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F Suárez

Publications and source records attributed to F Suárez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Laboratory study of inocula production for composting processes.

Six ligno-cellulolytic fungi were tested regarding to examine their capability to grow on agricultural wastes and produce inocula for composting. Two residues were used: pepper plant wastes and almond shell residues. Results showed the latter as the most adequate substrate for growth of fungi tested. On the contrary, Trichoderma koningii, as well as HLC1 and HLC3, both fungi isolated from almond shell wastes, were able to persist in pepper plant wastes. Modifications of aeration and pH significantly influenced growth of Coriolus versicolor, HLC1 and Phanerochaete. flavido alba and P. flavido alba and Phlebia radiata, respectively, while P. flavido alba was the only microorganism whose growth was not significantly altered by temperature. In competitive assays, where fungi were growth together with other species, growth of both microorganisms isolated from almond shell residues, HLC1 and HLC3, were stimulated while T. koningii showed the better results in sterile conditions.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

Steroid-free immunosuppression for pancreas-after-liver transplantation.

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation is presently a well-accepted procedure for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and renal failure. However, experiences with combined pancreas and liver transplantation are scarce, a few data are available about the best immunosuppression for these patients. We report our experience with two patients who received a pancreas after liver transplantation for long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, with steroid-free immunosuppression based on daclizumab, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. Short- and long-term evolution was uneventful. Currently, both patients are insulin free with appropriate metabolic control after 12 and 6 months follow-up. Considering our preliminary results, we suggest a steroid-free immunosuppressive regimen as an option for pancreas-after-liver transplantation.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2005

Long-term results for liver transplantation from non-heart-beating donors maintained with chest and abdominal compression-decompression.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term results after liver transplantation from non-heart-beating donors (NHBD) using the method of chest and abdominal compression-decompression to maintain donors. METHODS: From December 1995 to November 2004, 10 NHBD were identified and maintained by means of the method of chest and abdominal compression-decompression until family and judicial permission were granted. Nine donors were Maastricht type II and one was type IV. RESULTS: The mean age of donors was 40.5 years and the mean time under cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was 80 minutes. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was performed using these 10 liver grafts after a mean cold ischemia time of 561.5 minutes. All patients developed good posttransplant function, except for one patient who presented with primary nonfunction corrected with retransplantation. This complication was directly related to a long CPR time (P < .01). After a mean follow-up of 57 months, only one patient died from a hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence. The rest of the patients have maintained good graft function over time. CONCLUSIONS: NHBD maintained with the method of chest and abdominal compression-decompression are a valid choice to increase the donor pool. Liver transplantation using these grafts has proven good long-term results, comparable to their heart-beating counterparts.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Benefits of recombinant activated factor VII in complicated liver transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven, NovoNordiskA/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) has shown benefits in hemophilic patients and recently in transplant recipients. This study presents our experiences with rFVIIa in complicated liver transplant recipients. METHODS: From May 2001 to August 2004, rFVIIa was administered to 7 patients undergoing liver transplantation. All treatments were made on emergency bases, except for 1 case with hemophilia A, who received prophylactic treatment. The drug was delivered when severe bleeding with coagulopathy persisted despite the usual treatment with blood products. The drug doses were 60-90 mug/kg; the results were evaluated clinically and analytically. RESULTS: Seven patients undergoing liver transplantation were treated with FVIIa. Mean prothrombin times before and after treatment were 17.5 and 10.9 seconds, respectively, with a mean reduction of 7.2 seconds (P = .03). Mean thromboplastin times before and after treatment were 38.1 and 29.4 seconds, respectively, with a mean reduction of 8.7 seconds (P = .034). The average dose was 83.6 mug/kg, leading to decreased consumption of blood products (P < .01). In all cases, rFVIIa allowed sufficient hemostasis to carry on definitive treatment. There was no mortality in this series. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide new evidence on the potential benefits of rFVIIa in liver transplantation, especially for rescue therapy in cases of severe bleeding.

Factor VIIa↗
PubMed2004

Discriminative capacity of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound and of osteoporosis and fracture risk factors in postmenopausal women with osteoporotic fractures.

