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Biomedical subjects

C Pascual

Publications and source records attributed to C Pascual.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[Value of the serum measurement of alpha-L-fucosidase in the diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma].

The serum catalytic concentration of alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU) was measured to evaluate its usefulness for the diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma (HPC). Fifty-one patients with hepatocarcinoma, 30 with hepatic metastases, 40 with hepatic cirrhosis, 22 with other hepatic diseases and 48 healthy individuals were evaluated. The values of serum AFU were significantly higher in all groups (p less than 0.001), than in the reference group; there were also significant differences between those with HPC and hepatic cirrhosis (p less than 0.01), and between HPC and other hepatic diseases (p less than 0.05). The highest effectiveness of the test was achieved with a catalytic concentration of serum AFU of 210 nKat/l, with a 37% sensitivity and a 91% specificity. When the AFU measurement was used concomitantly with that of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for the diagnosis of HPC, sensitivity increased to 72% when AFI or AFP were elevated, and specificity reached 99% when both were increased. We think that the measurement of serum AFU may be helpful for the diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma.

Aged↗

Inhibition of hexose transport by glucose in a glucose-6-phosphate isomerase mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The rate of hexose transport was approximately 60% lower for both the high- and the low-affinity components of hexose uptake when a glucose-6-phosphate isomerase mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was preincubated with glucose, as compared with preincubation with water. Similarly the Jmax value of the high-affinity system of the mutant was 25-35% of the corresponding Jmax value for normal cells incubated with glucose. Accumulation of glucose 6-phosphate or of some other metabolite, such as fructose 6-phosphate or trehalose, may be responsible for this striking inhibition.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Adenosine deaminase in body fluids: a useful diagnostic tool in tuberculosis.

The performance of a colorimetric ADA determination in body fluids other than serum in the diagnosis of tuberculosis was assessed in 1063 patients from whom pleural (600), peritoneal (136), pericardial (77), or cerebrospinal (250) fluids were obtained. In exudative pleuroperitoneal and pericardial effusions, an ADA decision level of 0.71 mu kat/L displayed a sensitivity of 1.00, and was higher than those of histologic (0.83) and bacteriologic (0.62) studies. At this level, ADA reached a specificity of 0.92 and efficiency of 0.94. In cerebrospinal fluid, an ADA catalytic concentration above 0.15 mu kat/L strongly suggests tuberculous meningitis in patients older than 7 years (sensitivity 1.00, specificity 0.99 and efficiency 0.99). ADA results obtained with a UV-method were closely correlated with those of the colorimetric method in pleuroperitoneal effusions (r = 0.989) and in cerebrospinal fluids (r = 0.905). Sample blanks should be processed, otherwise false positive results may be found in non-tuberculous cerebrospinal fluids (5.3%) and pleuroperitoneal effusions (3.8%).

Adenosine Deaminase↗

[Evaluation of small branch occlusion and myocardial damage related to angioplasty. Usefulness of determining serum CK-MB].

In 65 consecutive cases of PTCA we prospectively looked for the appearance of myocardial necrosis during PTCA and for the presence of occlusion of collateral branches arising from the inflation area. Premedication was oral in 44 and intramuscular in 21 cases. CK-MB was abnormally increased in 6 cases: 3 with total occlusion of the dilated artery, 1 with transient coronary occlusion, and 1 with occlusion of a collateral branch greater than 1 mm diameter; in the sixth case the increased CK-MB peak was attributed to repeated defibrillations. Only 1 collateral branch less than 1 mm was occluded during PTCA though myocardial necrosis was not detected. Only collateral branches arising from the dilated stenosis were affected (occlusion and/or appearance of new stenosis) by PTCA (4/24 vs 0/162; p less than 0.01). There were no significant differences in CK-MB peak between both types of premedication. Thus we conclude that: 1) in PTCA myocardial necrosis is only induced by occlusion of coronary arteries greater than 1 mm diameter; 2) only collateral branches arising from the dilated stenosis are at risk of occlusion; 3) estimation of CK-MB pre-PTCA and 8 hours post-PTCA are sufficient for detection of myocardial necrosis.

Adult↗

A possible consequence of long-term elimination diet in IgE mediated subclinical food hypersensitivity.

IgE-mediated sub-clinical food hypersensitivity is recognized, but the hypersensitivity indicated is not always in accord with the observed symptoms. Study of 2 cases shows the inefficacy of a prescribed exclusion diet, without confirmation of the relationship between symptomatology and the food allergy. In addition, elimination of the foods aggravated the sensitivity of the patients and symptoms after provocation tests. Further studies must be made to decide whether there is a sound basis for long-term exclusion diets in sub-clinical food hypersensitivity.

Animals↗

Bone marrow prostatic specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase levels: are they helpful in staging prostatic cancer?

We analyzed serum and bone marrow levels of prostatic specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase quantified by double antibody radioimmunoassay in 70 patients. Of the patients 36 had prostatic cancer, including 23 with metastatic disease. There was a significant correlation between the serum and bone marrow levels of prostatic specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase independently of the metastases (p less than 0.001). No patient with prostatic cancer and positive bone marrow prostatic specific antigen or prostatic acid phosphatase levels had normal serum levels. Quantification of bone marrow prostatic specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase does not provide more information than does serum determination.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Activity of adenosine deaminase in cerebrospinal fluid for the diagnosis and follow-up of tuberculous meningitis in adults.

