[Characterization and risk prediction of cardiovascular surgeries with cardiopulmonary bypass: a cross-sectional study].

Introduction: Cardiovascular surgery risk prediction models are widely applied in medical practice. However, they have been criticized for their low methodological quality and scarce external validation. An additional limitation added in Latin America is that most of these models have been developed in the United States or Europe, which present marked geographical differences.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tumors from heavy alcohol consumers are associated with higher levels of TLR9 and a particular immunophenotype: Impact on patient survival.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most frequent types of oral cancer in developing countries and its burden correlates with exposure to tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption. Toll like receptors (TLRs) are major sensors of inflammatory stimuli, from both microbial and sterile causes and as such, they have been related to tumor progression and metastasis. Here, we evaluated the expression of TLR2, 4 and 9 as well as CD3+, CD8+ and Granzyme B+ cell infiltration by immunohistochemistry in oral samples of 30 patients with OSCC, classified according to their consumption of alcohol.

Leiomyoma and Leiomyosarcoma (Primary and Metastatic) of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region: A Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Study of 27 Cases.

Smooth muscle neoplasms represent an important group of lesions which is rare in the oral cavity. Leiomyoma (LM) is benign smooth muscle/pericytic tumor usually presenting as non-aggressive neoplasm, while leiomyosarcoma (LMS) represents its malignant counterpart. The rarity of these lesions, together with its unspecific clinical presentation and a variable histopathological appearance, lead to a broad list of differential diagnoses, hampering their diagnoses.

Changes in cardiac Aquaporin expression during aortic valve replacement surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objectives: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) use is an essential strategy for many cardiovascular surgeries. However, its use and duration have been associated with a higher rate of postoperative complications, such as low cardiac output syndrome due to myocardial oedema and dysfunction. Though Aquaporin water channels have been implicated in myocardial water balance, their specific role in this clinical scenario has not been established.

Binding properties of sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2) characterized using Laurdan.

Sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2) binds lipids with high affinity and broad specificity. The overall hydrophobicity, fluidity, and dipolar dynamics of the binding site of SCP2 from Yarrowia lipolytica were characterized using the environmentally-sensitive fluorescent probe Laurdan. The study revealed a binding site with an overall polarity similar to that of dichloromethane and an internal phase comparable to that of phospholipid membranes with coexisting solid-ordered and liquid-crystalline states.

A structural appraisal of sterol carrier protein 2.

Sterol Carrier Protein 2 (SCP2) has been associated with lipid binding and transfer activities. However, genomic, proteomic, and structural studies revealed that it is an ubiquitous domain of complex proteins with a variety functions in all forms of life. High-resolution structures of representative SCP2 domains are available, encouraging a comprehensive review of the structural basis for its success.

Alveolar wound healing in rats fed on high sucrose diet.

The potential for bone repair is influenced by various biochemical, biomechanical, hormonal, and pathological mechanisms and factors such as diet and its components, all of which govern the behavior and function of the cells responsible for forming new bone. Several authors suggest that a high sucrose diet could change the calcium balance and bone composition in animals, altering hard tissue mineralization. The mechanism by which it occurs is unclear.

The crystal structure of sterol carrier protein 2 from Yarrowia lipolytica and the evolutionary conservation of a large, non-specific lipid-binding cavity.

Sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2), a small intracellular domain present in all forms of life, binds with high affinity a broad spectrum of lipids. Due to its involvement in the metabolism of long-chain fatty acids and cholesterol uptake, it has been the focus of intense research in mammals and insects; much less characterized are SCP2 from other eukaryotic cells and microorganisms. We report here the X-ray structure of Yarrowia lipolytica SCP2 (YLSCP2) at 2.

Preparation and biophysical characterization of recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa phosphorylcholine phosphatase.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections constitute a widespread health problem with high economical and social impact, and the phosphorylcholine phosphatase (PchP) of this bacterium is a potential target for antimicrobial treatment. However, drug design requires high-resolution structural information and detailed biophysical knowledge not available for PchP. An obstacle in the study of PchP is that current methods for its expression and purification are suboptimal and allowed only a preliminary kinetic characterization of the enzyme.

Fatty acid transfer from Yarrowia lipolytica sterol carrier protein 2 to phospholipid membranes.

Sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2) is an intracellular protein domain found in all forms of life. It was originally identified as a sterol transfer protein, but was recently shown to also bind phospholipids, fatty acids, and fatty-acyl-CoA with high affinity. Based on studies carried out in higher eukaryotes, it is believed that SCP2 targets its ligands to compartmentalized intracellular pools and participates in lipid traffic, signaling, and metabolism.

Biophysical characterisation and urea-induced unfolding of recombinant Yarrowia lipolytica sterol carrier protein-2.

