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Biomedical subjects

J Blanco

Publications and source records attributed to J Blanco.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Allergy to Anacardiaceae: description of cashew and pistachio nut allergens.

Some members of the Anacardiaceae family, such as cashew nut, pistachio nut and mango, have been reported to cause immediate allergic reactions. We report three cases of anaphylaxis to cashew nuts. With the aim of describing the allergens existing in cashew and pistachio nuts, patients were prick tested with cashew and pistachio extracts. Specific IgE against both nuts was studied by CAP and SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting. It was found that skin tests and specific IgE to cashew and pistachio nuts were positive in the three patients. Both nuts showed several protein bands in SDS-PAGE. The strongest IgE-binding bands had similar molecular weights (15, 30 and 60 kDa) in cashew and pistachio nuts. These main bands were found to be sensitive to reducing agents. It was concluded that these three patients suffered immediate reactions to cashew nut due to an IgE-mediated mechanism.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Long-term results of an eradication regime against Staphylococcus aureus in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis].

Catheter exit site infection (ESI) remains a common complication in peritoneal dialysis patients. All the efforts for controlling ESI have been focused on the preventive eradication of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) colonization, because this microorganisms has been shown to be implicated in most of ESI. The main aims of the present study was to analyse the long-term results from an eradicative regimen of SA colonization, and to compare them with those obtained from a historical control group. From january 1993 to december 1999, 60 unselected patients on PD underwent an exhaustive protocol of SA eradication. Every 30-45 days, cultures from nares and exit site were obtained in each patient. SA colonization in nares or exit site was treated with mupirocin, though the colonization of other microorganisms was not treated prophylactically. Thirty patients from the same unit who were followed between 1989-1992 served as historical control group. The rate of peritonitis and ESI, as well as the epidemiological data from the cultures were also analysed. The peritonitis and ESI rates were significantly less in the study group than those in the control group (0.398 +/- 0.553 vs 0.899 +/- 0.970 ep./pat/year, p = 0.002; and 0.102 +/- 0.235 vs 0.340 +/- 0.553 ep./pat/year, p = 0.004). The ESI rate caused by SA was also significantly less in the study group (0.018 +/- 0.096 vs 0.300 +/- 0.53 ep./pat/year, p = 0.0001), though there was a statistically nonsignificant increase in the ESI rate caused by gram negative microorganisms in the study group (0.066 +/- 0.194 vs 0.040 +/- 0.219 ep./pat./year). The percent of patients free of ESI was larger in the study group (80% vs 63%, p = 0.01), though the percent of patients with more than one ESI was the same in both groups (10%). Nasal and exit-site SA colonization occurred in 52% and 32% of the study patients. The rate of catheter loss was less in the study group, though it did not reach statistical significance (0.043 +/- 0.154 vs 0.178 +/- 0.443 losses/pat./year). In conclusion, the eradication of SA colonization is an efficacious measure for the control of ESI. However, further efforts should be carried out in order to control the emergence of gram negative microorganisms, and to discover which factors make a small proportion of PD patients to be more prone to develop ESI of whatever origin.

Catheterization↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Postoperative analgesia using the intravenous PCA technique. Results in the first 400 patients treated at a general hospital].

INTRODUCTION: PCA (patient controlled analgesia) has represented a remarkable advance in the treatment of postoperative pain. In this work we describe our experience with this analgesic technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred patients undergoing thoracic and abdominal surgery were selected after giving information to the medical and nurse personnel. Pharmacologic agents used in this study were morphine (intravenous PCA) and fentanyl (epidural PCA). Starting of the perfusion pump was done by the anesthesiologist at the Recovery Unit and the treatment was continued by the nurse. Every morning the patients were visited and the degree of analgesia was recorded according to the following score: 1: no pain, and 5: intolerable pain. An anesthesiologist was permanently available. Later on, this study was expanded to 400 patients including other types of surgery. RESULTS: Mean duration of the treatment was 60 hours. The amount of analgesics administered varied among patients and was greater during the first postoperative hours specially in the group of patients treated with fentanyl. The mean degree of pain was 1.5 (grade 1 in 37.5% of cases and grade 5 in 3.5% of patients). Secondary effects were only nausea and vomiting. Inconvenient features of the technique were: patient's difficulties in the management of the technique (3 cases), and spontaneous loss of the program (1 case). Patient's acceptance of the technique was good. CONCLUSIONS: PCA analgesia has been successfully introduced in our hospital since it is effective, safe, easy to manage.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Escherichia coli virulence factors causing peritonitis, appendicitis and other extraintestinal infections].