We studied the activity of adenosine deaminase in the cerebrospinal fluid of 40 normal controls and 205 patients who were grouped according to disease (tuberculous, viral, and purulent meningitis; neoplasms; stroke; and miscellaneous). The mean enzyme value was clearly higher for the patients with tuberculous meningitis (15.7 +/- 4.3 U/liter) than for the other patients (1.4 +/- 1.5 U/liter). The sensitivity of the test for diagnosing tuberculous meningitis was 1 and specificity, 0.99. The enzyme activity, as well as progression of the disease, was studied in 32 patients with tuberculous meningitis. A significant rise in levels of enzyme was observed during the first 10 days of therapy, was followed by a gradual decline, and reached normal values after three to four months of treatment. Two patients showed substantial increases that coincided with the development of complications. The test proved to be a simple and reliable method for early diagnosis and follow-up of tuberculous meningitis.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

[Food allergy in children. II. Prognostic factors and long-term development].

The evolution of 109 allergic children with 129 IgE-mediated food sensitizations has been evaluated. The follow-up period was from nine months to 14 years. The period up to clinical tolerance was analyzed, together with the influence of two possible prognostic factors: specific IgE antibody levels at the beginning of symptomatology and the sensitizing food. Moreover, when clinical tolerance was achieved, the presence of specific IgE antibodies was again assessed. Probability estimations indicated that 30% of food-allergic children become clinically tolerant before 3 years of evolution, 40% before 6 years, 50% before 9 years and 53% before 12 years. Onset of clinical tolerance varies in dependence with the offending food: clinical tolerance to cow's milk seems to be far earlier and easier to reach than those to egg and fish (p less than 0.001, at 9 years' evolution); allergy to egg disappears also earlier and easier than fish allergy (p less than 0.01). Levels of specific IgE antibodies at the onset of the disease show significant difference (p less than 0.01) between the patients which will become tolerant and those with persistence of clinical sensitivity, being higher in the last group. However, a high number of patients who become clinically tolerant (67.5%) remained positive at skin prick testing or had elevated specific IgE serum antibodies against the offending food.

Animals↗

Intracellular ATP in a glucosephosphate isomerase mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The degree of ATP depletion caused by glucose in a glucosephosphate isomerase-deficient strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was determined. Even in the presence of a sugar normally fermentable by the mutant, the addition of glucose can decrease the intracellular ATP, depending on the competition of the sugars for transport and subsequent phosphorylation. For both parent and mutant cells, a correlation exists between the calculated velocity of ATP formation or ATP consumption during the utilization of different concentrations of sugars and the experimental intracellular ATP level. For initially resting yeast cells, a rate increase of 35 mumol per min per g ATP was calculated to increase the intracellular level of this nucleotide by 1 mumol per g cell mass.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Adenosine deaminase activity in the diagnosis of lymphocytic pleural effusions of tuberculous, neoplastic and lymphomatous origin.

We studied the activity of adenosine deaminase in 74 lymphocytic pleural effusions which were divided into four groups according to the aetiology: tuberculous (38 cases), neoplastic (17), lymphomatous (7) and miscellaneous (12). The mean enzyme value was significantly higher in the tuberculous cases (93.81 +/- 29.56 U/I) than for the other three groups and significantly higher in pleural effusions of lymphomatous origin than in the neoplastic and miscellaneous groups. Based on the lowest value of enzyme activity found in the tuberculous group (50 U/I), the test had a sensitivity of 1 and a specificity of 0.97.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Allergy to white potato.

Allergy to potato is uncommon, and even more uncommon is allergy to potato pollen. The occurrence of both phenomena in the same patient made it possible to study cross-reactivity patterns of potato antigens. An 11-year-old girl, exclusively breast-fed for her first 4 months, developed anaphylactic symptoms after ingestion of potato at 5 months of age when she was fed potato for the first time. Subsequently, she developed urticaria, angioedema, and respiratory and systemic symptoms on contact with potatoes, ingestion of potatoes, and exposure to cooking potatoes or potato pollen. Three allergenic extracts from potato pulp, peel, and pollen were prepared. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and isoelectrofocusing of the three extracts were performed. IgE-mediated allergy to these extracts was demonstrated by means of immediate skin test reactivity, positive passive transfer, RAST, RAST inhibition, and leukocyte histamine release. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the pulp extract followed by electroblotting and autoradiography demonstrated specific IgE antibodies directed against several proteins ranging from 14,000 to 40,000 daltons.

Child↗

Adenosine deaminase activity in the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis.

We studied the activity of adenosine deaminase in the peritoneal fluid of 66 patients who were divided into five groups according to causes of ascites as follows: tuberculous peritonitis (group I), septic peritonitis (group II), secondary to malignant tumours (group III), miscellaneous conditions (group IV), and control subjects of transudates (group V). In patients with tuberculous peritonitis the enzyme activity was significantly higher than for the rest of the groups (p less than 0.001), and enzyme concentrations in all patients were well above the upper non-tuberculous value. Adenosine deaminase activity in the peritoneal fluid has proved to be a simple and reliable method for early diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

[Behavior of immunoglobulin E in primary immunodeficiencies].

The complexity of IgE synthesis and regulation is expressed in the IgE serum levels of 81 patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases. IgE serum levels were often elevated in patients with partial cellular deficiency and also in some with predominantly antibody defect, as isolated IgA and IgM deficiency. The lowest levels were found in the wider spectrum immunodeficiencies, such as the X-linked agammaglobulinemia and severe combined immunodeficiency. Due to the heterogeneity and variability of the immunological defects, even in these well defined immunodeficiency diseases, it is very difficult to establish a typical feature of IgE serum levels in these conditions.

Dysgammaglobulinemia↗