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D Muñoz

Publications and source records attributed to D Muñoz.

64 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Utility of the sickness impact profile in Parkinson's disease.

The Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) is a questionnaire consisting of 136 items grouped into 12 categories and two dimensions (physical and psychosocial). To characterize its utility in Parkinson's disease (PD), we administered the SIP to 44 consecutive clinic patients with PD. Compared to 44 age- and sex-matched control subjects, PD patients had their greatest dysfunction in the categories of mobility, communication, and home management. The two items that PD patients most commonly endorsed were, "I am having trouble writing or typing" (75%) and, "My sexual activity is decreased" (61%). In general, these treated PD patients had greater dysfunction in the psychosocial than physical dimensions. Two simple PD-specific scales correlated well with the physical dimension score but less so with the psychosocial dimension, suggesting that the SIP assesses more functional domains than the PD-specific scales used. The SIP holds some promise as a broad measure of functional status in PD patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
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[Allergic contact dermatitis caused by garlic, Primula, Frullania and Compositae].

As a complementary study to a previous work (14) in which we examined 43 cases of contact dermatitis to plants, we have taken a closer look at the provocative cases which made up 76% of that study - Allium (garlic) (11 cases), Primula (8), Frullania (8) and Compositae (6). The clinical methodology, preparation of extracts and execution of the skin tests were identical to those described in the previous study (14). Patients with sensitivity to Frullania and Compositae were submitted to standard skin tests as shown in table II. These patients were also tested with a 0.1% preparation of Helenin in vaseline. The eleven cases of sensitization to Allium sativum L (garlic) corresponded to women whose primary or secondary profession was that of a housewife. In each case, the reaction was in the form of pulpitis, typically affecting the thumbs, left middle and index fingers and right thumb, which are those that have the greatest contact with the garlic bulb. Primula obconica Hance was responsible for the sensitization of 7 women and 1 man. In two of the patients, the positive test result was unrelated to the clinical picture for which the patients sought medical attention. In one of the two cases, the patient had had prolonged, previous contact with Primula but without reaction. In the other case, the origin of the reaction could not be established. The contact dermatitis produced by Primula are located principally in the face and hands.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Benzoquinones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Allergic contact dermatitis caused by plants].

The proliferation of house and garden plants, some of them highly sensitizing, produced by the general improvement of the standard of living, is causing an increase in the number of cases of contact dermatitis from plants with both irritative and allergic mechanisms. During the past 12 years, we have studied 43 cases of allergic eczema caused by plant contact as primary sensitization which supposes 2.4% of the patients with allergic contact dermatitis attended in our Services. The majority of patients were women (65%) as opposed to 35% men while the ages varied from 12 to 70 years with an average of 44.5. Below the age of 25 there were only 3 cases (6.9%) 12, 18 and 20 years respectively. In the clinical study, as well as the profession, secondary activities and hobbies were also evaluated. Through localization of lesions, an attempt was made to determine how the patient came in to contact with the different plants. The diagnosis was confirmed by the use of epicutaneous tests, as recommended by the ICDRG (3). Some plants in a natural state were used but etheral extracts were preferred. In cases of photo-dermatitis, photo-patch-tests were carried out using standard photo-sensitizers and suspected plants. The plants found to be responsible were: Allium (garlic) in 11 cases, Frullania in 8, Primula (primrose) in 8. Compositae (composites) in 6, Pinus (pine) in 3, Umbelliferae (umbellifers) in 3, Philodendron (philodendron) in 1, Pelagonium (pelargonium) in 1, Citrus (citrus) in 1 and Chlorophora (iroko) in 1. The frequency of reactions to garlic and primrose is particularly interesting and their characteristics will be the object of a later study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circulating immune complexes in pollinosis and chronic bronchopathies. Effect of immunotherapy.

The aim of this study is to investigate a possible presence of CIC in pollinic patients with or without specific immunotherapy and in bronchial asthmatic patients with or without immunotherapy. The determination of CIC is carried out by means of precipitation with 3.5% PEG and a posterior determination of C4 of the precipitates as well as optical density. In our results we have found either normal values or similar ones to the control group in all the groups of patients studied, and which therefore proves to us on the one hand that in pollinosis there are no elevated levels of CIC and on the other hand that immunotherapy does not modify the levels of CIC.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Covalent-binding native blot in the determination of specific IgE to latex gloves allergens. Comparison with other methods.

Six sera from patients with clinical symptoms of latex hypersensitivity and latex-RAST values ranging from class 1 to 4 were used to characterize latex-glove allergens by immunoblotting. Twelve % acrylamide-SDS-PAGE of the latex glove crude extract revealed a single band with an estimated mol wt lower than 14,000 D. The proteins bound to nitrocellulose after electrical transfer as shown by Ponceau red staining of the membrane. However, standard immunoblotting methods using alkaline-phosphatase anti-IgE did not detect the presence of specific IgE. Different variants of SDS-PAGE immunoblotting were also unsuccessful. On the other hand, the use of IEF and capillary transfer (native blot) to a covalent-binding hydrophilic membrane was found to be the method of choice for the study of this allergen. The authors believe that this procedure can be helpful in the study of other antigen-antibody systems, particularly when standard immunoblotting assays fail.

Allergens↗
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Immunotherapy with a standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus glutaraldehyde-modified extract against an unmodified extract: a comparative study of efficacy, tolerance and in vivo and in vitro modification of parameters.

We comparatively studied clinical efficacy, tolerance and modifications of different in vivo and in vitro parameters induced by two biologically standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extracts (HEP units), one glutaraldehyde-modified, in patients with allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma after a year of treatment. A decrease in drug consumption was observed in both treatment groups (p < 0.0001). Of all the in vivo parameters studied (cutaneous, conjunctival and bronchial reactivity to the allergen), a decrease in specific bronchial reactivity was only observed in the group treated with the modified extract (p < 0.05). The modifications in total IgE, specific IgE and specific total IgG levels are superimposable on those described in previous papers on immunotherapy. However, IgG4 levels remained stable with respect to time. Tolerance was good and very similar for both treatments; both types of extracts are equally efficacious and safe.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anisakis simplex induces not only anisakiasis: report on 28 cases of allergy caused by this nematode.

Anisakis simplex R., parasitizes several sea-fish and cephalopods. This parasite induces not only anisakiasis but also anaphylactic reactions, as has recently been confirmed. We present 28 patients with immediate hypersensitivity to Anisakis simplex, developed after parasitized fish ingestion. Each case was diagnosed by suggestive anamnesis, skin prick tests with an A. simplex extract, specific IgE detection in serum (CAP System), and histamine release test. The clinical manifestations were urticaria/angioedema in all 28 patients and respiratory arrest in one. Paradoxically, the patients reported tolerance to ingestion of the same kind of fish between and after the allergic episodes. Type 1 hypersensitivity to A. simplex was demonstrated by a positive skin-prick test reaction, specific IgE detection in all cases and positive histamine release in a representative case. Sensitization to the proteins of the fish themselves was ruled out by negative reactions of the same tests in all cases. It was also proven that the allergen/s involved may be resistant to cooking and deep freezing. Hence, anaphylactic reactions may result either from infection or, more frequently, from mere exposure to the allergen. The results confirm that A. simplex can develop IgE-mediated anaphylactic reactions, the clinical severity of which was pronounced in the patients examined. Physicians must take into account that the consumption of parasitized fish may cause severe reactions, even if fish of the same kind is subsequently tolerated. A higher frequency of reactions of this type can be expected in countries where fish is a staple diet.

Adolescent↗