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Biomedical subjects

R Alonso

Publications and source records attributed to R Alonso.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Electrophoretic patterns of total, nuclear, and flagellar proteins from ejaculated human spermatozoa.

By means of selective solubilization methods and slab gel electrophoresis, reproducible patterns of 19, 37, and 56 protein bands were found to be associated with nuclear, "flagellar," and total human spermatozoa, respectively. Forty protein bands were found between the molecular weight of 12,400 to 160,000 daltons. Twelve bands were associated with values lower than 12,400 daltons. The nuclear major bands were located in a low molecular weight zone, while "flagellar" ones were located in a high molecular weight zone. None of these bands represents degradation products since a) in the solubilized samples neither acrosin, chymotrypsin, nor trypsin activities were present, b) in the presence of two protease inhibitors the same electrophoretic patterns were observed, and c) labelled globins added during sample manipulation were quantitatively recovered without degradation.

Cell Fractionation↗

Study of penicillin antibodies by fluorescence polarization and immunodiffusion.

1. Antibodies prepared in the rabbit to penicilloyl-rabbit serum albumin or to penicilloyl-bovine serum albumin were demonstrated by immunodiffusion and absorption methods to be apparently directed exclusively against the penicilloyl moiety. The antibodies could precipitate heavily substituted penicilloyl polylysine, as well as each other, with "reactions of identity". All could mutually deplete detectable antibodies by cross-absorption. 2. Small haptens containing both fluorescein and the penicilloyl group were synthesized. They were also capable of completely absorbing the antipenicilloyl antibodies from rabbit antiserum, as evidenced by immunodiffusion tests. The haptens were used in fluorescence polarization tests with gamma globulin from normal and immunized rabbits, and from normal and allergic humans. The rabbit antipenicilloyl gamma globulins in concentrations as low as 5 to 10 microg of protein/ml could significantly increase the polarization of the haptens. Normal gamma globulin had no effect at the highest concentrations tested, 1200 microg/ml. In all tests, rabbit and human antibody reacted similarly. 3. Fluorescence polarization titration curves for both human and rabbit antipenicilloyl gamma globulins were analyzed by computer and the antibody concentrations, avidities, and heterogeneity constants were determined. For the human antibody, the latter two values were 3.0 x 10(7)M(-1) and 0.78, while for the rabbit, they were 8.7 x 10(6)M(-1) and 0.71. The data were employed to estimate the limit of sensitivity of fluorescence polarization for detecting antipenicilloyl antibodies. Under the conditions employed, this value was roughly 0.4 microg antibody/ml. 4. When the whole rabbit sera were tested for penicilloyl antibodies by fluorescence polarization, both normal (preimmune) and immune sera revealed striking and equivalent increases in polarization with the penicilloyl haptens. This non-specific binding was shown to be due at least in part to serum albumin. Indications were obtained that it might be significantly reduced by increasing the pH or the salt concentration of the medium, or by addition of certain anions.

Animals↗

Pineal vasoactive intestinal peptide is reduced during the proestrous stage of the rat estrous cycle.

Immunoreactive levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (IR-VIP) in the rat pineal gland were examined during the estrous cycle. IR-VIP was shown to be identical to the synthetic porcine material by its similarity in competitive binding studies, and by both gel filtration and high pressure liquid chromatography. Pineal IR-VIP decreased at early proestrus (0300 h, dark), partially as a function of the rise in serum estradiol levels. Although the functional role of VIP in the pineal remains to be clearly elucidated, these results suggest that it might be involved in the reproductive function of the female rat, and that estrogens could partially modulate its pineal concentration.

Animals↗

Attempts to establish phage typing as an epidemiological marker for Salmonella enteritidis.

