Adrenal cyst: a case report.
The authors describe the case of a patient with a large adrenal cyst. They review the existing literature and discuss the problem of diagnosis an treatment.
Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
M Garcia
Publications and source records attributed to M Garcia.
Short bowel syndrome: an infant's story.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Female↗
Axonal regeneration after neurapraxia and action potential evaluation.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Action Potentials↗
Choledocholithiasis in cirrhotic patients: is endoscopic sphincterotomy the safest choice?
Of the 18 endoscopic sphincterotomies performed on 18 cirrhotic patients for choledocholithiasis, a mortality rate of 16.6% was registered. However, this figure can be limited to 6.6% if we take only successful sphincterotomies (15/18, 83.3%) into account. After closely reviewing relevant literature, it would appear that operative mortality in comparable cases is much higher. We therefore recommend that endoscopic sphincterotomy, despite higher mortality rates when compared to the general population, should be the initial choice of management of choledocholithiasis in cirrhotic patients.
Aged↗
Correlation between secretion pattern and metastatic potential from drug-treated 3LL tumor cell line.
In the present study, we described the effects of three different drugs, A23187 calcium ionophore (A23187), indomethacin (IND) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), on the secretion pattern and the metastatic potential in the low metastatic 3LL tumor cell line. The results evidence that a low molecular weight protein fraction is always secreted in an higher amount in drug treated cells than in untreated cells independently of the drug used. In addition to their effects on secretion pattern, the three drugs assayed enhance noticeably the metastatic rate in vivo of the 3LL cells. The data confirm our earlier observations showing that our high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) method is suitable for discriminating even between cells with a different degree (low and high) of metastatic potential by its chromatographic secretion pattern and that alterations in the secretion pattern from treated cells are related with changes in the degree of metastatic potential of these cells.
Animals↗
Sexual behavior, venereal diseases, hygiene practices, and invasive cervical cancer in a high-risk population.
A case-control study of 759 women with invasive cervical cancer and 1430 controls in four Latin American countries evaluated risk in relation to sexual behavior, histories of specific venereal diseases, and hygiene practices. Early age at first sexual intercourse and increasing number of sexual partners were associated with significantly increased risks even after adjustment for their mutual effects. Risk increased to a twofold excess among women reporting first intercourse at 14 to 15 years of age compared with 20+ years. The number of steady sexual partners was a more important predictor of risk than the number of nonsteady partners, particularly before age 30, possibly reflecting the need for prolonged or repeated exposures to a transmissible agent, or different methods of protection against sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. Reported frequency of intercourse was not generally associated with risk, except among women reporting increased frequencies before 20 years of age. Histories of gonorrhea or crab lice were associated with increased risk, but histories of other venereal diseases were not significant predictors. No consistently increased risks were detected for women reporting specific hygiene or douching habits, except the practice of washing the genitalia infrequently during menstruation. These results provide support for a period of increased susceptibility to carcinogens during adolescence, and suggest that this may be an important determinant of the high incidence of cervical cancer in Latin America.
Adolescent↗
Euchromatic 9q + heteromorphism in a family.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Chromatin↗
Cathepsin D: a protease involved in breast cancer metastasis.
Cathepsin D is an acidic lysosomal protease present in all cells. In estrogen receptor positive and negative breast cancer cell lines, the mRNA coding for pro-cathepsin D is overexpressed and sorting and maturation of the pro-enzyme are altered, via possibly saturation of the Man-6-P/IGF-II receptor, leading to accumulation of the active proteinase in large endosomes and to secretion of the precursor (52K protein). In MCF7 cells, the cathepsin D mRNA is induced directly and transcriptionally by estrogens and indirectly by growth factors. In patients, there is a significant correlation between high cathepsin D concentrations in the cytosol of primary breast cancer and development of metastasis. This marker is independent of other prognostic factors and appears to be particularly useful in axillary node-negative tumors. Transfection of a human cDNA cathepsin D expression vector under the control of SV40 promoter increases the metastatic potential of 3YA1-Ad12 rat tumorigenic cells when intravenously injected into nude mice. The mechanism of cathepsin D-induced metastasis is currently unknown. These results indicate that overexpression of cathepsin D might facilitate breast cancer metastasis, suggesting new possible therapeutic approaches.
