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C Arnal

Publications and source records attributed to C Arnal.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Local immune response in the chicken Harderian gland to antigen given by different ocular routes.

The effectiveness of three ocular routes of antigen administration to produce a local immune response in the Harderian gland was studied. The routes were by eyedrop, injection into the ocular conjunctiva and injection into the nictitating membrane. The antigen was observed in the cytoplasm of macrophages located within the lymphoid tissue only after the injection into the nictitating membrane. The numbers of germinal centres and plaque forming cells found in the gland after injection into the nictitating membrane was higher than the numbers observed following the other two ocular applications. These findings indicate that the injection of the antigen into the nictitating membrane is the most effective ocular route for producing a local immune response in the Harderian gland.

Animals↗

Immunocytochemical detection of dendritic cell by S-100 protein in the chicken.

Positivity for S-100 protein in paraffin embedded chicken lymphoid tissue was found by using a polyclonal antibody against whole bovine S-100 protein. The S-100 protein-containing cells were observed in the locations which have been reported to contain avian dendritic cells such as the medulla of the bursal follicles, and the germinal centers and T-dependent areas in the spleen, Peyer's patches, caecal tonsil and Harderian gland. Positive cells were also found in the location where ellipsoid associated cell have been described, and between epithelial cells covering the Peyer's patches and the caecal tonsil, as well as between the cells lining the ducts within the Harderian gland. Macrophages were devoid of immunostaining. Our results confirm the location described elsewhere for chicken dendritic cells and indicate that S-100 protein can be considered as a cell marker for the identification of the chicken dendritic cell. Intraepithelial positive cells may be interdigitating dendritic cells in an unusual location (their function being the transport of the antigen from the epithelium to the diffuse lymphoid tissue), or cytotoxic T-lymphocytes which, in mammals, are immunoreactive for S-100 protein.

Animals↗

Detection of mediastinitis after heart transplantation by gallium-67 scintigraphy.

We report the findings of a patient with post-cardiac transplant mediastinitis detected by 67Ga-citrate imaging. Fever and leukocytosis were the first clinical signs suggesting infection. The usual diagnostic modalities, including CT and ultrasound, failed to identify the site of infection. A 67Ga scan showed intense abnormal uptake behind the sternum. The site of uptake was shown by necropsy to be necrotic tissue involving cardiac sutures, pulmonary arteries, and the aorta due to infection with Haemophilus aphrophilus.

Citrates↗

Case report: organic brain syndrome due to multiple tumour emboli.

A case of rapid neurological deterioration in a 60-year-old man with oesophageal carcinoma is reported. He suffered two episodes of global cerebral dysfunction following traumatic endoscopic manipulation. Autopsy findings showed multiple tumour emboli which occluded medium and small-sized vessels in cortical and subcortical areas, resulting in multiple microinfarcts.

Cerebral Arteries↗

[Circulating immune complexes-like material and complement in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (author's transl)].

Circulating immune complexes (IC) in 52 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) seropositive, 25 RA seronegative and 32 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients were assayed by two methods: 1) precipitation with a final 2% polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration with immunoglobulins (Igs) quantitation in the precipitate and 2) the ability of IC to consume complement, evaluating conversion products from human C3 by bidimensional rocket immunoelectrophoresis. CH50, C3, C4, C3PA and circulating C3 conversion products were quantitated. IC precipitates with 2% PEG contained three classes of Igs: IgG, IgM and IgA, the latter being the most rare. In the control group Igs level precipitated with 2% PEG were: 2% PEG-IgG 2.5 mg/100 ml +/- 2; 2% PEG-IgM 0.72 mg/100 ml +/- 1.09; 2% PEG-IgA 0.04 mg/100 ml +/- 0.18. With 2% PEG IC-like material was detected in 58.5% of RA seropositive patients but none generated C3 conversion products. With neither methods was IC-like material detected in the RA seronegative group and none with 2% PEG in AS, either. However, in the latter, 21.8% generated C3 conversion products and 18.7% circulating C3 conversión products. In the RA seropositive patients no correlation was observed between the levels of 2% PEG-IgG and 2% PEG-IgM and the titre of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) nor between 2% PEG-IgG and that of IgG in serum. However, there was a low correlation between 2% PEG-IgM and that of IgM in serum and between 2% PEG-IgG and 2% PEG-IgM with rheumatoid factor (RF). It should be stressed that the value of the PEG method in the detection of IC-like material must be reconsidered, since using a 2% final concentration and a specific evaluation of Igs and complement components in the precipitate, it may be a method easy to perform and useful for clinical purposes.

