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Biomedical subjects

C Arteaga

Publications and source records attributed to C Arteaga.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Anaphylaxis after ingestion of wheat flour contaminated with mites.

BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis after ingestion of flours contaminated with mites has been recently reported. OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to determine whether four-induced reactions in the absence of food sensitivity may result from mite contamination. METHODS: Patients with systemic reactions after ingestion of foods containing wheat flour and without food sensitivities were included in a prospective study. The flours were examined microscopically, and major Dermatophagoides allergens were quantified by monoclonal antibody techniques. Skin prick tests and IgE determinations to mites and flours were performed. Single-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenges were also performed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included in our protocol. They showed respiratory allergies to dust mites (100%) and intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid (87%). Microscopic examination of four flours implicated in allergic reactions revealed a high degree of mite contamination: Dermatophagoides farinae in one case and Thyreophagus entomophagus in three cases. Our patients' skin test and specific IgE responses to the flours implicated in the reactions were positive. A high level of Der 2 was found in the flour infested by D. farinae. Three of six food challenges with contaminated flours resulted in systemic reactions. Good tolerance to control flours was shown in our patients. CONCLUSION: Ingestion of foods contaminated with mites may induce systemic anaphylactic reactions in patients with respiratory allergy to mites.

Adolescent↗

[Demonstration by x-ray computed tomography of renal involvement caused by NSAID poisoning].

We describe the contribution of computed tomography in the determination of the renal damage after using tiaprofenic acid. Computed tomography realized six hours after injection of contrast medium revealed corticomedullary enhancement secondary to vascular and tubular stasis. This stasis is compatible with interstitial edema in relation with usually reversible lesions of tubulo-interstitial nephritis induced by of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Adolescent↗

Specific depletion of the house dust mite allergen Der p 1 cereal flour prolamins.

BACKGROUND: Quantitation of Der 1 and Der 2 in dust samples by specific monoclonal antibodies is a method used increasingly to evaluate mite allergen exposure. The level of Der 1 has been proposed as a risk factor for sensitization. AIM: We report a drastic decrease in the Der 1/Der 2 ratio when dust samples are collected in bakeries. METHODS: Wheat flour and purified mites were extracted simultaneously; levels of Der p 1 and Der p 2 and cysteine protease activity were determined by ELISA and inhibition experiments. RESULTS: High titers of Der 2, but only trace amounts of Der p 1, were detected in dust collected from bakeries. Both the level and proteolytic activity of Der p 1 appeared greatly decreased when mites and wheat flour were coextracted. CONCLUSION: Group 1 protein was found to be masked by flour components, resulting in an underestimation of the mite content in bakery dust. This problem was not found for group 2 allergen.

Allergens↗

Haemorrhagic complications of intracerebral cavernomas: value of MRI.

The authors report a retrospective series of 10 cases of intracerebral haematomas consecutive to cavernomas and studied with MRI. The factors that led to the MRI study were the patients' age and clinical history, the site of the haematoma, the persistence of CT images and a negative arteriography. MRI showed that the haematoma was in contact with the cavernoma in 4 cases and at a distance from it in one case. In 5 cases only the cavernoma was seen at the site of the haematoma. Three patients had multiple cavernomas. In all cases, the diagnosis of cavernoma was confirmed at surgical excision.

Adolescent↗

[Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. Apropos of a case].

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is most frequently characterised by the presence of gaseous cysts, in the intra-parietal, subserous or sub-mucous zones of the colon. This complaint, with symptoms of non specific colic and the cause of chronic pain, generally progresses favourably but can be responsible for surgical complications. Characteristic signs are detected on an plain abdominal X-ray and by colonoscopy. The diagnosis can be established by CT or by ultrasonography but needs carefully trained operators. CT remains the most successful technique for the initial diagnosis and subsequent follow-up. Ultrasonography can also be used for follow-up. As the lesions regress rapidly, the diagnosis must established rapidly, otherwise the disorder might easily be incorrectly diagnosed.

Female↗

Measurement of muscle mass in humans: validity of the 24-hour urinary creatinine method.

