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Biomedical subjects

V Sanchez

Publications and source records attributed to V Sanchez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Determinants of plasma pepsinogen levels in a population at high risk for stomach cancer in Venezuela.

Determinants of plasma pepsinogens (PG) levels were studied in 1365 participants in a chemoprevention trial for gastric pre-cancerous lesions being conducted in Venezuela. Gastric biopsies, plasma samples and information on smoking and dietary habits were obtained at baseline examination. Both PG-I and PG-II levels increased progressively with the level of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric biopsies, resulting in no clear trend in the I/II ratio. Instead, there was a progressive decrease in the I/II ratio with increasing degrees of infiltration of polynuclear cells and monocytes, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia and the stage of pre-cancerous lesions. The mean I/II ratios for atrophic gastritis or more advanced lesions were less than 4.0. When subjects with the I/II ratio 4 or higher were used as controls, severe reduction in the I/II ratio (< 2.0) was inversely associated with tobacco consumption. This may be due to a pharmacological effect of nicotine. The severe reduction of I/II ratio was also inversely associated with fresh fruit consumption. In addition, a decreased I/II ratio was positively associated with rice/pasta and arepas (tortilla made from corn) consumption and inversely associated with plantain consumption. Possible effects of vitamins and starchy food on the development of atrophic gastritis need to be studied further.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The effects of cisapride on plasma L-dopa levels and clinical response in Parkinson's disease.

Cisapride (CIS) is a prokinetic agent that increases gastrointestinal motility in normal individuals and improves constipation in Parkinson's disease (PD). We studied the effects of CIS on the clinical response and the peripheral pharmacokinetics of orally administered L-dopa given to patients with PD. Twenty patients with idiopathic PD and chronic constipation, whose response to L-dopa was suboptimal or characterized by fluctuations, agreed to participate in an open study that lasted for 2 weeks. Fourteen patients completed the study (mean age 65 +/- 9.3 years, mean duration of treatment 5.7 +/- 4.2 years, mean L-dopa daily doses 658.9 +/- 269.9 mg); six patients were excluded due to lack of compliance or changes in medication during the study. The end points of the study included the mean levels of L-dopa, the height of the peak of L-dopa in plasma, mean plasma levels of 3-OM-dopa, and the speed and quality of gait and visuomanual coordination before and during treatment with CIS. CIS increased peak plasma levels of L-dopa by 37% and the mean plasma levels of L-dopa by 13% with respect to those obtained with the same dose of L-dopa before the addition of CIS. Therefore, CIS appears to increase early absorption of L-dopa through acceleration of gastric emptying. CIS also increased plasma 3-OM-dopa levels, improved visuomanual coordination, and reduced gait disability. CIS improves gastrointestinal function and response to L-dopa in patients with PD and could be a helpful add-on medication in these patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Novel injectable fluorinated contrast agents with enhanced radiopacity.

Novel emulsions containing iodinated fluorinated radiopaque (IFR) molecules were prepared and evaluated as injectable contrast agents with prolonged intravascular persistence. Various stable IFR/egg yolk phospholipid emulsions were produced, heat-sterilized, and tested as to their radiopacity, shelf-stability and in vivo tolerance. No significant change in mean particle sizes was observed over a 3-month storage period at 40 degrees C. Intravenous injection of an emulsion of a 0.39 g/kg bw dose of a typical IFR, C6F13CH = CIC6H13 (F6H6IE) in rabbits led to high contrast in the liver and spleen. The same radiopacity of the liver was achieved with 7 times less IFR than perfluorooctyl bromide. Histological examination after 24 h, and blood analysis after 24, 48 h and 7 days, demonstrated normal functioning of the liver, even when high concentrations of IFR were present. The neat IFR was tolerated i.p. in mice at a 45 g/kg bw dose. Emulsified IFR was tolerated in rats and mice i.v. at a 8 g/kg bw dose. The iodinated fluorinated molecule tested appears promising for the formulation of new contrast agents for diagnosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Phorbol ester-induced amino-terminal phosphorylation of human JUN but not JUNB regulates transcriptional activation.

Phorbol ester tumor promoters activate gene transcription by regulating both the synthesis and posttranslational modification of the activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor, c-Jun and JunB are components of the mammalian AP-1 complex. Here we demonstrate that in U-937 human leukemic cells, phorbol esters stimulate the phosphorylation of the amino terminus of human c-Jun (JUN) but not human JunB (JUNB). Mutational analysis indicates that serine-63 and -73, which reside within the putative regulatory domain of JUN, are required for both constitutive and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-inducible N-terminal JUN phosphorylation. To determine the functional role of this N-terminal phosphorylation, we prepared several chimeric proteins containing the N-terminal 84 amino acids (positions 5-89) of human JUN or murine JUNB fused to the yeast GAL4 DNA-binding domain. This region was found to be sufficient for the phorbol ester-inducible transcriptional activity of JUN, but not JUNB. This induction was abolished by the mutation of serine-63 and -73 to leucine residues. Thus, we propose that phorbol esters enhance the trans-activation potential of JUN, but not JUNB, by the phosphorylation of the N-terminal regulatory domain of JUN.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

P-type voltage-dependent calcium channel mediates presynaptic calcium influx and transmitter release in mammalian synapses.

