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J Domínguez

Publications and source records attributed to J Domínguez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Phenotypic and functional characterization of porcine granulocyte developmental stages using two new markers.

Here, we describe two new surface antigens, named 6D10 and 2B2, whose expression is restricted to porcine granulocytes. 6D10 is only detected in neutrophils and its expression decreases from promyelocytes to mature cells. By contrast, 2B2 antigen is selectively expressed in mature neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. The expression of these antigens along granulocyte maturation allows the discrimination of several developmental stages of granulocytes based on phenotypic, morphological and functional characteristics previously established. Moreover, these new markers are useful tools to easily characterize the different granulocytes lineages (neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils). By using multiparameter flow cytometric analysis, we have performed a phenotypic and functional characterization of the granulocyte subsets identified by the combination of 6D10 and 2B2 antigens.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of a monoclonal with a polyclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay stool test in diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection before and after eradication therapy.

BACKGROUND: Detection of Helicobacter pylori antigen in stool samples has been a subject of controversy. However, it has been included in several clinical guidelines as a recommended non-invasive testing procedure in dyspeptic patients. AIM: To compare a monoclonal enzyme immunoassay for detection of H. pylori stool antigen (Amplified IDEIA HpStAR, DakoCytomation) with a polyclonal enzyme immunoassay (HpSA test, Premier Platinum HpSA, Meridian Diagnostics) in diagnosing infection and in determining H. pylori status after eradication treatment. METHODS: We evaluated stool samples of 198 patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection and of 41 patients without infection. The results of the monoclonal enzyme immunoassay HpStAR were compared with those of the polyclonal enzyme immunoassay HpSA. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of HpStAR were 91.9% and 70.7%, while those of HpSA were 89.4% and 80.5%, respectively. In the 126 patients evaluated 6 weeks after eradication therapy, the overall agreement between urea breath test and HpStAR was 90.5% (P = 0.710) and between urea breath test and HpSA was 76.9% (P = 0.410). CONCLUSIONS: HpStAR is a rapid and easy-to-perform test with similar sensitivity to HpSA in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection, although it had lower specificity. In contrast, HpStAR is more accurate after eradication therapy than HpSA.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Numerical estimation of bone density and elastic constants distribution in a human mandible.

In this paper, we try to predict the distribution of bone density and elastic constants in a human mandible, based on the stress level produced by mastication loads using a mathematical model of bone remodelling. These magnitudes are needed to build finite element models for the simulation of the mandible mechanical behavior. Such a model is intended for use in future studies of the stability of implant-supported dental prostheses. Various models of internal bone remodelling, both phenomenological and more recently mechanobiological, have been developed to determine the relation between bone density and the stress level that bone supports. Among the phenomenological models, there are only a few that are also able to reproduce the level of anisotropy. These latter have been successfully applied to long bones, primarily the femur. One of these models is here applied to the human mandible, whose corpus behaves as a long bone. The results of bone density distribution and level of anisotropy in different parts of the mandible have been compared with various clinical studies, with a reasonable level of agreement.

Bone Density↗
PubMed2006

Usefulness of pneumococcal antigen detection in pleural fluid samples by immunochromatographic assay for diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia.

This study investigated the utility of an immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigens in pleural fluid. Antigen was detected in 15 of 19 (79%) patients with pneumococcal pneumonia. The ICT was always negative in patients with non-pneumococcal pneumonia, but was positive in three cases with a non-infectious aetiology. In patients with pneumonia for which no pathogen was identified, antigen was detected in one of 24 pleural fluids tested. The ICT can be a valuable tool for the management of pneumonia because it can detect pneumococcal antigen in pleural effusion samples.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Use of a mycobacteriophage-based assay for rapid assessment of susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates to isoniazid and influence of resistance level on assay performance.

We standardized and assessed the performance of an in-house microtiter assay for determining the susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates to isoniazid based on mycobacteriophage amplification technology. Seventy isolates (43 resistant and 27 sensitive according to the BACTEC 460 radiometric method and MIC determination) were studied. The isoniazid resistance molecular mechanism was previously determined by sequencing the entire katG gene and the mabA-inhA regulatory region. The sensitivity of the mycobacteriophage-based assay in detecting isoniazid resistance was 86.1%, the specificity achieved was 92.6%, and the overall accuracy was 88.6%. In order to assess the possible influence of resistance levels on the mycobacteriophage-based-assay sensitivity, the results were analyzed according to the isoniazid MICs. All the isolates exhibiting high-level resistance (MIC > or = 2 microg/ml) were scored as resistant by the mycobacteriophage-based assay (100% concordance), and 95% showed mutations or deletions in the catalytic domain of the katG gene. In contrast, 26.1% of the low-level-resistance strains (MICs, 0.25 to 1 microg/ml) were misclassified, and 66.7% had alterations in the mabA-inhA regulatory region. The mycobacteriophage-based assay could be used as a rapid method to detect the isoniazid susceptibility pattern, although data from those areas with high rates of low-level-resistance strains should be interpreted with caution. The features of the assay make it suitable for widespread application due to its low technical demand and cost.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed2006

[Cranial hemophilic pseudotumor].

