[Radiological quiz of the month: intramural pseudodiverticulosis of the esophagus in a child presenting with dysphagia].
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Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
P Morales
Publications and source records attributed to P Morales.
Caseinolysis in cheese by Enterobacteriaceae strains of dairy origin.
AIMS: To study the effect of Enterobacteriaceae strains of dairy origin on caseins under cheese manufacture and ripening conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Strains belonging to the genera Enterobacter, Escherichia, Hafnia and Serratia were isolated from fresh raw milk cheeses. Residual caseins in cheeses made from milk individually inoculated with 10 strains of Enterobacteriaceae were determined by capillary electrophoresis. Hierarchical cluster analysis of strains based on data of residual caseins grouped together strains from the same genus, excepting Hafnia strains, which were separated into two groups. Serratia was the most proteolytic genus in our study. Preferences for degradation of casein fractions differed among the four genera studied. CONCLUSIONS: Enterobacteriaceae strains posses proteolytic systems active on all casein fractions under cheese manufacture and ripening conditions. The effects on caseins were similar for strains belonging to the same genus. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The presence of Enterobacteriaceae in cheeses may affect proteolysis during ripening. Assays of Enterobacteriaceae proteolytic activity on milk agar plates may underestimate their caseinolytic activity in cheese.
Animals↗
Corticosterone differentially regulates bax, bcl-2 and bcl-x mRNA levels in the rat hippocampus.
It has previously been shown that adrenalectomy (ADX) produces apoptosis in the granule cell of the dentate gyrus (DG), and that this effect is prevented by corticosterone replacement. Thus, we have investigated how this phenomenon takes place in rat hippocampus using in situ hybridization. The expression of the pro-apoptotic gene bax was measured in the pyramidal cell fields and in the DG. After 5 days of ADX, there was a significant increase in bax mRNA levels in the suprapyramidal layer of the DG, an effect prevented by corticosterone replacement. The mRNA of the anti-apoptotic bcl-2 gene was expressed in CA3 and DG. ADX increased bcl-2 mRNA levels, but only in the suprapyramidal layer of the DG, an effect that was prevented by corticosterone administration. It is concluded that the up-regulation of bax may explain the apoptosis observed in DG after ADX, while the bcl-2 induction may correspond to a compensatory mechanism protecting the cells from death.
Adrenalectomy↗
MR imaging of myocardial haematoma after blunt chest injury.
Myocardial contusion after a chest trauma is a frequently under-diagnosed injury. We report two cases of myocardial contusion in which MR imaging, thanks to its contrast capability, was able to assess the presence of a haematoma and in one case to demonstrate the recovery of the lesion.
Adolescent↗
Candida dubliniensis, a new fungal pathogen.
There is a high interest in Candida species other than Candida albicans because of the rise and the epidemiological shifts in candidiasis. These emerging Candida species are favored by the increase of immunocompromised patients and the use of new medical practices, and m. Most oropharyngeal candidiasis can be foundare observed in those HIV-infected patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Candida dubliniensis is a recently described opportunistic pathogen that is closely related to C. albicans but differs from it with respect to epidemiology, certain virulence characteristics, and the ability to develop fluconazole resistance in vitro. C. dubliniensis has been linked to oral candidiasis in AIDS patients, although it has recently been associated to invasive disease. C. dubliniensis shares diagnostic characteristics with C. albicans, as germ tube- and chlamydospore-production, and it is generally misclassified as C. albicans by standard diagnostic procedures. Several recent studies have attempted to elucidate useful phenotypic and genotypic characteristics for separating both species. A large variety of methods have been developed with the aim of facilitating rapid and, accurate identification of this species. These have included differential chromogenic isolation platesculture media, direct immunological tests, and enhanced manual and automated biochemical and enzymatic panels. Chromogenic isolation media, as CHROMagar Candida, demonstrate better detection rates than traditional media, and allow the presumptive identification of C. dubliniensis by means of colony color (dark-green colonies). API 20 C AUX system is considered a reference method, but ID 32 C strip, the VITEK Yeast Biochemical Card and the VITEK 2 ID-YST system correctly identify most C. dubliniensis isolates, being the latter the most accurate. Spectroscopic methods, such as Fourier transformed-infrared spectroscopy, offer potential advantages. However, many authors consider that standard methods for differentiation of Candida species are time-consuming, often insensitive and can fail to distinguish C. dubliniensis. To overcome these low sensitivity, poor specificity and intolerable delay,drawbacks, molecular tools have been developed to discriminate C. dubliniensis, and particularly those based on the polymerase chain reaction. But, molecular tools prove difficult and too complex for routine use in the clinical laboratory setting and new developments are necessary. Moreover, an increased resistance to antifungal drugs has been described. Although preliminary studies indicate that most strains of C. dubliniensis are susceptible to antifungal agents, fluconazole-resistant strains have been detected. Furthermore, fluconazole-resistant strains are easily derived in vitro, showing an increased expression of multidrug resistance transporters, as MDR1.
