Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J C García.
We report a case of human anaplasmosis (HA) fulfilling the confirmation criteria: epidemiologic data and clinical picture compatible with HA; presence of a morulae within polymorphonuclear leukocyte; and positive PCR assay for Anaplasma phagocytophilum: This case report shows the presence of HA in Spain.
This paper examines the influence of the degree of refining of different pulps, produced from olive trimmings and eucalyptus wood, on various physical properties. Corresponding pulps were obtained by means of different cooking processes. Pulp from olive trimmings was obtained by means of an organosolv process and pulp from eucalyptus was obtained by means of a kraft process. Pulp from olive trimmings exhibited a lower specific surface area, water retention volume, breaking length, stretch and burst index, but a higher porosity, than eucalyptus pulp. On the other hand, the same degree of refining was achieved with less energy for olive pulp than for eucalyptus pulp. Mixed pulp from olive trimmings and eucalyptus provided paper sheets with acceptable physical properties but with reduced refining energy costs relative to eucalyptus pulp alone.
BACKGROUND: Aprotinin has been used in cardiosurgery as a hemostatic agent. Considering the implication of oxygen reactive species and proteases in the pathogenesis of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, we hypothesized that aprotinin may exert an antioxidant effect. This work was designed to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of aprotinin in vitro and in vivo in child patients undergoing cardiosurgery with mechanical cardiorespiratory support. METHODS: Colorimetric techniques and chemiluminiscent emission assays. A blind controlled clinical trial was performed with a control (G-1, n=14, without aprotinin) and treated with aprotinin (G-2, n=12) groups (both assessed by medical decision) of child patients undergoing cardiosurgery with mechanical cardiorespiratory support. Blood samples were taken at: T-0 (induction of anesthesia), T-1 (10 minutes after begining of perfusion), T-2 (5 minutes after anoxic heart arrest), T-3 (ending operation) and T-4 (24 hours after operation). RESULTS: We proved that aprotinin has no hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion nor H2O2 scavenger capacity as well as its capacity for inhibiting in vitro activated-leukocyte chemiluminiscence. Malonildialdehyde levels were higher in G-1 than G-2 with the greatest difference at T-2 (7.2+/-3.6 nmol/ml in G-1 vs 4+/-1.65 in G-2). Phospholipase A2 activity showed a tendency of higher values in G-1 than G-2 although there was no statistical significance. Uric acid concentration was greater in G-2 at T-1, T-2, T-3 and T-4 than G-1 and catalase activity was higher in G-2 at T-0, T-2 and T-3 than G-1 with noteworthy difference only at 5 minutes after anoxic heart arrest. Low cardiac output, arrhythmias and sudden death in the early postoperative phase were less frequent in the treated group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that aprotinin exerts a primary antioxidant activity and its protective effects in cardiosurgery seem to be associated with reduction of systemic oxidative stress.
A group of trained and sedentary men performed an incremental graded exercise-test to exhaustion in order to assess the organic response of the two main stress-activated systems: the sympathetic nervous system with its endocrine component (the adrenal medulla), and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Maximal plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol and endogenous opioids (beta-endorphins) were obtained at the end of the exercise-test in the trained group. Thus ACTH increased from basal value of 21.25 +/- 2.5 pg/ml to 88.78 +/- 11.8 pg/ml at the end of the exercise (p<0.01); cortisol, from 16.56 microg/dl +/- 4.94 microg/dl to 23.80 +/- 4.57 microg/dl in min 15 of the recovery period (p<0.001); and beta-endorphin from 21.80 +/- 8.33 pmol/ml to 64.36 +/- 9.8 pmol/ml in min 3 of the recovery period (p<0.05). Catecholamine levels were increased from initial values at the end of the effort test in both control and trained groups. Control subjects exhibited a higher responsiveness compared to trained and showed superior intrinsic stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. These results reveal a different response according to fitness in a physical stress situation.
