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Biomedical subjects

A Fraga

Publications and source records attributed to A Fraga.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Prolactin, immunoregulation, and autoimmune diseases.

Cells of the immune system synthesize prolactin and express mRNA and receptors for that hormone. Interleukin 1, interleukin 6, gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor, platelet activator factor, and substance P participate in the release of prolactin. This hormone is involved in the pathogenesis of adjuvant arthritis and restores immunocompetence in experimental models. In vitro studies suggest that lymphocytes are an important target tissue for circulating prolactin. Prolactin antibodies inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. Prolactin is comitogenic with concanavalin A and induces interleukin 2 receptors on the surface of lymphocytes. Prolactin stimulates ornithine decarboxylase and activates protein kinase C, which are pivotal enzymes in the differentiation, proliferation, and function of lymphocytes. Cyclosporine A interferes with prolactin binding to its receptors on lymphocytes. Hyperprolactinemia has been found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and low back pain patients present a hyperprolactinemic response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Experimental autoimmune uveitis, as well as patients with uveitis whether or not associated with spondyloarthropathies, and patients with psoriatic arthritis may respond to bromocriptine treatment. Suppression of circulating prolactin by bromocriptine appears to improve the immunosuppressive effect of cyclosporine A with significantly less toxicity. Prolactin may also be a new marker of rejection in heart-transplant patients. This body of evidence may have an impact in the study of rheumatic disorders, especially connective tissue diseases. A role for prolactin in autoimmune diseases remains to be demonstrated.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Salmonella septic arthritis in systemic lupus erythematosus. The importance of chronic carrier state.

Salmonella bacteremia is more frequently seen in hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than in hospitalized patients with other diseases. In our experience. Salmonella enteritidis septic arthritis is more common in SLE than in patients with others connective tissue diseases. We report that 4 of 7 patients with SLE with glomerulonephritis and history of Salmonella enteritidis septic arthritis were chronic carriers of this bacteria, since positive cultures were obtained from feces, bone marrow and bile fluid from 20 84 months after Salmonella arthritis developed. In contrast, none of 24 patients with SLE without a history of Salmonella arthritis were chronic carriers and only one of 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis had positive bile culture to S. typhi while otherwise being asymptomatic. From our study we conclude that patients with active SLE who have gomerulonephritis are at increased risk of becoming chronic carriers of Salmonella enteritidis and of developing Salmonella arthritis once combined prednisone cyclophosphamide treatment has begun. A chronic Salmonella carrier state must be ruled out in patients with active SLE living in endemic zones, before initiating immunosuppressive therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Correlation study between prolactin and androgens in male patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis was studied in 8 male patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), both before and after intravenous administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH). We provide evidence herein that resting serum levels of estrone are increased and that resting serum testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels are decreased in male patients with SLE. The decreased serum T levels were observed even after the IV administration of 25 micrograms of LH-RH. The high basal serum prolactin (PRL) levels observed in these patients with SLE is a novel finding not previously reported that could explain why serum T and DHT levels are low in this syndrome. We observed a decrease in the pituitary response to LH-RH stimulation; this low response could also be a hormonal manifestation of hyperprolactinemia. Furthermore, it has been suggested that PRL plays a role in immunocompetence, and therefore it could have influence either directly or indirectly in the altered immunoregulation observed in SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Bilateral avulsion of quadriceps tendons in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Avulsion of the quadriceps tendons with primary hyperparathyroidism has been reported twice before. We describe a patient with primary type 1 hyperparathyroidism who developed well defined rheumatic symptoms in both knees as a consequence of bilateral rupture of the quadriceps tendons.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Hemocytopenia as initial manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. Prognostic significance.

