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Biomedical subjects

A Torres

Publications and source records attributed to A Torres.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Experimental equine herpesvirus-1 infection in llamas (Lama glama).

Three llamas (Lama glama) were experimentally infected intranasally with an isolate of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) from the brain of an alpaca that had experienced severe neurologic signs. Two of the 3 llamas developed severe neurologic disorders following inoculation; 1 died, and 1 was euthanized in a moribund state. The third llama showed only mild neurologic signs. The euthanized llama had preexisting antibodies to EHV-1, and the remaining 2 llamas were seronegative (virus neutralization titer less than 6) at the time of inoculation. One of the seronegative llamas died acutely without production of detectable antibodies, and the other developed antibodies typical of a primary immune response. The EHV-1 virus was recovered only from a sample of the thalamus of the llama that died acutely. Histopathologic lesions were observed in the brain and retina of the dead and euthanized animals. This study verifies the pathogenic potential of EHV-1 for llamas.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Serologic evidence of coronavirus infection in New York and New England dairy cattle with winter dysentery.

Acute and convalescent sera were collected from 8 dairy herds with classic clinical features of winter dysentery. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure coronavirus antibody titers, employing calf diarrhea coronavirus as antigen. Twenty-two of the 35 animals tested (63%) showed a greater than or equal to 4-fold seroconversion. Adult cattle in all 8 herds seroconverted. These findings complement previously reported immunoperoxidase and electron microscopic evidence, suggesting an etiologic role for an enteric coronavirus in this disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Snorting benzodiazepines.

Two cases of intranasal benzodiazepine use are presented. The methods of preparation and administration of the powder and accounts of the pharmacological effects of the drugs used are described. The pattern of development and progress of the habit and its associated features are delineated. Snorting benzodiazepines appears to be more common than is currently appreciated, and the clinical complications and implications of this habit are discussed.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1991

Variation in somatic cell count, California mastitis test, and electrical conductivity among various fractions of ewe's milk.

Variation of three estimates of udder inflammation (SCC, California mastitis test, and electrical conductivity) among the foremilk, machine milk, and hand stripping samples were studied. Foremilk and hand stripping milks were taken from each individual teat; machine milk was taken from the entire udder. For this experiment a total of 30 Manchega ewes were subjected to machine milking during the 9th wk of lactation. Samples were taken in duplicate during two milkings on consecutive mornings. Significant differences were observed in the SCC and electrical conductivity, but not in California mastitis test, between foremilk and stripping milk. The stripping fraction had higher SCC (70 +/- 12%) and lower electrical conductivity (difference = .52 +/- .03 mS/cm) than did the foremilk fraction in both healthy and mastitic udders. Machine milk, foremilk, and stripping milk fractions in udders where both halves were healthy were compared. The electrical conductivity values for the machine milk were intermediate and significantly different from conductivity of foremilk and stripping fractions. The log SCC of the machine milk did not differ from that of the foremilk fraction but was significantly less than the stripping milk.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Asthma trough to Parietaria in pediatrics.

We selected 183 patients with asthma, rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis. They responded positively to Parietaria Judaica skin prick-tests. In the first test 91 were positive. Of those 11 were monosensitive and 80 polysensitive. In the follow-up tests 92 were positive, of which 5 were monosensitive and 87 polysensitive. There were 54 cases of rhinitis, of which 23 developed asthma. Of 129 asthma cases, 90 developed asthma with rhinitis. The main seasons are Spring and Autumn and activity declines during winter. 18.57% are perennial. IgE was greater in the re-examination of the polysensitive cases. The monosensative cases confirmed the clinical symptoms most characteristic of rhinitis syndrome, 16.893% and asthma with rhinitis, 49.18%.

Asthma↗
PubMed1991

Accuracy of diagnostic tools for the management of nosocomial respiratory infections in mechanically ventilated patients.

