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C Ruiz

Publications and source records attributed to C Ruiz.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Pulmonary artery aneurysm and thrombosis caused by vasculitis in Behçet's disease].

Behcet's disease in a 27-year-old male is described. The patient presented fever, dyspnea and hemoptysis. A chest X-ray revealed right hilar enlargement. Exploratory thoracotomy revealed a pulsating mass in the superior lobar artery consistent with aneurysm. Pulmonary biopsy confirmed necrotizing vasculitis of the tissue consistent with Behcet's disease. Pulmonary arteriography showed and aneurysmatic enlargement of the bifurcation between the mid and righ inferior lobar arteries, with thrombosis of the upper right and lower left lobar arteries. Resolution of symptoms was achieved through treatment with corticoids and azathioprine.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Lymphocytes of human term decidua decrease cell adhesion to a plastic substrate.

Although human decidual lymphocytes have been widely studied, their function and possible interaction with trophoblast are still unclear. Here we show that whereas human early (EDL) and term (TDL) decidual lymphocytes were unable to kill human trophoblast by necrosis (assessed by the 51Cr-release assay) or apoptosis (DNA fragment assay), TDL but not EDL decreased trophoblast adhesion to a plastic substrate as determined by a [3H]thymidine assay. This effect, however, was not selective for trophoblast, as TDL also decreased the adhesion to plastic of human decidual stromal cells and HeLa cells. Our results suggest that TDL may play a role in placental detachment during parturition by decreasing trophoblast or decidual stromal cell adhesion.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1997

Impact of human immunodeficiency virus infection on mortality among young men and women in Spain.

BACKGROUND: This paper describes the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) mortality among young adults in Spain with specific reference to other causes of death. METHODS: Based on death registration data for the period 1980-1993, HIV/AIDS was compared against all other causes of death by gender, using specific rates in the 25-44 age group and standardized rates for potential years of life lost (PYLL). RESULTS: In 1993, HIV/AIDS was the leading cause of death among men aged 25-44 years (21.8% of all deaths) and the second leading cause of death among women (14.9%), exceeded only by cancer. Since 1982, the trend in the overall standardized mortality rate for men in the 25-44 age group has been reversed, showing a progressive increase. Similarly, since 1984 there has been a halt in the decline in female mortality. For both sexes, maintenance of these trends in mortality was largely ascribable to the effect of HIV/AIDS deaths which registered a marked rise, a rise far sharper than that witnessed for variations in all other causes studied. In 1993, the adjusted PYLL rate for HIV/AIDS for ages 1-70 rose to 615 per 100,000 population in men and 156 in women. These values accounted for 9.2% and 5.8% of PYLL for all causes, thereby ranking HIV/AIDS behind motor vehicle accidents as the second leading cause of premature death in men, and behind motor vehicle accidents and breast cancer as the third leading cause in women. For both sexes, the rise in the PYLL rate for HIV/AIDS from 1992 to 1993 proved far greater than that for all other causes of death. CONCLUSION: In Spain, HIV/AIDS has become the leading cause of death among young adults and is counteracting improvements in mortality due to other causes. It should therefore be regarded as a priority public health problem.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Cultured human decidual stromal cells express B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) and stimulate allogeneic T cells.

The origin and function of decidual stromal cells (DSC), the main cellular component of the decidua, are uncertain. Although the general consensus is that they are fibroblastic cells involved in fetal trophoblast nutrition, several authors have demonstrated that these cells can carry out immunological functions and that at least a subpopulation of them may be of hematopoietic origin. Human DSC precursors or predecidual cells (preDSC) purified by expansion in culture express a surface phenotype recalling that of dendritic cells. In the present study, we show by flow cytometry that these cells also express B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86), two antigens involved in the costimulation of T cells by antigen-presenting cells. Cultured DSC were also able to stimulate allogenic T cells in vitro. Using an immunohistochemical technique, we found that in cryostatic sections of early human decidua, CD80 and CD86 were expressed mainly by DSC located around the decidual vessels, a location compatible with preDSC rather than fully differentiated DSC. Our results suggest that preDSC are involved in antigen presentation.