Adult↗

[Chest radiology in rheumatoid arthritis. A study of 89 patients (author's transl)].

Chronic interstitial pneumonia, necrobiotic nodules and pleural lesions are felt to be extraarticular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In a prospective study, posteroanterior and lateral chest X-ray films were taken in 89 patients with classical or definite RA (15 male and 74 female), of whom 64 (71.9%) were seropositive. The findings were compared with those of 103 age and sex matched controls. The chest X-rays were blindly evaluated by two of the authors (a pneumologist and a radiologist), and the presence of an interstitial pattern, nodules or pleural lesions was recorded. The following results were obtained: Interstitial pattern, in patients with RA, 5/89 (5.6%), and in controls, 5/103 (4.6%). Pulmonary nodules, in RA, 2/89 (2.2%), and in controls, 2/103 (1.9%). Pleural adhesions, in RA, 32/89 (35.9%), and in controls, 24/103 (23.5%). The results of the present series demonstrate that radiological pulmonary lesions are not more frequent in RA than in controls, similar conclusions having been reached by other authors.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

TNF-alpha promoter gene polymorphisms in Spanish children with persistent oligoarticular and systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible association/s of the first reported tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alphaTNF-) alpha promoter gene polymorphisms -308, -238, -376 and -163 (G-->A) with systemic (SoJIA) and oligoarticular subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA); and to test the association between these polymorphisms and the class I/class II HLA alleles in our population. METHODS: The patient group comprised 29 oligoarticular and 26 systemic Caucasian Spanish children with JIA; 68 healthy volunteers from the same ethnic group and geographical region served as controls. HLA alleles were determined using low-resolution polymerase chain reaction (PCR). TNF-alpha promoter gene polymorphisms were screened using PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), followed, if positive, by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis for identification. RESULTS: No statistical association was found between the four polymorphisms studied and JIA. However, the -308 G-->A polymorphism (TNF A2) tended to be more frequent in patients with SoJIA than in the oligoarticular group. TNF A2 was strongly associated with the extended haplotype A1B8DR3 (p = 0.003), and the tandem polymorphism -238/-376 in the presence of B18 and DR3. CONCLUSION: The TNF A2 allele was more frequent in SoJIA than in the oligoarticular group. TNF A2 can help to create a more inflammatory milieu in this JIA subtype, in combination with other polymorphisms involved in regulatory sequences of key molecules in the inflammatory response. The association of the -308 and -238/-376 polymorphisms with specific alleles of the HLA is reconfirmed.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗

Risk factors for spontaneous cerebral hematomas. Case-control study.

In a case-control study of 73 cases of cerebral hematoma diagnosed by CT scan, significant risk factors were history of hypertension, chronic alcoholism, evidence of hepatic disease, EKG abnormalities and high hematocrit values. Initial blood pressure was significantly higher in cases, but blood pressure on the third day after admission was not different from controls. Hypertension and alcoholism did not show a clear correlation, but data from other studies explain the role of alcoholism in vascular disease through a relation with high blood pressure. Risk factors were similar in lobar and basal ganglia hematomas.

Adult↗

[Subdural empyema due to Mycoplasma hominis following epidural anesthesia].

