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Biomedical subjects

F Ortiz

Publications and source records attributed to F Ortiz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Levamisole and interferon in children with chronic hepatitis B.

To evaluate the possible usefulness of simultaneous administration of levamisole and interferon, we randomly allocated 38 children with chronic hepatitis B to receive either 10 MU/m2 interferon-alpha-2a, three times a week for 6 mo (group 1, n = 20) or 90 mg/m2 of levamisole for 45 days, together with 10 MU/m2 of interferon-alpha-2a, three times a week for 6 mo (group 2, n = 18). At the end of the follow-up period (15 mo), no significant differences were observed between the groups with respect to loss of hepatitis B virus DNA and HBeAg from serum and normalization of serum ALT levels. During therapy, a significant increase in the serum levels of ALT and soluble interleukin-2 receptor was observed in both groups but was higher in patients from group 2. The combination of levamisole with interferon was associated with severe side effects. In summary, the combination of levamisole with interferon in children with chronic hepatitis B does not improve the results obtained with interferon alone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Listeria monocytogenes infection in HIV patients: 2 new cases].

Two new cases of infection due to Listeria monocytogenes in two females with HIV are discussed, one of them with full blown AIDS and the other pregnant and without knowledge of her seropositivity until that moment. Its clinical manifestation as a meningeal manifestation and bacteremia, coincide with the few cases described until now; different hypothesis invoked until now are reviewed to justify this infrequent association HIV-Listeria.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

Soluble complement receptor type 1 ameliorates the local and remote organ injury after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in the rat.

We examined the role of C activation in ischemia reperfusion injury by inhibiting C activation in a rat model of mesenteric arterial occlusion. In anesthetized rats, 60 min of mesenteric arterial occlusion was followed by 3 h of reperfusion. PBS alone or containing soluble C receptor 1 (3 or 6 mg) was administered i.v. Controls underwent laparotomy without ischemia. Relative serum C activities were assessed by hemolytic assay, neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte) sequestration by tissue content of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, intestinal mucosal injury by histologic grading, lung vascular permeability by the ratio of bronchoalveolar lavage to blood concentration of radiolabeled BSA, and endothelial cell injury was quantified by measurement of plasma factor VIII-related Ag. After reperfusion, PBS-treated animals had increased intestinal MPO (0.048 +/- 0.007 U/g) compared to sham (0.022 +/- 0.005 U/g (p less than 0.05)) and intestinal mucosal injury score (2.490 +/- 0.221) compared to sham (0.331 +/- 0.045 (p less than 0.05)). Treatment with 6 mg soluble C receptor 1 15 min before reperfusion reduced intestinal MPO (0.017 +/- 0.003 U/g (p less than 0.05)) and mucosal injury (1.733 +/- 0.168 (p less than 0.05)) compared to PBS control. PBS-treated animals also demonstrated increased lung MPO (0.314 +/- 0.025 U/g vs 0.085 +/- 0.018 in sham (p less than 0.05)) and increased lung permeability (bronchoalveolar lavage/blood cpm 11.32 +/- 1.35 x 10(-3) vs sham 2.22 +/- 0.19 x 10(-3) (p less than 0.05)). Treatment with 6 mg soluble C receptor 1 15 min before reperfusion or at reperfusion reduced the lung permeability (bronchoalveolar lavage/blood cpm 3.90 +/- 0.79 x 10(-3) and 5.08 +/- 0.75, respectively (both p less than 0.05)) compared to PBS control, but did not reduce lung MPO (0.342 +/- 0.031 U/g and 0.246 +/- 0.025), respectively. Treatment with sCR1 also reduced the release of factor VIII-related Ag, 5-day mortality, and C hemolytic activity. In this model, C is a major mediator of intestinal injury and extraintestinal injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Blockade of complement activation prevents local and pulmonary albumin leak after lower torso ischemia-reperfusion.

