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Biomedical subjects

F Ortega

Publications and source records attributed to F Ortega.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Immunophenotypic heterogeneity of multiple myeloma: influence on the biology and clinical course of the disease. Castellano-Leones (Spain) Cooperative Group for the Study of Monoclonal Gammopathies.

In 112 untreated myeloma patients we have analysed the immunophenotype of plasma cells both by immunofluorescence (IF) and immunocytochemistry (APAAP). Both techniques yielded similar results pointing to an important degree of heterogeneity in antigenic expression not only between different patients but also within the same patient. The expression of CD38 and Han-PC1 antigens (Ags) was almost constant (greater than 90% positive cases), while CD9 was detected in 66% of the cases. On the other hand, less than one third of patients were positive for CD10, CD20 and HLA-DR and generally with a weak expression (less than 30% positive plasma cells). In occasional cases plasma cells were weakly positive for the myelomonocytic markers CD13 (9%), CD15 (25%) and CD14 (6%). The possibility that this heterogeneity might be the result of different stages of differentiation of the neoplastic clone is suggested both by the positive correlation in the expression of some of these antigens (CD10, CD9, CD20, HLA-DR) and by the relationship between CD10 and myeloid antigens with immature plasma cell morphology. Finally, the cALLA antigen does not seem to be of significant value in predicting survival. Moreover, none of the other markers explored showed a clear influence in the course of the disease, although the tendency towards a lower survival found for the CD20+ cases as well as the association of the expression of some antigens and advanced clinical stage, may warrant further studies in a larger series of patients.

Aged↗

[Inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung: presentation of 2 cases, one of them endobronchial].

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IP) is a rare pathological entity. Although, the pulmonary affection is the most frequent, any other organ can be involved. Its etiopathology is unknown. The disease is considered as a reactive process constituted by chronic inflammatory elements and a benign behavior. The lack of a specific clinical setting and the low profitability of the bloodless techniques makes mandatory the thoracostomy for a definitive diagnosis. We report two cases of pulmonary IP. One of them with an endobronchial localization which is a infrequent variety, scantily reported in the medical literature. We discuss the clinical and etiopathologic aspects of this rare pathological entity.

Adolescent↗

Cushing's disease and cutaneous alternariosis.

Alternaria species are common plant pathogens, but a rare cause of human infection. We present a patient with cutaneous alternariosis that revealed a relapse of an old case of Cushing's disease. Immunosuppression following the excessive glucocorticoid production seemed to contribute to the development of dermatosis. We also present a review of the literature on the association of Cushing's disease and cutaneous alternariosis. Our case is unique because the ketoconazole therapy that we used was successful in the treatment of both diseases.

Aged↗

Superoxide dismutase in strains of the genus Flavobacterium: isolation and characterization.

Two electrophoretically different forms of superoxide dismutase, one of them containing manganese-protein and the other iron-protein, were detected in eleven different strains of the genus Flavobacterium. The activities of the different strains were similar to those described for other bacteria. The two molecular forms of the enzyme differed clearly with regard to activity, electrophoretic behaviour, sensitivity to cyanide and peroxide, and NaCl requirement. Both molecular forms were isolated from Flavobacterium halmephilum. Molecular mass absorption spectra, metal content, optimum pH, heat-sensitivity and stability were described.

Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose↗

[Pathogenesis of peripheral cytopenias in hemophiliac patients].

The frequent occurrence of peripheral cytopenias is a common clinical fact in patients with HIV-1 infection, and its pathogenetic mechanism is not clear, although several hypotheses have been proposed. Such cytopenias are frequently observed in haemophilic patients, in whom the immunologic alteration induced by continuous antigenic stimulants derived from plasma concentrate therapy has been postulated as an additional causative factor. One-hundred and forty five haemophiliacs treated with commercial antihaemophilic concentrates were studied. The patients were divided into three therapeutic groups according to the mean number of units of therapeutic factor VIII administered per Kg every year in the four years prior to the study (group I: less than 500 U; group II: between 501 and 1500 U; group III: more than 1500 U). The occurrence of cytopenias in the patients was co-ordinated with the presence or absence of HIV infection and the therapeutic group. The statistical studies showed clear correlation between peripheral cytopenias and presence of anti-HIV markers, regardless of the amount of concentrates perceived (except for the total neutrophil count).

Factor IX↗

Acceptability of visual analogue scales in the clinical setting: a comparison with verbal rating scales in postoperative pain.

Pain is the clinical symptom most difficult to evaluate. Although clinical trials methodology have permitted assessment of pain objectively through rating scales, these strategies have not been used in clinical setting. The present study was undertaken to determine if visual analogue scales could be useful in the measurement of postoperative pain in usual medical practice. The study comprised 212 patients with abdominal, orthopedic or gynecological surgical procedures within the previous 24 h. Patients evaluated their pain using a verbal rating scale (VRS) of five points or a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 10 cm. The investigators also evaluated patient pain through a VAS. The results obtained showed that a high correlation between VRS and VAS could be established in all patients (p less than 0.001). The VAS of patients and researchers were also found to be highly correlated (p less than 0.001). When values of each group were compared by pain intensity a total agreement of VAS scores at low pain level could be established, but differences were found at high pain intensity levels, suggesting that physicians scored lower than patients when pain was severe to unbearable. It is concluded that VAS could be a reliable method to assess pain in clinical setting.

Adult↗

[Analysis of the treatment of postoperative pain at 3 hospitals].

Postoperative pain management protocols have been examined in a total of 212 patients from three Spanish hospitals. Metamizole was the analgesic drug most frequently prescribed (50%) followed by pethidine (18.4%). To a lesser degree, aspirin, pentazocine, lysine acetylsalicylate, paracetamol and buprenorphine were used. Important differences among the hospitals were found when choosing the analgesic. The dosage prescribed varied and in general, drugs were prescribed at lower doses than the daily defined dose (DDD). Intramuscular route was the most used. Only 27.6% of the patients received the prescribed doses and 43.3% received a lower one. This was basically due to a greater interval of dosing. 14.6% of the patients were painless while 25.5% showed intense and unbearable pain. From this study one may conclude that when metamizole is preferably used as an analgesic drug, it is given at a smaller dose than that recommended and in addition, nurses decrease even more the doses. An important number of patients were found with intense pain even though analgesic drugs were given.

Analgesics↗

The nature of blast cells in myelodysplastic syndromes evolving to acute leukaemia.

The blast cells from nine patients with an overt acute leukaemia following a previous myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are analyzed with a panel of monoclonal antibodies as well as by morphological and cytochemical criteria. By integrating the results obtained with these three approaches the leukaemia in 6 patients was assessed as myeloid-granulocytic and/or monocytic-, in two as mixed- megakaryoblastic/myeloid- and in one as lymphoid. A good correlation between morphology, cytochemistry and immunological markers was observed in 7 out of the 9 cases. In three cases a noteworthy percentage of J5+ cells was detected. The exceptional finding of lymphoid as well as megakaryocytic and myeloid transformations suggests that the target cell for these leukaemias could be a pluripotent stem cell.

Aged↗