We report a biophysical characterisation of apo-sterol carrier protein-2 from Yarrowia lipolytica (YLSCP-2) and its urea-induced unfolding followed by intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, far-UV CD, ANS binding, and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The unfolding is described as a three-step process. The first steps, between 1 and 2 M urea, have well-defined cooperative character and are related to the break down of most of the tertiary and secondary structure.

A yeast sterol carrier protein with fatty-acid and fatty-acyl-CoA binding activity.

The 14-kDa sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2) domain is present in Eukaria, Bacteria and Archaea, and has been implicated in the transport and metabolism of lipids. We report the cloning, expression, purification and physicochemical characterization of a SCP2 from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica (YLSCP2). Analytical size-exclusion chromatography, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra, indicate that recombinant YLSCP2 is a well-folded monomer.

Mapping the distribution of conformational information throughout a protein sequence.

The three-dimensional structure of protein is encoded in the sequence, but many amino acid residues carry no essential conformational information, and the identity of those that are structure-determining is elusive. By circular permutation and terminal deletion, we produced and purified 25 Bacillus licheniformis beta-lactamase (ESBL) variants that lack 5-21 contiguous residues each, and collectively have 82% of the sequence and 92% of the non-local atom-atom contacts eliminated. Circular dichroism and size-exclusion chromatography showed that most of the variants form conformationally heterogeneous mixtures, but by measuring catalytic constants, we found that all populate, to a greater or lesser extent, conformations with the essential features of the native fold.

A histomorphometric study of osteocytic lacunae in interradicular bone with periodontal disease.

Previous studies report on the differences in volume of osteocytic lacunae that are associated to different local and systemic bone pathologies. Alterations have also been reported in rats with periodontal disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the histomorphometric pattern of osteocytic lacunae of the interradicular septum in human molars with periodontal disease (PD).

Folding of an abridged beta-lactamase.

The effects of C-terminal truncation on the equilibrium folding transitions and folding kinetics of B. licheniformis exo small beta-lactamase (ES-betaL) have been measured. ES-betaL lacking 19 residues (ES-betaL(C)(Delta)(19)) has no enzymic activity.

Enlargement of periosteocytic lacunae associated to mechanical forces.

Demineralization of bone has been linked to the action of osteocytes via the process of osteocytic osteolysis. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of mechanical forces produced during orthodontic movements on the osteocytic lacunae. Orthodontic movements were achieved employing a device constructed "ad hoc" for rats that exerts a force of approximately 70 gr.

Kinetics and mechanisms of EDTA photocatalytic degradation with TiO2.

A complete study on the photocatalytic degradation of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) over TiO2 has been initiated, to establish the influence of several parameters on the reaction rate, the nature of the intermediates and the kinetic regime. TiO2 (Degussa P25) suspensions containing EDTA at pH 3 at different concentrations were irradiated under near UV light. A Langmuirian behavior was observed, from which kinetic constants have been obtained.

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of La, Ho, Mn 5-Br-PADAP complexes using multivariate calibration with partial least-squares (PLS) data evaluation.

A simple and fast analytical pocedure is proposed for the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of lanthanum, holmium and manganese in synthetic ceramics, (La(0.8-x) Hox Sr0.2 MnO3), by using the partial least-squares (PLS) method.

Formation of the VHL-elongin BC tumor suppressor complex is mediated by the chaperonin TRiC.

von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is caused by loss of function of the VHL tumor suppressor protein. Here, we demonstrate that the folding and assembly of VHL into a complex with its partner proteins, elongin B and elongin C (herein, elongin BC), is directly mediated by the chaperonin TRiC/CCT. Association of VHL with TRiC is required for formation of the VHL-elongin BC complex.

Vinorelbine as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced cervical carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of vinorelbine (VNB) as single-agent neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced cervical carcinoma (ACC).

Patients And Methods: Between December 1993 and October 1995, 43 untreated patients with stages IIB to IVA squamous cell cervical cancer were entered onto this study. Forty-two patients are assessable for response and 43 for toxicity.

Ifosfamide and cisplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced cervical carcinoma.

A phase II trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a combination of cisplatin (CDDP) and ifosfamide (IFX) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced cervical carcinoma (ACC). Between August 1991 and September 1993, 57 untreated patients with stages IIB to IVA were entered into this study. Median age was 44 years (range, 25 to 74 years).

High-dose cisplatin as neoadjuvant organ-preserving chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Purpose: We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of fractionated high-dose cisplatin as neoadjuvant organ-preserving chemotherapy, followed by definitive radiotherapy, for untreated and advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Materials And Methods: From August 1990 to April 1994, 32 patients bearing previously untreated advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (12 stage III and 20 stage IV) received three courses of high-dose cisplatin (100 mg/m2 on day 1 and day 8 every 28 days) before definitive external radiation therapy with 65 to 70 Gy (180-200 cGy daily for 6-8 weeks). Twenty-eight patients were men; median age was 57 years (range, 31-69); and median performance status (ECOG) was 1 (0-2).