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Biomedical subjects

A Otero

Publications and source records attributed to A Otero.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Hemolytic activity and siderophore production in different Aeromonas species isolated from fish.

The hemolytic activity and siderophore production of several strains of motile aeromonads were determined. The hemolytic activity of Aeromonas caviae and Aeromonas eucrenophila was enhanced after trypsinization of the samples. The enhancement of hemolysis was observed in strains that carried an aerolysin-like gene, detected by a PCR procedure. Siderophore production was demonstrated in all but one strain of Aeromonas jandaei. No apparent relationship was observed between the presence of plasmid DNA and hemolysis or siderophore production.

Aeromonas↗
PubMed1999

Bacterial microflora of wild brown trout (Salmo trutta), wild pike (Esox lucius), and aquacultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Initial numbers of bacteria associated with wild (brown trout and pike) and cultured (rainbow trout) freshwater fish as well as with the water in which they were caught were determined. Subsequently, a total of 979 randomly selected isolates were characterized and identified to the genus level. For all counts performed (aerobes, psychrotrophs, anaerobes, Enterobacteriaceae, and enterococci), no significant differences were observed in water samples, the highest level corresponding to psychrotrophs in pike environments (4.23 X 10(3) CFU/ml). Overall, the skin and intestinal content of brown trout were the most contaminated, while rainbow trout specimens (gills and gut) yielded the lowest numbers. For all bacterial groups, pike gills had the highest numbers. Counts for all of the sampling sites compare well with findings in other temperate geographical environments. Biological characteristics (feeding and skin properties) and the use of antimicrobials in aquaculture might have influenced these results. Motile and nonmotile aerobic gram-negative bacteria together with Enterobacteriaceae accounted for 50 to 70% of the psychrotrophs isolated from water. Micrococcaceae, lactic acid bacteria, Bacillus, and coryneforms were also found. The groups represented in psychrotrophic isolates from the outer surfaces do not reflected those detected in water, so it was common that those organisms recovered in significant numbers from fish were not detected in surrounding habitat of the fish. Motile aeromonads and Carnobacterium were the dominant psychrotrophs in the guts of pike and brown trout, respectively. The intestinal content of reared fish gave a high incidence of Bacillus and coryneforms, while Enterobacteriaceae was absent. Again, rearing practices could have influenced this finding. Listeria monocytogenes was not detected in any of the examined samples. Two strains of Salmonella, which belonged to the same serovar and lysotype, were recovered from pond-water samples taken from one facility on different sampling days. From the gut of a pike specimen and from the pike's environment, two Plesiomonas shigelloides strains of different serovars were recovered. These latter four strains were resistant to a considerable number of antimicrobial compounds (multiple antibiotic resistance indices > 0.2).

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Hemolytic and elastolytic activities influenced by iron in Plesiomonas shigelloides.

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of hemolytic and elastolytic enzymes in several strains of Plesiomonas shigelloides in relation to the availability of iron in culture media. Hemolytic activity and elastolytic activity were detected in strains of P. shigelloides and were enhanced when the strains were grown in an iron-depleted medium and lost after thermal treatment at 100 degrees C for 10 min. Also, elastolytic activity was inactivated by phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride, an inhibitor of serine proteases. Hemolytic activity was detected extracellularly in cell-free supernatants, whereas elastin degradation activity was cell associated. Both activities may be related to the virulence of P. shigelloides.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1999

Numbers and species of motile aeromonads during the manufacture of naturally contaminated Spanish fermented sausages (longaniza and chorizo).

The prevalence of aeromonads in the initial mixes of 14 batches of chorizo and longaniza obtained from three small- and middle-sized factories was 78.5%, with counts ranging from >1.00 to 4.47 log10 CFU/g. Only 2 of 10 mixture samples prepared at a large and modern processing plant yielded these organisms, with levels below 1 log10 CFU/g. The hygienic status of factories significantly affected incidence and counts. Of 39 presumptive isolates from glutamate starch penicillin agar, 36 were confirmed as motile aeromonads and allocated to Aeromonas hydrophila (n = 24), A. veronii biovar sobria (n = 10), and A. caviae (n = 2). All of them were beta-hemolytic and capable of growing at 5 degrees C. Regardless of initial contamination, aeromonads were rapidly inactivated during the early stages of manufacture.

Aeromonas↗
PubMed1999

[Post-transplantation osteoporosis].

