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Biomedical subjects

I Sampedro

Publications and source records attributed to I Sampedro.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Bioconversion of olive-mill dry residue by Fusarium lateritium and subsequent impact on its phytotoxicity.

The present study investigated the ability of the non-pathogenic fungus Fusarium lateritium to either degrade or modify aromatic substances in olive-mill dry residue (DOR) and to reduce its phytotoxicity. The 80% reduction of ethylacetate extractable phenols in DOR colonized by the fungus for 20 weeks appeared to be due to polymerization reactions of phenol molecules as suggested by mass-balance ultrafiltration and size-exclusion chromatography experiments. Several lignin-modifying oxidases, including laccase, Mn-peroxidase and Mn-inhibited peroxidase were detected in F. lateritium solid-state cultures. Tests performed with tomato seedlings in soils containing 6% (w/w) sterilized non-inoculated DOR showed that the waste was highly phytotoxic. By contract, F. lateritium growth on DOR for 20 weeks led to a complete removal of the waste toxicity and to a higher shoot dry weight of tomato plants than that obtained in the absence of DOR.

Agriculture↗

Improvement by soil yeasts of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis of soybean (Glycine max) colonized by Glomus mosseae.

The effects of the soil yeasts Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Cryptococcus laurentii and Saccharomyces kunashirensis on the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus mosseae (BEG 12) was studied in vitro and in greenhouse trials. The presence of yeasts or their soluble and volatile exudates stimulated the percentage spore germination and hyphal growth of G. mosseae. Percentage root length colonized by G. mosseae and plant dry matter of soybean (Glycine maxL. Merill) were increased only when the soil yeasts were inoculated prior to the AM fungus. Higher beneficial effects on AM colonization and plant dry matter were found when the soil yeasts were inoculated as an aqueous solution rather than as a thin agar slice. Although soluble and volatile exudates of yeasts benefited the AM symbiosis, their modes of action were different.

Cryptococcus↗

Contribution of hydrolytic enzymes produced by saprophytic fungi to the decrease in plant toxicity caused by water-soluble substances in olive mill dry residue.

We studied the influence of saprophytic fungi on the toxic effect that the water-soluble substances in dry residues from olive (ADOR) have on the growth of plants. All saprophytic fungi were able to decrease the phytotoxicity of ADOR, although the toxicity of this residue did not decrease in the same way. Penicillium chrysogenum was able to reduce the toxicity of ADOR when this residue was applied at the highest dose of 15%. Fusarium lateritum, F. graminearum and Mucor racemosus were able to reduce the toxicity of ADOR when this residue was applied at the intermediate doses. However, F. oxysporum decreased the phytotoxicity of ADOR only when the residue was applied at the lowest dose of 2.5%. All saprophytic fungi tested produce endoglucanase, endopolymetylgalacturonase and endoxiloglucanase when grown in the presence of ADOR. A close relationship was found between the decrease in the phytotoxicity of ADOR and the amount of hydrolytic enzymes produced by the saprophytic fungi. These results shows that hydrolytic enzymes can be important in the degradation of phytotoxic substances present in olive mill dry residue.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

[Domiciliary intravenous antibiotic therapy].

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficiency and safety of intravenous antibiotic therapy (IAT) when performed through the traditional simple infusion system by gravity in the home setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical records of patients undergoing intravenous antibiotic therapy through the traditional gravitational infusion system in the home care unit over a five year period were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: 120 patients were treated (44 F/76 M), with a mean age of 48 years (44-52). 67% of the total had chronic diseases. Infections were most commonly found in bones and joints (38%), followed by the skin and soft tissues. A wide variety of antibiotics was used, 61% as monotherapy. 76% of them were given intermittently. 161 intravenous catheters were used, 53% of which were central catheters with peripheral insertion, 27% inserted centrally and 20% peripheral catheters. The overall incidence of phlebitis was 18% without associated bacteremia. 91% of our patients evolved well, 6% had to become in-patients, none of them due to problems with the infusion system or by their own petition. The intravenous treatment lasted a mean of 17 days at home and 25 days at both home and hospital, which represents a decrease of 2,040 hospital stays. CONCLUSIONS: The traditional gravitational system of infusion is an effective and safe method for intravenous antibiotic administration at home. For these therapies to be successful, suitable patients must be selected and continuous attention is required. This treatment at home satisfies the patient and permits hospital stays to be reduced, thus improving the use of hospital resources.

