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Biomedical subjects

C Maroto

Publications and source records attributed to C Maroto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

GB virus C in patients with liver disease of unknown etiology.

To assess the prevalence of GBV-C in patients suffering unknown liver disease we have investigated the GBV-C-RNA in serum of 54 patients: 10 with acute and 32 with chronic non-A-E hepatitis (16 active and 16 persistent), 10 with hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 diagnosed with hepatic fulminant failure, and 91 healthy blood donors (control). PCR with primers from NS3 helicase region was performed and the product was identified by a double strand DNA enzyme immunoassay. GBV appears to infect 40 and 31% of acute or chronic non-A-E hepatitis respectively. Also the GBV genome was found in 1 in 10 samples of hepatocarcinoma, in 2 cases of fulminant hepatitis, and in 1 in 91 of the control group. In spite of these results the role of GBV in the etiology of liver diseases has to be analyzed in more comprehensive studies.

Adult↗
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

[Hemodynamic changes during laparoscopic surgery. Preliminary study].

The haemodynamic changes produced by laparoscopic surgery in children have been evaluated. A transesophageal echocardiographic study on 13 patients (7 males and 6 females, 10.8 +/- 2.7 years old) has been performed before, during and after peritoneal CO2 gas insufflation. A change on the Doppler waves pattern of the infradiaphragmatic veins along with an increase in blood flow velocity were observed. Pulmonary veins suffered minimal changes showing an increase on either the systolic pressure and on atrial contraction. Diastolic retrograde flow in aorta reflected an increase in peripheral vascular resistance. Cardiac output increased minimally. All haemodynamic changes returned to basal after gas peritoneal desufflation. These data show that laparoscopic surgery could produce important cardiac derangements in children with ventricular dysfunction or in patients presenting left ventricular outlet obstruction. In these patients laparoscopic surgery might be precluded.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1998

[Correlation between the presence of cytomegalovirus antibodies and antigen in blood leukocytes for the diagnosis of primary active infection].

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infections measuring IgG or IgM antibodies has a high rate of false positive or negative results, specially in immunocompromised patients. AIM: To compare the diagnostic yield of antibodies against cytomegalovirus with the measurement of the antigen in peripheral leukocytes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty three blood samples coming from pediatric patients with suspected cytomegalovirus infections were analyzed. Low affinity IgG and IgM antibodies against Epstein Barr virus and cytomegalovirus, using indirect ELISA assays, and the virus antigen in peripheral leukocytes, using a commercial immunoperoxidase assay, were measured. RESULTS: Seven patients had positive IgM antibodies against cytomegalovirus. In five of these the viral antigen was detected in peripheral leukocytes. Twenty patients had positive antibodies against Epstein Barr virus, and in 16 patients all serologic tests were negative. CONCLUSIONS: There is not a good correlation between antibodies against cytomegalovirus and the detection of its antigen in patients with acute infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Efficacy of two gene species in the serological diagnosis of Borrelia burgdorferi infections].

BACKGROUND: There is phenotypic and genetic variability among the species Borrelia burgdorferi that produces Lyme disease. Three gene species and seven serotypes have been defined. AIM: To study the efficacy of two gene species in the serological diagnosis of Borrelia burgdorferi infections in Granada, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One thousand sixty nine sera coming from 1,251 subjects without Lyme borreliosis were analyzed. These subjects were studied for health or pregnancy controls, differential diagnosis of viral disease, diagnosis of syphilis, neurological or rheumatic diseases. In all samples, antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi (B31 and Pko strains) and against Treponema pallidum were investigated. Screening tests (ELISA and hemagglutination) were followed by confirmations tests for positive samples (Western Blot IgG strain B31 and FTA-abs respectively). A clinical and laboratory follow up was done for subjects with positive serological tests. RESULTS: The global rate of positive antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi B31 was 8.31% and against the strain Pko was 0.64%. Western blot was negative in 36% of subjects with positive ELISA B31. The distribution of antibodies against the strain B31 was acute herpes virus infection in 16%, gestation in 3%, HIV infection in 6.4%, T pallidum infection in 36%, rheumatic diseases in 25%, neurological diseases in 17.5% and health controls in 7.4%. The percentage of positive Western Blot analyzes were 0.8, 2.1 and 0.4% respectively. A reversion of positive ELISA tests was observed in 6 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The disparity in rates of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi in different geographic regions may be due to differences in the serological tests used. The high rate of false positive ELISA tests underscores the need to use other serological tests.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1998

GBV-RNA detection by polymerase chain reaction with several primer pairs.

