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Biomedical subjects

C Picado

Publications and source records attributed to C Picado.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Mechanical ventilation in severe exacerbation of asthma. Study of 26 cases with six deaths.

A prospective study was carried out in 26 patients intubated and mechanically ventilated for severe exacerbation of asthma. The age of onset of asthma and the duration of disease showed wide variations, but most of the patients were women in their fifties with chronic asthma. However, 23% had the more benign intermittent course. Most patients had a prodromal period of several days with progressive deterioration. Eight patients developed sudden attacks, in three of them aspirin-intolerance was responsible, in two patients emotional disturbances could play some role as triggering factors, and in three other patients no obvious reason was found. Identification of factors responsible for the sudden attacks may be relevant to the management of these severe cases. The majority of patients were intubated immediately on arrival or during the first hours after admission. Deaths were related to complications produced by hypoxia, or hospitalization in an intensive care unit. Probably many of these patients would not have died if an appropriate steroid treatment had been given some days before.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

[Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Clinicoradiological study of 28 cases (author's transl)].

Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae may present at any age after age five. The clinical picture varies from an acute febrile illness to a prolonged disease with affected general state and little pulmonary involvement. The radiological picture is varied but the alveolar pattern predominates, making the differential diagnosis with the bacterial pneumonias difficult. However, in the presence of an interstitial or mixed pattern, especially if generalized, pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae must be suspected. This radiological picture is particularly frequent in elderly patients, often affected by other diseases able to induce immunodepression. In such patients the radiology and the unspecific clinical picture frequently cause diagnostic delays. The presence of a pneumonia with multisystem involvement (blood, nervous system, joints, etc.) should suggest the possibility of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Pulmonary involvement in primary biliary cirrhosis.

The association of pulmonary fibrosis and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains controversial. To determine the frequency of pulmonary fibrosis in PBC, a carefully selected series of 14 PBC patients, seven patients with Sicca complex, and 14 control subjects have been studied. Seven of the 14 patients with PBC had Sjögren's syndrome, four of whom had some clinical evidence of pulmonary disease. Evaluation of ventilatory capacity, gas transfer factor, arterial blood gases, and lung mechanics were performed. Gas transfer was reduced in patients with PBC associated with Sjögen's syndrome and in patients with the Sicca complex. These results suggest that the respiratory, clinical, ad functional abnormalities found in PBC are related to the presence of an associated Sjögen's syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Application of totally automated on-line sample clean up system for extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography separation of peptide leukotrienes.

We have developed a fully automated on-line extraction-purification method for peptide leukotrienes in biological fluids using a column-switching technique. Individual leukotrienes in HPLC-collected fractions are determined by immunoassay techniques. Leukotrienes were extracted from nasal lavage samples and eluted from the solid-phase extraction cartridge into the HPLC column with methanol-ammonium acetate buffer (60:40, v/v) pH 5.4, as a mobile phase. This method provides good recoveries, excellent resolution of leukotrienes and is suitable to be combined with off-line radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzymoimmunoassay (EIA). The most important losses are observed after evaporation-concentration and lyophilization. We also have compared RIA with EIA determination. Significant differences are found between RIA values and EIA values.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Specific immune response to Phleum pratense plant profilin in atopic patients and control subjects.

BACKGROUND: Phleum pratense (Phl p) pollen is a known cause of allergic disease worldwide. Profilins have been identified as functional plant pan-allergens. The role of Phl p profilin in the specific immune response in sensitized Phl p patients is unknown. METHODS: Skin prick test and specific serum IgE levels were performed in 26 patients allergic to Phl p and in 18 nonallergic control donors. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from both groups and stimulated with crude extract or highly purified Phl p profilin, and the production of type I and type II cytokines was determined in patients and controls stimulated with specific and polyclonal stimulus. T-cell lines specific to Phl p profilin were established from PBMCs and cross-reactivity with another highly purified profilin from Parietaria judaica (Pj) was evaluated. RESULTS: Patients allergic to Phl p profilin showed increased T-cell-proliferative responses to this profilin compared with control subjects. The production of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in response to the specific stimulus was undetectable. However, the production of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in response to a polyclonal stimulus (PHA) was measurable and different for atopic patients and control subjects: IL-4 was higher (p < 0.001) in allergic patients and IFN-gamma lower (although not significant) in controls. Neither the T-cell responses nor the production of IL-4 in response to a polyclonal stimulus (PHA) correlated with the individual degree of cutaneous response to Phl p profilin or to the levels of specific Phl p IgE. The T-cell lines tested did not show any cross-reactivity with Pj profilin. CONCLUSIONS: Phl p profilin is in part responsible for the T-cell mediated immunological response in patients allergic to Phl p. The response is very specific since Phl p profilin specific T-cell lines did not show cross-reactivity with a highly homologous profilin from Parietaria judaica (Pj). The lack of correlation between the proliferative T-cell response and polyclonal IL-4 production with allergen-specific serum IgE and SPT probably indicates that some of the responding T-cells may be involved in immune reactions other than the support of IgE production.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Specific immune response to Parietaria judaica plant profilin: a low T cell proliferative response supports high IgE and skin prick test.

