Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Navarro

Publications and source records attributed to F Navarro.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Failure of ursodeoxycholic acid to prevent acute cellular rejection after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute rejection is still a major problem after liver transplantation. Ursodeoxycholic acid has beneficial effects in cholestasis by reducing the expression of major histocompatibility complex antigens. METHODS: We have performed a double-blind randomised study comparing ursodeoxycholic acid with placebo for the prevention of acute cellular rejection after liver transplantation. Twenty-six patients received ursodeoxycholic acid 600 mg per day and 24 patients received placebo for 2 months. RESULTS: Neither rejection incidence nor rejection severity was significantly different in the two groups (p > 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that adjuvant ursodeoxycholic acid administration does not prevent rejection after liver transplantation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

[Complications and course after proctectomy for Crohn disease].

The decision to perform protectomy must be considered very seriously in the course of Crohn's disease. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the consequences of this procedure: healing, sexual disorders, quality of life and the subsequent course of the disease. From 1981 to 1993, we performed 24 proctectomies: 15 females, 9 males, mean age: 39 years (18-76), mean preoperating time: 9 +/- 4 years. Rectal and anoperineal lesions were always accompanied by pancolitis; ileal involvement was observed in 11 cases (45%) at the time of diagnosis of Crohn's disease, and in 4 cases at the time of proctectomy. Proctectomy was performed after a period of rectal exclusion in 19 patients, while the rectum was not isolated for 5 others, including 2 patients after total colectomy. The indication for surgery was based on the coexistence of a microrectum (n = 16), anal stenosis (n = 15), rectovaginal or complex fistulas (n = 15). Technical features were: close rectal dissection (n = 19), levator muscle preservation (n = 7), wall effraction (n = 8), primary closure (n = 6) or perineal wound packing (n = 8). Mean follow-up: 44 +/- 24 months, statistical analysis: Fisher's test, Wilcoxon's test and Kaplan-Meier method. No perioperative deaths were observed. An intraperitoneal collection required drainage. Mean hospital stay was 21 days. Sexual complications were: dyspareunia (n = 3), ejaculation failure (n = 1), not correlated to the type of dissection. Perineal wound healing was considered to be normal when it took less than 6 months (n = 14).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Resistance to imipenem in Enterobacter aerogenes].

BACKGROUND: In June, 1993, an Enterobacter aerogenes strain was isolated in the Hospital de la Creu Roja from Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), which was resistant against all beta-lactams, including imipenem. Since is unusual in Enterobacter sp. to isolate imipenem resistant strains, we decided to study its resistance mechanism. METHODS: To study the E. aerogenes 174004/H resistance mechanism beta-lactamase isoelectrofocalization was performed together with the determination of kinetic constants in order to characterize the beta-lactamase, and a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in order to observe the profile. RESULTS: The strain of E. aerogenes 174004/H exhibits a chromosomic beta-lactamase with a pI higher than 9.2 and a decrease in an outer membrane protein of 42 kDa, probably a porine. CONCLUSIONS: E. aerogenes 174004/H resistance against imipenem is due to an hyperproduction of a chromosomic beta-lactamase with a pI higher than 9.2 and to a 42 kDa decrease of an outer membrane protein expression.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗
PubMed1995

[Comparison of the automatized BacT/ALERT blood culture incubation and reading system and a conventional system].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the BacT/ALERT blood culture automatic management and reading system (Organon Teknika) with a conventional, nonautomatic technique (DUO, Bio-Mérieux). METHODS: 1,405 blood cultures were parallel compared. 263 of them were positive; out of these, 148 were considered as indicative of septicaemia, 38 of doubtful clinical significance and 77 as accidental contaminations. RESULTS: No differences were detected between both systems neither in the number of isolates obtained nor in the kind of microorganisms recovered or in the number of false-positive or false-negative readings. The conventional system detected 28% of significant isolates during the first 24 hours, reaching 77% after 48 hours; whereas the BacT/ALERT system had detected 57% of significant isolates after 12 hours, reaching 82% after 24 hours (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained and the automatization of the BacT/ALERT system appoint it as a firm candidate to be included into the Clinical Microbiology laboratory routine.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

In vitro activity of E-4868, a new fluoroquinolone with a 7-azetidin ring, compared with ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and fleroxacin.

E-4868, (-)-7[3-(R)-amino-2-(S)-methyl-1-azetidinyl]-1-(2,4- difluorophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-6-fluoro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid, is a new fluoroquinolone with a 7-azetidin ring substituent. The in vitro activity against clinical isolates was compared with that of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and fleroxacin. In general, activity of E-4868 against aerobic and facultative anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli was equal to or slightly less active than ciprofloxacin with the exception of Morganella morganii and Proteus spp., E-4868 MIC90, 1 and 0.5 microgram/ml, respectively. E-4868 activity was two- to eight-fold higher than ciprofloxacin against Gram-positive cocci. For anaerobic species, E-4868 activity was comparable to that of ciprofloxacin, although against the Bacteroides fragilis group E-4868 was four-fold more active than ciprofloxacin.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1994

Cloning and correct expression in E. coli of the petJ gene encoding cytochrome c6 from Synechocystis 6803.