This article reviews the medical literature concerning available diagnostic tools for managing nosocomial respiratory infections in mechanically ventilated patients. The first part deals with the reliability of the clinical criteria used in diagnosing nosocomial pneumonia in such patients and the accuracy of simple markers of pneumonia such as elastin fibres stain and antibody-coated bacteria. The second part reviews the presently available non-invasive and invasive methods for diagnosing pulmonary infections acquired during mechanical ventilation. With regard to invasive methods, protected specimen brush and bronchoalveolar lavage are extensively discussed in view of the different results in the literature. At the present time, these two methods seem to be the most accurate techniques available. The fact that bronchoalveolar lavage may combine the cytological examination and the quantitative culture of the sample obtained is noted. The role of percutaneous lung needle aspiration is also mentioned. Finally, histological diagnosis of pneumonia and pulmonary postmortem biopsy cultures are reviewed as "gold-standard" reference methods for investigation in this field. Future directions for further clinical research are addressed.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1991

[Bacteremic pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi and HIV infection. Report of a new case and review of the literature].

Rhodococcus equi (Corynebacterium equi) is able to produce infections not only in animals but also in patients, usually immunosuppressed ones. We report a new case of bacteremic pneumonia in a drug addict who was also infected by HIV. X-ray film of the chest showed a cavitated infiltrate in right upper lobe. R. equi was recovered from blood, respiratory secretions and lung tissue. The patient was with a prolonged course of antibiotics and also surgical treatment. In spite of both therapies, the patient died. We believe that this infection has to be considered in HIV infected patients with cavitated pneumonia and that early surgical treatment, combined with a prolonged course of multiple antibiotics, is advisable. Finally, in view of the severity of this infection, and its relation with other opportunistic infections, we believe that could be included as AIDS diagnostic criteria.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Alpha/beta inversion of the Euplotes and Oxytricha tubulins.

Immunoblotting studies, using a polyclonal antibody specific for the alpha-tubulin of ciliates and an anti-beta-tubulin monoclonal antibody, demonstrated that the tubulins of the ciliates Euplotes and Oxytricha show alpha/beta inversion although less accentuated than that observed in Paramecium and Tetrahymena. Results suggest that (a) the alpha/beta inversion may be a common characteristic within the Phylum Ciliophora; and (b) the electrophoretic behaviour of the alpha-tubulin may be useful for establishing evolutionary relatedness between the ciliates.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Decreased insulin receptor number and affinity in subcutaneous adipose tissue in a patient with primary hyperaldosteronism].

In the present work we study the binding of insulin to its receptors in adipocytes from subcutaneous adipose tissue of left hypochondria extracted during an adrenalectomy carried out in a patient with Conn's Syndrome (left adrenal adenoma), comparing it to insulin binding to its receptors in adipocytes from subcutaneous adipose tissue of right hypochondria, obtained during a cholecystectomy because of cholelithiasis (controls). According to our results, there is an evident decrease in insulin binding to its receptors in adipocytes of the patient with Conn's Syndrome in relation to control group. This decrease in binding would be based both in a decrease in insulin receptor number as in an affinity loss of these receptors for the hormone. These facts at the receptor level could be originating a decrease in tissue response to insulin and be the base for glucose intolerance observed in patients with this pathology.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

A new approach to pharmacokinetic parameters: estimation of cefuroxime during haemodialysis.

A linear three-compartment model is proposed as a means of estimating disposition and extracorporeal elimination pharmacokinetic parameters during haemodialysis. It was created by connecting a compartment, corresponding to the amount of drug present in the dialysis cell, to the central compartment of the standard two-compartment model from which elimination would normally take place. The transfer rate constants between the central compartment and the 'dialysis cell' and vice versa were given in terms of the plasma flow, central compartment volume, and volume of plasma contained in the dialysis cell, and thus cannot be considered to be independent parameters. The product of the rate constant for elimination from the dialysis cell, k30, and the plasma volume within the cell was used to quantify the extracorporeal elimination and termed intrinsic dialyser clearance, CLint,D. The model was used to interpret the plasma level curves obtained after administering 750 mg cefuroxime by IV bolus to a group of patients undergoing haemodialysis. The distribution parameters estimated by non-linear regression were similar to those given in the literature; however, in five of the twelve cases, no estimate of cefuroxime elimination from the central compartment (k10) could be derived. On the other hand, the estimates of the elimination rate constant (k30) from the deep peripheral compartment were greater than the values given in the literature, ranging from 50.6 h-1 to 151.0 h-1 and CLint,D ranging from 3.1 h-1 to 8.90 l h-1. The error in measuring the flow of plasma which reaches the dialyser, its influence upon the estimation of the model parameters and the relationship between the parameters themselves and those customarily used in the study of drug haemodialysis are all discussed.

