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Biomedical subjects

M Soler

Publications and source records attributed to M Soler.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Prosthesis used in the surgery of the abdominal wall. Focus on a comparative experimental protocol: difficulties and limits].

During many years the use of prosthesis for abdominal wall repair was not accepted by all surgeons. Now the laparoscopic repair has brought some surgeons to do it nearly systematically and industry proposes new materials. To allow comparing new materials the authors have developed an experimental proceeding of which they analyse technical difficulties and limits.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1991

Airway effects of inhaled bradykinin, substance P, and neurokinin A in sheep.

The effects of inhaled bradykinin (BK), substance P (SP), and neurokinin A (NKA) on pulmonary resistance and airway responsiveness to carbachol were studied in conscious allergic sheep. Inhaled BK (20 breaths, 0.1 to 5.0 mg.ml-1) caused dose-dependent increases in pulmonary resistance. Neither inhaled SP nor NKA (20 breaths, 0.1 to 1.0 mg.ml-1) produced significant bronchoconstriction in allergic sheep. However, the response to SP could be enhanced (p less than 0.05) by pretreatment with the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, thiorphan (40 breaths, 1 mg.ml-1). Sheep that were allergic to Ascaris suum antigen were 5.9 times (p less than 0.05) more sensitive to the constrictor effects of BK than nonallergic sheep. BK-induced bronchoconstriction was blocked in a dose-dependent fashion by the BK beta 2-receptor antagonist, NPC 567 (D-arginine[hydroxyproline3,D-phenylalanine7]BK). Atropine (0.2 mg.kg-1, intravenously) and nedocromil sodium (1 mg.kg-1 in 3 ml of saline, aerosolized) significantly inhibited the BK-induced bronchoconstriction by 97% and 43%, respectively. Chlorpheniramine (2 mg.kg-1, intravenously) had no effect. NKA caused a transient increase in airway responsiveness in allergic sheep, producing a mean 1.9-fold leftward shift in dose-response curves to aerosolized carbachol (p less than 0.05). This hyperresponsiveness was not evident 24 hours after NKA challenge. Neither SP nor BK changed airway responsiveness. Thus, in allergic sheep, inhaled BK caused a more pronounced bronchoconstriction than that observed in nonallergic sheep. The bronchoconstriction was blocked by a BK-receptor antagonist and appeared to be partially mediated via cholinergic reflexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of the VPg-dsRNA linkage of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus.

By the use of strong denaturing agents, a genome-linked protein (VPg)-RNA complex was purified from infectious pancreatic necrosis virus. Ribonuclease treatment of 125I-labelled VPg-RNA released a 90K polypeptide identical to the minor structural polypeptide VP1 (the putative RNA polymerase), as determined by peptide mapping. The polypeptide is linked to the RNA by a serine-5' GMP phosphodiester bond. The results identify birnaviruses as the only dsRNA viruses with a VPg, the size of which is the largest of the VPgs of RNA viruses.

Electrophoresis, Agar Gel↗
PubMed1991

Medication requirements and house dust mite exposure in mite-sensitive asthmatics.

To better understand the clinical consequences of exposure to house dust mites (HDM), we investigated the relationship between treatment requirements to control symptoms in mite-allergic asthmatic patients and HDM-allergenic levels in their mattresses. This study included 49 asthmatic subjects recruited from an outpatient clinic. The protocol consisted of a questionnaire about the number of asthma attacks and treatment requirements in the last 3 months. Patients provided a sample of house dust collected from their mattresses by a standardized vacuum cleaning procedure. Mean antigen P1 equivalent defined as the sum of major allergens Der pI and Der fI (Ag P1 Eq) level was 1.34 micrograms/g dust in patients who had no treatment, 5.4 micrograms/g dust in patients who took puffs of beta 2-agonists only when required and 17.8 micrograms/g dust in patients who required daily long-term treatment. Similar relationships were demonstrated between mean Ag P1 Eq levels and the number of asthma attacks. These data support the clinical role of allergenic exposure in HDM-allergic asthmatics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Rat basophilic leukemia cells: protein kinase C and secretion.

