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Biomedical subjects

A Fraga

Publications and source records attributed to A Fraga.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1978

Mixed connective tissue disease in childhood. Relationship Sjögren's syndrome.

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) seems to be a distinct entity that has some manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyositis, and Sjögren's syndrome and is serologically characterized by the presence of an antibody to ribonucleoprotein. We report the cases of three children with MCTD with high titers of antibody to ribonucleoprotein. Two fulfilled criteria of lupus erythematosus, two had polymyosis; all three had suggestive features of scleroderma, fulfilled criteria for the diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and had Sjögren's syndrome. Additional superimposed features of another connective tissue disease should arouse suspicion of MCTD. All three of our patients responded adequately to corticosteroid treatment that makes recognition of this entity by the pediatrician all the more important.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Value of the breath test with cholylglycine C14 in the diagnosis of bacterial contamination in patients with gastric surgery].

The TAE C14 has been evaluated as a diagnostic method of small bowel contamination in a group of patients operated for gastric disturbances. It has been compared with bacterial culture and bile salts chromatogrpahy of jejunum liquid and therapeutic response. 36 patients have been studied and divided in 3 groups: a) negative control: 8 subjects without pathology; b) positive control: 6 patients with intestinal resection and 1 with intestinal scleroderma, all of them with steatorrhea; c) gastric operated patients: 16 BII with and without vagotomy, 3 gastroenteroanastomosis and vagotomy, 1 superselective vagotomy and pyloroplasty and 1 B I, all the patients had steatorrhea, except one with BII. The period elapsed between the operation and the studies varied from 1 to 17 years (X: 4.9 +/- 4.1). The average value of steatorrhea was 23.9 +/- 10.2 g/24 hs. 100% of group b and 80% of group c had abnormal TAE C14. In 80% of the patients of the group c chromatogrpahy was performed and it agreed with TAE C14 in 80% of the studies. Bacteriology was positive in 100% of 18 studies, coinciding with TAE C14 in 70% patients. Therapeutic control of 100% of group c was positive in 90%.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1976

Gastro-intestinal bleeding in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the effects of azapropazone treatment.

A comparative study was carried out, using the Cr51 red blood cell labelling method, to assess the amount of gastro-intestinal blood loss in 20 rheumatoid arthritis patients taking either 600 mg. or 1200 mg. azapropazone daily. The results demonstrate that azapropazone does not produce greater than normal gastro-intestinal bleeding, that the volume of faecal blood loss is not dose-related, and there would not appear to be any correlation between blood loss and the occasional mild gastro-intestinal side-effects reported in a few patients. These results compared favourably with those obtained previously by the investigators in a similar group of patients taking 3 g. aspirin per day.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Polyarteritis nodosa with renal agenesis and immunosuppressive treatment].

A case of a 44 years old man with the unique combination of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and the congenital absence of a kidney is presented. The clinical picture consisted of fever, general symptoms, hypertermia, peripheric neuropathy, subcutaneous nodules and renal damage. Laboratory findings included increased WBC, telescoped urinary sediment, renal insufficiency, positive rheumatoid factor, policlonal gammopathy and positive Australia antigen. A review of the pertinent literature and the etiopathogenic role of Australia antigen in PAN is discussed. Efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy was evident in this case.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Takayasu arteritis associated with heart valve diseases (pulmonary and aortic) and arteritis (coronary and renal)].

The most severe arteritis due to Takayasu's disease are those related to renal and coronary arteries. The first one because it produces severe arterial hypertension and the second one because it puts the patient in high risk of suffering either myocardial ischemia or infarction. These situations worsen when this entity is associated to valvular heart lesions. The authors present the clinical cases of two female patients with Takayasu's disease. One of them in acute phase of the illness, where coronary arteritis, mild coarctation of the aorta, right pulmonary artery stenosis, and pulmonary valve stenosis were present. The second patient was seen during the remission phase of the disease with obstruction of the left subclavicular artery, renal arteritis, severe arterial hypertension and aortic valve insufficiency. The authors discuss the prognosis of patients with Takayasu's disease associated to valvular heart disease and its role in the etiology of pulmonary valvular stenosis. Finally, the authors point out the importance of recognizing the active and non active phases of the Takayasu's disease in relation of the adequate stage for surgical treatment of the lesions caused by this disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Serum factors inhibiting cellular immunity in systemic lupus erythematosus].

Forty three patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were divided into three groups, inactive, active without treatment and active on treatment with steroids. T lymphocytes from peripheral blood were determined and the results compared with those of twenty five normal individuals. In further experiments, the mitogenic capacity of SLE lymphocytes to Con A and the serum's activity of these patients upon normal lymphocytes were analized. Decreased T lymphocytes were found in all groups of patients with SLE. There were no difference between the mitogenic response of SLE patients and controls when the lymphocytes were incubated with normal human AB serum. When normal lymphocytes were incubated with serum from SLE patients with active disease, and inhibition of mitogenic response to Con A was observed. These results suggests that the decrease cellular immunity observed in SLE is due to serum factors rather than to intrinsic T cell abnormality.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Systemic lupus erythematosus in pediatrics].

Herein we present our experience with 16 children in whom the diagnosis of SLE was established between May 1974 and April 1978. In eleven of them renal biopsy was performed. Five had family history of immunologic disease. Only one patient had history of anticonvulsant drug intake. The clinical picture resembles adult SLE, where the most frequent symptoms were arthritis, fever and dermatosis. Three patients showed focal proliferative glomerulonephritis; another 3, increased mesangial cellularity; 3 more presented diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis and another one had membranous glomerulonephritis. LE cells, antinuclear antibodies, anti-DNA were present in various combinations in all patients. Treatment with an average dose of 22.8 mg/day of prednisone, plus immunosuppressive therapy in 9 patients, has allowed a 36 months survival in 13 patients. Progressive renal involvement and tuberculosis were the cause of death in 3 cases. Our results are compared with those in the literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunofluorescent skin band test in the differential diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Forty-four uninvolved skin biopsies from lupus patients and 43 with various connective tissue diseases and nephritides other than lupus were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin deposition in the dermal-epidermal junction. Results were examined to determine their relationship to renal and clinical activity. Lupus band test (LBT) was positive in 30 (60%) SLE patients regardless of renal or clinical status. DNA-binding (p less than 0.01) and ANA (p less than 0.002) correlated to LBT. None of the other nephritides and only 2 with other connective tissue diseases were positive. LBT is a good aid in the differential diagnosis of SLE regardless of clinical or renal activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reynold's syndrome. A case report (author's transl)].

One case of the association of primary biliar cirrhosis and systemic sclerosis progressive (SSP) is described (Reynold's syndrome). This association has been reported in 21 patients. In our case the signs of liver disease precede two years the appearence of SSP. A review of the patients with Reynold's syndrome reported is done and compared with the present case. Diagnostic approach and management of this association is also discussed.

Colchicine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of human chorionic somatomammotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin on skin homografts in rats.

The action of HCS and HCG on cell-mediated immunity has been investigated. Full-thickness skin homografts were performed in 40 whole adult female Wistar rats. Brown rats of the A X C strain were selected as donors. The animals were divided into four groups injected with HCS, HCG, HCS + HCG, and saline. The graft rejection time and the wet and dry weight of thymus and spleen were evaluated. No hormonal treatment showed any effect on skin graft survival. Thymus weight, both wet and dry, decreased significantly by treatment with HCP or HCS + HCG. No modification was observed in spleen weight. These results do not agree with the theory that HCS and HCG modify immunological competence of maternal lymphocytes and thus may contribute to prevent rejection of the fetus.

Animals↗