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Biomedical subjects

M Manzano

Publications and source records attributed to M Manzano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Reconstruction of pharyngostomes with a modified deltopectoral flap combining endoscopy and tissue expansion.

The problem of pharyngostomic closure is difficult to solve, as evidenced by the large number of techniques described. The authors present the reconstruction of pharyngostomes by using Bakamjian's deltopectoral flap modified by the use of endoscopically introduced expanders for those patients in whom other techniques of choice (such as vascularized free flaps) have failed or are inapplicable either because of previous radiotherapy or because of local conditions. Bakamjian's deltopectoral flap, previously expanded with an expander coated with a partial-thickness skin graft and introduced endoscopically, allowed the authors to lift the flap in one operation to close the pharyngostome. This method provides the two walls of the pharynx (the skin graft as the inner aspect and the skin flap as the outer aspect), and the donor deltopectoral area is covered and epithelialized due to the skin graft. Thus by means of endoscopic expansion we use a nonaggressive technique to increase the surface area of the donor site and to increase its vascularization (delay phenomenon). Because the expander was coated with the graft, the authors were able to cover the anterior wall of the pharyngostome and the donor site in one surgical step.

Aged↗

Use of polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis to directly detect and identify Salmonella typhimurium in food.

A primer set of oligonucleotides (Salm 3 and Salm 4) from the invA gene of Salmonellae has been evaluated for the specific detection of Salmonella spp. by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This primer set amplified 33 Salmonella serovars but did not amplify 16 non-Salmonella bacteria. Moreover, after PCR amplification, it was possible to identify Salm. typhimurium by restriction enzyme analysis. The PCR-RE method developed could represent a helpful tool for detecting Salmonella spp., and for directly and rapidly identifying Salm. typhimurium in food.

Animals↗

A highly sensitive and fast non-radioactive method for the detection of polymerase chain reaction products from Salmonella serovars, such as Salmonella typhi, in blood specimens.

A polymerase chain reaction based test was developed for the detection of Salmonella spp. in blood specimens. After amplification of a 389 bp-polymerase chain reaction product from the invA gene, a microtiter plate hybridization assay was performed. The protocol described allowed the detection of six to seven copies of the Salmonella typhi genome, as determined by serial dilutions of DNA from S. typhi. Eighteen blood specimens from artificially infected rats and 22 blood specimens from patients were analyzed to validate the method. Considering that the most frequent Salmonella serovar isolated from blood in case of bacteremia is S. typhi, the polymerase chain reaction-microtiter plate hybridization technique could be used as a novel, rapid diagnostic method for typhoid fever, particularly when standard culture assays are negative.

Animals↗

A PCR-microplate capture hybridization method to detect Listeria monocytogenes in blood.

In order to improve the diagnosis of Listeria monocytogenes infection, we have developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay combined with microplate capture hybridization technique. The system is based on selective amplification of L. monocytogenes with two specific primers based on the iap gene. The amplicon produced, with digoxigenin 11-dUTP incorporated during PCR, is hybridized in streptavidin-coated microtitre plates prepared with biotinylated specific DNA probe. The method involved requires approximately 6-8 h, and its high sensitivity, rapidity and simplicity should make it valuable for diagnosis and for epidemiological studies of listeriosis.

Animals↗

Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of Listeria monocytogenes iap gene as tool to detect different serogroups.

PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis is a convenient technique for the detection of mutations. As the mobility of single-stranded DNA is sequence-dependent it could therefore be used to determine serotype-related sequence variations in Listeria monocytogenes. Sero-specific patterns were observed in different L. monocytogenes serogroups.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Detection and identification of Listeria monocytogenes from milk and cheese by a single-step PCR.

Primers of iap gene were used as a target to develop a PCR technique for detecting Listeria monocytogenes in milk and cheese. The PCR technique gives good results in the detection of Listeria monocytogenes either in artificially or naturally contaminated foodstuffs and has a high sensitivity and specificity. Application of this rapid diagnostic tool could provide further information about the spread of L. monocytogenes in milk and cheese.

Animals↗

A RE-PCR method to distinguish Listeria monocytogenes serovars.

Strains (107) of L. monocytogenes were tested with a PCR-restriction enzyme analysis with two new original primers. A segment of 1395 bp containing the entire iap gene in L. monocytogenes was amplified by the PCR technique. The PCR product was cleaved with the restriction enzymes HindIII and RsaI, and the fragments generated were separated by gel electrophoresis. Two groups of serovars were obtained: one group contained serovars 1/2a and 1/2c, the other group contained serovars 1/2b, 3b and 4b. The PCR-restriction enzyme analysis method described in this paper could be a useful tool for the unambiguous division of L. monocytogenes into two serovar groups, and it could be used to study the evolution of different serotypes and groups of serotypes in foods produced in the same processing plant and processed during the same month. The RE-PCR method used can give a rapid confirm at the subgroup level in the laboratory of an epidemiological association between human disease and suspected sources of contaminated food.

Animals↗

[Eosinophilic cholecystitis: an infrequent cause of cholecystectomy].

Eosinophilic cholecystitis is a rare form of cholecystitis. Histologically, it is characterized by a dense, transmural leukocyte infiltrate composed of more than 90% eosinophils. The etiology remains obscure, although it had been associated with allergies, parasites, hypereosinophilic syndromes, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, cholelithiasis, and acalculous cholecystitis. Here we report an eosinophilic cholecystitis gallstone-associated case, the only one with this histopathologic diagnosis among 5,537 cholecystectomies made in our hospital in the last years.