A central composition design was developed to study the influence of process variables (temperature, pulping time and ethanol concentration) on the properties of the pulp produced (yield and holocellulose, alpha-cellulose and lignin contents) and the pH of the resulting wastewater, in the ethanol pulping of olive tree trimmings. The proposed equations reproduce the experimental results for the dependent variables with errors less than 5% for the holocellulose and alpha-cellulose contents, yield and wastewater pH, and less than 15% for the lignin content. Obtaining pulp with acceptably high yield (37.6%), high holocellulose and alpha-cellulose contents (above 88.8% and 46.9%, respectively), and low lignin contents (below 7.2%), entails operating at a pulping temperature of 200 degrees C, using an ethanol concentration of 75% and a pulping time of 60 min.
A central composite factor design was used to examine the influence of independent variables in the acetone pulping of wheat straw (processing temperature, time, and acetone concentration) on the yield of the resulting pulp, and on various physical properties of paper sheets (breaking length, stretch, burst index, tear index and brightness) obtained from it. Equations that related each dependent variable to the different independent variables were obtained, and these reproduced the experimental results for the yield, breaking, stretch, burst index and brightness obtained at temperatures, times, and acetone concentratons over the ranges 140-180 degrees C, 60-120 min and 40-80%, respectively, with errors less than 20%. Obtaining the optimum breakinig length, stretch, burst index and tear index for the paper sheets (3,456 m, 1.42%, 1.36 kN/g and 3.86 mNm2/g, respectively) entails using a high temperature; the processing time and acetone concentration only influence stretch, optimization of which requires using a short time and a low concentration. The optimum brightness (30.44%) is achieved with a low temperature, a short time and a medium acetone concentration. In order to minimize losses of solvent during its recovery and recycling while ensuring acceptable levels of the properties of the paper sheets, a high temperature, a low acetone concentration and a short time can be used; the brightness level thus obtained is only 10% lower than the optimum value.
We investigated the impact of the most commonly used preparative regimens on the outcome of 395 patients with diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL), consecutively reported to the registry of the Spanish GEL/TAMO. Among them, 139 (35%) were autografted in 1st CR, 86 (22%) in 2nd/3rd CR, 124 (31%) had chemosensitive disease and 46 (12%) had chemoresistant disease. Conditioning consisted of chemotherapy-only in 348 patients (BEAM, 164; BEAC, 145; and CBV, 39) and radiochemotherapy with CY and TBI in 47. Median times to granulocyte, platelet recovery and to discharge were significantly shorter in the chemotherapy-only group. Early transplant-related mortality was significantly higher when using CY-TBI. After a median follow-up of 28 months, overall survival (OS) at 8 years of patients conditioned with BEAM or BEAC (58% (95% CI 50-66%)) was more favorable than with CBV (40% (95% CI 24-56%)), and significantly better than with CY-TBI (31% (95% CI 18-44%)). Multivariate analysis revealed that patients conditioned with chemotherapy-only regimens had improved OS, disease-free (DFS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) when compared to those conditioned with CY-TBI. Status at transplant was also a powerful prognostic indicator. We conclude that preparative regimens consisting of chemotherapy-only seem more efficacious than CY-TBI as conditioning for DLCL, because of faster engraftment and greater anti-lymphoma effect, as indicated by improved OS, DFS and RFS.
In order to examine the possible role of rat brain glutathione depletion by diethyl maleate (DEM) in the potentiation of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) neurotoxicity, the relationships between both effects were evaluated using the circling behavior test (CBT), and determining striatal glutathione S-transferase (GST)-specific activity. There were significant differences between the two studied groups: 6-OHDA and DEM + 6-OHDA lesioned animals in striatal glutathione (GSH) concentration at the moment of the lesion with 6-OHDA and also at the end of the experiment (30 d after 6-OHDA lesion). The circling behavior test following the administration of amphetamine was qualitatively different between both groups of simple- and double-damaged animals. In accordance with our results, DEM injury makes the animals more susceptible to brain-oxidative damage by 6-OHDA, which can indicate that in the double-damaged animal group, DEM could induce potentiation of the toxicity through striatal glutathione depletion.
