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Biomedical subjects

I Gil

Publications and source records attributed to I Gil.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Improvement of pain and disability in elderly patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee treated with narrow-band light therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of low-power light therapy on pain and disability in elderly patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee. DESIGN: Partially double-blinded, fully randomized trial comparing red, infrared, and placebo light emitters. PATIENTS: Fifty patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of both knees were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: red (15 patients), infrared (18 patients), and placebo (17 patients). Infrared and placebo emitters were double-blinded. INTERVENTIONS: Self-applied treatment to both sides of the knee for 15 minutes twice a day for 10 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Present Pain Intensity, and Visual Analogue Scale for pain and Disability Index Questionnaire for disability were used. We evaluated pain and disability before and on the tenth day of therapy. The period from the end of the treatment until the patient's request to be retreated was summed up 1 year after the trial. RESULTS: Pain and disability before treatment did not show statistically significant differences between the three groups. Pain reduction in the red and infrared groups after the treatment was more than 50% in all scoring methods (P less than 0.05). There was no significant pain improvement in the placebo group. We observed significant functional improvement in red- and infrared-treated groups (p less than 0.05), but not in the placebo group. The period from the end of treatment until the patients required treatment was longer for red and infrared groups than for the placebo group (4.2 +/- 3.0, 6.1 +/- 3.2, and 0.53 +/- 0.62 months, for red, infrared, and placebo, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Low-power light therapy is effective in relieving pain and disability in degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Hodgkin's disease occurring in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

A 57 year old woman with a 13 year history of mouth dryness, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and recurrent bronchial infections presented with multiple lymphadenopathies. Histological diagnosis was Hodgkin's disease. B and T cell lymphomas are well known complications of Sjögren's syndrome. This case provides evidence that Hodgkin's disease may also be associated with this syndrome.

Female↗
PubMed1990

Bakers' asthma: prevalence and evaluation of immunotherapy with a wheat flour extract.

One hundred thirty-nine bakers and pastry cooks were included in a prevalence study of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to wheat flour demonstrated by skin tests, specific IgE to wheat flour (RAST), and inhalation challenge. From the sensitized workers, we selected 30 asthmatic patients. Twenty patients were treated with a standardized wheat flour extract, and ten with a placebo in a double-blind clinical trial. Before and after immunotherapy we performed tests in vivo (skin tests with wheat flour and methacholine tests), and in vitro (total IgE and specific IgE to wheat flour). We found substantial prevalence of wheat flour allergy (25.17% of workers), and a significant decrease (P less than .001) in hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, skin sensitivity (P = .002), and specific IgE (P less than .005) to wheat flour after 20 months of immunotherapy. There was also significant subjective improvement (P less than .001). The placebo group showed no changes in these variables.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The 5S rRNA-histone repeat in the crustacean Artemia: structure, polymorphism and variation of the 5S rRNA segment in different populations.

5S rRNA genes are linked to the histone genes in the 13 populations of the crustacean Artemia that we have studied. In all cases, two types of repeat units are found. Southern blot analysis of all populations shows that they can be grouped into three classes: a) American bisexuals; b) Eurasian bisexuals, and c) parthenogenetic organisms (all from Eurasia). Restriction analysis of a bisexual population from San Francisco Bay shows that the two repeat units are of 9.0 and 8.5 kb (with minor heterogeneities of restriction sites). In parthenogenetic organisms, the two repeat units are of approximately 12 kb. Sequencing data from the region of the 5S rRNA from the San Francisco Bay population, shows that in both types of units, the single 5S rRNA gene (315 bp in length), is located 430 bp downstream the 3' regulatory sequences of the H2A gene, the last gene in the histone cluster. We have isolated three clones that contain 5S rRNA sequences. Two of them (one from an American bisexual and the other from a parthenogenetic population) contain histone and 5S rRNA genes, both with the same transcriptional polarity. The third clone, lacking histone genes, is likely to be an orphon derived from the parthenogenetic population.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Identification of the transcriptional initiation site of ribosomal RNA genes in the crustacean Artemia.

The proximal part of the Intergenic Spacer, as well as most of the External Transcribed Spacer of the ribosomal RNA type I genes from the crustacean Artemia have been sequenced. We have identified in the Intergenic Spacer five repeats of around 600 bp in length and, possibly, two imperfect or truncated repeats, derived from the principal ones. These sequences are separated by 485 bp from the 17S rRNA coding sequence. We have also identified the start point of transcription by S1 nuclease analysis. This start point is found 248 bp inside the first repeat. The sequence around the start point shows homology with that described for other members of the same phylum, mostly insects. The most conserved regions are from -1 to +25, and the G residue at position -16. At least the three 600-bp repeats upstream from that containing the promoter also contain the start point sequence, and could therefore act as initiation sites for snPIRNA and/or as enhancer sequences for ribosomal RNA gene transcription.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Sarcoid nephrocalcinotic renal failure reversed by sodium cellulose phosphate.

