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Biomedical subjects

B Moncada

Publications and source records attributed to B Moncada.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Neonatal pemphigus vulgaris: role of passively transferred pemphigus antibodies.

A neonate with oral lesions of pemphigus vulgaris is described. The diagnosis was confirmed by cytological examination of lesions, positive intercellular IgG staining of the acantholytic cells, and presence of pemphigus antibodies in his serum. At the time of delivery, the child's mother had active pemphigus vulgaris, and it is suggested that this was a case of passively transferred disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Ear-lobe crease.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1979

Levamisole therapy for multiple warts.

Levamisole, a wide-spectrum antiparasitic drug, increases cellular immunity in vivo and in vitro. Patients with verruca vulgaris may have defective cell mediated immune mechanisms. Levamisole was given to twenty-two patients with multiple warts, 5 mg/kg body weight on 3 consecutive days every fortnight. Patients' lymphocytes were studied for E-rosette formation before therapy. E-rosette counts were lower in patients compared with controls and a significant increase was obtained after in vitro incubation with levamisole. Seventeen patients were cured in 1-4 months, there were four failures and one patient showed marked improvement. It is concluded that patients with multiple warts have defective cell-mediated mechanisms as far as the E-rosette count is concerned and that levamisole increases in vitro E-rosette formation and is useful in the treatment of these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity in cryptococcal meningitis.

There are evidences regarding the role of NK cytotoxic activity in the resistance against experimental C. neoformans infection. To assess the status of NK cell activity in human C. neoformans infection, we studied the peripheral blood of twelve patients with cryptococcal meningitis, six patients with CNS disease different to cryptococcal meningitis, and twelve healthy subjects. The number of CD16+cells and the NK cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was studied. The in vitro effect of exogenous IL-2 and interferon gamma on such cytotoxic activity was also studied. The number of CD16+ cells was not significantly different in patients compared to controls. However, cryptococcal patients exhibited a significant lower NK activity compared to both control groups (p less than 0.05 in both cases). The low NK activity of cryptococcal patients was fully reconstituted in vitro with the addition of rIL-2 but not with rIFN gamma. In vitro experiments suggest that the low NK activity of cryptococcal meningitis patients is not due to amphotericin B therapy or blockade of NK cells by C. neoformans-derived molecules. The results of this study suggests that patients with cryptococcal meningitis have a defective NK cytotoxic function and may aid to understand the pathogenesis of this disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The physician and the pharmaceutical industry].

In recent times, a new relationship has been developed between the medical community and the pharmaceutical industry. Owing to the large economical potential of the latter, a growing pressure has been felt on the medical group, in order to follow the interest of the industrial complex. This pressure is not always located within a ethical niche. Actions of the pharmaceutical companies in this respect are described, and a claim is made to establish regulations for a better relationship between the two entities.

Drug Industry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma levels and in vitro production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in patients with amebic liver abscess.

We studied the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as the in vitro production of these cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in 10 patients with amebic liver abscess (ALA) and seven healthy controls. TNF-alpha was measured using a bioassay with L929 fibroblasts; IL-6 was quantitated by the B9 cell line assay. In both assays, the number of viable cells was estimated by the conversion of MTT to formazan. TNF-alpha plasma levels were nondetectable (< 20 pg/mL) in ALA patients, as well as in the majority of healthy controls. The in vitro production of TNF induced by lipopolysaccharide was significantly decreased in ALA patients. Most ALA patients (8/10) had increased plasma levels of IL-6. Furthermore, the spontaneous production of IL-6 in vitro was significantly increased in ALA patients compared to controls. In the acute stage of the ALA, a negative relationship was found between the raised plasma levels of IL-6 and the in vitro diminished production of TNF-alpha. After recovery, ALA patients showed both normal plasma levels and in vitro production of TNF and IL-6. Our data corroborate previous reports regarding plasma levels of TNF in ALA, and suggest that E. histolytica induces the in vivo production of IL-6 through a TNF-independent pathway. The raised levels of IL-6 might in turn down-regulate the production of TNF in ALA patients.

Acute Disease↗