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Biomedical subjects

C Larrocha

Publications and source records attributed to C Larrocha.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Influence of different pharmacological agents in the ex vivo proliferation of mesothelial cells obtained from the peritoneal effluent of patients treated with peritoneal dialysis].

UNLABELLED: Mesothelial cells (MC) are the first peritoneal membrane barrier in contact with dialysate. The aim of this study was to analyze the in vitro capacity of different pharmacological agents to modify the ex vivo proliferation of MC obtained from the peritoneal effluent of patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty cultures of MC taken from nocturnal peritoneal effluent were performed. After identification, MC are subcultured in 24 multi-well plates, adding the different exogenous agents. Proliferative capacity and cell morphology were estimated on day 16th of culture. The agents evaluated were insulin, IGF-1, tamoxifen, labetalol, carvedilol, enalapril and losartan. RESULTS: Insulin shows a dose-dependent effect on MC growth, with a limit that is stimulated by the addition of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Concentrations higher than 100 micrograms/ml, are not associated with further growth, even with cell damage. In contrast, the wide range of IGF-1 dose used did not affect to MC proliferation. Tamoxifen causes negative effects on MC growth just a very high doses, not resembling doses in clinical practice. Labetalol does not modify MC proliferation used under therapeutic calculated range. However, concentrations higher than 40 micrograms/ml showed a negative influence on growth, behaving as lethal doses that over 100 micrograms/ml. The addition of FBS attenuates this effect. These effects were very similar to that caused by carvedilol addition. Enalapril and losartan act as antiproliferative agents for MC. This effect is potentiated with angiotensin II, reaching lethal concentrations increasing the dose. In conclusion, mesothelial cell growth ex vivo taken from nocturnal peritoneal effluent on PD patients is an useful tool to explore the effects of any pharmacological agent on the biology of the cell of the peritoneum. The agents used had any influence in the proliferation capacity of mesothelial cells.

Ascitic Fluid↗

[Evaluation of the Coulter STKS hematologic autoanalyzer].

PURPOSE: To express the results of an evaluation of the Coulter STKS blood cell counter. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The following data were collected: inaccuracy, carry-over, linearity, comparison with other systems, suspect morphology alarms, stability of calibration, time-stability of samples and working velocity. The protocol recommended by the ICSH was followed for the first four of the above. RESULTS: Good results were achieved for cell counts and derived parameters. The leucocyte differential count showed fair results for neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils; false basophilia was usually associated with the presence of abnormal lymphocytes. No differences were found between adult and paediatric samples. The usefulness of the suspect morphology alarms was also evaluated; they were found fairly sensitive for the presence of stabs, large amounts of atypical lymphocytes and blast cells, and moderately sensitive for erythroblasts and platelet clumps. The predictive value of alarms was found high in any type of pathology, but scarcely valuable when considering the pathology indicated by the alarm, such predictive value being noticeably increased upon associated alarms. CONCLUSION: The Coulter STKS cell counter appears as adequate for the haematology laboratory running daily high number of samples with high pathologic rates.

Blood Cell Count↗

[Evaluation of the Sysmex NE-8000 hematologic autoanalyzer].

The results of an evaluation of the Sysmex NE-8000 cell counter are reported. Good results were attained for all values of red and white cell counts. Platelet values were good as well, although samples with thrombocytosis were overstated to some extent. Fair results were found for the white-cell differential count concerning neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes, but false monocytosis were frequently seen in paediatric blood samples, whereas some monocytosis were undetected. The alarms for suspected pathology had only moderate sensitivity when used as the only criterion. The predictive value of such alarms was low, except for the "platelet clumps?" sign.

Automation↗

[The serum and intraerythrocyte concentration of ferritin in the anemia of rheumatoid arthritis].

Serum concentration of ferritin (Ft) and its glycosylated fraction (Ft-Gl) and intraerythrocytic ferritin (Ft-e) concentration were measured in 26 patients with anemia and active rheumatoid arthritis. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of anemia of chronic diseases (n = 13) or associated ferropenia. Unlike the first group, patients with associated ferropenia had lower concentration of the above parameters than 31 control subjects. The logarithmic value of FT (log FT) directly correlated with globular sedimentation velocity. Ft-Gl and log Ft-e correlated with transferrin saturation (r = 0.603, p less than 0.01 and r = 0.444, p less than 0.05). Log Ft-e also correlated with Ft (r = 0.504, p less than 0.01). The probability of ferropenia when Ft was 60 micrograms/l or lower was 0.91, and when Ft-e was 1.5 ag/cel or lower was 0.66. It is concluded that the ferropenic status in active rheumatoid anemia decreases the iron dependent synthesis of ferritin (Ft-Gl) more than that mediated by the acute phase response. The intraerythrocytic content is low due to the scanty iron supply to the erythroblast. Ft is more efficacious than Ft-e in the diagnosis of ferropenia.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗

Transitory T-lymphoblastic leukemoid reaction in a neonate with Down syndrome.

A transient leukemoid reaction in a neonate with Down syndrome is reported. The blastic proliferation was identified as T lymphoblastic in an early stage of maturation (prethymocytes) using morphological, cytochemical, and immunological methods. A spontaneous complete remission occurred in 8 weeks. No additional cytogenetic alterations were found, except for those concerning chromosome 21. Other cases reported in the literature reveal that cytogenetic studies may be useful to distinguish these transient leukemic reactions from true leukemias in newborns with Down syndrome. The in vitro growth pattern of peripheral blood and bone marrow may also be useful for this purpose.

Blood Cell Count↗

[Evaluation of a totally automated alternative system for determining the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation].

The Ves-MaticR system (VS) for evaluating erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is compared to Westergren method. A good correlation between both methods is obtained in spite of small differences observed; the accuracy of the VS is also studied. Concerning the time variation, a small reduction of the ESR in the first seven hours is observed, being significant at 24 hours. The most important advantages of the VS are the near complete disappearance of the contamination risk, the reduction of the time employed in setting up, sedimentation and reading, and the reliability.

Blood Sedimentation↗

Incidence and clinical significance of peripheral and bone marrow basophilia.

We reviewed 2110 bone marrow aspirations from the same number of patients to establish the incidence and associations of peripheral and bone marrow basophilia. Of these, 125 cases of marrow basophilia (5.9% incidence) and 63 cases of peripheral basophilia (3.0% incidence) were identified. There were 33 patients with simultaneous marrow and peripheral basophilia, which was only significantly associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia (24 cases). Isolated peripheral basophilia was rarely seen (30 patients, 1.4% incidence) and it did not reflect any significant pathologic association. Marrow basophilia was significantly present in chronic myeloproliferative disorders, idiopathic myelodysplasia, certain erythrocyte disorders, such as iron deficiency anemia, and aplastic anemia. The incidence of marrow basophilia in patients with lymphoma, acute leukemia, or solid carcinoma was not significantly different from what it would be as a chance occurrence. Our findings suggest that marrow basophilia is a specific, but not sensitive, marker of myeloproliferative and dysmyelopoietic syndromes.

Adult↗

Hereditary myeloperoxidase deficiency: study of 12 cases.

12 cases of hereditary myeloperoxidase (MPO) deficiency are reported. Histochemical stainings, lysosomal enzyme determinations, electron microscopic study of MPO and granulocytic function were performed. Family studies on 2 generations were carried out in 5 patients and histochemical stainings and biochemical lysosomal enzyme determinations were done. MPO deficiency was found to follow autosomal recessive inheritance and only rarely to have clinical effects.

Azo Compounds↗