Breast Neoplasms↗
Progesterone determinations and clinical examinations of reproductive organs in purebred and crossbred female Zebu cattle.
Five experiments were undertaken to investigate variation in progesterone concentrations as related to the collection and handling of samples of milk and blood, to determine reference values for progesterone and to evaluate clinical findings in relation to progesterone data from pure- and crossbred Zebu cattle reared in the Peruvian tropics. Whole-milk progesterone concentrations obtained from 12 Holstein x Nellore pregnant cows at hourly intervals over a 24-h period were highest immediately after milking; this peak was followed by a sharp drop over the next 3 h. Milk-fat content from 28 Brown Swiss x Nellore pregnant cows increased from 2.4% before milking to 6.7% afterwards (P < 0.05), whereas progesterone concentrations in whole milk increased from 18.4 to 59.5 nmol/1 (P < 0.05). Progesterone concentrations in fat-free milk were stable, with the exception of the fore-milk sample, which was lower than subsequent samples collected during milking (P < 0.05). Blood samples collected from 23 purebred, pregnant Nellore cows, were divided into four aliquots, and plasma and serum were harvested periodically over the next 120 h of storage at +4 degrees C, or in the shade at ambient air temperatures. The results indicate that blood samples can be stored unseparated at both temperatures studied for up to 3 h without severe loss of progesterone. Milk samples collected at different intervals during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle and during early and mid-pregnancy from crossbred cows showed no significant differences in progesterone concentrations between Days 9 to 13 of the cycle and Days 9 to 13 of gestation. Progesterone levels during advanced gestation were higher (P < 0.05). Out of 2,607 clinical examinations, the level of agreement between palpatory findings and progesterone determinations was 95.6 and 81.9% in diagnosing non-luteal and luteal structures, respectively. Significant differences in the level of agreement between palpators were found (P < 0.01). It is concluded that milk samples, preferably composite milk or strippings, must be consistently collected at the same stage of milking, and that centrifugation of blood samples should be done as soon as possible and not later than 3 h after collection.
Journal Article↗
Milk progesterone profiles in crossbred Brown Swiss x Nellore cattle following natural service.
Ovarian activity and estrous behaviour were monitored through milk progesterone determinations and twice daily visual observations in 70 crossbred Brown Swiss x Nellore cows following natural service. Whole milk samples were collected on the day of estrus (Day 1), Day 11, and every 5 d thereafter until the next estrus or pregnancy confirmation. Seventy percent of the cows behaved as expected, i.e. they showed a 19-to 25-d interval between estrus and the next ovulation, or they became pregnant. Estrous cycles of regular length (18 to 24 d) were found in 54% of the cases. Prolonged luteal phases (interval from estrus to next ovulation > 28 d) were found in 15.7% of cows. Short estrous cycles (interestrous interval < 18 d) were found in 7.1% of the cases. Periods of acyclicity (basal progesterone levels for periods >/= 15 d) were found in 5.8% of the cases, and one cow exhibited estrus while pregnant and had a high progesterone concentration. Cows with a prolonged luteal phase and those with a short estrous cycle had an interval between ovulations of 35.0 +/- 6.7 d (x +/- SD) and 9.6 +/- 3.1 d, respectively. Signs of estrus were not detected in 33.3% of the ovulations confirmed by progesterone determinations. Low conception rates, failures in estrus detection and a high frequency of abnormal postbreeding luteal phases were found.
Journal Article↗
Oral contraceptive use and risk of invasive cervical cancer.