The notable increase in the number of Salmonella enteritidis strains seen in Spain in recent years (from 27.10% in 1980 to 66.36% in 1985) makes it necessary to find an additional epidemiological marker for this serotype. Phage typing was considered because of its discriminatory capacity toward other Salmonella serotypes. Wild and lysogenic bacteriophages were sought for a set of autochthonous bacteriophages. Our set consisted of 6 bacteriophages, 5 wild and 1 lysogenic. When tested on 1,500 selected strains, they produced 9 different phage types. The most abundant phage types were A (74.66%) and B (19.73%). The percentage of non-typable strains was low: only 1.4% from a total of 1,500 strains failed to produce lysis with our set. This reflects the high typability of the bacteriophage set proposed.

Bacteriophage Typing↗

Influence in the quality of life of the respiratory patients by environmental control and the acaricide Frontac®.

The present prospective, open, observational study assessed the effect of the use of standard environmental control measures together with the application of an acaricide-containing aerosol of esbiol/benzyl benzoate/piperonyl butoxide/2-phenylphenol (Frontac) on several clinical and environmental parameters in patients suffering from perennial allergic rhinoconjunctivitis related to house dust mites (HDM). Fifty-five patients were enrolled and studied for one year. Both symptoms and the patients' quality of life (evaluated by the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ)) were assessed at several clinic visits. The amount of HDM antigen was semi-quantitatively estimated using the guanine test. We found a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in most nasal symptoms scores: sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose and itching. The overall quality of life (QoL) score also showed a significant improvement during the study period; the mean score decrease found was 0.86 (CI 95 %, 0.54-1.17) (p < 0.001). Five of the seven domains included in the questionnaire decreased significantly: non-hayfever symptoms; practical problems; nasal symptoms; eye symptoms, and emotions. These QoL score decreases were found during the first 3 months and later remained stable at lower levels than at baseline. The content of guanine in dust samples decreased significantly from 2.17 0.75 to 1.43 0.68 (p < 0.001). No toxic adverse events were recorded. In conclusion, these results show an improvement in the quality of life and a clinical benefit of the long-term use of the new chemical acaricide tested, together with environmental measures, in the home of patients suffering from allergic respiratory pathology.

Acaricides↗

Prevalence and patterns of HGV/GBV-C infection in patients with suspected HCV-related hepatitis.

Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a recently described hepatotropic parenterally transmitted flavivirus. The presence of HGV was tested in 61 patients with a request for confirmation of HCV active infection. Thirty-two patients were in haemodialysis and 29 were referred from wards other than nephrology. Active HCV and HGV infections were determined by detection of their viral RNA in serum. Evaluation of previous HGV infection was carried out by detection of antibodies to E2 antigen. HCV prevalence was 62.29% (38/61). HGV-active infection was found in 11.47% (7/61) of the population studied: in 18.7% (6/32) of the haemodialysed patients and in 3.4% (1/29) of patients belonging to the other group. HGV prevalence increased two-fold when previous infection was also considered. HGV clearance was prospectively detected in 5 out of the 7 patients with active infection, and at an earlier stage for those patients coinfected with HCV. Anti-E2 seropositivity was associated with HGV clearance in only two patients.

Female↗

Conformationally restricted nucleosides. The reaction of adenosine deaminase with substrates built on a bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane template.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) can discriminate between two distinct (North and South), conformationally rigid substrate conformers. (N)-methanocarba-2'dA (4) is deaminated 100 times faster than the antipodal (S)-methanocarba-2'dA (5), whereas a non-rigid analogue, aristeromycin (6), is deaminated at an intermediate rate. These results are in agreement with crystallographic data from ADA-ribonucleoside complexes showing the furanose ring of the bound purine in a C3'-endo (North) conformation. The data presented here suggests that 4 and 5 are useful probes to ascertain conformational preferences by purine metabolizing enzymes.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Comparative in vitro antifungal activity of amphotericin B lipid complex, amphotericin B and fluconazole.