We have studied the effect of the purified toxin from the funnel-web spider venom (FTX) and its synthetic analog (sFTX) on transmitter release and presynaptic currents at the mouse neuromuscular junction. FTX specifically blocks the omega-conotoxin- and dihydropyridine-insensitive P-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (VDCC) in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Mammalian neuromuscular transmission, which is insensitive to N- or L-type Ca2+ channel blockers, was effectively abolished by FTX and sFTX. These substances blocked the muscle contraction and the neurotransmitter release evoked by nerve stimulation. Moreover, presynaptic Ca2+ currents recorded extracellularly from the interior of the perineural sheaths of nerves innervating the mouse levator auris muscle were specifically blocked by both natural toxin and synthetic analogue. In a parallel set of experiments, K(+)-induced Ca45 uptake by brain synaptosomes was also shown to be blocked or greatly diminished by FTX and sFTX. These results indicate that the predominant VDCC in the motor nerve terminals, and possibly in a significant percentage of brain synapses, is the P-type channel.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1992

The relative importance of transport phenomena in recycling isoelectric focusing.

The various transport phenomena involved in recycling isoelectric focusing are analyzed for their contributions to band spreading so as to find ways of improving the resolution of this liquid-phase protein purification method. A numerical model is proposed that takes into account diffusion, electroosmosis and electrophoretic migration as a function of pH. The electrohydrodynamic effects have so far been neglected in these calculations. The results of these calculations are compared with experimental measurements performed in different chamber geometries, with a variety of proteins and under different operating conditions, always chosen to avoid flow instabilities. This comparison shows that the resolution of this process is greatly impaired if the electroosmotic slip velocity at the wall is not suppressed.

Electrochemistry↗
PubMed1992

Decreased protein kinase C activity is associated with programmed cell death (apoptosis) in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes.

Apoptosis of freshly isolated rat hepatocytes was induced by either the omission of fetal bovine serum in the culture medium or addition of the protein kinase C inhibitors polymyxin B or staurosporine. The time-course of DNA breakdown into oligonucleosome-sized fragments and the activity of protein kinase C was determined. Hepatocytes were found to be sensitive to bleomycin which induced a high degree of DNA breakdown even within 30 min incubation. Both staurosporine and polymyxin B induced DNA degradation in hepatocytes after three hours incubation, an effect that was partially prevented by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). After eight hours incubation, PMA failed to counteract this action and itself produced the apoptosis of rat hepatocytes. The results suggest the involvement of protein kinase C in hepatocyte survival.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1992

Epidemiology of nosocomial acquisition of Candida lusitaniae.

Candida species are important nosocomial pathogens; however, little is known about the epidemiology of Candida lusitaniae, an organism frequently resistant to amphotericin B. We evaluated 98 patients admitted to the bone marrow transplant and medical intensive care units of a tertiary-care hospital. Each patient with C. lusitaniae was matched with control patients. Restriction fragment analysis of DNA was used to determine strain relatedness. Seven patients (7.1%) with C. lusitaniae were identified; five acquired C. lusitaniae after admission to the study unit. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B. There were no differences between patients and controls with regard to duration of stay in the study unit, antibiotic administration, antifungal therapy, immunosuppressive therapy, catheter use, or underlying disease. Temporal and geographic clustering of five patients with identical strains occurred. No common source was identified. Restriction fragment analysis revealed a total of eight strains, and five patients shared one strain type. These results demonstrate exogenous acquisition of C. lusitaniae. The mechanism of acquisition is probably indirect contact transmission between patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Detection of circulating candida enolase by immunoassay in patients with cancer and invasive candidiasis.