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) but not its inactive analogue phorbol didecanoate modulated the release of [3H] serotonin by rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells stimulated by antigen-IgE complexes. Concanavalin A or the calcium ionophore ionomycin, suggesting that protein kinase C (PKC) was involved in the exocytosis process. The PKC inhibitor sphingosine markedly inhibited release. When the PKC content of RBL cells was diminished by a prior 24 h-exposure (long-term PMA-treated cells) to 50 or 100 ng/ml PMA, the release induced by the three secretagogues was also strongly inhibited. Since cell activation by PMA in different cell systems is accompanied by PKC translocation from cytosol to membrane, we studied the location of PKC in resting cells and its translocation by a 5 min-exposure to 100 ng/ml PMA. PKC was cytosolic in long-term PMA-treated and control RBL cells and its translocation occurred regardless of the total PKC cell content, showing a possible correlation between the level of functional PKC (susceptible to be translocated) and exocytosis. Taken together, these data suggest that PKC is involved in the controlling of exocytosis by different secretagogues.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Acyclovir resistant genital herpes virus infection in a patient with AIDS.

Three acyclovir resistant strains of HSV-2 were isolated from mucoulcerative lesions in a patient suffering from AIDS in whom the oral and intravenous acyclovir treatment was unsuccessful. All the isolates were classified by monoclonal antibodies and showed no differences in DNA restriction patterns.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Out of hours work in primary care: audit of an urban co-operative deputising service.

The White Paper and discussions about the GP contract have reinforced an interest in the audit of the demand for and the quality of out-of-hours cover. We audited deputising service records for the North East Deputising Service in Glasgow over one year. Six thousand eight hundred and thirty-four calls were received from a catchment population of 37,300. A sample of 468 (7%) calls was used to estimate the appropriateness of calls. A classification, based on diagnosis, classified calls as emergency, 'reasonable' or 'unnecessary'. One hundred and eighty-three out-of-hours calls were made per 1,000 patients per year, with 40 of these being at night. Twenty-three per cent of calls were considered unnecessary, 65% reasonable and 12% genuine emergencies. People living in areas of deprivation were more likely to call and more likely to make an inappropriate call. Only 1% of calls ended with telephone advice. Five per cent had to wait more than two hours after calling. The rate of calls in this study was high compared to other studies and the use of telephone advice low. Attempts should be made to make more use of telephone advice and to educate patients to make more appropriate use of services. However, the high demand from areas of deprivation should be borne in mind when calculating GP budgets.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

PAF-induced airway responses in sheep: effects of a PAF antagonist and nedocromil sodium.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent inflammatory mediator that can cause bronchoconstriction and airway hyperresponsiveness in selected human subjects and animals. The mechanism by which PAF induces these changes is not clearly understood. We therefore studied the effects of intratracheal instillation of PAF (30 micrograms/kg) on airway resistance and airway responsiveness in allergic sheep (n = 7) and attempted to modulate these effects with the specific PAF antagonist, WEB-2086, and the antiasthmatic agent, nedocromil sodium (NED). Specific lung resistance (SRL) was measured to assess bronchial responses to PAF, and airway responsiveness was determined by deriving a provocative dose of carbachol in breath units causing an increase in SRL to 4 L times centimeters of H2O per liters per second (PD4) from carbachol dose-response curves. PAF instillation increased mean +/- SD SRL to 228 +/- 134% above baseline. Two to 4 hours after PAF instillation, PD4 decreased by 55 +/- 9% from a baseline of 39 +/- 9 breath units (p less than 0.05). Airway responsiveness remained increased at 24 hours but returned to baseline by 48 hours. Pretreatment with WEB-2086 (3 mg/kg, intravenously) or NED (1 mg/kg, nebulized) blocked (p less than 0.05) PAF-induced bronchoconstriction and PAF-induced airway hyperresponsiveness. Instillation of lyso-PAF (30 micrograms/kg) did not cause bronchoconstriction or airway hyperresponsiveness. Thus, instilled PAF causes bronchoconstriction and airway hyperresponsiveness in allergic sheep by a receptor-mediated mechanism that likely involves the release of secondary mediators, the latter process being sensitive to NED.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1990

Further analysis on the structural proteins of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus.

The structural proteins of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) have been analyzed. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that IPNV proteins are slightly acidic with apparent pIs ranging from 5.8 to 6.6. To identify the IPNV surface-located proteins, purified virus was labelled either with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) or with Na 125I. After analysis by SDS-PAGE, only the major viral protein, VP2, was labelled by either procedure. The accessibility of VP2 to these reagents suggests that this protein is externally located. In addition, using Concanavalin A conjugated with FITC and IPNV labelling with 3H-mannose, evidence is present that VP2 contains carbohydrate residues.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Cat skin as an important source of Fel d I allergen.

