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R Ramos

Publications and source records attributed to R Ramos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Metals in horseshoe crabs from Delaware Bay.

We examined the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in the eggs, leg muscle, and apodeme (carapace musculature) in horseshoe crabs ( Limulus polyphemus) from eight places on the New Jersey and Delaware sides of Delaware Bay to determine whether there were locational differences. Although there were locational differences, the differences were not great. Further, contaminant levels were generally low. The levels of contaminants found in horseshoe crabs were well below those known to cause adverse effects in the crabs themselves or in organisms that consume them or their eggs. Contaminant levels have generally declined in the eggs of horseshoe crabs from 1993 to 2001, suggesting that contaminants are not likely to be a problem for secondary consumers or a cause of their decline.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Histopathological changes in sympathetic ganglia of patients treated surgically for palmar-axillary hyperhidrosis. A study of 55 biopsies].

INTRODUCTION: Primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) mainly affects the sympathetic ganglia. This study aims to analyze the histopathological changes in the sympathetic ganglia of patients with PPH. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied 55 tissue samples from 35 patients with PPH who underwent T2-T3 gangliectomy for definitive treatment of their disease, analyzing the presence of inflammation, chromatolysis and lipofuscin accumulation. Findings were analyzed in relation to age, compensatory sweating and type of surgery: unilateral, synchronic bilateral or sequential bilateral. RESULTS: We found inflammation in 5.5%, chromatolysis in 61.8% and lipofuscin accumulation in 41.8% of the samples. Chromatolysis and lipofuscin were found without inflammation in 32.1%. Chromatolysis and lipofuscin accumulation were each found in 60% of the samples from synchronic bilateral sympathectomies. However, those percentages decreased between the first and second sympathectomies in sequential procedures, such that chromatolysis was found in 71.4% of first-procedure samples and 42.8% of second-procedure samples; the rates for lipofuscin accumulation changed from 64.2% to 14.2%. Although findings were unrelated to age, they did correlate with compensatory sweating, which was found in 79.7% of patients undergoing synchronic bilateral sympathectomy, 78.5% of sequential bilateral sympathectomy patients and only 56.25% of unilateral sympathectomy patients. CONCLUSIONS: Neuronal death and lipofuscin accumulation unrelated to inflammation are evident in sympathetic ganglia from patients with PPH. Such changes are atypical for a group of patients whose mean age is 29 years, unless such lesions are the result of functional hyperstimulation. Surgery performed sequentially does not lead to overloading of contralateral T2-T3 ganglia; on the contrary, decreased injury is evident.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Exposure of South Carolinians to commercial meats and fish within their meat and fish diet.

There has been considerable interest in the public's exposure to a variety of contaminants through the consumption of wild fish and game, yet there is little information on consumption of commercial meats and fish, or the relationship between commercial and self-caught fish. We conducted a dietary survey in 1999 to estimate exposure levels of 464 individuals from people attending the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic. Mean consumption was similar for beef, chicken/turkey, and wild-caught fish, and much lower for pork and store-bought fish, and still lower for restaurant fish. There were no ethnic differences in the consumption of most commercial fish and meats, although the differences for chicken approached significance. There were significant ethnic differences in consumption of wild-caught fish. Women ate significantly less of all meat types, except store-bought fish. People over 45 ate less beef than younger people, and people younger than 32 ate significantly more chicken than others. There were no significant differences in consumption patterns as a function of income, except for chicken and wild-caught fish; people with higher incomes ate more chicken than others, and people with lower incomes ate more wild-caught fish than others. When all wild-caught and commercial fish and meats are considered, there are significant differences only for ethnicity and gender. Blacks consume significantly more fish than Whites, and men consume significantly more than women.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Genetic markers in the study of Anisakis typica (Diesing, 1860): larval identification and genetic relationships with other species of Anisakis Dujardin, 1845 (Nematoda: Anisakidae).

