Biomedical subjects

A Campos

Publications and source records attributed to A Campos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Rabeprazole containing triple therapy to eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection on the Texas-Mexican border.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance and duration of therapy influence the success of proton-pump inhibitor-containing Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. Clarithromycin resistance is associated with treatment failure. AIM: To examine the success of a 7-day rabeprazole-clarithromycin-amoxicillin therapy in the study population. METHODS: Adults from Ciudad Juarez with H. pylori infections identified by culture or histology received rabeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 0.5 g and amoxicillin 1 g, each b.d. for 7 days. Outcome was assessed by 13C-urea breath test carried out 4+ weeks after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients were enrolled and evaluated by urea breath test; 102 completed the full 7 days therapy. Two deviated from protocol, and five stopped because of adverse events. The cure rate (intention-to-treat) was 85% (95% CI: 78-91%); the per-protocol cure rate was 85% (95% CI: 78-91%). Side-effects were not serious and only 6.6% of those with adverse events stopped medication. Only three isolates were clarithromycin-resistant and none was cured. Compliance explained most of the successes. CONCLUSIONS: In the study population a 7-day rabeprazole triple eradication therapy was both effective and well-tolerated. Clarithromycin resistance was uncommon. We observed a slightly better outcome but consistent with results from recent large studies in US populations.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

PubMed2006

Post-operative unwashed shed blood transfusion does not modify the cellular immune response to surgery for total knee replacement.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR), most blood loss occurs post-operatively, and the return of unwashed filtered shed blood (USB) from post-operative drainage may represent an alternative to allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT). We evaluated the impact of USB return on the cellular immune response (CIR) after TKR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty TKR patients, intended to receive post-operative USB, entered the study. Blood samples were obtained before and 6 h, 24 h, 72 h and 7 days after surgery, and from USB, after it had been passed through a 40-microm filter. Full blood cell counts, lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) were measured in all samples. A set of clinical data was collected from each patient. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the 25 patients received a mean of 1.2 USB units and did not need additional ABT (USB group). Twelve of the 15 remaining patients who received neither USB nor ABT served as a control group for the post-operative CIR study. All patients showed a post-operative decrease in T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell counts, but not B-cell counts, and there were no significant differences between the groups with regard to CIR parameters, post-operative infection or hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Post-operative salvage and return of USB after TKR does not seem to increase the post-operative infection rate or hospital stay, and does not modify CIR induced by surgery. These findings add to the clinical experience that post-operative USB return, as a source of autologous blood, is safe, and questions the beneficial effect of blood washing.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Direct analysis of human blood (mothers and newborns) by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence.

This work is an application of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) as analytical technique for trace element determination in human tissues. Potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), bromine (Br), rubidium (Rb) and lead (Pb) were determined directly in blood samples from 66 mothers at delivery after full-term pregnancies. The corresponding 66 cord-blood samples of the newborns were also analysed, in order to find element correlations between maternal and newborn blood at birth. The studied samples were obtained from mothers aged between 15 and 39 years old, the gestational age being between 35 and 41 weeks and the newborns' weight between 2.310 and 4.310 kg. Samples were lyophilised and analysed without any chemical treatment. Very low levels of Pb were found both in maternal and fetal cord blood samples. Cu values ranged from 3 to 13 microg g-1, both for mothers and children. A correlation between Cu and Fe concentrations in maternal and fetal cord blood was found. Zn is considered as one of the key elements in newborn health. Concentrations between 10 and 40 microg g-1 were measured. A positive correlation between Br levels in mothers and children was observed. Positive correlations for mothers were observed between Zn and Rb as well as K and Fe. The corresponding correlations in fetal cord blood samples were not observed, however positive correlations were found between Ca and K; Cu and Fe. The mean concentrations for each element were similar in maternal and in fetal cord blood, except for Cu and Zn, being higher in maternal samples. No correlations between element concentrations and pathologies of the mothers were observed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Changes in intracellular electrolyte concentrations during apoptosis induced by UV irradiation of human myeloblastic cells.

