Biomedical subjects

C Tomás

Publications and source records attributed to C Tomás.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Effect of gynecological operations on the serum concentration of the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen.

Serum concentration of PIIINP (aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen), an indicator of connective tissue metabolism, is often increased in advanced gynecological carcinoma and correlates with the tumor growth. Because the healing wound also affects collagen metabolism we measured the serum PIIINP concentration in 15 patients operated on for endometrial carcinoma and in 28 patients operated on for benign gynecological diseases. Serial serum samples were collected for 35-51 days after surgery. In endometrial carcinoma, serum PIIINP level was increased in 53% of the patients before the operation. Postoperatively, the mean PIIINP concentration increased further, remaining at a pathological level throughout the study and with a peak at one week after the operation. In relative terms an abdominal operation for benign disease increased the serum PIIINP concentration as much as in endometrial carcinoma, but the mean level remained within the reference interval. After vaginal operation the increase in PIIINP concentration was not significant. The initially increased PIIINP concentration in endometrial carcinoma is probably caused by the effects of the malignancy on collagen metabolism. Because the relative response of PIIINP to abdominal operation was similar in both groups, the PIIINP response to surgical trauma in patients with malignant disease seems to depend only on the extent of the operation. In this group the transient increase in serum PIIINP concentration does not prevent the use of PIIINP as a tumor marker, since the follow-up examinations for malignancy do not start earlier than two months after operation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Tumor markers of epithelial and stromal cell origin at second-look laparotomy in ovarian carcinoma.

The accuracy of CA 125, amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP), and clinical examination were evaluated in association with 48 second-look laparotomies of ovarian carcinoma patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy. At laparotomy, there were 23 macroscopical and 6 microscopical tumors. Nineteen patients were disease-free. Clinical examination, CA 125, and PIIINP were correctly positive in 93, 92, and 82% of cases, respectively. When CA 125 and PIIINP were used simultaneously this value increased to 100%. The sensitivity of CA 125 (43%) and PIIINP (56%) was unsatisfactory, but with their combination it increased to 62%. The use of CA 125, PIIINP, or both increased the sensitivity of clinical examination by 14, 24, and 27%, respectively. Of all the occult tumors, CA 125 detected 33%, PIIINP 57%, and both 66%. The detection rate of macroscopical tumors missed at clinical examination by both was 71%. Hence, PIIINP may be a clinically valuable complement to CA 125 and clinical examination before second-look laparotomy.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in ovarian cancer. A review.

The concentration of the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in serum is a measure of the activity of the metabolism of type III collagen, which is a major constituent of soft connective tissues and of the connective tissue stroma of solid tumours. In advanced ovarian carcinoma, serum PIIINP serves as a tumour-associated antigen, its changes reflecting and preceding changes in the clinical behaviour of the malignancy. Elevated values of serum PIIINP are also observed in endometrial and cervical malignancies, though less frequently than in ovarian tumours. Very high concentrations of PIIINP are found in ovarian carcinoma ascites, suggesting an ongoing fibro-proliferative reaction in the peritoneal cavity as a response to the tumour.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗

PubMed1991

Use of various epithelial tumor markers and a stromal marker in the assessment of cervical carcinoma.

The epithelial cell tumor markers squamous cell carcinoma antigen, CA 125, CA 15-3, and TAG 72, and the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen, an indicator of collagen metabolism, were evaluated in 111 cervical carcinoma patients. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen was pathologic in 47%, aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in 40%, CA 125 in 13%, CA 15-3 in 30%, and TAG 72 in 9% of the 91 patients with squamous cell carcinoma. The squamous cell carcinoma antigen, aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen, and CA 125 correlated with the clinical stage. The predictive value of a pathologic squamous cell carcinoma antigen was 78% and that of a negative result 68%. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen further increased the detection rate by approximately 20% from that obtained by squamous cell carcinoma antigen alone. In 16 patients with advanced disease, squamous cell carcinoma antigen correlated with the behavior of the disease in eight, aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in nine, and CA 125 in six patients. Pathologic squamous cell carcinoma antigen, CA 125, CA 15-3, TAG 72, and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen appeared in 11, 32, 31, 31, and 47% of 19 patients with adenocarcinoma, respectively. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen is clinically useful in squamous cell carcinoma but poor in adenocarcinoma, for which the other markers are better. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen, CA 125, and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen may be used for monitoring the behavior of advanced squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1990

Serum concentrations of CA 125 and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Serum CA 125 (a marker of coelomic epithelial cells) and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP; an indicator of collagen metabolism) concentrations were measured in 148 patients with endometrial carcinoma. An initial serum concentration of CA 125 was pathologic in 17% of the patients, the frequency of abnormal values being higher (P = 0.0001) in advanced (63%) than in early disease (10%). The serum PIIINP concentration was increased in 35% of the patients and more often (P less than 0.05) so in advanced (63%) than in early disease (31%). Among all the patients, at least one of the tumor markers was increased in 43% of the cases. In early disease 12 of 108 patients contracted recurrent cancer. The accuracy of the pathologic CA 125 (9%) and PIIINP (18%) concentrations in their prediction was poor. In the total material, pathologic CA 125 and PIIINP concentrations appeared simultaneously in 11 patients, of whom eight had poor prognoses. In monitoring of treatment response of 24 patients, regression was accompanied by normal or decreasing CA 125 and PIIINP values. The persistence of pathologic CA 125 and/or PIIINP concentration predicted relapse of the malignancy. In progressive disease, CA 125 and PIIINP concentrations together or separately remained at a pathologic level or increased continuously. In clinically stable endometrial carcinoma, CA 125 gave false-negative results in 71% of the determinations and PIIINP only in 12%. The current results suggest the use of CA 125 and PIIINP, simultaneously, in monitoring the clinical course of advanced endometrial carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Serological markers and celiac disease: a new diagnostic approach?

