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Biomedical subjects

A Felip

Publications and source records attributed to A Felip.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Quality indicators in Hypertension Care Units: indicators of structure in the QUALIHTA study].

AIM: To evaluate the minimum-required indicators of quality of care in Hypertension Units at two levels of delivered care (secondary and tertiary) in Spain. METHODS: A total of 51 quality indicators were included (N) in order to evaluate: architectural resources (8), material resources (12 on devices and 22 on supportive services) and human resources (9), which were presented as a formulary to the head of the corresponding Hypertension Unit. As a measure of the indicator, the accomplishment (yes/no) was registered. RESULTS: Data from 61 participating centers were collected and included in the analysis: 42 (68,9%) centers of tertiary level and 19 (31,1%) of secondary level. The degree of compliance of the different quality indicators in the global sample is (range): architecture, 60%-100%; material resources, 83.3%-100% (devices); 57.4-100% auxiliary services; 51.7% with respect to human resources and 69-100% with respect to continuing education and the dedication of the personnel. As expected, the differences between care levels were observed mainly in the availability of auxiliary services. CONCLUSIONS: The Hypertension Units in Spain comply with a series of structural indicators of care quality at an acceptable level. The degree of compliance in certain aspects of human resources, mainly percent of dedication, number and continuing education could be improved. The evaluation of these aspects of care quality could allow the Scientific Societies to define the recommendation in order to deliver the best quality of care in hypertension.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2004

Does differential selection on the 5S rDNA explain why the rainbow trout sex chromosome heteromorphism is not linked to the SEX locus?

Many but not all rainbow trout strains have morphologically distinguishable sex chromosomes. In these strains, the short arm of the X has multiple copies of 5S rDNA and a bright DAPI band near the centromere, both of which are missing from the Y chromosome, which has a very small short arm. We examined the presence of these markers using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in four different YY clonal lines derived from different strains and compared the results with sexed fish of the Donaldson strain with the normal X/Y heteromorphism. The Y chromosome in two of the YY clonal lines (Arlee and Swanson) is indistinguishable from the X chromosome and it is positive for 5S rDNA and the DAPI bright band. On the other hand, both 5S rDNA sequences and the DAPI band were not found on the Y chromosome in Hot Creek and Clearwater which have the normal Y. Thus the presence of these two cytogenetic markers may account for the size difference between the short arm of the X and Y chromosome found in most rainbow trout strains. In fishes the expression of one type of 5S rRNA is restricted to oocytes and previous work suggests that although XX males are fairly common, XY females are rare, implying a selective disadvantage for XY females. A hypothesis is presented to explain why this sex chromosome heteromorphism is not closely linked to the SEX locus, which is found on the long arm of the Y chromosome in rainbow trout.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of the gonadal development and plasma levels of sex steroid hormones in diploid and triploid sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L.

The goal of this study was to compare the reproductive physiology of triploid and diploid European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.). Gonads of diploid and triploid fish (males and females) were examined both microscopically and macroscopically, together with the plasma levels of the major sex steroids produced (testosterone and estradiol-17beta) when fish were adults. Prior to sexual maturation, the gonadosomatic index (GSI) of triploid males was similar to that of diploids. However, the GSI in 4-year-old adult triploid males was 1.8 times lower than that of diploids (P < 0.05). All diploid males exhibited normal gonadal development. In contrast, in triploid males spermatogenesis was impaired during late meiosis, affecting severely spermiogenesis. This was achieved by an increasing imbalance in the amount of DNA present in daughter cells of the same type as spermatogenesis progressed, as demonstrated by abnormal cell sizes, culminating in inviable spermatids. Thus, no spermiating triploid fish were observed during 4 years, which included three full consecutive maturation cycles. Furthermore, the germ cells from triploids were significantly larger than those from diploids (P < 0.001). Seasonal profiles of plasma levels of testosterone in 4-year-old males were essentially similar in both ploidies. On the other hand, triploid females had rudimentary ovaries containing oogonia and primary oocytes that were arrested during meiotic prophase I, while diploid females exhibited all stages of ovarian development. Diploid females showed levels of testosterone and estradiol-17beta significantly higher than those of triploids (P < 0.05), in which no endocrine signs of maturation were observed at all. Regarding sex ratios, triploids had 10% more females than diploids (P < 0.05) but in both ploidies males predominated, as is usually found in this species under culture conditions. These results show that triploidy blocked the initial phases of meiosis in females and the latter ones in males, resulting in the absence of or reduced gonadal development, respectively. In conclusion, we provide an explanation for the lack of gonadal development in triploid male fish, and, to the best of our knowledge, we report for the first time a case in which induced triploidy completely blocks meiosis in both sexes, thus conferring functional sterility in the sea bass.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Induction of triploidy and gynogenesis in teleost fish with emphasis on marine species.