Measuring muscle mass is an important component of the nutritional assessment examination and a suggested index of this body space is the 24-h urinary excretion of creatinine. The method originated from studies in a variety of animal species in whom early workers found a parallelism between total body creatine and urinary excretion of creatinine. Assuming that nearly all creatine was within muscle tissue, that muscle creatine content remained constant and that creatinine was excreted at a uniform rate, an obvious "corollary" was that urinary creatinine was proportional to muscle mass. The so-called "creatinine equivalence" (kg muscle mass/g urinary creatinine) ranged experimentally from 17 to 22. One of the limiting factors in firmly establishing this constant and its associated variability was (and is) the lack of another totally acceptable noninvasive technique of measuring muscle mass to which the creatinine method could (or would) be compared. An improved understanding of creatine metabolism and a variety of clinical studies in recent years has tended to support the general validity of this approach. However, specific conditions have also been established in which the method becomes either inaccurate or invalid. While creatinine excretion may serve as a useful approximation of muscle mass in carefully selected subjects, there remains a need for accurate and practical indices of muscle mass for use in the individuals in whom the method cannot be reliably applied.

Adult↗

Increased ureagenesis and impaired nitrogen use during infusion of a synthetic amino acid formula: a controlled trial.

In a controlled trial conducted to assess the biologic value of High Nitrogen Vivonex, we compared this "elemental" diet with predigested protein--Product MJ7041--and with solid food during eight-day balance periods. Each formula was evaluated in three patients with malabsorption and one without it, by measuring apparent absorption of nitrogen and energy, nitrogen balance, and blood and urinary urea nitrogen. Overall energy and nitrogen absorption in the patients with malabsorption was better with either special diet than with solid food; net intestinal uptake of Vivonex tended to be higher but not consistently so in al patients. However, nitrogen balance differed consistently during the three diets; with solid food and MJ7041, retention of absorbed nitrogen was respectively, nine and 16 times greater than with Vivonex. Moreover, institution of each Vivonex period led to a prompt increase in urea nitrogen--a trend quickly reversed by the alternative diets. Although the mechanism for the impairment of nitrogen use caused by High Nitrogen Vivonex is unknown, its low biologic value and tendency to cause azotemia should be kept in mind.

Adult↗

[Exposition and sensitization to Tyrophagus putrescentiae in a allergic population to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in Huelva, Spain].

BACKGROUND: In this work we analyzed the allergological importance of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tp) in Huelva (SE Spain). We studied the level of exposition and the grade of sensitization to Tp in a group of patients sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt). The allergenic cross-reactivity between Dpt and Tp was determined by RAST inhibition. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed house dust samples from the dwellings of allergic patients with documented Dpt sensitization. Skin test (ST), conjunctival provocation (CP) and/or specific IgE (RAST) to Tp were performed when Tp was identificated in the house dust sample of the patient. Among the 136 dust samples studied, Dpt was the most frequently identified mite species (94.8%) and Tp was found in third position (41.1%) after Glycyphagus domesticus (54.4%). Among the 45 patients studied, 23 (51.1%) presented, at least, two positive tests, 18 (40%) were not sensitized to Tp and 4 (8.8%) showed contradictory results. 26 patients (57.7%) inhabited in urban areas and 19 (42.2%) in rural regions. We determined specific IgE (RAST) to Tp in 25 patients, and the results were positive in 12, with only 7 with values greater than 2 kU/L. No significant correlation were found between IgE-antibody levels to Dpt and Tp. The RAST inhibition studies confirmed the low cross-reactivity between these mites and only in one patient Dpt partially inhibited the IgE-binding to Dpt extract. CONCLUSIONS: Tp was the second more frequent storage mite in the house dust samples from patients allergic to Dpt in Huelva. However, only half of the exposed patients were sensitized to Tp and the majority inhabited in urban areas. No significant correlation were found between IgE-antibody levels to Dpt and Tp. The RAST inhibition studies confirmed the low cross-reactivity between these mites.

Acaridae↗

[Prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis in 100 municipalities in Venezuela (1989-1992)].

