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Biomedical subjects

F Salazar

Publications and source records attributed to F Salazar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Substance P receptor expression in healthy and inflamed human pulp tissue.

AIM: To use radioreceptor analysis for comparing substance P (SP) receptor expression in human pulp tissue samples collected from teeth having a clinical diagnosis of acute irreversible pulpitis, healthy pulps and teeth with induced inflammation. METHODOLOGY: Five pulp samples were obtained from teeth having a clinical diagnosis of acute irreversible pulpitis. Another 10 pulp samples were obtained from healthy premolars where extraction was indicated for orthodontic purposes. In five of these premolars inflammation was induced prior to pulp collection. All of the samples were processed and labelled with 125I-SP. Binding sites were identified by 125I-SP and standard SP competition assays. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney (post-hoc) tests were used to establish statistically significant differences between the groups. RESULTS: Substance P receptor expression was found in all human pulp tissue samples. Most receptors were found in the group of pulps from teeth having a clinical diagnosis of acute irreversible pulpitis, followed by the group of pulps having induced inflammation. The least number of receptors was expressed in the group of healthy pulps. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the group of healthy pulp and both inflamed pulp groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Substance P receptor expression in human pulp tissue is significantly increased during inflammatory phenomena such as acute irreversible pulpitis.

Adolescent↗

Improved preoperative iron status assessment by soluble transferrin receptor in elderly patients undergoing knee and hip replacement.

A poor preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) status is frequently encountered among adult patients scheduled for corrective surgery of the locomotive system, representing the main risk factor for blood transfusion. The soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) has become a highly specific parameter for the detection of iron deficits as it can differentiate between iron deficiency anaemia and anaemia of chronic disease, because of the lack of effect by associated inflammation, unlike ferritin. The objectives of this study were to evaluate patients with the prevalence of risk for transfusion, the effect of inflammation on ferritin (F) values and functional iron deficiency in elderly patients with advanced degenerative arthropathy scheduled for hip or knee replacement. This observational, prospective study included patients over 50 years, operated for hip or knee replacements between April and June 2004. Of 218 patients studied, 87 (39%) presented with Hb levels between 10 and 13 g/dl. The prevalence of functional iron deficit was 27% (sTfR > 1.76 mg/l), while only 8.6% of patients displayed F levels below normal. As expected, C-reactive protein levels were elevated in 24.8% of patients and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated in 50%. These inflammatory markers did not correlate with levels of either F or sTfR. Multiple factors can affect F levels, such as the inflammatory status of osteoarthritis in the elderly, obesity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs therapy and low physical performance. As sTfR is not affected by inflammation, it has emerged as a primary parameter for the evaluation of iron status during preoperative assessment among patients scheduled for arthroplasty surgery. Our data strongly suggest that sTfR measurement contributes to improve patient management.

Aged↗

Treatment of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome periodontitis.

BACKGROUND, AIMS: Conventional mechanical treatment of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome periodontitis has a poor prognosis. This report describes an effective antimicrobial treatment of rapidly progressing periodontitis in an 11-year old girl having Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome. METHOD: Clinical examination included conventional periodontal measurements and radiographic analysis. Occurrence of major suspected periodontopathic bacteria was determined by selective and non-selective culture and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification. Presence of cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr type 1 virus was determined by a nested-PCR detection method. Therapy included scaling and root planing, oral hygiene instruction, and systemic amoxicillin-metronidazole therapy (250 mg of each/3 times daily/10 days) which, based on follow-up microbiological testing, was repeated after 4 months. Supportive periodontal therapy took place at 2 visits during a 16-month period. RESULTS: At baseline, 10 of 22 available teeth demonstrated severe periodontal breakdown. At 16 months, probing and radiographic measurements revealed no teeth with additional attachment loss, and several teeth exhibited significant reduction in gingivitis and pocket depth, increase in radiographic alveolar bone height and clinical attachment level, and radiographic evidence of crestal lamina dura. Baseline subgingival microbiota included Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (3.4% of total isolates), Prevotella nigrescens (16.4%), Fusobacteriumnucleatum (14.3%) and Peptostreptococcus micros (10.6%), as well as cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr type 1 virus. At termination of the study, culture and PCR examinations showed absence of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. micros and herpesviruses, and P. nigrescens and F.nucleatum each comprised less than 0.1 % of subgingival isolates. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that controlling the periodontopathic microbiota by appropriate antibiotic and conventional periodontal therapy can arrest Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome periodontitis.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗

Detection of bancroftian filariasis in human blood samples from Sorsogon province, the Philippines by polymerase chain reaction.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for diagnosing Wuchereria bancrofti infection in a small village in the province of Sorsogon, the Philippines. Of 54 night-time blood samples collected, 4 (7.4%) were found to be microfilaremic as determined by combined direct blood film examination and membrane filtration of blood followed by blood film examination. However, utilization of the SspI PCR assay to detect repeated W. bancrofti DNA sequences in human blood doubled the number of microfilaremic individuals to 8 (13.0%). The results of this survey suggest that utilization of diagnostic tools based on microscopy could underestimate the true prevalence of W. bancrofti in the Philippines.

