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Biomedical subjects

E Franco

Publications and source records attributed to E Franco.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Effect of different preservation solutions on adenine nucleotide content and metabolism in human kidney transplantation.

Differences in purine metabolism produced by three preservation solutions were studied by determining the adenine nucleotide (ATP, ADP, AMP, and IMP) and nucleoside (adenosine, inosine, and hypoxanthine) levels in human kidney cortical biopsies. Forty kidney allografts were studied using University of Wisconsin (UW) solution (n = 20), Euro-Collins (EC) solution (n = 12), and modified EC solution with mannitol (M; n = 8). No significant differences were found between the three solutions studied with regard to ATP, ADP, or AMP changes. The mean ATP level (nmol/mg prot +/- SEM) at the end of preservation in the UW group was 2.7 +/- 0.3 nmol/mg, in the EC group 3.8 +/- 0.7 nmol/mg, and in the M group 2.3 +/- 0.4 nmol/mg. ATP 30 min after reperfusion in the UW, EC, and M groups was 5.7 +/- 0.8 nmol/mg, 6.4 +/- 1.0 nmol/mg, and 4.6 +/- 0.5 nmol/mg, respectively. However, an important difference appeared in the catabolic products determined. Kidneys perfused with UW solution had a significantly higher level of adenosine (2.6 +/- 0.6 nmol/mg), inosine (11.8 +/- 2.2 nmol/mg), and hypoxanthine (18.1 +/- 2.1 nmol/mg) at the end of cold storage than those perfused with EC (0.4 +/- 0.1 nmol/mg, 2.0 +/- 0.8 nmol/mg, and 7.1 +/- 1.4 nmol/mg) and M solutions (0.2 +/- 0.05 nmol/mg, 0.5 +/- 0.1 nmol/mg, and 5.2 +/- 0.6 nmol/mg; P < 0.05). These levels returned to initial values 30 min postreperfusion and there were no differences with the EC or M solution groups at that time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1994

Hepatitis A, B, C and D in a community in Italy of immigrants from NE Africa.

A total of 213 subjects from a community in Italy of immigrants from Somalia and other NE African countries were enrolled in this study to evaluate the prevalence of HAV, HBV, HCV and HDV infections and to assess their possible risk factors. Of the subjects, 45 per cent (96) were female and 24 per cent (52) were under 12 years old. The age range was from 1 to 67 years and the mean age was 24 years. Eighty-three per cent (177 subjects) were born in Somalia, 10 per cent (21 subjects) in Ethiopia, and the rest in Djibouti, Egypt or Saudi Arabia. The 213 subjects were administered a questionnaire which covered socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors resulting from Western medical practice, traditional medicine, personal behaviour and living conditions. Blood was drawn from 209 subjects to ascertain the presence of HbsAg, HBeAg, anti-HAV, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, anti-HCV and anti-HDV. The results of this study show an HAV prevalence of 96 per cent (an 87.5 per cent prevalence in children under 12), and an HBV prevalence of 32 per cent (a 3.3 per cent prevalence of HBsAg carriers). No subject under 11 was HBV positive and no woman tested positive for HBeAg, confirming the extreme unlikelihood of vertical transmission of HBV. The prevalence of HBV is closely correlated with age (ranging from 2 per cent in those under 12 to 59 per cent in subjects over 39).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Are the apparent effects of cigarette smoking on lung and bladder cancers due to uncontrolled confounding by occupational exposures?