A total of 113,254 individuals from 100 venezuelan municipalities were studied by mean of Kato-Katz coprological examination and the geohelminth prevalences were established. The national prevalences of T. trichiura, A. lumbricoides and Anquilostomideos were 32.6%, 26.9% and 5.6% respectively+. For T. trichiura the highest values were obtained for the following municipalities: Arévalo González (54.6%) in Miranda state, Urama (76.9%) in Carabobo state and Punta de Piedra (78.4%) in Sucre state. For A. lumbricoides the highest values were determined in Punta de Piedra (63%), Tunapuy (61.9%) in Sucre state and Arévalo González (62.7%) in Miranda state. For hookworm the highest values were detected in El Amparo (39.5%) and San Camilo (35.9%) in the state of Apure. In relation to the age, the highest prevalence of Ascariosis and Trichuriosis were determined in pre-school and school children and for hookworm in adolescents and adults. A high variability between the municipalities belonging to the same state for the three geohelminths was observed.

Adolescent↗

The last fifteen years of schistosomiasis in Venezuela: features and evolution.

Control of schistosomiasis in Venezuela has been a topic of major interest and controversy among the metaxenic parasitosis. A small area of transmission of approximately 15,000 km2 was thought to be eradicated some years ago. However, some epidemiological characteristics of our transmission area have limited the success on the way toward eradication. Since 1945, when the Schistosomiasis Control Program started, the prevalence in the endemic area has decreased from 14% in 1943 to 1.4% in 1996. Until 1982, the surveillance of active cases was based on massive stool examination. Since then, the Schistosomiasis Research Group (SRG) recommended the additional use of serologic tests in the Control Program and the selective or massive chemotherapy depending on serological and parasitological prevalence of each community. At present, the real prevalence is underestimated due to the fact that approximately 80% of the individuals eliminate less than 100 eggs/g of feces. Those persons could be responsible for the maintenance of the foci going on and therefore limiting the impact of the control measures. Efforts of the SRG are being oriented toward improvement of immunodiagnostic tests by using defined antigens (enzymes) and chemically synthesized peptides, derived from relevant molecules of the parasite, either for antibodies or antigens search. On the other hand, introduction of snail competitors has been a biological weapon in the control of the intermediate host in certain areas. However, the recent reinfestation of water courses by Biomphalaria glabrata, the increased prevalence in some areas, together with important administrative changes at the Control Program of the Minister of Health, have arisen new questions and doubts, challenging the eradication strategy proposed during the last decade.

Humans↗

[Relationships in the prevalence of geohelminth infections in humans from Venezuela].

By means of Kato-Katz technique 113,254 coprological samples of the human population belonging to 100 counties from Venezuela were analyzed. It was determined the following prevalences: Ascaris lumbricoides 26.8%, Trichuris trichiura 32.7% and hookworm 5.6%. It was found a strong correlation between A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infection (p < 0.001), a significant correlation between T. trichiura and hookworm (p < 0.5) and no correlation between A. lumbricoides and hookworm.

Adolescent↗

[X-ray computed tomographic abnormalities in schizophrenia. Trial of relationship with clinical data].

Computerized tomography (CT-scan) studies in schizophrenia revealed that some patients have neuromorphological abnormalities. The structural changes consist mainly in lateral and third ventricle enlargement, and in cortical atrophy. The present study evaluates these three changes in 42 schizophrenics aged 18 to 50, compared to 24 healthy controls. Diagnosis were established from information gathered by personal interview with the SADS-LA. Clinical sub-types were evaluated according to the DSM III-R criteria. Moreover, detailed symptoms were rated according to the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). CT scans were recorded in floppy disks and blindly analyzed. Schizophrenics shown significant higher mean size of lateral and third ventricles, and higher mean anterior cortical atrophy than healthy subjects. Significant differences were also found between subtypes, with more marked abnormalities in the disorganized group. The relationship between brain abnormalities and clinical symptoms recorded with the PANSS, were analysed using Pearson correlates. Positive correlations concerned mainly negative symptoms like blunted affect, emotional withdrawal, difficulties in abstract thinking, passive apathetic social withdrawal and lack of spontaneity of conversation. Positive correlations are also observed with some symptoms classified with the PANSS in the General Psychopathology scale such as mannerism and disorientation. Negative correlation concerned most of PANSS positive symptoms.

Adolescent↗