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Biomedical subjects

P Benito

Publications and source records attributed to P Benito.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Comparison of oral and intraperitoneal iron supplementation in anaemic rats: a re-evaluation of the mucosal block theory of iron absorption.

To evaluate the extent to which daily oral Fe supplements may block Fe absorption from a subsequent dose, we compared effects of oral and intraperitoneal (i.p.) Fe supplementation on Fe status in anaemic rats (haemoglobin (Hb) 90 g/l). A ligated duodenal loop technique was used to assess the effects of the Fe supplements administered either orally or i.p. at different frequencies on Fe absorption from a subsequent test dose. Anaemic Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to seven groups of eight rats each and received either oral or i.p. Fe supplements for 3 d as follows: (1) 4 mg oral supplement daily (three doses in 3 d); (2) 4 mg oral supplement once (one dose on day 1, low-Fe dose on days 2 and 3); (3) 12 mg oral supplement once (one dose on day 1, low-Fe dose on days 2 and 3); (4) 3.2 mg i.p. supplement daily (three doses in 3 d); (5) 3.2 mg i.p. supplement once (one dose on day 1); (6) 9.6 mg i.p. supplement once (one dose on day 1); (7) low-Fe diet (control). The effectiveness of the supplements in treating Fe deficiency on each of the two test-factors, i.e. route of administration and frequency of dose, was assessed by determining Hb-Fe gain and liver-Fe stores after the 3 d test period. Oral supplementation was as effective as i.p. in improving the Fe status of the anaemic animals. However, a 15 min absorption of a radio-Fe test dose from a ligated loop in i.p.-supplemented groups was significantly higher (11.68 (SD 1.70)%, 17.49 (SD 4.59)%, 16.71 (SD 3.39)%) than in orally supplemented groups (3.24 (SD 1.35)%, 2.45 (SD 1.05)%, 1.80 (SD 0.35)%) despite equal body Fe stores. No significant difference in intestinal Fe absorption efficiency was detected within the oral groups but those supplemented only once were more effective than or as effective as the group receiving daily supplements for 3 d in improving Fe status as indicated by Hb-regeneration efficiency. We conclude that there is a mucosal block with the administration of oral Fe supplements but the extent of this blocking effect during oral Fe supplementation is not as dramatic as currently thought in the context of the poor efficacy of daily Fe supplementation programmes.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Influence of iron supplementation frequency on absorption efficiency and mucosal ferritin in anaemic rats.

It is believed that frequent Fe doses decrease the efficiency of absorption as a consequence of the loading of intestinal mucosal cells with Fe from the previous supplemental dose. We examined this premise in thirty anaemic Sprague-Dawley rats given Fe supplements as FeSO4 in 1 g preparations of a 50:50 (w/w mixture of low-Fe diet and sucrose under one of the following regimens: one 3 mg Fe dose daily for 3d, four 0.75 mg doses daily at 6 h intervals for 3 d, and one 9 mg dose on day 1 followed by two placebo (low-Fe diet) doses on days 2 and 3. All groups were fed on two low-Fe meals daily (8.3 mg Fe/kg diet). After an overnight fast rats were dosed with 1 ml of an 59Fe-labelled ferric nitrilotriacetic acid solution (37 kBq 59Fe, 50 micrograms Fe) orally and killed 10 h later. Absorption of 59Fe was measured as the percentage of the 59Fe retained by the carcass without the gastrointestinal tract 10 h after dosing relative to the initial 59Fe dose. Haemoglobin-Fe gain, liver non-haem-Fe, and mucosal duodenal ferritin were determined after the 3 d supplementation period. Absorption of the test dose in rats supplemented once 3 d before assessment of Fe absorption was 2.6-fold greater than those supplemented with daily single doses and 1.9-fold greater than those supplemented with daily multiple doses. Our data indicate that both mucosal ferritin and liver Fe levels account for the higher absorption efficiency found in rats supplemented once to simulate intermittent regimens.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
PubMed1997

[Analysis of experience in an integrated program of hospital rheumatological service and primary care].

