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J Vilaseca

Publications and source records attributed to J Vilaseca.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Value of the serum measurement of alpha-L-fucosidase in the diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma].

The serum catalytic concentration of alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU) was measured to evaluate its usefulness for the diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma (HPC). Fifty-one patients with hepatocarcinoma, 30 with hepatic metastases, 40 with hepatic cirrhosis, 22 with other hepatic diseases and 48 healthy individuals were evaluated. The values of serum AFU were significantly higher in all groups (p less than 0.001), than in the reference group; there were also significant differences between those with HPC and hepatic cirrhosis (p less than 0.01), and between HPC and other hepatic diseases (p less than 0.05). The highest effectiveness of the test was achieved with a catalytic concentration of serum AFU of 210 nKat/l, with a 37% sensitivity and a 91% specificity. When the AFU measurement was used concomitantly with that of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for the diagnosis of HPC, sensitivity increased to 72% when AFI or AFP were elevated, and specificity reached 99% when both were increased. We think that the measurement of serum AFU may be helpful for the diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Hypertrophic osteopathy and acropachy associated with noncirrhotic alcoholic liver disease. Apropos a case].

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) may be an idiopathic condition or may be secondary to other diseases, the most common of which is bronchogenic carcinoma. Among non neoplastic etiologies, it is commonly associated with chronic liver disease, usually cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis. The concomitant occurrence of HOA and hepatic steatosis is another association that has recently been reported. We report here a 70-year-old male with periostitis, clubbing of the fingers and alcoholic hepatitis stenosis. We emphasize the need to perform observational studies to validate this association.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Arterial hypertension in the Baix Ebre region (Tarragona)].

The results of a cross-sectional study for the evaluation of the prevalence of hypertension in the Baix Ebre region (Tarragona) are reported. 628 individuals from a randomly selected sample of 670 gave their consent to participate. The study was based on interview and examination at the patients home after getting an appointment by post. The prevalence of hypertension was 31.84 +/- 3.64%, and that of borderline hypertension 16.56 +/- 2.97%. Only 57% of hypertensives were previously known as such, and only 18.5% of these were being correctly treated. There was a significant association of hypertension with age (basically systolic blood pressure for women); also with alcohol intake, obesity and family history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease. There was no significant correlation with sex, residence in rural or urban areas, emigration, marital status, occupational status, social and professional level, education, or with the coexistence of hypertension in the spouse. The high prevalence of hypertension was a remarkable finding, consistent with its recognized importance as a first rate health problem.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Immunohistochemical analysis of lymphoid and macrophage cell subsets and their immunologic activation markers in temporal arteritis. Influence of corticosteroid treatment.

To determine the phenotype of infiltrating mononuclear cells in patients with temporal arteritis (TA), we performed immunohistochemical studies on temporal artery biopsy specimens from 24 patients with biopsy-proven TA. Interdigitating reticulum cells (IRC) were observed in 41% of the patients; disease duration was significantly shorter in these patients than in patients lacking IRC (mean 1.5 months versus 3.8 months). Infiltrating cells consisted predominantly of HLA-DR-expressing macrophages and T lymphocytes, especially of the CD4 subset. There were few B cells and no K cells. No relationship between cellular distribution and disease duration or treatment was found. Interleukin-2 receptor expression was observed in 87.5% of biopsy specimens obtained prior to or within the first 4 days of treatment with prednisone, but in only 14% of specimens obtained later. The presence of IRC in patients with TA suggests an autoimmune reaction directed against an antigenic substance that resides in the arterial wall and is presented and processed in situ. DR-expressing macrophages activated by CD4+ T lymphocytes may contribute to arterial damage in TA. Corticosteroids do not modify cellular distribution but induce important functional changes, as demonstrated by the disappearance of interleukin-2 receptor expression in patients treated for more than 4 days.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1988

Polymyalgia rheumatica: a syndrome associated with HLA-DR4 antigen.

