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Biomedical subjects

A Gil

Publications and source records attributed to A Gil.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Factors related to the plasma fatty acid profile in healthy subjects, with special reference to antioxidant micronutrient status: a multivariate analysis.

The plasma lipid fatty acid (FA) profile was measured in 83 healthy subjects (35 men, 48 women; ages 18-82 y). The association of 19 variables (including serum antioxidant micronutrients) with saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), essential (EFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status was assessed by stepwise multiple-linear regression. Serum selenium was directly associated with percent EFA and n-6 PUFA (r = 0.38, P = 0.0004 for both) and inversely related to percent SFA in phospholipids (r = -0.38, P = 0.0004). Serum selenium was the only predictor of the unsaturation index of this fraction (r = 0.45, P = 0.0000). Although associations of plasma FA pattern with age, serum cholesterol, bilirubin, vitamin E, and zinc were also disclosed, only for selenium did the antioxidant effect seem to explain this relationship. These results suggest that antioxidant micronutrients should be measured when PUFA metabolism is studied. The relationship between plasma FA and antioxidant micronutrients in disease states needs further research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Changes in fatty acid profiles of red blood cell membranes mediated by dietary nucleotides in weanling rats.

Dietary nucleotides have been described to play multiple physiological roles. We examined the effect of feeding, for 4 weeks, nucleotide-supplemented diets (N-50 and N-250) on red blood cell (RBC) membrane fatty acid composition in weanling rats. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) of the n-6 series, especially arachidonic acid, increased in total RBC phospholipids in N-50 and N-250 groups. Concentrations of LC-PUFA of the n-3 series were preserved or slightly decreased. Saturates and monoenates also decreased. Phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin followed the variations observed for total phospholipids. Phosphatidylcholine showed a different response; saturated fatty acids increased while n-6 LC-PUFA decreased. Dietary nucleotides seem to affect the conversion of essential fatty acids to their long-chain derivatives in weanling rats in a similar way to that occurring in newborn infants during early life. These results show that the rat may be a valid model with which to study the biochemical mechanisms by which dietary nucleotides affect fatty acid desaturation.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

Lipoproteins in preterm and small-for-gestational-age infants during the first week of life.

Plasma lipoprotein levels and composition have been determined in preterm and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, and compared to full-term infants, during the first week of life. Significantly lower levels of HDL and higher levels of VLDL were found in both preterm and SGA infants in comparison to full-term healthy infants. These results suggest a low capacity to metabolize VLDL. Preterm infants showed a behaviour similar to full-term infants with regard to the changes in lipoprotein composition. Small-for-gestational-age infants showed a higher lipoprotein lipid content than preterm infants. A low ratio of cholesteryl ester to free cholesterol (CE/FC) was found in both preterm and SGA infants suggesting a reduced lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activity. In preterm infants we observed no changes in the CE/FC ratio during the first week of life, whereas in SGA infants this ratio increased after birth.

Apolipoproteins↗
PubMed1992

Etiologic agents in acute vs persistent diarrhea in children under three years of age in peri-urban Lima, Perú.

In a longitudinal study of acute and persistent diarrhea in 677 children less than three years old in a peri-urban community of Lima, Perú, during 27 months of surveillance, stools were cultured at the beginning of each diarrheal episode and on each subsequent week of illness. Analyzing stool cultures only from children who had not received antibiotic treatment in the 48 h prior to the culture, no association was found between any enteropathogen and persistent diarrhea. We did not find any increase in mixed infections in persistent diarrhea episodes as compared with acute diarrhea, controlling for age, season and anthropometric status. The isolation rate for any given enteropathogen was similar during the first, second, third or later week of illness, but when the presence of a specific enteropathogen was sought in sequential stools within a single episode, no evidence of persistent infection was found. This study shows that in developing countries with a high incidence of diarrheal diseases frequent re-infections with enteropathogens prevalent in the population are one reason for prolonged illnesses. Host factors that increase susceptibility to infection or decrease recovery from illness may also play a role. Further studies of these factors, such as micronutrient deficiencies, are needed to identify a public health intervention to control persistent diarrhea, a condition associated with mortality in many developing countries.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern in active inflammatory bowel disease.

