maximal at 1400 and 1600. Uptake of alpha-amino nitrogen decreased immediately after a meal. The increase in glucose from MP to FP fitted very well with the calculated energy needs for muscle growth. The AVD and uptake of alpha-amino nitrogen, total amino acids, and total nonessential amino acids were negative during MP and positive and significantly higher during FP. There was also a significant increase in AVD and uptake of essential and branched-chain amino acids when the bulls were changed from MP to FP. When changing from maintenance to fattening, the incremental glucose and amino acid hindquarter uptake provided energy and supply for muscle protein accretion, respectively. The level of alanine transamination was also sharply reduced.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1997

Influence of a blend of fructo-oligosaccharides and sugar beet fiber on nutrient digestibility and plasma metabolite concentrations in healthy beagles.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of a blend of fructo-oligosaccharides and sugar beet fiber (4:1) at 3 incorporation rates on nutrient digestibility and plasma glucose, insulin, alpha-aminonitrogen, urea, cholesterol, and triglycerides concentrations measured weekly in nonfed dogs and during a 360-minute period after a meal. ANIMALS: 8 castrated 1- to 1.4-year-old young adult male Beagles weighing 10.0 to 13.5 kg. PROCEDURE: Diets containing 2 incorporation rates of a blend of fructo-oligosaccharides and sugar beet fiber (5 and 10% on a dry matter basis [diets B and C, respectively]) were compared with a control diet without additional fiber (diet A). The 3 diets were evaluated for ability to modify digestibility of dry and organic matter, protein, fat, and ash and for effects on plasma glucose, insulin, alpha-aminonitrogen, urea, cholesterol, and triglycerides concentrations. Each diet was fed for 6 weeks; plasma samples were collected weekly before feeding and after feeding on the last day of the period. During 1 week at the end of the 6-week period, dogs were kept in metabolic cages. Each period of the block was followed by a 4-week washout period. RESULTS: Incorporating the blend of fructo-oligosaccharides and sugar beet fiber in the diet was associated with greater passage of wet feces (diets B and C) and lower protein digestibility (diet C). Postprandial glucose (diet C), urea (diets B and C) and triglyceride (diets B and C) concentrations were significantly (P < 0.01) decreased. Weekly preprandial measurements were characterized by decreased urea (diets B and C), cholesterol (diet C), and triglycerides (diets B and C) concentrations (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Chronic consumption of fermentable fiber is associated with mildly decreased protein digestibility and with metabolic effects in nonfed or fed dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A blend of fructo-oligosaccharides and sugar beet fiber should be tested as a dietary aid for treatment of chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia, in dogs.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Aberrant induction of neuropeptide Y mRNA in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurones in scrapie-infected mice.

The neurochemical alterations preceding neurological dysfunction and neuronal death in prion diseases are not well characterized. Here we examined, using in situ hybridization histochemistry, the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY), an inducible and abundant neuropeptide in mammalian brain with known neuroregulatory functions, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker for astroglial activation, in the hippocampus at different time points following intracerebral prion inoculation in male CD-1 mice. Between 110 and 140 days postinoculation NPY mRNA expression was specifically up-regulated in CA3 pyramidal neurones, whereas expression of NPY in hilar neurones remained unaltered. Up-regulation of GFAP mRNA was observed in the CA1 stratum radiatum at 60 days, and spread throughout the hippocampus, cortex and thalamus between 110 and 140 days, suggesting early accumulation of scrapie prion protein in these regions. The clinical symptoms were first manifested 120 days postinoculation. Aberrant induction of NPY mRNA in the hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurones preceded the onset of neurological symptoms, and may be involved in the regulation of glutamate release at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses in scrapie-infected mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A quantitative ELISA for antigen-specific IgG subclasses using equivalence dilutions of anti-kappa and anti-subclass specific secondary reagents. Application to the study of the murine immune response against the capsular polysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B.