Decreases in the intracellular concentrations of both K(+) and Cl(-) have been implicated in playing a major role in the progression of apoptosis, but little is known about the temporal relationship between decreases in electrolyte concentration and the key events in apoptosis, and there is no information about how such decreases affect different intracellular compartments. Electron probe X-ray microanalysis was used to determine changes in element concentrations (Na, P, Cl, and K) in nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria in U937 cells undergoing UV-induced apoptosis. In all compartments, the initial stages of apoptosis were characterized by decreases in [K] and [Cl]. The largest decreases in these elements were in the mitochondria and occurred before the release of cytochrome c. Initial decreases in [K] and [Cl] also preceded apoptotic changes in the nucleus. In the later stages of apoptosis, the [K] continued to decrease, whereas that of Cl began to increase toward control levels and was accompanied by an increase in [Na]. In the nucleus, these increases coincided with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, chromatin condensation, and DNA laddering. The cytoplasm was the compartment least affected and the pattern of change of Cl was similar to those in other compartments, but the decrease in [K] was not significant until after active caspase-3 was detected. Our results support the concept that normotonic cell shrinkage occurs early in apoptosis, and demonstrate that changes in the intracellular concentrations of K and Cl precede apoptotic changes in the cell compartments studied.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Sirolimus improves renal function in cardiac transplantation.

In kidney and liver transplantation, sirolimus therapy has been shown to be comparable to cyclosporine in a head-to-head comparison, but it results in better preservation of renal reserve. In heart transplantation, information about the use of sirolimus is limited. We present the results of the progressive conversion from cyclosporine to sirolimus in a series of 8 heart transplant patients in whom renal dysfunction developed. The baseline creatinine level was 2.4 +/- 0.5 mg/dL, and plasma levels of cyclosporine were within the therapeutic range. After the introduction of sirolimus, the creatinine level fell within the first month to 1.76 +/- 0.2 mg/dL, or mean decrease of 0.6 +/- 0.25 mg/dL (P < .05). After 3 +/- 2.2 months the improvement continued (1.69 +/- 0.2 mg/dL). In 1 patient sirolimus was withdrawn during the first 24 hours, because of gastric intolerance. No patient developed an opportunist infection, allograft rejection, or important hematologic disorder. We conclude that sirolimus appears to be effective in heart transplant patients to improve renal function.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2005

Use of oral sildenafil in patients with irreversible pulmonary hypertension not eligible for heart transplantation.

Heart transplantation is contraindicated in patients with acute irreversible pulmonary hypertension (PH), but new drugs are opening up therapeutic possibilities. Sildenafil citrate is a nonselective pulmonary vasodilator that is being used in our hospital to treat several patients with PH and which has allowed the inclusion of 1 patient on the waiting list for heart transplantation. A 20-year-old man with Becker muscular dystrophy was diagnosed at the age of 19 years with dilated cardiomyopathy with severe pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PH = 60 mm Hg). A pretransplantation study, including a right hemodynamic analysis with an acute vasodilator test using intravenous epoprostenol, revealed the irreversible character of the PH. Inasmuch as the administration of dobutamine did not achieve an adequate reduction of PH, oral sildenafil was started (25 mg every 12 hours) as salvage therapy. An echocardiogram obtained 2 months after starting sildenafil therapy showed normal right cavities, previously dilated, as well as minimal protosystolic tricuspid regurgitation without PH. A new right hemodynamic study performed after 4 months showed a reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance, from 8 U to 3.5 U Woods. As a result, the patient has now been included on the waiting list for heart transplantation. The promising example of this patient confirms the necessity to carry out controlled trials to establish definitively the indications for the use of sildenafil in patients with irreversible PH.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2005

Comparative study of muromonab-CD3 (OKT3) versus daclizumab (Zenapax) in cardiac transplantation at our center.

Recent studies support the addition of new immunosuppressive drugs as cytolytic induction therapy in cardiac transplantation. We carried out a comparative study comprising 52 patients who had undergone cardiac transplantation at our center. Thirty patients received muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Janssen-Cilag, The Netherlands) as the induction therapy, whereas 22 patients received Daclizumab (Zenapax, Hoffman-La Roche, Nutley, NJ, USA) instead. All patients received cyclosporine or tacrolimus, mycophenolate, and steroids. Over an average follow-up period of 23.21 +/- 18 months, we analyzed retrospectively the incidence of grade > or = 3A biopsy-confirmed acute rejection episodes, the presence of infectious processes at 1 and 6 months, the occurrence of significant secondary effects, and the necessity to modify the immunosuppressive therapy during the follow-up. The results suggest that daclizumab is linked to a decreased incidence of grade > or = 3A biopsy-confirmed acute rejection and to a reduced necessity to modify the immunosuppressive therapy during the medium-term follow-up.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2005

Organochlorine pesticide residues in European sardine, horse mackerel and Atlantic mackerel from Portugal.