A group of long-distance runners is studied in order to clarify aspects concerning neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating organic adaptation to maximum effort, with special interest in the function of the growth hormone in fat metabolism and the possible use of ketone bodies as an alternative source of energy. A test is designed on a treadmill with a gradient of 3% and progressive increases in speed of 2 Km/h every 10 min, starting at 6 Km/h, and continuing until exhaustion. Masks are worn to enable the breath by breath measurement of expired gases and the subjects are monitored electrocardiographically using V5. For blood sample collection an antecubital vein is catheterized with a system enabling the replacement of the blood volume extracted by means of perfusion with physiological saline solution, and the increasing concentration of hormones in the blood is evaluated. The results obtained, indicate that epinephrine as well as GH hormones increase significatively from 20 min of exercise in runners promoting changes from carbohydrates to lipids as fuels to carry out exercise. The concomitant variations in energy substrates support the former hypothesis of work. Moreover, the muscle could employ acetylCoA originating from acetoacetate as an alternative metabolic source of fuel during maximum effort.
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OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical, analytical, and radiological features of an observed arthropathy affecting beekeepers. METHODS: Prospective study of 34 patients (32 male, 2 female), mean age 42 years (range 16 to 66 years), evaluated for the presence of acute or chronic arthritis related to beekeeping. All patients were working and living in the same village, Fuenlabrada de los Montes (1300 habitants), where there is a census of 180 beekeepers. An epidemiologic inquiry reported that > 50% of them reported episodes of arthritis on the hands during the month of August, at the time of honey collection. RESULTS: Acute arthritis was observed in 10 patients. Pain, tenderness, joint swelling, and warmth were present in most cases. Chronic arthropathy was noted in 32 patients. Tenderness was present in 16 cases, synovial thickening in 12, limited joint mobility in 8, bony swelling in 15, and joint deformities in 13 patients. Radiological study showed periarticular soft tissue swelling, bone sclerosis, periostitis, bony erosions, subchondral cysts, geodes, osteophytes, and joint narrowing. CONCLUSION: Beekeepers have joint disease apparently related to bee stings. Etiopathogenesis is unknown. Mechanical trauma, venom compounds, infection, and foreign body synovitis are factors that are thought to influence the pathogenesis of this syndrome. We designate the condition "beekeepers' arthropathy," and consider it an occupational disorder.
The distribution of met-enkephalin in the cat and its modifications following the stimulation by intravenous clonidine, was studied with indirect immunocytochemical techniques. We observed a decrease in the immunoreactivity of met-enkephalin following the administration of clonidine, relative to the controls, in the following structures: locus coeruleus, nucleus cuneformis, formatio reticularis, nucleus gigantocellularis, nucleus reticularis lateralis, nucleus reticularis, nucleus reticularis parvocellularis, nucleus sensorius superior n. trigemini, nucleus raphes, substantia grisea periventricularis, nucleus eminentiae teretis, colliculus inferior, nucleus motorius n. trigemini, nucleus tracto spinalis n. trigemini, tractus spinalis n. trigemini and nucleus tracto mesencephalici n. trigemini. These experimental observations link the immunoreactivity changes to the structures that are associated with the direct action of clonidine and conclude that the pars metencephalinergicus of the efferent pontine pathway of pain is in morpho-functional relationship with the analgesia produced by clonidine; an analgesic of an endogenous opiate character.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive, slow loss of dopaminergic neurones in the substance nigra. Although the cause of this neurone loss is unknown, at the present time many papers suggest oxidative stress (OS), secondary to dopaminergic metabolism, as an aetiopathogenic factor of PD. Therefore study of the part played by OS in this would permit the use of antioxidants (AO) as another possibility for treatment of the disease. It would also be a major step forward in the search for possible biological markers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study using spectrophotometric techniques was made of the serum levels of four biochemical indicators: catalase (CAT), malonyl aldehyde (MDA), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and Vitamin C (VITC) in controls and in patients with PD. We found the average value for each of the variables studied in controls and in patients, taking AO treatment into account. RESULTS: The effect of clinical variables on serum levels of CAT, MDA, PLA2 and VITC was analyzed. It was seen that only the clinical state of Hoen and Yahr was related to the biochemical indicators. The CAT activity and VITC concentration showed statistically significant differences between patients (independently of their AO treatment) and controls. The CAT activity was significantly less in those treated with AO. The patients with PD did not all have the same degree of OS. The effect of AO treatment on plasma markers showed changes only in one subgroup of Parkinson patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that AO treatment in this condition should be tailored to the individual patient according to the degree of OS present.