Animals↗

[Leiomyosarcoma of the paranasal sinuses with intracranial involvement: report of a clinical case and review of the literature].

We describe a 53 year old man with a two months history of frontal headache and right visual loss, with complete right blindness at the moment of diagnosis. Neither nasal obstruction nor endocrine symptoms were found. Computerized Tomography showed a neoplasm involving both paranasal sinuses and sellar region, with bilateral orbital extension. The patient underwent a bifrontal craniotomy with apparent complete excision. Histopathologic examination proved smooth muscle cells sarcoma (leiomyosarcoma). Clinical evolution was unfavorable, with rapid local recurrence. The patient died of cerebellar metastasis 4 months after the initial diagnosis and treatment. Leiomyosarcoma of the sinonasal tract is an unusual tumor, and we have found only 63 cases previously reported. The most frequent clinical presentation is nasal obstruction. Surgery is the treatment of choice, as far as radiotherapy or chemotherapy do not appear to slow disease progression. No relationship has been found between the aggressiveness of leiomyosarcoma of the sinonasal tract and morphologic parameters; instead, prognosis is dependent on the distribution of disease at clinical onset. Leiomyosarcoma of the sinonasal tract may be regarded as a locally aggressive neoplasm with only limited metastatic potential.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Transient neurologic symptoms after spinal anaesthesia using isobaric 2% mepivacaine and isobaric 2% lidocaine.

BACKGROUND: Transient Neurological Symptoms (TNS) syndrome following subarachnoid anaesthesia was initially associated with hyperbaric lidocaine 50 mg/ml, but has also been reported with most local anaesthetics, including hyperbaric mepivacaine 40 mg/ml. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of TNS after subarachnoid anaesthesia using isobaric mepivacaine 20 mg/ml and isobaric lidocaine 20 mg/ml. METHODS: Eighty patients of both sexes, ASA class I-II, scheduled for elective minor orthopaedic surgery under subarachnoid anaesthesia, were prospectively included and randomly allocated to receive 40-60 mg of either isobaric mepivacaine 20 mg/ml (Group M) or isobaric lidocaine 20 mg/ml (Group L). Patients were evaluated on the first postoperative day by one investigator unaware of the grouping, looking for symptoms suggestive of TNS, such as pain or dysaesthesias in the buttocks or lower limbs with or without back pain. RESULTS: TNS symptoms were observed in three patients (7.5%) of Group M and in one patient (2.5%) of Group L, without statistically significant differences between the groups. Symptoms had an abrupt onset and relief, lasted from 45 min to 24 h, and had a complete resolution without sequelae. The only statistically significant difference between groups was longer motor blockade in Group M (P=0.0031). CONCLUSION: In this study TNS was associated with isobaric mepivacaine 20 mg/ml, with an incidence of 7.5%, and with isobaric lidocaine 20 mg/ml, with an incidence of 2.5%, in patients having orthopaedic procedures in the supine position.

Adolescent↗

Microbiological features of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome periodontitis.

Papillon-Lefevre syndrome patients exhibit hyperkeratosis palmo-plantaris and severe periodontitis. The syndrome is an autosomal recessive trait, but the mechanism of periodontal destruction is not known. This report presents the clinical and microbiological features of an 11-year old girl with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome. Clinical examination included conventional periodontal measurements and radiographic analysis. In samples from 3 deep periodontal lesions, the occurrence of major suspected periodontopathic bacteria was determined by selective and non-selective culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification, and the presence of cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr type 1 virus by a nested-PCR detection method. 10 of 22 available teeth demonstrated severe periodontal breakdown. Major cultivable bacteria included Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (3.4% of total isolates), Prevotella nigrescens (16.4%), Fusobacterium nucleatum (14.3%) and Peptostreptococcus micros (10.6%). A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. nigrescens, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Eikenella corrodens were identified by PCR analysis. The patient's non-affected parents and older brother revealed several periodontal pathogens but not A. actinomycetemcomitans. The viral examination demonstrated cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr type 1 virus in the subgingival sample of the Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome patient. The father and brother yielded subgingival cytomegalovirus but not Epstein-Barr type 1 virus. We hypothesize that human herpesviruses in concert with A. actinomycetemcomitans play important rôles in the development of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome periodontitis.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗

Oxidant inhibition of alphaLbeta2 integrin adhesion: evidence for coordinate effects on conformation and cytoskeleton linkage.