Bone fragility fractures constitute the principal complication of osteoporosis. The identification of individuals at high risk of sustaining osteoporotic fractures is important for implementing preventive measures. The purpose of this study is to analyze the discriminative capacity of a series of osteoporosis and fracture risk factors, and of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS), in a population of postmenopausal women with a history of osteoporotic fracture. A cross-sectional analysis was made of a cohort of 5195 women aged 65 or older (mean +/- SD: 72.3 +/- 5.4 years) seen in 58 primary care centers in Spain. A total of 1042 women (20.1%) presented with a history of osteoporotic fracture. Most fractures (93%) were non-vertebral. Age-adjusted odds ratios corresponding to each decrease in one standard deviation of the different QUS parameters ranged from 1.47 to 1.55 (P < 0.001) for fractures. The age-adjusted multivariate analysis yielded the following risk factors independently associated with a history of osteoporotic fracture: number of fertile years, a family history of fracture, falls in the previous year, a history of chronic obstructive airway disease, the use of antiarrhythmic drugs, and a low value for any of the QUS parameters. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the best model was 0.656. In summary, a series of easily assessable osteoporotic fracture risk factors has been identified. QUS was shown to discriminate between women with and without a history of fracture, and constitutes a useful tool for assessing fracture risk. Various of the vertebral and hip fracture risk factors frequently cited in North American and British populations showed no discriminative capacity in our series--thus suggesting that such factors may not be fully applicable to our population and/or to the predominant type of fractures included in the present study.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Liver transplantation from maastricht category 2 non-heart-beating donors: a source to increase the donor pool?

INTRODUCTION: The demand for liver transplantation has increasingly exceeded the supply of cadaver donor organs. Non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) may be an alternative to increase the cadaver donor pool. The outcome of 20 liver transplants from Maastricht category 2 NHBD was compared with that of 40 liver transplants from heart-beating donors (HBDs). After unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), cardiopulmonary support with simultaneous application of chest and abdominal compression (CPS; n = 6) or cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB; n = 14) was used to maintain the donors. RESULTS: At a minimum follow-up of 2 years, actuarial patient and graft survival rates with livers from Maastricht category 2 NHBD were 80% and 55%, respectively. Transplantation of organs from these donors was associated with a significantly higher incidence of primary nonfunction, biliary complications, and more severe initial liver dysfunction compared with organs from HBDs. The graft survival rates was 83% for livers from NHBDs preserved with CPS and 42% in those maintained with CPB.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Retransplantation for hepatitis C-related cirrhosis under long-term pegylated interferon therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Because of an increased organ shortage, one of the most controversial questions is whether hepatic retransplantation should be offered to transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related graft failure because of their worse survival and the inevitable denial of other patients to access to primary transplantation. The objective of the present study was to review our experience with HCV-infected transplant recipients undergoing re-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for HCV graft cirrhosis and receiving pegylated interferon and ribavirin on a prophylactic basis. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 26 months, all 5 patients are alive with stable graft function. Four patients are still receiving pegylated interferon at a mean duration of 20 months (range, 15-32 months). Although none of the patients has cleared HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction the mean serum levels have decreased significantly when compared with pre-retransplantation amounts. One year after re-OLT, both grade and fibrosis stage had significantly decreased; the rate of post-retransplantation fibrosis progression was significantly lower than that pre-retransplantation (3.4 +/- 0.2 vs 0.6 +/- 0.3; P <.05).

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Physiology of exopolysaccharide production by Azotobacter vinelandii from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid.

The relationship between exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by Azotobacter vinelandii ATCC 12837 from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid as sole carbon source and other physiological parameters was investigated. In relation to growth, Azotobacter needed more time in 4-hydroxybenzoic acid to reach levels of biomass similar to those obtained when sugars were used, although the phenolic compound led to a more extensive exponential phase. The encystment process was initiated after cells had grown for 24 h, in which small amounts of EPS were synthesized and poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulation began. Both polymers, EPS and PHB, showed a similar evolution with time, as well as the formation of cysts, which points out the existence of a relation between these parameters. This was corroborated by a statistical study, in which significant correlations (P<0.05) were observed when each parameter was compared to the two others.

Azotobacter vinelandii↗
PubMed2001

Influence of nutritional and environmental factors on polysaccharide production by Azotobacter vinelandii cultured on 4-hydroxybenzoic acid.

