Ricardo Chirino

• MD, PhD
• Professor (Associate) at University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Background This study was designed to evaluate the beneficial effects of a botanical extract combination containing soy isoflavone extract (100mg), Aframomum melegueta seed dry extract (50 mg), and Punica granatum skin dry extract (100mg) on health-related Quality of Life in healthy Spanish menopausal women with hot flashes, anxiety, and depressive...

Xanthigen® is a nutraceutical combination for weight management capable of increasing energy expenditure via uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1) in white adipose tissue. It consists of brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida extract, rich in the carotenoid fucoxanthin (FX) and pomegranate seed oil (PSO), rich in punicic acid. Xanthigen was screened to determine...

Coronary artery disease has turned into a prevalent cause of morbymortality contributing some polymorphisms in the recurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). 356 patients with a first myocardial infarction were followed up during a 60 months period to find out if ACE I/D, AT1R A1166C, PAI-I 4G/5G and GPIIIa a1/a2 polymorphisms, in combinati...

Diabetic dyslipidaemia is common in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and insulin resistance and often precedes the onset of T2D. The Taq1B polymorphism in CETP (B1 and B2 alleles) (rs708272) and the G-250A polymorphism in LIPC (rs2070895) are associated with changes in enzyme activity and lipid concentrations. Our aim was to assess the effects of both polymor...

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common complication after lung transplantation. There is evidence that reactive oxygen species are involved in its pathogenesis. We designed an experimental study to evaluate whether the administration of antioxidants to lung transplantation recipients protects against IRI and early acute rejection (AR). Twent...

This study aimed to examine the changes in serum lipids in children with mild hypercholesterolemia after the use of skim milk or olive-oil-enriched skim milk in their diet and the modulation of lipid levels by the Taq 1B polymorphism in the cholesteryl-ester transfer protein gene. Thirty-six prepubertal children with mild hypercholesterolemia were...

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is an enzyme with a key role in lipoprotein metabolism. A common genetic polymorphism, the Taq 1B, influences CETP activity and HDL-cholesterol levels, with individual homozygotes for the B1 allele exhibiting higher enzyme activity and lower HDL-cholesterol levels than carriers of at least one B2 allele. Ou...

Rat liver microsomes contain a single class of steroid binding sites, capable of binding various glucocorticoids and progesterone. In a previous article, we have described the in vitro interaction of several androgens with this binding site. Unlike natural androgens, the 17 α-alkyl derivatives stanozolol and danazol were capable of interacting with...

The human androgen receptor (AR) gene possesses two trinucleotide repeats of CAG and GGN in exon-1. The GGN repeat affects the amount of AR protein translated, while the CAG repeat affects the efficiency of AR transcriptionaly. In this study, we have genotyped these polymorphic tracts in a representative sample of 557 Caucasian adult individuals (3...

Steroid hormones activate target cells through specific receptors that discriminate among ligands based upon recognition of distinct structural features. For most known steroids, membrane and nuclear receptors co-exist in many target cells. However, while the structure of the nuclear receptors and their function as transcriptional activators of spe...

Introduction Although premature coronary heart disease (CHD) is relatively frequent, the factors predicting its development are still poorly defined. Method We analyzed risk factors and lipid profiles in a series of men from the Canary Islands (Spain): 515 patients aged less than 51 years with documented CHD and 436 elderly controls aged more than...

Aromatase (CYP19) converts adrenal and ovarian androgens into estrogens, which supports the growth of estrogen-dependent breast cancers. Anti-aromatase agents are displacing antiestrogens as the first-line treatment for estrogen receptor positive breast cancers. Androgens can act as estrogen precursors, but besides this capability they can also dir...

Microsatellite instability (MSI) and mutations in the PTEN gene are among the molecular alterations involved in endometrial carcinogenesis. There is conflicting information regarding to their role in this type of tumor. For this reason, we have studied both molecular lesions in a large population-based series of 205 patients with sporadic endometri...

