PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Lucena

Publications and source records attributed to A Lucena.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Parotid mycobacteriosis is frequently caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in advanced AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is one of the leading infectious diseases in the world, with more than 2 million new cases annually. It is one of the main causes of death of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, involving multiple organs and particularly the lungs. Nevertheless there are few consistent studies about tuberculosis involving the parotid of HIV patients. The objective of this work was to describe the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of 10 cases of mycobacteriosis involving the parotid of autopsied patients with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), including identification of the Mycobacterium species. METHODS: Detection of 'M. tuberculosis complex' was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ligase chain reaction (LCR) and Mycobacterium avium by PCR. RESULTS: All cases showed involvement of intraparotid lymph nodes, but the glandular parenchyma was affected in only three cases. Most of the cases (80%) presented a chronic non-caseating granulomatous inflammation, and in two cases predominated foamy macrophages, full of bacteria, and no granuloma formation. In areas of mycobacteriosis, macrophages predominated followed by TCD8, B and TCD4 lymphocytes. All cases were infected by Mycobacterium genus and 'M. tuberculosis complex' was detected in five cases by LCR and in eight by PCR, while M. avium was positive in one case only, which was also positive for M. tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Parotid mycobacteriosis in advanced AIDS is characterized by intraparotid lymph node non-caseating inflammatory granulomatous lesion, caused mainly by M. tuberculosis.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2003

n-3 Fatty acids plus oleic acid and vitamin supplemented milk consumption reduces total and LDL cholesterol, homocysteine and levels of endothelial adhesion molecules in healthy humans.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Numerous studies suggest n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n -3 PUFA) and oleic acid intake have beneficial effects on health including risk reduction of coronary heart disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercially available skimmed milk supplemented with n -3 PUFA, oleic acid, and vitamins E, B(6), and folic acid (Puleva Omega3) on risk factors for cardiovascular disease. (CVD). METHODS: Thirty volunteers were given 500 ml/day of semi-skimmed milk for 4 weeks and then 500 ml/day of the n -3 enriched milk for 8 further weeks. Plasma and LDL lipoproteins were obtained from volunteers at the beginning of the study (T(pre)), and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. RESULTS: The consumption of n -3 enriched milk produced a significant decrease in plasma concentration of total and LDL cholesterol accompanied by a reduction in plasma levels of homocysteine. Plasma and LDL oxidability and vitamin E concentration remained unchanged throughout the study. A significant reduction in plasma levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and an increase in plasma concentration of folic acid were also observed. CONCLUSION: Daily intake of n -3 PUFA and oleic acid supplemented skimmed milk plus folic acid and B-type vitamins has favourable effects on risk factors for CVD.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Simultaneous occurrence of lymphoepithelial cysts, cytomegalovirus and mycobacterial infections in the intraparotid lymph nodes of a patient with AIDS.

We report the unusual simultaneous occurrence of lymphoepithelial cysts, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and mycobacterial infections in the intraparotid lymph nodes of a 52-year-old AIDS patient who died of disseminated mycobacteriosis. Although cytomegalovirosis is a common finding in the salivary glands of HIV patients, the association of CMV inclusions with lymphoepithelial cyst (LC) has not been previously reported. Parotid mycobacterial infection is an uncommon finding, despite its usual disseminated presentation in HIV patients. These data emphasize that in immunosuppressed patients, simultaneous diseases of the parotid gland may occur and should be considered for diagnosis and treatment.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1997

Incidence of autoantibodies in the infertile population.

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of autoantibodies in patients with no term pregnancies. Patients selected included 43 with primary infertility and 110 with a history of pregnancy loss. In the first group the incidence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and IgG and IgM antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) was 37.2% (p < 0.05) and 53.5% (p < 0.05), respectively. In the group of patients with a history of miscarriage, 31.8% (p < 0.05) were positive for ANA and 38.2% (p < 0.05) for APL. Controls were 35 healthy patients with proven fertility and no history of pregnancy loss or autoimmune disease. In this group the incidence of ANA was 5.7% and 11.4% for APL. The high incidence of autoantibodies found in patients with primary infertility might suggest a direct involvement of these antibodies in reproductive failure and consequently in IVF and assisted fertility procedures. The prevalence of ANA and APL has been extensively described in patients with a history of recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL). In this study we observed antibodies even after the first miscarriage. We therefore conclude that patients with a history of reproductive failure should be immunologically evaluated and treated before undergoing assisted fertilization techniques or before a new pregnancy in those cases of RPL.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1991

Direct intrafollicular insemination. A case report.

This is the first case report of a documented pregnancy initiated with a new assisted reproductive technique based on direct insemination of a preovulatory follicle with ultrasonographic guidance using a transvaginal probe in women with at least one patent fallopian tube and controlled ovarian stimulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Vaginal gamete intrafallopian transfer. Experience with 14 cases.

A procedure utilizing transvaginal aspiration of stimulated gametes followed by transcervical, ultrasound-guided catheterization of the tubal ostia was performed as a modification of the standardized gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) technique. Among 14 patients with 16 cycles there were four normal, intrauterine pregnancies and one ectopic pregnancy. In two patients the beta-human gonadotropin level rose significantly and then started to fall; the patients aborted spontaneously. The procedure can be performed with a higher degree of patient acceptance than can traditional GIFT, and the success rate in this small series was promising.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Interactions between foodstuffs and statins].

The existence of interactions between different drugs or between drugs and the diet is becoming better and better known. Statins are medicines currently in widespread use for the treatment of hyperlipidaemias. Diet has a great influence on the prevention and/or treatment of these pathologies as the therapeutic strategy used comprises appropriate diet and, if this does not succeed, pharmacological therapy is begun in combination with dietary advice. For this reason it is necessary to be aware of the potential interactions between this kind of medication and foodstuffs in order to avoid alterations in the therapeutic benefits and even the onset of adverse side effects. All of the statins are absorbed orally, so the impact of food intake on administration is extremely important to achieve an appropriate therapeutic effect. Many of the interactions of statins lie in their metabolism through cytochrome P-450 (except for pravastatin), thus making them candidates for interaction with certain foodstuffs or compounds contained in them, such as in the case of grapefruit juice. This paper reviews the drug-nutrient interactions with special attention to the interactions specific to statins and the mechanism of these interactions is described so as to contribute to their avoidance and thus improve this form of treatment in individuals with hyperlipidaemia.

Absorption↗