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Biomedical subjects

F Soriano

Publications and source records attributed to F Soriano.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Liver mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of experimental nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Oxidative stress and hepatic mitochondria play a role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the disease. Fatty liver was induced in Wistar rats with a choline-deficient diet (CD; N = 7) or a high-fat diet enriched with PUFAs-omega-3 (H; N = 7) for 4 weeks. The control group (N = 7) was fed a standard diet. Liver mitochondrial oxidation and phosphorylation were measured polarographically and oxidative stress was estimated on the basis of malondialdehyde and glutathione concentrations. Moderate macrovacuolar liver steatosis was observed in the CD group and mild liver steatosis was observed in the periportal area in the H group. There was an increase in the oxygen consumption rate by liver mitochondria in respiratory state 4 (S4) and a decrease in respiratory control rate (RCR) in the CD group (S4: 32.70 +/- 3.35; RCR: 2.55 +/- 0.15 ng atoms of O2 min-1 mg protein-1) when compared to the H and control groups (S4: 23.09 +/- 1.53, 17.04 +/- 2.03, RCR: 3.15 +/- 0.15, 3.68 +/- 0.15 ng atoms of O2 min-1 mg protein-1, respectively), P < 0.05. Hepatic lipoperoxide concentrations were significantly increased and the concentration of reduced glutathione was significantly reduced in the CD group. A choline-deficient diet causes moderate steatosis with disruption of liver mitochondrial function and increased oxidative stress. These data suggest that lipid peroxidation products can impair the flow of electrons along the respiratory chain, causing overreduction of respiratory chain components and enhanced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. These findings are important in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Photobiomodulation of pain and inflammation in microcrystalline arthropathies: experimental and clinical results.

OBJECTIVE: This article presents the results of laser therapy in crystal (hydroxyapatite, calcium pyrophosphate, and urates) deposition-induced arthritis in rats and the clinical applications in humans. BACKGROUND DATA: Microcrystalline arthropathies are prevalent among geriatric patients, who are more vulnerable to the side effects of drugs. The effectiveness of laser therapy for pain relief, free of side effects, has been reported in painful conditions. METHODS: Two milligrams of each of the above-mentioned crystals was injected in both joints of the back limbs in three groups of rats; these groups were then treated with laser irradiation. Three other groups received no treatment after the injections. We determined the plasmatic levels of inflammatory markers (fibrinogen, prostaglandin E2, and TNF(alpha)), tissues (prostaglandin E(2)) and conducted anatomopathological studies. Twenty-five patients with acute gout arthritis were randomized into two groups and treated over 5 days: group A, diclofenac 75 mg orally, twice a day; and group B, laser irradiation once a day. Forty-nine patients with knee chronic pyrophosphate arthropathy were randomized into two groups and treated over 21 days; group A, diclofenac 50 mg orally, twice a day; and group B, laser irradiation once a day. Thirty patients with shoulder chronic hydroxyapatite arthropathy were randomized into two groups and treated over 21 days; group A, diclofenac 50 mg orally, twice a day; and group B, laser irradiation once a day. RESULTS: Fibrinogen, prostaglandin E(2), and TNF(alpha) concentrations in the rats injected with crystals and treated with laser decreased significantly as compared with the groups injected with crystals without treatment. Both laser therapy and diclofenac achieved rapid pain relief in patients with acute gouty arthritis without significant differences in efficacy. Laser therapy was more effective than diclofenac in patients with chronic pyrophosphate arthropathy and in patients with chronic apatite deposition disease. CONCLUSION: Laser therapy represents an effective treatment in the therapeutic arsenal of microcrystalline arthropathies.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Streptococcus pneumoniae endophthalmitis: a study of 36 cases with special reference to antibiotic resistance and treatment options.

