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Biomedical subjects

M C Rubio

Publications and source records attributed to M C Rubio.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Quinolone resistance in Salmonella enterica].

Nalidixic acid resistance is a marker of quinolone sensibility in Salmonella spp. In our laboratory we observed an increase of nalidixic acid resistant strains from 0.44% in 1990 to 13.7% in 1996. The purpose of this work was to study the evolution of nalidixic acid resistance in Salmonella spp., as well as the association with certain serotypes and the cross-resistance to others agents. A total of 1,782 isolates of Salmonella enterica were studied from fecal and blood sources over a 7-year period; 45 strains (2.52%) were resistant to nalidixic acid (MIC > 16 microgram/ml). Two isolates required 2 microgram/ml of ciprofloxacin for inhibition, while the remaining 43 strains required 1 microgram/ml. The most frequent serotypes in nalidixic acid resistant strains were the following: enteritidis (33.3%), hadar (31.11%) and virchow (15.5%). In 1996, enteritidis was the predominant serotype (13/31), and hadar serotype was found to have the greatest nalidixic acid resistance at 80% of strains. No differences of sensibility to other agents were detected between the nalidixic acid resistant group and nalidixic acid sensitive strains. This type of resistance appears regularly in uncommon serotypes such as hadar. The increasing incidence of resistant isolates in enteritidis in 1996 is of even greater concern.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Use of a PCR method based on IS6110 polymorphism for typing Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from BACTEC cultures.

Two PCR typing methods, based on polymorphism of the insertion sequence IS6110, were compared with Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains by using a single primer complementary to the inverted repeats of IS6110. Total M. tuberculosis DNA either was amplified directly (IS6110-PCR) or was amplified following digestion and ligation (IS6110-inverse-PCR). Both PCR techniques showed a similar degree of discrimination. Because of its simplicity, IS6110-PCR was chosen to confirm that a single M. tuberculosis strain was responsible for an outbreak of tuberculosis in a secondary school. IS6110-PCR was used to study the degree of differentiation in 85 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates from BACTEC 12B broth cultures. Results were consistent with those of the standardized IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis method, showing identical PCR types for identical RFLPs, although the degree of discrimination was greater by RFLP analysis. The study concludes that due to its simplicity, IS6110-PCR is a good screening method when quick differentiation between M. tuberculosis strains is needed because BACTEC cultures may be used directly.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

[Taxonomy of Malassezia furfur: state of the art].

Malassezia furfur is a lipophilic yeast considered as a normal component of the human skin flora. Apart from pityriasis versicolor, M. furfur has been linked to several skin diseases such as seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis or atopic dermatitis. Moreover, these yeasts have been reported as agent of invasive human diseases including pneumonia, catheter-associated sepsis and peritonitis. The existence of morphological, serological, metabolical, biochemical and karyotipical differences has been described among isolates of these yeasts. These observations gave arguments for a possible intraspecific division, and this hypothesis has been confirmed by the existence of six species within the formerly called M. furfur (lipid-dependent Malassezia strains): M. furfur, Malassezia sympodialis, Malassezia globosa, Malassezia obtusa, Malassezia restricta and Malassezia slooffiae.

English Abstract↗

Involvement of monoamine oxidase and noradrenaline uptake in the positive chronotropic effects of apigenin in rat atria.

In rat isolated atria spontaneously beating and labelled with [3H]noradrenaline, exposure to the flavonoid apigenin increased the atrial rate in a concentration-dependent manner (0.01-30 microM). This increase was accompanied by a reduction of 60% in the uptake of [3H]noradrenaline as well as by a modification in the pattern of [3H]noradrenaline and metabolites spontaneously released. Sixty minutes after exposure to 30 microM apigenin, the proportion of unmetabolized [3H]noradrenaline increased from 11% to 45% of the total products collected in the organ bath whereas the tritiated O-methylated deaminated metabolites decreased from 33% to 14% of the total efflux. A small but significant decrease in the outflow of [3H]3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid as well as a tendency to a decrease in the efflux of [3H]3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol was also observed. Furthermore, apigenin inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the activity of monoamine oxidase in the rat atrial homogenates. The calculated IC50 (7.7 microM) was within the range that produced 50% of the maximal increase in atrial rate. It is concluded that apigenin possesses the property to increase the atrial rate, probably as a result of a reduction in noradrenaline uptake as well as in monoamine oxidase activity.

Animals↗

Valproic acid differs in its in vitro effect on glutamic acid decarboxylase activity in neonatal and adult rat brain.

