Biomedical subjects

C Moreno

Publications and source records attributed to C Moreno.

256 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Study of lymphocyte subpopulations at different stages of contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis has traditionally been regarded as a T-lymphocyte-mediated delayed hypersensitivity reaction. This has led authors to focus their studies of this affection on establishing the role played by lymphocytes and the different lymphocyte subpopulations in its pathophysiology. However, as most of the research conducted on contact dermatitis has so far been carried out on experimental animals, we believed it of interest to study the potential alterations to the immune system involved in contact dermatitis in humans. For this purpose, we chose 30 patients suffering from contact dermatitis in whom we studied the blood levels of total lymphocytes, as well as those of CD3, CD4 and CD8, and the CD4/CD8 ratio. These parameters were determined at three clinical stages, namely, the clinical stage (acute phase), a period when the symptoms had subsided (intercrisis phase) and another when the lesions recurred (acute outbreak). The aim of this work was to study the changes in these lymphocyte subpopulations in each of the stages. We also studied a control group consisting of 30 healthy subjects in order to contrast the results obtained. We found no significant differences among the results obtained at the three stages. However, they did differ from those obtained for the control group: the patients had lower CD4 and CD8 levels than their healthy counterparts, the differences only being significant in the acute phase.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Linear monitoring of patients sensitive to Olea and grass pollens treated with immunotherapy based on glutaraldehyde-modified (allergoid) extracts.

Extracts modified with glutaraldehyde (allergoid) have been offered to allergologists for immunotherapy in the last few years as supposedly clinically effective agents that diminish undesirable side-effects (allergenicity vs. immunogenicity). In order to acquire experience in the use of this therapeutic resource, we monitored a group of patients with pollinosis sensitive to Olea, grass pollens or both, who suffered from seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis (SRC) or rhinoconjunctivitis and seasonal asthma (RCSA) and were administered allergoid treatments standardized in biological units (HEP). The patients were monitored by determination of specific IgE and IgG4, endpoint prick tests and conjunctival provocation tests (CPT) with two types of antigen: Lolium perenne and Olea europaea. Measurements were made at baseline (T1), when the maximal tolerated dose had been given (T2) and 1 year after the treatment was started (T3). According to our results, this type of extract is tolerated quite well and causes no alterations in specific IgG4 or IgE levels. On the other hand, it features significantly decreased allergen-specific skin reactivity and increased response thresholds to the CPT (p < 0.01). A high correlation between skin and conjunctival provocation tests was observed at some stages (r = 0.79, p < 0.01).

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sensitivity to Cupressus: allergenic significance in Córdoba (Spain).

The detection of high levels of Cupressaceae pollen concentration in the air from January to April for several years in our area prompted analysis of the incidence and allergenic significance of sensitivity to this pollen. Furthermore, this is the highest winter-blooming taxa in the city of Córdoba. Skin prick tests were carried out over a one-year period on 1532 patients suffering from respiratory disorders (asthma and/or rhinoconjunctivitis). A total of 42 variables were studied in Cupressus-positive and Cupressus-negative patients; the data obtained were analyzed using a statistical software package. Sensitivity to Cupressus was found in 13% of all outpatients attending the unit, 18% of patients with respiratory disorders and 35% of patients with pollinosis. No significant differences were found between Cupressus-positive (C+) and Cupressus-negative (C-) patients with regard to mean age, sex, patient environment (i.e., rural, semi-rural, urban), personal or family history of atopy, clinical symptoms or evolution after immunotherapy (which did not include this antigen). More C+ patients were found in the higher age brackets (over 25 years old; p < 0.05); C+ patients showed greater duration (p < 0.05) and slower development (p < 0.05) of symptoms, and were also found to be more sensitive to other pollens (p < 0.001). All the Cupressus-sensitive patients also reacted positively to Olea and Fraxinus, compared to 77% and 51% in the two Cupressus-negative groups.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Allgrove syndrome (achalasia-alacrima-adrenal gland insufficiency): report of a case].

Achalasia is very uncommon in children. It is still more when it is associated with alacrima and adrenal insufficiency, a disorder known as Allgrove's Syndrome (Triple-A-Syndrome). This paper describes a 21-years-old man with lack of lacrimation, achalasia and glucocorticoid deficiency. Additional features included: Hyperreflexia, pes cavus, muscle weakness, and nasal speech. Indicating that the disorder has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. This case has been diagnosed at adulthood.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