In the last two decades organ transplantation has become an effective and established therapy for end-stage disease of various organs. The increase in survival has been due to the greater immunosuppressive capacity of regimens that include cyclosporin. During the first few months after transplantation cyclosporin is associated with high-dose steroids, which produce deleterious effects on bone and mineral metabolism. These effects are superimposed on the previous bone lesions produced by the underlying chronic diseases. Rapid bone loss occurs specially during the first 6 to 12 months after transplantation, when the incidence of fractures is greater. The majority of the fractures involve the spine. Fracture rates are lower after renal transplantation (7 to 11% in nondiabetic renal transplant recipients) and higher in the recipients of other organ transplants: 17.2 to 42% after liver transplantation, 18 to 50% after cardiac transplantation and 25 to 29% after lung transplantation. No pretransplant densitometric or biochemical parameter can adequately predict fracture risk in the individual patient. Despite this, patients with low bone mineral density at the hip, particularly in women, tend to have an increased risk of fracture. Patients can have vertebral fractures despite normal bone mineral density at the spine. Pathogenesis of bone loss is multifactorial. Patients with renal and liver diseases have either renal or hepatic osteodystrophy prior to transplantation that predispose to bone loss, and many patients awaiting pulmonary transplantation already have osteoporosis due to the use of corticosteroids for their lung disease. Rapid bone loss after transplantation depends, as suggested by prospective biochemical parameters, on a decrease in bone formation (reduction in osteocalcin levels) and an increase in bone resorption. Steroids seem to be the principal determinants of these derangements, although some role of cyclosporin cannot be excluded. Other factors that contribute to bone loss are secondary hyperparathyroidism and hypogonadism. Calcium supplementation and vitamin D administration as the only preventive measures do not seem to reduce fracture risk. The most promising regimens to prevent bone loss after transplantation seem to be the use of bisphosphonates immediately prior to and during the first year after transplantation.

Bone and Bones↗
PubMed1998

[Restenosis and remodeling after percutaneous transluminal carotid angioplasty].

INTRODUCTION: The characteristics of restenosis and remodeling after carotid percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) were badly known. OBJECTIVE: To describe these characteristics in our series of carotid PTA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 78 cases of PTA for symptomatic > 70% atherosclerotic stenosis of the extracranial internal carotid artery, were selected from our series of PTA if follow-up was > 12 months. All of them were followed with extracranial continuous-wave Doppler. RESULTS: Restenosis of any degree was found in 17 cases (21.79%) and always asymptomatic. A restenosis > or = 70% was found in 5 cases (6.4%). Restenosis was mainly found in cases without residual stenosis nor dissection after PTA (p = 0.002). Restenosis was found in 16 cases (94.11%) in the first 6-months, with no progression thereafter. Remodeling of residual stenosis was frequent (17 cases; 53.11%) and found mainly during the first month after PTA. Its incidence was highest in patients with dissection treated with heparin. In cases with restenosis, remodeling was infrequent, incomplete and occurred after 18-24 months. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Significant restenosis after PTA due to myointimal proliferation, was infrequent. All cases were asymptomatic, under antiplatelet treatment. A new interventional procedure might not be necessary. 2. Complete remodeling was frequently found after 1-month control, mainly in arteries with some residual stenosis and dissection after PTA.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Monoclonal antibodies raised to the dengue-2 virus (Cuban: A15 strain) which recognize viral structural proteins.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised to dengue-2 virus (D-2V) Cuban (A15) strain and the cell culture supernatants were screened by ELISA using the homologous virus. Three MAb-secreting lines were further characterized using immunoblot, haemaglutination, complement-fixation, and neutralization assays. One of these, MAb 8H8, weakly reacted with the viral nonstructural-1 protein (NS1) but more specifically identified the capsid protein (C), MAb 3E1 recognized in serological assays D-2V A15 but it had a weak reaction to C protein by immunodetection whereas another, MAb 4G3, weakly neutralized the homologous virus isolate and blocked the binding of specific anti-envelope (E) Mab, and its reaction with this protein could not be confirmed using immunoblot assays. These reagents are now being used to compare virulent plus avirulent Caribbean viruses antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) assays.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Quantitative ELISA for mouse monoclonal antibody determination in culture supernatants and in human serum.

