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Biomedical subjects

C Bernal

Publications and source records attributed to C Bernal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Evaluation of two reverse transcription polymerase reaction assays (GEN ETI-K HGV RNA and LCx GBV-C assay) for the detection of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus RNA in clinical samples.

Our study evaluates the analytical performance of two amplification methods in the detection of GB Virus C/Hepatitis G Virus, GEN ETI-K HGV RNA (GEN) and the LCx GBV-C Assay (LCx). GB Virus C RNA was detected by at least one test in 58/315 samples (18.41%). Fifty-five samples (17.46%) were positive by the GEN method and 51 samples (16.19%) by the LCx method. The same rate of detection was found for 71 haemodialysis patients and 18 non-A non-E hepatitis. Method based differences in prevalence were observed for patient samples from the general population, 8/106 (7.55%) positive by GEN vs 7/106 (6.60%) by LCx; and HIV infected patients, 26/98 (26.53%) vs 23/98 (23.46%). For chronic type C hepatitis 10/22 (45.5%) were positive by both methods, with two samples discordant. Overall, discordance was observed for ten samples, with seven positive only by the GEN ETI-K HGV RNA, and three positive only by the LCx GBV-C Assay. An additional evaluation of serial samples, from chronic type C hepatitis patients under interferon treatment, revealed three samples which were positive only by the GEN method. Results were 100% concordant for patients under haemodialysis and for non-A non-E hepatitis, 95.9% in the HIV positive group, 90.9% in the chronic type C hepatitis group, and 97.1% in the general population group. Overall, a 97.2% of concordance was found between methods. Both tests have a similar diagnostic performance, though in our opinion, LCx GBV-C Assay better suits the requirements of a clinical microbiology diagnostic laboratory.

Flaviviridae↗
PubMed1999

Hydrochlorothiazide-induced pulmonary edema and associated immunologic changes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient with noncardiogenic acute pulmonary edema induced by hydrochlorothiazide and to investigate the possible involvement of an immunologic mechanism in this adverse reaction. CASE SUMMARY: A 66-year-old Hispanic woman developed acute pulmonary edema 30 minutes after the ingestion of one tablet of triamterene 75 mg/hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg. The reaction was associated with hemoconcentration; a decreased white blood cell count with a shift to a predominance of polymorphonuclear cells; decreased serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgG1, and IgG4; and increased serum IgM and complement 3 concentrations. DISCUSSION: Although there have been 35 reports of cases of hydrochlorothiazide-induced pulmonary edema, the etiology of this adverse reaction remains unknown. The observations presented in this case report, along with commonalities with previously reported cases, suggest that granulocytic infiltration into the lungs and IgG deposition in alveolar membranes may play a role in hydrochlorothiazide-induced pulmonary edema. CONCLUSIONS: Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema may be an immunologically mediated rare idiosyncratic reaction to hydrochlorothiazide.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Altered cell-mediated immunity in asymptomatic Colombian natives with positive or indeterminate serology for HTLV-I.

Although HTLV-I infection has been associated with immunosuppression in symptomatic patients, no controlled study has been done in asymptomatic carriers. We evaluated delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to seven antigens by multitest cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in 40 Colombian Indians, 10 HTLV-I-seropositive asymptomatic patients, and 30 matched controls. Multitest CMI was placed in the forearm and was read 48 hours later by the same physician. A positive reaction was defined as > or =2 mm. Hypoergic response was defined as <2 of 7 positive reactions per case or control. We found that HTLV-I-seropositive people had fewer positive reactions than matched controls (50% versus 64%, respectively; p < .04) but no significant difference was found in these populations in the evaluation of hypoergic responses. This study suggests the presence in asymptomatic HTLV-I-positive Colombian Indians of a marginal alteration of cell-mediated immunity that cannot be classified as hypoergic.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Oral rehydration with a plantain flour-based solution in children dehydrated by acute diarrhea: a clinical trial.

A clinical trial was conducted in order to prove the efficacy of a solution containing 50 g/l of plantain flour and 3.5 g/l of sodium chloride (NaCl) for the rehydration of children with acute diarrheal diseases. 121 children were given WHO-ORS (Group A) and 117 a plantain flour-based solution (Group B). Rehydration was successful in 85.9% in Group A and 88.0% in Group B (p = 0.634). Rehydration was completed in 5.28 h (SD 1.99) in Group A and in 4.88 h (SD 2.11) in Group B (p = 0.132). The average solution intake for rehydration was 24.56 ml/kg/h (SD 10.12) in Group A and 21.17 ml/kg/h (SD 9.35) in Group B (p = 0.00782). The mean stool output during rehydration was 8.45 g/kg/h (SD 9.72) in Group A and 4.69 g/kg/h (SD 4.98) in Group B (p = 0.00053). Decrease in blood levels of sodium and potassium occurred in some children in group B. The plantain flour-based solution proved effective for the treatment of dehydration due to acute diarrheal diseases and should be considered as an alternative when standard WHO-ORS is not available.