BACKGROUND: In order to improve the health quality at the Primary care level, the Catalonian Health Authority (Servei Catala de la Salut) has begun a reform of the medical and surgical specialties. In this reform process the Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain, has taken part in the incorporation of several medical and surgical hospital specialists to primary care within its influence area. In this study, we describe the results of the collaboration between Hospital health care and Primary care on rheumatic complaints during one year. METHODS: We carried out a descriptive study of some clinical and epidemiological variables of the population visited during one year (1995), at the Primary care level by the Rheumatologist. Our area has a population of 90,612 people, and its located in Barcelona City, Ciutat Vella Variables of study were collected during the period of time between January and December 1995. The following variables were recorded: age, gender, referral cause, rheumatologic diagnosis, intra-articular and peri-articular corticosteroid injections perform, techniques used for the diagnosis of rheumatic disease, follow-up level Data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Visits performed were 2,668 on 1,384 patients. Fifty-two percent were first visits, 48% were follow-up visits (Ratio first visits Nolfow-up visits: 0.57). Fifty-one percent of the patients were > 65 years old. Unspecific polyarthralgias, chronic low back pain, gonalgia and pathology of the shoulder were the most frequent complaints (> 50%). Osteoarthritis and soft-tissue diseases were the most frequent diagnosis with a percentage of 41% and 30.7%, respectively. Connective tissue diseases and spondyloarthropathies had account for 3.8% of global diagnosis. X-ray film has been the commonest technique used for the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases (80.5%). The waiting list for first visit initially has been 5 weeks, and at the end of study it has been 3 weeks. Ten percent of patients had been referred to the Hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Collaboration between Hospital care rheumatology and Primary care, improves the diagnostic quality, as well as it decreases the waiting list and allows the patients' control at the most appropriate care level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Favorable response to corticoid therapy in a patient with transverse myelitis in systemic lupus erythematosus].

Transverse myelitis is one of the most unusual neurologic complications of systemic lupus erythematosus. Its pathogenetic mechanisms are controversial. Several therapeutic regimens have been attempted with contradictory results. Corticotherapy appears to improve prognosis, although some authors question its beneficial effects. The case of a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and transverse myelitis, who presented a favourable clinical course following early treatment with high-dose corticoids, is reported.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

[A unique medical experience: the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games].

BACKGROUND: The request for medical attention derived from Olympic Games is variable, with few previously published experiences and thus, the estimations made by the organizers are difficult. METHODS: The health care program established during the 1992 Olympic Games held in Barcelona is described and the clinical cases attended are reported. RESULTS: The number of persons accredited by the Barcelona Olympic Committee was 132,286. Health care attendance was provided in the sports installations, the olympic villages of the journalists and athletes, olympic family hotels, press centers and the International Youth Camp. A Polyclinic was in operation in the Olympic Village with a 24 hour Emergency Department. A total of 15,552 visits were made, 524 of which were sent to the Emergency Department of the Olympic Hospital (Hospital del Mar in Barcelona). Three hundred twenty visits were programed in the Out Patient Departments of the Hospital and a total of 81 patients were admitted to the hospital with a mean stay of 3.9 days. The most common medical problems encountered were those related with the locomotor system. CONCLUSIONS: The health care program designed for the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games was adequate to attend the health care demand required.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed1995

Antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in autoimmune diseases: primary Sjögren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune thyroid diseases.

