Management of a placental chorioangioma with endoscopic devascularization and intrauterine transfusions.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
V García
Publications and source records attributed to V García.
The presence of an intronic deletion in p73 and high levels of ZEB1 alter the TAp73/DeltaTAp73 ratio in colorectal carcinomas.
TAp73 variants largely mimic p53 suppressor activities, while DeltaTAp73 forms act as oncogenes through the inactivation of p53 and TAp73. The present study analysed how TAp73 and DeltaTAp73 levels might be affected by the presence of a 73 bp deletion in a regulatory region of p73. The clinical relevance of this deletion was also examined. ZEB1 can bind to the region repressing p73 transcription in vitro. The relationship between ZEB1 and p73 variant expression levels was studied in the context of this deletion and the levels of the ZEB1 cofactors p300 and CtBP. Tumour and normal tissue from 81 colorectal cancer patients was analysed to evaluate firstly the levels of TAp73, DeltaTAp73 (DeltaEx2p73, DeltaEx2/3p73, and DeltaNp73), ZEB1, p300, and CtBP by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and secondly the presence of the 73 bp deletion. Tumour characteristics were examined in each patient. Suppressor and oncogenic isoforms of p73 were co-up-regulated in tumour tissues. Overexpression of p73 variants was associated with adverse tumour features. The 73 bp deletion was present in 40% of the patients and was associated with adverse pathological parameters of the tumours and also with TAp73 down-regulation. In those cases harbouring the deletion, the levels of ZEB1 and those of DeltaEx2p73, DeltaEx2/3p73, and DeltaNp73 correlated directly. Variations in the concentration of p300 affected the observed correlations between ZEB1 and the different p73 variants. In conclusion, in colorectal cancer, the 73 bp deletion in the first intron of the p73 gene and different expression levels of ZEB1 and p300 may act in concert to affect the ratio of TAp73/DeltaTAp73 forms, favouring p73 oncogenic variants. In addition, up-regulation of p73 oncogenic isoforms predicts a poor prognosis based on its relationship with advanced tumour stage.
Aged↗
Effect of formic acid on performance, digestibility, intestinal histomorphology and plasma metabolite levels of broiler chickens.
1. The effect of dietary formic acid on performance, digestibility, intestinal histomorphology and plasma metabolite levels of broiler chickens was studied. 2. An experiment with 120 Ross male broiler chickens was conducted from 1 to 42 d of age at the laboratory. There were 4 treatment groups: control (C), 10 mg/kg feed avilamycin (AV) and formic acid at two concentrations, 5 and 10 g/kg feed (FA5 and FA10, respectively). 3. No differences in weight gain, feed intake or feed conversion ratio were observed in male broiler chickens fed on the different diets. 4. An effect of the additives on ileal dry matter (DM) digestibility at 42 d of age was detected with the finisher diets; AV and 10 g/kg of feed formic acid slightly improved ileal DM digestibility compared to the other treatment groups. 5. Jejunum pH was not affected when 5 or 10 g/kg formic acid was added, and the results do not clearly show a positive effect of formic acid on the intestinal histomorphology. 6. No differences were noticed for blood metabolites in the different diets, and the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the plasma were not altered by formic acid addition. 7. In conclusion, when using broiler chickens under conditions of good hygiene, dietary formic acid did not have a clear positive effect on performance, intestinal histomorphology or plasma metabolite levels; however, there was a slight positive effect on the ileal digestibility of nutrients.
Animal Feed↗
Response of broilers to feeding low-calcium and phosphorus diets plus phytase under different environmental conditions: body weight and tibiotarsus mineralization.
