PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A García

Publications and source records attributed to A García.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Bata and Malabo districts of Equatorial Guinea.

SETTING: Bata and Malabo districts, Equatorial Guinea, 1 March 1999 to 28 February 2001. OBJECTIVE: To study the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB). RESULTS: During the study period, 429 patients were diagnosed with TB in the Bata and Malabo districts. A positive culture was obtained in 206 (48%) TB patients, with RFLP analysis being performed in 185 (89.8%). Ninety-two different patterns were identified. Single patterns were found in 71 strains (38.3%) and the remaining 114 strains (61.6%) were classified into 21 clusters (of 2 to 25 patients). In addition, 37 of the typing strains were resistant to one or more anti-tuberculosis drugs, and 30 were included in clusters (81%), with 21 low level isoniazid (MIC < or = 1 microg/ml) resistance strains in the same cluster. Statistical analysis showed that resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.2-7.6; P = 0.014), and positive smear results (4+ grade smear) (OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.5-12; P = 0.005), were significantly more frequent among patients with clustered strains. No epidemiological links were related to clustering. CONCLUSIONS: The level of clustering (61.6%) observed suggests a high degree of recent transmission and a predominance of determined patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains among the population of Equatorial Guinea.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis infections of pigs and wild boars using a molecular approach.

A molecular epidemiological approach was applied to establishing a possible role for the wild boar as a natural reservoir of Mycobacterium bovis in Sierra de Villuercas, Western Spain; an area free of farmed cattle and wild deer populations. Spoligo and VNTR typing were used over a three year period to study the epidemiological relationship between the occurrence of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in extensively bred Iberian pigs and indigenous wild boar. The 37 sampled wild boar showed different degree of calcified granulomatous lesions in retropharyngeal, mediastinal and pulmonary lymph nodes. The 25 sampled Iberian pigs showed calcified lesions, mainly in the respiratory tract. Lesions located in the mesenteric lymph nodes appeared secondarily. M. bovis was isolated from all affected animals. Twenty-five and 37 isolates of M. bovis were obtained from domestic pigs and wild boar, respectively. Our findings provide evidence that supports the possibility of cross infection between wild boar and domestic pig populations. This is contrary to the generally held belief that swine represent an epidemiological dead end host and play no role in the epidemiology of M. bovis.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Primary ovarian trabecular carcinoid tumour: a case report with an immunohistochemical study and a review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Primary ovarian carcinoid tumours are uncommon neoplasias. There are distinct histological types with different behaviours: insular, trabecular, mucinous and mixed. The trabecular subtype is very rare and unlike other carcinoid subtypes, it is characterised by the absence of a clinical carcinoid syndrome and has been related with a better prognosis than the others. No distant metastases have yet been reported. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 76-year-old woman diagnosed with a left ovarian tumour. She underwent a radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and regional lymph node clearance. Histology revealed an ovarian trabecular carcinoid tumour and no adjuvant treatments were performed. The patient is alive and free of disease 70 months following diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Immunohistochemical staining for p53 protein, and a comparative study with other subtypes of ovarian carcinoid tumours (insular and mucinous) is discussed in this report.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Ovarian metastases caused by cholangiocarcinoma: a rare Krukenberg's tumour simulating a primary neoplasm of the ovary: a two-case study.

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian metastases represent 10% of all ovarian malignancies. They are characterized by their ability to occasionally reproduce mimicking the clinical and morphological appearance of primary tumours, making diagnosis difficult. Most of these tumours originate in the digestive tract, the best known being Krukenberg's tumour in the stomach. Cholangiocarcinomas are rare neoplasias that very rarely affect the ovary. Their retroperitoneal location and low histological specificity in the ovary may lead to a misdiagnosis. This makes it necessary to accurately assess all clinical, radiological and morphological symptoms so as to avoid inappropriate treatments in affected patients. CASE REPORT: Two cases of biliary cholangiocarcinomas simulating an ovarian neoplasia are reported.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Poly(ethyleneglycol) column for the determination of acetaminophen, phenylephrine and chlorpheniramine in pharmaceutical formulations.