Plasma fatty acid patterns were assessed by gas liquid chromatography in 73 patients with active inflammatory bowel disease and 107 healthy controls. The influence of the disease activity on fatty acid profile was also investigated. Plasma fatty acid patterns in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease were similar. Plasma C18:3n3 and C22:6n3 were significantly higher in active ulcerative colitis (p = 0.0143 and p < 0.00001 respectively) and in Crohn's disease (p < 0.00001 for both) than in controls, whereas C20:3n6 was significantly lower in patients than in controls, both in ulcerative colitis (p = 0.0001) and in Crohn's disease (p = 0.0041). In more severe disease, plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations fell with a significant stepwise decrease in the desaturation index (p = 0.0031 in ulcerative colitis and p = 0.0355 in Crohn's disease). Even in patients with severe disease, however, plasma n3 fatty acids (C18:3n3 and C22:6n3) never fell below those of healthy controls. These findings suggest that in active inflammatory bowel disease, an increased biosynthesis might coexist with an increased consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These observations may be of relevance in the pathogenesis of the disease as polyunsaturated fatty acids are involved in tissue eicosanoid synthesis and cellular membrane function, including that of immunocompetent cells. These results also question the rationale of using n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Comparison of the new Granada medium and the ICON-strep B test in the detection of group B streptococci in pregnant patients].

The detection of group B streptococci by the ICON Strep-B test an enzyme immunoassay, and culture in new Granada Medium was compared in tubes and plates in a total of 200 vaginal specimens from pregnant women. The group B streptococci were cultured in new Granada medium from 33 of these specimens (incidence of 16.5%). Compared with culture in new Granada medium, the sensitivity and specificity of the ICON-Strep B test were 66.6 and 100%, respectively. Because of their poor sensitivity, we do not recommend the use of these rapid test as the only basis for GBS detection.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1992

[Azidothymidine in the treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection and persistent generalized adenopathies].

The effectiveness and security of azidothymidine (AZT) in the treatment of patients with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and persistent generalized adenopathies (PGA), were assessed. Thirty six patients with HIV infection and PGA participate in the study. Eighteen were treated with AZT and the other 18 were included in the control group, since they did not accept the treatment. Both groups were homogeneous with respect to their clinical, immunological and virological characteristics. A common study protocol was used and the clinical, immunological and virological effectiveness was assessed. Lymphocyte subpopulations were quantified by flow cytometry, viral antigens were determined by sandwich-type ELISA and antibodies against viral proteins (anti-gp120, anti-gp160, anti-gp41, anti-gp24 and anti-p18) were detected by Western blot. Naranjo and Busto's algorithm was used for the causality of adverse effects. We did not observe any significant differences regarding the presence of infection and the evolution of AIDS in both groups. A positive response to thrombocytopenia was observed, more evident in patients under low doses of AZT. The small initial transitory improvement of the immunological parameters was not statistically significant. The viral antigen was not modified by the treatment. With respect to the behaviour of the several antibodies studied, no differences were observed. The initial doses of AZT had to be modified in 44% of patients due to their hematological toxicity, more frequent in the first stages of the treatment. In two patients, the treatment had to be finally discontinued due to severe neutropenia. 25% of patients showed mild to moderate gastrointestinal manifestations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1992

[Secondary prevention of esophageal candidiasis with fluconazole in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

In order to evaluate the efficacy of 200 mg single weekly dose of fluconazole in the secondary prophylaxis of esophageal candidiasis in AIDS, 18 patients who had an endoscopic confirmation of cure after an esophageal candidiasis, were studied. Mean follow up period was 12.5 months (limit: 1.5-18) and 11 patients completed prophylaxis for 11.2 months (limit: 2-18). Fluconazole was interrupted in the 7 remaining patients due to different reasons after 10 months and they were followed for 3.2 more months (limit: 1-5). Ten patients relapsed with a total of 17 episodes (7 oropharyngeal and 10 esophageal). Only 4 of the 18 patients (22%) relapsed while on correct prophylactic treatment. On the other hand, 6 out of 7 patients (86%) relapsed in the absence of fluconazole (p less than 0.001). The relapse incidence rate in both groups was 0.09 and 1.46/100 patients/day respectively (p less than 0.001) and its appearance was much earlier (1.3 versus 9.5 months) in patients not receiving prophylaxis. Relapses did not correlate with CD4 cell level, HIV-Ag level, opportunistic infections, use of other drugs or mortality. Fluconazole was interrupted in 3 patients because of alternations in liver enzymes although its relationship with the drug was not confirmed. These results indicate that the administration of Fluconazole 200 mg/week in a single dose is very efficiency in secondary prophylaxis of esophageal candidiasis in AIDS patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

[Lymphomas in the acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome. Clinical, histological, immunological, and developmental study of 26 patients].