Three experiments on Ross broiler chickens were conducted in 3 locations: cages (Experiment 1), floor pens (Experiment 2), and commercial farms (Experiment 3). The effect of low-total P (TP) wheat-soybean based diets plus microbial phytase (Natuphos) was evaluated. Four experimental starter and finisher diets were used in a 2-phase feeding program, as follows: control diet (SC until 21 d, FC from 22 to 42 d); 2 diets (SL400 and SL600 until 21 d, FL400 and FL600 from 22 to 42 d) with low TP (0.61% for starter and 0.54% for finisher), including 400 and 600 U/kg of phytase, respectively; and a very low-TP (0.52% for starter and 0.44% for finisher) diet (SVL600 until 21 d, FVL600 from 22 to 42 d) with 600 U/kg of phytase. In Experiment 1 (broilers in cages had movement limitation and no access to litter), no differences in BW, tibiotarsus mineralization, or mineral metabolism were observed among diets. In Experiment 2 (broilers in floor pens had movement limitation and access to litter), at 21 d of age, the lowest tibiotarsus ash percentage and BW were shown by birds fed the SVL600 diet. At 42 d of age, broilers fed the FC diet were the lightest. For the rest of the parameters of tibiotarsus mineralization and mineral metabolism measured in Experiment 2, no differences were shown. In Experiment 3 (broilers in commercial farms had access to litter without movement limitation), the BW of broilers fed the SC diet was the highest at 21 d of age. At 42 d of age, the broilers fed FL400 and FL600 diets were the heaviest. At the end of Experiment 3, broilers fed the FC diet had the highest dry litter Ca and P, whereas broilers fed the FVL600 diet had the lowest values. In conclusion, the very low-TP wheat-soybean based diet supplemented with 600 U/kg of phytase was sufficient to optimize all the parameters measured in Experiment 1 but not in Experiments 2 and 3. Therefore, when evaluating Ca and P in phytase-supplemented diets for broilers, it is necessary to bear in mind the environmental conditions of experimentation.
6-Phytase↗
Epidemiological, biological and histological characterization of patients with indeterminate third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay antibody results for hepatitis C virus.
We studied the epidemiological, laboratory and histological characteristics of a group of patients with positive antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) as determined by third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and with indeterminate HCV antibody positivity as established by third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-3). The results obtained were compared with those recorded in a group of RIBA-3-positive patients. Both groups correspond to blood donors in whom the prevalence of hepatitis C is low. There were no statistically significant intergroup differences in mean age, or in the presence of infection risk factors. RNA positivity was much more frequent in the RIBA-positive group (71%vs 10%; P < 0.05), as was transaminase elevation during the 3 years of follow-up (54%vs 13%; P < 0.05). In 46% of the RIBA-indeterminate patients the liver biopsy proved normal, or only liver steatosis or minimal changes were detected, while 33% had persistent chronic hepatitis, and 21% showed active chronic hepatitis. A mean Knodell index score of 2.28 was recorded; 50% of the subjects showed no fibrosis, 46% grade 1 fibrosis (fibrous portal expansion), 4% grade 2 fibrosis (bridging fibrosis), and none grade 3 fibrosis (liver cirrhosis). In the RIBA-positive group, a greater percentage of patients had active chronic hepatitis, a greater Knodell index, and increased-grade fibrosis. It can be concluded that the RIBA-3-indeterminate group is epidemiologically similar to the RIBA-3-positive series, although with a lesser prevalence of laboratory test alterations, a lower viral replication index, and more likely to have benign disease - particularly in subjects without viral replication.
Adolescent↗
[Clinical effect of mivacurium in morbidly obese patients].
OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical effect of mivacurium in morbidly obese and normal-weight patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten morbidly obese patients (body mass index >40) and 10 normal-weight patients (body mass index, 21-24) with normal plasma cholinesterase levels. Anesthesia was provided with propofol and remifentanil in continuous infusion and a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide. Mivacurium was administered at a dose based on the patient's weight (0.15 mg x kg(-1)). The neuromuscular block was monitored by train-of-four (TOF) acceleromyography after stimulation of the cubital nerve at the forearm. We measured the onset time (time from administration of the muscle relaxant to 95% twitch depression), duration of block (times from dosing to 5% recovery after the first twitch [T1] of a TOF stimulus and to a TOF ratio of 80%), and the recovery indices (time between 25% and 75% recovery after T1 and between recovery of TOF ratios of 25% and 80%). Groups were compared with the Student t test. RESULTS: Mean (SD) onset time was similar in the 2 groups (normal weight 2.73 [1] minutes vs morbidly obese 1.91 [0.6] minutes). Other measures of duration and recovery were also similar in the 2 groups, respectively: duration of dose-T1 5%, 12.23 (2.1) vs 11.45 (3) minutes; dose-TOF ratio 80%, 24.71 (4.6) vs 24.81 (5) minutes); recovery index T1 25%-75%, 6.45 (2) vs 5.56 (1) minutes; recovery of TOF ratio T1 25%-80%, 9 (2) vs 10.11 (2) minutes. CONCLUSION: We found no differences in the clinical effect of mivacurium between morbidly obese and normal-weight patients when doses were based on real weight.
Adult↗
Time course and train-of-four fade of mivacurium block during sevoflurane and intravenous anaesthesia.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Volatile anaesthetics inhibit nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at clinically relevant concentrations with higher affinity for the neuronal nicotinic receptor. The inhibitory effects of propofol on nicotinic receptors have only been documented at supraclinical concentrations. The aim of this study was to determine recovery properties and train-of-four (TOF) fade of mivacurium during sevoflurane and propofol anaesthesia, in order to examine any differences both in the enhancement of the neuromuscular block (postjunctional effects) and in TOF fade (prejunctional effects). METHODS: Twenty ASA I-II adult patients were randomly allocated to maintenance of anaesthesia with sevoflurane (end-tidal concentration 2%) or propofol. Neuromuscular block was assessed by acceleromyography and a single dose of mivacurium (0.15 mg kg(-1)) was administered (in the sevoflurane group after 30 min of exposure to sevoflurane). We measured time for recovery of the first twitch of the TOF (T1) from 25-75%, time from 25% recovery of T1 to achieving a TOF ratio (TOFR) of 0.8, TOFR at 50%, 75% and 90% recovery of T1, and height of T1 at TOFR of 0.7 and 0.9. Data were tested using t-test for independent samples. RESULTS: Recovery times (mean (95% confidence interval, CI)) of mivacurium in the sevoflurane group (T1 25-75%, 11.3 (8.1-14.5) min; T1 25%-TOFR0.8, 19.1 (15.7-22.5) min) were significantly longer (P < 0.05) than in the propofol group (T1 25-75%, 6.5 (5.2-7.7) min; T1 25%-TOFR0.8, 11.3 (7.8-10.3) min). No differences were found in the relations between TOFR and T1 or vice versa, between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery times after a single dose of mivacurium were prolonged by sevoflurane compared with propofol but no differences in TOF fade were observed between the two anaesthetics.
Adult↗
Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in a rabbit doe (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is an infrequent condition of animals characterized by the existence of numerous thin-walled, gas-filled cystic structures within the intestinal wall and adjacent lymph nodes. Microscopically, the cystic structures appear to be dilated lymphatics located in the lamina propria, submucosa, muscularis, subserosa, mesentery, and mesenteric lymph nodes. This report describes a case of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in a rabbit doe from an organic farm where 20 rabbit does were fed ad libitum with a natural diet consisting of whole barley, pea beans, alfalfa hay, and a pelleted vitamin-mineral blend. A combination of nutritional, bacterial, and other factors are hypothesized as possible predisposing factors in the development of PCI.
Animals↗
Psychology over the Internet: On-Line Experiences.
The "International Symposium on Psychology over the Internet: On-Line Experiences" was held in Lima, Peru, July 2003, at the 29th InterAmerican Congress of Psychology. The main topic was the advantages and disadvantages of using this technology in the applied field of psychology. The Internet has been considered a new alternative for teaching-learning processes (virtual classroom); vocational assessment; counseling and orientation (virtual psychological consultation); and intervention focused on specific health-related problems. These experiences of on-line psychological services and their conclusions are briefly described herein.