Genetic variation at 21 gene-enzyme systems was studied in a sample of an adult population of Anisakis typica (Diesing, 1860) recovered in the dolphin Sotalia fluviatilis from the Atlantic coast of Brazil. The characteristic alleles, detected in this population, made it possible to identify as A. typica, Anisakis larvae with a Type I morphology (sensu Berland, 1961) from various fishes: Thunnus thynnus and Auxis thazard from Brazil waters, Trachurus picturatus and Scomber japonicus from Madeiran waters, Scomberomorus commerson, Euthynnus affinis, Sarda orientalis and Coryphaena hippurus from the Somali coast of the Indian Ocean, and Merluccius merluccius from the Eastern Mediterranean. Characteristic allozymes are given for the identification, at any life-stage and in both sexes, of A. typica and the other Anisakis species so far studied genetically. The distribution of A. typica in warmer temperate and tropical waters is confirmed; the definitive hosts so far identified for this species belong to delphinids, phocoenids and pontoporids. The present findings represent the first established records of intermediate/paratenic hosts of A. typica and extend its range to Somali waters of the Indian Ocean and to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. A remarkable genetic homogeneity was observed in larval and adult samples of A. typica despite their different geographical origin; interpopulation genetic distances were low, ranging from D(Nei)=0.004 (Eastern Mediterranean versus Somali) to D(Nei)=0.010 (Brazilian versus Somali). Accordingly, indirect estimates of gene flow gave a rather high average value of Nm = 6.00. Genetic divergence of A. typica was, on average, D(Nei)=1.12 from the members of the A. simplex complex (A. simplex s.s, A. pegreffii, A. simplex C) and D(Nei)=1.41 from A. ziphidarum, which all share Type I larvae; higher values were found from both A. physeteris (D(Nei)=2.77)

Alleles↗
PubMed2002

[Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with associated diabetic nephropathy].

BACKGROUND: Diabetes patients with concomitant diabetic nephropathy are especially destined to cardiovascular complications due to the presence of microalbuminuria or proteinuria, that are potent inductors of dyslipidaemia. METHODS: We have studied 98 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, 61 male and 37 female, mean age 63 +/- 13 year old, all of them with overt proteinuria (above 500 mg/day), divided into 4 groups: G-I (n = 13): patients with t. cholesterol > 6.25 mmol/l treated with fibric-acid derivatives; G-II (n = 52): hypercholesterolemic patients treated with statins; G-III (n = 20): hypercholesterolemic patients with no lipid-lowering intervention; G-IV (n = 13): normocholesterolemic patients (control group). Lipidic profile, proteinuria and renal function have being compared after 1, 3 and 5 years. RESULTS: Base-line characteristics of the patients were similar when regarding age, onset of diabetes or nephropathy. Only proteinuria was higher in statins-treated group (p < 0.05). Fibric-acid derivatives were more effective on hypertriglyceridaemia while statins were more effective lowering LDL cholesterol. A gemfibrocyl-treated patient presented a rhabdomyolysis episode. Statins were safe and well tolerated. Nine patients (19%) in G-II, 2 patients (10%) in G-III and 1 patient (7%) in G-IV achieved end-stage renal failure. Five-year cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality rate were 23%/23% in G-I, 13%/19% in G-II, 20%/25% in G-III and 31%/31% in G-IV. The difference was statistically significant when comparing normocolesterolemic versus statin-treated patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lipid-lowering therapy could probably delay but not avoid the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Since dyslipidaemia is closely related to the progression of cardiovascular disease and mortality, an aggressive lipid-lowering therapy is recommended, irrespectively of its potential effect on diabetic nephropathy.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

[Effect of cyclosporin and tacrolimus on lipoprotein oxidation after renal transplantation].

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporin A is a lipogenic immunosuppressor that can induce posttransplant hyperlipidaemia. Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been recognized as a major atherogenic factor. Tacrolimus seems to be less lipogenic with an apparently better cardiovascular profile than CsA. METHODS: We have studied the lipidic profile and the oxidation of HDL and LDL in 20 renal transplant patients, 12 male and 8 female, mean age 45 +/- 10 year, who where switched from CsA to tacrolimus due to CsA adverse effects. LDL were determined by ultracentrifugation. Oxidation study before and 6 months after conversion to tacrolimus was performed by adding CuSO4. RESULTS: After conversion, systolic blood pressure (BP) decreased from 154 +/- 21 to 133 +/- 21 mm Hg (p = 0.008), diastolic BP from 97 +/- 13 to 77 +/- 15 mm Hg (p = 0.016), total cholesterol from 6.08 +/- 0.9 to 5.68 +/- 1.1 mmol/l (p = 0.02), LDL-chol from 3.29 +/- 1.01 to 2.96 +/- 0.3 mmol/l (p = 0.04) and apo-B lipoprotein from 1.42 +/- 0.28 to 1.15 +/- 0.34 mg/dl (p = 0.003). The oxidation of LDL improved after conversion: the initial dienic compounds decreased from 95 +/- 20 to 63 +/- 12 umol/g and the final DC from 207 +/- 56 to 107 +/- 35 umol/g. Lag-phase increased from 33 +/- 21 to 45 +/- 17 min (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus has improved hyperlipidaemia in our cyclosporin previously treated patients and increased the resistance to oxidation of high and low-density lipoproteins.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

An insight into the epidemiology of dolphin morbillivirus worldwide.