The haemophilic pseudotumor is defined as an encased hematoma that increases of volume progressively by episodes of recurrent hemorrhage. It is a rare complication of haemophilia occurring in 1-2% of patients with moderate or severe factor VIII or IX deficiency. Its more frequent location is in the long bones of low extremities and pelvis. We report a case of a 21-year-old man with moderate deficiency of factor VIII (19% of normal factor VIII activity) that developed a pseudotumor in the cranium. To our knowledge, this is the third case of the cranial hemophilic pseudotumor in medical literature.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Rapid detection of pneumococcal antigen in serum samples for diagnosing pneumococcal pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to assess the usefulness of C polysaccharide and polysaccharide capsular antigen detection by immunochromatography (ICT) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA), respectively, in serum samples for diagnosing pneumococcal pneumonia. METHODS: Adult patients included in the study were classified in the following groups: In group 1 we studied 101 serum samples from patients with pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. In 53 cases the pneumonia was bacteremic. The second group contained 113 serum samples from patients with no pneumococcal pneumonia. Group 3 was made up of 40 serum samples from healthy subjects with no clinical or radiological signs of pneumonia. RESULTS: Using ICT, antigen was detected in 50% of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, in 64.3 and 40.9% of patients with bacteremic and non-bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, respectively. Using EIA, antigens were detected in 35.8% of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, in 45 and 22.2% of patients with bacteremic and non-bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the sensitivity of the tests is low. However, in special situations, where obtaining large volume of urine is difficult, they could be a complementary method in the rapid diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Differential expression of chemokine receptors and CD95 in porcine CD4(+) T cell subsets.

Among other differences, naïve and memory T cells show distinct migratory patterns and susceptibility to CD95-mediated cell death. We have recently characterised in the pig two subsets of CD4(+) T cells, based on the expression of the 2E3 marker, that display phenotypic and functional features of naïve (CD4(+)2E3(+)) and effector/memory (CD4(+)2E3(-)) T cells. In this study, we have analysed the expression of several chemokine receptors, as well as the distribution of CD95 antigen (APO-1/Fas) in these CD4(+) T cell subsets. CD4(+)2E3(-) T cells express high levels of CXCR3 and CCR4 transcripts but not of CCR7. On the contrary, CCR7 is clearly detected in CD4(+)2E3(+) T cells, whereas CXCR3 and CCR4 are negative or present at trace levels. These subsets also differ in the expression of CD95 antigen, being CD95 positive cells significantly more abundant in the CD4(+)2E3(-) cell subset. These findings, although based on a small number of animals, fit well with those reported for naïve and memory CD4(+) T cells in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

C2 monitoring of cyclosporine in stable renal transplant patients results in lower costs and improved renal function.

INTRODUCTION: C2 (2-hour post-absorption levels) monitoring of cyclosporine (CsA) seems to reduce the rate of acute rejection episodes (ARE) without increasing nephrotoxicity during the first months after transplant. There are a few reports on the impact of adopting this strategy in patients with stable renal transplants. We herein report a prospective trial in long-term renal transplant patients (>6 months) monitored by C0 or C3 who were switched to C2 monitoring. METHODS: Seventy-six (mean age = 43 +/- 11 years) kidney transplant patients (mean = 37 +/- 21 months after transplant) receiving CsA, steroids, and azathioprine were switched to C2 monitoring, seeking to achieve a target range of 800 +/- 100 ng/mL. The patients were followed for at least 6 months. RESULTS: At conversion the C2 values of 61% of the patients were above and 17% below the therapeutic range. Six months after conversion there was a significant reduction in BUN (29 +/- 11 vs 27 +/- 10, P < .01), Creatinine (Cr), cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were unchanged. Mean CsA dose was decreased 10% from 244 +/- 63 to 220 +/- 52 (P < .01), implying a net savings of 390 US dollars per patient per year. Among the group of patients who showed a high C2 level, there was also a reduction in BUN (30 +/- 12 vs 27 +/- 10, P < .01) and a nonsignificant decrease in Cr (1.53 +/- 0.6 vs 1.50 +/- 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: C2 monitoring in stable kidney transplant recipients is feasible and safe. The strategy results in reduced drug costs and improved renal function.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Liver transplantation at the Cuban Center for Medical and Surgical Research.

