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Biomedical subjects

R Molina

Publications and source records attributed to R Molina.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Clinical usefulness of prostate-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase in patients with prostatic cancer.

Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) levels were measured in 70 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and in 70 patients with prostatic cancer. PSA was increased above the cutoff level of 10 ng/ml in 13% of patients with BPH and in 87% of patients with prostatic cancer. In contrast, abnormal PAP levels were found in 14 and 76% of patients, respectively. We concluded that, due to its high specificity, PSA is a useful marker in the management of patients with prostatic carcinoma and that it surpasses PAP in this regard.

Acid Phosphatase↗

SCC antigen measured in malignant and nonmalignant diseases.

SCC antigen was measured in the serum of 214 patients with benign diseases and in 251 patients with various cancers. With 2.5 micrograms/L as the upper normal limit for serum, values were positive in 2.9% of 69 healthy subjects (I), 29.0% of 214 patients with benign pathologies (II), and 41% of 217 patients with active cancer (III). The highest values in group II were for patients in renal failure (64%) or with lung diseases (40%) or head-and-neck diseases (21.2%). Specificity of SCC increased (91.1%) when we excluded patients in renal failure or with creatinine values greater than 133 mumol/L. In group III, SCC values were abnormal in 57.7% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma, but in only 9.3% of those with other histological types (P less than 0.001). In squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, cervix, or head and neck, SCC values were related to tumor stage, values being highest in patients with metastases.

Adult↗

Luteal cytoplasmic estradiol and progesterone receptors in human endometrium: in vitro fertilization and normal cycles.

Luteal cytoplasmic estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) receptor levels were measured from the 22nd to the 25th days of the menstrual cycle in endometrial samples obtained from seven patients in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program who received no embryo replacement after ovarian stimulation with clomiphene citrate/human menopausal gonadotropin/human chorionic gonadotropin, and from seven normally menstruating women. Serum levels of E2, P, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin (PRL) were measured in blood samples collected at the time of biopsy. The E2 (P less than 0.01) and PRL (P less than 0.001) levels were higher in stimulated than in spontaneous cycles. The level of cytoplasmic P receptor was decreased in endometrium in stimulated cycles, but cytoplasmic E2 receptor remained unchanged. These alterations in the luteal phase of cytoplasmic P receptor in the endometrium could be involved in the low rate of success following the IVF program.

Adult↗

Monthly injectable steroid contraceptives and cervical carcinoma.

The World Health Organization Collaborative Study of Neoplasia and Steroid Contraceptives is a large multinational hospital-based case-control study of steroid contraceptives and gynecologic, hepatobiliary, and mammary neoplasms. Monthly injectable steroid contraceptives which contained the long-acting progestogen dihydroxyprogesterone acetofenide plus a shorter-acting estrogen (usually estradiol enanthate) were used by women in two of the countries (Chile and Mexico) from which data were collected. In preliminary analyses of data from Chile (1979-1983), a strong association was observed between use of these products and invasive cervical cancer. Therefore, three additional data sets from these two countries were analyzed in further detail for this report. Analyses of additional data from Chile on invasive cervical cancer (1983-1985) and cervical carcinoma in situ (1979-1986) and of data on invasive cervical cancer from Mexico (1979-1986) failed to confirm the initially observed association. The original finding was probably due to chance, but a causal interpretation cannot be confidently ruled out, and additional studies are warranted.

Algestone Acetophenide↗

[Diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases in Chilean pregnant adolescents].

We searched in 100 healthy pregnant women by isolation, the presence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Herpes simplex, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydia trachomatis. Blood was also taken for examination of specific antibodies to these microorganisms. We studied only for antibodies titled Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Treponema pallidum and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Condyloma acuminatum by cervical cytology. In 85 adolescents we found 5 (6%) patients with C. trachomatis, four of these patients had another microorganism added, one with N. gonorrhoeae, M. hominis and U. Urealyticum, one with U. urealyticum and the last two with M. hominis and U. urealyticum, In relation to Mycoplasmas 69 (81%) out of 85 had Mycoplasmas, 4 (5%) had M. hominis, 46 (54%) U. urealyticum and 19 (22%) patients had both. The seropositivity to CMV was 96.25%. We didn't find any other microorganism. We concluded that the rate of STD in chilean pregnant adolescent women is high, especially with no traditional bacteria.