Depression↗
Influence of two plant extracts on broilers performance, digestibility, and digestive organ size.
A 42-d trial was conducted to study the influence of 2 plant extracts on performance, digestibility, and digestive organ weights in broilers. The feeding program consisted of a starter diet until 21 d and a finisher diet until 42 d. There were 4 treatment groups: control; 10 ppm avilamycin (AB); 200 ppm essential oil extract (EOE) from oregano, cinnamon, and pepper; and 5,000 ppm Labiatae extract (LE) from sage, thyme, and rosemary. No differences in feed intake or feed conversion were observed. From 14 to 21 d of age, broilers fed the LE diet grew faster than the broilers fed the control or EOE feeds (68.8 vs. 63.9 and 61.6 g/d, respectively). Antibiotic and plant extract supplementation improved apparent whole-tract and ileal digestibility of the nutrients. For starter feed, LE supplementation improved apparent fecal digestibility of DM (P < 0.01), and all additives increased ether extract digestibility (P < 0.001). However, no effect was detected for CP digestibility (P > 0.1). At the ileal level, the AB, EOE, and LE supplementation of the starter feed increased DM and starch (P < 0.01) digestibility but not CP digestibility (P > 0.1). All additives improved apparent fecal digestibility of DM and CP of the finisher diet. No differences were observed for proventriculus, gizzard, liver, pancreas, or large or small intestine weight. In the present study, both plant extracts improved the digestibility of the feeds for broilers. The effect of different additives on digestibility improved the performance slightly, but this effect was not statistically significant.
Animals↗
Stir bar sorptive extraction and large volume injection gas chromatography to determine a group of endocrine disrupters in water samples.
Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) combined with gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometric detection (MS) has been applied to determine a group of suspected endocrine disrupters in water samples. One centimeter stir bars coated with PDMS were used to extract the analytes and then solvent desorption was carried out. The absorption and desorption parameters in SBSE were optimized and large volume injection was used with a programmed temperature vaporizer injector (PTV) in GC to enhance the sensitivity of the method. The linear range of some endocrine disrupters was between 0.05 and 5 microg l(-1) and limits of detection were 0.01-0.24 microg l(-1) under full scan acquisition mode. The repeatability and reproducibility of the method (n = 5) for Ebro river water samples spiked at a level of 0.5 microg l(-1) was below 13 and 23%, respectively. Recoveries between 42 and 96% were obtained with the exception of atrazine. The method was applied to analyze real water samples from the Ebro River and irrigation streams of Ebro Delta and some of the compounds studied (aldrin, dieldrin, 4,4'-DDE and 4,4'-DDT) were found in some of them between detection and quantification limits.
Chromatography, Gas↗
Intracellular expression of CD69 in endometrial and peripheral T cells represents a useful marker in women with recurrent miscarriage: modulation after allogeneic leukocyte immunotherapy.
PROBLEM: To characterize in fertile women and women with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) the expression and functional status of T cells expressing the CD69 molecule. METHOD OF STUDY: We analyzed by flow cytometry in peripheral blood and endometrium from fertile and RSA women, the surface and cytoplasmic expression of CD69 on gated T cells. In addition, we investigated by three-color flow cytometry the expression of cytokines, and subsets of memory T cells. RESULTS: In T cells, CD69 was restricted to the intracellular compartment with a higher frequency in RSA than in fertile women (68.2 +/- 12% versus 23.7 +/- 22%, P < 0.001, and 20 +/- 9.5% versus 2.1 +/- 3.8%, P < 0.005, in endometrium and peripheral blood, respectively). In contrast, the number of interferon-gamma+ (IFN-gamma+) secreting cells was higher (16 +/- 5% versus 6 +/- 1%) in fertile women. All 11 RSA women alloimmunized with parental leukocytes reached values of CD3 +/- CD69+ cells similar to those observed in fertile women. CONCLUSIONS: CD69 might represent a useful marker in the diagnosis and the follow up of RSA patients.