The identification of specific genomic sequences of GB viruses (GBV) has made it possible to utilize the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for evaluation of the viraemia. Several studies have demonstrated the RNA-GBV presence in sera from different patients amplifying several portions of the virus. In this investigation the PCR results when different regions of GBV (NS3, UTR and putative CORE and E1) were amplified in the same sample. In 245 samples studied there were two (0.8%) discordant results and the NS3 primer showed the greatest sensitivity. The lowest percentage of positivity was obtained with CORE-E1 primers. These results could be because the nucleocapside/E1 region was extremely variable in length and sequences, although degenerated primers and probes were used. Discordances were attributable to laboratory errors, variability in the viral genome, the presence of primer inhibitors in samples or a low viral load.

DNA Primers↗
PubMed1997

Reliability of four methods for the diagnosis of acute infection by Epstein-Barr virus.

We studied the reliability of new indirect tests in the diagnosis of acute infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Studied for all samples were method 1, the heterophil antibodies (Abs) (Monolatex, Biokit, Germany); method 2, the IgM Abs to EBV with ELISA tests (antigen pools, Enzygnost, Behring-werke, Germany); method 3, EA (Biotest Diagnostics, Germany); and method 4, the IgG avidity test. The reliability of the four tests for the detection of primary infection by EBV was: sensitivity (method 1: 89.1%; method 2: 100%; method 3: 79.7%; method 4: 99%); specificity (method 1: 98%; method 2: 100%; method 3: 84%; method 4: 100%); positive predictive value (method 1: 97.6%; method 2: 100%; method 3: 73.6%; method 4: 100%), and negative predictive value (method 1: 90.7%; method 2: 100%; method 3: 84%; method 4: 99%). The IgG avidity test (method 4) is simple and automated in the laboratory and is very useful for ascertaining, from a single sample, the time since infection. It is criteria of recent primoinfection higher levels than 55% of IgG with low avidity for the antigen. The investigation of the Abs to antigen pools (method 2) by ELISA of virus had a high reliability, but the investigation of heterophil Abs by latex (method 1) and the Abs IgM to EA (method 2) were lacking in sensibility regarding their use in the diagnosis of the primoinfection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Low prevalence of circulating anti-type 6 human herpes virus IgG-antibodies in Spanish children.

The prevalence of circulating anti-HHV-6 IgG-antibodies in an infant population, was investigated to assess the evolution of antibody titres from birth to adulthood. Endpoint titration was done by indirect immunofluorescence, in 525 samples of serum from children, healthy adults and pregnant women. In the children, seropositivity increased from the age of 6 months, and was highest (56.52%) between 7 months and 1 year, suggesting that the initial infection occurred between 6 and 12 months of age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Are IgG antibody avidity assays useful in the diagnosis of infectious diseases? A review.

The reliability of tests for the identification of low avidity specific IgG in infectious diseases was investigated. The IgG antibody avidity assays were proposed in order to examine the probable aetiology, the accurate moment of primary infection and to distinguish between reactivation, reinfection or primary infection, in cases with false positive IgM or without specific IgM response. Such assays improve the usual serological techniques.

Antibody Affinity↗
PubMed1996

Seroepidemiology of measles, mumps and rubella virus infections in normal children and adults in southern Granada, Spain: response to a vaccination programme.

A seroepidemiological study of measles, mumps and rubella virus infection in normal children and adults in southern Granada, Spain, and the response to a vaccination programme was carried out. Protection from the mumps and rubella virus was reduced in the group of 3 to 7 year-old children vaccinated at age 15 months indicating the need for revaccination against rubella as well as the mumps virus.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Acute meningoencephalitis as the sole manifestation of Q fever.