Aged↗

Identification of Listeria species by a semi-nested polymerase chain reaction.

Three primers derived from the lap gene were used to distinguish Listeria monocytogenes from L.innocua and other Listeria species. L. monocytogenes and L. innocua yielded a PCR product of 600 and 300 bp, respectively, whereas a typical pattern of three amplimers was observed with L. ivanovii, L. seeligeri and L. welshimeri.

Electrophoresis, Agar Gel↗

A combined polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease enzyme assay for discriminating between Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni.

A combined polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease (RE) enzyme assay was developed to discriminate between Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni. Amplimers of the FlaA gene obtained by PCR were digested with AluI and HinfI to distinguish C. coli from C. jejuni. With AluI digestion C. jejuni-specific bands were observed at 110, 140 and 160 bp and C. coli-specific bands at 293 and 147 bp. C. jejuni-specific bands of 349 and 109 bp were found by HinfI digestion but HinfI did not digest the FlaA amplimer of C. coli. This combined technique is fast and easy to perform, and distinguishes the two campylobacters unequivocally.

Campylobacter coli↗

[Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy, variation of the technique of gastrostomy].

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy is a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy derived technique, that is widely employed. However it has a high incidence of mechanic complications. Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy direct access, improves these problems and allows to apply this technique in patients with previous gastric resection or with other gastric diseases that contraindicate percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. We describe, for the first time in our country, a direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy placement.

Gastrostomy↗

Polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni in poultry meat.

Primers of 16S rRNA and flaA genes were used to optimise a PCR technique for detecting thermotolerant campylobacters in poultry meat. Different methods for crude DNA extraction were also evaluated. The use of flaA primers and extraction of nucleic acid by boiling and proteinase K gave good results in the detection of Campylobacter either in artificially or naturally contaminated foodstuffs. The lowest sensitivity limit for the PCR reaction was 10(1)-10(2) thermophilic Campylobacter cells either in pure cultures or in artificially and naturally contaminated poultry skins, corresponding to a concentration of 10(2)-10(3) Campylobacter/ml or g product. The PCR method we devised had a high sensitivity and specificity. It appears to give better results than conventional methods and is very easy and fast, requiring only eight hours to detect thermotolerant Campylobacter from poultry meat. In contrast, conventional methods require almost 4 days.

Animals↗

Adaptation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain to high copper concentrations.

A strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been adapted to increasing concentrations of copper at two different pH values. The growth curve at pH 5.5 is characterized by a time generation increasing with the amount of added copper. A significant decrease of cell volume as compared with the control is also observed. At pH 3 the cells grow faster than at pH 5.5 and resist higher copper concentrations (3.8 against 1.2 mM). Experimental evidence indicates that, after copper treatment, the metal is not bound to the cell wall, but is localized intracellularly. A significant precipitation of copper salts in the medium was observed only at pH 5.5. Increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were observed in copper-treated cells and which persisted after 20 subsequent inocula in a medium without added metal. On the contrary, catalase activity was not stimulated by copper treatment and, hence, not correlated with SOD levels. The mechanism of copper resistance, therefore, probably involves a persistent induction of SOD, but not of catalase, and it is strongly pH-dependent.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Interaction among heavy metals and methanol affecting superoxide dismutase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1. Three strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been exposed to methanol both in the presence and absence of heavy metal ions. The growth curves and the superoxide dismutase activity were determined. 2. The presence of alcohol, copper or cadmium alone did not give strong cytotoxic effects, while methanol plus cadmium yielded a growth inhibition in two strains. 3. SOD levels were stimulated by copper, while methanol did not affect SOD in this non-methylotrophic yeast, indicating the need of alcohol assimilation to stimulate SOD. Cadmium had no inducing effects on SOD levels.

Cadmium↗

Subperiosteal implants.

This paper analyzes 115 cases of subperiosteal implants placed during a 15-year period by means of the same surgical technique. The majority of implants were in women (86%) in both the maxilla and mandible. The varieties of implants placed were grouped by totals for statistical purposes: Kennedy classes I and II, Universal, and interdental. Although details of the surgical and prosthetic techniques are not included in this report, the procedures carried out by other authors are described. The majority of the implants evaluated had been in place for from 5 to 10 years (58.3%). The implants that experienced the highest levels of success are the completed designs in the mandible and the interdental in the maxilla. In both cases, the best results were observed when the antagonist was a complete-denture prosthesis.

Adult↗

Microbiological quality of artisanal ice cream.

In the course of the years 1990 and 1991, 396 samples of artisanal ice-cream had been collected from different ice-cream shops in Udine and province and analysed. All tested flavours contained aerobic germs, coliforms, Enterococci and yeasts in different quantities. In the analysed samples neither Salmonellae spp., nor Listeria monocytogenes nor Staphylococcus aureus were detected. Numerous species of coliforms and yeasts were randomly isolated and identified. The statistical analysis, used to compare the variables (flavour, month, year), showed significant differences among the samples analysed in the two years. In September, the means of the total aerobic count were significantly different from the ones of July and of August. No significant differences were noted in the means of coliforms, total aerobic counts and yeasts in the different flavours. The techniques for recovery of freeze-stressed coliforms in artificially contaminated samples of ice-cream showed that the three techniques, which use both selective and non-selective mediums, are better than those ones, which use only selective mediums. Lastly, with regard at the coliform values, the ice-creams tested have small-medium quality. In fact 26% of the ice-creams cannot be sealed, according to the Italian Ministry Ordinance (October 11, 1978).

Enterobacteriaceae↗