It is generally recognized that cat skin is an important extrasalivary source of the major cat allergen, Fel d I. Nevertheless, since cat saliva is readily applied to the skin during grooming, we tried to demonstrate that Fel d I can accumulate on cat skin without licking. Eight adult female cats were used. On day 0, two separate sites of the trunk were shaved and a 6 cm2 area in each site was washed three times with 5 ml of distilled water. The first and third washes were collected and stored for assay. The areas were then covered with an occlusive dressing. Twenty-four hours later, the site was washed once and the sample stored. On day 7, washes were collected as on day 0, and a collar was attached to the neck to prevent contamination from saliva. A single wash was done 24 hours later. Comparison of data was achieved with an analysis of variance. Repeated washes significantly reduced Fel d I levels from 35 +/- 21 to 10 +/- 9 mU/cm2 on day 0 (p less than 0.01) and from 36 +/- 18 to 12 +/- 7 mU/cm2 on day 7 (p less than 0.01). Fel d I levels increased significantly after 24 hours of occlusion from 10 +/- 9 to 41 +/- 24 mU/cm2 (p less than 0.01) and collar wearing from 12 +/- 7 to 54 +/- 21 mU/cm2 (p less than 0.001). These findings demonstrate that Fel d I is produced by cat skin. Mean daily production of Fel d I by cat skin is estimated to be 36 units. Cat skin is an important extrasalivary source of Fel d I.

Allergens↗
PubMed1990

Increased leukotriene E4 excretion during antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in allergic sheep.

The metabolism of leukotrienes (LT) in the sheep was investigated to define markers of 5-lipoxygenase involvement in allergic responses, obtainable by noninvasive techniques. Intravenous administration of 14, 15-[3H]LTC4 (0.5 microCi/kg) revealed a rapid clearance from the circulation (half time = 90 s). Circulatory metabolism was apparent, with early formation (within 1 min) of LTD4 and LTE4 shown by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Urinary 3H excretion comprised 10% of the original dose. [3H]LTE4 (characterized by coelution with authentic standards during RP-HPLC analysis) was observed in early urine samples. By use of a sensitive and specific RP-HPLC radioimmunoassay analysis, immunoreactive material coeluting with LTE4 was detected in urine from allergic sheep. Excretion of this material was significantly increased during antigen-induced acute bronchoconstriction in eight conscious allergic sheep [preantigen, 65.70 +/- 24.27 (SE) pg; 0-1 h postantigen, 208.00 +/- 71.10 pg, P less than 0.05], but not during late responses. However, total postantigen LTE4 excretion (37.8 - 956.1 pg/8 h) was highly correlated (r = 0.976, P less than 0.001) with the severity of bronchoconstriction (445.3 - 2,409.1% specific pulmonary resistance per hour) assessed by measurement of the area under the curve of pulmonary function plotted against time. These findings represent an important demonstration of in vivo allergen-induced peptide LT generation in a physiologically characterized animal model of prolonged allergic bronchoconstriction and further substantiate an important role for LT in this model of allergic asthma.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Dengue hemorrhagic fever in Cuba, 1981: a retrospective seroepidemiologic study.

In Cuba, 2 epidemics of dengue virus occurred: 1 caused by DEN-1 in 1977 and 1 caused by DEN-2 in 1981. The latter was associated with cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). To study viral risk factors for DHF/DSS, a retrospective seroepidemiological survey was conducted in Cerro, a densely populated district in Havana City. The prevalence of plaque reduction neutralizing antibodies to DEN-1 and DEN-2 viruses was measured in 1,295 individuals (children and adults). Of these, 43.7% were immune to DEN-1 virus and 23.6% to DEN-2 virus. Of those individuals who were immune, 26.1% were immune to DEN-1 virus only, 6% to DEN-2 virus only, and 17.6% to both viruses. The DEN-2 virus infection rate in DEN-1 immune individuals was 3.8 times higher than in non-immune individuals. The 5 DHF/DSS cases in the sample had evidence of DEN-1 virus plus DEN-2 virus infections. Three were children and 2 were young adults. No cases were found in individuals infected with DEN-1 virus or DEN-2 virus only. Children infected by DEN-1 virus followed by DEN-2 virus had a high risk of acquiring DHF/DSS. Blacks and whites were equally infected with DEN-1 and DEN-2 viruses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Validation of the Holter method in detecting myocardial ischemia using an exercise test simultaneously].

