Consistency of pacing profile according to performance level in three different editions of the Chicago, London, and Tokyo marathons.

Running pacing has become a focus of interest over recent years due to its relationship with performance, however, it is still unknown the consistency of each race in different editions. The aim of this study is to analyze the consistency of pacing profile in three consecutive editions of three marathon races. A database of 282,808 runners, compiled from three different races (Chicago, London, and Tokyo Marathon) and three editions (2017, 2018, and 2019) was analyzed.

Effect of marathon characteristics and runners' time category on pacing profile.

This study aimed to analyse differences in pacing profiles in four marathon competitions and to explore that pacing per time category. A database of 91,493 runners gathered from 4 different races was analysed (Valencia, Chicago, London and Tokyo Marathon). Participants were categorized in accordance with their completion time.

Cell injury, retrodifferentiation and the cancer treatment paradox.

This "opinion article" is an attempt to take an overview of some significant changes that have happened in our understanding of cancer status during the last half century and its evolution under the progressive influence of molecular biology. As an active worker in cancer research and developmental biology during most of this period, I would like to comment briefly on these changes and to give my critical appreciation of their outcome as it affects our knowledge of cancer development as well as the current treatment of the disease. A recall of my own contribution to the subject is also included.

[Dermatophytes isolated in our clinics. 5-year-study in Zaragoza].

Background: This review summarizes the different species of dermatophytes isolates in our laboratory between 1991 and 1995. We describe the clinical forms and establish the distribution over this period of time.

Methods: Retrospective survey of samples from outpatients of the Dermatology Service in Miguel Servet Hospital where mycologic cultures are required.

[Disseminated zygomycosis by Absidia corymbifera in 2 leukemic patients].

Aim: The term zygomycosis comprise mycotic infections produced by mucorales and entomophtorales. Mucorales become pathogenic in some conditions, principally diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, trauma or burn.

Methods: We describe two cases of leukaemic patients who developed disseminated zygomycosis by Absidia corymbifera during the aplastic phase by antineoplastic chemotherapy.

Molar quantification by flow cytometry of fatty acid binding to cells using dipyrrometheneboron difluoride derivatives.

Fatty acid analogs of a dipyrrometheneboron difluoride fluorophore (BDY-FA) have recently been developed. Relative to other fluorescent fatty acids, some of these have the advantages of excitation and emission spectra similar to those of fluorescein and of high quantum yield, which permits their use in conventional argon laser cytometry or microscopy. For the cytofluorimetric quantification of BDY-FA analogs, expressed as molecules bound per cell, we have compared the fluorescence of BDY-dodecanoic acid (BDY-C12) with that of fluorescein.

Expression of the alpha-fetoprotein gene in human breast cancer.

Recently, evidence was obtained that the ability to take up alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP), which is characteristic of fetal cells, may be required both in vivo and in vitro by different types of human and animal tumor cells via expression of specific alpha-FP receptors. Mammary gland carcinomas belong to this class of tumor. In some neoplasms, expression of alpha-FP receptors is concomitant with activation of the alpha-FP gene and synthesis of the protein, suggesting that an autocrine alpha-FP/alpha-FP-receptor pathway is operational in these tumors.

Alpha-fetoprotein binding and uptake by primary cultures of human skeletal muscle.

alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP), a serum alpha-globulin mainly synthesized by the fetal liver and the yolk sac, is the major carrier of polyunsaturated fatty acids during embryo-fetal development. One property characteristic of fetal cells undergoing growth and differentiation is their ability to bind and internalize AFP. In the present work, we have studied the binding and endocytosis of AFP by human muscular cells developing in vitro.

Expression of serum albumin and of alphafetoprotein in murine normal and neoplastic primitive embryonic structures.

Alphafetoprotein (AFP), a major serum protein synthesized during the embryo-fetal and postnatal period (in the yolk sac, then in the liver), is also an oncoprotein. The intracellular presence of AFP and of serum albumin (SA) in normal and neoplastic neural crest and neural tube derivatives was previously demonstrated. In this work we have studied the comparative expression of AFP and SA in primitive neuroectoblastic structures of mouse embryos (6 and 7 days "post coitum") and mouse teratocarcinomas (derived from the PCC4 cell line).

Mitochondrial perturbations define lymphocytes undergoing apoptotic depletion in vivo.

We have recently shown that lymphocyte apoptosis induced by dexamethasone or superantigens is accompanied by reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (delta psi m) which precedes nuclear DNA fragmentation. Here, we demonstrate that fluorochromes such as 3,3' dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide [DiOC6(3)] which measure delta psi m, or fluorochromes such as hydroethidine (HE) which measure mitochondrial superoxide anion production allow the identification of thymocytes or peripheral T lymphocytes which are eliminated by apoptosis in vivo. In mice bearing transgenic alpha/beta T cell receptor (TCR) specific for a class I-restricted male-specific peptide, the superoxide-mediated oxidation of HE into ethidium (Eth) is enhanced among thymocytes which are being deleted due to negative selection (CD4+ CD8+ cells expressing the transgenic TCR in male mice) or lack of positive selection (CD4+ CD8- thymocytes from female mice).

Mitochondrial dysfunctions in circulating T lymphocytes from human immunodeficiency virus-1 carriers.

In several models of lymphocyte apoptosis, two alterations of mitochondrial function precede advanced DNA fragmentation: (1) a reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (delta psi m) and (2) an increase in mitochondrial generation of superoxide anion. Here we show that two fluorochromes allow for the identification of analogous mitochondrial perturbations in circulating T lymphocytes from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1+ donors. The first among these fluorochromes, the cationic lipophilic dye DiOC6(3), measures delta psi m; the second marker, hydroethidine (HE), is nonfluorescent, unless it is oxidized by superoxide anions to the product ethidium (Eth).