This paper reports the results for the surveillance of nine organochlorine pesticides (HCH isomers (alpha, beta, e, gamma), p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, HCB and aldrin) in muscle of three fish species, European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus), Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) and Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus). Analytical methodology included n-hexane extraction, clean-up with 2% deactivated Florisil, and quantification with gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD). The highest mean concentrations were found for p,p'-DDT in sardine and mackerel at levels of 30.1 and 109.9 microg kg(-1), respectively, and for p,p'-DDD in horse mackerel at 51.9 microg kg(-1). Three species had higher levels for S-DDT than S-HCH. The estimated daily intake of organochlorine pesticides in the three species showed that in sardine, the highest EDIs were found for aldrin, at 1.8 ng kg(-1) bw day(-1), which represents 1.8% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI), and for ss-HCH, at 4.0 ng kg(-1) bw day(-1), representing 0.4% of ADI. Lowest values were found for Atlantic mackerel. Statistical analysis to determine the differences in mean concentrations of pesticides between species, and any correlation between groups of residues related with each one of the species, was undertaken.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2005

Impact of postoperative shed blood transfusion, with or without leucocyte reduction, on acute-phase response to surgery for total knee replacement.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) most blood loss occurs postoperatively and return of unwashed filtered shed blood (USB) from postoperative drainage may represent an alternative to allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT). We evaluated the impact of USB return, with or without leucocytes, on the acute-phase response (APR) after TKR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight TKR patients, intended to receive postoperative USB, entered the study. Blood samples were obtained before and 6, 24, 72 h and 7 days after surgery, and from the USB before and after it passed through a 40-microm filter (Group F40) or a leucocyte-reduction filter (Group LRF). Haematimetric parameters, APR proteins (albumin, prealbumin, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein), complement C3 and C4, and cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-alpha) were measured in all samples. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (Group F40=14, Group LRF=14) received a mean of 1.2 USB units, without any clinically relevant incident, and did not need additional ABT. Sixteen out of the 20 remaining patients who received neither USB nor ABT served as a control group for the postoperative APR study. All patients showed the typical postoperative APR profile and there were no significant differences between groups for APR parameters, postoperative complications, or hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative blood salvage and return, with or without a LRF, after TKR does not present any clinically relevant side-effects and does not modify APR induced by surgery. These findings seem to confirm the clinical experience that postoperative USB return is safe and questions the beneficial effect of using LRF.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

PubMed2004

Solar photocatalytic treatment of synthetic municipal wastewater.

The photocatalytic organic content reduction of a selected synthetic municipal wastewater by the use of heterogeneous and homogeneous photocatalytic methods under solar irradiation has been studied at a pilot-plant scale at the Plataforma Solar de Almeria. In the case of heterogeneous photocatalysis the effect of catalysts and oxidants concentration on the decomposition degree of the wastewater was examined. By an accumulation energy of 50 kJL(-1) the synergetic effect of 0.2 gL(-1)TiO(2) P-25 with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and Na(2)S(2)O(8) leads to a 55% and 73% reduction of the initial organic carbon content, respectively. The photo-fenton process appears to be more efficient for this type of wastewater in comparison to the TiO(2)/oxidant system. An accumulation energy of 20 kJL(-1) leads to 80% reduction of the organic content. The presence of oxalate in the Fe(3+)/H(2)O(2) system leads to an additional improvement of the photocatalytic efficiency.

Catalysis↗

PubMed2004

Ancestim (recombinant human stem cell factor, SCF) in association with filgrastim does not enhance chemotherapy and/or growth factor-induced peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) mobilization in patients with a prior insufficient PBPC collection.