An ELISA has been set up for quantifying mouse monoclonal antibodies in culture supernatant. The assay includes rabbit anti-mouse IgG antibodies chromatographycally purified. This preparation was used as coating and as conjugated antibodies in the ELISA. The assay can detect IgG1 with sensitivity of 0.2 ng/mL, IgG2a (0.85 ng/mL), IgG2b (0.13 ng/mL), and IgG3 (3.19 ng/mL) in culture supernatants. The effective working range was from subnanogram per mL quantities to 30 ng/mL by using a computer statistical program. Variation coefficient of ELISA was below 7%. Correlation estimates with a similar ELISA using commercial reagents were performed for each mouse antibody subclass. The assay was able to detect the four mouse monoclonal antibody subclasses in pure human serum as compared with the same ELISA using commercial antibodies. A 24-h pharmacokinetic profile of 1 patient treated with an IgG2a monoclonal antibody is presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Prediction of depressive relapse in remitted bipolar patients using corticotrophin-releasing hormone challenge test.

Abnormalities in corticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol levels before and after corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation have been reported in depressed bipolar patients. The ACTH and free cortisol response to the injection of 100 micrograms of synthetic human CRH and plasma cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) levels were measured in 42 lithium-treated patients suffering from RDC bipolar-I disorder in remission, and in 21 age- and sex-matched control subjects. A 1-year follow-up was conducted in order to assess any possible relationship between outcome and the hormonal response. Bipolar patients showed higher baseline and peak ACTH concentrations than controls. A lower net area under the ACTH concentration curve after CRH stimulation predicted depressive relapse within 6 months by multiple regression analysis. The CRH challenge test could be a potentially good predictor of depressive relapse in remitted bipolar patients.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1997

Molecular characterization of an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (subgroup A) in Havana, Cuba, by monoclonal antibodies and restriction mapping (N gene).

Twenty-one respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strains isolated from one outbreak in Havana, Cuba (1994 to 1995), were analyzed to determine their relatedness. All isolated strains were classified as subgroup A by monoclonal antibodies. Of 21 RSV strains examined, 20 were classified as having restriction pattern NP4 and only 1 was classified as having restriction pattern NP5.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1997

What happened to life expectancy in Spain in the 1980s?

BACKGROUND: Life expectancy at birth in Spain improved between 1972 and 1982, by 2.5 years for males and 3.2 years for females. This slowed considerably in the following decade, with increases of only 0.5 and 1.7 years respectively. OBJECTIVE: To determine the causes of death that have been responsible for the failure by Spain to maintain in the 1980s and 1990s the rate of improvement in life expectancy seen during the 1970s. DESIGN: Data from WHO mortality tapes grouped in a series of clinically meaningful categories were used to calculate the contribution of each category, in five year age groups, to the changing life expectancy at birth in the two periods. SETTING: Spain. RESULTS: The trend in life expectancy at birth in Spain over this 20 year period can be considered to have two components, both with important consequences for public health policy. Underlying trends include a steady negative contribution from respiratory cancer in men and a reduction in cardiovascular disease. More recent trends include a considerable deterioration in deaths among young adults, most notably from accidents and, possibly, AIDS. CONCLUSION: The failure to maintain the rate of earlier gains in life expectancy in Spain can be attributed largely to a few conditions, although these may indicate less obvious underlying problems. These findings have important consequences for prioritising public health policies.

Accidents↗
PubMed1997

[Traumatic asphyxia and continuous venovenous hemofiltration. Report of a case].

A 32-year-old man was admitted with traumatic asphyxia, with aspiration to the bronchi after being buried under sand. The condition progressed to respiratory distress syndrome and systemic inflammatory response. Because ventilatory and hemodynamic deterioration was rapid and severe, in spite of mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs, we instated early continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration, which also allowed us to meet the patient's full nutritional needs. We believe that the patient's very satisfactory progress can be attributed to the early use of this procedure, along with appropriate specific treatment.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1997

[Evaluation of a mouse anti-IgG-fluorescein conjugate using indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry techniques].

An immunoglobulin G of mouse was purified from sera by affinity chromatography in protein A. The rabbits whose sera were able to recognize the antigen injected by double immunodiffusion were immunized with this preparation. The antibodies were precipitated from the rabbit's serum and purified by ion exchange chromatography. This preparation was conjugated to fluorescin isothiocyanate according to the conventional technique. The conjugated obtained was evaluated with the reference strains of Parainfluenza virus 1, 2, 3; Adenovirus; respiratory syncytial virus; and influenza virus A and B, by an indirect immunofluorescence technique and HIV positive samples by flow citometry. Specific monoclonal antibodies were used in both cases. Clinical specimens of patients with acute respiratory infection were evaluated.

Adult↗