PURPOSE: To assess in a retrospective fashion the appearance of lymphoid malignancies in subjects infected by the human immunodeficiency virus, or included in any risk-group, between January 1984 and June 1991. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with AIDS-related lymphoma (23 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 3 Hodgkin's disease (HD) cases) were entered in the study. Of them, 25 were males, with a mean age of 27 years. Eleven were intravenous drug abusers, eight were homosexuals, five were haemophiliacs and two were heterosexuals. RESULTS: The NHL histologic subtypes found were: small, non cleaved cell (Burkitt's), 14 cases; immunoblastic, 2 cases; diffuse, large cell, 1 case; anaplastic, 1 case; extramedullary plasmacytoma, 1 case, and high grade, unclassifiable, 4 cases. The malignant cell immunophenotype was B in 95% of the cases. The pathological stage at diagnosis was IV-B in 16 cases, IV-A in 3, III-B in 1 and I-E in 3. Extranodal involvement was seen in 95% of the patients, mainly extended to the bone marrow (53%), liver (48%) central nervous system (35%) and digestive tract (22%). The three HD patients (2 with lymphocytic depletion and 1 with mixed cellularity) were in stage IV-B at diagnosis, with bone marrow involvement. Twenty-three patients received chemotherapy, 7 were treated with radiotherapy, and 4 underwent surgery. Complete remission (CR) was attained in 35% of the cases and partial response in 55%. The median survival of the series is 7 months, and that of the CR patients is 20 months (p less than 0.001). The series mortality was 77%, mostly related to disease progression or opportunistic infection. CONCLUSION: The general characteristics of AIDS-related lymphoma were confirmed here: aggressive clinical course, poor response to therapy and high risk of opportunistic infections. The possibility of achieving CR may justify the use of combination chemotherapy in patients with good functional status.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

[Mortality from childhood and adolescent leukemia in Spain (1951-1985)].

PURPOSE: To study the mortality due to leukaemia during childhood and youth in Spain in the period 1951-1985. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The mortality for all types of leukaemia in that period was studied in three aspects: (a) By reviewing the rates of specific mortality for ages under 20 years, at quinquennial intervals and per millions of inhabitants of those ages. (b) Studying the mortality per cohorts of births at five-year intervals from 1951-1955 to 1981-1985. (c) Attaining the statistical value, "observed deceased" of leukaemia in people under 15 years of age for the period studied and on each year of that period, and comparing such value with the number of "expected deceased", with regard to the reference year, 1965. RESULTS: A decreasing trend was observed along the whole period. As for ages, there seems to be some tendency to stabilisation of the mortality in the last five-year period, 1981-1985 (there is a decrease only in the 15-18 age-group). These data were confirmed when assessing the mortality per "birth cohorts" or generations, and after plotting the figures of "observed" and "expected" mortality in accordance with the previous evolution. CONCLUSION: It was inferred that regard to the mortality of childhood and youth leukaemia, in Spain the situation has improved markedly, doubtless as a result of better therapeutical approach. This evolution closely resembles the patterns of the most developed countries from a sanitary standpoint.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Seroprotection against hepatitis A, measles, rubella, and parotiditis in an urban school population].

BACKGROUND: To find out the presence of hepatitis A antibodies (anti-HA) in an urban population of Madrid, age ranging from 6 to 18 years. At the same time, the immunity level is evaluated with respect to measles, rubella and mumps in a sub-group aged between 6 and 13 years old. METHODS: The study was carried out in two schools population of the north area of Madrid. RESULTS: Anti-HA prevalence in the whole population under study (707 subjects) was of 6%; a direct correlation was observed between prevalence and age. With respect to the seroprotection study against measles, rubella and mumps, 81% out of the 385 vaccinated subjects is protected against the three viruses. Seroprotection rate is of 79% if this is evaluated with respect to the total 6-13 age group under study (458 subjects). CONCLUSIONS: The results of anti-HA prevalence obtained in the eldest groups reveal that a high percentage of the study population aged 17 (92%) and 18 (84%), is anti-HA negative, which means that they might be susceptible to the infection when reaching the adult age. 21% of the school age group studied with respect to measles, rubella and mumps is seronegative to some of the three viruses. Considering the above results, it appears that it could be interesting to evaluate whether the administration of a booster dose to children in school age would enable to reduce the number of unprotected subjects in the referred ages.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Hydrochlorothiazide versus spironolactone: long-term metabolic modifications in patients with essential hypertension.

