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Biomedical subjects

I Castillo

Publications and source records attributed to I Castillo.

71 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Hepatitis delta virus RNA detection in chronic HBsAg carriers with and without HIV infection.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA detection was carried out, using a full-length HDV RNA probe, in serum of 43 patients with chronic HDV infection. Among them, 30 cases (70%) were HDV RNA-positive. With respect to other HDV markers, serum HDAg (detected by immunoblot) was found in 33 patients (77%) and IgM anti-HD in 29 (67%). A similar percentage of HDV RNA-positive patients with and without circulating hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA (32.5 vs. 37%, respectively) was found. Antibodies against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were detected in 15/43 subjects studied. The presence of HDV RNA was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in anti-HIV-seropositive cases (93%) than in the HIV-seronegative ones (57%). Moreover, simultaneous HDV and HBV replication was found more frequently (60 vs. 18%, p less than 0.05) and at higher levels among the anti-HIV-positive patients than in the rest. In addition, in most of the anti-HIV-positive subjects, HDV RNA and HBV DNA were constantly positive during a whole year of follow-up.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Detection of antibody to calmodulin in chronic viral hepatitis: lack of correlation with virus replication and hepatocellular damage.

We have analyzed the presence of IgG and IgM anti-calmodulin antibodies (anti-CaM) by ELISA in patients with chronic hepatitis due to B, delta and C viruses as well as in patients with other liver diseases. The specificity of the assay was demonstrated by preadsorption of positive serum with calmodulin (CaM) but not with myosin light chain. Among 164 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (B, delta and C) and 50 with non-viral hepatitis, 27 and 26%, respectively, had auto antibodies against CaM. There was a significantly increased frequency (37%) of these auto-antibodies in chronic delta infection as compared to that (21%) of patients with chronic B hepatitis (p less than 0.05). An intermediate incidence of anti-CaM, (24%) was found in chronic C infection. The frequency of anti-CaM was not related to the level of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis delta virus (HDV) replication. A high occurrence of anti-CaM in the presence of liver membrane antibody (p less than 0.03) was observed. During follow-up of patients with chronic delta-hepatitis, the presence of anti-CaM was consistently observed, when the isotype was IgM, but transiently when it was IgG. The occurrence of anti-CaM correlated neither with ALT levels nor with histological diagnosis. Antibodies to CaM, are present in liver diseases especially in chronic delta-hepatitis, and do not play a pathogenic role on hepatocellular damage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The cephalopelvic disproportion index. Combined fetal sonography and x-ray pelvimetry for early detection of cephalopelvic disproportion.

The smallest pelvic diameter (either the anteroposterior of the inlet or the bispinal of the midpelvis) was determined with x-ray pelvimetry and compared to the biparietal diameter of the fetal head at term as determined with sonography. The difference between the two indicates how much wider the smallest diameter of the bony pelvis is than the fetal skull and was termed the cephalopelvic disproportion index. Vaginal delivery was impossible when the index was less than 9 mm and impossible or very difficult when between 9 and 12 mm. When it was greater than or equal to 13 mm, 26% needed a cesarean section, 19% had a difficult vaginal delivery, and the rest delivered vaginally with minimal or no difficulty. This technique clearly indicates when a vaginal delivery is impossible (index less than 9 mm) or very difficult (index less than 13 mm). The specificity was 100%. The index therefore can recognize, before labor, the cases of obvious cephalopelvic disproportion that contraindicate a trial of labor. It does not indicate, however, if a vaginal delivery is possible in the setting of a high index (sensitivity, 51%) because of the interference of other factors besides the cephalic and pelvic bony dimensions considered here. The index may prove most important in determining if a vaginal birth should occur after a cesarean section because it can clearly identify some patients who need a repeat cesarean section.

Delivery, Obstetric↗
PubMed1990

Recombinant gamma-interferon as adjuvant to hepatitis B vaccine in hemodialysis patients.

Patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis are at high risk of acquiring hepatitis B yet tend to have poor rates of response to hepatitis B vaccine. The effect of recombinant human gamma-interferon (2 million units/m2) on the response to a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was evaluated in a prospective, randomized controlled trial in 81 hemodialysis patients. A similar proportion of both groups of vaccinees ultimately developed antibody to HBsAg including 81% of the 41 recipients of vaccine alone (group I) and 89% of the 40 recipients of vaccine with gamma-interferon (group II). However, the antibody to HBsAg response occurred earlier in recipients of vaccine with gamma-interferon, so that at 4 mo 63% of group I and 88% of group II had antibody to HBsAg (p less than 0.025). Furthermore, titers of antibody to HBsAg tended to be higher in the vaccinees given interferon; the final geometric mean titers were 232 IU/L in group I and 330 IU/L in group II (p = not significant). Retrospective testing for antibody to hepatitis C virus revealed that 21 (26%) hemodialysis patients were seropositive at entry into this trial, but the presence of antibody to hepatitis C virus did not appear to affect the response rate to the hepatitis B vaccine. These results suggest that the effects of gamma-interferon as an adjuvant in increasing the response rate to hepatitis B vaccination deserve further evaluation perhaps most appropriately in persons who have not responded to an initial course of vaccine.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Presence of HBV-DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from anti-HIV symptomless carriers.

The presence of hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 29 anti-HIV symptomless carriers (eleven HBeAg positive, eleven anti-HBe positive and seven HBsAg negative) and of 40 anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients (15 HBeAg positive, 15 anti-HBe positive and ten HBsAg negative) has been studied by dot-blot and Southern blot hybridization. HBV-DNA has been found in similar proportions in both anti-HIV-positive and negative patients (36% and 46%, respectively, in the HBeAg positive group and 27% and 37% in the anti-HBe positive group). No HBV-DNA was detected in the PBMC of the HBsAg-negative patients. No relation has been observed between the presence of HBV-DNA in the PBMC of the anti-HIV-positive patients and the detection of HIV antigen (HIV Ag), number of CD4 cells or the CD4/CD8 ratio. In summary, the presence of HBV-DNA in the PBMC of anti-HIV symptomless carriers does not seem to imply that the patient's clinical state has worsened.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1990

Prolonged treatment (18 months) of chronic hepatitis C with recombinant alpha-interferon in comparison with a control group.

The effectiveness of recombinant alpha-interferon was evaluated in chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis of parenteral transmission. Thirty patients were randomly allocated two groups: control group (without treatment) and treatment group (alpha-interferon 5 mega units thrice weekly for 2 months, and then 1.5 mega units until the eighteenth month). Retrospectively, 26 patients had anti-hepatitis C antibodies. After the first month, 40% of the treated patients had normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels, and no one in the control group (p less than 0.05). After 18 months of treatment, 40% (6/15) of treated patients and 7% (1/14) of controls had normal serum transaminases (p less than 0.05). Interferon was well tolerated. A decrease in the Knodell Index score on final biopsy was found in treated patients (p less than 0.05), with no variations in the control group. Relapse within 7 months after the end of treatment occurred in two out of six complete responders. Thus, recombinant alpha-interferon therapy given for 18 months normalizes serum transaminases and improves histological lesions in chronic hepatitis C of parenteral epidemiology. This long-term interferon schedule is well tolerated.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Detection of HDV-RNA by PCR in serum of patients with chronic HDV infection.

In this paper, we studied the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in HDV-RNA detection. Using serial dilutions of serum samples of known concentrations of HDV-RNA, PCR was 10,000-times more sensitive than slot-blot hybridization. PCR was used for the detection of HDV-RNA in 33 serum samples negative to HDV-RNA by conventional slot-blot hybridization. HDV-RNA was detected in 18/33 (54%) of the samples included in this study using PCR. When positivity to a viral genome was related to other viral replication markers, it was found that among the 18 patients positive to the viral genome, 13 (72%) had hepatitis delta antigen in the liver, and five (28%) were negative. In conclusion, HDV-RNA detection by gene amplification is 10,000-times more sensitive than slot-blot hybridization, and allows the detection of viral replication in patients without other viral replication markers.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1990

Detection of HBeAg/anti-HBe immune complexes in the reactivation of hepatitis B virus replication among anti-HBe chronic carriers.

