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Biomedical subjects

M Marin

Publications and source records attributed to M Marin.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Glutathione S-transferase activity in human breast tumors.

The level of total glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was examined in forty-three breast carcinomas (forty tumors from previously untreated patients and three tumors from patients previously treated by chemotherapy), and thirteen benign breast tumors. Cytosolic GST activity was determined according to a spectrophotometric method. Using Student's t-test, significant differences were found between GST levels in these two groups of tumors (p < 0.01). The higher values were found in malignant tumors. The range of values in both malignant and benign tumors was very wide. The relationship between GST activity and hormone receptor status was examined in thirty-three cases for estrogen receptor (ER) status, and thirty-one cases for progesterone receptor (PR) status. The level of hormonal receptors was determined according to the dextran-charcoal technique. No significant difference between the mean levels of GST activity in ER+ and ER-tumors was found (p > 0.4), but the difference corresponding to PR+ and PR-tumors approximated the 1% level of significance. The relationship between total GST activity and clinical or pathological parameters was also studied. Significant difference was found between the mean levels of GST activity corresponding to the groups of patients with non-involved nodes, and those having one or more involved nodes, respectively (p < 0.05). No correlation was found with respect to age (p > 0.2), tumor size (p > 0.2), or tumor grade (p > 0.4). Increased levels of GST activity were found in PR-tumors and in tumors with involved axillary nodes. Both groups of tumors are known to have a poorer prognosis. It was concluded that the significance of GST activity as an additional marker of prognosis must be taken into consideration.

Adult

Epidemiological study of Salmonella enteritidis strains of animal origin in Belgium.

Since 1987, the number of cases of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella enteritidis has considerably increased in Western Europe. Comparison of endemic animal strains isolated in Belgium from 1976-84 with strains isolated from 1987 on shows that the strains which cause the current epidemic have no features distinguishing them from the previously-isolated strains and that furthermore, they do not constitute a bacterial clone. They belong to 13 different lysotypes and in most cases remain sensitive to antibiotics. Nevertheless, the lysotype 33 (which belongs to the phage type 4 has increased significantly. It encompasses 37% of the animal strains isolated in Belgium from 1987-9, but only 7% of the strains isolated from 1976-84. It is worth noting that the endemic as well as the epidemic strains contain a virulence plasmid sharing sequence similarities with the FIB and FIIA plasmid replicons and with the VirA and VirB virulence regions of the S. typhimurium virulent plasmid: pIP1350.

Animals

High genetic homology between plasmids of human and animal origins conferring resistance to the aminoglycosides gentamicin and apramycin.

Escherichia coli and Salmonella strains resistant to gentamicin and apramycin were isolated from cattle in France and Belgium and from patients in hospitals. Homology between plasmids of both human and animal origins encoding aminoglycoside 3-N-acetyltransferase was revealed by digestion with several restriction endonucleases and confirmed by hybridization with different replicon-specific probes.

Animals

[The Pordenone study on the precursors of atherosclosis in childhood. A 10-year follow-up. Cigarette smoking].

We have studied smoking habit in the sample enrolled in the ten year follow-up of the "Pordenone Study on the Precursors of Atherosclerosis in Childhood". The response rate at ten year follow-up was very high (about 90%). Prevalence of smoking is 45.1% among males and 25.6% among females. Males and females aged 23 present a prevalence of smokers higher than the other groups while the group aged 26 smoke less. Males began to smoke at 16.4 years, females at 16.7. Mean daily consumption is 12.6 cigarettes among males, and 5.0 among females. Juvenile experimentation with cigarettes and juvenile smoking habit are strong predictors to smoke ten years later; while parental smoking behaviour is not so influential. Therefore we conclude that smoking habit acquired in youngs has a high probability to be maintained in adults, remarking the importance of planning a preventive intervention as early as possible.

Adolescent

Borreliosis risk after tick bite in north-eastern Italy.

Lyme Borreliosis is an infectious disease caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete transmitted to man by a tick bite. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of tick bites for the diagnosis of Borreliosis in a sample of 266 subjects residing in an endemic area of north-eastern Italy. In the serological diagnosis of Borreliosis, positive and negative predictive values of tick bites were found to be 24% and 88% respectively.

Adolescent

Megakaryocytic development in liquid cultures of cryopreserved leukocyte stem cell concentrates from chronic myelogenous leukemia patients.

The proliferation and differentiation of human megakaryocytes in liquid culture has been obtained using cryopreserved light-density blood cell concentrates from chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients. A large number of megakaryocytes, representing 20%-60% of total cells cultured, developed after 12-14 days in liquid cultures supplemented with human plasma, while fetal calf serum supported the development of cells of the megakaryocytic lineage poorly. Ploidy studies showed the presence of 8N and 16N cells in human plasma-supplemented cultures while very few cells with DNA content greater than 4N were found in those supplemented with fetal calf serum. Using the FACS IV cytofluorometer, 1-2 X 10(6) megakaryocytes/h were sorted after immunolabeling of the human plasma-cultured cells with a monoclonal antibody reacting against the platelet glycoprotein complex IIb-IIIa. Thus, cryopreserved CML blood stem cell concentrates seem to offer a reproducible source of human megakaryocytes that retain their capacity to proliferate and differentiate in liquid cultures. These megakaryocytes can be used for the study of platelet glycoprotein biosynthesis as well as the regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis.

Blood Specimen Collection

[Meningococcal meningitis in Spain (1878-1987). VI. Evolution of the proteic subtypes within the serotypes 2 and 15 of Neisseria meningitidis during the epidemic wave].

We have serotyped 620 strains of Neisseria meningitidis, isolated from patients between 1978-1987. These strains, belonging to serotypes 2 and 15, were the most prevalent ones detected during the last epidemic outbreak in Spain. These strains were analyzed by means of polyacrylamide gel electro-phoresis and monoclonal antibody coagglutination, to differentiate subtypes into type 15 and type 2 complex (2a, 2b and 2c types). The proportion of type 2b strains is quite high in group B, and the proportion of subtypes P1.15 and P1.16 is very similar in the same serogroup. We compared the results with those obtained in other countries in our geographical area.

Bacterial Proteins

[Cases of serous otitis admitted to the ENT Department of the V. Babeş Hospital over the last 7 years].

A total number of 283 patients with serious otitis were admitted during the latter 7 years. In more than 98% of cases the auditory function was integrally recovered to values prior to the disease following the treatment of tubal dysfunction and serious otitis. In case of complete irreversible block at the level of the tributary ototubal lymph nodes perforation of the ear drum and otomastoid superinfections may occur. Stress is laid on the importance of a correct diagnosis and timely intervention before severe alteration of the auditory function.

Drainage