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Biomedical subjects

J Gil

Publications and source records attributed to J Gil.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Changes in IgM and IgG antibody concentrations in brucellosis over time: importance for diagnosis and follow-up.

Changes in concentrations of IgM and IgG antibodies to Brucella were monitored for at least 13 mo by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 52 patients with culture-positive brucellosis. Two main patterns were observed. After an initial peak, 29 patients (56%) had a steady drop in their IgG levels, whereas 23 (44%) had more than one peak over time. All patients with a chronic form of brucellosis or a relapse were in the second group. In most cases, Brucella antibodies, although falling to low levels, remained measurable. Cutoff levels for IgM and IgG were calculated after considering serum antibody concentrations in people who had recovered from an infection. A separate normal range was established for occupationally exposed workers. On admission, sera from all patients contained Brucella antibody levels greater than established cutoff levels. Our results show that ELISA is an excellent method for diagnosis and follow-up of brucellosis.

Brucellosis↗
PubMed1989

The susceptibility to amoxycillin/clavulanate of Enterobacteriaceae with plasmid-mediated ampicillin resistance: a twelve-year study of strains in one Spanish hospital.

We studied the antibacterial activity of amoxycillin, clavulanic acid and the combination, against 1210 clinical isolates with plasmid-mediated ampicillin resistance, isolated at the Zaragoza Clinical University Hospital during 12 years. MICs were determined by an agar dilution technique with an inoculum of 10(4) cfu per spot. MIC50 values of amoxycillin/clavulanate ranged from 8 to 16 mg/l. The antibacterial activity of amoxycillin/clavulanate did not show any statistically significant variation during the 12-year period.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed1989

The use of local entropy measures in edge detection for cytological image analysis.

Accurate edge detection is a fundamental problem in the areas of image processing and pattern recognition/classification. The lack of effective edge detection methods has slowed the application of image processing to many areas, in particular diagnostic cytology, and is a major factor in the lack of acceptance of image processing in service orientated pathology. In this paper, we present a two-step procedure which detects edges. Since most images are corrupted by noise and often contain artefacts, the first step is to clean up the image. Our approach is to use a median filter to reduce noise and background artefacts. The second operation is to locate image pixels which are 'information rich' by using local statistics. This step locates the regions of the image most likely to contain edges. The application of a threshold can then pin-point those pixels forming the edge of structures of interest. The procedure has been tested on routine cytologic specimens.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1989

Urinary tract infection caused by Enterobacter taylorae.

We present a case of urinary tract infection caused by Enterobacter taylorae in a 70-year-old male with renal lithiasis. The microorganism was isolated in significant numbers from a urine culture. The disappearance of clinical symptoms after antibiotic treatment points to the participation of this microorganism as the etiological agent in the infection.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Morphometric study of human alveolar ducts based on serial sections.

Interactive computerized morphometry was used for the quantitative study of the terminal airway branches (alveolar ducts) that followed the last bronchioles in three human acini. Two normal adult human lungs from the autopsy service were fixed by instillation and serial sections were prepared; three tissues blocks showing a central bronchiole were selected. Primary and secondary alveolar walls were traced and the following parameters were measured: volume, surface area (of primary and secondary septa), curvature (in equivalent radius) for branches of individual generations, and cumulative values starting with the first alveolar duct and moving peripherally. Although branching was dichotomous, we noticed considerable asymmetry in the pattern of branching and number of side branches. The branching trees of alveolar ducts that we studied comprised 6,7, and 10 generations. The average volume of ducts was 0.04-0.13 mm3, the surface area of primary walls ranged from 0.3616 to 0.7931 mm2 and of secondary septal walls from 0.0100 to 0.0647 mm2. The equivalent radius of curvature was between 22.7 and 38.1 microns. Cumulative increases of volume and surface area revealed similarity in the first five generations. Secondary walls represented only 4% (or 8% if 2 sides are considered) of the primary surface area, strengthening the view that alveoli are incompletely developed side chambers secondary to the alveolar ducts.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Structural maturation of the human fetal lung: a morphometric study of the development of air-blood barriers.

To quantitatively follow the progressive capillarization of the fetal airway epithelium, we examined human lung tissue from nine fetuses ranging in gestational age from 18-26 wk. Our goals were to 1) determine the initial time of appearance of the air blood barrier (ABB) in the fetus; 2) follow the increase in the number of ABB per total epithelial airway surface (capillary load) with gestational age; and 3) measure the thickness of the ABB. Our results, obtained by using light and electron microscopy and an interactive computerized morphometry system, show that ABB first appear at 19 wk. Increasing gestation is accompanied by an exponential increase in the number of ABB (r = 0.96) and the total surface area that the ABB contribute to the total surface area of airway epithelium (r = 0.93). ABB thickness is comparable to the dimensions of minimal barrier thickness of the adult ABB. The structural development that we describe may be one of the factors determining preterm viability.

Embryonic and Fetal Development↗
PubMed1989

[Human infections caused by Enterobacter sakazakii. Microbiologic considerations].

The clinical and microbiological features of four patients with positive cultures for Enterobacter sakazaii are reported. They corresponded to two wound exudates, one appendicitis and one newborn conjunctivitis. The biochemical and physiological characteristics of this organism are analyzed (inability to ferment d-sorbitol and production of a non-diffusible yellow pigment); its difficult identification and the clinical rarity of its isolation are discussed. The relevant literature is reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Insulin-like effects of vanadate on glucokinase activity and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels in the liver of diabetic rats.