Dithiothreitol (DTT) and other dithiol antioxidants with closely spaced thiol pairs strongly activate leukocyte function antigen-1 (LFA-1, alphaLbeta2 integrin) to bind intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Because direct biochemical modification of LFA-1 by DTT is not apparently involved, we investigated the possible role of a reduction-oxidation (redox)-sensitive adhesion-regulatory pathway. Phenylarsine oxide (PAO), an oxidant selectively reactive with closely spaced pairs of thiol groups, inhibited LFA-1-dependent adhesion of human natural killer and HSB2 T leukemia cells to murine cells expressing human ICAM-1. PAO also induced disappearance of a conformation-sensitive LFA-1 epitope recognized by KIM127 antibodies and promoted an increase in total apparent cytoskeleton-linked LFA-1 in which a novel cytochalasin D-resistant linkage was involved. Exposure of PAO-pretreated cells to DTT caused a decline in LFA-1/cytoskeleton linkages in conjunction with rapid restoration of KIM127 epitope expression and LFA-1 adhesive function. Implicating an intracellular site of action were findings that (1) an epitope-tagged PAO probe bound predominantly to intracellular proteins but not detectably to immunoprecipitation-purified LFA-1 chains, and (2) membrane permeant but not impermeant dithiol antioxidants reversed PAO adhesion-inhibitory effects. These results support the concept of a reversible redox-sensitive linkage between LFA-1 and cytoskeleton by which oxidants and antioxidants may exert profound opposing effects on LFA-1 conformation and adhesive function.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Direct vision bladder catheterization using a short rigid ureteroscope.

We describe the use of a short, rigid ureteroscope to place a Foley catheter into the bladder under direct vision. The Circon ACMI MICRO-6 short ureteroscope was passed through a 22F Foley catheter modified with a catheter punch device. The catheter was placed rapidly and without difficulty in 2 patients with significant undermining of the trigone after transurethral incision of the prostate. This technique is rapid, simple, and avoids the potential complications of blind catheter placement following difficult transurethral procedures.

Catheterization↗

Efficient harvest of in vivo IL-2-activated CD3+ lymphocytes for adoptive immunotherapy by selective leukapheresis (lymphocytapheresis).

Autologous activated lymphocytes are an alternative to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for adoptive immunotherapy. We developed a method of selective lymphocytapheresis that harvests large numbers of interleukin-2 (IL-2)-activated autologous T lymphocytes. Five patients with metastatic malignant melanoma received 2.4 x 10(6) IU/m2 IL-2 sc. once a day 5 days a week for 3 weeks before lymphocytapheresis. Four patients went through lymphocytapheresis without IL-2 pretreatment. After IL-2 pretreatment, activated memory T cells increased significantly. Increasing CD3+ cells paralleled the significant enhancement of the cytotoxic activity against an HLA-A2-matched allogeneic melanoma cell line during the 3 weeks of IL-2 pretreatment. Lymphocytapheresis was performed 72 h after the last IL-2 injection to obtain the maximum recovery of activated lymphocytes at the peak of the rebound phenomenon. IL-2 pretreatment resulted in many more lymphocytes in the harvest than without pretreatment. The percentage, number, and lytic units of CD3+ cells harvested by the differential apheresis were significantly higher than were present in peripheral blood before lymphocytapheresis. These results show that pretreatment of melanoma patients with low-dose IL-2 before lymphocytapheresis allows the selective harvest of large numbers of activated T lymphocytes for adoptive immunotherapy.

Adult↗

[Monomorphic adenoma of basal cells in a minor salivary gland].

Tumors of the minor salivary glands represent 15% of all salivary gland tumors. Monomorphic adenoma is an uncommon histological type that usually is located in the parotid gland, minor salivary glands of the upper lip and less frequently, palate. The clinical and histological features of a case of palatal monomorphic adenoma that was diagnosed and treated in our hospital are described.