Lower torso ischemia and reperfusion leads to both local and remote tissue injuries. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of complement in mediating the local and remote microvascular permeability after bilateral hind limb tourniquet ischemia. Four hours of ischemia and 4 hours of reperfusion produced an increased skeletal muscle permeability index (muscle/blood 125I albumin ratio) of 2.90 +/- 0.35 compared with the index in nonischemic muscle of 0.25 +/- 0.02 (p < 0.01). Muscle wet-to-dry-weight ratio increased from 3.93 +/- 0.04 in sham to 5.55 +/- 0.09 in ischemic muscle (p < 0.0001). Lung permeability rose at 4 hours as indicated by the increased bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)/blood 125I albumin ratio 4.36 +/- 0.41 x 10(-3) versus sham 2.64 +/- 0.28 x 10(-3) (p < 0.05) and neutrophil sequestration 0.28 +/- 0.02 U/g myeloperoxidase (MPO) versus sham 0.14 +/- 0.02 U/g (p < 0.001). Serum lytic activity of the classical but not the alternate complement pathway was reduced. The soluble complement receptor (sCR1) was used to inhibit complement activity and attenuated the increase in the permeability index after reperfusion in ischemic muscle 1.11 +/- 0.08 (p < 0.01) and reduced the lung BAL/blood 125I albumin ratio to sham levels 2.46 +/- 0.39 x 10(-3) (p < 0.05) at 6 mg/animal, without reducing the lung neutrophil sequestration, 0.24 +/- 0.02 U/g. The authors conclude that complement activation occurred during tourniquet ischemia and mediated permeability changes in the ischemic muscle and the lungs during reperfusion.

Albumins↗
PubMed1991

Cellular immunodeficiency in Paget's disease of bone: changes induced by treatment with elcatonin.

We have found a cellular immune defect (low CD4 T lymphocyte count, high CD8 T lymphocyte count and a low CD4/CD8 ratio) in 39 PDB patients. This finding is not correlated with the bone metabolic activity of the disease. There was an improvement in the cellular immune defect in fifteen patients after treatment with elcatonin. These changes could be related to the improvement in the metabolic derangement or else could be the consequence of an effect on altered immunity.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

In vitro production of IgE and IgG by sensitized human peripheral lymphocytes.

Antigenic stimulation of peripheral lymphocytes was made in two different groups of atopic patients, testing their capabilities to produce IgE and IgG in vitro. For this purpose, Marbrook's technique was used in the cultures. The immunoglobulins produced were measured in the supernatants by a sensitive double-antibody method. Results demonstrate that it is possible to produce enough IgE and IgG to be detected. Some important parameters had to be considered: appropriate selection of the patients and the antigens used in the antigenic stimulation, as well as the number of cells and the duration of the culture.

Allergens↗
PubMed1979

Lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutinin in the presence of serum from pregnant women: correlation with serum levels of alpha-foetoprotein.

The effect of sera from women in different stages of pregnancy on cultures of human lymphocytes stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) has been studied and correlated with alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) levels. Sera taken before the twentieth week of gestation showed low levels of AFP and failed to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. Inhibition was obtained with 38.5% of sera taken from weeks 20 to 30 and with 51.7% of sera after the thirtieth week of pregnancy. Average serum levels of AFP also increased with advanced gestation, but a consistent correlation was not found between AFP concentration and inhibitory activity for every individual serum tested. Lymphocytes from pregnant women or from normal blood donors behaved in the same way in these tests. The mechanisms of inhibition and the role of AFP are discussed.

Female↗
PubMed1978

Detection of urinary fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products in kidney transplantation.

Several techniques are used to detect rejection episodes in renal transplants; complexity renders these tests impractical for clinical use in most cases. This paper reports the results obtained in the study of urinary FDP, by counterimmunoelectrophoresis, in 50 healthy subjects and in 360 consecutive samples from 18 renal transplant recipients; urine specimens were examined daily for periods of time of up to 60 days post transplant. Endogenous creatinine clearance levels were also quantified. Our findings show that while in normal subjects negative tests were always obtained in kidney transplant patients, increased FDP excretion was found, with peak levels observed at least 24 hours before the decrease of glomerular filtration rates and clinical manifestations of acute rejection which subside with immunosuppression. Finally, urinary FDP excretion in the oliguric phase of post transplant acute renal failure was similar to that of patients where kidney transplants functioned without any evidence of rejection.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1975

Role of HBs Ab in development of hepatitis.

24% of a healthy control population had antibody to hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAb) detectable by passive haemagglutination. The frequency was higher in other population groups in proportion to the intensity of contract with individuals or material positive for HBsAg. Data obtained during an outbreak of type-B hepatitis indicate that immunity to the disease is directly dependent on the titre of circulating HBsAb. A close relationship was found between the presence of HBsAb and liver dysfunction in carriers of HBsAg. This supports the hypothesis that immune response to the antigen may be necessary for the development of liver damage in type-B hepatitis. Nevertheless, since a good antibody response to HBsAg was found in uraemic patients, in whom hepatitis had a clinical course quite different from the population at large, it is thought that immune mechanisms other than the humoral response may account for the pathogenesis of the disease.

Adolescent↗