Sixty-four chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers with hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe) were followed in order to detect reactivations of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and to assess the incidence and specificity of hepatitis B e antigen/hepatitis B e antibody (HBeAg/anti-HBe) immune complexes (ICs). In 18 out of 19 patients who suffered an increase in alanine transaminase (ALT) values, serum HBV-DNA reappeared co-occurring with the peak(s) of transaminases. HBeAg/Anti-HBe immune complexes were detected in 17/18 (94.4%) patients positive for HBV-DNA. In nine of them, the appearance of immune complexes co-occurred with prednisone therapy, in two following seroconversion after recombinant interferon alpha-2A treatment, and spontaneously in the remaining seven patients. When ALT levels dropped to normal values, immune complexes as well as HBV-DNA became undetectable. In conclusion, the detection of HBeAg/anti-HBe immune complexes seems to be a specific method to detect HBV replication among anti-HBe positive patients.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1989

A dynamic study of the intrafamilial spread of hepatitis B virus infection: relation with the viral replication.

A total of 848 household contacts of 285 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) chronic carriers were included in a prospective study. Of the total number of contacts negative for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers at baseline, 330 relatives of 145 HBsAg carriers were observed over a mean period of 20.1 months. Among all household contacts, 284 (33.5%) were found positive for at least one HBV marker. The prevalence of HBV markers was significantly higher among the contacts of more than one HBsAg carrier (75.9%) than among those with only one (26.0%) (P less than .001). The presence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), specific HBV-DNA polymerase (HBV-DNAp), HBV-DNA, and polymerized human serum albumin (pHSA-R) in the index case was associated with a significantly higher incidence of HBV markers among household contacts. During the follow-up, the number of household contacts initially negative for HBV markers who became infected was found to be in direct relation to the presence of HBeAg, HBV-DNAp, HBV-DNA and pHSA-R in the index case.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Virus-like particles associated with reverse transcriptase activity in acute sporadic non-A,non-B hepatitis.

Reverse transcriptase activity was tested in 65 patients with non-A,non-B hepatitis, with positive results in 2 acute sporadic cases with favorable outcome. Virus-like particles were observed in ultra-thin sections of successive serum samples from one of the reverse transcriptase activity-positive patients by electron microscopy. These results suggest that some non-A,non-B hepatitis types could be related to a virus-like agent associated with a reverse transcriptase activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Different levels of hepatitis B virus replication among hepatitis Be antigen-positive chronic carriers.

Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase (HBV DNA-pol) activity and of HBV DNA sequences in serum allowed to distinguish the different degrees of HBV replication in chronic HBsAg carriers. The amount of HBV DNA in the serum of 48 HBsAg and HBeAg positive patients in relation with the presence or absence of HBV DNA-pol was determined by dot-blot hybridization. The HBeAg positive cases with HBV DNA-pol activity had significantly higher HBV DNA levels than those which were DNA-pol negative (p less than 0.001). However, no significant differences with respect to liver function tests (transaminase, albumin, gammaglobulin) or to the histological diagnosis were found between both groups. Quantitative detection of serum HBV DNA in HBsAg chronic carriers may be helpful for learning the natural history of HBV infection and monitoring the antiviral therapy.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1983

MMPI code types and DSM-III diagnoses.

Examined the relationship of the MMPI high-point codes and the diagnostic system of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual III of the American Psychiatric Association. Five psychiatrists reanalyzed the patients' records and rendered a DSM-III diagnosis. In all, 24 code types were identified from the private psychiatric clinic sample (N = 261). The resulting clusters of diagnostic classification are presented, and, additionally, a narrative summation for each code type is given.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prediction of difficult vaginal birth and of cesarean section for cephalopelvic disproportion in early labor.

OBJECTIVE: A total of 1,692 patients were evaluated in early labor, and predictions were made for easy labor-vaginal birth, difficult labor-vaginal birth, or improbable vaginal birth-cesarean section. METHODS: The prediction was based on clinical evaluation of pelvic dimensions, and fetal measurements by sonography at term. RESULTS: The combined prediction that a patient would have either a difficult labor-vaginal birth or cesarean section was very accurate (362 out of 370, or 97.8%). However, the separate prediction of difficult labor-vaginal birth and a cesarean section was less accurate, although still significant (73.4% and 90.2%, respectively). A similar study on 141 vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) candidates showed that by sectioning electively patients in whom cesarean sections were predicted, the cesarean section rate barely increased. CONCLUSION: Careful evaluation of a patient in early labor could help to recognize the dystocic labor-delivery and early indication for cesarean sections. This would avoid unnecessary and prolonged labor without necessarily increasing the cesarean section rate.

