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Biomedical subjects

M Moreno

Publications and source records attributed to M Moreno.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Prenatal molecular genetic diagnosis and treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency].

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OH), in its severe forms, produces virilization of the external genitalia of the affected female fetus. Early treatment with dexamethasone of the pregnant mother at risk of a fetus with 21-OH deficiency avoids the masculinization of the affected female fetus. We present a pregnant mother, where the prenatal diagnosis was established by DNA analysis of a chorionic villous sample obtained in the 9th week of gestation. Molecular analysis showed the female fetus to be affected of 21-OH deficiency. Maternal treatment with dexamethasone started on the 6th week of gestation has prevented the virilization of the affected baby. No significant side effects have been encountered. Prenatal diagnosis and treatment for 21-OH deficiency is effective and safe, as is described in the literature. This is the first case in Spain where both prenatal molecular diagnosis and treatment for 21-OH deficiency have been reported.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗
PubMed1997

The prognostic significance of intratumoral natural killer cells in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cells have a spontaneous cytotoxic capacity-against tumor cells. These cells represent a small proportion of human colon carcinoma-infiltrating lymphocytes. Their prognostic significance in these tumors has yet to be determined. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-seven patients who each had a colectomy for large bowel adenocarcinoma were studied. No patient received adjuvant therapy. Immunohistochemical stains were performed for NK cells using the monoclonal antibody CD57. The number of NK cells was counted using a MICRON image analyzer. The total area studied for each tumor was 1 cm2. In this area, 50 intratumoral fields of 0.173 mm2 were selected. The degree of NK infiltration was classified as little (< 50 NK cells), moderate (50-150 NK cells), and extensive (> 150 NK cells). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to obtain survival figures. Multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox regression model. RESULTS: At 5 years, patients with little and moderate NK infiltration showed significantly shorter survival rates (overall and disease free survival) than those with extensive infiltration (P < 0.01). Three significant factors affecting survival were selected in a stepwise fashion in increasing order as follows: TNM stage, NK infiltration, and lymphocytic infiltration. Patients with TNM Stage III disease and extensive NK infiltration showed significantly longer survival rates than those with little or moderate infiltration (P < 0.001). In these patients, multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model identified two significant variables: number of involved lymph nodes and NK cells infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with colorectal carcinoma, an extensive intratumoral infiltration of NK cells is associated with a favorable tumor outcome. Intratumoral infiltration of NK cells can be used as a variable with prognostic value, especially in patients with TNM Stage III disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Impaired leucocyte functions in diabetic patients.

This study evaluates polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) cell performance in 61 diabetic patients free of infection (40 Type 1, 21 Type 2), using tests that explore all the functional steps of PMN: (1) adherence: expression of adhesion molecules, CD 11a, CD 11b, CD 11c; nylon fiber adherence test; (2) chemotaxis under agarose towards the bacterial oligopeptide FMLP and complement fractions, used as attracting agents; (3) phagocytosis of opsonized latex microbeads; (4) bactericidal activity: chemiluminescence assessment of the oxidative killing potential before and after stimulation by opsonized zymosan and PMA; nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test. Results were analysed according to potentially influential factors: metabolic control (HbA1C, glycaemia), age of patient, type of diabetes, disease duration, and existence of vascular complications. PMN chemotaxis was significantly lower in patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.001) and associated with spontaneous adherence and increased expression of adhesion molecules (CD 11b, CD 11c). The increased response to chemiluminescence reflects spontaneous activation of PMN cells and increased free radical production; after stimulation, response was lower than in controls. The type of diabetes, the age of patients, HbA1C level and disease duration did not affect the responses. Chemotaxis and chemiluminescence were further reduced in patients with vascular complications and hyperglycaemia. We conclude that all steps of PMN functioning are altered in diabetic patients, which may increase the risk of vascular complications and infectious episodes.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Electron probe analysis and biochemical characterization of electron-dense granules secreted by Entamoeba histolytica.