Adolescent↗

[Immaturity of syncytial trophoblast in maternal malnutrition. Ultrastructural analysis].

We studied the placental membrane at term in normal females and females with malnutrition not related to associated pathologic processes of pregnancy. Both groups belonged in the low socioeconomic stratum. The fetal aspect of placenta from malnourished females showed signs of immaturity in relation to gestational age, as evidenced by transitional cytotrophoblastic cells in different stages of maturation. The latter appear as a third intermediata layer between cytothropoblast and syncitiotrophoblast.

Female↗

[Normal term placentae: type of collagen and its disposition around fetal blood vessels detected with the Picro sirius technique].

The chorionic villi tissue of normal term human placentae is made of a highly fibrous extracellular matrix. An increasing amount of fibrous tissue is seen as gestation advances, phenomenon referred as organ aging. Electron microscopy reveals many collagen fibrils close to fibroblasts between the trophoblast and the fetal capillary vessels. A characteristic 67 nm transverse striation produced by the intermixing of tropocollagen and collagen types 1 and 3 is observed. Picrosirius staining under polarized light allowed us to detect abundant type 1 collagen fibers. These were randomly distributed in the stroma but concentrically order around the blood vessels.

Chorionic Villi↗

Oral contraceptives and cervical carcinoma in situ in Chile.

A case-control study of cervical carcinoma in situ was conducted in Santiago, Chile, to determine whether risk of this condition is altered by use of oral contraceptives. Responses to a standardized questionnaire were compared in 133 hospitalized cases and 254 age-matched controls selected from the same screening program through which the cases were detected. After controlling for the possible confounding influence of a variety of indices of sexual behavior, socioeconomic status, and prior cytological smears, no increase in risk was found in women who ever used oral contraceptives. No trend of increasing or decreasing risk was seen in relation to duration of use, up to more than 6 years of exposure, or with the passage of time from either initial or most recent exposure. An observed increase in risk in current users of oral contraceptives was not considered likely to represent a causal relationship.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Expression of genes for platelet-derived growth factor in adult human venous endothelium. A possible non-platelet-dependent cause of intimal hyperplasia in vein grafts and perianastomotic areas of vascular prostheses.

Neointimal fibromuscular hyperplasia (NFH) in vein grafts and perianastomotic zones of vascular prostheses has been attributed to the effects of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) released by platelets interacting with bypass conduits. But inhibition of platelet aggregation often fails to prevent NFH, and recurrent growth of intact, platelet-free endothelium over perianastomotic areas where NFH occurs is inconsistent with the concept of sustained PDGF release from platelets causing NFH progression at late times after surgical procedures. Cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (ECs) and human umbilical vein ECs have been shown to release a PDGF-like molecule. We report that confluent cultured fourth passage adult human saphenous vein ECs (AHSVECs) grown in the presence of heparin (100 micrograms/ml) and retina-derived growth factor (RDGF) studied by Northern blotting transcribed a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) of 3.9 kb, strongly hybridizing to PDGF B chain probes, and two species of 2.0 and 2.6 kb hybridizing to PDGF A chain probes. Withdrawal of RDGF and heparin from these cultures for 48 hours before mRNA extraction amplified the scanning densitometric mRNA signal per cell by 8.0 +/- 7.6 fold (mean +/- SD) (N = 4 cultures) for B chain mRNA and 5.2 +/- 3.6 fold (N = 3 cultures) for A chain mRNA. In addition, AHSVEC cultures released a PDGF-like substance, because 50% vol/vol AHSVEC-conditioned serum-free medium increased tritiated thymidine uptake elevenfold in PDGF receptor-bearing 3T3 cells whereas an excess (50 micrograms/ml) of nonspecific goat anti-human-PDGF antibody significantly reduced this increase by a mean of 30% to 7.0 +/- 3.4 fold (N = 6 trials, p less than 0.001). Flow cytometry determined AHSVEC cultures to be proliferating with a mean of 6.2% +/- 1.9% (N = 3 culture lines) of ECs in S phase even at confluence when deprived of EC mitogens for 48 hours. Adult human ECs, which proliferate on bypass conduits and host vessels after perioperative injury, may play a role in causing NFH by stimulating proliferation of adjacent smooth muscle cells. Prevention of NFH may require not only antiplatelet agents but also ways to prevent EC release of smooth muscle cell mitogens in response to perioperative EC injury.

