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Biomedical subjects

F Caballero

Publications and source records attributed to F Caballero.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

BanTeC: a software tool for management of corneal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Until recently, all cornea information at our tissue bank was managed manually, no specific database or computer tool had been implemented to provide electronic versions of documents and medical reports. The main objective of the BanTeC project was therefore to create a computerized system to integrate and classify all the information and documents used in the center in order to facilitate management of retrieved, transplanted corneal tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the Windows platform to develop the project. Microsoft Access and Microsoft Jet Engine were used at the database level and Data Access Objects was the chosen data access technology. CONCLUSIONS: In short, the BanTeC software seeks to computerize the tissue bank. All the initial stages of the development have now been completed, from specification of needs, program design and implementation of the software components, to the total integration of the final result in the real production environment. BanTeC will allow the generation of statistical reports for analysis to improve our performance.

Corneal Transplantation↗
PubMed2005

CARREL: an internet platform for the distribution of human organs for transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Human organs for transplant from a deceased donor are presently distributed in Spain by means of manual handling and telephone or fax transmission of data. This procedure is conducted organ by organ with the information transmitted sequentially. This process has several inherent drawbacks, the main one being the long length of time to allocate organs on many occasions. A difficulty of this type could be solved by means of an electronic system of data management and transmission through the Internet. CARREL is a platform that could provide an alternative organ distribution procedure. The main objective of CARREL was to increase the efficiency, safety, rapidity, and quality of organ distribution for transplantation, thereby helping the allocation process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CARREL is a database system, accessible through the Internet, to which any medical center authorized to perform organ transplants in Spain may subscribe. CARREL allows information share between centers, including administrative, anthropometric, immunological, analytical, and clinical data, as well as parameters concerning donor maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: CARREL is an online system that can reduce organ distribution time, directly store complete information concerning the donor, and also share data between centers. It facilitates communication between transplant coordinators at different centers, thereby improving and hastening candidate selection.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed2004

Cell cycle arrest and modulation of HO-1 expression induced by acetyl salicylic acid in hepatocarcinogenesis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Control of cell proliferation is important for cancer prevention since cell proliferation has an essential role in carcinogenesis. In rodent carcinogenesis models, antioxidant agents suppress carcinogen-induced cellular hyper proliferation in the target organs. Strict control of cell division is an essential process to ensure that DNA synthesis and mitotic division are accurately and coordinately executed. We studied the interplay between cell cycle and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and the effect of the acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in hepatic carcinogenesis. METHODS: Male CF1 mice pre-treated with dietary p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB; 0.5%, w/w) were fed with ASA (0.16%, w/w). We investigated the hepatic expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E, Cdk2, Cdk4, p21, p27, p53; the level of bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein and of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a marker of oxidative stress, by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The treatment with ASA produced an important attenuation in the induction of cyclin E and cyclin D1 provoked by DAB. p21 and p27 levels were increased when animals received both drugs. The administration of ASA to DAB treated animals induced Cdk2 (29%). HO-1 induction (65%) provoked by DAB was diminished by ASA administration reaching lower induction levels (23%). CONCLUSION: The deregulation of cyclin/CDK expression and the up-regulation of p21 and p27 with the administration of ASA, post-treatment of the carcinogen administration, would block the pass through out to the G0/G1 check point to permit the cells to repair their DNA and HO-1 protected the liver from reactive oxygen species produced from DAB.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Amniotic membrane transplantation for ocular surface pathology: long-term results.

Amniotic membrane transplantation has been used for >90 years for cutaneous and mucous lesions for regeneration of tissues. In recent years its effectiveness has been demonstrated in the treatment of diseases of the ocular surface. We present our experience with 53 amniotic membrane transplantations for different ocular pathologies with two different forms of implantation. The 53 cases were divided into three groups according to pathology and type of implant. Group 1 included 24 eyes with amniotic membrane grafts after resection of extensive conjunctival lesions. Group 2 included 19 eyes with amniotic membrane grafts for corneal pathology, and group 3 consisted of 10 eyes with amniotic membrane patches for corneal epithelial defects without ulceration. No intra- or postoperative complications were observed during an average follow-up period of 32 months (24-48 months). Group 1 demonstrated rapid healing of the lesions with minimal scarring in all cases. In group 2 a favorable response was observed in 16 of 19 cases. In group 3 complete healing was achieved in only 3 of 10 cases, and the time for which the graft remained was related to the success of the treatment. The primary intention was to achieve prolonged fixation of the implant. Finally, amniotic membrane transplantation is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of different pathologies of the ocular surface. After the resection of extensive conjunctival lesions it is currently the preferred treatment. In corneal pathology, it represents an additional therapeutic alternative when conservative medical treatments fail.