Diarrhea, Infantile↗
PubMed1996

Affinity purification of phospholipase A2 on immobilized artificial membranes containing and lacking the glycerol backbone.

Immobilized artificial membranes (IAMs) are chromatography surfaces containing monolayers of phospholipid ligands. etherIAM.PCC10/C3 contains the glycerol backbone whereas delta GIAM.PCC10/C3 lacks the glycerol backbone. Affinity purification of PLA2 on these IAM surfaces demonstrated that the surface structural differences were not important for phospholipase A2 (PLA2) binding. This suggests that the chromatographically important binding event involves the PLA2 surface and the monolayer of polar choline headgroups on the IAM surface. After sample loading, short-chain alkylsulfonates were used as low eluotropic strength detergents to remove contaminating proteins, and PLA2 were eluted with CH3CN (30%). Octyllysophosphatidylcholine (0.5%) can replace CH3CN to elute PLA2 from IAM surfaces. The PLA2 purity after IAM chromatography depends on the protein loading; analytical-scale loadings (0.8 mg protein/g IAM) resulted in a PLA2 purity of ca. 70% based on densitometric scans of proteins in polyacrylamide gels after electrophoresis. Preparative loadings of 3.21 mg protein/g IAM resulted in 48% PLA2 purity. Purification of PLA2 to electrophoretic homogeneity was achieved using an IAM column followed by a strong anion-exchange column. These results suggests that IAMs may be used to develop purification methods for PLA2 enzymes obtained from diverse biological specimens.

Chromatography, Affinity↗
PubMed1996

Mobile phase effects on membrane protein elution during immobilized artificial membrane chromatography.

The eluotropic strength of different mobile phases for eluting membrane proteins from immobilized artificial membrane (IAM) chromatography surfaces was studied. Two protein mixtures containing bovine pancreatic PLA2 were used in this study. Protein mixture I was PLA2 obtained from Sigma which contained approximately 5-10 major protein bands in electrophoretic gels. Protein mixture II was obtained from flesh bovine pancreatic tissue and contained > 100 proteins including the target protein, PLA2. After adsorbing Sigma PLA2 to IAM columns, the elution conditions common to conventional chromatographic methods were evaluated for their ability to selectively purify PLA2. Elution conditions tested were (i) detergent gradients, (ii) salt gradients used during ion-exchange chromatography, (iii) salt conditions used during hydrophobic interaction chromatography, (iv) acetonitrile gradients used during reversed-phase chromatography, and (v) a two-step gradient consisting of first a detergent gradient followed by an acetonitrile gradient. Based on silver-stained electrophoretic protein gels. PLA2 from protein mixture I was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity with 417-fold increase in specific activity in one step using elution condition (v), and PLA2 from protein mixture II was purified in one step (660-fold increase in specific activity) using elution condition (iv). Total protein recovery from IAM columns is 70-100%.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Phospholipid immobilization on solid surfaces.

Single chain ether phospholipids (PLs) containing omega-carboxyl groups in the alkyl chain were immobilized on silica propylamine (SPA) to form IAM chromatography packing material. The PL ligands are analogs of phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidic acid (PA). All of these PLs contain polar functional groups in the lipid head group that require protection prior to PL immobilization and then deprotection after immobilization. The IAM surface was prepared in four steps: (i) the omega-carboxyl group was activated with carbonyldiimidazole, (ii) the activated PL-imidazolide ligand was bonded to SPA, (iii) the surface was end capped with a long chain anhydride and then end-capped with a short chain anhydride, and (iv) protecting groups were removed to form the IAM surface. The extent of deblocking the protecting groups was typically > or = 90%. This immobilization strategy generated a phospholipid surface that was stable when solvated with all organic solvents and aqueous buffers between pH 2 and 8. Both FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis indicated that the bonding densities were 64-83 mg of PL/g of SPA, which corresponds to an area per molecule of 66-104 A2. These bonding densities for the immobilized PLs are very close to the area per molecule of mobile phospholipids comprising liposome membrane. The similar areas per molecule of immobilized PLs and mobile phospholipid in liposomes indicate that the lipid environments are similar.