The human androgen receptor (AR) gene possesses 2 trinucleotide repeats of CAG and GGN in exon 1. The CAG repeat corresponds to a polyglutamine tract in the N-terminal region of the receptor, that affects its transcriptional efficiency. The GGN repeat codifies for a polyglycine tract, and affects the amount of the AR protein transcribed. The endome...

The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in a Canarian population, and to compare its frequency as defined by the most commonly used working definitions. Cross-sectional population-based study. One thousand and thirty adult subjects were randomly selected from the local census of Telde, a city located on...

S-Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction 329A wall motion was quantified by both gated SPECT and echocardiography. Results: At gated SPECT. SC implantation was scored as effective in terms of improvement of flow and function at rest in patients #1 and #4. In patients that improved, gated SPECT showed a reduction of scar area of 12% and 34% in terms of...

Our study attempts to determine the prognostic value of the quantitative measurement of the oncoprotein p185Her-2/neu in a group of patients with breast cancer and positive node involvement. In a series of 217 patients with breast cancer and positive nodes in whom the oncoprotein p185 was quantitatively determined by ELISA, we analyzed the clinico-...

The estrogenic actions of tamoxifen on lipid profiles and hemostasis have been extensively demonstrated in women. Due to limited experience with this drug in males, it is uncertain whether these effects are also present in men. The aim of our study was to assess the response of blood lipids, lipoproteins, and coagulation parameters in a group of me...

Purpose: To analize the results of the comparative studies (correlation and association) between the over-expression of the p185 oncoprotein, estimated by a cuantitative assay, and the molecular variables RE, RP, pS2 and Cat D. Material and methods: In a consecutive study of 217 breast cancer patients with positive lymph nodes, the over-expression...

Total cytosolic cathepsin D (Cat D) levels were estimated by an immunoradiometric assay in a series of 156 consecutive patients with surgical stages I-III primary endometrial adenocarcinoma. Simultaneously, the tissue content of both oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, and p185HER-2/neu, DNA content (ploidy), and the fraction of S-phase...

We have investigated the capability of the different native ER forms, present in cytosols from human uterine tissues, of reacting with the antiestrogen [3H]Tamoxifen aziridine ([3H]TA) and with the Estrogen Responsive Element (ERE). Cytosols from uterine leiomyoma (myoma) prepared in buffer containing 40 mM molybdate and protease inhibitors, labell...

We have investigated the capability of the different native ER forms, present in cytosols from human uterine tissues, of reacting with the antiestrogen [3H]Tamoxifen aziridine ([3H]TA) and with the Estrogen Responsive Element (ERE). Cytosols from uterine leiomyoma (myoma) prepared in buffer containing 40mM molybdate and protease inhibitors, labelle...

Male rat liver microsomes contain a low-affinity glucocorticoid binding site (LAGS) capable of binding all natural glucocorticoids and progesterone with a Kd from 20 to 100 nM. The LAGS level is under endocrine control by T3, glucocorticoids and GH. These hormones act synergistically at physiological concentrations to increase the LAGS level. Since...

The total cellular p185(HER-2/neu) protein (p185) content was measured by ELISA in 346 invasive primary breast cancers, and the results were compared with those of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, pS2 and Cathepsin D (Cat D) content. At a cut-off level of 260 fmol/mg protein, 53 of the 346 tumors (15%) were p185-positive. A significan...

The total cellular p185HER-2/neu protein (p185) content was measured by ELISA in 346 invasive primary breast cancers, and the results were compared with those of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, pS2 and Cathepsin D (Cat D) content. At a cut-off level of 260 fmol/mg protein, 53 of the 346 tumors (15%) were p185-positive. A significant...

The total cellular p185HER‐2/neu protein (p185) content was measured by ELISA in 346 invasive primary breast cancers, and the results were compared with those of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, pS2 and Cathepsin D (Cat D) content. At a cut‐off level of 260 fmol/mg protein, 53 of the 346 tumors (15%) were p185‐positive. A significant...