The interaction of Entamoeba histolytica with collagen induces the intracellular formation and release of electron-dense granules (EDGs) containing collagenase activity which are important in the pathogenicity of this parasite. Purified EDGs contain at least 25 polypeptides with acidic pIs, nine gelatinase activities, small molecules, including inorganic phosphate (Pi), pyrophosphate (PP) and other elements, including Na, Mg, S, Cl, K, Ca and Fe as measured by scanning transmission electron microscopy. Six of these polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 108, 106, 104, 97, 68 and 59 kDa and two protease activities with apparent molecular weights of 40 and 85 kDa were detected exclusively in the EDGs and were not observed in total trophozoite extracts. Actin was also detected in the EDGs. Therefore, EDGs are a complex of mainly cationic proteins, which contains numerous proteolytic activities, actin and small molecules such as P(i), PP and cations.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of the binding of 3,3'-di-iodo-L-thyronine to rat liver mitochondria.

The binding of labelled 3,3'-di-iodo-L-thyronine (3,3'-T2) to isolated rat liver mitochondria has been characterized. Specific binding could be detected only in the inner mitochondrial membrane, not in other mitochondrial subfractions. The composition of the incubation medium influenced the binding capacity, the best combination of high specific binding and low non-specific binding being observed in phosphate buffer, pH 6.4. The specific binding of 3,3'-T2 to mitochondria requires low ionic strength: concentrations of K+ and Na+ higher than 10 mmol/l and 0.1 mmol/l respectively resulted in a decreased binding capacity. The optimal calcium ion concentration was in the range 0.01-1.0 mmol/l. Varying magnesium ion, over the range of concentrations used (0.1-100 mmol/l), had no effect. Both ADP and ATP, at over 1 mmol/l, resulted in an inhibition of the specific binding. Incubation with protease resulted in a decrease in specific binding and an increase in non-specific binding, thus indicating the proteic nature of the binding sites. In addition to the above factors in the local environment the thyroid state of the animal might influence the 3,3'-T2-binding capacity. In fact, the thyroid state of the animal seemed not to have an influence on the affinity constant, but it did affect binding capacity.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1997

[Small intestine adenocarcinoma with Crohn's disease].

We report a 57-year-old male with a 11-years history of Crohn's disease who developed small bowel adenocarcinoma. The patient was admitted with intestinal partial obstruction and he underwent a laparotomy because an abscess in right lower quadrant was suspected. He was successfully treated with resection and adjuvant chemotherapy, without evidence of recurrence after a 2-year follow-up. A review of the literature reveals that about 100 cases have been reported. We describe the distinguishing features of small bowel adenocarcinoma arising in Crohn's disease and we emphasize the difficulty in making an early diagnosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Kinetic constants of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside transport in the chick small intestine during perinatal development.

The kinetic parameters of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside (alpha Glc1Me) have been determined in the small intestine in order to establish developmental and regional changes in the apical transport in embryos and newly hatched chicks. Results show that the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) values did not change during the period studied in each region of the small intestine. However, the ileum showed a smaller Km than that of the duodenum and jejunum, indicating an increase of the affinity of the carrier in the distal portion of the intestine and a significant contribution of the ileum to overall sugar absorption in the perinatal period. There were important changes in the diffusional component and in the mediated transport system capacity during this period, as well as in the different regions of the intestine. Significant increases in the maximal rate of transport (Vmax) were observed in all regions during the embryonic period until the second day after hatching, followed by a decline during the first week. During all the period studied, Vmax values from the jejunum were significantly greater than those from both the duodenum and the ileum at every age studied showing that the jejunum is the segment that is best suited for Na(+)-mediated uptake. Such changes which occur when the need for nutrients for rapid development are at their highest are not solely a result of diet composition, but rather in accordance with a genetic programme.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Calorigenic effect of diiodothyronines in the rat.