The aetiology of autoimmune diseases remains unknown. The relationship between virus, and more recently retrovirus, has been suggested with this group of diseases. Immunoblotting is a useful method for determining the presence of proteins coded by different retrovirus genes. Since the prevalence of these types of proteins in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and autoimmune thyroid diseases has not been fully established, the aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to immunodeficiency human virus type 1 (HIV-1) proteins in these diseases and their possible relationship with the presence of anti-nuclear, anti-DNA, anti-SSA (Ro) and anti-SSB (La) autoantibodies. Antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) were studied in a group of 341 patients with autoimmune diseases (77 SS, 98 SLE, 75 RA, 91 autoimmune thyroid diseases) and 126 blood donors as a control group. A Western blot was used to detect antibodies to HIV-1, and a double polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using nested primers in the gag and pol gene of HIV-1. Antinuclear antibodies, anti-DNA, anti-SSA (Ro) and anti-SSB (La) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. At least one band was shown on immunoblotting in 26% of patients with autoimmune diseases and 35% of controls. The presence of antibodies to p55 or p68 proteins in patients with SS or SLE proved to be the only statistically significant difference between the other autoimmune diseases studied and the control group. These antibodies were not associated with autoantibodies ANA, DNA, SSA (Ro) or SSB (La).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effect of clomiphene citrate on hormonal profile in male hemodialysis and kidney transplant patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of clomiphene citrate (CC) therapy in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis of male uremic subjects. Thirty-four patients on hemodialysis (HD) and 8 successful kidney transplant subjects (RT) were evaluated. Nine healthy males were used as controls (C). At baseline, zinc, testosterone (TEST), prolactin (PRL), FSH, LH and estradiol plasma concentrations were measured. All subjects were treated with CC (100 mg/day) for a week. The aforementioned parameters were determined again on the seventh day of CC therapy, and 3 days after drug withdrawal. Following CC, there was a rise in FSH, LH and TEST levels in all subjects (p < 0.05); it is interesting to stress that TEST became normal in HD. In addition, we observed a decrease of PRL after CC only in HD patients (p < 0.01). In summary, CC was able to partially correct most of the hormonal disturbances of the gonadal axis in uremic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Sex differences in growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone.

The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether sex differences exist in GH response to GHRH, and the influence that menstrual cycle have on this response. A GHRH test was performed on nine healthy men and ten women on days one and twelve of the menstrual cycle. Basal GH levels, (mean +/- SE) (7.98 +/- 3.09 ng/ml in women and 0.13 +/- 0.07 ng/ml in men, p less than 0.05) as well as maximal GH response (40.17 +/- 11.96 ng/ml in women and 9.63 +/- 2.32 ng/ml in males, p less than 0.01) were significantly higher in women than in men. In spite of a significant increase in estradiol levels during the menstrual cycle (75.88 +/- 2.48 pg/ml on day one and 198.40 +/- 28.65 pg/ml on day twelve, p less than 0.01) neither basal plasma GH levels, nor GH response to GHRH were significantly different. In conclusion, these results confirm that GH response to GHRH is higher in women than in men, and that this difference is not modified during the first phase of the menstrual cycle.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Syphilitic arthro-osteitis].

We report a black female with past history of sexual promiscuity who developed arthroosteitis of clavicula and sternoclavicular joint and cranial osteitis during secondary syphilis. Spirochaeta were identified in the material from osteoarticular biopsy. The patient was treated with benzathine penicillin, 2,400,000 U weekly for three weeks. There was a complete clinical recovery. We emphasize the uncommon occurrence of osteoarticular involvement in secondary syphilis and the exceptional character, according to the literature, of the finding of spirochaeta in the biopsy material. We discuss the differential diagnosis and we review the literature on secondary syphilis. We suggest that syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any acute arthritis or osteitis, particularly when the involved joint is the sternoclavicular and the patient is sexually promiscuous.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Vitamin D status of elderly people in Spain.

Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD3), 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1, 25-(OH)2D3], PTH and osteocalcin were measured in 114 subjects living in the South of Spain (Cordoba, latitude 37.6 degrees) during early spring. Results in young healthy adults (group G1) were compared with values found in three groups of elderly subjects (mean age 77 years): healthy elderly people living at home (G2), or in a residence (G3) and chronically sick and hospitalized elderly patients (G4). Mean serum 25OHD3 was lower in the elderly groups G2 and G3 than in young adults but the lowest values were found in G4. The opposite trend was found for serum PTH. Mean serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels were similar in G2 and G3 to G1 but were significantly lower in G4. In a sunny country only chronically sick and hospitalized elderly patients have very low 25OHD3 levels and fail to maintain normal 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations despite secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Adult↗