We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure murine antigen-specific IgG antibodies of defined subclass using precalibrated equivalence dilutions of anti-kappa (in the standard) and each anti-IgG subclass-specific polyclonal secondary antibody (in the test sample). The calibration of secondary reagents could be carried out easily with a set of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) specific for all IgG subclasses. These MoAbs do not require purification or standardization. In addition the MoAbs can be of different antigenic specificity. Once the equivalence dilutions have been determined, they can be applied in a quantitative ELISA using the same antigen in the standard and sample, and using only one IgG subclass standard for the determination of all the IgG subclasses. The method is easy to standardize for many antigenic systems. It is particularly useful when the only standard available is one standardized MoAb of the appropriate specificity, and it could be adapted to use with standard polyclonal antibodies having a known content of total antigen-specific IgG bearing kappa chains but unknown IgG subclass composition. The use of this method to quantitate IgG specific for the capsular polysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (CpsB) gave highly reproducible measures with an interbatch CV of 5-6% similar for all IgG subclasses and low detection limits ranging from 0.3 ng/well for IgG3 to 0.8 ng/well for IgG2a. The IgG subclass response observed after immunization with live meningococci was mainly IgG2a (74%) and IgG2b (18%). Hyperimmunization modified this IgG distribution to one of mainly IgG3 (62%) and IgG1 (28%) which was maintained in the response to a single immunization 4 weeks later, possibly indicating the generation of resting B cells during continuous stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Analysis of the prognostic significance of cytosolic determination of CA 125 tumor-associated antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen and squamous cell carcinoma antigen in patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The use of new prognostic factors as guidelines for the indication of treatment ancillary to surgery has been advocated for patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). This article is an analysis of the prognostic information derived from determination of tumor-tissue cytosolic concentration of CA 125 tumor-associated antigen (CA 125), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) in patients with NSCLC. METHODS: Tumor samples were obtained from 97 patients who successfully underwent surgery for NSCLC with curative intent. CA 125 and CEA were determined by enzyme immunoassay. SCC was determined by radioimmunoassay. The relationship between the tumor-tissue marker level and survival or likelihood of disease free survival was analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-month survival post-treatment in patients registering CA 125 levels less than 26 U/mg was 68%, versus 30% among patients with levels of CA 125 greater tha 26 U/mg (P < 0.005). For SCC, these values were 57% and 39%, respectively (P = 0.07). No significant difference was seen for CEA (60% versus 44%; P = 0.3). Patients whose tumors had CA 125 levels lower than cutoff recorded a disease free survival rate of 61% versus 29% (P < 0.001); with SCC, likelihood of remaining free of tumor recurrence was 55% versus 34% (P < 0.05). Again, no significant difference was seen for CEA (49% versus 45%; P = 0.5). For CA 125 and SCC, the relationship between marker level and outcome held only with the most favorable histologic types. For CA 125 however, this relationship also held for Stage I tumors (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Ascertainment of concentrations of CA 125 and SCC in tumor tissue is useful parameter in the determination of postoperative prognosis for patients with NSCLC.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Peripheral axotomy induces increased expression of neurotensin in large neurons in rat lumbar dorsal root ganglia.

In normal rat lumbar 4 and 5 dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) a few large neurons expressed neurotensin-like immunoreactivity (LI). Twenty hours after crushing the lumbar 4 and 5 dorsal roots or the sciatic nerve, accumulations of neurotensin-LI were seen in many nerve fibers on the ganglionic side of both crushes, indicating a significant centrifugal transport of neurotensin under normal circumstances. A distinct increase in expression of neurotensin (peptide and mRNA) was observed in many large neuron profiles in the ipsilateral lumbar 4 and 5 DRGs two days after unilateral sciatic nerve transection. Two weeks after axotomy the number of neurotensin-positive neuron profiles was reduced and had almost reached normal levels. In the superficial dorsal horn of the lesion side the number of neurotensin immunoreactive fibers in laminae I-II was markedly reduced 7 days after peripheral axotomy. There was no detectable increase in neurotensin-L1 in laminae III-IV of spinal dorsal horn, in the dorsal column nuclei or in the peripheral neuroma (2-28 days after axotomy), suggesting that the amounts of neurotensin transported centrifugally from DRG neurons after axotomy are low. Neurotensin-LI only sometimes colocalized with neuropeptide Y-LI, another peptide known to be upregulated in large DRG neurons. These two peptides may therefore partly be localized in different populations of large DRG neurons. The present results show that, in contrast to the nerve injury-induced general downregulation of neurotensin systems in the superficial dorsal horn and of neurotensin receptor mRNA expression in DRGs as shown in previous studies, axotomy causes upregulation of expression of neurotensin peptide in some large DRG neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Colorectal metachronous tumors].