Antigen Presentation↗
PubMed1997

Pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis at AIDS diagnosis in Spain: epidemiological differences and implications for control.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the differential factors associated with pulmonary versus extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at AIDS diagnosis in Spain. DESIGN: Analysis of AIDS surveillance data. METHODS: Data about AIDS patients, aged 12 years and over, diagnosed in 1995 were taken from the Spanish AIDS Register. The respective proportions of cases presenting with pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB at AIDS diagnosis were analysed by gender, age, HIV transmission category, prison record, province, country of origin and CD4+ lymphocyte count. A multivariate analysis was carried out using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 6161 AIDS cases analysed, 20.1% presented with pulmonary TB and 20.4% with extrapulmonary TB. Overall, TB showed association with men, age under 30 years, injecting drug users (IDU), cases of heterosexual HIV transmission, and concurrent or past stay in prison. Frequency of TB proved no different among foreign-born patients. Pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB showed a similar distribution for most of the variables. Current prison inmates registered a high risk of pulmonary TB [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 4.2; 99% confidence interval (CI), 3.1-5.8] compared with patients without prison record, and ex-prison inmates registered an intermediate risk (OR, 2.3; 99% CI, 1.8-3.0). Among patients with TB at AIDS diagnosis, pulmonary TB was associated with subjects currently in prison (OR, 2.1; 99% CI, 1.5-3.0) and injecting drug use (OR, 1.5; 99% CI, 1.0-2.4). Pulmonary TB presented with higher CD4+ lymphocyte counts than extrapulmonary TB (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest the importance that recent transmission of TB may be having among young adults, IDU and prison inmates in particular, and calls for a review of control strategies.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1997

Determination of plasma lipid hydroperoxides by an NADPH/NADP+ coupled enzyme reaction system. Evaluation of a method.

Several techniques based on different principles have been proposed to measure lipid hydroperoxides. Enzymatic methods are sensitive and can be quite specific but they are subject to interference by inhibitors and not all are stoichiometric. The present work proposes some modifications of the Heath & Tappel (Anal Biochem 1976; 7:184-91) enzymatic method of determination of lipid hydroperoxides in order to standardize and automate it and to meet the analytical criteria required for a biological assay. The proposed new protocol and the automated assay give acceptable within-run and between-run precisions, with coefficients of variation of 3.34% and 5.80%, respectively, at the usual plasma lipid hydroperoxides content. The recovery is 98.7 +/- 4.89%, and the method is linear for a wide range of contents and sensitive (10 mumol/l) enough to measure the plasma lipid hydroperoxides content.

Automation↗
PubMed1997

[Pulmonary nocardiosis: presentation of 3 clinical cases].

INTRODUCTION: Nocardiosis is an infectious disease that frequently involves to the respiratory tract. Nocardia asteroides is the predominant human pathogen. Nocardiosis is difficult to diagnose and that's why its incidence is not well established. CASES: Three cases diagnosed in a Pneumology Section are reported. None of them was affected by AIDS and all of them were initially diagnosed from bronchopneumonia. Empirical antibiotherapy was initiated and because of the unsatisfactory progress, bronchoscopy was performed in all cases and in one case a transthoracic puncture was made. Nocardia spp. was then isolated and this let to began with a specific treatment. All the patients progress satisfactorily in their respiratory infection. DISCUSSION: Although there are usually factors that predispose to nocardiosis, it can also occur in absence of these, as it happened in one of report patients. The clinical and radiological manifestations are not, in many cases enough to reach the diagnosis. Thus germ isolation is very important, and invasive procedures are often essential to obtain a quality samples to cultivate. Sulfonamides were considered drugs of choice, but nowadays, many authors propose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Imipenem, amikacin have also proved to be effective.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Validity and reliability of the migraine self-questionnaire Alcoi-1995].

INTRODUCTION: In epidemiological investigation valid, reliable means of diagnosing the illnesses studies are essential. OBJECTIVE: To validate the self-questionnaire 'Alcoi 1995' for the diagnosis of migraine. METHODS: We used the questionnaire Alcoi-1992 (which had been validated previously) to find the prevalence of migraine in homogeneous populations. After this, we selected the significant items to obtain a shorter, more specific questionnaire for diagnosis of migraine, which we called 'Alcoi 1995'. We selected a population of patients and healthy volunteers. The diagnosis of migraine (neurologist and self-questionnaire) was made on criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS, 1988). RESULTS: There were 71 persons included in the study, 40 patients (5 men and 35 women those average age was 39.7 +/- 14.4 years) and 31 healthy volunteers (15 men and 16 women with an average age of 36 +/- 14.4). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and the Kappa concordance index for migraine (100%, 100%, 100%, 100% and 1); migraine with no aura (75%, 100%, 100%, 86% and 0.79) and migraine with a typical aura (100%, 88%, 63%, 100% and 0.71) were calculated. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a high degree of validity and reliability when the self-questionnaire is used for the diagnosis of migraine. It is a tool for use in epidemiological studies which is quick and easy to use, and is cheap.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Prevalence of migraine in a homogeneous population using the self-questionnaire 'Alcoi-1995'].