Streptozotocin diabetic rats showed more than a 4-fold increase in blood glucose levels, whereas hepatic glycogen, fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration, and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase activity were decreased. The "total" 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and the "active" (nonphosphorylated) form of the enzyme were decreased to a different extent, resulting in a fall of the "active"/"total" activity ratio. Vanadate administration for a 2-week period restored the altered values in the diabetic rats without modifying significantly in the control animals any of the parameters studied. Glucokinase activity was essentially lacking in the diabetic animals, and vanadate treatment restored the activity to about 65% of its control value, a good correlation between the recovery of the enzyme and the blood glucose level being observed. These results show an insulin-like effect of vanadate in the whole animal and suggest that insulin and vanadate possess similar actions on hepatic intracellular events.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Local microwave hyperthermia in treatment of advanced prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Fifteen patients with advanced (T3-4, Nx-2, M0-1) prostatic adenocarcinoma were treated with local microwave hyperthermia (LMwH) applied as the sole method of therapy (automatically controlled set generating 2,450 MHz microwaves with intrarectal applicator). All patients were monitored with a battery of tests, including USG image and volumetry of prostate, bone scintigraphy, serum alkaline phosphatase and serum level of PAP. LMwH sessions were well tolerated and did not cause pain except a moderate sensation of heating in the pelvic region. 8 of these 15 patients responded to the therapy (3x complete remission and 5x partial remission). Involution of the prostatic tumor in responders was accompanied by improvement of the general clinical and urological state. In two responders bone metastases, documented scintigraphically before therapy, disappeared. 7 patients did not respond to LMwH, mostly patients with very large primary tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Severe hypoglycemia as a short-term side-effect of the somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

We report on a case of severe hypoglycemia observed after injection of the somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 in an insulin-dependent diabetic patient connected to an artificial pancreas (Biostator GCIIS). Hypoglycemia occurred in a sudden and unexpected way 23 min after the first SMS injection (50 ug). Details on patient's characteristics and on the peculiar clinical situation in which this complication appeared are given. Furthermore, the possible mechanism(s) responsible for the hypoglycemia are thoroughly discussed. Finally we express a call for caution when administering this drug in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Morphometric measurement of local curvature of the alveolar ducts in lung mechanics.

We have performed partial serial reconstructions of an acinus of the rabbit lung and determined the apparent existence of numerous heterogeneities in length, diameter, and local curvature in individual generation branches of the lung. We believe that structural changes during respiratory movements may include changes in the length and diameter of the whole duct. Alveoli are seen to be side differentiations secondary to the ducts in the gas-exchanging parenchyma of the rabbit lung. We have developed a technique for measuring local curvature in simple reconstructed ducts from the average of the integral curvation of the section contour. The contour curvature is measured from the chain code representation of the sampled contour from digital image analysis. The stereological requirements of an unbiased and random selection of contours is approached here by the random orientation of the individual alveoli of a single duct. Over 700 sections through the last four airway generations (alveolar ducts) at 3-micron intervals were analyzed. The average integral curvature ranges from 7.7 to 9.5 (mean 8.9) mm-1 for sixth- and seventh-generation branches from the start with volumes for the segments from 0.022 to 1.198 (mean 0.497) mm3.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Effect of a long-acting somatostatin derivative SMS 201-995 (sandostatin) on glucose homeostasis in type I diabetes mellitus.

The infusion of natural somatostatin (SRIF) has been able to partially correct postprandial hyperglycemic reactions in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). SMS 201-995 (Sandostatin) is a long-acting derivative with a growth hormone-suppressive effect 10-60 times more potent than the native peptide. The effect of SMS 201-995 (50 micrograms s.c.) on glucose control by exogenous insulin has been documented in a series of type I diabetics after stabilization of blood sugar by an artificial pancreas. Inhibition of counterregulatory mechanisms significantly diminished the postprandial hyperglycemia, and insulin requirements, both total and 2 h after meals, were markedly decreased. Also the effect of a single s.c. injection of 100 micrograms SMS 201-995 on the dawn phenomenon in a patient with poorly adjustable diabetes was investigated. The glucose escape observed during the control night was blocked by SMS 201-995. Thus, the stabilizing action of this peptide on postprandial and nocturnal hyperglycemia in unstable diabetes warrants further studies.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1988

Connective tissue of rat lung. II: Ultrastructural localization of collagen types III, IV, and VI.

We localized collagen types III, IV, and VI in normal rat lung by light and electron immunohistochemistry. Type IV collagen was present in every basement membrane examined and was absent from all other structures. Although types III and VI had a similar distribution, being present in the interstitium of major airways, blood vessels, and alveolar septa, as in other organs, they had different morphologies. Type III collagen formed beaded fibers, 15-20 nm in diameter, whereas type VI collagen formed fine filaments, 5-10 nm in diameter. Both collagen types were found exclusively in the interstitium, often associated with thick (30-35 nm) cross-banded type I collagen fibers. Occasionally, type III fibers and type VI filaments could be found bridging from the interstitium to the adventitial aspect of some basement membranes. Furthermore, the association of collagen type VI with types I and III and basement membranes suggests that type VI may contribute to integration of the various components of the pulmonary extracellular matrix into a functional unit.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Comparative activity of cefotetan against plasmid-encoded aminoglycoside-resistant enterobacteria strains.

304 strains of R-plasmid harbouring enterobacteria resistant to aminoglycosides were studied for their susceptibilities to a range of antibiotics, including cefotetan. Cefotetan and latamoxef were the most active of the four cephamycins tested and all were stable to the beta-lactamases produced by these strains. No new beta-lactamases (SHV-2, CTX-1, TEM-4, CAZ-1) were found in these strains capable of hydrolysing third generation cephalosporins. The activity of cefotetan against these multi-resistant, beta-lactamase producing strains may be of clinical value.

Aminoglycosides↗