The capacity of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid to support exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis was investigated. Carbon source concentration, nitrogen supplementation, and other nutritional and environmental factors were optimized to obtain maximal EPS recovery. Higher EPS yields were obtained in nitrogen-free media amended with 20-30 mM 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. In general, modifications in inorganic salt concentration did not alter EPS production, except in the case of magnesium ions. Increased levels of this cation were correlated to greater EPS yields. Production was strongly influenced by certain environmental factors. Optimal values of 34 degrees C, 80 rpm and neutral or slightly basic conditions were selected. Under these conditions, more than 25% of the carbon source supplied was converted to EPS and the production was improved about 42% in comparison to that observed in the initial media.

Azotobacter vinelandii↗
PubMed2001

Flutamide-induced hepatotoxicity: report of a case series.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics of flutamide induced hepatotoxicity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study we have analyzed all cases of flutamide hepatotoxicity submitted to the Andalucian Registry of drug-induced liver disease. Data were collected using a structured reporting form. Causality assessment was performed using two clinical scales: the standard CIOMS scale and the recently developed María and Victorino scale. RESULTS: Nine of 185 patients (4.9%) were identified. In 8 male patients, mean age 75 years (range 65-83), flutamide was indicated for palliative therapy of disseminated prostatic carcinoma, and in one young female (14 years) was given for the treatment of facial hirsutism. The mean duration of the flutamide therapy was 151 days (range 4-443). All patients presented with overt liver injury, the most frequent features being asthenia, anorexia, weight loss, nausea, vomiting and jaundice. No patient showed hypersensitivity features. In two patients (22%) the hepatic damage evolved to fulminant liver failure, one of them undergoing a liver transplantation and the other subsequently died. An additional patient died of a non-hepatic related cause when his liver function was improving. Causality assessment by the two clinical scales did not exclude any case, but the two patients who died where classified as unlikely by the María and Victorino scale. CONCLUSIONS: Flutamide can induce severe acute hepatitis, probably due to an idiosyncratic metabolic mechanism. Liver tests monitoring should probably be mandatory during the first months of flutamide therapy and the drug withdrawn if transaminases began to increase.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A comparison between two induction regimes for the interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Response related factors.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with alfa interferon for 6 months achieves sustained responses in 15-25% of the patients. The initial induction with higher doses and the prolongation of treatment can improve the results. A randomized, prospective study was carried out to compare the efficacy of a short term induction schedule of interferon alfa-2b (group A) versus a long term one (group B). 106 patients with chronic hepatitis C were included: 54 received 5 megaunits tiw for 8 weeks and 52 for 16 weeks; afterwards, interferon was reduced to 3 megaunits up to 9 months. The percentage of sustained responses, transient responses and non responses were 18.5%, 24% and 57.4% in group A and 23.1%, 28.8% and 48.1% in group B (NS). The following factors were related to a poor response in the univariate analysis: an increase of serum iron levels, ferritin, Gamma-GT and bilirubin, anti-nuclear antibody positivity, presumed non-parenteral infection, an AST/ALT ratio greater than 0.75, a higher Knodell's index and a greater necrosis and fibrosis score. The multivariate analysis revealed that elevated serum iron and ferritin and anti-nuclear antibody positivity had an independent predictive value related to a non response. Our results appear to suggest that an induction with higher doses and the treatment over nine months are more efficient than the classic schedule. The prolongation of the induction period does not provide additional advantages.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Chronic hepatitis C virus infection associated with anti-LKM 1].

A case of chronic hepatitis in a 20-year-old patient in whom hepatitis C virus infection markers and type 1 liver and kidney antimicrosome antibodies (anti-LKM 1) were detected, thereby allowing diagnosis of autoimmune type 2b hepatitis, is reported. The different types of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and the type 2a and 2b AIH are discussed as are the rejection of this terminology by some authors followed by their proposals and the therapeutic strategy to be used in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Pleural empyema as a complication of the sclerotherapy of esophageal varices].

We present three patients developing pleural empyema after sclerotherapy of esophagic varixes. In all of them, the presence of persistent fever syndrome following the sclerotherapy, along with radiological images of pleural overflow, were the starting point of the patient's study. In the emergency esophagogrames, the extravasation of contrast outside the esophagus could not be confirmed. The treatment, which must be started as soon as possible, was based in conservative measures (drainage, antibiotics and a proper nutrition), given the poor general condition of these patients. Despite all these measures, the prognosis is poor, with two of the three patients dying despite the administration of the treatment. In conclusion, although its frequency is very low, pleural empiema is an extremely severe complication of the sclerotherapy of esophagic varixes. If this complication is suspected, the prognosis depends on a treatment that must be started as soon as possible.

Aged↗