Patients (n = 36) diagnosed with pneumococcal endophthalmitis from six Spanish hospitals between 1986 and 2004 were studied retrospectively. The diagnosis was based on clinical findings, ophthalmological examination, and isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from vitreous and/or aqueous humours of 19 patients (definite diagnosis), and from other ocular specimens of 17 patients (probable diagnosis). The mean (+/- SD) age was 69.3 (+/- 16.5) years (range 1.5-89 years), and 20 (55.5%) patients were male. The origin of endophthalmitis was considered exogenous for 34 (94.5%) patients. The most common predisposing factors were previous ocular surgery (n = 25, 69.4%), ocular trauma (n = 5, 13.9%), and close-to-eye radiotherapy (n = 3, 8.3%). Eleven (30.5%) patients underwent evisceration as the first therapeutic measure (primary evisceration), and evisceration was performed after antibiotic treatment failure (secondary evisceration) for six (16.7%) patients. Primary evisceration was performed more commonly (63.6%) during 1998-2004, while secondary evisceration was only performed during 1986-1997. Eighteen (50%) patients received intra-vitreous antibiotics (mainly vancomycin), and 31 (86.1%) patients were given systemic antibiotic therapy. The most frequent pneumococcal serogroups isolated were 6, 19, 9, 15 and 23. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of 23 isolates revealed that four belonged to the international clones Spain(23F)-1, Spain(6B)-2, Spain(9V)-3 and Sweden(15A)-25. Non-susceptibility rates (i.e., intermediately-resistant and resistant) were: co-trimoxazole, 44.8%; penicillin, 33.3%; tetracycline, 31.0%; erythromycin, 21.9%; chloramphenicol, 17.9%; rifampicin, 7.4%; cefotaxime, 5.9%; and levofloxacin, 0%. Although uncommon, pneumococcal endophthalmitis is a medical emergency because of the often aggressive clinical course, poor visual outcome and need for evisceration in a large proportion of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) Technical Notes on antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

The main objectives of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) are to harmonise breakpoints for antimicrobial agents in Europe, and to act as the breakpoint committee for the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) during the registration of new antimicrobial agents. Detailed EUCAST procedures for harmonising and setting breakpoints for antimicrobial agents are available on the EUCAST website. Beginning with the current issue, a series of EUCAST Technical Notes will be published in CMI, based on the rationale documents produced by EUCAST for each of the antimicrobial agents studied, with the aim of highlighting important background information underlying decisions on breakpoints made by EUCAST.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed2004

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis isolated from adult patients with respiratory tract infections in four southern European countries. The ARISE project.

Over a 7-month period in 2000-2001, 1213 Haemophilus influenzae, 112 Haemophilus parainfluenzae and 142 Moraxella catarrhalis isolates were recovered from adult patients with respiratory tract infections. Patients were from four southern European countries (Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece). The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates to 11 antibiotics was determined in a central laboratory. The most active drugs on the basis of MICs were levofloxacin, cefditoren, cefotaxime, cefpodoxime and amoxicillin/clavulanate. MICs > or = 2 mg/l for amoxicillin were found in 19.5, 28.6, and 75.4% of H. influenzae, H. parainfluenzae and M. catarrhalis isolates, respectively. Isolates of H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae with reduced susceptibility or that were fully resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefuroxime and clarithromycin were detected (0.2-1.8%) as well as M. catarrhalis resistant to clarithromycin (0.7%). Regular surveys of resistance patterns for antimicrobial agents are necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Drug resistance among Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in immigrants: is there a real threat everywhere?

A study was performed to determine the impact of drug resistance in tuberculosis among immigrant patients in Madrid, Spain. During the period 1995-2001, the relative proportion of isolates from immigrant patients increased from 4.4% to 24.2%. No differences between immigrants and Spanish-born patients were detected for resistance to any first-line anti-tuberculous drug. More studies are required to determine the actual incidence of resistant tuberculosis in immigrants.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed2003

Immunological properties of a DNA plasmid encoding a chimeric protein of herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein B and glycoprotein D.

A DNA plasmid containing a chimeric sequence encoding both herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein B (gB) and glycoprotein D (gD) external domains (pcgDB) was used to immunize BALB/c mice against genital HSV-2 infection. To determine the efficacy of this vaccine, groups of mice immunized with the pcgDB plasmid were compared with animals immunized with plasmids corresponding to the individual proteins (pcgBt or pcgDt), administered separately or in combination (pcgBt + pcgDt). We studied the response of the different mouse groups to viral challenge by analyzing clinical disease (vaginitis), serum antibody levels, as well as lymphoproliferative responses and cytokine production by spleen cells. Increased IFN-gamma levels correlated with prolonged survival in mice immunized with the plasmid pcgDB, relative to mice immunized with plasmids coding for the individual proteins alone or in combination. Our results show that immunization with the plasmid encoding the chimeric protein is advantageous over separate proteins. These findings may have important implications for the development of multivalent DNA vaccines against HSV and other complex pathogens.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Efficacy and pharmacodynamics of gemifloxacin versus levofloxacin in guinea pig pneumococcal pneumonia induced by strains with decreased ciprofloxacin susceptibility.

