[Beware: hazards in the hospital dining room!].
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Cross Infection↗
Biomedical subjects
A Moreno
Publications and source records attributed to A Moreno.
[Enteritis caused by Isospora belli in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Description of 9 cases].
The features of the nine first cases of Isospora belli enteritis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnosed in the Hospital Cliníc i Provincial of Barcelona from September 1984 to May 1989 are reported. All patients were male, five were homosexual and four were parenteral drug abusers. The clinical presentation was watery diarrhea without pathological products lasting for more than one month. Five patients had features of dehydration, five had malabsorption, two had fever and one had metabolic acidosis. Enteritis by I. belli was the first opportunistic infection in eight of the nine cases. The number of T4 lymphocytes was lower than 0.4 x 10(9)/l in four of the seven patients in whom it was measured, and the p24 antigen was detected in serum in three out of five. The response to co-trimoxazole, both in the acute phase and as maintenance therapy, was satisfactory; however, two patients had recurrences despite maintenance therapy with co-trimoxazole. In one of them I. belli was clinically resistant to co-trimoxazole therapy and to other drugs, the diarrhea only responding to the administration of a somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995).
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
[Usefulness of the somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 in the treatment of diarrhea in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus].
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Prolonged treatment (18 months) of chronic hepatitis C with recombinant alpha-interferon in comparison with a control group.
The effectiveness of recombinant alpha-interferon was evaluated in chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis of parenteral transmission. Thirty patients were randomly allocated two groups: control group (without treatment) and treatment group (alpha-interferon 5 mega units thrice weekly for 2 months, and then 1.5 mega units until the eighteenth month). Retrospectively, 26 patients had anti-hepatitis C antibodies. After the first month, 40% of the treated patients had normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels, and no one in the control group (p less than 0.05). After 18 months of treatment, 40% (6/15) of treated patients and 7% (1/14) of controls had normal serum transaminases (p less than 0.05). Interferon was well tolerated. A decrease in the Knodell Index score on final biopsy was found in treated patients (p less than 0.05), with no variations in the control group. Relapse within 7 months after the end of treatment occurred in two out of six complete responders. Thus, recombinant alpha-interferon therapy given for 18 months normalizes serum transaminases and improves histological lesions in chronic hepatitis C of parenteral epidemiology. This long-term interferon schedule is well tolerated.
Adult↗
Detection of HDV-RNA by PCR in serum of patients with chronic HDV infection.
In this paper, we studied the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in HDV-RNA detection. Using serial dilutions of serum samples of known concentrations of HDV-RNA, PCR was 10,000-times more sensitive than slot-blot hybridization. PCR was used for the detection of HDV-RNA in 33 serum samples negative to HDV-RNA by conventional slot-blot hybridization. HDV-RNA was detected in 18/33 (54%) of the samples included in this study using PCR. When positivity to a viral genome was related to other viral replication markers, it was found that among the 18 patients positive to the viral genome, 13 (72%) had hepatitis delta antigen in the liver, and five (28%) were negative. In conclusion, HDV-RNA detection by gene amplification is 10,000-times more sensitive than slot-blot hybridization, and allows the detection of viral replication in patients without other viral replication markers.
Alanine Transaminase↗
Simultaneous occurrence of cutaneous T cell lymphoma and low-grade B cell lymphoproliferative diseases. A report of two cases.
Two previously unreported patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma associated with systemic low-grade B cell proliferations are presented. The first patient had Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and the second had simultaneous chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The use of immunosuppressive drugs or a genetic predisposition may have contributed to the second malignancy. However, the possibility that malignant helper/inducer T lymphocytes were a factor in the promotion of the proliferation of B cells cannot be excluded.
Aged↗
Disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma not associated with HIV infection in a bisexual man.