It has been suggested that the well known associations between smoking and cancer may in part reflect inadequately controlled confounding due to occupational exposures. The purpose of the present analysis is to describe the association between cigarette smoking and both lung and bladder cancers, taking into account the potential confounding effects of over 300 covariates, most of which represent occupational exposures. A population-based case-control study was undertaken in Montreal to investigate the associations between a large variety of environmental and occupational exposures, on the one hand, and several types of cancer, on the other. Interviews were carried out with male incident cases of several sites of cancer, including 857 lung cancers and 484 bladder cancers. A group of non-smoking-related cancers, comprising 1,707 interviewed subjects, was used as one control group. Additionally, 533 population controls were interviewed and constituted a second control group. Interview information included detailed lifetime smoking histories, job histories, and other potential confounders. Each job history was reviewed by a team of experts who translated it into a history of occupational exposures. These occupational exposures, as well as nonoccupational covariates, were treated as potential confounders in the analysis of cigarette smoking effects. Regardless of whether population controls or cancer controls were used, the odds ratio (OR) between smoking and lung cancer (ranging from 12 to 16 for ever vs never smokers) was not materially affected by adjustment for occupational exposures. The odds ratios for bladder cancer (ranging from 2 to 3) were also unaffected by confounding due to occupational exposures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Embolization of non-tolerated non-functioning kidney graft: alternative to surgical removal.

The results of treatment by percutaneous transcatheter embolization in eight cases of non-tolerated non-functioning kidney graft are presented. The symptoms resulting from non-tolerance of the renal graft were fever, pain and haematuria. Embolization was well tolerated in all eight cases and the only adverse effect was post-embolization self-limited fever in five cases. The symptoms of non-tolerance of the graft disappeared immediately in all cases, with minimal morbidity and no mortality. In only one patient was it necessary to perform second embolization procedure to achieve permanent control of symptoms. We conclude that percutaneous embolization of non-tolerated non-functioning kidney graft is an effective procedure with significantly less morbidity than with surgical graft nephrectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Incidence of Norwalk virus infections during a prospective epidemiological study of drinking water-related gastrointestinal illness.

To determine the seroprevalence of Norwalk virus and whether Norwalk virus contributed to an observed increase in illness in tap water drinkers participating in a prospective epidemiological study, sera collected during the study were examined for changes in Norwalk virus antibody titer, using a specific enzyme immunoassay. Antibodies to Norwalk virus were measured in sera collected in March, June and September 1988 and in June 1989, and antibodies were found in 79% of the individuals. Seroprevalence increased with age, being 55% (ages 9-19), 79% (20-39), 87% (40-49), 84% (50-59), and 100% (60 and older). Norwalk infections occurred in 33% of the individuals during the course of the study. The highest rate of infection (expressed as a monthly rate) was observed during the summer of 1988. These results confirm that a large number of infections owing to Norwalk viruses occur throughout the year. A previous seroconversion or a high serum titer were not always protective. Finally, there was no detectable difference in infection rate between consumers of tap water and consumers of water treated by reverse-osmosis units, suggesting that Norwalk virus infections were not responsible for the excess of gastrointestinal illness observed in tap water drinkers during this epidemiological study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Risk factors for acute non-A, non-B hepatitis and their relationship to antibodies for hepatitis C virus: a case-control study.

A case-control study was carried out comparing 333 case subjects with non-A, non-B hepatitis and 1095 hospital control subjects. Of 333 case subjects, 197 (59%) were positive for hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV). Excluding blood transfusion and intravenous drug use, surgical intervention and dental therapy were strongly associated with anti-HCV-positive cases: in particular, obstetric and gynecology surgical intervention was found to be strongly associated with HCV positivity (odds ratio [OR] = 32; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7, 147). Raw shellfish consumption was a risk factor for anti-HCV-negative cases (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.0, 5.1), thus suggesting an enterically transmitted virus in sporadic non-A, non-B hepatitis in Italy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

[Importance of the pre-donation epidemiological survey to detect donors with a risk of transmitting HCV].