1. The in vitro effect of valproic acid (VA) (10(-6) to 10(-3) M) on glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity in whole brain and cerebral cortex (CC) of neonates and of adult rats was examined. 2. VA did not induce changes on GAD activity either in CC or in the rest of the brain (RB) of adult animals. 3. But at 10(-3) M, VA induced an increase in GAD activity in homogenates of noncortical brain areas of neonates; no increments were found in CC of these animals. This latter increase was detected in the membrane-bound fraction of the enzyme and was not due to physicochemical nonspecific changes related to the potential solvent activity of VA at this high concentration. 4. We may conclude that VA induces changes on GAD activity in neonatal stages of development but not in adult brain. Therefore, although a direct enhancement of GAD activity may play a role in the mechanism of action of VA in pediatric patients, this cannot be verified in the adult population.

Aging↗

Baclofen: intestinal absorption mechanism in mice.

1. The duodenal transfer of baclofen from sacs of mouse intestine was determined. 2. A linear relationship between the steady-state transfer rate of total and the initial mucosal baclofen concentration was observed, suggesting that the clearance is the same at different concentrations. 3. There was no significant difference in the amount of total drug removed between control and everted tissues. 4. The data support the idea that the principal transfer mechanism for baclofen is simple diffusion in mouse intestine.

Animals↗

Cholestasis as a liver protective factor in paracetamol acute overdose.

1. The effect of paracetamol overdoses on its disposition was investigated in cholestatic rats. 2. Paracetamol plasma concentration and hepatic accumulation decrease about 70-80% in cholestatic rats. 3. Cholestatic rats intoxicated with paracetamol showed less hepatic damage as concluded from biochemical and histological findings. These data are correlated with liver and plasmatic paracetamol. 4. These results indicate a decrease in paracetamol toxicity related to stagnant bile.

Acetaminophen↗

GABAA receptors mediate the changes produced by stress on GABA function and locomotor activity.

(1) This study shows the effects of bicuculline pretreatment on the GABAergic system in certain areas of the rat brain after acute ether and cold stress. (2) The spontaneous locomotor activity was diminished by either ether stress or cold stress or bicuculline. (3) Acute ether stress enhanced GABA concentration in the hypothalamus (69%) and in the frontal cerebral cortex (26%). Bicuculline prevented the increase in GABA levels induced by ether stress in both areas. (4) Acute cold stress decreased GABA concentration in the corpus striatum (29%). Bicuculline prevented the decrease in GABA levels induced by cold stress. (5) It is concluded that there is a GABAA receptor involved in stress induced changes on endogenous GABA levels as well as on locomotor activity.

Animals↗

Studies of tyramine transfer and metabolism using an in vitro intestinal preparation.

The duodenal transfer and metabolism of [3H]tyramine from sacs and perfused segments of rat intestine were determined. In sacs, a linear relationship between the steady-state transfer rate of total tritium and the initial mucosal tyramine concentration was observed, suggesting that the clearance is the same at different concentrations. In duodenal perfusions, there was no significant difference in the amount of total tritium removed between control and everted tissues, whether the flow was 0.2 or 2.0 mL/min. The percentage of [3H]tyramine extracted from the gut lumen depended on the flow rate. About 30-40% of the extracted drug was metabolized; this value decreased to 20% when the rats were pretreated with pargyline. The data support the idea that the transfer mechanism for tyramine is simple diffusion.

Animals↗

A possible inhibitory action of baclofen on hippocampus GABAergic neurones.

1. The function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system in certain areas of the rat brain was investigated after baclofen treatment (30 mg/kg for 4 days). 2. Two h after the last dose of baclofen GAD activity was reduced in the hippocampus without changes in GABA levels. 24 h after baclofen, GAD activity was increased and the GABA content was decreased. 3. 48 h after the last dose both parameters returned to control values. 4. These results were not observed in any of the other areas investigated: frontal cerebral cortex, corpus striatum, olfactory bulbs, and medio basal hypothalamus. 5. In conclusion, the present study shows that baclofen 30 mg/kg for 4 days, induces an inhibitory action on hippocampus GABAergic neurones, which begins to disappear after 24 h free of drug.

Animals↗

Lack of anxiolytic effect of diazepam in pre-anaesthetic medication.

In 30 female patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy, we have compared the anxiolytic effect of diazepam 10 mg with placebo, using measurements of cardiovascular (arterial pressure and heart rate), biochemical (plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline, cortisol and dopamine beta-hydroxylase), subjective (visual analogue scale) and behavioural (Hamilton anxiety test) variables. Pretreatment evaluation was carried out the day before surgery and post-treatment examination was performed 1.5-2 h after oral administration of premedication, immediately before transfer of patients to the operating room. We found that diazepam 10 mg had no significant effect on any of the measured variables.

Adult↗

Area-dependent changes in GABAergic function after acute and chronic cold stress.