Liposomes↗
PubMed1994

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with renal disease.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and the epidemiologic factors associated with HCV infection in patients with chronic renal failure before the onset of ESRD. Sex, age, type of renal disease, level of renal function, and history of blood transfusions and invasive procedures were analyzed in 226 patients with renal disease, compared with a population of 1,244 normal subjects and 124 patients with impaired immunity (patients having autoimmune diseases and receiving chemotherapy treatment). Eighteen seropositive patients with renal disease (prevalence, 7.9%) were found, which was significantly higher than the prevalence in the normal population (1.03% in blood donors, 0.98% in pregnant women; P < 0.001, chi 2). There was no significant association of sex, number of blood transfusions, or history of invasive procedures with the presence of HCV antibodies. The prevalence of HCV antibodies was higher (16.6%) in patients with glomerulonephritis compared with patients diagnosed with interstitial nephritis, pyelonephritis, nephrosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, polycystic kidney, and miscellaneous renal diseases (P < 0.01, chi 2). There was a higher prevalence of HCV antibodies in patients with creatinine clearance lower than 30 mL/min (13%) compared with patients with creatinine clearance higher than 30 mL/min (2.7%) (P < 0.01, chi 2). These data suggest that HCV infection may be associated with the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis. Alternatively, glomerulonephritis or severe renal insufficiency may increase the likelihood of HCV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Etiologic study of patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Community-acquired pneumonias are difficult to diagnose. For this reason, we have attempted to evaluate the correct diagnosis by using noninvasive methods which are easy to follow outside the hospital environment. To achieve this, 165 patients exhibiting the clinical and roentgenographic symptoms characteristic of pneumonia, have been studied from a bacteriologic, serologic, and statistical stand point. The correct diagnosis was made in 75 percent of the cases. Of the total 124 cases, 69 (41.8 percent) were of bacterial origin. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common agent, followed by Gram-negative bacilli. In 73 cases showing positive serologic evidence, 22 (42 percent) could be attributed to the so-called atypical pneumonias, 18.18 percent to the viral, and 1.21 percent to the mycotic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in pediatric surgery].

We present four pediatric patients with biliary pathology in which endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was obtained in order to achieve a more complete diagnostic work-up. Although ERCP is not presently a routine diagnostic technique in children, in this report we evaluate the additional advantages, indications and drawbacks of this technique, especially in the planning for the surgical repair of the biliary pathology.

Child↗
PubMed1988

[Kidney injuries in children].

From 1972 to 1985 blunt renal injuries were recorded in 58 children up to the age of 14 years. Early evaluation and treatment of these children is essential in order to preserve maximum renal function. The majority responded well to careful conservative, nonoperative management. Some of those requiring surgical intervention, responded well to initial conservative treatment followed by surgical intervention conducted as an delayed procedure. The critical injuries need early operative intervention.

Accidents↗
PubMed1987

Fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer and thyroid disease.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) performed for diffuse and nodular goiter in the past 5 years, was evaluated in 1399 cases. Surgery was performed on the basis of FNAB cytologic diagnosis that was positive or suggestive of malignancy and/or a suggestive clinical history. Surgery also was performed in cases of cold nodules with negative FNAB results that did not respond to 6 months of suppressive thyroxine therapy. A correlation of cytologic findings with histologic findings was possible in 415 patients who underwent surgery: the evaluation of FNAB results yielded better results when suspicious cytologic findings were considered to be positive (2.4% false-negative, 86.3% sensitivity) rather than negative (6.5% and 65.7%, respectively). FNAB has become a useful procedure in the study and diagnosis of thyroid diseases. It is a simple, rapid diagnostic procedure that may be used to expedite the management of malignant lesions.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1987

[Vesico-urethral injuries in patients with pelvic fractures].

Rupture of the bladder and posterior urethra is a serious complication of pelvis fracture. From 1972 to 1984, 61 patients were admitted for genitourinary injuries. We present a review of 5 cases of bladder and urethral posterior injuries associated with pelvic fractures. We assess some current issues in the treatment and diagnosis.

Fractures, Bone↗
PubMed1986

[Toxicological effects induced by the chronic intake of brominated vegetable oils].

Several biochemical parameters of male Wistar rats fed during 15 weeks with standard laboratory chow, supplemented with 0.1 g of brominated vegetable oil (olive, sunflower) per 100 g of diet, were compared to those of a control group fed a normal diet during the same period of time. The former group showed a significant increase of triglyceride content in both heart and soleus muscle, as well as of total and sterified cholesterol in heart muscle. This increase was accompanied by decreased plasma levels of total and HDL-cholesterol. Some of these abnormalities were similar to those observed in rats fed the same standard laboratory chow, supplemented with 0.5 g of brominated oil per 100 g of diet. The hepatic levels of triglycerides, total proteins and glycogen, as well as the weight gain and caloric intake of the animals which were fed 0.1 g of brominated oil per 100 g diet, were similar to those of the control group. In summary, the toxicologic effects observed during the chronic intake of diets supplemented with relatively low doses of brominated oils, suggest the need to undertake wider and deeper biochemical studies. The authors consider that these are necessary in order to ascertain the maximum tolerance levels for the use of these compounds, to minimize the risk of inducing important biological alterations.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Congenital fibrosarcoma. Apropos of 2 cases].

Two cases of congenital fibrosarcoma are presented. Both tumors showed histological features of malignancy, but were successful treated with simple resections. Recurrent tumor does not seem to predispose to metastatic disease. Local excision is the initial treatment of choice for lesions occurring in newborns and infants.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