The metabolic side effects of thiazide diuretics are believed to be responsible for the failure of thiazide diuretics to reduce cardiovascular morbidity in patients with hypertension. However, the decrease in the incidence of osteoporotic fractures that are associated with thiazide administration may be relevant in elderly patients with arterial hypertension. Spironolactone (SP) appears not to influence the metabolic risk profile of the patient with hypertension, and no studies have examined its effect on calcium metabolism. Therefore, in 22 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension, the authors performed a parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that compared the effects on serum urate and lipid, potassium, magnesium, and calcium metabolism of hydrochlorothiazide (HC) (mean [+/- SD] dose, 72 +/- 26 mg/d) and SP (144 +/- 53 mg/d) during a 52-week period. As compared with placebo, HC significantly increased serum urate and total cholesterol concentrations, and decreased serum potassium levels. SP did not affect serum urate or cholesterol levels but increased serum potassium concentrations. Neither diuretic significantly modified magnesium metabolism. Little changes were seen in serum calcium levels during HC or SP treatment, whereas urinary calcium excretion was significantly decreased by HC (mean decrease, 45%; P less than .01) or SP (40%; P less than .01). The authors conclude that SP, in addition to its potassium-sparing properties, has a calcium-sparing effect that may be beneficial for patients in whom reduction of urinary calcium excretion has a therapeutic value.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effect of dietary nucleotides and orotate on the blood levels of prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane (TXA2) in the weanling rat.

Dietary nucleotides affect the maintenance of immune responses, tissue repair and polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism. Orotate, a pyrimidine nucleotide precursor, induces fatty livers by impairing VLDL hepatic secretion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the blood levels of fatty acids and prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane (TXA2) in the weanling rat caused by the dietary intake of nucleotides and orotate. Three groups of rats at weaning were fed a control diet, an orotate supplemented diet (O-50) and a nucleotide supplemented diet (N-50) during 4 weeks, respectively. Absolute values of plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids greater than 18 carbon atoms of the n-6 and n-3 series were increased in the N-50 group and decreased in O-50 with regard to the control. However, the relative fatty acid composition of plasma lipid fractions was mostly unaffected. Plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha showed a trend to be increased in N-50 and serum TXB2 was significantly increased in that group. Both eicosanoids were unchanged by dietary orotate intake. These results may be explained because of the increased plasma 20:4n-6 found in rats fed a supplemented nucleotide diet. Thus, nucleotides present in foods appear to modulate PUFA conversion and eicosanoids synthesis in early life.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of cDNAs encoding the polypyrimidine tract-binding protein.

The polypyrimidine tract of mammalian introns is recognized by a 62-kD protein (pPTB). Mutations in the polypyrimidine tract that reduce the binding of pPTB also reduce the efficiency of formation of the pre-spliceosome complex containing U2 snRNP. The PTB protein was purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography on a matrix containing poly(U), and peptide sequence was used to isolate several cDNAs. Because a variety of cell types express mRNA complementary to these cDNAs, PTB may be a ubiquitous splicing factor. Three classes of cDNAs were identified, on the basis of the presence of additional sequences at an internal position. This variation in sequence probably reflects alternative splicing of the PTB pre-mRNA and produces mRNAs encoding the prototype PTB protein, a form of PTB protein containing 19 additional residues, and a truncated form of PTB protein with a novel carboxyl terminus. A murine homolog of pPTB has been characterized previously as a DNA-binding protein. Sequence comparisons indicate that pPTB is distantly related to the hnRNP L protein and that these two proteins should be considered as members of a novel family of RNA-binding proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Safety and efficacy of fluconazole treatment for Candida oesophagitis in AIDS.

The efficacy and safety of fluconazole in the treatment of oesophageal candidiasis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was assessed in 36 patients. Fluconazole, 200 mg orally, was given on the first day, followed by 100 mg daily for 4 weeks. Clinical and mycological evaluation was performed in 31 patients at the end of treatment and 24 were also assessed after 8 weeks of starting treatment. In 1 patient fluconazole was discontinued, 5 patients were lost to follow-up and 6 patients died during the study. Clinical and mycological cure was achieved in all patients; in 31 of 36 patients the clinical picture resolved within a week. The cure was confirmed in 27 patients by oesophagoscopy. Two patients relapsed 1 month after stopping fluconazole but the reinstitution of therapy achieved cure. Asymptomatic fungal oropharynx colonization was evident in about 40% of patients during treatment and follow-up period. Fluconazole was well tolerated by all patients but mild to moderate increase of liver enzymes values occurred in 16. Treatment had to be discontinued in 1 patient with hepatic tuberculosis because of severe liver function abnormalities, but their relation with the drug was uncertain. Fluconazole is an effective and safe treatment of oesophageal candidiasis in AIDS patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