The case of a 25-year old man who presented with meningoencephalitis as the sole clinical manifestation of Q fever is described. Serological studies revealed the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to Coxiella burnetii. The patient responded favourably to a ten-day course of i.v. ceftriaxone and was discharged without any neurological sequelae.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Circulating Candida antigens and antibodies: useful markers of candidemia.

To investigate the utility of the 48-kDa antigen from Candida albicans in its commercial form (Directigen; Becton Dickinson) and three other serodiagnostic methods (detection of one antigen by Pastorex Candida [Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur] and detection of immunoglobulin G [IgG] and IgM antibodies to C. albicans blastoconidia [bioMerieux]) for diagnosis of invasive Candida infection, we conducted a prospective clinical trial among 10 patients with candidemia (group 1), 30 patients colonized by C. albicans (group 2), 20 patients with bacteremia (group 3), and 20 subjects without clinical or microbiological evidence of infection. The Directigen system was positive for at least one serum sample each from eight patients in group 1. In groups 2, 3, and 4, it was positive for only three patients. There was no reaction to the Pastorex system in any of the patients infected with or colonized by C. albicans or in the non-Candida-carrying controls. The IgG antibody concentration oscillated between 100 and 800 (mean, 510 +/- 268) IU/ml for the patients in group 1. In this group, eight patients had IgG antibody levels of > 400 IU/ml. The percentages of persons with IgG antibody levels of > 400 IU/ml in groups 2, 3, and 4 were 43.3, 0, and 0, respectively. Specific IgM antibody was present in all group 1 patients but not in those in groups 2, 3, and 4. The sensitivity and specificity of the Directigen test were 65 and 97.1%, respectively. For the Pastorex test, the sensitivity was 0%. The sensitivity of IgG antibodies was 80%, with a specificity of 81.4%, while the IgM antibodies were 100% specific and sensitive. Both the positive and negative predictive values of specific IgM antibodies appeared to be superior to those of the other three tests.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1992

[The catheter ablation of accessory atrioventricular pathways using a radiofrequency].

Sixteen consecutive patients (5 males and 11 females) aged 40 +/- 22 years suffering for spontaneous symptomatic arrhythmias underwent attempted transcatheter ablation of an atrioventricular accessory pathway using radiofrequency current. Five patients had the WPW syndrome. The Kent bundle was located in the left free wall in 14 patients, in the right anteroseptal region in one patient and in the posteroseptal zone in one patient. A 7F catheter (Polaris, Mansfield) with a 4 mm2 distal electrode, was used for ablation positioned on the left atrioventricular annulus in the 13 patients with left free wall accessory pathways or at the right atrium in the two patients with right accessory pathways. Without general anesthesia, a mean of 12 +/- 9 applications of radiofrequency current were delivered between the large tip electrode and a large skin patch positioned on the left posterior chest. By using radiofrequency current, a successful clinical outcome was achieved in 14 of 16 patients (87%). In patients with concealed accessory pathways, accessory conduction was abolished in 10 of 11 patients, in 8 patients in the first radiofrequency session and in two other patients in a successful second procedure. In the 5 patients with the WPW syndrome, the anterograde conduction disappeared after the procedure but the retrograde conduction remained, although deteriorated, in 2 patients. One patient developed uncomplicated tibioperoneal thrombophlebitis and in 2 cases an elevated concentration of creatine kinase value was found. In one female patient with a concealed accessory pathway, the Kent bundle conduction reappeared 3 months after the procedure and was ablated in a second session.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Congenital cardiac diverticulum originating from both ventricles].

Congenital cardiac diverticuli are infrequent. More so, if one is specially restrictive with the criteria. Usually, they are not isolated but a part of a malformation syndrome that affects the medium thoraco-abdominal line and have an embryological explanation. We present a case of congenital cardiac diverticulum originating from both ventricles with a thoraco-abdominal malformation. We describe the clinical findings, the nuclear magnetic resonance, the echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. We comment the anatomy, the total diagnosis, therapy and complications.

Diverticulum↗