PURPOSE: To determine if the investigation of previous clinical features through an inquiry could be useful to predict HCV infection in blood donors as assessed by recombinant immunoblot assay. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From january 1990 to august 1991, 79 HCV seropositive blood donors by recombinant immunoblot assays (58 RIBA 1 and 21 RIBA II) were selected to be inquired and to perform a clinical examination. The inquiry included the following parameters: age, sex, social environment, history of liver disease, presence or absence for parenteral risk factors (surgery, blood transfusion, odontological procedures, acupuncture, tattoos, etc...). RESULTS: 1) General data: mean age, 43 years (range 20-65); male/female 54/25 (ratio 2.16); urban/rural environment 50/29 (ratio 1.72); new/regular blood donors 17/62 (ratio 0.27). 2) Inquiry results: In seven cases (8.9%) previous symptoms were detected. Hepatic stigmata were present in 12 donors (15.2%). A 67.0 showed previous surgical procedures; 48.1% had odontological history; 24.0% were recipients for blood transfusion; parenteral treatment using nondisposable material were detected in 19 cases (24.0%); acupuncture in 4 donors (5.0%); tattoos in only one case. Social habits were: alcoholic consumption in 44.3% and regular medicine ingestion in 19.0%; a 81.0% had a unique partner and a 8.9% preferred multiple heterosexual contacts. A 29.1% inhabit in unfamiliar house and the remaining 70.9% lived in apartments buildings; the mean of family members was 3.7 persons (range 2-8). REMARKS: a) It is pointed out the scarce and physical expression of the HCV infection. So in many aspects the inquiry is useless and time consuming. b) Nevertheless, we have detected some parenteral risk factors in seropositive cases. Regarding this particular aspect the inquiry is useful. Taken into account the previous we suggest to add an item with the parenteral risk factors to the ordinary self-answering inquire, addressed to all blood donors in each donation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Incidence, clinico-biological characteristics, and clinical course of 1,203 monoclonal gammopathies (1971-1992)].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of monoclonal gammopathies (MG) in our sanitary district, to determine the associated diseases, and to analyse their clinical course along a period of over 20 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 1,203 patients with MG, of whom 397 had multiple myeloma (MM) and 806 had non-myelomatous monoclonal gammopathies (NMMG). All patients were diagnosed and followed in the Department of Haematology of the Miguel Servet Hospital, in Zaragoza, between january 1971 and december 1992. The SWOG criteria for MM and those proposed by Kyle for NMMG were followed in all cases. The explorations performed in every patient included physical examination, x-ray skeletal survey, peripheral blood study, bone-marrow aspiration or biopsy, study of liver and kidney function. The protein study carried out in blood and urine included agarose gel electrophoresis and electroimmunofixation. Descriptive statistics and determination of actuarial accumulated risk for the transformation of MG undetermined significance (MGUS) into malignant MG (MMG) were also carried out. RESULTS: Incidence: The yearly incidence of MG remained stable up to 1985 as 25 new cases; from that time on, a 30-40% yearly increase was noticed, this increase being mainly related with NMMG. Distribution: MM included 397 patients (33.0%), while 806 cases (67.0%) had NMMG. In these last were included those MG associated to haematologic malignancies, 139 cases (11.5%) or to other diseases, 286 cases (23.8%), as well as MGUS, 347 cases (28.9%), and in 34 cases the MG acquired a transient character. The mean age in the series was 62.1 years, ranging between 2 and 92, and the M/F ratio was 1.13. IgG was the commonest immunochemical type, 762 cases (63.3%), followed by IgA, 214 cases (17.8%) and IgM, 114 cases (9.5%) Multiple MG appeared in 3.8% of the cases, 64 instances, with monoclonal component present only in urine. Of the MG associated to blood diseases, the highest frequency corresponded to lymphoproliferative disorders (74.8%), and of those MG associated to other disease, neoplasms and liver diseases were the commonest. The second place in frequency corresponded to MGUS, in which a periodical follow-up with median duration of 37.8 months was kept in 93.6% of the cases. Ten patients evolved into MMG within a median of 60 months, having an actuarial accumulated risk of 4.5%, 15% and 26% at 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: (1) MG are relatively frequent disorders, representing an important number of interventions for a general haematology department each year. (2) MM is the commonest of all MG, followed by MGUS. (3) The clinical importance of MM lies upon the possibility of evolving into MMG. In this series, ten patients developed MMG within a median of 60 months and having an actuarial risk of 4.5%, 15% and 26%, respectively, at 5, 10 and 15 years.

Female↗
PubMed1994

Structure and expression of a polyubiquitin gene from the crustacean Artemia.

