Biomedical subjects

J Sotelo

Publications and source records attributed to J Sotelo.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

What is the significance of the presence of MHC molecules on the surface of parasites in human neurocysticercosis?

Sixteen cysticerci excised from 15 surgery patients were examined for the presence of HLA molecules on their surface, to confirm the role of these molecules in parasite damage and to investigate if HLA products are host specific or perhaps host-like antigens synthesized by the parasite. MoAbs against monomorphic and polymorphic HLA were chosen according to the patients HLA phenotypes. MoAbs against host and non-host antigens were selected and tested on cyst slides by indirect immunofluorescence assays. Host molecules were present in 43.7% of the cysts, but non-host antigens were also apparent in 62.5%. These results suggest mimicry as a possible mechanism to explain the presence of MHC products on the surface of the parasite; inflammation may also induce the expression of HLA that could become associated with the parasite. In vitro cellular immune response to specific antigens was also performed and positive responses correlated with the presence of HLA molecules on the cyst's surface. Moreover, damaged parasites had host molecules as well. Parasites from responder patients had all kind of HLA molecules or at least, antigenic determinants while the cysts from non-responders did not have molecules on their surface. These data support the role of HLA in cyst destruction.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Antibodies against fetal muscle proteins in serum from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The serum from 30 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 30 controls was tested by immunoblot with protein extracts obtained from fetal muscle, adult muscle, and denervated muscle. Results with adult and denervated muscle confirm previous reports that show a lack of particular reactivity of ALS serum when compared with control serum. However, we found reacting bands 5 times more frequently with ALS than with controls in the immunoblot with protein extract from rat fetal muscle; we confirmed reactivity by immunoperoxidase staining in frozen sections of fetal muscle. Our results point to the possibility of an immune reaction in ALS patients against ephemeral proteins of muscle that are present in large quantities at early stages of muscle differentiation and innervation.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗

PubMed1989

Presentation of a membrane cysticercus antigen and its homology with excretory--secretory antigen.

A cysticercus antigen was purified from the membrane. It is a glycoprotein containing hexoses and sialic acids with a molecular weight of 70 Kd and isoelectric focussing point 4.8. In western blot studies, the purified antigen bound with antibodies present in cerebrospinal fluid of all neurocysticercosis patients tested. Amino acid composition of the antigen showed a high content of Glutamate, Leucine and Aspartate while Proline and Hydroxyproline were absent. When cysts recovered from pigs were cultured for eight days, the excretory-secretory antigen obtained bound strongly with the antibody raised against the purified antigen. This indicates the homology of the two antigens. The possibilities of using this antigen for vaccination are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Albendazole therapy for human neurocysticercosis, a controlled study with computerized tomography and magnetic resonance.

Until recently, there was no specific pharmacologic treatment for neurocysticercosis (NC). Surgery and steroids were the only medical alternatives for this disorder, which in some areas of the world affects between 3% and 4% of the general population, and in many cases is a major cause of neurologic disability. Praziquantel, an isoquinoline, was the first drug to show a potential efficacy for treatment of NC. In 1984, we reported the therapeutic effectiveness of praziquantel for brain cysticercosis. In this report we present the results of a study of 3 groups of patients treated for parenchymal NC with Albendazole, a benzimidazole active against most intestinal helminths, with proven activity at high doses against human hydatidosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Heat shock stress is deleterious to CNS cultured neurons microinjected with anti-HSP70 antibodies.

CNS cultured neurons microinjected with anti-mouse immunoglobulin or anti-hsp70 antibodies and cultured at 37 degrees C remained healthy while those injected with anti-hsp70 antibodies, exposed to 50 degrees C for 15 min and returned to 37 degrees C exhibited deleterious effects i.e. lesser interconnecting neurites and poor neuronal population. This shows that heat shock stress affects the survival of neurons in vitro.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Influence of in vitro lactic acidosis on central nervous system neurons.

Central nervous system (CNS) cultured neurons while exposed to different concentrations and pH of L-lactic acid exhibited in general chromatin clumping, vacuolization in the cytoplasm, appearance of lipid bodies, accumulation of polyribosomes, cytoplasmic lucency and swollen and aggregation of mitochondria. These alterations progressed with lower pH and longer exposure to lactic acid. At pH 7.4, there was no considerable pathologic changes in cultured neurons irrespective to concentrations of lactic acid added. Comparable results were obtained with the use of other weak acid (citric acid) indicating that the observed changes were due to acidic pH rather than lactate per se.

Acidosis, Lactic↗

PubMed1988

Sex-related severity of inflammation in parenchymal brain cysticercosis.