BACKGROUND: allergic disease caused by Parietaria judaica (Pj) has been widely documented in Mediterranean area. Profilins have been identified as widely distributed allergenic proteins. The role of Pj profilin in specific immune response in Pj-sensitized patients is unknown. METHODS: skin prick test and determination of specific and total IgE levels in serum were performed in all patients (n = 28) and non-allergic controls (n = 18). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from both groups and stimulated with crude extract or highly purified Pj profilin. The production of type I and type II cytokines was determined by specific and polyclonal stimuli in patients and controls. T-cell lines specific to Pj profilin were established and cross-reactivity with another highly purified profilin from Phleum pratense (Phl p) was evaluated. RESULTS: Pj profilin-sensitized patients showed a small but significantly increased in T-cell proliferative response to this profilin compared with non-atopic controls. The production of interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ in response to the specific stimulus was undetectable. However, the production of IL-4 in response to a polyclonal stimulus [phytohemagglutinin (PHA)] was significantly higher in atopic patients than in controls. The T-cell response did not correlate with the magnitude of response to skin prick tests with Pj profilin or with Pj-specific serum IgE levels. In addition, the production of IL-4 in response to a polyclonal stimulus (PHA) did not correlate with the individual skin prick tests to Pj profilin or with Pj-specific IgE levels in serum. The T-cell lines tested showed no cross-reactivity with Phl p profilin. CONCLUSIONS: our results suggest that Pj profilin is partly responsible for the T-cell-mediated response in patients allergic to Pj. The high skin reactivity to Pj profilin is these patients was accompanied by a small increase in the T-cell response to this profilin. The response was highly specific since Pj profilin specific T-cell lines showed no cross-reactivity with a highly homologous profilin from Phl p. The lack of correlation between the proliferative T-cell response and polyclonal IL-4 production with allergen-specific serum IgE and skin reactivity probably indicates that some of the responding T-cells may be involved in immune reactions other than those supporting IgE production.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CT of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the radiological findings of long-standing pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serial radiography and CT, including high-resolution CT scans, were performed in two patients. RESULTS: The tumor has remained radiographically stationary for 10 and 20 years, respectively. On CT, both patients showed multiple calcified pulmonary nodules, up to 1 cm in size with a perivascular distribution. Interstitial involvement was seen in one case. CONCLUSION: Calcification and perivascular location of the tumoral nodules were characteristic CT findings in our cases.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Desensitization in aspirin-sensitive asthmatics.

Tolerance to aspirin was induced in thirteen asthmatics with aspirin-intolerance. Starting with the lowest aspirin doses eliciting bronchospasm, the dose of aspirin was progressively increased up to a 1000 mg tolerance level. Tolerance was rapidly achieved when initial threshold doses were greater than 150 mg. Daily aspirin administration led to prolonged tolerance. Desensitization to aspirin may be useful in aspirin-sensitive asthmatic patients who require antiinflammatory or antithrombotic treatment.

Aspirin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early lung function changes after short heavy exposure to chrysotile asbestos in non-smoking women.

Forced spirometry, including maximal flow-volume (MEFV) curves, were evaluated in 35 non-smoking asbestos female workers submitted to a short heavy chrysotile textile exposure and compared to a case by case matched population. Exposed women presented certain respiratory signs and symptoms; they also had significantly lower forced vital capacities and maximal flow rates at higher (PEF), mid (MEF50%) and lower lung volumes (MEF25%) than women not exposed to asbestos. Duration of exposure to asbestos showed a significant negative correlation with FVC, FEV1, PEF, MEF50% and MEF25%. It is concluded that short heavy exposure to chrysotile is deleterious, causing significant reduction in lung volumes. Moreover, a significant reduction in airflow rates was also apparent.

Adult↗