From July 4, 1999, when a liver transplantation program was started in Cuba, to October 2003, 66 procedures had been performed in 60 patients. The most frequent reason was cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus (29%), and alcoholic cirrhosis (22%). Two patients received simultaneous liver-kidney transplants. Half of the patients were men. Patient ages ranged from 12 to 62 years; the average surgical time was 6 hours; and cold ischemia time was 4 to 14 hours. The average blood consumption was 2033 mL; 2900 mL of plasma and 8 units of platelets were used in 7 cases. Immunosuppression was mainly cyclosporine (Neoral), mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine, and prednisone. Acute cellular rejections were treated in almost all cases with 3 doses of methylprednisolone. The most frequent complications were biliary (24%), hepatic arterial thrombosis (12%), post-surgical bleeding (10%), acute cellular rejection (24%), and ductopenic rejection (2%). The overall 1-year survival rate was 73.7%.

Cuba↗
PubMed2005

Use of FTY 720 and ICAM-1 antisense oligonucleotides for attenuating chronic renal damage secondary to ischemia-reperfusion injury.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic allograft nephropathy is the main cause of graft loss. Although many factors are involved in its development, ischemia-reperfusion injury has received increasing attention as a risk determinant. In a previous study of syngeneic renal transplantation and ischemia, we demonstrated a protective effect of acute damage by FTY 720 and antisense oligonucleotides of ICAM-1 (Oligos). The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the impact of these agents on the development of chronic graft damage in the same model. METHODS: Lewis rat were used as donors and recipients. The harvested left kidney was kept in Collins solution for 2 hours. Recipient animals received treatment with FTY 720 or Oligos or saline. At 12 and 36 weeks after transplantation, creatinine clearance, GFR, proteinuria, and arterial blood pressure were recorded. Tissue from some animals were submitted for histological studies and quantification of mRNA TGF-beta1. RESULTS: All groups showed decreased levels of GFR and creatinine clearence, but only the untreated animals showed significant deterioration compared to the pretransplant values (0.53 +/- 0.24 versus 0.21 +/- 0.24 at 36 weeks respectively; P < .05). Proteinuria was also significant in control animals at 36 weeks. Blood pressure showed a moderate increase in all groups. Histological analysis showed that treated animals had fewer signs of chronic damage according to the Banff score. All groups displayed slight increases in TGF-beta1 without differences among them. CONCLUSIONS: In this model the use of FTY or antisense oligonucleotides of ICAM-1 were associated with less functional and morphological evidence of chronic graft damage secondary to an ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Proteinuria and chronic renal failure in the coast of El Salvador: detection with low cost methods and associated factors].

OBJECTIVES: El Salvador has high mortality rates from chronic kidney disease (CKD). The actual prevalence and causes remain unknown and local resources are scarce. Previous studies have suggested very high prevalence in specific populations: adult male farmers living in the coastlands, with high frequency of pesticides exposure and alcohol consumption. This population has low incomes and poor healthcare accessibility. Our aim was to detect CKD cases in this population using proteinuria as an inexpensive initial screening, investigating associations with those characteristics and comparing them with another population from the midlands. METHODS: We performed a transversal study on volunteer men from both regions, taking into consideration the variables: age, farmer living, pesticides, exposure, alcohol consumption, medical past history, blood pressure level, glycemia and proteinuria in a random urine sample. Coastland men with proteinuria were additionally screened for CKD measuring hemoglobin and serum creatinine levels. Finally, we employed a logistic regression model, and Perason's Chi2 to investigate associations between those variables and the presence of proteinuria or CKD. RESULTS: We included 291 men from the coastlands and 62 from the midlands: 35 and 16% off the total male population from their respective communities. Proteinuria (table I) was found in 133 (45.7%) and 8 cases (12.9%). CKD was diagnosed in 37 (12.7%) coastland men (table III), with mean creatinine 2.64 +/- 2.5 mg/dl, hemoglobin 12.32 +/- 1.9 g/dl and 81.1% with proteinuria 15-30 mg/l. Only 14 (37.8%) out of those 37 CKD patients featured diabetes or hypertension, while the remaining (62.2%) did not appear to have a clear-cut cause for CKD. Only one of them was formerly diagnosed with CKD. Farmer living, pesticides exposure and alcohol consumption were found to be very common characteristics in both populations, and were not associated to the presence of proteinuria or CKD (table II and III) DISCUSSION: The prevalence of CKD within the adult male farmers from the Salvadoran coastlands is remarkably high: at least 12.7%. There is a large number of undiagnosed cases, but they can be easily detected with inexpensive methods. This high prevalence is not completely explained by usual CKD causes like diabetes or hypertension. In addition, pesticides exposure and alcohol consumption may not be related, too. The disease is moderate, non symptomatic and has fairly mild proteinuria, possibly from interstitial origin. Further research is required to investigate environmental, occupational and hereditary factors, and to determine the real extent of the problem.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Intraventricular meningioma: case report in infancy].