Cytochrome c6 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803 has been isolated and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The gene coding for such a heme protein (petJ) has been cloned and properly expressed in E. coli. This procedure yields a protein preparation completely identical to that obtained from the cyanobacterial cells. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of cytochrome c6 synthesized in both organisms are the same, thus allowing us to conclude that the petJ gene product is correctly processed in E. coli. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that any cytochrome c6 is produced in the enterobacterium. The identical physicochemical and kinetic properties of the proteins isolated from both sources confirm that expression of the petJ gene in E. coli is an adequate tool to address the study of Synechocystis cytochrome c6 by site-directed mutagenesis in a parallel way to that carried out with plastocyanin from the same organism.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The extent of sodium and water administration associated with i.v. drug infusions in a surgical unit.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify sodium and water administered to surgical patients but not actually prescribed by the physician. METHODS: Computerized medication records of 1208 surgical patients who were operated on in 1992 were analysed retrospectively. Only prescriptions for intravenous (i.v.) drugs and fluids were selected. RESULTS: Thirteen of 143 i.v. drugs made up 68.3% of prescriptions for i.v. drugs. Patients received a median of three i.v. drugs daily. Patients were on i.v. therapy for a mean of 4.6 +/- 6.0 days (range 1-140, median 3 days). On 24% of patient-days, patients received more than 100 mEq of sodium which was not consciously prescribed, and on 20.4% of patient-days they had an extra daily intake of 750 ml of water or more. One fourth of the total sodium and more than 15% of fluid administered to patients was in the form of NaCl 0.9%, used as a vehicle for i.v. drugs. CONCLUSIONS: There is a considerable amount of sodium and water administered to patients without a specific prescription. The promotion of knowledge about the correct administration of i.v. drugs is an important task for the clinical pharmacist. If this is achieved, it will allow for an optimal administration of drugs as well as the prevention of possible side effects from an intended sodium and water administration.

Body Fluids↗
PubMed1994

Analysis of genes encoding D-alanine-D-alanine ligase-related enzymes in Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus flavescens.

Using degenerate oligonucleotides complementary to sequences encoding conserved amino acid motifs in D-alanine-D-alanine (Ddl) ligases, we have amplified ca. 600-bp fragments from Enterococcus casseliflavus ATCC 25788 and Enterococcus flavescens CCM439. Sequence analysis of the amplification products indicated that each strain possessed two genes, ddlE. cass. and vanC-2, and ddlE. flav. and vanC-3, respectively, encoding Ddl-related enzymes. The fragments internal to the vanC genes were 98.3% identical. The vanC-2 gene was cloned into Escherichia coli and sequenced. Extensive similarity (66% nucleotide identity) was detected between this gene and vanC-1 from Enterococcus gallinarum (S. Dutka-Malen, C. Molinas, M. Arthur, and P. Courvalin, Gene 112:53-58, 1992), suggesting that the vanC genes are required for intrinsic low-level resistance to vancomycin. The partial deduced amino acid sequences of ddlE. cass. and ddlE. flav. were identical and closely related to that of the Ddl ligase of Enterococcus faecalis (79% identity). In Southern hybridization experiments, only DNA from E. casseliflavus and E. flavescens hybridized to probes internal to the vanC-2 and ddlE. cass. genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Synechocystis 6803 plastocyanin isolated from both the cyanobacterium and E. coli transformed cells are identical.

Native plastocyanin from Synechocystis 6803 has been isolated and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The corresponding gene (petE) has been cloned and expressed in E. coli, thus leading to a protein completely identical to plastocyanin purified from the cyanobacterial cells. The petE gene product is correctly processed in E. coli as deduced from the N-terminal amino acid sequences. These results, along with the identical physicochemical and kinetic properties of the two protein preparations, confirm that expression of petE in E. coli is an adequate tool to address the study of Synechocystis plastocyanin by site-directed mutagenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

A quantitative ultrastructural and cytochemical study of TPA-induced differentiation in HL-60 cells.

The effects of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate on morphometric and stereological parameters have been studied using the HL-60 cell line as a differentiation model for the monocytic pathway. Evaluation of the differentiation was carried out by quantification of endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria and cytoplasmic granules. Changes in both nuclear and cytoplasmic volumes during TPA-induced differentiation led to a decrease of the nucleus-cytoplasmic ratio after 3 days of treatment. Plasma membrane glycoprotein pattern was also determined. The major change in cell surface was the presence of high amounts of glycoproteins containing N-acetyl glucosamine residues that make wheatgerm agglutinin lectin a valuable marker of the monocytic differentiation pathway in HL-60 cells.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1993

Increased resistance to quinolone in Catalonia, Spain.

From 1989 to 1991, the level of resistance to ciprofloxacin in our hospital increased from 0.47% to 6.7% in opportunistic Enterobacteriaceae, from 9.9% to 16% in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and from 8.27% to 31.8% in Campylobacter jejuni-coli. We also observed an increase in quinolone consumption from 1.1 in 1989 to 1.5 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 1991.

Anti-Infective Agents↗