In 1960 Rabinowitz and Dameshek emphasized the close relationship between idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and suggested that ITP is often a prodrome of SLE. On the basis of tis observation, the present study was designed to investigate the prevalence of SLE in patients with the initial diagnosis of ITP, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), Fisher-Evans' syndrome (F-E) and idiopathic aplastic bone marrow (IABM) and to investigate the salient clinical manifestations and prognosis of these patients. We studied 62 patients, 35 with ITP, 16 with AIHA, 9 with F-E and 2 with IABM. Seventeen developed four or more ARA criteria for SLE within 6 of 14 years after the initial hematologic manfestations (IHM). Mucocutaneous symptoms predominated in all groups. None developed renal failure and only 2 had central nervous system involvement. When these patients were matched by age, sex and duration of illness with 24 SLE patients without hematologic abnormalities, the everity and therapeutic indices of the former showed a significantly (p 0.001) milder course. Eight of the 9 patients that required splenectomy are at present without treatment. SLE patient with IHM have a more benign course which is not worsened by splenectomy.

Anemia, Aplastic↗
PubMed1983

Cell-mediated immunity to myoglobin in polymyositis.

Using the leucocyte migration inhibition (LIF) test we looked for evidence of cell-mediated hypersensitivity against myoglobin in 8 patients with polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM). The migration index for PM-DM patients was 47.5 +/- 17%, while in the controls the index was 86 +/- 12% (p less than 0.001). The presence of serum antibodies against myoglobin was also investigated by passive haemagglutination (PH) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE). By PH the reciprocal titre of antimyoglobin antibodies was 150 +/- 28 in PM-DM compared with 16.2 +/- 15.9 and 8.7 +/- 7.7 in control patients with diseases (p less than 0.01) and negative in normal persons. CIE showed antimyoglobin antibodies in 3 PM-DM patients and in none of controls. Cell-mediated immunity against myoglobin may be implicated in the pathogenesis of PM. The pathological significance of antimyoglobin antibodies remains to be determined.

Cell Migration Inhibition↗
PubMed1978

Mixed connective tissue disease in childhood. Relationship Sjögren's syndrome.

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) seems to be a distinct entity that has some manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyositis, and Sjögren's syndrome and is serologically characterized by the presence of an antibody to ribonucleoprotein. We report the cases of three children with MCTD with high titers of antibody to ribonucleoprotein. Two fulfilled criteria of lupus erythematosus, two had polymyosis; all three had suggestive features of scleroderma, fulfilled criteria for the diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and had Sjögren's syndrome. Additional superimposed features of another connective tissue disease should arouse suspicion of MCTD. All three of our patients responded adequately to corticosteroid treatment that makes recognition of this entity by the pediatrician all the more important.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Value of the breath test with cholylglycine C14 in the diagnosis of bacterial contamination in patients with gastric surgery].

The TAE C14 has been evaluated as a diagnostic method of small bowel contamination in a group of patients operated for gastric disturbances. It has been compared with bacterial culture and bile salts chromatogrpahy of jejunum liquid and therapeutic response. 36 patients have been studied and divided in 3 groups: a) negative control: 8 subjects without pathology; b) positive control: 6 patients with intestinal resection and 1 with intestinal scleroderma, all of them with steatorrhea; c) gastric operated patients: 16 BII with and without vagotomy, 3 gastroenteroanastomosis and vagotomy, 1 superselective vagotomy and pyloroplasty and 1 B I, all the patients had steatorrhea, except one with BII. The period elapsed between the operation and the studies varied from 1 to 17 years (X: 4.9 +/- 4.1). The average value of steatorrhea was 23.9 +/- 10.2 g/24 hs. 100% of group b and 80% of group c had abnormal TAE C14. In 80% of the patients of the group c chromatogrpahy was performed and it agreed with TAE C14 in 80% of the studies. Bacteriology was positive in 100% of 18 studies, coinciding with TAE C14 in 70% patients. Therapeutic control of 100% of group c was positive in 90%.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1976

Gastro-intestinal bleeding in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the effects of azapropazone treatment.

A comparative study was carried out, using the Cr51 red blood cell labelling method, to assess the amount of gastro-intestinal blood loss in 20 rheumatoid arthritis patients taking either 600 mg. or 1200 mg. azapropazone daily. The results demonstrate that azapropazone does not produce greater than normal gastro-intestinal bleeding, that the volume of faecal blood loss is not dose-related, and there would not appear to be any correlation between blood loss and the occasional mild gastro-intestinal side-effects reported in a few patients. These results compared favourably with those obtained previously by the investigators in a similar group of patients taking 3 g. aspirin per day.

Adult↗