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Biomedical subjects

A Ferrer

Publications and source records attributed to A Ferrer.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Inactivation and reactivation of rat liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA-reductase phosphatases: effect of phosphate, pyrophosphate and divalent cations.

Incubation of four purified rat liver HMG-CoA-reductase phosphatases (Gil, G., Sitges, M. and Hegardt, F.G. (1981) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 663, 211-221) with Mn2 or Mg2 caused a concentration-dependent activation of enzyme activities. The maximum effect for Mn2 was at 5 mM for all phosphatases. Fe2 caused inactivation only in reductase phosphatases IIa and IIb. Ca2 10 mM showed a slight effect of inactivation. Phosphate, pyrophosphate and adenine nucleotides inhibited the four reductase phosphatases, this process being concentration-dependent. cAMP did not inhibit the four phosphatases at all in the range of 0.01-8 mM. Preincubation of reductase phosphatases with PPi and subsequent dilution did not diminish the inactivation effect, showing that this ion inhibits the enzyme prior to the binding to the substrate. Phosphorylated sugars, but not free sugar, inactivated the four reductase phosphatases. PPi-inactivated enzymes were reactivated by Mg2 or Mn2, this process being time-dependent. The four phosphatases had different patterns of reactivation. Phosphatases Ib and IIb (low-molecular mass forms) were shown to be different enzymes as judged by: their divergent behaviour when inhibited with Fe2; their PPi response; kinetics of reactivation by Mg2 or Mn2 or PPi-inactivated enzymes; and thermal stability. A metalloenzyme character is suggested for reductase phosphatases.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1977

[Gallstones in children (author's transl)].

Authors report their experience in pediatric gallstones and their methods of radiological and blood lipid chemistry studies. Bile was also cultured and its chemistry compared with that of blood. Calculi were studied by infra-red spectrography. The results are compared with other reported in the literature. Biliary lithiasis etiology, incidence and diagnosis are briefly studied. Pathology and management of three cases are described and illustrated.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reduced Loa loa microfilaria count ten to twelve months after a single dose of ivermectin.

The action of a single dose of ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg) on 71 Gabonese patients with Loa loa microfilariae in the peripheral blood, and living in areas highly endemic for loiasis, has been evaluated. Ten to 12 months after treatment, 43 patients (63%) had no circulating microfilaria and the geometric mean peripheral blood microfilaria count had decreased by 88.6% (P < 0.02). Thus, a single annual dose of ivermectin can markedly reduce loiasis transmission.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Specificity of the solid phase alkaline phosphatase immunocapture assay for the diagnosis of human Schistosoma mansoni infection.

The species specificity of the solid phase alkaline phosphatase immunocapture assay (APIA) for the immunological detection of human immunoglobulin G antibodies to the alkaline phosphatase of adult Schistosoma mansoni was evaluated. Sera from schistosomiasis patients from South America, West Africa, south-east Asia and uninfected control subjects were compared. Only the sera of patients infected with S. mansoni gave positive results. There was no apparent difference between 2 populations infected with S. mansoni, one from South America and the other from West Africa. The results with sera from various regions of West Africa were also indistinguishable. Although the APIA was not able to discriminate the geographical origin of the S. mansoni-infected subjects, the method appeared to be specific for S. mansoni and suitable for use in the immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni, particularly in endemic areas where mixed infections of Schistosoma spp. occur.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Toxic epidemics caused by alimentary exposure to pesticides: a review.

Toxic epidemics have become a serious problem during the twentieth century, due mainly to the huge expansion over the last 50 years of the chemical industry, which has placed tens of thousands of new synthetic organic compounds in the human environment. In the particular case of chemical pesticides, their undiscriminating, widespread use, and harmful potential has been demonstrated by the epidemics generated by accidental contamination by pesticides of foods consumed by man, resulting in high mortality and morbidity rates. We have analysed the main characteristics of 63 outbreaks of toxicity caused by alimentary exposure to pesticides described in the scientific literature of this century, with the aim of increasing knowledge and understanding of the factors that are conducive to them or that trigger their onset. Such episodes are good indicators of the incorrect use of these products and serve to demonstrate failures of the available safety systems. We conclude by identifying some preventive measures that could be used to avoid their future repetition.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An intraarticular hip process with chondrolysis simulating Perthes disease: a report of five cases.