To determine sex-related differences in the severity of host inflammatory reaction to cysticercosis, we studied computed tomographic findings in 100 patients with parenchymal neurocysticercosis and cerebrospinal fluid results in 239 patients with subarachnoid neurocysticercosis. Computed tomographic and cerebrospinal fluid data in male subjects were compared with those obtained in female subjects. We found that when cysticerci are found in brain parenchyma, women develop a greater degree of inflammation; such differences disappear when cysticerci are found in the subarachnoid space. Our results point out the possibility of a factor located within brain parenchyma that accounts for the observed sex-related differences in the severity of immune response to the parasite; this factor could also play a role in the pathogenesis of other immunologically mediated diseases of the brain that may occur more frequently in women. To our knowledge, this study is the first in demonstrating that sex is a risk factor for the severity of inflammatory response within brain parenchyma to a parasitic disease.

Cysticercosis↗

PubMed1988

Albendazole vs praziquantel for therapy for neurocysticercosis. A controlled trial.

Praziquantel and albendazole have been recently described as effective drugs for treating cysticercosis of the brain. In this study, effectiveness of each drug for therapy for parenchymal brain cysticercosis was compared. Twenty patients were treated either with albendazole or with praziquantel; in addition, five patients were taken as controls and treated only with symptomatic drugs. Three months after therapy, results showed that both drugs, albendazole and praziquantel, were highly effective, as seen by the disappearance of cystic lesions in computed tomographic scans. All lesions in control patients remained unchanged. Albendazole, when compared with praziquantel, showed a 76% vs 73% disappearance of lesions, respectively. It was concluded that both drugs have similar equivalent efficacy and greatly improve the therapeutics of cysticercosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Short course of albendazole therapy for neurocysticercosis.

Albendazole is now used for therapy of neurocysticercosis; however, duration of treatment has usually been empirically determined. In this study we shortened the length of therapy from one month in previous reports, to one week. Twelve patients with parenchymal brain cysticercosis were treated with albendazole for eight days at daily doses of 15 mg/kg of body weight. After three months of treatment the number of cysts on computed tomography had decreased from 185 to six; a 97% reduction in the number of lesions. Total remission of all cysts was seen in nine patients. Two cases had been unsuccessfully treated before with praziquantel, in both instances albendazole therapy was effective with 100% improvement. Our results indicated that a short course of albendazole is highly effective for treatment of neurocysticercosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Intrasellar cysticercosis.

Eight patients with cysticerci located inside the sella turcica are presented, and the clinical and radiological features of this rare form of neurocysticercosis are discussed. Clinical features included nonspecific ophthalmological and endocrinological disturbances similar to those produced by other sellar lesions. Computerized tomography (CT) usually showed a hypodense mass that simulated either a cystic tumor or an arachnoid cyst. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings were also nonspecific, as immunological reactions to cysticercosis were most often negative when inflammation was limited to suprasellar and intrasellar regions. An incorrect diagnosis of tumor was frequent in these cases. In contrast, when intrasellar cysticercosis was associated with other forms of neurocysticercosis, proper integration of CT and CSF data permitted an accurate diagnosis. Cysticercosis should be suspected in patients with hypodense juxtasellar lesions living in geographical areas where this disease is endemic. Prompt surgical resection of cysticerci will avoid irreversible damage to visual function.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Therapy of neurocysticercosis.

The different manifestations of neurocysticercosis are classified and the appropriate therapy in each group is described.

Brain Diseases↗

PubMed1987

Plasma levels of praziquantel decrease when dexamethasone is given simultaneously.

Treatment with praziquantel for neurocysticercosis frequently induces adverse reactions due to acute destruction of parasites; these reactions are suppressed by dexamethasone therapy. However, there is controversy about the most appropriate regimen with praziquantel and dexamethasone. We studied plasma levels of praziquantel in eight patients given the drug alone or with dexamethasone. Plasma levels of praziquantel were 50% lower in the same patient when dexamethasone was given simultaneously. Dexamethasone should not be added to praziquantel therapy as preventive treatment, but should be reserved for transient therapy of adverse reactions.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Hydrocephalus secondary to cysticercotic arachnoiditis. A long-term follow-up review of 92 cases.