Abortion, Habitual↗
[Unsuspected prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time in emergency surgery. Diagnostic and therapeutic guide].
Systematic complementary testing for asymptomatic patients before surgery yields an unexpectedly high percentage of anomalous results. Such results rarely affect perioperative management of the patient but may lead to unnecessary delays, which are potentially of great importance in emergency surgery. A 55-year-old woman with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis was seen to have a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of 1.94 before surgery. The patient's history did not suggest a coagulation disorder was likely, and when mixing normal and problem plasma failed to correct the APTT, we suspected an unspecified circulating anticoagulant was present. Surgery was delayed no further and no measures were taken. No excessive bleeding occurred during surgery or postoperative recovery. The main possible diagnoses for a women with unforeseen prolonged APTT are the presence of an unspecified circulating anticoagulant, factor XI or factor XII deficiency, or factor VIII deficiency associated with von Willebrand disease. Focusing on detecting a coagulation disorder while taking a patient's history and performing a simple laboratory test (mixing normal and problem plasma) can be useful for orienting management in emergency surgery.
Blood Coagulation Disorders↗
Expression of the HIV-1 co-receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 on placental macrophages and the effect of IL-10 on their expression.
The chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 play a key role in HIV-1 infection as co-receptors for viral entry. In the placenta, an important natural barrier to HIV, the expression and regulation of these receptors has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we determined the expression of CCR5 and CXCR4 co-receptors on placental macrophages (PM) and the effect of interleukin-10 (IL-10) on co-receptor expression. PM were isolated from term placentae of HIV-uninfected mothers and cultured for up to 11 days. The cells were stimulated with IL-10 for 24 h and stained with specific antibodies to CCR5, CXCR4, CD4, CD3, CD11c and CD14 for flow cytometry. Unstimulated PM expressed significantly more CCR5 than CXCR4. Expression of both co-receptors was upregulated by stimulation with IL-10 at 24 h post-stimulation. In vivo expression of these co-receptors from frozen sections revealed a higher percentage of CCR5 positive cells. This is the first study in which expression of both co-receptors is detected on the PM membrane. These results are consistent with previous studies performed in our laboratory where PM were readily infected by CCR5-using HIV strains but could not be productively infected by HIV strains that exclusively use CXCR4 as a co-receptor.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Chemotaxis, viability, and labeling stability of leukocytes labeled with (99m)Tc-exametazime stabilized with methylene blue.
UNLABELLED: The in vitro viability, chemotaxis, and labeling stability of leukocytes labeled using (99m)Tc-exametazime stabilized with methylene blue were evaluated and compared with those obtained using nonstabilized (99m)Tc-exametazime. METHODS: Two identical leukocyte populations, from 30 healthy donors, were labeled simultaneously using freshly prepared and 2-h-old stabilized (99m)Tc-exametazime. The following quality control techniques were performed on each labeled leukocyte sample: eosin Y staining, chemotaxis radioassay, and labeling stability at 2 h after labeling. RESULTS: Eosin Y staining showed a cell viability of at least 98% in all samples, without a significant statistical difference between the populations. Chemotactic indices obtained with leukocytes labeled with freshly prepared, unstabilized (99m)Tc-exametazime were statistically greater than those obtained using (99m)Tc-exametazime stabilized with methylene blue (z = 2.41; P<0.02). Labeling stability at 2 h after labeling was the same for both populations. CONCLUSION: The use of (99m)Tc-exametazime stabilized with methylene blue for leukocyte radiolabeling does not affect either cell membrane integrity or labeling stability but can cause a decrease in the cell chemotactic capacity that discourages its clinical use.
Cell Survival↗
Long-term response to interferon plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C refractory to interferon.