Quinolone in vivo bactericidal activity was investigated in a guinea pig pneumonia model using three Streptococcus pneumoniae strains with decreasing susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Treatment regimens resulted in values of AUC(0-24 h) and C(30 min) similar to those of standard oral regimens in human serum. Efficacy was defined as a significant difference in number of viable bacteria in the lungs compared with the control. Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and gemifloxacin were effective against the levofloxacin-susceptible strain. Only gemifloxacin achieved a >/=99.9% reduction versus control against the levofloxacin intermediate-resistant strain. Gemifloxacin achieved a 99.69% reduction and was the only quinolone significantly different from the control (P<0.05) against the levofloxacin-resistant strain. Gemifloxacin offers in vivo activity against ciprofloxacin- to levofloxacin-resistant pneumococci.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

He-Ne laser on microcrystalline arthropathies.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to assess the anti-inflammatory capacity of He-Ne laser therapy as determined by the plasmatic levels of inflammatory markers, fibrinogen, and TNFalpha and by histopathological study in rats with arthropathy induced by calcium pyrophosphate crystals. BACKGROUND DATA: Microcrystalline arthropathies are a group of diseases characterized by the deposit of different crystals in joints. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two milligrams of dicalcium pyrophosphate crystals (DCPP) were injected in both joints of the lower limbs of rats during 2 days. A group was treated with laser of He-Ne (6 mW) on the injected joints during 3 consecutive days. After 96 h of the first injection, animals were sacrificed to determine TNFalpha using the ELISA method and fibrinogen was assessed using spectrophotometry. Sections from the lower limbs were used for histopathology. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase (p < 0.001) in plasma fibrinogen levels and TNFalpha was noted between the control group and the laser-treated group. The histological transversal section of a posterior limb joint of a rat injected with DCPP showed fibroadipose tissue with diffuse chronic infiltrate. The histopathology of the group of rats injected with DCPP and subsequently treated with He-Ne laser showed no inflammatory response. CONCLUSION: He-Ne laser treatment in the microcrystalline arthropathy induced in rats by DCPP injection might have an antiinflammatory effect, evaluated by fibrinogen plasma levels and TNF-alpha (inflammatory markers) and by the histopathology regressive process.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2003

Antimicrobial resistance among clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in four southern European countries (ARISE project) from adult patients: results from the cefditoren surveillance program.

From four southern European countries (Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece) 877 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were recovered from adult patients with respiratory tract infections between September 2000 and March 2001. The antimicrobial susceptibility to 11 antibiotics was determined in a central laboratory. Penicillin resistance was high in Greece (47.1%) and Spain (25.1%) but much lower in Portugal (7.9%) and Italy (4.8%). On the other hand, erythromycin resistance was high in Italy (38.5%) and Spain (36.2%) with no statistical difference with Greece (29.4%) but reaching significance (p <0.01) with Portugal (15.7%). Resistance to levofloxacin was low (1.5%) but present in Spanish and Italian isolates. Cefditoren, a new cephem antibiotic tested, was the most potent compound (MIC90 = 0.5 microg/ml) followed by levofloxacin and cefotaxime (MIC90 = 1 microg/ml). Given the high rates of penicillin and macrolide resistance reported, there is an evident need for new drugs and continued antimicrobial surveillance of S. pneumoniae.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Effect of dexamethasone and pentoxifylline in combination with amoxicillin in the treatment of penicillin-insensitive pneumococcal pneumonia in guinea pigs.

A fatal guinea pig model of pneumococcal pneumonia was developed in order to evaluate the efficacy of amoxicillin combined with either pentoxifylline or dexamethasone. Parameters assessed were survival time and lung changes (alterations, bacterial colony counts, inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] and cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2] protein expression). Animals receiving pentoxifylline (50 mg/kg) showed higher survival rates than controls (p < 0.05). Animals which received amoxicillin (50 mg/kg), alone or combined, showed significantly higher survival rates than controls (p < 0.05). Animals dying in spite of receiving amoxicillin alone or combined had lung colony counts significantly lower than those that did not receive the antibiotic (p < 0.001), but their lungs showed identical changes. The correlation between COX-2 protein expression and mortality was rather high (r = 0.75). The addition of either dexamethasone or pentoxifylline to amoxicillin improved neither survival rates nor lung pathology when compared with the antibiotic alone.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed2002

Pharmacodynamic and kinetic basis for the selection of pneumococcal resistance in the upper respiratory tract.