Ninety-two patients with hydrocephalus secondary to cysticercotic meningitis were followed for a mean period of 8 years 11 months. The mortality rate was 50%, with most patients dying within the first 2 years after cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting. The prognosis was worse in females than in males. Multiple surgical procedures for shunt obstruction were necessary in half of the patients. Complications such as bacterial meningitis and shunt obstruction were more frequent in the patients who died than in those who survived. The follow-up data revealed that the clinical status was satisfactory in 78% of survivors and unsatisfactory in 22%. Spontaneous remission of the cysticercotic arachnoiditis, as shown by the CSF findings, occurred in only 18% of the cases. In most patients, arachnoiditis and positive immune reactions persisted unchanged even after several years. The results demonstrate the poor outcome of these patients and indicate the need for better medical and surgical therapy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

Cysticercotic encephalitis: a severe form in young females.

Clinical and computerized tomography findings in patients with miliary infestation of cysticerci in brain parenchyma are presented. Cysticercotic encephalitis produces a severe and frequently fatal neurological disorder. Although parenchymal cysticercosis is common in endemic areas, in the cases reported here, the pathology is induced by a severe inflammatory response in brain parenchyma rather than by the physical presence of multiple cysts. As a result of diffuse brain edema, all cases develop subacute severe intracranial hypertension and compromise of visual function. One important feature of this form of neurocysticercosis is that it particularly affects young women.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

Albendazole therapy for neurocysticercosis.

Seven patients with chronic parenchymal brain cysticercosis were treated with albendazole for one month at daily doses of 15 mg/kg of body weight. Computed tomographic follow-up studies were made at the following times: a mean of 16 months before the trial; the beginning of treatment; the end of treatment; and three months afterward. Computed tomographic studies at the beginning of treatment showed a total of 157 cysts, the last day of treatment the number had decreased to 39 cysts, and three months later, the total number of lesions was 22; this represents 86% improvement in the number of cystic lesions. Control studies in the same group of patients had shown chronic persistence of lesions without spontaneous improvement in most cases. Two patients had been treated with praziquantel previously with partial response; in both cases albendazole therapy was effective with 100% and 77% improvement. We conclude that albendazole is highly effective for the treatment of parenchymal brain cysticercosis. It is also effective in patients who had shown poor therapeutic response to praziquantel.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Freezing of infested pork muscle kills cysticerci.

A method for culturing cysticerci that allows successful evagination and growth of scolexes from metacestodes of Taenia solium was used to study the survival of cysticerci subjected to low temperatures. Refrigeration of pork muscle infested with cysticerci at temperatures above 0 degrees C did not affect the parasites' survival in culture. Conversely, freezing of meat prevented survival of cysts. A practical procedure to kill cysticerci is the storage of pork muscle for four days at -5 degrees C, three days at -15 degrees C, or one day at -24 degrees C. These simple measures would help prevent the most frequent parasitosis of man's central nervous system.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

ELISA in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.

IgM antibodies against cysticercus antigens were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 133 serum and 126 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with active neurocysticercosis (NCC), in 61 serum and 32 CSF samples from patients with inactive NCC, and in 556 serum and 449 CSF samples from patients with other neurological disorders. For diagnosis of active NCC the test showed 50% sensitivity with 70% specificity in serum and 87% sensitivity with 95% specificity in CSF. We concluded that the use of the ELISA with serum is not reliable for diagnosis of NCC and therefore cannot be used routinely for the detection of cases or epidemiological studies. Conversely, ELISA used with CSF is highly dependable for detecting all forms of active NCC. The possible explanations for the discrepancy between serum and CSF results are discussed.

Cysticercosis↗

PubMed1986

Immunogenetic profile of multiple sclerosis in Mexicans.

This is the first study on genetic markers in Mexican Mestizos with multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients were born in Mexico, had no family history of MS are middle-class, and have a high-level education. HLA class I, class II determinants, C2, C4, BF, GLO-1, ABO, and Rb red cell systems were analyzed and compared with results of 295 controls. Measles antibodies, glucose, IgG, total proteins, and cell count were measured in cerebrospinal fluid; anti-neuron, T-cell, and B-cell antibodies were determined in serum. MS in Mexican Mestizos was clinically similar to MS reported in high prevalence countries. DRw6, as previously found in Japanese patients, and its subtype, DRw13, were increased in patients in our study (pc = 0.0007, pc = 0.01, respectively), and the combination A3, B7, DR2, was also elevated (pc = 0.003). The polygenicity of the disease is emphasized by the excess of AB group carriers (pc = 0.01). IgG levels were high in patients with DR2 or DRw6 and 67% of the latter had anti-T cell antibodies. Severity of the disease was also related to the DR markers. It is suggested that at least two HLA-DR linked genes and the industrialized environment are important for the expression of MS in Mestizos.

ABO Blood-Group System↗