New polar reversed-phase stationary phases in HPLC provide specific selectivities which can help to solve traditional chromatographic problems related to the development of chromatographic methods with widely different retention times for the sample components. One such case is the analysis of pharmaceutical formulations against the common cold. Acetaminophen, phenylephrine and chlorpheniramine, compounds with different polarities, are frequently associated in these drugs. An isocratic and rapid HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of the three compounds, acetaminophen, phenylephrine and chlorpheniramine, in capsules as pharmaceutical formulations, including the separation of impurities (4-aminophenol and 4-chloracetanilide) and excipients, has been developed and validated. The final chromatographic conditions employed a Supelco Discovery HS PEG column poly(ethyleneglycol) 15x0.46 cm, 5 microm. The mobile phase was 20 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.0-acetonitrile (90:10, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min. UV detection was performed at 215 nm for all the compounds except acetaminophen, which was measured at 310 nm. Validation parameters permit us to consider this method suitable.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed2003

Myoglobinuria and COX deficiency in a patient taking cerivastatin and gemfibrozil.

The authors describe a patient who presented with myoglobinuria after starting cerivastatin-gemfibrozil therapy. Muscle histochemistry revealed ragged-red fibers and cytochrome c oxidase negative (COX) fibers, and biochemistry showed a defect of COX activity. Immunoblot analysis showed a 60% reduction of COX I and COX II polypeptides. Cerivastatin myotoxicity might be related to a depletion of essential metabolites needed to anchor COX subunit I to mitochondrial membrane.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Screening of antimutagenicity via antioxidant activity in Cuban medicinal plants.

The reducing activity on the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, z.rad;OH radical scavenging potential, in vitro inhibition of lipid peroxidation and modulation of mutagenicity induced by ter-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH) in Escherichia coli were sequentially screened in 45 species of plants used with medicinal purposes in Cuba, in a search for antioxidant agents which protect DNA against oxidative stress.Five species, e.g. Tamarindus indica L., Lippia alba L., Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr, Rheedia aristata Griseb. and Curcuma longa L. displayed IC(50)<30 micro g/ml in the DPPH radical reduction assay and IC(50)<32 micro g/ml in lipid peroxidation inhibition testing. Pimenta dioica and Curcuma longa L. showed also a 20% inhibition of the in vitro induced z.rad;OH attack to deoxyglucose. Further antimutagenesis assay in Escherichia coli IC 188 evidenced that only Pimenta dioica prevents DNA damage by TBH to the test bacteria. A role of antioxidant enzymes is presumed in this case, as judged by a different response in the isogenic Escherichia coli IC 203 deficient in catalase and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase and the discrete inhibition of oxidative mutagenesis also observed when pre-treatment of the extract was assayed. Eugenol, the main constituent of the essential oil of Pimenta dioica, also inhibited oxidative mutagenesis by TBH in Escherichia coli, at concentrations ranging from 150 to 400 micro g/plate.

Antimutagenic Agents↗
PubMed2003

Two pathogenic mutations in the mitochondrial DNA tRNA Leu(UUR) gene (T3258C and A3280G) resulting in variable clinical phenotypes.

We studied two patients with ragged-red fibers and combined defects of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in their muscle biopsy. One had mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes, and harbored a T3258C transition in the tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene. The other showed myopathy plus cardiomyopathy and had an A3280G mutation in the same gene. Both mutations were heteroplasmic, abundant in muscle of the patients, less abundant in blood, and still less abundant in blood from their maternal relatives. In both patients, single muscle fiber analysis revealed greater abundance of mutant genomes in ragged-red fibers than in normal fibers, supporting the pathogenicity of both mutations.

Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMed2003

Nutrient adequacy and Mediterranean Diet in Spanish school children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate dietary habits and nutritional status of Spanish school children and adolescents, and their relationship with the Mediterranean Diet. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study by face-to-face interview. SETTING: Free living children and adolescents of all Spanish regions. SUBJECTS: A random sample of 3166 people aged 6-24 y. METHODS: Home interviews conducted by a team of 43 dietitians included 24-h recalls (a second 24-h recall in 25% of the sample) and a short frequency questionnaire to determine the quality of the Mediterranean Diet (KIDMED). RESULTS: The participation rate was 68%. In general, the adequacy of the Mediterranean Diet rose with increased mean intakes of the majority of vitamins and minerals and decreased percentages of inadequate intakes (&<2/3 of the RNI) for calcium, magnesium, vitamin B(6) and C in both sexes, and iron and vitamin A only in females. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the Mediterranean Diet contributes to nutritional quality, and also shows concomitant risks as the Mediterranean Diet deteriorates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Interictal basal brain SPECT versus interictal activated brain SPECT in temporal cryptogenic epilepsy].