Amnion↗
PubMed2003

Formalizing an electronic institution for the distribution of human tissues.

The use of multi-agent systems (MAS) in health-care domains is increasing. Such agent-mediated medical systems can manage complex tasks and have the potential to adapt gracefully to unexpected events. However, in these kinds of systems the issues of privacy, security and trust are particularly sensitive in relation to matters such as agents' access to patient records, what is acceptable behaviour for an agent in a particular role and the development of trust both between (heterogeneous) agents and between users and agents. To address these issues we propose a formal normative framework, deriving from and developing the notion of an electronic institution. Such institutions provide a framework to define and police norms that guide, control and regulate the behaviour of the heterogeneous agents that participate in the institution. These norms define the acceptable actions that each agent may perform depending on the role or roles it is playing, and clearly specifies the data it may access and/or modify in playing those roles. In this paper, we present the formalization of Carrel, a virtual organization for the procurement of organs and tissues for transplantation purposes, as an electronic institution using the ISLANDER institution specification language as formalizing languages. We demonstrate aspects of the formalization of such an institution, example fragments in the language used for the textual specification, and how such formalization can be used as a blueprint in the implementation of the final agent architecture, through techniques such as skeleton generation.

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMed2002

Elderly donor kidney grafts into young recipients: results at 5 years.

BACKGROUND: To date, few data are available on older donor renal grafts transplanted into young recipients. We compare 63 kidneys grafts from donors older than 60 years transplanted into recipients younger than 60 years (group 1) with a control group of 235 patients in whom both recipients and donors were younger than 60 years (group 2). RESULTS: Patient survival rates at 1 and 5 years, respectively, were 98% and 95% (group 1) and 95% and 84% (group 2) (P=0.01). Graft survival rates were 95% and 83% in group 1 versus 94% and 81% in group 2, although death censoring was significant (100% and 98% group 1 vs. 96% and 86% group 2, P=0.04). In group 1, plasmatic creatinemia was significantly higher. The aged donor, female donor-male recipient combination, and the presence of acute rejection alone or together with acute tubular necrosis, were determinants for worse renal functioning at 1 year after transplantation. Seven patients had chronic nephropathy not related to any clinical parameter. CONCLUSION: We conclude that kidneys from older donors can be successfully transplanted to younger patients.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2002

Interaction of cimetidine with P450 in a mouse model of hepatocarcinogenesis initiation.

Many drugs and xenobiotics are lipophilic and they should be transformed into more polar water soluble compounds to be excreted. Cimetidine inhibits cytochrome P450. The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive and/or reversal action of cimetidine on cytochrome P450 induction and other metabolic alterations provoked by the carcinogen p-dimethylaminoazobenzene. A group of male CF1 mice received a standard laboratory diet and another group was placed on dietary p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (0.5% w w(-1). After 40 days of treatment, animals of both groups received p-dimethylaminoazobenzene and two weekly doses of cimetidine (120 mg kg(-1), i.p.) during a following period of 35 days. Cimetidine prevented and reversed delta-aminolevulinate synthetase induction and cytochrome P450 enhancement provoked by p-dimethylaminoazobenzene. However, cimetidine did not restore haem oxygenase activity decreased by p-dimethylaminoazobenzene. Enhancement in glutathione S-transferase activity provoked by p-dimethylaminoazobenzene, persisted in those animals then treated with cimetidine. This drug did not modify either increased lipid peroxidation or diminution of the natural antioxidant defence system (inferred by catalase activity) induced by p-dimethylaminoazobenzene. In conclusion, although cimetidine treatment partially prevented and reversed cytochrome P450 induction, and alteration on haem metabolism provoked by p-dimethylaminoazobenzene AB, it did not reverse liver damage or lipid peroxidation. These results further support our hypothesis on the necessary existence of a multiple biochemical pathway disturbance for the onset of hepatocarcinogenesis initiation.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗
PubMed2002

Short- and long-term success of organs transplanted from acute methanol poisoned donors.

