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Biomedical subjects

A Almaraz

Publications and source records attributed to A Almaraz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Two cases of cystic seroma following mesh incisional hernia repair.

Cystic seromas, or mature fibrous cysts, are rare complications after ventral and incisional hernioplasties employing polypropylene mesh. We analyzed the medical records of patients, whose abdominal-wall hernias were surgically repaired with polypropylene mesh from November 1996 to February 2004 (N=685). Of the 162 patients, who had incisional hernias repaired with the Rives technique (preperitoneal mesh), we detected two patients who developed giant cystic seromas. Both patients underwent surgical resection of the cyst wall. As follow-up care improves for patients undergoing hernioplasties with polypropylene meshes, more cystic seromas are detected, thereby improving our knowledge of the clinical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of this complication. However, the etiologic factors related to the appearance of this chronic cyst remain uncertain.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

[Percutaneous tracheotomy with the Ciaglia Blue Rhino technique: a critical analysis after 1 year].

OBJECTIVES: To report our experience during a learning period with the Ciaglia Blue Rhino (William Cook Europe) kit for percutaneous tracheotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, observational study included 38 adult patients who underwent elective placement of a percutaneous tracheostomy tube with the Ciaglia Blue Rhino introducer kit. The study was carried out from April 2002 to May 2003. The main variables analyzed were duration of the procedure, level of difficulty (easy, moderately difficult, difficult), and complications while the procedure was being performed. RESULTS: The mean time of orotracheal intubation was 13.5 days (range, 2-28 days). The mean duration of the procedure was 12 minutes 36 seconds (range, 4 minutes 30 seconds-29 minutes; 95% confidence interval, 10 minutes 30 seconds-14 minutes 36 seconds). The procedure was rated easy in 60.5% of the cases, moderately difficult in 31.6%, and difficult in 7.9%. Some form of complication occurred in 28 patients (73.6%), the most common being puncture of the orotracheal tube (28.9%) and slight bleeding (26.3%). Two patients (5.2%) died, from massive hemorrhage in 1 case and pneumothorax in the other. CONCLUSIONS: The Ciaglia Blue Rhino technique for percutaneous tracheotomy is useful, rapid, and easy but not free of risk. There is a learning curve that calls for caution and an experienced physician to perform the maneuvers, given that potentially fatal complications can occur.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Pulmonary injuries and cytokine levels after the intraperitoneal administration of pancreatic homogenates in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to investigate the effects of the administration of pancreatic homogenates, with or without enzymatic activation, to healthy animals regarding cytokine serum levels and the development of pulmonary distress. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 106 male Wistar rats, divided into three groups, were studied: group A, intraperitoneal administration of homogenates activated with enterokinase; group B, homogenates without enterokinase; and group C, control group with administration of physiological saline solution. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups according to the time of sacrifice: 0, 2, 6 and 24 hours. We studied the pulmonary and pancreatic histology, serum parameters of renal and hepatic function, and serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNFalpha. RESULTS: There was no mortality in any group. Pancreatic disorders in A and B groups were noted at 24 hours. These two groups had statistically significant higher transaminase serum levels than those of the control group, as well as statistically significant higher creatinine levels in group A. IL-1beta showed a statistically significant higher level at 6 h in both groups, A and B, but was higher in group A, which also exhibited significant pulmonary histologic damage with respect to controls at 6 h. CONCLUSIONS: The higher IL-1beta level in group A may result from production by peritoneal macrophages under the influence of homogenate enzymatic activation. This may be the reason for lung damage.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Evaluation of lectin staining in the diagnosis of fungal keratitis in an experimental rabbit model.

PURPOSE: To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and reliability of peroxidase labeled lectin staining in the diagnosis of fungal keratitis in an experimental rabbit model. METHODS: Fungal keratitis by Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Fusarium solani was induced in rabbits. WGA-peroxidase staining of 660 corneal sections was performed. Fungal staining was evaluated independently by two observers. The test sensitivity, specificity, and reliability indexes were calculated. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the lectin staining test for Candida albicans was 100% (95% CI: 93.51-100.00), and specificity was 100% (95% CI: 93.51-100.00). The sensitivity of the test for Aspergillus fumigatus was 96.36% (95% CI: 86.46-99.35), and specificity was 100% (95% CI: 93.51-100.00). The sensitivity of the test for Fusarium solani was 96.36% (95% CI: 86.46-99.35) and specificity was 96.15% (95% CI: 85.74-99.31). There was also a high degree of test-retest and inter-rater concordance for all three fungi tested. The test-retest k reliability indexes were 0.9455, 0.9636, and 0.8879, for Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Fusarium solani, respectively. The inter-rater k reliability indexes were 0.9636, 0.9818, and 0.9252, for Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Fusarium solani, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: WGA-peroxidase staining is a very sensitive, specific, and reliable test for the identification of fungi in an experimental rabbit model of fungal keratitis.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Effects of oxytetracycline on rat liver].