Adenoma↗

Interleukin 10 pretreatment protects target cells from tumor- and allo-specific cytotoxic T cells and downregulates HLA class I expression.

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with a variety of reported effects including inhibition of monocyte major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-dependent antigen presentation, type 1 helper T cell cytokine production, and inhibition of T cell proliferation. Herein we report the effect of IL-10 pretreatment on antigen presentation to tumor- and allo-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Prior incubation of human melanoma cells with recombinant IL-10 (rIL-10) for 48-72 h resulted in a dose-dependent, up to 100% inhibition, of autologous CTL-mediated, HLA-A2.1-restricted, tumor-specific lysis. Allo-specific CTL cytotoxicity against Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) was also inhibited, demonstrating a protective effect also on lymphoid cells. In contrast, IL-10 pretreatment of allogeneic LCL or K562 targets had either no effect or slightly enhanced cytotoxic activity mediated by freshly isolated or IL-2-activated natural killer cells. Flow cytometric analysis with monoclonal antibodies against HLA-A2, or nonpolymorphic determinants of MHC class I proteins, revealed a 20-50% reduction in cell-surface expression, whereas intercellular adhesion molecules 1, and 2, and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 levels were not affected. In addition, relative to untreated target cells, IL-10 pretreated tumor cells were unaltered in their capacity to affect CTL-mediated lysis by cold target inhibition, demonstrating that the effect of IL-10 is unrelated to the initial binding of CTL to their targets. These results are compatible with an effect of IL-10 on the MHC class I antigen presentation pathway, and suggest a novel mechanism of immune tolerance, based on escape from CTL-mediated tumor and allo-transplant rejection.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Immediate adverse reaction to aminophylline.

We present a patient who experienced an immediate adverse reaction following intravenous administration of aminophylline. Skin prick, intradermal, and patch tests, RAST and indirect ELISA assays with aminophylline, theophylline and ethylenediamine were negative. A positive histamine release test was found only with ethylenediamine. Single-blind placebo-controlled challenges were positive with aminophylline and negative with theophylline. Our results suggest the reaction was a type I hypersensitivity reaction to ethylenediamine, but a nonimmune mechanism could not be excluded.

Administration, Oral↗

[Combined chemotherapy with the FEM protocol in advanced gastric cancer].

Thirty one patients with diagnosis of Gastric Cancer were admitted in this study. Median age was 71 years (range 24-82). Twenty two were male. No one had previous chemotherapy. Functional capacity was 0-1 in 26/31 (60.6%). More common symptoms were: loss of weight 21/31 (75.1%) and abdominal pain in 13/31 (40.3%). Ten patients were Borrmann III and nine Borrmann IV. Twenty one had surgery: 12 palliative gastrectomy and 9 exploratory laparatomy. Twenty three cases were adenocarcinoma and 8 undifferentiated carcinoma. FEM regimen was administered (5 Fluoruracil 600 mg/m2/day 1 and 8, Epidoxorubicin 30 mg/m2/day 1 and Mitomycin 10 mg/m2/day 1). Ten of 24 patients (41.7%) achieved partial remission with a median survival of 10.5 months. Three patients achieved subjective response with a median survival of 6 months. Median survival for the non response was 3 months (range 2-7 months). Survival difference between responders and no responders was statistically significant. Survival among the adjuvent group was 5.7 months (range 2-16 months). One out of three patients survived without evidence of disease at the end of this study. Twenty three patients died and 5 were lost to follow up. Alopecia was the most common secondary effect in 74%, nausea and vomiting in 60% and leukopenia below 3000 x mm3 in 54%. Cardiotoxicity was not documented in any case.

Adult↗

Endoscopic tissue diagnosis of gastric involvement in the staging of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The results of radiologic and endoscopic examinations and endoscopic biopsies of the stomach and duodenum in the staging of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were assessed in 147 patients. Radiologic results were positive for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 36 of 147 patients, with diagnosis of NHL from biopsy specimens of 16 of these 36 patients. Results of endoscopic studies were abnormal in 35 of 147 patients and 20 of these 35 patients also had biopsy specimens positive for NHL. Twenty-four patients (16.3%) had NHL involvement of the gastric and/or duodenal mucosa demonstrated by biopsy material. More than 15% of the patients whose primary tumors were nodal, and 19% of those patients with extranodal involvement also had lymphoma involvement of the stomach and/or duodenum. According to the results of the endoscopic biopsies, 15.1% (10 of 66 patients) had Stages I and II, and 17.2% (14 of 81 patients) had Stages II and IV of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Adolescent↗