Animals↗

Transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra in men after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Is prophylactic urethrectomy indicated?

A retrospective study of the incidence and clinical course of transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra is reported. Of 110 consecutive male patients who underwent cystectomy during a 9-year period, 9 had or developed a urethral tumour. Five patients undergoing radical cystectomy had known or suspected urethral involvement which was confirmed at urethrectomy. All 5 had deeply invasive (T3 or T4) transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder and subsequently died of metastatic disease. Four patients underwent urethrectomy because of signs or symptoms of urethral recurrence at an average interval of 2.5 years after cystectomy. There were two deaths in this group, neither of which appeared to be due to urethral recurrence. Six additional patients had undergone prophylactic urethrectomy because of prostatic urethral involvement or diffuse carcinoma in situ in the cystectomy specimen, and none had identifiable tumour in the anterior urethra. The residual urethra is a potential focus for recurrent tumour and this necessitates careful follow-up with serial cytology, but the low incidence of urethral recurrence (3.5% in this series) does not appear to warrant routine urethrectomy at the time of cystectomy.

Aged↗

Empyema caused by Kingella denitrificans and Peptostreptococcus spp. in a patient with bronchogenic carcinoma.

Empyema caused by Kingella denitrificans and Peptostreptococcus spp. was diagnosed in a patient with bronchogenic carcinoma. This appears to be the third report providing evidence of a pathogenic role for K. denitrificans, and the first concerning infection in the pleural space and in a patient with underlying immunosuppressive disease. K. denitrificans should be added to the list of fastidious gram-negative bacteria associated with opportunistic infections in the compromised host.

Actinomycetales Infections↗

Total LDH and its isoenzymes in gynecological malignancies and other gynecological conditions.

Total LDH and its five Isoenzymes have been evaluated in 354 patients from a Gynecological Ward. These patients had uterine fibroids, benign ovarian tumors, tubo-ovarian abscesses (T.O.A.), endometrial cancers, cancers of the cervix and ovarian cancers. 90 patients had no gynecological disease and served as controls. A statistical analysis was performed comparing each group of patients with the control group. A significant elevation in total LDH and Iso-IV and a significant decrease in Iso-I was observed in patients with uterine fibroids. Patients with benign ovarian tumors had a significant elevation of total LDH. Patients with T.O.A., Endometrial cancer, cancer of the cervix and cancer of the ovary had a significant elevations of total LDH and Iso-V and a significant decrease in Iso-I. When the group of patients with endometrial cancer, cancer of the cervix and cancer of the ovary were compared with each other, no differences could be found in total LDH and Isoenzyme values. We conclude that total LDH and Isoenzyme serum levels are not useful clinical indicators for the diagnosis and management of gynecological malignancies and particularly of ovarian cancer.

Female↗

Use of charcoal hemoperfusion with sequential hemodialysis to reduce serum methotrexate levels in a patient with acute renal insufficiency.

Acute renal failure induced by methotrexate can be complicated by prolonged high serum levels of methotrexate, resulting in pancytopenia and severe mucositis. The role of dialysis in these patients has not been well elucidated. Serum methotrexate levels were successfully lowered in a patient with methotrexate-induced acute renal failure by charcoal hemoperfusion and sequential hemodialysis. No rebound in serum methotrexate levels was observed after perfusion, a phenomenon previously reported as limiting the usefulness of this procedure.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Seasonal changes in the activities of glycolytic enzymes from liver and skeletal muscle of Rana perezi.

Glycogen phosphorylase (GP), Hexokinase (HK), Phosphofructokinase (PFK), Pyruvate kinase (PK) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities from skeletal muscle and liver were measured in Rana perezi for the four seasons of the year. Skeletal muscle showed a decrease in PFK, PK and LDH activity during winter and summer. Liver displayed an increase in GP activity in spring and in PK and LDH in autumn.

Animals↗