Serum samples from 288 cetaceans representing 25 species and originating from 11 different countries were collected between 1995 and 1999 and examined for the presence of dolphin morbillivirus (DMV)-specific antibodies by an indirect ELISA (iELISA) (N = 267) or a plaque reduction assay (N = 21). A total of 35 odontocetes were seropositive: three harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) from the Northeastern (NE) Atlantic, a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) from Kent (England), three striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), two Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) and a bottlenose dolphin from the Mediterranean Sea, one common dolphin from the Southwest (SW) Indian Ocean, three Fraser's dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei) from the SW Atlantic, 18 long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) and a bottlenose dolphin from the SW Pacific as well as a captive bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) originally from Taiwan. The presence of morbillivirus antibodies in 17 of these animals was further examined in other iELISAs and virus neutralization tests. Our results indicate that DMV infects cetaceans worldwide. This is the first report of DMV-seropositive animals from the SW Indian, SW Atlantic and West Pacific Oceans. Prevalence of DMV-seropositives was 85.7% in 21 pilot whales from the SW Pacific and both sexually mature and immature individuals were infected. This indicates that DMV is endemic in these animals. The same situation may occur among Fraser's dolphins from the SW Atlantic. The prevalence of DMV-seropositives was 5.26% and 5.36% in 19 common dolphins and 56 harbour porpoise from the NE Atlantic, respectively, and 18.75% in 16 striped dolphins from the Mediterranean. Prevalence varied significantly with sexual maturity in harbour porpoises and striped dolphins; all DMV-seropositives being mature animals. The prevalence of seropositive harbour porpoise and striped dolphins appeared to have decreased since previous studies. These data suggest that DMV is not endemic within these populations, that they are losing their humoral immunity against the virus and that they may be vulnerable to new epidemics.

Animal Diseases↗
PubMed2001

A frameshift mutation in NOD2 associated with susceptibility to Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, which is thought to result from the effect of environmental factors in a genetically predisposed host. A gene location in the pericentromeric region of chromosome 16, IBD1, that contributes to susceptibility to Crohn's disease has been established through multiple linkage studies, but the specific gene(s) has not been identified. NOD2, a gene that encodes a protein with homology to plant disease resistance gene products is located in the peak region of linkage on chromosome 16 (ref. 7). Here we show, by using the transmission disequilibium test and case-control analysis, that a frameshift mutation caused by a cytosine insertion, 3020insC, which is expected to encode a truncated NOD2 protein, is associated with Crohn's disease. Wild-type NOD2 activates nuclear factor NF-kappaB, making it responsive to bacterial lipopolysaccharides; however, this induction was deficient in mutant NOD2. These results implicate NOD2 in susceptibility to Crohn's disease, and suggest a link between an innate immune response to bacterial components and development of disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Assessing the acceptability, service delivery requirements, and use-effectiveness of the diaphragm in Colombia, Philippines, and Turkey.

The diaphragm is not available in many countries, despite the recommendations of numerous authors that it has important advantages as a woman-controlled method that offers some protection against sexually transmitted diseases, and one that is safe and free of side effects. An interagency team collaborated to introduce the diaphragm in Colombia, the Philippines, and Turkey, using the same protocol to assess the acceptability, service delivery requirements and use-effectiveness of the method. Eighteen public and private sector service delivery sites were involved and a total of 550 women were enrolled in the study. Provider training aimed to improve the quality of care with which all methods were delivered and included counseling about sexuality and reproductive health risks. The cumulative 12-month pregnancy rate of 10.1 (SE 1.7) per 100 woman-years is on the low end of previous studies of the diaphragm, and the 12-month continuation rate (57.2 [SE 2.4] per 100) compares favorably with that for oral contraceptives and the intrauterine device. Focus group discussions conducted with clients and providers indicated that the method was an important alternative for some women, particularly those who had experienced health problems with other methods or were unable to negotiate condom use with their partners. Provider biases diminished as they observed the strategic niche that the diaphragm filled for their clients. While providing the diaphragm requires training and good client-provider interaction, the requirements are consistent with those called for in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD, 1994). With proper attention to quality of care, the diaphragm can be successfully offered in resource-poor settings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Metals in feathers of sooty tern, white tern, gray-backed tern, and brown noddy from islands in the North Pacific.