Antifungal Agents↗
Multiple sclerosis and human herpesvirus 6.
BACKGROUND: A possible but as yet unproven relationship has been proposed between the onset or persistence of multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms and herpesviruses, including, most recently, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). A study was conducted to investigate the presence of HHV-6 DNA and the synthesis of antibodies against HHV-6, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PCR and ELISA were used to detect HHV-6 DNA and specific antibodies against HHV-6, CMV and EBV in 211 samples (139 sera and 72 CSF). There were three groups of samples: group I, paired samples of serum and CSF from 41 MS patients; group II, paired samples of serum and CSF from 31 patients with neurological diseases other than MS (OND); group III, 67 serum samples from 27 different MS patients undergoing serologic follow-up. RESULTS: No HHV-6 DNA was found in any sample. Group I sera showed elevated anti-HHV-6 IgG and IgA levels. In group II, anti-CMV IgG was detected in one CSF sample and anti-HHV-6 IgM in one serum sample. Group III sera showed high concentrations of anti-HHV-6 IgG, IgA and IgM. CONCLUSION: Given the clinical implications of the presence of antibodies against HHV-6 in MS patients, a viral reactivation cannot be excluded as an environmental factor.
Adult↗
Chlamydia trachomatis infection in male partners of infertile couples: incidence and sperm function.
Chlamydia trachomatis infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Its effect on male fertility, however, is still controversial. In this study, 284 male partners of infertile couples consulting the Center of Studies in Reproductive Biology (CEBRE) were analyzed. The incidence of C. trachomatis infection among male partners of infertile couples was 38.6%. There were no significant differences between infected and noninfected infertile men in any of the sperm parameters assessed (sperm concentration, motility and morphology). The results of the three bioassays developed to evaluate sperm physiology, namely spermatozoa-zona pellucida binding, acrosome reaction stimulated with human follicular fluid and zona-free hamster oocyte penetration, showed no differences between infected and noninfected men. Electron microscopy studies suggest that spermatozoa are active agents in the dissemination of the chlamydial infection; they could be acting as 'vehicles' for the pathogens. These, and other results, suggest that the possible effect of C. trachomatis on male fertility is not due to alterations in sperm 'quality' or function, but rather to the transmission of the disease to female partners, causing inflammatory processes and promoting the generation of antisperm antibodies.
Animals↗
Hydrophilic and hydrophobic peptides produced in cheese by wild Lactococcus lactis strains.
AIMS: To study the production of hydrophilic and hydrophobic peptides in cheese by 32 wild Lactococcus lactis strains of different RAPD patterns and to compare them with the peptides produced by lactococcal cells incubated with whole casein. METHOD AND RESULTS: Chromatograms of peptides from cheeses made using each strain as single starter culture were divided into five regions, and strains were classified in three groups by hierarchical cluster analysis of region areas. Thirty out of the 32 wild L. lactis strains produced higher levels of hydrophobic peptides in cheese than on whole casein. CONCLUSIONS: Cheese was a more favourable substrate than whole casein for hydrophobic peptide formation by L. lactis strains. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: New strains of lactococci should be screened for bitterness under cheese conditions, as the formation of hydrophobic peptides may be underestimated in assays with casein as substrate.
Animals↗
Membrane phospholipid reorganization differentially regulates metallothionein and heme oxygenase by heme-hemopexin.