A case-control study of 759 invasive cervical cancer patients and 1430 controls in Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia and Mexico enabled an evaluation of risk in relation to oral contraceptive use. Overall use was associated with a 21% nonsignificant elevation in risk, with some further increases in risk for more extensive durations of use. Although risks were similar for recent and non-recent users (RRs = 1.3 versus 1.2), recent long-term users were at highest risk (RR for 5+ years use = 1.7, 95% Cl 1.1-2.6). Relationships were similar for women with and without a recent Pap smear, arguing against detection bias. There was little evidence that other risk factors, including smoking and detection of human papillomaviruses (HPV), altered the effects of oral contraceptives. The risk associated with oral contraceptives was significantly increased for adenocarcinomas (RR = 2.2), whereas for squamous cell tumours the effect was minimal (RR = 1.1). These results provide some support for an adverse effect of oral contraceptives on cervical cancer risk, although possibly limited only to a subpopulation of cases.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Intracellular hemolysin-producing Listeria monocytogenes strains inhibit macrophage-mediated antigen processing.
We found that virulent hemolysin-producing (Hly+) Listeria monocytogenes strains inhibit antigen processing and presentation when added to macrophages in vitro. A virulent Hly- bacteria caused little or no inhibition. Live Hly+ bacteria inhibited presentation of both heat-killed L. monocytogenes and ovalbumin. Several observations indicate that hemolysin produced by intracellular bacteria was responsible for the inhibition. First, inhibition was observed even when extracellular bacteria were removed after a brief 10-min bacterial uptake period. Second, inhibition was not prevented by the addition of cholesterol, a substance which inactivates soluble hemolysin. Third, only very high concentrations of soluble hemolysin were inhibitory. Under conditions which inhibit antigen presentation (10(5) per well), macrophages retained normal levels of Ia, maintained normal morphology, and were not permeable when assayed by chromium release. The uptake and catabolism of 35S-labeled live bacteria by macrophages were similar for both Hyl+ and Hly- bacteria. Only a small decrease in uptake and catabolism of surface-iodinated heat-killed L. monocytogenes by macrophages pretreated with inhibitory numbers of live Hly+ bacteria was observed. Additionally, macrophages pretreated with live Hly+ bacteria and fixed 1.5 h later were able to effectively present an ovalbumin peptide (amino acids 323 to 339) to the T-cell hybridoma DO11.10. Hemolysin-producing bacteria inhibited the presentation of antigens that need processing better than they did of antigens that do not require a processing event. Thus, we have demonstrated inhibition of an intracellular antigen processing pathway by hemolysin-producing L. monocytogenes, which may contribute to the virulence of this pathogen.
Animals↗
Cooperation of v-jun and v-erbB oncogenes in embryo fibroblast transformation in vitro and in vivo.
Retroviral vectors carrying either the v-jun and v-erbB sequences or the v-jun gene linked to the neomycin resistance gene were constructed on the basis of the structural genome organization of avian erythroblastosis virus (AEV). These viruses, called JB and JN, respectively, were rescued as Rous-associated virus-1 pseudotypes, and they were shown to successfully transform chicken embryo fibroblasts in vitro. However, in agar, colonies developed from JB-infected fibroblasts were three to five times larger than those obtained after infection with JN or with AEV Pst124 carrying only a functional v-erbB gene. In vivo, on chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays, JB produced fibrosarcomas that were more rapidly growing and much larger than those induced by JN or AEV Pst124. Moreover, in chickens infected in ovo with JB, multiple fibrosarcomas arose in different organs a few days after birth, whereas no tumor could be detected in parallel experiments in either JN- or AEV Pst124-infected animals. These results demonstrate that in embryo fibroblast cells, v-jun and v-erbB can act synergistically to enhance the transformation potential of either oncogene alone both in vitro and in vivo.
Alpharetrovirus↗
Basolateral K+ channels in airway epithelia. I. Regulation by Ca2+ and block by charybdotoxin.
In airway epithelia, adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) stimulates Cl- secretion by activating apical membrane Cl- channels and basolateral membrane K+ channels. Cl- channels are regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation, whereas K+ channels are regulated by the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]c. Our recent observation that cAMP increases [Ca2+]c suggested that cAMP might indirectly regulate K+ channels by increasing [Ca2+]c. To study regulation of K+ channels we measured 86Rb efflux, single K+ channels in membrane patches, and [Ca2+]c with the fluorescent indicator fura-2. Isoproterenol and Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, transiently increased [Ca2+]c and transiently stimulated 86Rb efflux. Stimulation of 86Rb efflux resulted from release of intracellular Ca2+ stores. 86Rb efflux was blocked by Ba2+ or charybdotoxin, but not by tetraethylammonium. Charybdotoxin prevented all of the 86Rb efflux that was stimulated by A23187 or by forskolin. Charybdotoxin also blocked the low-conductance inwardly rectifying K+ channel (KCLIC) in membrane patches. These results indicate that the KCLIC channel is responsible for the Ca2(+)-dependent increase in K+ permeability in airway epithelial cells. They also indicate that cAMP-induced release of intracellular Ca2+ is sufficient to activate K+ channels.