Adult↗

[Treatment of "intractable" hiccup with baclofen].

The clinical features of seven patients with persistent hiccup are reported. Hiccup did not respond to the usual therapies and resolved with baclofen. The administration guidelines and secondary effects are discussed. The authors suggest baclofen should be considered the drug of choice for treating persistent hiccup.

Adult↗

Lung abscess due to Streptococcus mitis: case report and review.

Streptococcus mitis is a bacterium traditionally regarded as a normal commensal of the oropharynx, skin, and intestinal and genital tracts. To our knowledge, we describe the first case of bilateral lung abscesses caused by S. mitis in an immunocompetent host. The abscesses were successfully treated with clindamycin and gentamicin. Our case illustrates that S. mitis should be considered a cause of pulmonary abscesses.

Clindamycin↗

Renal failure due to sulphadiazine in AIDS patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis.

Cerebral toxoplasmosis is optimally treated with the combination of high doses of sulphadiazine and pyrimethamine. We described two patients with AIDS treated for cerebral toxoplasmosis who developed renal failure due to sulphadiazine-induced crystalluria. Symptoms and renal failure were rapidly reversed with urine alkalinization and hydration. A careful monitoring and adequate hydration of patients with AIDS treated with high doses of sulphadiazine appears mandatory to avoid this complication.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[An analysis of 100 consecutive tuberculosis cases in HIV-infected patients in a hospital in Cantabria].

UNLABELLED: In our setting, patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) show a high rate of tuberculosis infections which manifestations depend on the level of immunodeficiency reached. METHOD: Clinical, radiological and evolutive characteristics are discussed of 100 diagnosed tuberculosis in seropositive patients during a time span of 52 months, relating them to the number of CD4 detected. RESULTS: Tuberculosis pulmonary forms (65%) were more frequent than extra-pulmonary ones (35%) even in the advanced phases of the disease due to HIV, even tough the latter tend to cluster in patients with less than 200 CD1/mm. An unspecific febrile syndrome, normal results on simple radiological exploration and the difficulty to obtain diagnostic samples are facts which often delay the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Even tough the extra-pulmonary forms are more frequent in the last stages of the disease due to HIV, in our setting there is still a high incidence of pulmonary forms in all stages.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Group-C beta-hemolytic streptococcal bacteremia.

Group-C beta-hemolytic streptococci (GCBHS) is an uncommon cause of bacteremia. In a 5-year period, GCBHS accounted for 0.28% of positive blood cultures and 0.35% of bacteremias documented at our hospital. The incidence of GCBHS bacteremia was 0.05 episodes per 1000 admissions. We were able to analyze clinical data of 10 of the 13 patients with GCBHS bacteremias. All but one were adults with significant underlying diseases, and seven episodes were community acquired. The skin was the portal of entry in only one case. Clinical syndromes included primary bacteremia (four cases), pneumonia (two cases), endocarditis (two cases), and meningitis, intraabdominal infection, and metastatic suppurative pericarditis (one episode each). Of 13 isolates, 12 were identified to species level: six, Streptococcus equisimilis; three S. equi; two S. dysgalactiae; and one S. zooepidemicus. Resistance to penicillin was detected in one isolate and none of our isolates displayed penicillin tolerance, Four patients died (40%) despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Adolescent↗

Erythromycin and the treatment of Coxiella burnetii pneumonia.

Erythromycin is commonly used for the empirical treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, but there is some concern about its usefulness when Q fever is suspected because of in-vitro studies showing a lack of efficacy against Coxiella burnetii. This study was undertaken to assess the clinical value of the antibiotic in this setting. Nineteen patients with Q fever pneumonia treated with a variety of antibiotics considered ineffective against C. burnetii, were reviewed. Eleven patients who received erythromycin had a rapid clinical improvement and each became afebrile by the fourth day of treatment. However, only two of eight patients who received other antibiotics improved (both of them had been treated with beta-lactams). Both groups were comparable regarding to age and previous duration and severity of disease. Those patients who did not respond to other antibiotics improved promptly after erythromycin was started. This study suggests that erythromycin is an adequate treatment for Q fever pneumonia.

Adolescent↗