OBJECTIVES: This experimental project was designed to evaluate: a) the capacity of oxytetracycline to induce microvesicle steatosis in rat liver when administered over long time periods; b) whether female rats are more susceptible to this substance, and c) the possible ultrastructural alterations and their relation to the mechanisms of steatosis. METHODS: Sixty-two Wistar rats (31 males and 31 females) were distributed into six groups, two control groups and four experimental groups. The experiment lasted three months. Blood and hepatic tissue samples were extracted under anesthesia for morphologic study (optical and electron microscopy). RESULTS: Steatosis was of the microvesicular type with mainly periportal distribution. Steatosis developed in the treated groups and the degree was significantly greater in the females (p = 0.004). No relationship was found with dose. Ultrastructural study revealed microsome dilation in all experimental groups, with no differences according to sex. Despite the steatosis, no proliferation of peroxisomes or mitochondrial alterations were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Oxytetracycline produced predominantly periportal microvesicular hepatic steatosis, appearing mostly in the females. As a possible mechanism for tetracycline-induced steatosis, we postulate a decrease in mitochondrial, peroxisome and microsome function as a result of protein synthesis inhibition in these cell compartments.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Laboratory diagnosis and serologic course in patients with tularemia].

BACKGROUND: Tularemia was practically unknown in Spain until the end of 1997, when an epidemic outbreak was declared. This paper presents the data on microbiological diagnosis of 55 patients who suffered from tularemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two samples from 19 patients and 151 serum samples from 55 patients were obtained for culture. Serologic diagnosis was performed by tube sero-agglutination and microagglutination. Three types of tests were performed on all sera: Wright sero-agglutination (WSA), Coombs test against Brucella spp. and sero-agglutination against Yersinia enterocolitica O:3, Yersinia enterocolitica O:3, and Proteus OX 19. RESULTS: F. tularensis was found in two samples (6.25%) of the 32 received. Titers > or = 1/160 were obtained in 78.2% and 74.5% of the initial sera by tube sero-agglutination and microagglutination, respectively. Correlation between the two tests was 0.80 (p < 0.001). Prozone phenomenon was observed in 59.9% of the sera, while crossed reactivity to Brucella spp. and Proteus spp. was found in 9.3% and 22.8%, respectively. No crossed reactivity was observed with Yersinia spp. CONCLUSIONS: Culture of F. tularensis has low sensitivity. The correlation obtained between tube sero-agglutination and microagglutination is good. Both techniques are useful in routine diagnosis of tularemia, although microagglutination has some advantages over tube agglutination.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of an immunocapture-agglutination test (Brucellacapt) for serodiagnosis of human brucellosis.

We evaluated the validity and the usefulness of a new test for the diagnosis of human brucellosis based on an immunocapture-agglutination technique. A total of 315 sera from 82 patients with a diagnosis of brucellosis, 157 sera from patients in whom brucellosis was suspected but not confirmed, and 412 sera from people living in rural areas with endemic brucellosis were studied. The seroagglutination test (SAT), Coombs anti-Brucella test, and Brucellacapt test were evaluated. All the initial sera from the 82 patients proved to be positive in Brucellacapt and Coombs tests, while only 75 (91.4%) were positive in the SAT. If a >/=1/160 diagnostic threshold titer was defined for the Brucellacapt test, Coombs test, and SAT, the sensitivities were 95.1, 91.5, and 65.8%, respectively. Taking the same diagnostic threshold titer for the 157 sera from the unconfirmed but suspected patients, the specificities of the Brucellacapt, Coombs, and SAT were 81.5, 96.2, and 100%, respectively; for the 412 control sera, the specificities were 99.0, 99.8, and 100%. The diagnostic efficiency (area below the receiver operating characteristic curve) of Brucellacapt was 0.987852 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95109 to 0.99286), very similar to the diagnostic efficiency of the Coombs test (0.97611; 95% CI, 0.94781 to 0.99146) and higher than that of SAT (0.91013; 95% CI, 0.86649 to 0.94317). The results of the Brucellacapt test were compared with those of the Coombs test (correlation coefficient, 0.956; P = 0.000) and SAT (correlation coefficient, 0.866; P = 0.000). The study shows very good correlation between the Brucellacapt and Coombs tests, with a high concordance between titers obtained in the two tests. Nevertheless, lower correlation and concordance were found between the Brucellacapt and Coombs tests when the results for titers of >/=1/160 were compared (0.692; P = 0.000). In acute brucellosis, the Brucellacapt and Coombs tests render positive titers of >/=1/160. When the titers are lower, they increase significantly in the following 30 days, despite the evolution of SAT titers. In contrast, Brucellacapt and Coombs titers are always high (>/=1/640) in brucellosis with long evolution, whether SAT titers are higher or lower than 1/160.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Effects of oxytetracycline on the rat exocrine pancreas.