Meningiomas are infrequent tumours in infancy but when they appear in this age group, the intraventricular location is more frequent than in adults. We report the case of a 5-year-old girl with intracranial hypertension and a VI nerve palsy. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a tumoral lesion involving the right lateral ventricle with intense enhancement after contrast administration. It was completely resected through a mean temporal circunvolution route. Histological diagnosis was of atypical meningioma.

Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms↗
PubMed2004

Analysis of functional heterogeneity of porcine memory CD4+ T cells.

Previous studies have identified swine helper memory T cells as CD4+CD8alpha+SLADR+. We have recently described a new porcine surface antigen (2E3) selectively expressed on CD4+ T cells that allows to divide these cells into naive (2E3+) and effector/memory (2E3-). However, although the majority of CD4+2E3- cells are CD8alpha+SLADR+, a minor proportion do not express SLADR and/or CD8alpha. Here, we have analyzed the functional capacity of these CD4+2E3- subsets to proliferate to a recall antigen. Both SLADR- and CD8alpha- cells proliferated in response to lysozyme, but at lower levels compared to the whole population CD4+2E3-. Besides, after activation with PMA plus ionomycin, CD4+2E3-SLADR- T cells produced IFNgamma and TNFalpha, although they did also in lower proportion than the whole CD4+2E3- population. Most of the IFNgamma-TNFalpha+, IFNgamma+TNFalpha+, IFNgamma+TNFalpha- cells were CD8alpha+ and CD45RA-, while IFNgamma-TNFalpha- cells showed a less differentiate phenotype.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

2E3, a new marker that selectively identifies porcine CD4+ naive T cells.

We describe a novel antigen recognized by mAb 2E3 selectively expressed in the periphery by a subset of porcine CD4+ T cells. Both, CD4+CD8alpha- and CD4+CD8alphalow T cell subpopulations express this antigen. CD4+2E3+ T cells show phenotypical and functional characteristics of nai;ve cells. The majority of them are CD29low, CD45RAhigh, CD49dlow, CD11alow, CD18low, and SLA-II-. After mitogen activation CD4+2E3+ T cells express high levels of IL-2 mRNA, but only traces of IFN-gamma or IL-4 mRNA. Indeed a minor percentage of cells stained positive for IFN-gamma when assessed by flow cytometry. Moreover, CD4+2E3+ T cells did not proliferate in response to the recall antigen lysozyme, although they did efficiently to the mitogen ConA. By contrast, CD4+2E3- T cells show phenotypical and functional characteristics of primed cells. They express markers associated to a memory phenotype, respond to the recall antigen lysozyme, and produce high amounts of IFN-gamma and IL-4.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Treatment of malignant superior vena cava syndrome by endovascular stent insertion. Experience on 52 patients with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a frequent presentation of malignancies involving the mediastinum and can seriously compromise treatment options and prognosis. Stenting of superior vena cava is a well-known but not so commonly used technique to alleviate this syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between August 1993 and December 2000 we performed 52 stenting procedures in patients affected by non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). RESULTS: Phlebographic resolution of the obstruction was achieved in 100% of cases with symptomatic and subjective improvement in more than 80%. One major complication was observed due to bleeding during anticoagulation. Re-obstruction of the stent occurred in only 17% of the cases, the majority due to disease progression. Improvement of the syndrome allowed hydration necessary for full dose platinum treatment when indicated in patients affected by lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Stenting of the superior vena cava syndrome is a safe and effective procedure achieving a rapid alleviation of symptoms in almost all patients, and allowing for full dose treatment in lung cancer patients. This procedure could change the traditional poorer prognosis attributed to non-small cell lung cancer patients presenting with this syndrome.

Adult↗