INTRODUCTION: There are numerous studies of the prevalence of migraine and very varied findings. Amongst the many reasons for this would seem to be the use of questionnaires for screening populations, absent or incorrect validation of these questionnaires and the use of impracticable diagnostic criteria. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of migraine in a homogeneous population using the self-questionnaire 'Alcoi 1995' which had previously been validated for the diagnosis of migraine. A self-questionnaire was given to all workers in the same company. Diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS, 1988) were used for diagnosis of migraine. RESULTS: The study included 140 persons (43.6% men and 56.4% women with an average age of 26.7 +/- 4.8 years). There was a prevalence of headache and migraine (IC 95%): 90.8% (75.01-100) and 24.3% (16.3-32.3) respectively. The sex prevalence of headache and migraine was 88.5% (88.3-88.8) and 11.5% (3.4-19.4) for men and 34.2% (21.5-47) for women respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There are a large number of studies of the prevalence of migraine with wide variability in the figures obtained (1-2 at 35%). These variations depend on the population studied, age and sex sampled, diagnostic criteria used and the method employed in the survey. After validation of the questionnaire for diagnosis of migraine, this should be used in homogeneous populations before use in broad population studies. Our findings support the use of a suitably validated questionnaire as a useful method for the diagnosis of migraine in epidemiological studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Primary ciliary dyskinesia with frontal sinus agenesis].

A 36-year-old man had a history of recurrent respiratory infections and bilateral bronchiectasis. Sinus radiography showed absence of the frontal sinuses. Electron microscopy of the bronchial mucosa revealed ultrastructural ciliary abnormalities. The clinical features and diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia are described.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Current status and clinical experience in the treatment of tracheobronchial stenoses with self-expanding metallic stents].

The development of symptomatic stenosis in the bronchial tree can lead to high risk asphyxia. The implantation of metallic prostheses (stents) can provide palliative resolution of stenosis and alleviate the acute symptoms of these patients. We assess the efficacy of expandable metallic stents for treating various types of tracheobronchial stenosis. Sixteen Wallstent type expandable metallic prostheses were implanted in 16 patients with tracheobronchial stenosis (12 malignant and 4 benign) in the interventional radiology unit under fluoroscopic and endoscopic guidance. The prostheses were placed correctly and no complications were observed, such that symptoms improved immediately. Three patients with post-intubation stenosis required additional treatment with laser therapy during follow-up examinations. All the patients with malignancies died from the underlying disease, but with open airways and no tracheal symptoms. Metallic prostheses are a valid alternative for palliative treatment of malignant tracheobronchial stenosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Prenatally diagnosed de novo apparently balanced complex chromosome rearrangements: two new cases and review of the literature.

Complex chromosome rearrangements (CCR) are rare structural rearrangements. Currently six cases of prenatally diagnosed balanced de novo CCR have been described. We present two new cases of prenatally ascertained balanced de novo CCR. In the first case, an amniocentesis revealed a balanced de novo three-way CCR involving chromosomes 5, 6, and 11 with a pericentric inversion of chromosome 5 [four breaks]. In the second case, a balanced de novo rearrangement was identified by amniocentesis which involved a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 3 and 8 and a CCR involving chromosomes 6, 7, and 18 [six breaks]. The use of whole chromosome painting helped elucidate the nature of these rearrangements. A review of the postnatally ascertained cases suggests that most patients have congenital anomalies, minor anomalies, and/or developmental delay/mental retardation. In addition, there appears to be a relationship between the number of chromosome breaks and the extent of phenotypic effects. The paucity of information regarding prenatally diagnosed CCR and the bias of ascertainment of postnatal CCR cases poses a problem in counseling families.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after liver transplantation: response to chemotherapy.

An increased incidence of lymphoproliferative disorders in immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients has long been recognised. Lymphoproliferative disorders occur in 2% of orthotopic liver transplant patients. Different therapies have been used, but the optimal treatment remains unknown. Relatively little information is available on experience with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Three children who developed Burkitt-like, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas after liver transplantation are described. The disease failed to regress after initial management, which included a reduction in immunosuppression. With cytotoxic chemotherapy all three achieved complete remission, which continued 36+, 35+, and 16+ months after diagnosis. Results suggest that in selected cases chemotherapy can be safe in late-onset lymphomas appearing after solid organ transplantation.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗
PubMed1996

Cultured human decidual stromal cells express antigens associated with hematopoietic cells.