OBJECTIVES: Given the appearance of pancreatitis attributed to tetracycline, as described in the literature, we have investigated its effect on the enzymatic content of pancreas and duodenal fluid and on pancreatic ultrastructure. We have evaluated possible differences between sexes and the relation of our findings with those described in the initial phases of acute pancreatitis, in the context of the acinar hypothesis. METHODS: With 128 Wistar rats (63 male and 65 female), 3 groups were established: control (group I) experimental animals treated with oxytetracycline intramuscularly, 15 and 30 mg/kg/d (groups II and III, respectively). Before sacrifice, half of the rats in each group were stimulated with cholecystokinin. Blood, pancreatic tissue (for enzyme dosage and morphological study), and duodenal fluid were extracted following anesthesia. RESULTS: The stimulated males of group III presented lower amylase levels in pancreatic tissue and duodenal fluid (P < 0.003). Just the opposite occurred in female rats. A similar tendency was observed with other enzymes (lipase and trypsin). Zymogen granule counts, appearance of immature granules, and dilation of ergastoplasm were more frequent in the stimulated animals. CONCLUSIONS: Oxytetracycline seems to induce morphofunctional changes in rat pancreas, which differ according to sex. In the female, enzyme accumulation that could predispose intracellular activation seems to exist, as well as the ultrastructural findings described in initial phases of acute experimental pancreatitis. This agrees with the greater frequency of pancreatitis in women undergoing tetracycline treatment described in the literature. In contrast, for males the findings were more compatible with decrease of protein synthesis. This would make them less susceptible to crinophagy phenomena and, thus, to acute pancreatitis in the context of the acinar or lysosome hypothesis.

Amylases↗
PubMed1992

Infection by hepatitis B and C virus in non-intravenous drug using female prostitutes in Spain.

We have studied the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serologic markers in female blood donors and in female prostitutes and the relationship of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) with the presence of treponemal antibodies (FTA-ABS) in non-intravenous drug using female prostitutes. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was found in 1.0% of the female blood donors, anti-HBc in 15.6% and anti-HCV in 0.7%. In the prostitutes, the prevalence of HBsAg was 6.1%, anti-HBc was positive in 29.0% and anti-HCV in 8.8%. No significant statistical association between the prevalence of anti-HBc or anti-HCV and the age of prostitutes (p = 0.9111 and p = 0.8254 respectively) or the length of time as prostitutes (p = 0.3583 and p = 0.5770) was found. FTA-ABS positive prostitutes had a significantly higher prevalence of anti-HCV than FTA-ABS negative prostitutes (p < 0.001). No statistical association was found between anti-HBc antibodies and positive FTA-ABS prostitutes (p = 0.336).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[HIV antibodies in a hospital emergency unit. Detection through a system of pooled batches].

In order to determine the frequency of HIV seropositivity of sera from patients attending our hospital emergency department (ED) we used a HIV screening system based on the use of pooled sera. To determine the reliability of this marker we collect all ED serum samples during two different intervals of a week. From 577 sera analyzed by this method we detected 1.38% of HIV positive samples (95% confidence interval from 0.43% to 2.33%) with 74% benefit on reactives. We did not find significative differences between the rates of HIV seropositivity in the two period of analyzing (1.6% in October 1990 vs 1.2% in February 1991). The consistency of this method for anonymous HIV testing could be applied to a large number of samples from cohorts of expected low HIV prevalence rates and indirectly using this marker to control the spreading of HIV in a given population.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in positive FTA-ABS non-drug abusing female prostitutes in Spain.

The prevalence of antibodies against Hepatitis C Virus (anti-HCV antibodies) and its association with the presence of treponemal antibodies (FTA-ABS) was studied in 227 non-drug abusing female prostitutes. The overall anti-HCV antibody prevalence was 8.8%, and a significantly higher prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was found in prostitutes testing positive for FTA-ABS (19.4%) than in prostitutes testing negative for FTA-ABS (3.9%) (PR = 5.023, P less than 0.001). No statistical association was found between patient age or the duration of prostitution and the presence of anti-HCV antibodies.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of syphilis in hepatitis B transmission in a cohort of female prostitutes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES. Prostitutes are a greater risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection than the general population. We studied the influence of age and time as prostitute on HBV infection. We also examined the relationship between syphilis and HBV infection in a cohort of female prostitutes. STUDY DESIGN. The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), antibodies to hepatitis D virus (anti-HD) and treponemal antibodies (FTA-ABS) were determined in 368 prostitutes, of whom 147 were submitted to medical and serological follow-up every six months to evaluate the influence of syphilis in the transmission of hepatitis B. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION. The prevalence of HBsAg was 4.6%, of anti-HBc 31.2%, anti-HD 0.5% and FTA-ABS 35.0%. There was a statistical association between the presence of treponemal antibodies and anti-HBc (P = 0.022). The cohort study performed shows that the accumulated incidence of HBV infection in the FTA-ABS positive prostitutes (24.6%) was significantly higher than that of the FTA-ABS negative group (9.7%) (RR = 2.544; P = 0.034). Our results indicate that syphilis could facilitate the heterosexual transmission of HBV infection.

Adult↗