HLA class II antigens were determined in 65 patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA). An increase in DR4 antigen frequency was found in the patients (40%) compared with that in 200 healthy controls (20%) (Pcorr less than 0.05). DR4 was significantly more frequent in GCA patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) than in those without PMR (58.8% versus 19.3%) (P less than 0.005). HLA-DR4 frequency in GCA patients without PMR was similar to that in the control population (20%). Patients with severe, disabling PMR had DR4 more frequently (90%) than did those with moderate symptoms who required medical care because of cranial arteritis manifestations (41.6%) (P less than 0.05). We conclude that, in GCA patients, association with DR4 is mainly related to the manifestation of the disease as PMR. We discuss clinical and immunogenetic similarities between PMR and other DR4-associated rheumatic disorders. Common immunopathogenic mechanisms leading to clinical overlap among them are suggested.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Computed tomography in reversible ischaemic attacks: clinical and prognostic correlations in a prospective study.

Two hundred and nineteen patients admitted with reversible atherothrombotic ischaemic attacks were prospectively evaluated by computed tomography. Of these patients, 122 were diagnosed as suffering from transient ischaemic attacks, 58 from reversible ischaemic neurological deficits and 39 from reversible ischaemic neurological deficits with incomplete resolution. In 133 cases the ischaemic event affected the carotid system, in 63 the vertebrobasilar system and in 23 cases the system could not be determined. Brain infarctions were observed in 64 patients (29.2%), cerebral atrophy in 96 (44.4%) and dilatation of a ventricle in 17 (7.8%). The frequency of brain infarction was related to the duration of the neurological deficit, being 20.5% in those with transient ischaemic attacks, 37.9% in those with reversible ischaemic neurological deficits and 43.6% in patients with reversible ischaemic neurological deficits with incomplete resolution (P = 0.005). Ischaemic lesions were closely correlated with abnormalities on supra-aortic trunk angiography or Doppler ultrasonography. During an average follow-up period of 21 months, a higher percentage of recurrence was found in those patients with CT infarctions, but the difference was not significant.

Cerebral Infarction↗
PubMed1987

Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) plus dipyridamole versus dipyridamole alone in the prevention of stroke in patients with reversible ischemic attacks.

A total of 243 patients who had reversible ischemic attacks (RIA) were submitted to clinical trial to determine whether dipyridamole (400 mg/day) (D) or aspirin (100 mg/48 hours) + dipyridamole (300 mg/day) (ASA + D) would produce significant reduction in the subsequent occurrence of RIA and completed stroke. One hundred and fifteen were selected for Group ASA + D and 71 were treated with dipyridamole only. The treatment groups were similar in relation to age, sex, risk factors, duration and presumed vascular territory of RIA, incidence of alterations of arterial supra-aortic trunks, cerebral infarct (CT scan), and platelet function. Patients were followed for a mean time of 21 months. At the end of the study, 21.7% of the ASA + D group and 19.7% in the D group had suffered new episodes of RIA or completed stroke (p = 0.88). Frequency of stroke (reversible ischemic neurologic deficit or completed stroke) was 7.8% in the ASA + D patients and 9.8% in the D patients (p = 0.83). Subgroup analysis did not show significant differences either. It is concluded that ASA + D has no significantly greater beneficial effect than that observed with D alone in the secondary prevention of atherothrombotic cerebral ischemia. However, a statistical Type II error cannot be excluded by the reduced number of recurrences.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Clinical usefulness of temporal artery biopsy.

To assess the diagnostic usefulness of temporal artery biopsy in temporal arteritis (TA) and establish clinical features capable of predicting its positivity we have retrospectively studied the biopsy specimens and the clinical features of 103 patients who had undergone temporal artery biopsy. Temporal artery biopsy reached a positive predictive value of 90.2% with respect to the final diagnosis based on the criteria proposed by Ellis and Ralston and the clinical course. The simultaneous presence of recent onset headache, jaw claudication, and abnormalities of the temporal arteries on physical examination had a specificity of 94.8% with respect to the histological diagnosis and of 100% with respect to final diagnosis. The presence of any of these clinical features, though of little specificity (34.4%), had a sensitivity of 100% with respect to histological diagnosis, selecting a group of patients in whom temporal artery biopsy has more discriminative value.

Adult↗