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Biomedical subjects

J Domínguez

Publications and source records attributed to J Domínguez.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Assessment of a new test to detect Legionella urinary antigen for the diagnosis of Legionnaires' Disease.

Given that the rate of mortality by Legionella pneumonia increases in incorrectly treated patients, rapid diagnosis and early antibiotic treatment are needed. We have assessed the performance of a new enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test (Bartels Inc. Trinity Biotech Company, Wicklow, Ireland) to detect Legionella pneumophila antigen in urine comparing it to Binax EIA (Binax, Portland, Maine). We also evaluated the capability of both EIAs to detect extracted soluble antigens of Legionella strains. Using nonconcentrated urine samples (NCU) the sensitivity of Bartels EIA was 74.1% (66/89) and the sensitivity of Binax EIA was 51.7% (46/89). The sensitivity of both EIA tests were 91.5% (54/59) using concentrated urine samples (CU). Specificity of both EIA tests was 100% in NCU and CU. Bartels EIA was able to detect all serogroup L. pneumophila antigens, achieving a higher sensitivity in the case of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 soluble antigen. The new EIA was found to be a useful test for the rapid diagnosis of Legionella pneumonia, being a better alternative to the Binax EIA if NCU is used.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed2001

[Symptomatic xanthograuloma of the lateral ventricle].

Xanthogranulomas of the choroid plexus in the lateral ventricle are usually asymptomatic lesions found incidentally at autopsy. Symptomatic cases are rare. We present the case of a 30-year-old woman with a xanthogranuloma of the right lateral ventricle who showed intracranial hypertension and visual disturbance. Plain T1-weighted magnetic resonance images disclosed a isointense right temporal lesion in the ventricular horn which showed decreased signal intensity on T2-weighted images and massive enhancement on T1-weighted images after gadolinium injection. She was operated on through a right temporal craniotomy with total excision. We review the literature and discuss radiological findings on MRI.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed2001

[Intracranial epidural abscess in a newborn secondary to skin catheter].

Intracranial epidural abscesses are uncommon lesions, being more frequents in older children and adults. They commonly arise as a result of direct extension of a preexisting infection and rarely present with focal deficit. We present a case of a 11-days old preterm infant who developed an intracranial epidural abscess as a result of an infected scalp vein catheter. The diagnosis was made on the basis of the cranial ultrasound and CT scan images. An identified strain of Enterococcus faecium was cultured from all the samples. The patient underwent a right frontal craniotomy with drainage of the abscess and a 2-week total course of intravenous antibiotics was administrated. CT scan imaging 3 week after the procedure demonstrated no evidence of residual lesion. When present, a scalp vein catheter, in absence of others predisponing factors, must be considered as an etiologic agent for an intracranial epidural abscess in this age-group.

Catheterization↗
PubMed2001

Outcomes of a health education intervention in a sample of patients infected by HIV, most of them injection drug users: possibilities and limitations.

We studied the receptivity of a population of HIV-infected patients to the development of a group educational intervention in order to enhance the adherence to therapy. We designed a group educational activity conducted by family physicians and directed to patients with HIV infection treated with antiretrovirals for at least six months. We conducted a randomized trial that compared two interventions: an educational intervention plus individual counsel or the last option alone. We studied their clinical situation, adherence to therapy and familial support. We offered 115 patients (66.9% injection drug users (IDUs), 69.6% males) the opportunity to be included in our trial, but 73.9% of them refused. No group with four or more participants was formed. Fifty-nine per cent refused to be included claiming personal reasons and 32.9% cited trouble in their jobs. There was a non-significant trend to accept in the case of women (p = 0.19), patients with AIDS (p = 0.11) and non-adherent patients (p = 0.08). This trend was significant in the group of women with AIDS (p = 0.01) and non-adherent women (p = 0.05). We concluded that HIV-infected patients, mainly IDUs, are not receptive to group educational programmes. The design of future interventions must take into account the patients' characteristics.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen by a rapid immunochromatographic assay in urine samples.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of a newly available rapid (15 min) immunochromatographic membrane test (ICT) to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae in urine samples, in order to assess its utility in the diagnosis of bacteremic and nonbacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: We studied urine samples from 51 patients with bacteremic and nonbacteremic pneumonia due to S pneumoniae diagnosed by blood culture and pneumococcal polysaccharide capsular antigen detection by counterimmunoelectrophoresis in urine samples, 16 patients with probable pneumococcal pneumonia, 71 patients with nonpneumococcal pneumonia, and 16 patients with pneumonia but no pathogen identified. Urine samples were collected and frozen at - 20 degrees C until used. The ICT test was performed following the instructions of the manufacturer. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: S. pneumoniae antigen was detected in 41 of 51 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia (80.4%); results were positive in 23 of 28 bacteremic cases (82.1%) and in 18 of 23 nonbacteremic cases (78.3%). From patients with a diagnosis of presumptive pneumococcal pneumonia, antigen was detected in seven urine samples (43.7%) and also in one case of the 16 patients with pneumonia but no pathogen identified. The specificity of the ICT test was 97.2%. CONCLUSION: The ICT assay is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia, especially for the nonbacteremic cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Effects of tungstate, a new potential oral antidiabetic agent, in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