UNLABELLED: To evaluate the reliability of Holter monitoring in reproducing myocardial ischemic changes, 110 patients (90 males, 20 females; age range: 14-74 years) underwent a Bruce protocol treadmill exercise test. An electrocardiogram was recorded simultaneously with a two-channel modulated Holter recorder (frequency response: 0.05-100 Hz) with bipolar CM-V3 and CM-V5 leads and by a conventional 12-lead system. An ischemic ST-segment change was defined as 1 mm or more ST-segment depression lasting more than 0.08 sec after the J point. Results were concordant in 101 patients, 36 with both positive and 65 with both negative responses. Eight false negative and one false positive Holter ischemic episodes occurred. This yielded an accuracy (expressed as sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values) of 81.8%, 98.5%, 97.3% and 89.0%, respectively. There was a good correlation between the maximal ST-segment depression (r = 0.57; p less than 0.001), duration of ischemia (r = 0.89; p less than 0.001), heart rate at the onset of the ischemic episode (r = 0.91; p less than 0.001) and maximal heart rate (r = 0.98; p less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Two-channel amplitude modulated Holter recording system with bipolar CM-V3 and CM-V5 leads can reliably reproduce ST-segment changes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Methotrexate-induced pneumonitis: appearance four weeks after discontinuation of treatment.

A 71-year-old man with a long-standing history of rheumatoid arthritis required methotrexate treatment since 1986, with a total dose of 210 mg. In April 1987, before arthroplastic surgery, methotrexate was discontinued. Four weeks later a syndrome of fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and diffuse air-space consolidations on the chest radiograph evolved. An antibiotic therapy had no beneficial effect, and a bronchoscopy yielded no pathogens. An open lung biopsy led to the diagnosis of methotrexate-induced pneumonitis. This is the first report of a case where methotrexate-induced pneumonitis developed several weeks after cessation of the treatment. Methotrexate can cause four types of pulmonary adverse reactions: pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, pulmonary fibrosis, and pleuritis. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms, symptoms, treatment, and prognosis are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

In vivo and in vitro studies on cold-induced airway response in normal and sensitized rabbits.

We measured the changes in lung resistance (RL) induced by cool inspired air under dry air conditions in anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated rabbits. We compared the airway response to cold air in non-sensitized (NS) animals with the response in rabbits sensitized (S) to bovine serum albumin. Using in vitro tracheal preparations from the same animals, we observed the effects of lowering the bath temperature on smooth muscle tension and also the response to acetylcholine (Ach). Dose-response curves to Ach were constructed and analyzed in terms of maximal contraction (delta Tmax) and pD2 coefficient (negative logarithm of the molar concentration of Ach producing 50% of maximum contraction). The magnitude of cold induced airway response tested in vivo was significantly greater in S (delta RL = +52% +/- 2) than in NS rabbits (+30% +/- 4; P less than 0.01). In vitro the decrease of temperature in the bathing medium induced a significant relaxation of tracheal spirals in both NS and S preparations (delta T = -2.42 +/- 0.34 g/mg wet tissue, -3.36 +/- 0.8 g/mg wet tissue, respectively). However, an adaptation of this response occurred after 8 min in NS rabbits whereas relaxation persisted in S rabbits. The tracheal contractile response to Ach was decreased by bath cooling in S ans NS animals (delta Tmax = 5.53 +/- 0.15 g/mg wet tissue and 5.03 +/- 0.27 g/mg wet tissue at 37 degrees C; 3.05 +/- 0.30 g/mg wet tissue and 1.93 +/- 0.35 g/mg wet tissue at 17 degrees C, respectively). Moreover, cooling also reduced the velocity of response. In all cases, S preparations displayed hyperresponsiveness to Ach and this was observed for maximal changes in tension as well as for pD2 values. Present observations show that cold induces different effects on airway smooth muscle with the production of a contractile response in in vivo preparations but relaxes isolated tracheal spirals. They also suggest that sensitization by foreign proteins may modify the intrinsic properties of tracheal smooth muscle.

Acetylcholine↗