Up to a third of autologous transplantation candidates fail to mobilize hematopoietic progenitors into the peripheral blood with chemotherapy and/or growth factor treatment, thus requiring innovative mobilization strategies. In total, 20 cancer patients unable to provide adequate PBPC products after a previous mobilization attempt were treated with ancestim (20 microg/kg/day s.c.) and filgrastim (10 microg/kg/day s.c.). In 16 patients, the pre-study mobilization was with filgrastim alone. Eight patients underwent single large volume leukapheresis (LVL) and 12 multiple standard volume leukaphereses (SVL) in both mobilizations. Pairwise comparison of peripheral blood CD34(+) cell concentrations on the day of first leukapheresis failed to document synergism - median CD34(+)/microl of 3.2 (<0.1 to 15.4) and 4.5 (1-28.56) for the pre-study and on-study mobilizations (P = 0.79, sign test), and 4.2 (<0.1-15.4) and 5 (1-28.56), respectively, for the 16 patients previously mobilized with filgrastim alone (P = 1, sign test). The number of CD34(+) cells/kg collected per unit of blood volume (BV) processed was similar in both mobilizations - median 0.1 x 10(6)/kg/BV and 0.09 x 10(6)/kg/BV, respectively (P = 1, sign test). In this phase II study, the combination of ancestim and filgrastim did not allow adequate PBPC mobilization and collection in patients with a previous suboptimal PBPC collection.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Methylene blue-photoinactivated plasma vs. fresh-frozen plasma as replacement fluid for plasma exchange in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Plasma exchange with fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) is the treatment of choice in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Methylene blue-photoinactivated plasma (MBPIP) has been proposed as a safer alternative to FFP, but its effectiveness in the treatment of TTP is not well established. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether MBPIP is as effective as FFP in the treatment of TTP by plasma exchange. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out of 56 TTP episodes, occurring between 1990 and 2003, which had been treated by plasma exchange. MBPIP was used for fluid replacement in 27 episodes and FFP in 29. The effect of plasma (MBPIP or FFP) on treatment outcomes was analysed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Compared to patients treated with FFP, those receiving MBPIP had an increased risk of dying from progressive TTP [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 31; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2 to > 100], a greater number of recurrences while on plasma exchange therapy (OR = 4.6; 95% CI: 1.2-17), and a lower probability of attaining a sustained remission within 9 days of starting plasma exchange (OR = 5.2; 95% CI: 1.3-20). CONCLUSIONS: MBPIP seems to be less effective than FFP in the treatment of TTP. It is therefore prudent to avoid MBPIP until therapeutic equivalency to FFP has been established by randomized, controlled trials.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Dentine structure and mineralization in hypocalcified amelogenesis imperfecta: a quantitative X-ray histochemical study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken in order to establish the structural and mineralization pattern of the response of dentine to alterations in enamel in hypocalcified amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). DESIGN: The images and data obtained with scanning electron microscopy and electron probe X-ray microanalysis in enamel and dentine specimens from control and affected teeth were compared in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared 46 fragments of permanent teeth from patients with clinically diagnosed hypocalcified AI and 20 normal permanent teeth. All specimens were prepared for electron probe X-ray microanalysis. RESULTS: Dentine is characterized by thickening of the peritubular dentine and partial obliteration of the dentinal tubules that does not give rise to a compact sclerotic cast. In dentine, calcium levels were significantly higher in teeth with clinically hypocalcified AI in relation with control teeth (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Dentine is affected in hypocalcified AI increasing mineralization (narrower tubules and higher content of calcium) in response to enamel disorder.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Upper lateral cartilage transposition in the surgical management of nasal valve incompetence.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of nasal valve dysfunction is very controversial and many otorhinolaryngologists do not always take surgery into consideration. The purpose of this paper is to present the author's surgical technique and the description of 13 patients on which it may work. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirteen cases presenting with nasal obstruction secondary to nasal valve dysfunction are reviewed. All of the patients presented with internal valvulary incompetence and in three of them an alar collapse was associated. Diagnosis was achieved by means of the clinical findings and physical examination. An open rhinoplasty approach was employed. The surgical technique consisted in a transposition of the upper lateral cartilage over the alar cartilage. In the three patients with alar collapse a fixation graft from the septal cartilage was also employed. RESULTS: Nasal obstruction and valvular incompetence seemed improved in all of the cases. CONCLUSION: Upper lateral cartilage transposition seems to be an adequate method to solve the nasal valve incompetence.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Binding of vinyl polymers to anionic model membranes.