Radiographic findings in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) are well known. Four classic stages have been described: incipient stage, avascular stage, fragmentation stage, and residual stage. Final femoral morphology is normally coxa magna, which is associated frequently with hypertrophy of the articular cartilage. We describe five patients with a hip process that initially presented clinical and radiographic findings compatible with LCPD. However, none of these patients showed the typical sequence of the radiographic stages. Instead, the early signs were the formation of rounded areas of rarefaction in the epiphysis and/or the metaphysis with considerable surrounding osteoporosis, early narrowing of the articular space, and final coxa breva morphology with signs of osteoarthritis. No condensation or fragmentation stages were observed. The pathologic study showed complete atrophy of the synovial villi with hyaline cartilage and bone necrosis. The patients described herein presented an intraarticular hip process, initially with signs and symptoms similar to LCPD but with an ultimate clinical evolution that differs from ordinary LCPD.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tolerance of a Salsola kali extract standardized in biological units administered by subcutaneous route. Multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Sensitivity to Salsola kali is a frequent cause of allergic respiratory disease in various regions of Spain. However, there are very few articles in which this allergen has been studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: In order to evaluate the tolerance of this extract, a prospective study has been performed. This study was observational, multi-centred and open, involving 88 patients with allergic respiratory disease due to sensitivity to Salsola, aged between 5 and 52 years. The administration of the extract was performed subcutaneously, through one of two treatment schedules: cluster (8 doses in 4 visits) or conventional (13 doses in 12 visits). A total of 42 adverse reactions were registered, in 26 patients (35 local reactions in 21 patients and 7 systemic reactions in 6 patients). Among the 7 systemic reactions, 4 were registered with the cluster protocol and 2 with the conventional protocol (p = 0.329). In no patients were serious adverse reactions registered. CONCLUSION: The subcutaneous administration of a Salsola extract is safe and well tolerated, both when administered using a conventional schedule and when using a cluster schedule.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the working population of Navarra].

A high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (RFs) has been reported in Spain. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of the principal RFs of coronary heart disease (hypercholesterolaemia, low HDL, smoking, arterial hypertension, hyperglycaemia, obesity and sedentary behaviour) in the working population of Navarra. The present study represents the first baseline evaluation of a randomised intervention of primary prevention. The sample under study consisted of 790 workers (742 men and 48 women). Information was gathered on each worker by means of a standardised questionnaire, by the company medical service, and a physical check up was carried out. Total cholesterol and HDL were measured in venous blood by enzymatic autoanalyser. A description was made of the data (percentages of the risk factors and estimation of means for continuous variables). 67.2% of the sample had total cholesterol values higher than 200 mg/dl and 26.3% had HDL levels below 35 mg/dl. 37.1% were regular smokers. The prevalence of high blood pressure was 7.6%. 72.1% reached a body mass index above 25 Kg/m2 and 20.6% classified themselves as sedentary as they did not participate in any physical activity during their leisure time. The prevalence of hyperglycaemia was 1.4%. Only 4.2% of the workers were free of the risk factors under study. A high prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia was detected, and overweight, which supports the pertinence of establishing intervention programs of primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases at the work-site.

English Abstract↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Egg white-specific IgE level as a tolerance marker in the follow up of egg allergy.

Forty patients with symptomatic immediate hypersensitvity to egg who did not have atopic dermatitis were evaluated to determine if they continued to remain clinically symptomatic. Each had specific IgE in vitro and positive prick-test to egg. All patients were on an egg elimination diet. During the follow-up an open egg rechallenge was performed along with a determination of egg white-specific IgE by CAP System. The egg white-specific IgE values were higher in the positive challenge group than in the negative one (p < 0.01, Mann-Whitney Test). There was a direct proportional relationship between the levels of egg white-specific IgE and the likelihood of positive challenge. Specific IgE values above 1.20 KUA/L could be adequate grounds for delaying the follow-up of egg challenge.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of inflammatory markers in allergic reactions to drugs.

Serum tryptase (Tryp) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and urine N-methylhistamine (N-MH) were quantitated in a group of 13 subjects who had experienced immediate allergic reactions to different drugs. Results indicated that both Tryp and N-MH were involved and the levels were related to the severity of the reaction. Results of serum ECP levels failed to provide relevant information concerning the participation of eosinophils in immediate reactions to drugs.

Adolescent↗