Body Constitution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pharmaceutical care program for pediatric patients receiving antiretroviral therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To present a pharmaceutical care program for pediatric patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. METHOD: In order to establish the pharmaceutical care procedure, papers published up to 2004 on the pharmaceutical care provided to patients receiving antiretroviral therapy were reviewed through a search in Medline and the journal Farmacia Hospitalaria. In addition, bibliographic references that can be systematically used to analyze the pharmacotherapy of each patient have been selected. RESULTS: The pharmaceutical care procedure is divided in three stages (data collection, analysis of the pharmacotherapeutic profile and resolution of the drug-related problems identified) that take place through a semi-structured type of interview. In order to systematize the role of the pharmacist, a table with information on antiretroviral drugs used in Pediatrics was created, as well as an information three-page leaflet and a data collection form. CONCLUSIONS: The program includes the goals of the pharmaceutical care process as defined in the recommendations of GESIDA-SEFH-National AIDS Plan 2004 and systematizes the proposed intervention strategies, in an attempt to provide the patient and the caregiver with the information required for an optimum management, in the most comprehensive way and tailored to their individual characteristics.

Anti-Retroviral Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Critical vision in the treatment of invasive vesical cancer with ionizing radiation].

OBJECTIVE: To review the treatment of invasive bladder cancer with ionizing radiation. METHODS: Patient selection criteria, prognostic factors, treatment of different tumor types with radiation using different strategies alone or in combination with chemotherapy are analyzed in the literature. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of invasive carcinoma of the bladder is crucial: 1) preoperative radiotherapy in combination with radical surgery achieves results comparable with those of cystectomy in terms of survival and a higher local control rate; 2) used in combination with cisplatin post-TUR, irradiation is highly effective for local control of the tumor and bladder preservation, with complete remission rates ranging from 60-70%, which are higher than those of radical cystectomy; 3) in this latter therapeutic modality the effect of radiotherapy is dose-related and is influenced by factors such as tumor size, presence or absence of urinary obstruction, presence of multiple lesions on the bladder wall and extravesical spread. Over the last few years, a number of therapeutic procedures have been developed, which can improve the previously mentioned results when used appropriately. Among these are hyperfractionation, accelerated irradiation and concomitant radio and chemotherapy. Studies to determine tumor radiosensitivity (Fs2/a) and the use of gene therapy could enhance the tumor control rate in the future, although a system for the selection on patients for conservative or multilating treatment based on clinical, clinicopathological and scientific criteria will have to be developed. Finally, the use of special techniques, particularly brachytherapy and intraoperative irradiation, in combination with external radiotherapy has achieved excellent results (high local control and survival rates) in certain situations, basically in single/small-sized tumours.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[In vitro evaluation of antibacterial substances produced by bacteria isolated from different marine organisms].

Bacteria from several groups of marine organisms were isolated and, using direct antibiograms, identified those that produce antibacterial substances, using a human pathogenic strain of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538 as revealing microorganism. Bacteria which produce substances that inhibited S. aureus growth were identified through morphological, physiological and biochemical tests. Out of 290 bacteria, 54 (18.6%) inhibited the growth of S. aureus, but only 27 survived for identification. Bivalves, sponges and corals were the most represented from which 41.2, 33.3 and 29.7%, respectively, produced antibacterial substances of the isolated bacteria in each group. The marine species with highest proportions of these bacteria were the hard coral Madracis decactis (62.5%), the sponges Cliona sp. (57.1%) and the octocoral Plexaura flexuosa (50.0%). Out of the 27 strains that produced antibacterial substances, 51.8% were Aeromonas spp. and 14.8% Vibrio spp. Marine bacteria that produce antibacterial substances are abundant, most belong in the Vibrionacea group and were isolated mainly from corals and bivalve mollusks.

Animals↗