1. In hypothyroid rats, we determined the effects of administration of different doses of 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), 3,3'-diiodo-L-thyronine (3,3'-T2) and 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (3,5-T2) ("T2 isomers' refers specifically to these latter two isomers throughout this paper) on resting metabolism (RM) and on the oxidative capacity (measured as cytochrome oxidase activity) of tissues that are metabolically very active. 2. The T2 isomers induced a dose-dependent calorigenic effect when injected I.P. into hypothyroid rats. The increase in RM was already evident at a dose of 2.5 micrograms (100 g body wt)(-1), and the greatest effect was observed at the highest dose, 10 micrograms (100 g body wt)(-1), when RM reached a value not significantly different from that of the euthyroid controls (1.92 +/- 0.08 and 1.93 +/- 0.13 (1 O2) kg(-1) h(-1) for 3,5'-T2, respectively, vs. 2.1 +/- 0.12 (1 O2) kg(-1) h(-1) for euthyroid controls). T3 administration restored RM to normal euthyroid values, even at a dose of 2.5 micrograms (100 g body wt)(-1). 3. The effect of T2 isomers on RM was paralleled by an increase in the oxidative capacity of tissues that are metabolically very active (liver, skeletal muscle, brown adipose tissue (BAT) and heart). The increases were between 33% (liver + 3,3'-T2) and 63% (muscle + 3,3'-T2). By contrast, T3 induced its greatest effect on the liver, with a smaller effect on skeletal muscle, but no significant stimulation in heart and BAT, whatever the dose. 4. These results suggest that T8 isomers might be mediators of the direct thyroid hormone regulation of energy metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Biochemical and functional differences in rat liver mitochondrial subpopulations obtained at different gravitational forces.

Previous studies have reported that liver mitochondria may be fractionated into different subpopulations. However, no careful studies have been performed to exclude mitochondrial damage and to investigate more thoroughly the possible biochemical differences existing between the subpopulations. In this study, we analysed the integrity and the biochemical properties of rat liver mitochondria. Mitochondrial fractions were obtained by differential centrifugation at different gravitational forces: 1000 g (M1 fraction), 3000 g (M3 fraction) and 10,000 g (M10 fraction). The integrity of these organelles was checked by measuring citrate synthase activity both in the presence and absence of Triton X-100 detergent. Biochemical analyses included polarographic determination of cytochrome oxidase activity and respiratory parameters and spectrophotometric determination of cytochrome content. (1) The integrity of mitochondria was almost homogeneous between fractions (88.5, 80 and 78.3% in M1, M3 and M10 fractions, respectively). (2) The heaviest M1 fraction contains mitochondria which are on average twice as large as M3 and about three times as large as M10. (3) The M1 fraction exhibited the highest specific cytochrome oxidase activity (1040 +/- 20 n Atoms O/min x mg protein) and the highest respiratory rates (72 +/- 3 n Atoms O/min x mg protein and 526 +/- 45 n Atoms O/min x mg protein for States 4 and 3, respectively). Oxidative capacity and respiratory rates decreased as the size of the organelles decreased, reaching values of 1/5 and 1/14 in the M3 and M10 fractions as compared to the M1. (4) These changes are accompanied by a change in the respiratory control ratio (RCR), which varies from 7.3 in M1 to about 2.0 in M10. A similar trend was observed in cytochrome contents but the differences were not as great as cytochrome oxidase activity and State 3 respiration. These results, as a whole, show that a mitochondrial heterogeneity exists in rat liver cell. We suggest that the above-mentioned differences might represent steps of mitochondrial maturation. The maturation would be fundamentally based on the increase of efficiency of the mechanism for ATP synthesis.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1996

Complications of Operative Hysteroscopy

We conducted a retrospective study of 324 operative hysteroscopies performed from January 1993 to December 1995 to evaluate and analyze possible complications. Our complication rate was 5.2%, with uterine perforation being the most common at 1.8%. We had no cases of water intoxication.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

[Value of laparoscopy in ascites of undetermined origin].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy in the study of patients with ascites of unknown cause, and the frequency of laparoscopy use for that indication after the advent of ultrasonography and computed tomography. DESIGN: A retrospective study of 4.536 laparoscopies performed in 16 years, in two periods of 8 years, and the correlation with the pathologic diagnosis. PATIENTS: 137 patients in whom laparoscopy was indicated for the study of ascites of unknown cause. RESULTS: 63.5% of laparoscopies were performed over the first 8-year period, and 36.5% in the second (p = 0.0001), and for the study of ascites 2.6 and 3.8% respectively. Laparoscopy and biopsy were diagnostic in 98.5% of cases; 51% carcinomatosis, 17.5% liver cirrhosis, 11.7% hepatic neoplasm and others. Two of five cases of peritoneal tuberculosis were considered carcinomatosis at laparoscopy. There were no serious complications. CONCLUSIONS: The advent of new imaging method has reduced the use of laparoscopy, although it is still employed frequently for the study of ascites. Laparoscopy with biopsy when necessary has an excellent effectiveness and accuracy for the diagnosis of ascites of unknown cause.

Ascites↗