Cefuroxime↗
PubMed1990

Chronic and endogenous regulation of insulin receptors by catecholamines in adipocytes from patients with a phaeochromocytoma.

Insulin binding in adipocytes from patients with a phaeochromocytoma (PH) approached that of the controls (C) at low and higher concentrations of unlabeled insulin. The apparent receptor affinity was unchanged (ED50: PH 0.50 x 10(-9) M and C 0.60 x 10(-9) M). Scatchard analysis of the binding data using the negative cooperative model revealed a 46% decrease in the total number of receptors together with no changes in both K-e (PH 0.55 x 10(9) M-1 and C 0.36 x 10(9) M-1) and K-f (PH 0.13 x 10(9) M-1 and C 0.07 x 10(9) M-1). According to the two site model, an altered proportion in the two classes of insulin binding sites was detected. This was accompanied by a catecholamine-desensitization of the adipocytes to the antilipolytic action of insulin. These events could represent a final situation of a chronic and endogenous regulation by high levels of catecholamines of insulin receptors in human adipose tissue.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

Electrocardiographic abnormalities and left ventricular systolic function in Chagas' heart disease.

In chagasic patients, the electrocardiogram becomes abnormal very late in the course of the disease. Most clinical studies concerning cardiac autonomic function of chagasic patients have been carried out in this very late stage of the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess accurately the left ventricular systolic function of chagasic patients with abnormal electrocardiograms. We performed left ventricular contrast cineangiography in 44 patients with positive complement fixation test for Chagas' disease and abnormal electrocardiograms. On the basis of the electrocardiographic abnormalities found in the electrocardiogram taken the night before the hemodynamic procedure, we divided our patients into three subgroups; those with rhythm disturbances, those with ventricular conduction abnormalities, and those with rhythm disturbances plus ventricular conduction abnormalities. The chagasic patients with only cardiac rhythm disturbances, had left ventricular volumes and ejection fractions which were similar to those of controls. On the other hand, the left ventricular volumes of the chagasic patients with ventricular conduction defects, although slightly larger, were still not different from those of controls. Finally, the chagasic patients, with cardiac rhythm disturbances and left ventricular conduction defects, had the largest left ventricular volumes (P less than 0.05), and the lowest ejection fractions (P less than 0.001) of all three subgroups. These findings clearly indicate that chagasic patients, in this very late stage of the disease, have a very variable degree of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Furthermore, our results show a distinct tendency for the left ventricular volumes to increase, and for the ejection fraction to decrease; when the electrocardiogram becomes progressively more abnormal, and "mixed" electrocardiographic abnormalities appear.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Clinical results of TBI for bone marrow transplantation at Sevilla.

We report on a series on 81 patients affected with acute leukemia undergoing TBI prior to BMT. An analysis of the achieved results is given, emphasizing the limited incidence of interstitial pneumonitis in our patients (3.7%). A suitable patient selection and treatment technique is also needed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

New approaches in the diagnosis of Taenia solium cysticercosis and taeniasis.

Taenia solium cysticercosis is now recognized as a priority in Mexico and a number of other developing countries, both in public health and in economic terms. Recognition of the problem has been greatly aided in recent years by new developments in molecular diagnostics. In this paper data are presented on ELISA for the detection of anti-cysticercus antibodies and of parasite antigens in patients with neurocysticercosis and in cysticercotic pigs. Also, several biological fluids were evaluated: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum and saliva, all of which have proved useful. CSF is, however, the most appropriate for detection of antibodies and antigens in patients and serum in pigs. In addition, saliva may be especially used in epidemiological surveys. The electroimmuno-transfer blot technique (EITB) for antibody detection in patients and pigs has also proved highly sensitive and due to the use of an enriched fraction of glucoproteins, EITB is also highly specific. Cloned cDNA sequences from T. solium are now being assessed as an alternative source of antigens for immunodiagnosis. Two methods for the diagnosis of the adult stage of T. solium are also undergoing standardization. These are an ELISA for the detection of parasite antigens in fecal samples and DNA hybridization techniques for the detection of eggs in stools. Both assays have promising results and should now be assessed in larger numbers of clinical and epidemiological samples.

Animals↗