INTRODUCTION: In the literature there are sporadic reports of spinal epidural abscesses after epidural anaesthesia (Staphylococcus aureus in 82%), whilst subdural empyemas are more often related to ear and sinus conditions. CLINICAL CASE: A 32 year old woman with a clinical history of migraine and symmetrical frontal atrophy on a previous cerebral CT scan, after Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia, presented with orthostatic headache two days later. On the fourth day it had become constant and she had a high temperature which was considered to be caused by infection of the surgical wound. Neurological examination was found to be normal, the CT scan was inconclusive and the CSF showed a lymphocytic pleocytosis without consumption of glucose. In view of her worsening clinical condition on the ninth day, in the absence of a cutaneous focus and on suspicion of a para-meningeal infective focus, lumbar MR was done and found to be normal, and cerebral MR which showed images compatible with a right fronto-parietal subdural empyema. After a parietal craniotomy and culture of the surgical specimen, colonies of Mycoplasma hominis were grown, similar to those grown from the exudates of the abdomical surgical wound. Treatment was started with ciprofloxacine. CONCLUSION: We consider that following epidural anaesthesia the patient developed hypotension of the CSF with a secondary subdural hematoma or hygroma and this became infected by hematogenous spread of Mycoplasma hominis.

Adult↗

Systemic onset juvenile chronic arthritis, polyarticular pattern and hip involvement as markers for a bad prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore all the common clinical and biological variables that are characteristic of Systemic onset Juvenile Chronic Arthritis (SoJCA) in order to determine which of them are suitable as predictors of a bad articular outcome (persistence of inflammatory symptoms and/or established limitation of the range of motion (ROM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical charts for 124 SoJCA patients were retrospectively reviewed. From them, 91 were finally included in the study because they had all of the clinical and biological data at disease onset properly recorded. All have been followed for at least 3 years since the beginning of the disease. Data collected at onset, and after 3 and 6 months of the disease included: 1) systemic symptoms; 2) joint involvement, using both the usual articular count and the value of an articular index (Helsinki Index = HI) which intentionally excludes those joints that are not uniformly recorded in clinical charts; and 3) biological data. HI was used to separate the patients into two groups. When applied 3 years after the disease onset, HI > or = 10 represented a bad articular outcome while HI < 10 meant a good prognosis. SPSS for Windows 6.1 was used for both the univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: From the multivariate logistic regression analysis, two different "clusters" of clinical data were found to be the best predictors of a bad articular outcome. A bad prognosis was linked at onset with the presence of generalized lymphadenopathies, age < 8 years and an HI > 6; at six months a bad outcome was linked with the presence of a polyarticular pattern plus hip involvement. CONCLUSION: Clinical parameters at the beginning of the disease were shown to be extremely useful in predicting the articular outcome of SoJCA. Therefore, they could constitute a good instrument to help clinicians tailor the best therapy for their patients.

Adolescent↗

[Prognosis factors in conservatively treated patients with non-traumatic supratentorial intracerebral hematoma].

We have carried out a retrospective study of 90 patients who were diagnosed of non traumatic supratentorial intracerebral hematoma by computerized tomography and received conservative treatment. Clinical features and laboratory and radiographic findings during acute stage as well as the course of the patients during hospital stay (mean, 34 days) are analyzed. The overall mortality rate was 21%. The factors having a significant influence on prognosis were: degree of neurologic impairment at admission, degree of motor impairment at admission, progression of neurologic impairment after the admission, level of glycemia at admission, extent of the hematoma, and presence of mass effect in CT. We conclude that the extent of the hematoma and the level of glycemia at admission are the primary prognostic factors without being related to each other. The "critical" values were 40 cc for the extent of the hematoma and 130 mg/dl for glycemia at admission. Patients with higher values had a poorer prognosis with a worse clinical condition at discharge.

Adult↗

[Four new cases and a review of the literature concerning the migraine with csf pleocytosis syndrome].

The syndrome known as migraine with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis is a clinical syndrome of controversial pathogenesis characterized by typical migraine headaches occurring in a fixed period of time along with lymphocyte pleocytosis in CSF which persists during intercritical periods. We present four new cases of this syndrome diagnosed in our service and we review those cases published in the literature in which there were no personal headache antecedents, attempting in this way to separate this syndrome from other types of migraine as included in the present classification. There also exists the possibility that it might be a question of a secondary process, the pathogenesis of which may play a part in the activation of the humoral immune system, given the frequent existence of immunogenic antecedents the previous days as well as that of a humoral reaction expressed as an increase in IgG levels in CSF with normal blood electrophoresis.

Humans↗