Although decidual stromal cells (DSC) have classically been considered to play a nutritional role during pregnancy, several reports have demonstrated that they can also exert different immune activities. Furthermore, some authors have occasionally found antigens on DSC normally expressed by immune cells. In this study, we isolated and cultured 12 human DSC lines and studied them with immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies against antigens associated with hematopoietic cells. Decidual stromal cells exhibited a constant phenotype: they were CALLA (CD10)-positive and DR-positive, although the expression of CD45, the leukocyte common antigen, was found to be very weak or negative. We also detected myelomonocytic antigens CD11b (CR3), CD13, CD16 (Fc gamma RIII) and CD36, although DSC lacked CD14, CD15 and CD33. B cell antigens CD20, CD21 (CR3), CD23 (Fc epsilon RII) and CD24 were expressed. DRC-1, an antigen detected on follicular dendritic cells (FDC), was also observed on DSC. When these cells were cultured in the presence of progesterone, they expressed desmin and prolactin (PRL), findings that confirmed their identity as DSC. The phenotype described, together with the immune activities reportedly carried out by DSC, suggest that DSC may play a role in the maternal-fetal immune relationship.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1996

Immune phenotype and cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes from human term decidua against trophoblast.

Flow cytometric data were used to compare the phenotype of term decidual lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes. Unlike peripheral blood lymphocytes, a significant percentage of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD16+ term decidual lymphocyte populations expressed the CD69 activation marker. The relative proportions of CD38 in CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ populations were more than twice as large in term decidual lymphocytes as in peripheral blood lymphocytes. As reported for early decidual lymphocytes, the expression of CD38 and CD69 by term decidual lymphocytes suggests that these cells are also regionally activated. However, term decidual lymphocytes showed no spontaneous cytotoxicity against normal trophoblast or its tumoral counterpart, JEG cells. After stimulation with interleukin-2, these lymphocytes became cytotoxic, as did peripheral blood lymphocytes. The relevance of this latter result to the immune control of the physiological and pathological invasion of the decidua by the trophoblast is discussed.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗
PubMed1996

Ipsapirone, a 5-HT1A agonist, suppresses REM sleep equally in unmedicated depressed patients and normal controls.

To determine whether ipsapirone, a 5-HT1A agonist, differentially suppresses REM sleep in depressed patients compared with normal controls, we administered placebo, ipsapirone 10 mg, or ipsapirone 20 mg in a double-blind, random order before bedtime in 18 unmedicated patients with depression and 16 age-matched, gender-matched normal controls. Compared to placebo, ipsapirone affected REM sleep measures equally in depressed patients and controls as follows: (1) increased REM latency; (2) reduced total REM percent, REM time, and REM density; and (3) delayed the onset of REM sleep. In addition, ipsapirone had similar effects in patients and controls in other sleep measures: (1) reduced total sleep time; (2) delayed sleep onset time; and (3) increased sleep latency, stage 1%, stage 2%, the amount of stage 3 & 4 sleep in the first non-REM period, and wake time after sleep onset. The study does not support the hypothesis that downregulated 5-HT1A receptors mediate the pathophysiology or sleep disturbances of depression, although further studies are needed as these patients did not differ from controls in baseline sleep measures.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Daily defined doses of parkinsonian drugs in Alcoi].

BACKGROUND: Some authors have suggested that the use of DDD (defined daily doses) of L-dopa may be useful as an indicator of the frequency of Parkinson's disease. AIM: To determine the measurement for L-dopa and selegiline in Alcoi. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have obtained the intakes for L-dopa and selegiline between January and December, 1990 and we have calculated the DDD/1,000 inhab/day. RESULTS: During the study period, we have found that the mean intakes were 18,000.969 mg and 53,800 mg for L-dopa and selegiline, respectively. And so, the L-dopa intake in Alcoi was 0.60 DDD/ 1,000 inh, and the selegiline intake was 0.21 DDD/1,000 inh. DISCUSSION: Comparing the other data of the literature, specially in scandinavian countries, the obtained intake for L-dopa was low, and that could indicate that the frequency of the disease in Alcoi was lower.

Antiparkinson Agents↗