Heme-hemopexin coordinately regulates genes encoding protective proteins including metallothionein-I (MT-I) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Hexamethylene-bisacetamide (HMBA), which induces differentiation and activates protein kinase C (PKC), synergistically augments the induction of both MT-I and MT-II mRNAs in response to heme-hemopexin, but attenuates the induction of HO-1. HMBA also augments the increase in MT mRNA in response to cobalt protoporphyrin-hemopexin, a hemopexin (HPX) receptor ligand that activates signaling cascades without tetrapyrrole uptake. Unlike the PKC-activating phorbol esters that induce MT-I and HO-1, HMBA has minimal effects on MT-I or HO-1. HMBA is an amphipathic molecule, and is shown here to interact physically with lipids in model membranes using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The data are consistent with a stabilization of the lipid bilayer and an HMBA-induced segregation of lipids into separate domains each relatively enriched in one of the lipids. HMBA also perturbs membrane-protein interactions, and causes a loss of PKC and G-protein subunits from plasma membranes in vitro. Taken together, these observations reveal an additional level of complexity in the regulation of protective proteins induced by HPX, and which may take place in vivo in response to natural compounds that reorganize membrane phospholipids. A model is proposed whereby a reorganization of lipids by HMBA alters signaling pathways and fusion events considered to be the etiology of the differential response of the MT-1 (and MT-II) and the HO-1 genes to HMBA and heme-HPX.
Acetamides↗
Infected mediastinitis secondary to perforation of superior vena cava by a central venous catheter.
We describe the first case of infected mediastinitis associated with central venous catheter insertion. The rare occurrence of this complication may be explained by the fact that it results from central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection and catheter perforation of superior vena cava. The symptoms of this complication (chest pain, dyspnoea) are not specific. Diagnosis should be confirmed by chest x-ray and computerized tomography which show hydromediastinum and pleural effusion. Removal and subsequent culture of the catheter tip will confirm infection. Appropriate antibiotic therapy, guided by sensitivities of the cultured organisms, should be commenced. Any pleural effusion should be drained by thoracocentesis, and the pleural fluid cultured. In case of fever, bacteraemia or shock, a thoracotomy to drain mediastinal and pleural effusions may be considered.
Catheterization, Central Venous↗
Severe lung involvement in systemic scleromyxoedema: a highly unusual finding.
Scleromyxoedema is a rare systemic disorder characterized by a lichenoid papular rash. Although scleromyxoedema can involve any organ, very few cases of pulmonary involvement have been reported. Moreover, there are no reports in the literature on treatment of this condition, especially with lung transplantation. The authors report a case of scleromyxoedema in a young man with neurological, skin and respiratory involvement, the latter being mainly characterized by pulmonary emphysema. Due to the serious respiratory compromise, and to the stability of the systemic lesions, a bilateral lung transplantation was performed with successful results at 4.5 yrs. In conclusion, lung transplantation may be required in patients with severe respiratory failure caused by scleromyxoedema.
Adult↗
Sperm binding to the human zona pellucida and calcium influx in response to GnRH and progesterone.
In this study the effect of the sequential exposure of spermatozoa to progesterone and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) upon zona binding and the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration was evaluated. Sperm aliquots were treated as follows: (a) 0.7 micro mol l(-1) progesterone or 0.1% DMSO (progesterone solvent) followed by 50 nmol l(-1) of GnRH; (b) 50 nmol l(-1) of GnRH or distilled water (GnRH solvent) followed by 0.7 micro mol l(-1) of progesterone. Additional aliquots were incubated with DMSO or distilled water (controls) and with 0.7 micro mol l(-1) of progesterone or 50 nmol l(-1) of GnRH. All treatments were for 5 min. Motile spermatozoa were incubated in modified Tyrode's medium, at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2, 10 x 10(6) spermatozoa ml(-1), for 4.5 h. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration and sperm-zona binding was evaluated using fura 2 and the hemizona assay, respectively. GnRH and progesterone increased sperm-zona binding and the Ca2+ concentration. Regarding zona binding, the effect of GnRH was significantly greater when the spermatozoa had been previously treated with progesterone (progesterone-->GnRH=185 +/- 116 zona-bound spermatozoa versus DMSO-->GnRH=99 +/- 15, P < 0.001). On the other hand, previous treatment with GnRH did not modify their subsequent response to progesterone (GnRH-->progesterone= 114 +/- 19 zona-bound spermatozoa versus distilled water-->progesterone=108 +/- 22, NS). The results regarding intracellular Ca2+ showed a similar pattern. These findings suggest a priming effect of progesterone upon a GnRH-induced increase in sperm-zona binding and intracellular Ca2+.