Tungstate was orally administered to 7.5-week-old male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats that already showed moderate hyperglycemia (180 +/- 16 mg/dl). The animals became normoglycemic for approximately 10 days. Then, glycemia started to rise again, although it did not reach the initial values until day 24, when levels stabilized at approximately 200 mg/dl for the duration of the experiment. Untreated ZDF rats showed steadily increased blood glucose levels between 7.5 and 10 weeks of age, when they reached a maximum value of 450 +/- 19 mg/dl, which was maintained throughout the experiment. In addition, tolerance to intraperitoneal glucose load improved in treated diabetic rats. Serum levels of triglycerides were elevated in untreated diabetic rats compared with their lean counterparts (ZLC). In the liver of diabetic animals, glucokinase (GK), glycogen phosphorylase a (GPa), liver-pyruvate kinase (L-PK), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) activities decreased by 81, 30, 54, and 35%, respectively, whereas phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) levels increased by 240%. Intracellular glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) decreased by 40%, whereas glycogen levels remained unaffected. Tungstate treatment of these rats induced a 42% decrease in serum levels of triglycerides and normalized hepatic G6P concentrations, GPa activity, and PEPCK levels. GK activity in treated diabetic rats increased to 50% of the values of untreated ZLC rats. L-PK and FAS activity increased to higher values than those in untreated lean rats (1.7-fold L-PK and 2.4-fold FAS). Hepatic glycogen levels were 55% higher than those in untreated diabetic and healthy rats. Tungstate treatment did not significantly change the phosphotyrosine protein profile of primary cultured hepatocytes from diabetic animals. These data suggest that tungstate administration to ZDF rats causes a considerable reduction of glycemia, mainly through a partial restoration of hepatic glucose metabolism and a decrease in lipotoxicity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2000

Induction of aggregation in porcine lymphoid cells by antibodies to CD46.

CD46 is a major transmembrane glycoprotein that belongs to the regulator of complement activation (RCA) family. Recently, mAbs to human CD46 were shown to suppress IL-12 production. Here, we describe that mAbs against different porcine CD46 epitopes induced a marked adhesion of normal lymphocytes. Addition of low amounts of antibody to freshly isolated lymphocytes or thymocytes resulted in the clustering of the cells. Cross-linking of CD46 molecules seems essential since Fab fragments failed to induce aggregation. This aggregation was dependent on active cell metabolism and on the presence of divalent cations and required a functional cytoskeleton. It was not inhibited by antibodies to CD18, CD29, CD2, CD11a and CD11b. Staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinases, partially blocked the aggregation. This finding is indicative of a role of protein kinases in the transduction of the signal generated by CD46 engagement.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of a fluorescence hybridisation assay using peptide nucleic acid probes for identification and differentiation of tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria in liquid cultures.

The performance was evaluated of a fluorescence in situ hybridisation assay using peptide nucleic acid probes (Dako Probe MTB Culture Confirmation Test; Dako, Denmark) for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) organisms and differentiation between tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in material taken directly from Bactec 12B (Becton Dickinson, USA) and MB/BacT (Organon Teknika, USA) bottles. The test was applied to 129 smear-positive (Ziehl-Neelsen stain) clinical specimens, 48 previously identified clinical strains of mycobacteria (12 MTC and 36 NTM), and 51 reference strains (7 MTC and 44 NTM) which were all previously inoculated into Bactec 12B and MB/BacT bottles. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay for MTC-positive cultures was 87.6% and 100%, respectively, for Bactec 12B, and 100%, respectively, for MB/BacT. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay for NTM-positive cultures was 100% for both media.