We analyze the diagnostic efficacy of two celiac disease serological markers: anti-gliadin (IgA and IgG class) and anti-endomysium IgA-class (EmA-IgA) antibodies applied to 336 serum samples from celiac patients on both gluten-challenge and gluten-free diets, and a control group. The anti-gliadin and anti-endomysium antibodies levels were significantly higher among the gluten-consuming celiac patients than in the other groups. The greatest efficacy in diagnosing celiac disease was achieved in the Ema-IgA class test. The IgA-class anti-gliadin antibodies proved to be more specific, with a higher positive test predictive value than the IgG-class anti-gliadin antibodies, whereas the latter proved to be more sensitive, with a higher negative test predictive value than those of the IgA-class anti-gliadin antibodies. Our results also demonstrate that the simultaneous assessment of anti-gliadin IgA- and IgG-class antibodies constitutes a valid test in selecting patients suspected of having celiac disease. In turn the EmA-IgA antibodies constitute a confirmative test for indication of an intestinal biopsy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Simultaneous evaluation of epithelial cell function by CA 125 and stromal cell activity by aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in ovarian carcinoma.

Serum concentrations of CA 125 and the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) were measured in 50 patients with clinical stage I or II (N = 16) and stage III or IV (N = 34) ovarian carcinoma before and during cytotoxic chemotherapy. Initially pathological concentrations of CA 125 were found in 92% of all patients and 100% of those in clinical stages II, III and IV. The concentration of PIIINP was at pathological levels in 71% of patients. Serum concentrations of CA 125 (P = 0.04) and PIIINP (P = 0.005) were higher in stages III and IV than in stages I and II. Initial concentration of PIIINP, but not of CA 125, was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.001) higher in the 19 patients who died of the malignancy than in the 31 patients alive at the end of the follow-up period. There was a significant inverse correlation (P = 0.01) between the initial PIIINP values and the survival time among patients with a poor prognosis. Initial concentration of CA 125 was of no prognostic value. During the follow-up, the serum concentrations of CA 125 and PIIINP correlated closely with clinical changes in the disease. Either or both of the tumour markers increased or remained at pathological levels before clinical relapse in patients who had initially responded. PIIINP was a more accurate marker (84%) than CA 125 (63%) in this respect. The information obtained from CA 125 and PIIINP concentrations was identical in 65% and complementary in 33% of the patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Health care resources utilization in HIV-infected patients: creation of a data base and cost results].

OBJECTIVES: To make and validate a data base that allows to collect information about clinical characteristics and use of health care services by HIV-infected patients. An additional purpose is to obtain some data about costs of health care services utilization. METHODS: We have designed an informatic data base that includes: demographic data, clinical data and health care services utilization during the follow up. One hundred and nine patients were selected from 5 different hospitals in Spain and they were followed for 6 months (from January to June 1997). Analytic accounting of one hospital and official tariffs were used to calculate costs of the health care services. RESULTS: The informatic data base designed is useful and appropriate to collect the information of these patients. The annual average cost is 2.5 millions dollars, ranging from 1 million dollars for asymptomatic patients to 3.8 millions for AIDS patients. The comparison of our results with previous studies shows an increased cost of asymptomatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results give a preliminary information about health care services utilization by HIV-infected patients and confirm the possibility of using the designed instrument in the future. Since HIV-infection presents an uncertain evolution and a variable prognosis, to implant a tracking system is a necessary requirement in order to obtain a fast and accurate information system about the evolution of clinical variables and their economic repercussions.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Daily variation patterns of airborne allergenic pollen in southwestern Spain.

The study was carried out using a Burkard sampler installed on the roof terrace of the School of Pharmacy, Seville, for two years (1995 and 1996). Eight pollen types described in the literature as having allergenic activity were chosen. They were Poaceae, Olea europaea, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Plantago, Rumex, Urticaceae (including Parietaria), Cupressaceae, and Platanus hispanica. The types were grouped according to the similarity of their pattern of intradiurnal variation in pollen concentration. The following associations were established by multivariate analysis: Urticaceae and Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae (appearing mainly between 11:00 and 20:00), Olea europaea and Plantago (12:00 to 19:00), Poaceae and Rumex (appearing throughout the day), and Cupressaceae and Platanus hispanica (8:00 to 14:00). The patterns of intradiurnal variation were similar both years for each type, despite the fact that the two years were climatologically different (1995 was dry and 1996 wet). We conclude that these behavior patterns are endogenous to the plants, and are hardly affected by meteorological parameters.

Air Pollution↗