We report a 42-year-old white bisexual man with disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma limited to the skin and gastrointestinal tract. Results of several serum tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies have been negative. The CD4/CD8 ratio has remained normal, and his Kaposi's sarcoma has had a benign clinical course during 30 months of follow-up. Similar reports of disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma with a benign clinical course in homosexual or bisexual men without demonstrable HIV infection are reviewed. Some cellular immune impairment that might be more prevalent in the homosexual population may be implicated in the pathogenesis of this type of Kaposi's sarcoma.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Renal cell adenocarcinoma associated with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Liver biopsy diagnosis of Andersen's disease.
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Biopsy↗
Co-existence of hepatocyte ground-glass inclusions from several causes.
Two patients with two and three types respectively of ground-glass hepatocyte inclusions are described. Both were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAG) positive and received cyanamide for alcohol aversion therapy. In addition, one of them had taken benzodiazepines and barbiturates. In one patient, cyanamide and HBsAg inclusions co-existed in the same hepatocytes.
Adult↗
A controlled trial of recombinant interferon-alpha in Caucasian children with chronic hepatitis B.
Twenty-four children with chronic active hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, who were positive for HBeAg and had increased levels of transaminases, were included in a controlled study of treatment using recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha), 10 MU/m2 body surface, intramuscularly, 3 times a week over a period of 3 months. During therapy, a significant decrease in HBV-DNAp was observed in the 12 patients treated. By the end of therapy, the HBV-DNA had disappeared in 3 children, the same occurring in 1 child (33% overall) during the course of the 4th month. By this time, all the controls remained with HBV replication markers (p less than 0.05). The 4 treated patients who responded became HBeAg-negative, developing anti-HBe during the first 12 months after therapy. In the control group, the HBV-DNA disappeared in 3 children in the 7th month of follow-up. All of the children remained HBsAg-positive. The therapy with rIFN-alpha was well tolerated, secondary effects consisting of a flu-like syndrome and a slight decrease in leukocytes and platelets. At the second biopsy, 15 months after the beginning of therapy, a significant decrease in Knodell's index of histological activity was observed in the responders. In the light of these results and since treated children lost viral replication markers in a shorter period of time than the controls, who seroconverted spontaneously, we consider that rIFN-alpha may be useful in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in childhood.
Child↗
Studies in owl monkeys leading to the development of a synthetic vaccine against the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum.
During the development of a synthetic vaccine for human use against the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum, monkey trials were performed to assess safety, immunogenicity, and protectivity. We determined the minimal infective dose of the P. falciparum FVO strain, the kinetics of the immune response induced by vaccination with the synthetic peptide mixture (S7 + S12 + S17) or the synthetic hybrid polymeric protein SPf66, and the induction of protective immunity against the experimental challenge with 2 P. falciparum strains. A clear boosting effect was observed, determined by the increased antibody titers against synthetic peptides S7, S12, S17, and SPf66, and by improvement in the protective immune response against the challenge. These studies suggest that either the peptide mixture or the synthetic hybrid polymeric protein are excellent choices for the development of a vaccine against P. falciparum.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Immunization of owl monkeys with a combination of Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood-stage synthetic peptide antigens.
A mixture of 3 synthetic peptides (35.1, 55.1, and 83.1) corresponding to portions of the 35 kDa, 55 kDa, and 83 kDa proteins from the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum and a polymer of a syntheic peptide incorporating the 3 individual peptides (SPf66) were tested as candidate malaria vaccine antigens in Aotus nancymai. Monkeys were immunized with combinations of the 3 peptides from 2 separate sources (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], Atlanta, GA or Colombia) or with the synthetic polymer. Animals immunized with a combination of the 3 peptides from CDC had higher antibody titers to the 35.1 and 55.1 peptides than to the 83.1 peptide. Monkeys immunized with a combination of the 3 peptides produced in Colombia developed higher levels of antibody to the 55.1 than to the 83.1 and 35.1 peptides. Animals immunized with the polymer produced detectable antibodies to the 55.1 peptide alone. Following challenge with P. falciparum, no differences were observed between the 3 vaccine groups and 2 control groups with respect to the number of animals with parasitemias greater than or equal to 10%. The inconsistency of serologic response to all 3 peptides in these animals contrasted with previous trials performed in Colombia where the monkeys developed high antibody titers against the 3 peptides and were protected against the experimental infection.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Cross-reactivity of goat alloantisera lymphocyte antigens with ovine peripheral blood lymphocytes and erythrocytes.