Fifty-nine E. coli strains isolated from clinical cases of peritonitis, appendicitis, cholecystitis, wounds and respiratory infections as well as from other miscellaneous sources were investigated. A control group constituted by 475 E. coli strains isolated from the faeces of healthy individuals were also studied. E. coli O-grouped and investigated for production of cytotoxic necrotizing factor CNF1 and alpha-haemolysin (Hly), expression of P fimbriae and mannose-resistant (MRHA) and mannose-sensitive (MSHA) haemagglutination. Virulence factors significantly associated with extraintestinal strains were: production of CNF1 (19% versus 5%, p < 0.001), Hly (27% versus 9%; p < 0.001) and expression of MRHA (44% versus 16%; p < 0.001). The majority of extraintestinal strains (68% versus 36%; p < 0.001), in contrast with faecal E. coli, belonged to O serogroups frequently detected in uropathogenic and bacteraemic E. coli. These results suggest that E. coli causing different types of extraintestinal infections show similar virulence factors and belong to the same serogroups. However, between E. coli isolated from intraabdominal, wound and respiratory infections the number of strains with virulence factors was lower than in E. coli causing urinary tract infections and sepsis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, IgA nephropathy and renal cell carcinoma].

Glomerular diseases could complicate lymphoid malignancies. We identified a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma showing elevated levels of serum IgA1 paraprotein, renal infiltration by B cells, IgA nephropathy and renal cell carcinoma. It seems that there is a possible pathogenic relationship between these entities.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effectiveness of typical and atypical neuroleptics in the control of behavioral and psychopathological symptoms of dementia. Results of a retrospective study].

INTRODUCTION: Presence of disruptive behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) is highly prevalent and, as a consequence, neuroleptics are frequently used in these patients to control BPSD. Several reviews have shown the clinical equivalence of different classes of neuroleptics in BPSD control, although that equivalence has been only indirectly assessed by comparing the combined results of different types of active drugs versus placebo. Thus, little is known on the comparative effectiveness, head to head, of different neuroleptics on BPSD. The aim of this study was to gather preliminary information on the effectiveness of typical (haloperidol, thioridazine) and atypical (olanzapine, risperidone) neuroleptics on BPSD. METHODS: Multicenter, observational and retrospective study using chart reviews of patients with dementia to assess neuroleptic prescriptions and clinical outcomes at 12 weeks on treatment. RESULTS: No significant differences on BPSD improvement were found by type of neuroleptic (n=78; Kruskal- Wallis exact test; p=0.47). There also were no differences by neuroleptics when the analysis was stratified by levels of cognitive decline (Kruskal-Wallis exact test; p=0.86 and 0.87 for moderate and severe levels of deterioration, respectively). Recorded side effects were worse in the haloperidol group (n=19) regarding rigidity (Fisher's exact; p=0.01), tremor (Fisher's exact p=0.03) and akathisia (Fisher's exact; p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the equivalence in effectiveness of several classes of neuroleptics commonly used to treat BPSD. Nevertheless these results need to be confirmed by adequately powered randomized trials and further pharmacoepidemiological studies to assess their safety.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Localization of the interpleural space using the "hanging drop" method].

"Hanging drop" method was used in 45 patients to determine interpleural needle placement which was easily achieved in 100% of the cases, advancing a catheter through the needle without any difficulty. No pneumothorax was observed. In conclusion, we consider that "hanging drop" method is effective to determine interpleural needle placement, with little disturbance to the patient.

Analgesia↗