BACKGROUND: Invasive candidiasis is a major nosocomial infection that is difficult to diagnose. Few biochemically defined markers of invasive candidiasis are known. Initial findings suggested that the presence of candida enolase in the blood may be a novel marker for invasive candidiasis. METHODS: We tested 170 patients at high risk for invasive candidiasis for candida enolase antigenemia. All the patients had cancer and neutropenia. We detected antigen using a double-sandwich liposomal immunoassay for candida enolase in serially collected serum samples. Invasive candidiasis was proved by finding candida species in deep nonmucosal tissue, blood cultures, or both. Antigen testing was performed with the investigator blinded to tissue or culture diagnosis. RESULTS: Among 24 patients with proved invasive candidiasis, 149 serum samples were tested for enolase antigenemia; 80 were positive and 69 negative (sensitivity per sample, 54 percent). Multiple sampling improved the detection of antigenemia, which was found in 11 of 13 proved cases of deep tissue infection (85 percent) and in 7 of 11 proved cases of fungemia (64 percent). Specificity was 96 percent as measured against control groups including patients with mucosal colonization, bacteremia, and other deep mycoses. Antigenemia was detected in the absence of fungemia in 5 cases of deep tissue candidiasis, but was not detected in 6 cases of fungemia alone. CONCLUSIONS: Candida enolase antigenemia is a novel marker for invasive candidiasis. It may be a useful indicator of deep infection in patients with cancer and neutropenia and may complement the diagnostic usefulness of blood cultures.

Antigens, Fungal↗
PubMed1990

Conditions for purification of proteins by free-flow zone electrophoresis.

The separation of proteins by free-flow zone electrophoresis is generally impaired by a number of secondary effects which cause spreading of the protein streams with resultant loss in resolution. A strategy is outlined, based on experimental observations and numerical modeling, which allows the operating conditions and separation chamber dimensions to be chosen so as to obtain complete separation of two proteins of known mobility. This approach takes into account some dispersive phenomena such as molecular diffusion, electroosmosis and residence time gradients. In some cases, the right operating conditions cannot be achieved on earth and electrophoresis separations in microgravity may then be justified.

Diffusion↗
PubMed1990

Glycogenolytic effect of pancreastatin in the rat.

Pancreastatin is a novel 49-amino acid peptide with a C-terminal glycine amide. The peptide was isolated from porcine pancreatic extracts and shows a structural similarity to chromogranin A. The effect of synthetic porcine pancreastatin on blood glucose levels and hepatic glycogen content was investigated in rats in vivo. Pancreastatin (300 pmol/kg) produced a time-dependent decrease in glycogen content of liver and a slight hyperglycemia. Basal plasma insulin and glucagon levels were not modified by pancreastatin. We suggest that pancreastatin could play a biological role in the glucose metabolism through a glycogenolytic effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The effects of extracellular magnesium on myoplasmic [Ca2+] in malignant hyperthermia susceptible swine.

It is now well established that the pathophysiology of the malignant hyperthermia (MH) syndrome is related to a malfunction of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Magnesium plays important roles in the basic contractile properties of muscle, and many of its actions are antagonistic to those of calcium. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of magnesium sulphate to prevent the MH episode in susceptible animals and correlate this with its effects on the intracellular free calcium [( Ca2+]i). The experiments were carried out using six control (Yorkshire) and ten MH-susceptible crossbred swine (Poland China X Pietrain). After determination of resting concentrations of [Ca2+]i and [Mg2+]i, each animal was given either two iv bolus doses of 50 mg/kg or one iv bolus of 100 mg/kg of MgSO4. The resting [Ca2+]i and [Mg2+]i were determined by means of ion-selective microelectrodes. The resting [Ca2+]i in normal muscle fibers was 0.11 +/- 0.01 microM (mean +/- SEM), whereas in the MH muscles the resting [Ca2+]i was 0.36 +/- 0.01 microM. In neither group was the resting [Ca2+]i modified by MgSO4. This cumulative dose of MgSO4 (100 mg/kg) was not able to prevent the induction of an MH episode by 2% halothane. Although MgSO4 did not directly decrease [Ca2+]i, it did attenuate the increase in [Ca2+]i associated with the syndrome from 7.29 +/- 0.43 microM in untreated animals to 0.84 +/- 0.03 microM in MgSO4 pretreated swine. In addition, the limb rigidity that accompanies this increase in calcium was prevented by MgSO4 pretreatment. Baseline measurements of [Mg2+]i were not different in control and MH-susceptible muscles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Fundamental properties of local anesthetics. II. Measured octanol:buffer partition coefficients and pKa values of clinically used drugs.