The oropharynx is both the reservoir where antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains are selected and the focus for further spread of these organisms. In order to select antibiotic-resistant organisms, the antibiotic must be able to eradicate the susceptible population. How an antibiotic acts on oropharyngeal flora is not fully understood, although data on salivary antibiotic concentrations could be useful for establishing some correlation. Many beta-lactam antibiotics are very active against S. pneumoniae, and although their saliva concentrations are very low, there may be enough to eradicate the majority of beta-lactam-sensitive strains. Other antibiotics achieve salivary concentrations in the range 10-30% of serum concentrations (erythromycin, clindamycin, doxycycline and rifampicin), and are also able to eradicate the antibiotic-susceptible population. Antibiotics achieving higher salivary concentrations (>/=40% of the serum levels) are not very active against S. pneumoniae (ciprofloxacin) or are able to eradicate antibiotic-sensitive and -intermediate strains (clarithromycin, azithromycin and telithromycin). Only antibiotics for which there are no highly resistant pneumococcal strains, for instance some beta-lactams administered at very high dose and for a short course, are associated with a lower risk of antibiotic resistance selection. To diminish the risk, the antibiotics should be dosed in order to obtain inhibitory quotients (maximal serum concentration/MIC ratios) >/= 4, which depends not only on the antibiotic concentration achieved but also on the lack of highly resistant organisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

A comparison between disk diffusion and microdilution for susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium fortuitum complex.

We evaluated a disk diffusion method using Mueller-Hinton agar for susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium fortuitum complex organisms. Ninety-five strains were tested both by broth microdilution and disk diffusion. Global results showed good correlation for all antimicrobials except for clarithromycin and erythromycin. However, when the results were analyzed according to species, correlation was poor except for a few antimicrobials. The analysis of the resistant/susceptible results was good for all the antimicrobials tested except azithromycin and erythromycin. In conclusion, the disk diffusion technique could be useful as a screening technique for some antibiotics, but the results must be confirmed by using an accepted reference technique.

Amikacin↗
PubMed2002

NFkappaB1 (p50)-deficient mice are not susceptible to multiple low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a disease characterized by the autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta-cells, which requires the expression of a number of immune-related genes including major histocompatibility complex proteins, cytokines, chemokines, and cytotoxic enzymes, many of which are regulated by the transcription factor, NFkappaB. Inhibition of the entire NFkappaB family of transcription factors may be harmful, as these factors are involved in many normal physiological processes. However, identifying and targeting specific NFkappaB subunits critical for the pathogenesis of disease may prove to be valuable in designing new therapeutic strategies. To assess the potential role of the NFkappaB subunit, p50, in the development of IDDM, mice with gene disruption for NFkappaB (p50) were investigated for susceptibility to IDDM. We found that p50-deficient mice were fully resistant against multiple low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes, a model of diabetes with a strong autoimmune component. The site of involvement of NFkappaB (p50) lies at an early, critical juncture of immune activation and proinflammatory mediator production, because: (1) isolated islets of Langerhans from NFkappaB (p50)-deficient mice were not protected from the islet dysfunction induced by in vitro application of proinflammatory cytokines; (2) p50-deficient mice were not resistant to diabetes induced by a single high dose of streptozotocin, a model with a large oxidant component and no autoimmune involvement; and (3) diabetes induced up-regulation of nitric oxide and interleukin-12 was blocked in the p50-deficient mice. Our data suggest that NFkappaB (p50) has an essential role in the development of autoimmune diabetes. Selective therapeutic blockade of this subunit may be beneficial in preventing IDDM.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Antithrombin III prevents early pulmonary dysfunction after lung transplantation in the dog.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury with the resulting inflammatory response is a devastating complication of lung transplantation; much of the tissue damage could be diminished by control of the inflammatory response. Recent studies have show that antithrombin III (AT III) has an anti-inflammatory effect in addition to its established role in the regulation of blood coagulation. Thus, we hypothesized that the administration of AT III might help to prevent ischemia-reperfusion injury after lung transplantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was performed in a dog model of orthotopic lung transplantation. Dogs were randomly assigned to receive either vehicle (controls) or AT III. We observed that in control dogs, during the 180-minute period after lung transplantation, the arterial O(2) partial pressure decreased and both the alveolar-arterial O(2) difference and the pulmonary vascular resistance increased. By contrast, these parameters remained unchanged in the group of dogs receiving AT III. Dogs with transplants receiving AT III did not show an increase in cell adhesion molecules, and histological examination revealed almost an absence of inflammatory response. The administration of AT III produced a marked increase in serum prostacyclin (PGI(2)) levels, whereas in control dogs, the PGI(2) levels did not change. The beneficial effect of AT III was not observed when dogs received indomethacin to prevent the stimulation of PGI(2) release by AT III. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that AT III prevents ischemia-reperfusion injury in a dog model of lung transplantation and that this effect is conditioned by an increase in PGI(2) production.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