BACKGROUND: The shortage of organs for transplantation has made it necessary to extend the criteria for the selection of donors, among others including those patients who die because of toxic substances such as methanol. Methanol is a toxic which is distributed through all the systems and viscera of the organism and tends to cause a severe metabolic acidosis. It can specifically cause serious or irreversible lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) and retina, and ultimately brain death. We present our experience with 16 organ donors who died as a result of acute methanol intoxication in 10 Spanish hospitals over the last 14 yr. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 1985 and July 1999, 16 organ donors with brain death caused by acute methanol intoxication, 13 females and three males with a mean age of 38.4 +/- 7.6 yr (interval: 26-55 yr), allowed 37 elective transplants to be performed: 29 kidneys, four hearts and four livers for 37 recipients, and one urgent liver transplantation to a recipient with fulminant hepatitis. RESULTS: The immediate postoperative period was favourable for the 38 graft recipients. None of the graft recipients presented gap anion metabolic acidosis in the immediate postoperative period, nor symptomatology or lesions of the CNS characteristic of methanol intoxication. Two patients died during the first month post-transplantation, a liver recipient and a heart recipient, at 16 and 24 days, respectively, because of acute rejection of the graft. At 1 month after transplantation 35 of the 36 recipients had been discharged from hospital with normal-functioning grafts. The last of the recipients, a kidney recipient, was discharged at 6 wk with normal-functioning graft. Actuarial survival of the graft and patient of kidney recipients at 1, 3 and 5 yr was 92.6, 77.8, and 75%, and 100, 88.9 and 83.3%, respectively; with average serum creatinines of 139.9 +/- 42.9, 150.4 +/- 42.8, and 164.4 +/- 82.5 micromol/L, respectively. At 1 yr after transplantation the three heart recipients and two of the three liver recipients had normal-functioning graft. CONCLUSIONS: Methanol intoxication is not transferred from the donor to the recipient. The survival of the graft and kidney, heart and liver recipients using organs from donors who die because of methanol does not differ in the short- and long-term from the transplants performed with organs from donors who die from other causes.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

On the promoting action of tamoxifen in a model of hepatocarcinogenesis induced by p-dimethylaminoazobenzene in CF1 mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tamoxifen (TMX) has proven to be an effective palliative treatment for advanced breast cancer with low reported incidence of side effects. TMX has been demonstrated to be an initiator and/or a promoter in the rat model of hepatocarcinogenesis. To document the long-term effect of TMX in mice treated with p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB), we have investigated the time response action of these drugs on different biochemical parameters. METHODS: A group of animals was placed on dietary DAB (0.5%, w/w) during a period of 28 weeks. Control animals received a standard laboratory diet. Two other groups of non-treated and DAB-treated animals received TMX citrate (0.025%, w/w) in the diet since day 20. RESULTS: The activities of the enzymes involved in heme synthesis and degradation as evaluated in the DAB group was not further affected by TMX. DAB and/or TMX treatment significantly increased the content of total cytochrome P450 and also the activity of glutathione S-transferase indicating liver damage. In all treated groups oxidative stress and an adaptive response of the natural defense system (catalase and superoxide dismutase) were demonstrated. Histological and morphological studies revealed liver cell hyperplasia in DAB treated group; however, only in the DAB+TMX group solid, trabecular and acinar hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed at the end of the experimental trial. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that TMX produced changes in hepatic enzyme activities which may be relevant for the metabolism and disposition of this and/or other drugs. Because liver tumors could be initiated and promoted by several agents which need to be activated, the possible hazard of TMX should be considered. This study reports that long-term treatment with TMX enhances hepatocarcinogenesis induced by DAB. The widespread use of TMX as an anticancer agent adds to the significance of this study.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗
PubMed2001

Group B Streptococcal sacroiliitis: case report and review.