Amphotericin B (AMB) is considered the gold standard in the treatment of serious systemic mycoses in spite of its nephrotoxicity and adverse effects. Association with lipids enables larger doses of AMB to be given with a longer t((1/2)) and C(max), without the toxic effects at lower concentrations. Liposome-encapsulated AMB shows a lower affinity for mammalian cells and improves V(d), thus decreasing toxicity. Amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) is an AMB formulation associated with a biodegradable phospholipid matrix (5% molar) from which the drug is released by cell phospholipases. ABLC is recommended for serious mycoses refractory to conventional antifungal therapy or when AMB is contraindicated. We compared the in vitro antifungal activity of ABLC, AMB and fluconazole (FLZ) against 328 strains of clinically significant opportunistic fungi using a microdilution method (NCCLS, M-27A). 64.9% of the yeasts were inhibited by MIC of ABLC </= AMB resulting in a similar or slightly superior efficacy compared to AMB when tested against Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis. Effectiveness against C. krusei was lower for ABLC (5.99 microg/ml for ABLC, 1.58 microg/ml for AMB). However, for Aspergillus fumigatus, the activities of AMB and ABLC were 1.62 and 2.46 microg/ml, respectively; A. niger 0.72 microg/ml, 0.76 microg/ml (ABLC and AMB, respectively); A. clavatus, A. candidus, A. tenuissima, A. corymbifera and Exophiala jeanselmei, Scedosporium spp. and Miceliophtora spp. showed a low susceptibility to both AMB formulations. ABLC is a useful alternative to AMB or FLZ for the treatment of severe fungal infections, due to the broad spectrum of antifungal actions observed in this study.

Amphotericin B↗

[Brachytherapy results in prostatic cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the 15-year results of external irradiation combined with radioactive gold grain implantation (Au198) in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the prostate and to discuss the therapeutic perspectives. METHODS: The present study was conducted on 23 patients with localized prostate carcinoma (17 stage B; 6 stage C) that had been diagnosed and treated at our department from February 1981 to October 1986. The mean patient follow-up was 90.96 months. Au198 implantation (mean dose 3347.6 cGy) was performed through the abdominal approach prior to external irradiation (mean dose 39 Gy) with Co-60 (19 patients) or the 18-MV photon linear accelerator (4 patients). The mean fractionated dose was 180.43 cGy/day. RESULTS: Overall the 15-year locoregional control rate was 61% and disease-free survival was 38%. The overall survival rate was 25%, regardless of the cause of death. The tumor control rate was 61% for stage B and 83% for stage C lesions at 15 years. The disease-free survival rate was 40% for stage B and 50% for stage C tumors. The local control and disease-free survival rates were worse for patients in whom the diagnosis had been made by TUR (p = not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The locoregional tumor control and disease-free survival rates for this group of 23 patients who received combined therapy with external irradiation and radioactive gold grain implantation (Au198) were slightly lower than those obtained in another group of 104 patients treated at our Service of Radiotherapeutic Oncology with radical external radiation therapy and can be ascribed mainly to poor patient selection and inadequate radiation dose.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Chronic urticaria associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

Although chronic urticaria is usually idiopathic, in rare cases it may be a sign of underlying malignancy. We describe the first case of chronic urticaria associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. The urticarial lesions healed successfully with etoposide, an antineoplastic agent. This case demonstrates that cases of chronic urticaria should not to be labeled as idiopathic until diligent evaluation has failed to reveal a cause.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

[The radiotherapy control of cervical adenopathies in undifferentiated epithelial tumors of the head and neck. The prognostic factors].

A total of 90 patients with undifferentiated carcinomas tumors the head and neck with clinical neck nodes who received intended radical irradiation, were studied by means of a multivariant analysis of 9 variables which defined cervical lymph node disease in oder to determine the prognostic factors for the control of the above mentioned adenopathy. The factors were as follows: lymph node response post-irradiation (p = 0.0000), condition of the primary (controlled-non controlled) (p = 0.0208).

Carcinoma↗