Because local anesthetic molecules interact with ion channel proteins embedded in membranes to effect impulse blockade, and because their clinical potency often depends on both vascular absorption and distribution into the tissue surrounding the site of deposition, the ability to partition into these various compartments is an important determinant of local anesthetic action. Therefore, the hydrophobic nature of local anesthetics used clinically was characterized by the octanol:buffer partition coefficients of their charged (P+) and neutral (Po) species. This was accomplished by previously described optical methods in which direct spectrophotometric measurement of both the pH-dependent distribution coefficient (Q) and of the ionization permit calculation of the pKa and partition coefficients. The rates of alkaline hydrolysis of ester-linked molecules also were measured to assess potential interference of such hydrolysis with the physicochemical assays. Results indicate that the hydrophobicity of a local anesthetic is increased by manipulation of the molecular structure at three sites: (a) the aromatic ring; (b) the intermediate linking group; and (c) the tertiary amine. Po for the agents studied was 10(3)-10(5) times greater than P+. Although there is no systematic relationship between hydrophobicity and pKa, the latter is greater with ester-linked (pKa = 8.59-9.30) than with amide-linked (pKa = 7.92-8.21) local anesthetics. All of the charged species, with the exception of bupivacaine, selectively partition into the aqueous environment (P+ less than 1.0). The temperature dependence of partitioning of the local anesthetics, measured at 25 and 36 degrees C, indicates an entropy-driven hydrophobic uptake. Solutions buffered with bicarbonate and including 5% CO2 showed the same local anesthetic partitioning as that of CO2-free solutions, suggesting that potentiation of impulse blockade by CO2 is not due to increased membrane uptake. Correlations of physicochemical properties of local anesthetics with potencies on isolated nerve confirm that the more potent local anesthetics have greater octanol:buffer partition coefficients, and that the ester-linked local anesthetics are more potent than their amide-linked counterparts having the same hydrophobicities. The correlations of structure with potency also suggest that the extracellular protonated species may contribute to impulse blockade.

Anesthetics, Local↗
PubMed1988

Influence of flow and diffusion on protein separation in a continuous flow electrophoresis cell: computation procedure.

Continuous flow zone electrophoresis is an efficient method for the non-destructive separation of biological materials in a flowing film of buffer solution in which the constituents of a sample are separated according to their electrophoretic mobilities, under the influence of an electric field. This paper deals with modeling of flow structure of the buffer solution taking into account the effect of electroosmosis, Joule heating and thermal free convection and the forced convection of axial flow. Modeling of diffusion is examined in a second part. The modeling equations and the corresponding boundary conditions are solved by finite difference methods. The various parameters affecting the quality of the fractionation are analyzed.

Diffusion↗
PubMed1987

Fundamental properties of local anesthetics. I. The dependence of lidocaine's ionization and octanol:buffer partitioning on solvent and temperature.

The protonation equilibrium and hydrophobic character of lidocaine were characterized by its pKa and the octanol:buffer partition coefficients of the charged (P+) and neutral (Po) drug species. These measurements were accomplished by ultraviolet spectrophotometry of pure lidocaine HCl solutions at different temperatures, ionic strengths, and buffer concentrations. Corroboration of the pKa determination by the potentiometric method and of the partition coefficients by gas chromatography validated the general application of the spectrophotometric technique. The pKa increased with decreasing temperature (7.61 +/- 0.06 at 36 degrees C; 7.94 +/- 0.04 at 26 degrees C, in water; mean +/- SD), increasing ionic strength (8.06 +/- 0.02 at 26 degrees C in 0.165 M NaCl) and increasing buffer capacity (8.28 +/- 0.06 at 25 degrees C in 0.15 M NaCl + 20 mM buffer). Octanol:buffer partition coefficients for both the protonated and the neutral species (expressed as mole fractions) increased upon warning: 0.55 +/- 0.04 and 2666 +/- 202, respectively, at 25 degrees C, and 0.75 +/- 0.09 and 3210 +/- 272, respectively, at 36 degrees C. Ionic strength and buffer concentration had no significant effect on either P value. The increase in pKa at lower temperatures coupled with the decreased partition coefficients resulted in a nearly constant concentration of the protonated species in octanol as the system was cooled, whereas the concentration of the neutral species fell by more than 80%. This finding may explain the large increase in the impulse blocking potency of lidocaine observed upon nerve cooling, if the protonated anesthetic species is the more active form of the drug competing with the neutral species for a common binding site.

1-Octanol↗
PubMed1984

Nitrogen-15-labeled yeast tRNAPhe: double and two-dimensional heteronuclear NMR of guanosine and uracil ring NH groups.

5N1-Labeled hypoxanthine and 1,3-15N-labeled uracil were synthesized chemically and used to prepare labeled yeast tRNAPhe biosynthetically. Maps (500 MHz) of 15N chemical shift vs. proton chemical shift were obtained, for each ring NH group, by means of INDOR (difference heterodecoupling) and also by means of a proton-observe two-dimensional method involving coherences of forbidden resonances of the NH system. Resonances of GC11, T54-m1A58, GU4, and A psi 31 were confirmed, assigned, or reassigned. psi 39 was found to be in anti conformation, not syn as previously stated. Almost all the uracil NH group resonances could be separated, but most of the GC resonances are too close even in two dimensions to be separately resolved with the observed 20-Hz 15N line width.

Guanosine↗