Streptococcus agalactiae, or group B Streptococcus (GBS), is the major cause of neonatal meningitis and sepsis but is an uncommon infection in adults. GBS arthritis is rare, and axial involvement with sacroiliitis is even more uncommon. Microbiological diagnosis frequently relies upon positive blood cultures as synovial fluid cultures are usually negative. Severe joint damage may result due to delay in the initiation of antibiotic treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Jejunostomy for enteral feeding in surgery. Technical contribution and experience].

UNLABELLED: The necessity to maintain the nutritional integrity in patients subjected to major surgery of the superior digestive tract has been broadly accepted. The enteral nutrition for yeyunostomy is accepted as more physiologic, sure and effective than the parenteral one. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 171 yeyunostomies were indicated in: 151 patients with malignant neoplasm of the superior digestive tract, 15 with infected pancreatic necrosis, 3 bile-duodenum-pancreatic traumatisms and in 1 stenosis for gastroesophagic reflux. Depending on the pathological type, a yeyunostomy using the Witzell technique was carried out with either local or general anesthesia at a 15 to 20 cm. of the Treitz angle. To facilitate the fixation of the catheter and to avoid the stenosis of the jejunum we have incorporated, as an original technical detail, the proximal serous section with cold scalpel in about 4 cm, that is to say in the sector to be tunneled. RESULTS: There was not mortality in relation to the yeyunostomy. Among the minor complications we emphasize the abdominal distension, colic pain and diarrhea, situations that were reverted, controlling the debit and the feeding characteristics. This approach could be maintained for period of 2 months and in some cases at home. CONCLUSIONS: We emphasize the great importance of the enteral feeding for yeyunostomy, for its of easy handling, security and low cost that, together with the suggested technical detail, has allowed us to obtain a deeding road almost without inherent complications.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed2000

Early diagnosis of brain death in patients treated with central nervous system depressant drugs.

BACKGROUND: Among the main causes for the relatively small number of organ donors, the delay in the diagnosis of brain death plays a major role. Administration of drugs causing central nervous system (CNS) depression prevents diagnosis of brain death by clinical and electroencephalographic criteria until serum clearance of the drug has occurred. Confirming brain death by demonstrating persistent intracranial circulatory arrest might decrease the length of the diagnostic process. We have carried out a prospective study to investigate whether 99 mTc-hexamethyl propylenamino oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) brain scintigraphy and/or transcranial Doppler ultrasound can speed up the diagnosis of brain death in patients treated with CNS depressant drugs. METHODS: All 138 consecutive patients with severe brain lesion that progressed to brain death in our center between January 1994 and December 1996 were controlled. Of them, 36 patients aged 1 to 65 years old (mean=25.6+/-18.3 years) who met clinical and EEG criteria for the diagnosis of brain death, except for the presence of significant serum levels of barbiturates (n=34), opiates (n=8), and benzodiazepines (n=3) were distributed in three groups according to the confirmatory test used; group 1: waiting for the metabolic clearance of CNS depressant drugs, or by demonstrating intracranial circulatory arrest with 99mTc-HMPAO (group 2) or transcranial Doppler (group 3). The delay in diagnosing brain death by the three methods was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean interval between the presumptive and the definitive diagnosis of brain death was 34.4+/-32.2 hr in group 1, 17.7+/-18.3 hr in group 2, and 5.0+/-4.6 hr in group 3 (P=0.004). The between-groups analysis showed that 99mTc-HMPAO and transcranial Doppler decreased the delay in diagnosing brain death with respect to waiting for drug clearance by 49% (P=0.16) and 85% (P<0.001), respectively. Moreover, transcranial Doppler decreased this time by 72% with respect to 99mTc-HMPAO (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound and 99mTc-HMPAO brain scintigraphy can significantly reduce the time taken to confirm brain death in patients with significant serum levels of CNS depressant drugs. In this setting, transcranial Doppler is superior to 99mTc-HMPAO in reducing the waiting time for a firm diagnosis of brain death.

Adolescent↗