OBJECTIVE: A sustained response (SR) to interferon (IFN) is only observed in 15-20% of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to determine the long-term effectiveness and safety of the treatment with IFN plus ribavirin (RIB) over two years in CHC patients without SR to IFN. DESIGN: A prospective and open longitudinal follow-up study was conducted over 3 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 77 CHC patients were included: 63 non-responders (NR) and 14 relapsers (R) to IFN. Patients were treated with IFN (3 MU s.c. three times a week) and RIB (1,000-1,200 mg p.o. daily) for 12 months. Treatment tolerance and viral response (HCV-RNA in serum < 1,000 copies/ml) were assessed after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. SR and relapsing rates were subsequently evaluated 6, 12 and 24 months after the end of the treatment, together with those variables capable of predicting SR. RESULTS: At the end of the treatment, 19/77 patients responded (24.7%), 9/63 (14.3%) were non-responders and 10/14 (71.4%) relapsers, and these same patients exhibited SR after 6 months. The SR rate two years after treatment was 22.1% [8/63 (12.7%) NR and 9/14 (64.3%) R]. The relapse rate after 6 months and two years was respectively 0 and 10.5% (2/77). Independent variables capable of predicting SR were negative viremia conversion within the first month of treatment, maintenance of such negative viremia after 6 months, and R status to IFN. Side effects were recorded in 90.9% of cases (70/77), the most frequent being pseudoinfluenza syndrome. Treatment had to be discontinued in 33.8% of patients (26/77). CONCLUSIONS: Combined IFN-RIB therapy for 12 months in CHC patients without SR to IFN obtains a long-term SR of 22.1%, this rate being higher in relapsers to prior IFN therapy (64.3% in R versus 12.7% in NR).
Adult↗
Is decreased HIV-1 infectivity of placental macrophages caused by high levels of beta-chemokines?
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of beta-chemokine secretion on HIV infection of placental macrophages (HF) as compared to monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). For this purpose, we measured chemokine production in supematants of LPS stimulated and unstimulated HF and MDM. LPS stimulated cultures produced 3 to 10 times higher levels of MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta and RANTES than unstimulated cultures. The level of MIP-1beta was the highest of the three chemokines secreted upon stimulation of HF cells. Cell cultures were inoculated with HIV-BaL, a R5 virus, and tested for p24 antigen and chemokine production at days 5 and 10 post-infection (P.I.). We did not find significant differences in the level of chemokines produced by HIV-1-infected and uninfected MDM and HF cells. However, significant differences were found in p24 antigen released by unstimulated and LPS stimulated cells. In contrast to HF cells, MDM cultures showed a significant inhibition of p24 antigen production when cells were stimulated with LPS prior to infection. HF cells were less susceptible to HIV-1 infection than MDM, and chemokines produced by HF cells did not result in further inhibition of HIV-1 infection. We found that in contrast to MDM, decreased susceptibility HF cells to HIV infection is not due to increased levels of chemokines, but to decreased HIV-1 coreceptor expression.
CD4 Antigens↗
Interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C patients who have not responded to interferon monotherapy.
BACKGROUND: The role of combination therapy is poorly defined in chronic hepatitis C patients who are non-responders to interferon. AIM: To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerance of interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients who do not respond to interferon monotherapy. METHODS: A total of 127 non-responder patients with chronic hepatitis C received 3 mU t.i.w. of interferon alfa-2b plus 1000-1200 mg ribavirin daily for 48 weeks. Effects of therapy were evaluated by serum aminotransferases and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (23%) patients had an end-of-treatment response. Six months after treatment, 20 (16%) patients were sustained responders. Early loss of HCV RNA was the strongest predictor of a sustained response (P < 0.0001). Remission was also more frequent in patients with genotype 1b (P < 0.02), elevated alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.03) and low gamma glutamiltranspeptidase (P < 0.002). Treatment was discontinued in 21 (17%) patients: in 14 for intolerance and in seven due to side-effects. CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with interferon plus ribavirin produced a sustained response in 16% of chronic hepatitis C patients who were non-responders to interferon. This combination was safe and well tolerated.
Adult↗