(1) The function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system in certain areas of the rat brain was investigated after acute and chronic cold stress. (2) GABA concentration, [3H]GABA uptake and the activity of the synthesis enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) were measured. (3) Acute stress: (a) reduced GABA concentration in the corpus striatum (29%); (b) decreased GAD activity (under non-saturating substrate concentration) in the olfactory bulbs (24%); (c) diminished neuronal uptake of [3H]GABA in the frontal cerebral cortex (65%), hypothalamus (86%) and olfactory bulbs (82%). (4) Chronic stress: (a) reduced the endogenous levels of GABA in the frontal cerebral cortex (51%), hypothalamus (26%) and olfactory bulbs (15%); (b) decreased GAD activity in the corpus striatum (32%) and olfactory bulbs (34%); (c) decreased neuronal uptake of [3H]GABA in the hypothalamus (83%). (5) These findings suggest that compensatory changes may develop in the GABAergic system after chronic stress.

Acute Disease↗

[Application of RFLP to typing strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

BACKGROUND: Typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains using RFLP (Restriction Fragments Length Polymorphism) had been shown to be useful for the detection of tuberculosis outbreaks in different countries. METHODS: A non-radioactive hybridization technique with the insertion sequence IS6110 has been used for typing M. tuberculosis strains. This technique detects polymorphism in the genome of M. tuberculosis following digestion with the restriction enzyme PvuII, and hybridisation with IS6110. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen strains of M. tuberculosis isolated from Hospital Clínico Universitario (HCU) of Zaragoza, have been typed. Identical banding patterns were obtained in successive isolates from the same patient (at different times or from different culture sites) as was the case with some strains isolated in the same geographical location. The latter may be interpreted as a possible outbreak or perhaps a higher prevalence of a particular strain type in certain areas. CONCLUSIONS: The high level of polymorphism observed in the strains of M. tuberculosis isolated in HCU of Zaragoza, allows their typing using RFLP. The standardised use of this technique in different Spanish hospitals may allow the detection of outbreaks, which is of special interest for multiresistant strains of M. tuberculosis.

Adolescent↗

Effects of i.c.v. lithium chloride administration on monoamine concentration in rat mediobasal hypothalamus.

We investigated the acute effects of a single i.c.v. injection of lithium chloride (LiCl) the neuroamine content of the rat mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH). The effects of lithium on amine synthesis and degradation enzymes were also studied in vitro. Noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations were reduced 10 min after i.c.v. injection of 24 nmol of LiCl and returned to control values 30 min after the injection. Two nmol of LiCl reduced the concentration of DA (10 and 30 min after injection) and 5-HIAA (30 min after injection). LiCl (0.5-10 mM) inhibited tyrosine hydroxylase activity (catecholamine synthesis) in vitro in a concentration dependent manner. The i.c.v. administration of a high dose of LiCl reduced the content of neuroamines in the MBH. This might result from and inhibition of synthesis. A possible link between the observed changes and some reported side effects of lithium therapy is discussed.

Animals↗

Changes in GABAergic function after chronic chemical stress.

1. The function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic system in certain areas of the rat brain was investigated after chronic chemical stress (exposure to either vapours 30 sec/day for 20 days). 2. GABA concentration, [3h] -GABA uptake and the activity of the synthesis enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) were measured. 3. Chronic stress: (a) reduced neuronal uptake of [3H] -GABA in the frontal cerebral cortex (43%) and increased non-neuronal uptake of [3H] -GABA in the hypothalamus (62%); (b) enhanced the activity of GAD (under subsaturating substrate concentration) in the frontal cortex (91%) and in the corpus striatum (69%); (c) did not modify GABA endogenous concentration; (d) did not affect the animals' body weight increase or produce any signs of toxicity. 4. The stimulation of GAD and reduction of [3H] -GABA neuronal uptake in the frontal cortex might suggest the stimulation of GABAergic neurotransmission induced by chronic stress in this area of the rat brain. Together with previous findings the frontal cortex would appear to be a key area in chronic stress processing.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Molecular and epidemiological study of Salmonella clinical isolates.

A survey of Salmonella infections was carried out over a 1-year period in the rural community covered by the Hospital Reina Sofía (Tudela, Spain). The 255 strains that were collected were studied by serotyping, antimicrobial resistance, and plasmid profile analysis. The predominant serotype was S. enteritidis (85.90%), followed by S. typhimurium (7.06%) and S. virchow (2.36%). Only 7.84% of the strains were resistant to antimicrobial agents. The most common resistance was to beta-lactam antibiotics. This resistance was due to the presence of one of two types of beta-lactamases, TEM-1 or TEM-2. Resistance to kanamycin was associated with the synthesis of a 3'-O-phosphotransferase. The resistance to streptomycin and chloramphenicol was either not enzymatic or was due to a 3"-O-phosphotransferase and a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, respectively. Analysis of total plasmid DNA content revealed the presence of plasmids in 96.08% of the isolates. According to their plasmid profile, the strains could be classified into different groups. The three main groups, which accounted for 50.19, 20.78, and 4.70% of the isolates, respectively, corresponded to the antimicrobial-susceptible S. enteritidis serotype. These results suggested that plasmid profile analysis in conjunction with antimicrobial resistance determination can be useful for subtyping resistant Salmonella isolates.

DNA, Bacterial↗