Visualization of silver-enhanced reaction products from protein-and immuno-colloidal gold probes by laser scanning confocal microscopy in reflection mode.

We have employed a laser scanning confocal microscope in reflection mode to directly and indirectly visualize sites of deposition of silver-enhanced reaction products from colloidal gold probes. A direct approach was used for the localization of alpha-fetoprotein receptors in human myoblasts by incubating primary cultures with an alpha-fetoprotein-gold conjugate. For an indirect approach, cultured CEM cells, derived from a human T-lymphoma cell line, were incubated with a mouse monoclonal antibody to mature T-cells, followed by a gold-labelled antibody to mouse immunoglobulins.

Expression of alpha-fetoprotein and interleukin 2 receptors and impairment of membrane fluidity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AIDS and related syndromes.

We have previously shown that the expression of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) receptors is impaired in mitogen-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HIV+ individuals and that this novel abnormality reflects an unusual proliferation response of PBMCs to mitogenic stimuli. Here we comparatively analyze, in PBMCs from patients with AIDS and related syndromes, (1) changes in membrane fluidity, measured as the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio (CH/PL), and (2) changes in the expression of AFP receptors and of the alpha chain of IL-2 receptor (TAC antigen). Relative to normal cells, the expression of AFP and IL-2 receptors appeared considerably reduced in AIDS-related complex (ARC) and AIDS patients.

Endocytosis of three serum proteins of a multigene family and of arachidonic acid in human lectin-stimulated T lymphocytes.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), serum albumin (SA), and vitamin D binding protein (DBP) are members of a multigene family of proteins showing high structural homology. AFP and SA exhibit a reciprocal relation during development and carry mostly fatty acids, while DBP carries vitamin D and its metabolites in the plasma. Covalent conjugates of these proteins with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were used to follow by cytochemistry, at the electron microscope level, the protein uptake and intracellular pathways in peripheral blood human lymphocytes stimulated to blast formation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA).

Carrier-protein-mediated enhancement of fatty-acid binding and internalization in human T-lymphocytes.

Albumin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are members of a multigene family which also includes vitamin-D-binding protein. Previous work in our laboratory has provided experimental support for the suggestion that the entry of unsaturated fatty acids into growing, normal and neoplastic cells may be regulated by AFP. In the actual study we have examined the role of human serum albumin (HSA) as a carrier protein, when compared to AFP, on the uptake (binding and internalization) of fatty acids by resting and PHA-activated human lymphocytes.

Activation of an alpha-fetoprotein/receptor pathway in human normal and malignant peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is mainly synthesized by the fetal liver and the yolk sac with minor contributions of several non-hepatic fetal tissues, variable according to the species considered. Most fetal cells, whatever their origin, possess the ability to bind and to endocytose the protein. This property, which is considered to be lost in differentiated cells of the adult, may be resumed in tumoral cells and is due to the expression of specific AFP receptors at the cell surface.

Sodium fluoride therapy.

As a medical treatment for otospongiosis-otosclerosis, sodium fluoride influences the underlying bony changes in the labyrinth so as to arrest or prevent the onset of hearing loss. Sodium fluoride is an enzyme inhibitor and reduces osteoclastic bone resorption and, if the dosage is more than 60 mg a day, may rebuild pseudohaversian bone.

In vitro evaluation of the differential cytotoxicity of keto-C-glycosides toward normal and malignant cells.

In a previous work, we have shown that some members of the family of keto-C-glycosides (KCGs) possess interesting biological properties as they exhibited cytotoxic effects at the nanomolar level on malignant cells. In this report, we selected six KCGs in order to investigate their selective cytotoxicity on several malignant epithelial and lymphoblastoid cells, as well as on their normal counterparts. For this purpose, we compared the activities of KCGs upon hepatoma cells and hepatocytes and upon lymphoma cells, normal lymphocytes and bone marrow cells.

Membrane proteins from lymphoblastoid cells showing cross-affinity for alpha-fetoprotein and albumin. Isolation and characterization.

AFP or SA immobilized on nitrocellulose membranes (AFP-NC or SA-NC) were used as affinity matrices to purify cell membrane proteins with affinity for AFP (AFP-BP) and for SA (SA-BP) from membrane-enriched extracts of Raji cells (a B-lymphoma cell line), as well as for normal resting and activated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBMC). SDS-PAGE and ligand blotting assays showed that AFP-BP and SA-BP isolated from Raji cells are probably identical molecules. They consisted of two sets of polypeptides of 31 kDa and 18 kDa.

Potential antineoplastic activity of keto-C-glycosides--a new family of cytostatic agents.

We have examined the biological activity of keto-C-glycosides (KCGs), a new family of drugs displaying antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties on tumor cells. KCG1, the most powerful drug tested on epithelial derived neoplastic cells, was 25-125 times more cytostatic on epithelial cells than on lymphoma. By contrast, KCG10 proved to be more cytostatic on lymphoma than on epithelial cells.

Fatty acid conjugates of 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine as prodrugs for the selective delivery of 5-fluorouracil to tumor cells.

We have prepared a novel class of prodrugs by coupling 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5dFU) to oleic (18:1) and docosahexaenoic (22:6) acids, respectively. The cytotoxic activity of the drug and its conjugates (5dFU-18:1 and 5dFU-22:6) has been assayed in vitro upon HT-29, a colon carcinoma cell line of human origin. After short term (2-hr) treatments with the drugs, both fatty acid conjugates of 5dFU showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent way, while 5dFU alone was devoid of toxic effects within the whole range of concentrations (10-200 microM) tested.