Levels of heavy metals are usually higher in adult than young birds because they eat larger, more contaminated prey, or because they have had longer to accumulate metals in their tissues. Further, levels of contaminants are usually less in birds nesting on remote, offshore islands than in birds breeding closer to mainland areas that are urbanized and industrialized. We examined the feather levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in adult sooty terns (Sterna fuscata), gray-backed terns (Sterna lunata), and brown noddy (Anous stolidus, and adult and young white terns (Gygis alba, from Midway Atoll, and in adult and young sooty terns and adult brown noddy from Manana Island, Hawaii (chicks of other terns were not available). We tested and rejected the null hypotheses that metal levels are not significantly different among species, ages, and locations. Despite their small size, adult white terns had the highest levels of lead, arsenic and tin. Brown noddies had the highest levels of cadmium, chromium, manganese, and selenium. Sooty and white terns had the highest levels of mercury. Sooty tern adults had significantly higher levels of cadmium, mercury, and selenium than young, while young had significantly higher levels of arsenic and manganese. White tern adults had significantly higher levels of selenium and tin than young, while young had higher levels of cadmium and mercury than adults. Except for mercury, there were significant inter-location differences within species in all heavy metals. Contrary to expectation, where the differences were great, metals generally were higher in the feathers of terns and noddies from Midway than from Manana.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Brain mitochondrial complex I inactivation by oxidative modification.

In vitro oxidation of the brain mitochondrial complex I by the hydroxyl radical generating system ascorbate/Fe(III)/O(2) has been carried out. Complex I inactivation, by oxidation, has been studied using a method based on the resolution of proteins by blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE), followed by total protein quantification by staining with Coomassie brilliant blue, in-gel activity quantification, and quantification of oxidized proteins by labelling with DIG-hydrazide and immunodetection with an anti-DIG-AP. Quantification was carried out by densitometry procedure. Our results show that oxidation is a continuous process, increasing rapidly at the beginning, reaching a plateau after 8 h of incubation. There is practically no inactivation until a threshold value of damage is reached. Below this, the complex activity is resistant to the aggression of oxygen-reactive substances and free radicals, but once the threshold value is passed, activity is lost rapidly.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Linkage and linkage disequilibrium in chromosome band 1p36 in American Chaldeans with inflammatory bowel disease.

The idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), consisting of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are complex genetic disorders involving chronic inflammation of the intestines. Multiple genetic loci have been implicated through genome-wide searches, but refinement of localization sufficient to undertake positional cloning efforts has been problematic. This difficulty can be obviated through identification of ancestrally shared regions in genetic isolates, such as the Chaldean population, a Roman Catholic group from Iraq. We analyzed four multiply affected American Chaldean families with inflammatory bowel disease not known to be related. We observed evidence for linkage and linkage disequilibrium in precisely the same region of chromosome band 1p36 reported previously in an outbred population. Maximal evidence for linkage was observed near D1S1597 by multipoint analysis (MLOD = 3.01, P = 6.1 x 10(-5)). A shared haplotype (D1S507 to D1S1628) was observed over 27 cM between two families. There was homozygous sharing of a 5 cM portion of that haplotype in one family and over a <1 cM region in the second family. Homozygous sharing of this haplotype near D1S2697 and D1S3669 was observed in one individual in a third multiply affected family, with heterozygous sharing in a fourth family. Linkage in outbred families as well as in this genetic isolate indicates that a pathophysiologically crucial IBD susceptibility gene is located in 1p36. These findings provide a unique opportunity to refine the localization and identify a major susceptibility gene for a complex genetic disorder.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1↗
PubMed2000

HsRec2/Rad51L1, a protein influencing cell cycle progression, has protein kinase activity.

Human Rec2/Rad51L1 is a member of the Rad51 family of proteins. Although recombinase activity, typical of this family, could not be established, its overexpression in mammalian cells has been shown to cause a delay in G1. Moreover, since hsRec2/Rad51L1 has been found to be induced by both ionizing and UV irradiation, it is likely that hsRec2/Rad51L1 is elevated following any DNA damage and causes a G1 delay to allow time for DNA repair to occur. Limited homology with catalytic domains X and XI of protein kinase A suggested that kemptide, an artificial substrate containing one phosphorylatable residue, a serine, might serve as a substrate for hsRec2/Rad51L1. Here, we report that hsRec2/Rad51L1 can phosphorylate kemptide, as well as myelin basic protein, p53, cyclin E, and cdk2, but not a peptide substrate containing tyrosine only. The finding that hsRec2/Rad51L1 exhibits protein kinase activity is a first step toward identifying a mechanism whereby this protein affects the cell cycle.

CDC2-CDC28 Kinases↗
PubMed2000

Risk concerns, land use, stewardship, and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory: attitudes of the Shoshone-Bannock and other American Indians.