INTRODUCTION: The metachronous colorectal carcinoma is defined as a primary carcinoma which arises after surgical removal of a previous carcinoma of the large bowel. The incidence of metachronous colorectal cancer has been reported to be 1-8 per cent. THE AIM: The purpose of the present study was to determine the incidence of metachronous colorectal carcinoma and, on this basis, to propose a follow-up programme after primary resection for cure in this patient group of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with metachronous colorectal malignancies underwent surgery, 16 (57.1%) male and 12 (42.9%) female. These metachronous cancers were discovered at intervals ranging from eight months to seven years (range 28 +/- 10 months). Nine (32%) metachronous lesions were detected two years of more after the original cancer. Six of the metachronous cancers appeared in the right colon, eight were distributed throughout the transverse and descending colon, and fourteen in the rectosigmoid region. Histological examination revealed a high proportion of early stage lesions (82.1% Duke's A more B). CONCLUSION: A set of patients surviving their initial colorectal cancer should be followed for the rest of their life because of the risk of developing a second primary. In the light of our experience, a full examination of the colon in these patients is mandatory, and colonoscopy is the best diagnostic procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Adrenal medullary ganglion neurons project into the splanchnic nerve.

Retrograde tract-tracing was used to study the projections of adrenal medullary ganglion neurons. The splanchnic nerve was cut close to the suprarenal ganglia and the retrograde tracer FluoroGold was applied at the site of nerve transection. Groups of adrenal medullary ganglion neurons exhibited FlurorGold- or Fast Blue-induced fluorescence restricted to the perikarya. Using immunohistochemistry most retrogradely labelled ganglion neurons showed immunoreactivity for neuropeptide Y. In addition, after splanchnicotomy most ganglion neurons expressed galanin and galanin message-associated peptide immunoreactivities which could not be observed in control adrenals. Taken together, the present results strongly indicate that adrenal medullary ganglion neurons project back into the splanchnic nerve perhaps representing feedback system modulating the preganglionic innervation of the adrenal gland.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1995

Prediction of recurrence in B-C stages of colorectal cancer by p53 nuclear overexpression in comparison with standard pathological features.

This study investigated the predictive value of p53 nuclear overexpression on recurrence of colorectal adenocarcinomas compared with established prognostic pathological features. Sixty-one paraffin-embedded sections from primary tumours were examined by immunohistochemistry. Specific nuclear staining was detected in 27 (44.2%) cases. Positivity was more frequent in tumours with venous invasion (76.9%) (P = 0.06) and in rectal cancer (68.4%) (P = 0.06). After a median observation time of 46 months, p53-positive tumours exhibited a higher percentage of recurrence (40.7% vs 11.7%) (P = 0.03), and a higher likelihood of relapse at 5-year follow-up (46% vs 13%) (P = 0.006). Among the pathological variables analysed, only the extent of bowel wall invasion showed a relationship with recurrence. After adjustment for the other covariates in a Cox's regression model, p53 overexpression was the only factor showing independent prognostic significance (hazard ratio: 4.96; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.47-16.71) (P = 0.012). The results of this study show that nuclear p53 protein overexpression has higher predictive value than standard pathological variables.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Expression of neuropeptides in the rat mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus after peripheral axotomy.

Certain populations of dorsal root ganglion cells upregulate galanin (GAL) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) after peripheral axotomy. Less is known of the functional properties of the neurones reacting in this way. The primary sensory mesencephalic trigeminal (Me5) neurones are considered to have purely proprioceptive functions. In this study immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization have been used to investigate the expression of NPY and GAL in Me5 neurones after peripheral axotomy. Both methods revealed a transient upregulation of GAL and NPY in Me5 neurones which was first observed 3 days postoperatively, peaking at 1 and 2 weeks and then being reduced. The results show that proprioceptive neurones may upregulate these peptides as a consequence of injury.

Animals↗