The induction of triploidy and gynogenesis by chromosome set manipulation has traditionally been studied more intensively in freshwater than in marine fish. In the last years, however, several studies have applied these manipulations in about a dozen marine species, including mainly sparids, moronids and flatfishes. This paper focuses on the methodologies used to induce, verify, and assess performance of both triploids and gynogenetics of these marine species. Since many of them are batch spawners and have small and fragile eggs and larvae, peculiarities relating to broodstock management, gamete quality and mortality assessment during early larval stages are also taken into account. However, data show that if handling is correct and the treatments are optimized, triploid and gynogenetic rates of 100% can be easily achieved. Survival of triploids with respect to the controls is about 70-80%, whereas in gynogenetics it is generally low and more variable, depending on the species considered. In the marine fish investigated so far, triploidy has not resulted in significantly higher growth rates. On the other hand, the induction of gynogenesis has resulted in the production of both all-female and mix-sex stocks. Throughout the paper, special reference is made to the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), a species of both basic and applied interest, for which a comprehensive study has been carried out on the induction, verification and performance of triploids and gynogenetics.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

AFLP Analysis Confirms Exclusive Maternal Genomic Contribution of Meiogynogenetic Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.).

Meiogynogenesis was induced in the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L. by fertilizing eggs with UV-irradiated sperm followed by inhibition of the second meiotic division by a cold shock. Putative gynogenetic progeny derived from three groups of breeders were analyzed for maternal inheritance using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Discrimination of fingerprints was based on male-specific bands, which were absent in females. Four of 64 MseI/EcoRI primer pairs used to analyze parental polymerase chain reaction products were selected to screen progeny for paternal AFLP markers in each group. Four to 11 diagnostic bands per fish confirmed the gynogenetic origin of the progeny. AFLP analysis determined that 89.5%, 100%, and 100% of the sea bass from groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, were gynogenetic. Our results show that AFLP analysis is suitable for verification of gynogenesis in fish.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

The relationship between the effects of UV light and thermal shock on gametes and the viability of early developmental stages in a marine teleost fish, the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.).

To improve the efficiency of gynogenetic induction, the effects of UV light and thermal shock on gametes were investigated in the sea bass. Exposure of sperm to UV light (>/=15 000 erg mm-2) reduced the amount of motile spermatozoa, without affecting the duration of motility in the spermatozoa that remained motile. The Hertwig effect was elicited in eggs fertilized with sperm exposed to >/=35 000 erg mm-2 of UV light, indicating the inactivation of the DNA of the spermatozoa while retaining their ability to trigger development. Resulting embryos (24 chromosomes; one NOR) exhibited the haploid syndrome and died at hatch. Diploidy was restored in eggs fertilized with irradiated sperm by blocking meiosis II with a thermal shock (0 +/- 0.5 degrees C for 10 min, starting 5 min after fertilization). Resulting larvae ( approximately 35% survival at hatching) had 48 chromosomes, one or two NOR and no paternal chromosome fragments (gynogenetic diploids). In eggs fertilized with sperm not exposed to UV light, the same thermal shock induced 100% triploidy (72 chromosomes; one, two or three NOR), with 70% survival at hatching. Multifactorial ANOVA showed that, compared to external factors (sperm diluent, UV light and thermal shock), the contribution of broodstock to the viability of the early developmental stages was not significant (P > 0.05). Effects of the thermal shock were most evident after fertilization (30.7%) but disappeared (0%) at hatching, suggesting that the lower survival of triploids is a consequence of handling, not of the triploid condition per se. However, effects of UV light increased through development (42.5-69.7%), probably reflecting cumulative deficits in protein synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis and systemic amyloidosis: report of 2 new cases and the natural history of this association.

The association of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis and systemic amyloidosis is extremely rare. To our knowledge, despite innumerable cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis reported in the literature, this association has been described on only 2 occasions. Clinical, analytical and radiographic findings can be highly suggestive of the diagnosis. We report on 2 patients with xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis, systemic amyloidosis and the nephrotic syndrome: 1 died 4 1/2 years after diagnosis and 1 was stable with good general health 3 years after diagnosis. The clinical aspects as well as the treatment given to both patients are discussed. We describe the natural history of an association that due to its rarity is not currently well known.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Long term follow-up of the effect of captopril on severe proteinuria in hypertensive diabetic patients.

We have studied the long term effects of captopril therapy on proteinuria in ten patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with hypertension and nephropathy. There were 7 males and 3 females, with a mean age of 53.3 +/- 10.6 years. After a run-in period of two weeks, therapy with captopril was started. The following parameters were studied: serum glucose, sodium, potassium, cholesterol and triglycerides, glycosylated haemoglobin, renal function and 24 hour urine protein excretion before and at six month intervals for up to 24 months. Average BP fell significantly from 182.5 +/- 28/95 +/- 7.1 to 146 +/- 16.7/76 +/- 18.1 mmHg although no significant changes were seen in the biochemical parameters studied, except a reduction in 24 hour urine protein excretion from 3.86 +/- 2.85 to 0.88 +/- 1.08 g/24 h after 24 months of treatment (P less than 0.01). No correlation was observed between the reduction in proteinuria and any other parameters studied. Our results confirm the reduction of proteinuria in patients with type II diabetes mellitus and stable diabetic nephropathy treated with captopril. This effect was maintained for a period of 24 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Norwegian scabies].

A typical case of norwegian scabies is reported in a patient with diabetes and chronic lymphoid leukaemia under immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical differential diagnosis, diagnosis procedures, and frequent development of an epidemic of common scabies in contacts are emphasized.

Aged↗