Male rat liver microsomes contain a [3H]dexamethasone binding site, capable of binding glucocorticoids and progesterone. We have shown previously that the 17 alpha-alkylated androgen, stanozolol, can inhibit the [3H]dexamethasone binding to microsomes through a negative allosteric mechanism, which gives rise to the possibility of its interaction wi...

Serum lipids and apolipoprotein levels were measured in twenty postmenopausal women with primary breast cancer, before and three months after tamoxifen therapy (10 mg twice a day). Tamoxifen caused a significant reduction in total serum cholesterol (10%; P < 0.02), and in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (17%; P < 0.01), and a significant 47% in...

HER-2/neu oncogene status and total cellular p185HER-2 content were simultaneously analyzed in 415 invasive breast-cancer specimens by differential PCR and ELISA respectively. Mathematical analysis of the data led us to establish a cut-off value of 1.7 for the ratio between the intensity of the HER-2/neu gene band and the reference gene band, to co...

It has been described that anabolic-androgenic steroids interact in the liver with the Androgen Receptor and with the Glucocorticoids Receptor. However hepatic microsomes also have another steroid binding site, capable of binding glucocorticoids, progestagens and synthetic estrogens. The interaction of 17α-Alkyl steroids with the Androgen or Glucoc...

Rat liver microsomes contain a single class of steroid binding sites, capable of binding various glucocorticoids and progesterone. In a previous article, we have described the in vitro interaction of several androgens with this binding site. Unlike natural androgens, the 17 alpha-alkyl derivatives stanozolol and danazol were capable of interacting...

The present work focuses on the interaction of 17 alpha-ethinyl estrogen derivatives with the [3H]dexamethasone ([3H]DEX) binding site from male rat liver microsomes and the induction of this site by the in vivo administration of natural and synthetic estrogens. [3H]DEX binds to a single-saturating binding site (Kd = 100 nM; maximal binding = 13 pm...

Rat liver membranes contain Low-affinity glucocorticoid binding sites (LAGS), capable of binding with low affinity (Kd approximately 100 nM) endogenous glucocorticoids. Unlike the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the LAGS level undergoes abrupt changes throughout life. The investigation of these changes may be useful in determining whether the LAGS ar...

GH participates in the regulation of the expression of several hepatic proteins, some of which are subject to multihormonal control. We have previously shown the participation of glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones in the regulation of the hepatic low affinity glucocorticoid-binding sites (LAGS). Here, we provide evidence that also implicates GH i...

Some 17 alpha-alkylated androgens used as anabolic agents, such as stanozolol (ST) and danazol (DA), have specific effects on the liver that are not exerted by testosterone. This gives rise to the possibility that a steroid-binding protein, other than the androgen receptor, could modulate the intracellular actions of these agents. Male rat liver mi...

The low-affinity glucocorticoid binding sites (LAGS) are entities present in the microsomal fraction of the rat liver, capable of binding several glucocorticoids and progesterone with low affinity. The present work focuses on the demonstration that estradiol exerts a powerful stimulatory effect on the LAGS concentration. For this purpose, we studie...

The endometrial stroma plays a decisive role in sustaining the gland epithelium along the menstrual cycle, and in preparing the microenvironment that allows embryo implantation. The stroma undergoes important changes during the menstrual cycle that affects both the cell number and differentiation. These changes are regulated by both estrogen and pr...

The low affinity glucocorticoid binding sites (LAGS) have been described and partially characterized in both the nuclei and microsomes of rat liver. The LAGS concentration is under endocrine regulation, as proved by their decrease after adrenalectomy and their almost complete disappearance after hypophysectomy. This article describes new data that...

Uterine leiomyoma occurs in one of every four or five women during their reproductive life. Its origin is unknown but it is accepted that estrogens play a significant role in its development. In order to learn more about the estrogen dependency of leiomyoma, the biochemical and immunological properties of two markers of estrogen response in target...

Rat liver contains two glucocorticoid binding sites: the high-affinity or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the low-affinity glucocorticoid binding sites, or LAGS. The Kd of LAGS predicts that they can be half-saturated by plasma corticosteroids in some physiological circumstances and, therefore, that they can play relevant roles in the rat liver. [...