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Biomedical subjects

A Pascual

Publications and source records attributed to A Pascual.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of a siliconized latex urinary catheter on bacterial adherence and human neutrophil activity.

The effect of a siliconized latex urinary catheter on the in vitro adherence and growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli and on the activity of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was assessed. The adherence of P. aeruginosa to latex catheters was significantly greater than that of E. coli, being 30 times higher at 6 hr of incubation. The survival of E. coli (10(8) CFU/ml) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing segments of siliconized latex catheters was lower than in the controls. This effect seems to be due to a toxic effect produced by substances eluted into the medium from the catheters, as the viability of E. coli (10(3) CFU/ml) in eluates obtained from the incubation of catheters in PBS (24 hr; 37 degrees C) was significantly lower than in the controls. These phenomena were not observed with P. aeruginosa. The incubation of human PMNs with either catheter segments or eluates did not affect the uptake of opsonized E. coli but significantly decreased the production of superoxide radicals by these phagocytes. It is concluded that the adherence of P. aeruginosa to these catheters is higher than that of E. coli and that the latex urinary catheter used herein elutes substances that are in vitro toxic for E. coli and the oxygen-dependent bactericidal mechanisms of human PMNs.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical efficacy and safety of a depigmented and glutaraldehyde polymerized therapeutic vaccine of Parietaria judaica.

BACKGROUND: The inhalation of Parietaria judaica pollen is a common cause of allergic respiratory diseases in the Mediterranean area. The objective of this study was to investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of a chemically modified (depigmented and glutaraldehyde-polymerized) vaccine of Parietaria judaica. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty patients with a well-documented clinical history of seasonal rhinitis and clinical sensitivity to Parietaria judaica pollen were included in a randomized trial during 12 months. The study was conducted following good clinical practices and appropriate consent forms were signed. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 15 individuals; group A received the modified extract and group C did not receive specific immunotherapy. Any adverse event was recorded to assess safety. Symptom scores, symptomatic medication use and the results of specific nasal challenges (before and after 12 months of treatment) were recorded to evaluate clinical efficacy. The treatment schedule consisted of an incremental phase of 5 injections and a maintenance dosage of 0.5 ml per month. Each patient received 14 injections during this period. All the patients completed the trial and no adverse reactions related to immunotherapy were recorded. A significant difference (p < 0.001) in symptom scores and overall use of symptomatic medication was observed between the two groups, being both scores lower in group A. No significant differences in nasal sensitivity existed before treatment among the 2 groups. However, after 12 months, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed only in group A patients, who showed a significant improvement in specific nasal challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Immunotherapy with depigmented and glutaraldehyde-polymerized extract of Parietaria judaica pollen is safe and effective to treat patients with allergic rhinitis and clinical sensitivity to this pollen.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of phagocytosis of bacteria on the uptake of sparfloxacin by human neutrophils.

The effect of phagocytosis of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae on the intracellular penetration of sparfloxacin into human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) was evaluated. The intracellular concentration of sparfloxacin was similar in PMN containing intracellular bacteria and in resting PMN [cellular to extracellular ratio (C/ E) > 8.0]. The uptake of sparfloxacin by human PMN significantly decreased during phagocytosis of opsonized H. influenzae but still reached intracellular concentrations five times greater than the extracellular ones. This effect was not observed with E. coli and S. aureus.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neuro-cognitive condition of 8 year old children with congenital hypothyroidism treated early].