We have characterized two polyubiquitin genes from the crustacean Artemia franciscana. One of them, Ubi1, has nine ubiquitin units and an intron of a minimum size of 3.5 kb that ends 7 bp before the initiator ATG. The 5' end of the transcript from this gene has been identified by anchored PCR. The existence of the other gene (Ubi2) was inferred from several cDNA clones that differ from Ubi1 in the C-terminal extension and in the 3' untranslated region as well as in the nucleotide sequence of the coding region. We find two transcripts of ubiquitin genes, of 2.7 and 3.3 kb. Hybridization of RNA blots with an oligonucleotide specific for Ubi2 gene demonstrates that this gene codes for the 3.3 kb transcript. Ubiquitin messenger RNAs are present in the dormant embryos and their steady-state levels are maximum at 8 h after resumption of development, declining thereafter. The Ubi2 gene transcripts are less abundant but its proportion in relation to the other transcript does not vary with development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

[Malignant neoplasms and kidney transplantation].

In 661 renal transplantations, 2 potentially migrated tumours (0.38%), 5 preexisting neoplasias (0.76%), and 31 "de novo" tumours were seen in 29 patients (4.4&). Although of very low incidence, the likelihood of tumour migration from elderly donors, given the circumstances surrounding removal, offers a high risk. None of the preexisting neoplasias relapsed following transplant. The highest prevalence was seen in skin (40%), lung (13%), kidney (13%) and bladder (6.6%) "de novo" tumours. Incidence of lymphoma was low. Dominant etiological factors of the recipient were older age, effective and tolerated immunosuppression, viral infections, environmental agents and antigenic stimulation of the graft. Skin lesions have responded well to local treatment, without need to discontinue immunosuppression, a measure that is mandatory in other malignant tumours. Also, the conclusions of a round table during the 25th National Meeting of Urotransplantation of the Spanish Association of Urology held in 1994 on "Oncology and Renal Transplantation" are presented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Retrospective analysis of hemotherapy support in 226 cases of myelodysplastic syndromes].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the transfusion requirements (red cells and platelets) in 226 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The number of patients under study was 226: 59 with refractory anaemia (RA), 49 with sideroblastic anaemia (RSA), 56 with refractory anaemia with excess of blast cells (RAEB), 48 with RAEB in transformation (RAEBT), and 14 with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML). The period of the study was from January 1975 to December 1992. The mean age of the series was 67.4 years (ranging between 28 and 92) and the male/female ratio was 1.8. Transfusion frequency (TF) was defined as the time elapsed between two consecutive transfusions of two units of packed red cells. A platelet transfusion (PT) was comprised of 6 units of platelets or 1 unit obtained by thrombopheresis. The statistical analysis was performed with the chi 2 and Student's tests. RESULTS: Anaemia was present in 96.9% of the patients, regardless of the cytologic classification. Haemorrhages appeared in 41.6% of the cases with maximal frequency in CMML (78.6%) and minimal in RSA (10.2%). TF: Transfusion was required by 90.2% of the patients (86% of the RA, 79.6% of the RSA, 48.4% of RAEB, 97.9% of the RAEB-T, and 100% of the CMML). The mean TF was 1.5 months (1.9 for RA, 1.7 for RSA, 1.3 for RAEB, 0.9 for RAEB-T, 2.2. for CMML). PT: Platelet support was needed by 38.1% of the patients (30.5% of RA, 8.1% of RSA, 48.2% of RAEB, 58.3% of RAEB-T and 64.3% of CMML). The mean number of PT per patient was 7.2 (5.2 for RA, 3.8 for RSA, 9.7 for RAEB, 10.2 for RAEB-T, 7.1 for CMML). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The differences appreciated in TF were significant for the good prognostic groups (RA + RSA) as compared with the poor-risk ones (AREB + AREB-T + CMML) (p < 0.01), although significance is lost when these groups were taken one by one. For PT, significant differences appeared when comparing RA + RSA with RAEB + RAEB-T + CMML (p < 0.001); when the groups were compared one by one, significant differences were found only for RA versus RSA (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: 1) Red cell support was required by 90.2% of the patients with MDS, while platelet support was needed in 38.1% of the cases. 2) The cytologic poor-risk groups (RAEB, RAEB-T and CMML) required greater transfusion support as a whole than did the good prognostic ones (RA + RSA). 3) However, only RA showed significant differences with respect to RSA regarding PT, the remaining groups showing no such differences. 4) An irregular pattern was seen in RA and CMML with respect to PT in the former and to both TF and PT in the latter.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Hepatitis B mass immunization of adolescents: a pilot study in a community.