INTRODUCTION: Interictal epileptiform activity (IEA) is a common finding in temporal epileptic patients. The nature of the IEA is not entirely understood; it may be microseizures or just a negative phenomenon expressing brain inhibition mechanisms. In order to understand how brain metabolism is during interictal activity we studied a group of patients with SPECT HMPAO during basal condition no ictal activity - and when the same patients were having interictal activity. Temporal, thalamic and cerebellar perfusion were quantified by a digital method. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two studies were performed in 24 epileptic patients: (9/15:M/F, 36,5 14,6 years). The MRI was normal or had minimal changes. Previous EEG had showed frontotemporal foci. The patients were studied by SPECT HMPAO performed with a STARCAM 3.200 equipment, the images being obtained by high resolution collimator with circular orbit 64 images, 30 s per image. The first study was performed when there was no anomaly in the EEG (basal study). In the second study (activated study) the radioligand was injected when the EEG showed at least 10 graphoelements (spike, polispikes, or sharp waves per EEG page). RESULTS: Thalamic, temporal and cerebellar perfusion decreased significantly in the activated state compared to the basal one (p < 0.001). The statistical relationship between these three locations was studied. There was a significant relationship (p < 0.001) between thalamic, temporal, and cerebellar perfusion, both in basal state and in the activated one. The correlation index was R2 > 0.9. CONCLUSIONS: For the cases studied, temporal epilepsy is associated to a significant decrease in thalamic, temporal and cerebellar perfusion in the basal state compared to the activated one. This finding may indicate that IEA expresses a post-ictal state.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Urinary analysis of nephrolithiasis markers.

Renal stone disease is an ancient and common affliction, common in industrialised nations. The causes and incidence of nephrolithiasis are presented. Afterwards, the promoters and inhibitors of renal stone formation analysis in urine are described including enzymatic methods, chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and other techniques. Aspects such as sample collection and storage are also included. The review article includes referenced tables that provide summaries of methodology for the analysis of nephrolithiasis related compounds.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2002

Validation of a HPLC quantification of acetaminophen, phenylephrine and chlorpheniramine in pharmaceutical formulations: capsules and sachets.

Acetaminophen, phenylephrine and chlorpheniramine are frequently associated in pharmaceutical formulations against the common cold. Their quantification presents several problems. A HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of these compounds in pharmaceutical formulations such as capsules and sachets, including the separation of impurities and excipients has been developed and validated. The selectivity of the method was also tested to be used if phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride were employed instead of phenylephrine. Final chromatographic conditions were a gradient elution, being solvent A: phosphate buffer 40 mM at pH 6.0 and solvent B: acetonitrile. At t=0, the mobile phase consisted of 92% A and 8% B and it changed with a linear gradient during 8 min to 75% A and 25% B. At min 8, it changed to 30% A and 70% B for 5 min and at t=15 min, it returns to the initial conditions (92% A and 8% B) during 1 min remaining at this composition until t=20 min. UV detection was performed at 215 nm for phenylephrine and chlorpheniramine, because at this wavelength sensitivity was higher than in other more characteristic wavelengths and it was necessary for the detection of minor compounds. For acetaminophen 280 nm was employed. Validation parameters permit to consider the method adequate.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed2002

Revalidation of the isobaric multiplet mass equation.

We have determined the energy of the J(pi) = 1/2(+), T = 3/2 resonance in 32S(p,p) to be E(p) = 3374.7+/-0.8 keV. This disagrees with the previously accepted value of E(p) = 3370+/-1 keV by Abbondanno et al. [Nuovo Cimento 70A, 391 (1970)] and solves a problem raised by recent observations of unexpected deviations from the isobaric multiplet mass equation. This resonance is also important in calibrating the beta-delayed proton spectra from 33Ar and 32Ar, and our findings may modify previous conclusions.

Journal Article↗