INTRODUCTION: Congenital hypothyroidism is the most important cause of preventable mental retardation. Since the use of programmes for early detection, mental retardation due to cretinism has been abolished and current investigations seek to detect subtle damage due to foetal hypothyroidism and strategies to minimize such deficits. OBJECTIVE: This study presents the results of neurocognitive assessment of a group of 19 children aged 8 in the Cuban Programme for the early detection of Congenital Hypothyroidism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The programme is based on the use of umbilical cord serum levels of thyrotropin (TSH), using the Elisa ultramicro method (SUMA) and substitutive treatment with sodium levothyroxine and a programme of neuropsychiatric stimulation until 5 years old. RESULTS: The results showed that the intelligence quotients of children with hypothyroidism were not statistically different from paired controls, and thus demonstrate the efficacy of the programme. On evaluation using computerized techniques for the detection of subtle disorders of the maintenance of attention, deficiencies were found. Analysis of the conventional EEG showed that in 13 cases recordings were normal, 4 had generalized cortical damage, 1 had cortico-subcortical damage and the remainder had signs of focal irritation. On the quantitative EEG, correlation between the attention variables and absolute values (MV2/Hz) were calculated for each derivation and associations found mainly in the right parietal and left frontal regions. CONCLUSION: The effect of stimulating development in these patients is discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of two preseasonal regimens of glutaraldehyde modified, tyrosine-adsorbed parietaria pollen extract over a period of three years in monosensitive patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy over a period of three years (1988-90) of two preseasonal dosage regimens of a Parietaria allergoid (Bencard Tyrosine Parietaria) in patients who were only sensitive to this pollen. Fifty patients were included (14 men and 36 women, age: mean, 28 years; range, 14-47 years). Twenty five patients (group A) were treated each january with the basic course of Bencard Tyrosine Parietaria. This consisted of injecting subcutaneously 0.5 ml from each of three vials, with one week between each injection. A further injection using the vial with the highest dose was given one week later. Each january and february, twenty five patients (group B) were treated with the basic course of Bencard Tyrosine Parietaria, repeating the last dose five times, with one week between each injection. Immunotherapy with a tyrosine-adsorbed Parietaria judaica allergoid is an effective method for mitigating nasal (p < 0.0001), bronchial (p < 0.005), conjunctival (p < 0.001) and palatal itching symptoms (p < 0.0001) in patients who are sensitive to this pollen. Sensitivity to Parietaria pollen, as verified by skin test and nasal challenge, decreased during immunotherapy (p < 0.001). Histamine release by peripheral blood basophils decreased during the course of the study, falling from 43.5 ng/ml to 12.3 ng/ml in group A and from 42.9 ng/ml to 10.0 ng/ml in group B; during the second and third years, IgG levels were increased one and four months after starting treatment with the extract, while this was not the case after ten months; IgE levels were also increased. Finally, overall tolerance to this immunotherapy product was good in almost all patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparative study between 10 and 20 mg of cetirizine in the symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis].

Our patients with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis usually present severe clinical symptoms. A single daily dose of cetirizine 10 mg might be insufficient for these patients. To investigate this hypothesis we compared clinical efficacy and adverse side effects between two daily doses of cetirizine, 10 and 20 mg. We designed a comparative open randomized study, including 38 patients, with hay fever sensitized to local pollens (grass, olive, parietaria judaica, chenopodium album, artemisia vulgaris and plantago lanceolata) diagnosed by clinical history and a positive skin prick test (wheal > 3 mm), 20 women and 18 men, aged 17 to 57 years (x: 31.32 +/- 9.73), living in the same geographic area. Randomly, after a week run in period, 21 subjects received a daily dose of cetirizine 10 mg during 2 weeks, and the other 17 received 10 mg twice a day. The symptomatic score used was based on: sneezes number, nasal itching, nasal secretion, nasal congestion, ocular itching, lacrimation, weight gain, sedation and additional methylprednisolone usage. All symptoms were scored on a 0-3 scale (0: absent; 1: mild; 2: moderate; 3: severe). A mean 8 points daily score during the previous week was required for recruitment. Nasal eosinophilia was determined at baseline and at the end of treatment. The study was conducted in may 1992. We did not find significant differences between the two groups, except in sneezes number and sedation. Both groups improved their symptoms, in comparison with the basal week (p < 0.01) and reduced their oral steroid use (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of intestinal pathogenicity of Yersinia spp. strains isolated from human feces].

BACKGROUND: Yersinia enterocolitica is a human pathogen which an acts on the intestine by basically enteroinvasive mechanism. Its virulence has been related with the presence of a plasmid of 40-50 MD which codes a series of properties. There are strains of Y. enterocolitica and of other species assimilated to the Y. enterocolitica group which lack the virulence plasmid. In these cases there is a problem in evaluating the pathogenic ability on the intestine of these bacterias when isolated in faeces. METHODS: A study of 30 Yersinia spp. strains including growth in a magnesium oxalate medium, Reg-Congo and agar (CR-MOX), sculine hydrolisis (Sc), pyrazinamidase activity (Pyz) and salicine fermentation (Sal) was performed. In addition, the presence of virulence plasmid (VP) was determined. RESULTS: Twenty-two strains identified as Y. enterocolitica presented the virulence pattern (CR-MOX+, Pyz-, Sal/Sc-) and 21 were VP+. Seven strains isolated were CR-MOX-, Pyz+, Sal/Sc+ and VP- being typed as Y. fredericksenii (6) and Y. kristensenii (1). The remaining strain was CR-MOX- and VP- but Pyz, Sal/Sc were also negative, being identified as Y. enterocolitica. CONCLUSIONS: By the tests referred the authors were able to identify and evaluate the pathogenicity of Yersinia spp. isolated in faeces. These techniques may be used in the microbiology laboratory as a method which aids to evaluate the diagnosis of intestinal infections caused by Yersinia spp.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