A case of renal failure due to sarcoidosis with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis is described. Prolonged treatment with inorganic absorbable phosphate significantly deteriorated the patient's renal function. After a sodium cellulose phosphate treatment, renal failure was completely reversed. We suggest that sodium cellulose phosphate is the treatment of choice in sarcoidotic renal failure induced by nephrocalcinosis.

Calcium↗
PubMed1986

Malignant testicular tumors in identical twins.

Two cases of testicular malignancy in a pair of identical twins are reported. The literature is also reviewed. The tumors appeared within 7 years of each other. The histology was different in both cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Immunomodifying activity of some amphiphilic compounds from pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

Molecules of polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, and peptidoglycane from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were assayed as immunogens and immunomodifiers. The kinetics of humoral responses, phagocytic activity, splenic index variations, and immunomodulating ability of these molecules were studied. Their protective and immunomodifying effects were compared to those similarly produced by heat-killed bacteria suspensions. The influence of the nature and doses of these molecules as well as the intervals between their administration and the SRBC immunization were also studied. Results showed that higher IgM and IgG levels were produced by lower doses of lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycane, respectively. Using these amphiphilic molecules at doses of 160 micrograms/mouse, a variable immunodepressive activity was observed. This dose-dependent effect which particularly altered the IgM synthesis, was also observed in phagocytic responses. The exopolysaccharide showed to be the most immunodepressive molecule, and this activity appeared to be dependent of dose and time of administration.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Proliferative response of murine lymphocytes caused by the activity of amphiphilic molecules from Propionibacterium acnes].

Splenic lymphocytes from mice treated with Propionibacterium acnes cells as well as with their cell walls were found to be variably active on the lymphoproliferative responsiveness. Furthermore, the effect of these bacterial agents on the ex vivo Con A response of the lymphocytes showed a certain stimulation that was higher with oral treatments. In the same conditions the influence of these agents on the LPS lymphocytes stimulation was almost without any statistical significance. In vitro blastogenesis experiments were undertaken in order to elucidate the influence of different amphiphilic molecules from peripheric bacterial structures on the lymphoproliferative response of murine splenocytes. Stimulation rates were also determined as a function of the (3H) thymidine incorporation. Combined effects of mitogens (Con A and LPS) with bacterial amphiphilic molecules were also evaluated as a function of the DNA synthesis variations. All cases resulted in a variable inhibition of the mitogenic response which appeared dose-dependent and more active for associations of Con A and amphiphilic molecules. The most effective intrinsic mitogenic activities were detected with teichoic acids and intracellular polysaccharides. These last molecules without purification, assayed as cytoplasmic fractions, appeared modified in the intensity of their action, depending on their carbohydrate/protein ratios.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Septicemia due to Corynebacterium haemolyticum.

A 65-year-old man in generally good health presented with symptoms of sepsis and mental confusion. Corynebacterium haemolyticum was isolated from three blood cultures, and a significant increase in the titer of immunofluorescent antibodies to the infecting organism was observed. Antigen of C. haemolyticum was demonstrated by double immunodiffusion in samples of cerebrospinal fluid and urine. The patient recovered after i.v. administration of 20 Mu/day penicillin. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the third reported human infection with C. haemolyticum with involvement of the central nervous system.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Growth of Propionibacterium acnes strains on semisynthetic medium; antigenic polysaccharide production.

A semisynthetic medium, containing yeast extract as the only non defined component and glucose, glycerol, Tween 80 and mineral salts, has been developed to grow the strains of Propionibacterium acnes Beck 2037, Gerrath 2038 and Vogel 2039, at a rate comparable to that of complex media. An average of 10(12) cells per 1 (equivalent to approximately 1.5 g/l dry weight) was usually achieved. These yields are appropriated for biochemical and immunological studies, e.g. cell wall preparation, polysaccharides isolation, etc. In this work, some properties of the cell walls (sugar and amino acid composition) and the antigenic polysaccharides (neutral and amino sugar components) are described.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1982

Diagnostic value of distended urinary bladder pyelography in adults.

Intravenous pyelography carried out with a previously distended bladder in order to produce partial urinary flow obstruction offers superior delineation of the pelvi-caliceal system and ureters. Often, these structures are visible in their entirety on a single film. In 100 adult patients of both sexes who had undergone conventional i.v. pyelography, a second examination was carried out without external compression, after preliminary distension of the urinary bladder (DUB). DUB was achieved by three different methods. In 25 patients the urinary bladder was distended by retrograde instillation of saline. Another 25 patients retained their overnight urine and 50 others retained their urine following a water load of 1,000 ml. Best results were obtained in patients examined by the retrograde and water-load methods. The vast majority of examinations in these groups were of superior quality compared with that obtained by the routine technique. Pyelography with a distended bladder proved to be a valuable diagnostic adjunct in all instances in which application of external compression is undesirable, particularly in cases of trauma.

Adolescent↗