Calcium↗
Both B and gammadelta TCR(+) lymphocytes regulate alphabeta TCR(+) lymphocytes involved in superantigen specific responses.
Endogenous superantigens (SAg) presented by MHC class II IA molecules induce slow-evolving negative selection of alpha beta T cells. The role of both B and gamma delta T cells on the regulation of these SAg-specific alpha beta T cell responses was addressed in IA(b+)IE(b-) C57BL/6 mice bearing genetically induced B cell and gamma delta T cell deficiencies. B lymphocytes were required in the negative selection of Vbeta5(+)/Vbeta12(+) CD4(+) T cells. In contrast, gamma delta T cells positively stimulated the utilization of the same SAg-responsive alpha beta T cell subsets. These differences started in mature CD4(+) thymocytes and extended to naive T cell pools for B cell negative selection, and up to memory T cells for gamma deltaT cell influences. The levels of SAg-responsive T cells did not vary between C57BL/6 and double deficient (B cell and gamma delta T cell-deficient) congenic mice, implying that both B and gamma delta T cells acted through independent mechanisms.
Animals↗
One year analysis of an ongoing international randomized study of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) vs azathioprine (AZA) in lung transplantation.
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Journal Article↗
The evolution of the MHC-G gene does not support a functional role for the complete protein.
The study of the MHC-G gene evolution during nearly 40 million years does not support a role for the full molecule. The MHC-G-like proteins of New World monkeys are probably classical presenting molecules. Old World Cercopithecinae monkeys do not have a full MHC-G molecule and human individuals homozygous for the HLA-G null allele are healthy and do not show birth pathologies.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Hydrolysis of caseins and formation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic peptides by wild Lactococcus lactis strains isolated from raw ewes' milk cheese.
AIMS: To investigate the hydrolysis of alphaS1-, alphaS0-, betaB-, betaA1- and betaA2-caseins by 32 wild lactococci of different randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns, isolated from raw ewes' milk cheese, and the production of hydrophilic and hydrophobic peptides from whole casein by those strains. METHODS AND RESULTS: Most strains hydrolysed all caseins, and degraded beta-caseins to a larger extent than alphaS-caseins, when the proteolytic activity of whole cells was determined by capillary electrophoresis. Higher levels of hydrophilic than of hydrophobic peptides were produced from whole casein by all strains, according to reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Cell envelope proteinases of most lactococci isolated from raw ewes' milk cheese were CEPII, CEPII/III or CEPIII (classification of Exterkate et al. 1993). A negative correlation was found between degraded alphaS- and beta-caseins and a highly positive correlation between hydrophilic and hydrophobic peptides. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Fast acid-producing lactococci from raw ewes' milk cheese have considerable and diverse caseinolytic activities. Their peptide production patterns do not reveal serious risks of bitter-flavour defect in cheeses if used as components of dairy starters.
Animals↗
Anti-proliferative effect of two lactic acid bacteria strains of human origin on the growth of a myeloma cell line.
AIMS: Twenty lactic acid bacteria strains were isolated from human faeces and tested by MTT assay for stimulation or inhibition of the proliferation of Vero and myeloma cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: None of the strains significantly affected the proliferation of Vero cells. However, two isolates (HN1 and HA8) showed a strong inhibition of myeloma cell proliferation (16.7 and 5.0%, respectively) by MTT assay. CONCLUSION: Both strains have an anti-proliferative effect on a tumoral cell line. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The beneficial effect of LAB cancer therapy has been linked to their ability for immunomodulation.
Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
An evaluation of a polyantigenic ELISA to detect Epstein-Barr virus reactivation.
The diagnostic reliability of the Enzygnost EBV test (DadeBehring, Germany) for the detection of IgG and IgA antibodies in the diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) recurrent disease was investigated. Of 81 serum samples examined there were fourteen asymptomatic patients without EBV infection, 46 with past EBV infection, and 21 patients with EBV reactivation. The Enzygnost EBV test was based on an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a pool of viral antigens. The reliability of IgG at >650 IU/ml, and IgA for the diagnosis of reactivation or chronic persistent EBV infection gave 100% sensitivity, 83.3% and 98.3% specificity, respectively. The data indicated that the appearance of EBV IgA was associated with EBV reactivation together with clinical manifestations.
Antibodies, Viral↗