The association of poly2-vinylpyridine (P2VPy) and poly4-vinylpyridine (P4VPy) to dimyristoylphosphatidic acid (DMPA) small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) was studied as a function of pH, ionic strength (I), polymer concentration and temperature using spectrofluorimetry. Poly(vinylpyridine) (PVPy) data were transformed into association isotherms and analyzed in terms of binding and partition models. In the case of polyions, the inclusion of the activity coefficient in both models was essential. Moreover, a relating equation was proposed to compare parameters based on both theoretical approaches. On the basis of the results obtained, a model was developed to analyze polymer adsorption at the surface level, in which the length of the hydrophobic chain and the position of the N atom in the pyridinium ring play an important role. Transition temperature (Tc) for DMPA (ca. 55 degrees C) is decreased between 15 degrees C-19 degrees C in the presence of PVPy. Van't Hoff isochore showed that the binding constant (KA) accounted for average PVPy-DMPA two-dimensional solid and liquid interactions. KA decreased with I in the presence of both polymers, but was more sensitive to I in the case of P2VPy. Likewise, the number of phospholipid heads (N) involved in the binding process decreased with I in the presence of PVPy. The influence of I was more significant on N than on KA.

Aniline Compounds↗

PubMed2002

[Intelligent system to perform a diagnostic protocol for lymphatic invasion in laryngeal cancer].

Laryngeal carcinoma is the most frequent malignant tumour in head and neck. Node invasion is known to be one of the most important prognostic factors. The aim of this study has been to design an intelligent system to perform a diagnostic algorithm of metastasic neck nodes. 122 clinical reports of patients diagnosed of laryngeal carcinoma in our department have been reviewed. The compiled data have been: tumor site, T stage, N stage (clinical, after CT scan and post-surgery). The method used to design the intelligent system has been the ID3, which is able to generate a minimal decision tree. Palpation has been the variable that has given more information about node invasion. CT has proved to be more efficient in supraglottic tumours. ID3 method has shown to be useful in performing diagnostic algorithms, specially when the number of cases and diagnostic tests are high.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Anapsos (Polypodium leucotomos) modulates lymphoid cells and the expression of adhesion molecules.

Anapsos is a medical prescription registered in the Health Ministry of Spain, that is obtained from the rhizomes of the fern Polypodium leucotomos. An immunomodulating effect of Anapsos on certain lymphocyte subsets and cytokines has already been described in the literature. The current study extends and supports part of the aforementioned results of the product on the immune system, showing the ability of Anapsos to stimulate proliferation and activation of T and natural killer lymphocytes, as well as an important down-regulating effect on CD11, CD18 and CD62-L adhesion molecules, both on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and on U-937 and HL-60 cell lines.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2001

High frequency of constitutive alkali-labile sites in mouse major satellite DNA, detected by DNA breakage detection-fluorescence in situ hybridization.

DNA breakage detection-fluorescence in situ hybridization (DBD-FISH) is a new procedure for detecting and quantifying DNA breaks and alkali-labile sites in single cells. Cells trapped within an agarose matrix are deproteinized and treated with an alkaline unwinding solution that transforms DNA breaks and alkali-labile sites into single-strand DNA (ssDNA) motifs starting from the end of the break. These ssDNA motifs are susceptible to being hybridized with whole genome or specific DNA probes, and detected using current FISH procedures. As DNA breaks increase in a target region, more ssDNA is produced and more DNA probe hybridizes, thus increasing the FISH signal, which may be captured and analyzed using a digital image analysis system. This increase can be reflected in the surface area, mean and whole fluorescence intensity of the signal. When intact mouse splenocytes were processed with this technique using a whole genome probe, a very strong background signal was evident when compared with human blood leukocytes. In fact, when using 0.03M NaOH as the alkaline unwinding solution at 22 degrees C for 2.5min, the whole fluorescence intensity from mice cells was 50 times higher than that from human cells, thus suggesting the existence of a high frequency of constitutive alkali-labile sites in the DNA from mouse cells. Furthermore, when alkaline unwound mouse cells were simultaneously hybridized with the whole genome probe (FITC-revealed, green) and a major satellite DNA probe (Cy-3-labeled, red) both signals appeared co-localized. This result demonstrates that the high frequency of constitutive alkali-labile sites detected in the mouse genome is mainly located in the major satellite DNA sequences, resembling the findings from human 5bp classical satellite DNA sequences.

Alkalies↗