This paper examines the attitudes and perceptions of 277 American Indians about hunting and fishing, risk, and future land use of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) in southeastern Idaho. Nearly half of our sample were Shoshone-Bannock tribal members living on the nearby Fort Hall Reservation, and half were American Indians from elsewhere in the western United States. We also interviewed an additional 44 White people. We examine the hypothesis that there are differences in environmental concerns and attitudes toward future land use at IN-EEL as a function of tribal affiliation (ethnicity), educational level, gender, and age. Such perceptions are important because of the existence of tribal treaties that govern the legal and cultural rights of the Shoshone-Bannock. Returning INEEL to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and a National Environmental Research Park ranked as the highest preferred future land uses, whereas continuing nuclear materials reprocessing and increasing the storage of nuclear wastes ranked as the lowest. There were tribal differences in land use preferences, with those of the Fort Hall Indians being more similar to those of the local Whites than to other American Indians. All groups ranked storage of nuclear material, storage of additional nuclear material, and spills and accidents as the most serious of a list of concerns provided about the site. Fort Hall Indians answered an open-ended question with concerns for population levels and migration routes of game animals and other wildlife, more than hunting and human health. The Shoshone-Bannock from Fort Hall showed an environmental sensitivity for the well-being of wildlife and the health of the ecosystem and were interested in long-term stewardship, in addition to 29 concern for human health.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Resources and estuarine health: perceptions of elected officials and recreational fishers.

It is important to understand the perceptions of user groups regarding both the health of our estuaries and environmental problems requiring management. Recreational fishers were interviewed to determine the perceptions of one of the traditional user groups of Barnegat Bay (New Jersey), and elected officials were interviewed to determine if the people charged with making decisions about environmental issues in the bay held similar perceptions. Although relative ratings were similar, there were significant differences in perceptions of the severity of environmental problems, and for the most part, public officials thought the problems were more severe than did the fishers. Personal watercraft (often called Jet Skis) were rated as the most severe problem, followed by chemical pollution, junk, overfishing, street runoff, and boat oil. Small boats, sailboats, wind surfers, and foraging birds were not considered environmental problems by either elected officials or fishermen. The disconnect between the perceptions of the recreational fishers and those of the locally elected public officials suggests that officials may be hearing from some of the more vocal people about problems, rather than from the typical fishers. Both groups felt there were decreases in some of the resources in the bay; over 50% felt the number of fish and crabs had declined, the size of fish and crabs had declined, and the number of turtles had declined. Among recreational fishers, there were almost no differences in perceptions of the severity of environmental problems or in changes in the bay. The problems that were rated the most severe were personal watercraft and overfishing by commercial fishers. Recreational fishers ranked sailboats, wind surfers, and fishing by birds as posing no problem for the bay. Most fishers felt there had been recent major changes in Barnegat Bay, with there now being fewer and smaller fish, fewer and smaller crabs, and fewer turtles. The results suggest that the views of a wide range of coastal users should be considered when making environmental health decisions.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A randomized, controlled trial of a behavioral intervention to prevent sexually transmitted disease among minority women.

BACKGROUND: African-American and Hispanic women are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases, including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In the effort to reduce infection rates, it is important to create and evaluate behavioral interventions that are specific to the target populations. METHODS: We enrolled women with nonviral sexually transmitted diseases in a randomized trial of a sex- and culture-specific behavioral intervention. The intervention consisted of three small-group sessions of three to four hours each designed to help women recognize personal susceptibility, commit to changing their behavior, and acquire necessary skills. The control group received standard counseling about sexually transmitted diseases. The design of the intervention was based on the AIDS Risk Reduction Model and ethnographic data on the study populations. Participants in both groups underwent screening, counseling, and an interview before randomization and at the 6- and 12-month follow-up visits. The principal outcome variable was subsequent chlamydial or gonorrheal infection, which was evaluated on an intention-to-treat basis by logistic-regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 424 Mexican-Americans and 193 African-American women were enrolled; 313 were assigned to the intervention group and 304 to the control group. The rate of participation in the intervention was 90 percent. The rates of retention in the sample were 82 and 89 percent at the 6- and 12-month visits, respectively. Rates of subsequent infection were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group during the first 6 months (11.3 vs. 17.2 percent, P=0.05), during the second 6 months (9.1 vs. 17.7 percent, P=0.008), and over the entire 12-month study period (16.8 vs. 26.9 percent, P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: A risk-reduction intervention consisting of three small-group sessions significantly decreased the rates of chlamydial and gonorrheal infection among Mexican-American and African-American women at high risk for sexually transmitted disease.

Adolescent↗