The anaerobic threshold (AT) was calculated in 23 swimmers by field methods: MADER (MM) and modified exponential MADER (EM) and laboratory methods: SKINNER (SM), ROBERGS (RM), CONCONI (CM), and ventilatory (VM). Two types of test were designed. The first in a swimming pool (test 1), performing four series of increasing intensity swims, and the second on a cycle ergometer increasing until exhaustion (test 2). In both tests the heart rate (HR) was recorded in beats per minute by telemetry. Despite the different HR at the AT: 180.0 +/- 2.7 (MM), 179.1 +/- 2.4 (EM), 166.0 +/- 2.9 (SM), 157.0 +/- 2.8 (RM), 167.6 +/- 2.7 (VM) and 168.8 +/- 2.2 (CM), and the different maximum HR (HRmax) in the two tests: 201.6 +/- 2.0 in Test 1 and 188.5 +/- 1.6 in Test 2; the percentage HR in the AT/HRmax proved to be similar for all the methods except RM (88.0%-89.2%). The mechanism of organic control in progressive exercise can therefore have, in this test, a "threshold" zone at a given percentage of the maximum capacity of adaptation, both when the exercise is carried out in a pool and also on a cycle ergometer.
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BACKGROUND: To assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a general population and to identify risk factors for acquiring infection. POBLATION AND METHODS: A cross section of the general urban population of La Rioja aged between 14 and 65, was studied by choosing a random sample (n = 890). Serum samples were screened for HCV antibodies by second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and recombinant immunoblot assays. We investigated the relationship between HCV serostatus and age, intravenous drug use, tattoos, blood transfusion, history of hepatitis, previous surgical operations, the administration of parenteral treatment and the number of sexual partners. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 2%. The logistic regression analysis confirmed a statistically significant association between anti-HCV positivity and intravenous drug use (OR = 169.67; CI 95%: 21.1-1,364.75), exposure to a blood transfusion (OR = 10.41; CI 95%: 3.03-35.75); tattoos (OR = 9.04; CI 95%: 1.25-65.36), and male sex (OR = 5.35; CI 95%: 1.34-21.42). However, that 38% of subjects had no risk factors for HCV infection. CONCLUSIONS: These results show a high proportion of people were found to have anti-HCV antibodies. The possible mode of infection in one third of these subjects is not known. In the half of these cases the infection was found have been acquired by an intravenous mechanism: blood transfusion or drug use.
Anthracyclines are very effective antineoplastic agents for the treatment of acute leukemia. Early and late dose-related cardiotoxicity can occur. We present a 33 year old women who developed a reversible right heart failure fifteen days after receiving a treatment with doxorubicine. Severe regional wall motion abnormalities were appreciated through two-dimensional and Doppler-flow echocardiography, there was no evidence of impaired systolic or diastolic left ventricle function. Two weeks later, remission of acute right ventricle failure was obtained, echocardiographic assessment was normal at this time. Incidence of right ventricle abnormalities after treatment is discussed.
Amebiasis is a disease commonly extended all around the world, its prevalence depending on the population under study. In Spain, most cases published are of exotic acquisition. We present the case of a married couple from Venezuela presenting two different forms of invasive amebiasis: acute colitis and hepatic abscess. In our environment, once the diagnosis of amebiasis is established, a close follow-up of the patients must be made, including the evaluation of the closest contacts. Regarding the treatment, we think that the asymptomatic forms must be treated with a luminal amebicidal and the symptomatic forms, with hystic amebicidal followed by luminal amebicidal.