The National Type Specific Hepatitis Surveillance System (SEIEVA) and seroepidemiological studies have shown that in addition to newborns from mothers who are carriers for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), adolescents are at high risk of acquiring type B hepatitis virus because of increasing importance of the heterosexual transmission of this virus. In order to evaluate logistic problems and acceptance rate of adolescents to mass vaccination against hepatitis B, a pilot study was carried out among all 7th grade children registered in the 9 schools of an hepatitis B endemic area located in the suburbs of Naples. After meetings held by the local health department with school teachers and parents, 1219 out of 1250 (97.5%) invited children received the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine; 1215 and 1209 received, respectively, the second and third doses. Anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) values were studied in 406 subjects one month after the third dose, and 21 out of 406 (5.2%) had anti-HBs values less than 10 IU/L. We consider 95% of subjects with anti-HBs values greater than 9 IU/L a good achievement for a field vaccination program. The high acceptance rate of vaccination found in our study outlines the importance of active offer of vaccination combined with school involvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Assessment of purine metabolism in human renal transplantation.

Cortical levels of nucleotides and their degradation products from 42 transplanted human kidneys have been studied. Biopsies were performed during renal harvesting just before cooling, at the end of cold storage, and following reinstallment of renal blood circulation. ATP levels fell, and AMP and degradation products (inosine monophosphate [IMP], inosine, adenosine, and hypoxanthine) increased during cold storage and returned to near-normal values 30 min after recirculation. The major degradation product found was hypoxanthine, indicating very poor xanthine oxidase activity in human kidneys. The sum of adenine nucleotides (ATP+ADP+AMP) did not significantly decrease after cold storage, but adenylate energy charge (ATP+1/2ADP/ATP+ADP+AMP) was reduced to half, being recovered in implanted kidneys. The sum of adenine nucleotides was significantly reduced after implantation. The rate of acute tubular necrosis was higher in kidneys preserved for more than 30 hr. Kidneys with acute tubular necrosis had significantly lower levels of the total pool of adenine nucleotides at reperfusion, but there was no correlation between incidence of acute tubular necrosis and ATP or other metabolite levels in the kidneys before or during cold preservation. The success of human kidney transplantation does not seem to depend only on the pool of residual nucleotides at the end of cold storage but on other factors that determine the ability of the cell to recover a normal energy state after reperfusion.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1993

Clostridium perfringens and somatic coliphages as indicators of the efficiency of drinking water treatment for viruses and protozoan cysts.

To find the most suitable indicator of viral and parasitic contamination of drinking water, large-volume samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of pathogens (cultivable human enteric viruses, Giardia lamblia cysts, and Cryptosporidium oocysts) and potential indicators (somatic and male-specific coliphages, Clostridium perfringens). The samples were obtained from three water treatment plants by using conventional or better treatments (ozonation, biological filtration). All samples of river water contained the microorganisms sought, and only C. perfringens counts were correlated with human enteric viruses, cysts, or oocysts. For settled and filtered water samples, all indicators were statistically correlated with human enteric viruses but not with cysts or oocysts. By using multiple regression, the somatic coliphage counts were the only explanatory variable for the human enteric virus counts in settled water, while in filtered water samples it was C. perfringens counts. Finished water samples of 1,000 liters each were free of all microorganisms, except for a single sample that contained low levels of cysts and oocysts of undetermined viability. Three of nine finished water samples of 20,000 liters each revealed residual levels of somatic coliphages at 0.03, 0.10, and 0.26 per 100 liters. Measured virus removal was more than 4 to 5 log10, and cyst removal was more than 4 log10. Coliphage and C. perfringens counts suggested that the total removal and inactivation was more than 7 log10 viable microorganisms. C. perfringens counts appear to be the most suitable indicator for the inactivation and removal of viruses in drinking water treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