Animals↗
Acculturation, access to care, and use of preventive services by Hispanics: findings from HHANES 1982-84.
Use of preventive health services (physical, dental, and eye examinations, Pap smear and breast examinations) among Mexican American, Cuban American, and Puerto Rican adults (ages 20-74) was investigated with data from the HHANES. Analyses focused on the relative importance of two predictors of recency of screening: access to services (health insurance coverage, having a routine place for care, type of facility used, having a regular provider, travel time) and acculturation (spoken and written language, ethnic identification). Regression analyses controlling for age, education, and income indicated that utilization of the preventive services was predicted more strongly by access to care than by acculturation. For each Hispanic group, having a routine place for health care, health insurance coverage, and a regular provider were each significantly associated with greater recency of screening. Type of facility used and travel time produced less consistent effects. These results replicate past studies that have demonstrated the important link between institutional access and use of health services. Of the acculturation variables, language but not ethnic identification (which was measured only for the Mexican Americans) predicted use. This latter finding, which has been demonstrated in other studies as well, suggests that the effect of language on screening practices should not be interpreted as a cultural factor, but as an access factor, i.e. use of English favors access to services.
Acculturation↗
Health risk behaviors of Hispanics in the United States: findings from HHANES, 1982-84.
With data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES), we examined several health risk behaviors (cigarette smoking, alcohol use, dietary practices, and recency of health screening) of Mexican American, Cuban American, and Puerto Rican adults (ages 20-74). For each sample, a greater percentage of men than women smoked cigarettes and used alcohol. Heavy smoking (20+ cigarettes per day) was most prevalent for Cuban American males, and heavy drinking (1.00+ oz ethanol per day) was most prevalent for Mexican American and Puerto Rican men. Acculturation correlated positively with alcohol use (particularly for females) and negatively with dietary balance (for Mexican American men and women). The Puerto Ricans' diet was less balanced than that of the other two groups. For each sample, more men than women had not had a routine physical or dental examination within the past five years; the recency of screening was lowest for Mexican American men. Screening (including Pap smear for the women) was lower for those who smoked cigarettes and for those with poor dietary practices, indicating that many Hispanics at special risk of disease underutilize preventive health services, increasing the likelihood of diagnosis at a later stage of illness.
Acculturation↗
Cathepsin D in breast cancer: from molecular and cellular biology to clinical applications.
Cathepsin D is a ubiquitously expressed lysosomal protease. Initially synthesized as an inactive precursor of 52 kD (pro-cathepsin D), the enzyme is subsequently converted to its active forms by proteolytic processing. Breast cancer cells, unlike normal cells, secrete high levels of pro-cathepsin D; this abnormal secretion is due to both overexpression of the gene and altered processing of the protein. Recent transfection experiments indicate that overexpression of cathepsin D can increase the metastatic potential of tumor cells in nude mice. This study complements clinical studies, which have shown than high cathepsin D concentrations in the cytosol of primary breast cancers may be predictive of subsequent metastasis, particularly for patients with axillary node-negative tumors. These results, and the potential mechanisms by which cathepsin D may promote metastasis, are considered here.
Breast Neoplasms↗
[Intestinal obstruction caused by a pacifier].
The case of an infant who developed intestinal obstruction following ingestion of a pacifier is reported. Progression of this foreign body in the intestinal lumen was extremely slow because of the deformability of the material and laparotomy was required. The authors point out that this is a difficult diagnosis and that regulations on manufacturing standards should be enforced in order to avoid such accidents.
Foreign Bodies↗