Twenty-two alloantisera that detected eleven specificities in two loci of the goat (SD1 and SD2) were studied on ovine lymphocytes from 55 Spanish Merino sheep by microlymphocytotoxicity assay. All the sera detected antigenic variability in sheep although this variability was not comparable to that described in the goat. No pancytotoxic sera were found. Agglutinating and hemolytic antibodies present in the sera were not related to any antigen present in erythrocytes and lymphocytes. Furthermore these samples were typed with sixteen ovine alloantisera and no relationship between specificities detected by ovine sera and the antigenic variability detected by goat alloreactives was found.
Animals↗
Effect of antiplatelet drug therapy on the retinal vascular pattern in experimental diabetes mellitus.
We performed a study to evaluate the effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) plus dipyridamole on the retinal vascular pattern over 3 months in rats with experimental diabetes mellitus. Rats treated with ASA alone showed a continuous vascular bed and less tortuous vessels than untreated diabetic rats. Rats treated with ASA plus dipyridamole showed a continuous vascular bed, scarce tortuous vessels and vascular diameters similar to those in nondiabetic control rats. The findings were related to aortic prostacyclin production: treatment with ASA alone produced a reduction in prostacyclin production, whereas treatment with ASA plus dipyridamole resulted in normal prostacyclin production. ASA alone or with dipyridamole inhibited collagen-induced aggregation in whole blood by 57% compared with the untreated diabetic rats.
Animals↗
Repeated exposure to ultraviolet A in polymorphous light eruption patients and normal subjects: a clinical and histopathological study.
The clinical and histopathological responses to repeated exposures of ultraviolet A were studied in patients with polymorphous light eruption and in normal controls. Variable degrees of perivascular and diffuse infiltrates (lymphocytic and neutrophilic) were detected in both groups. These findings indicate that more specific parameters should be used to distinguish reactive from pathological responses.
Adult↗
[Acute gastroenteritis: a prospective study of 445 cases].
Four hundred and fourty-five adult patients suffering acute gastroenteritis (AG) seen at the emergency ward of two hospitals in Barcelona, have been studied. The aim of this work was to analyze the cause of AG in our community and to evaluate the utility of the biologic and clinical criteria chosen as indicators of bacteremia or of AG produced by invasive microorganisms. Stool culture was positive in 157 patients (35%) of which 140 were Salmonella sp. The most frequently isolated serotype was S. enteritidis. Eight patients (7.8%) presented Salmonella sp. bacteremia. Presence of an underlying disease, dehydration, shivers, fever, presence of occult blood in stools, septic hemogram and the history of AG in other family members were more common in patients with a positive stool culture (p less than 0.05). Patients with bacteremia presented dehydration with a significantly higher frequency than nonbacteremics. The rest of the parameters studied were similar in both groups. We conclude that Salmonella sp. is the most frequently encountered microorganisms responsible for adult AG in our community. It is possible to identify patients with AG due to Salmonella sp. based on clinical and biological parameters. On the contrary, it is necessary to perform a wider study in order to determine the parameters that may allow the identification of patients with bacteremia.
Acute Disease↗
Eosinophilic cystitis and allergy to mitomycin-C.
Eosinophilic cystitis appears to have an allergic origin to different substances causing an immunological reaction. Up to now it was unknown that Mitomycin-C could cause this reaction. We present 6 cases of eosinophilic cystitis induced by Mitomycin-C analysing their clinical and pathological characteristics.
Aged↗