Culture Media↗
PubMed2000

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus down-modulates TNF-alpha production in infected macrophages.

The effect of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus infection on the synthesis and secretion of TNF-alpha and other pro-inflammatory cytokines by porcine alveolar macrophages (PAM) was investigated as well as the effect that TNF-alpha has on the replication of this virus. A clear reduction of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced expression of TNF-alpha mRNA was observed in cells incubated with PRRS virus. Moreover, the presence of PRRS virus also induced a decrease in IL-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta mRNAs expression with respect to PMA-stimulated uninfected cells. According to these results, exposure to the PRRS virus led to a reduction of the TNF-alpha protein in supernatants of PMA-stimulated PAM. On the other hand, addition of recombinant porcine TNF-alpha to cultures clearly reduced virus replication; however the addition of TNF-alpha to cultures containing IFN-alpha did not result in a further reduction of the produced by IFN-alpha alone. This indicates the lack of synergy in the effect of these cytokines on viral replication.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Phenotypic characterization of monocyte subpopulations in the pig.

We have recently described the existence of two subsets of porcine monocytes based on the expression of CD163. In this study we compare the expression of a number of cell surface antigens in CD163+ and CD163- monocyte subsets using three-color flow cytometry. These monocyte subsets show differences with respect to the expression of MHC class II antigens (SLA-DR and DQ) and a variety of adhesion molecules (CD11a, wCD11c, wCD29, CD49d) that are expressed at higher levels on CD163+ monocytes, and of CD14 that is higher expressed by CD 163- cells. These differences on phenotype could reflect differences in the ability of these two subsets to migrate to tissues and may account for the higher allostimulatory capacity of CD163+ cells. In some aspects, the phenotype of CD163+ monocytes resembles that of mature macrophages. In vitro serum-induced maturation of monocytes into macrophages lead to the expression of SWC9 together with an increase in the expression of CD163 and a reduction in that of CD14. These results delineate a maturation pathway where CD14hiCD163-SWC9- monocytes develop into CD14loCD163+SWC9- monocytes and these cells into CD14loCD163+SWC9+ macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A porcine cell surface receptor identified by monoclonal antibodies to SWC3 is a member of the signal regulatory protein family and associates with protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1.

SWC3 was defined at the First International Swine CD Workshop as a specific myelomonocytic antigen of 230 kDa with mAbs 74-22-15, 6F3 and DH59B. In this report, we describe two new mAbs (BL1H7 and BA1C11) that react selectively with granulocytes, monocytes and macrophages. These monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognize a molecule in the range of 90-115 kDa in immunoprecipitation and/or Western blotting analyses. Two-colour FACS analyses showed that the distribution of BL1H7 and BA1C11 antigens was identical to that of SWC3. Moreover, in this assay, mAb 74-22-15 appeared to partially block the binding of mAbs BL1H7 and BA1C11, suggesting that all these mAbs reacted with the same or spatially close epitopes. Cross-blocking analyses indicated that it was the case with mAbs 74-22-15 and BL1H7. Immunoprecipitation experiments with mAbs 74-22-15, BL1H7 and BA1C11, followed by immunoblotting with mAb BL1H7 confirmed that all three mAbs recognize the same molecule. Analysis of the N-terminal sequence carried out on the affinity purified protein revealed homology with members of signal regulatory protein (SIRP) family. Like other members of this family, after treatment with sodium pervanadate, SWC3 became phosphorylated in tyrosines, and associated with the protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Molecular and functional characterization of porcine LFA-1 using monoclonal antibodies to CD11a and CD18.

We describe in this report the production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the swine homologues of CD11a and CD18 antigens, and their use for phenotypic and functional analysis of porcine leukocytes. Monoclonal antibodies BL1H8 and BL2F1 precipitated two bands of approximately 170 and 95 kDa, whereas mAb BA3H2 brought down three bands of 170, 155 and 95 kDa, from alveolar macrophage lysates. Clearance of macrophage lysates with mAbs BL1H8 and BL2F1 resulted in complete removal of the 170-kDa band. The cell distribution of the molecules recognized by these mAbs was similar to that of human LFA-1. It was found on all leukocytes, although its expression varied among the different leukocyte subpopulations, with monocytes, granulocytes and a subset of CD8+ cells expressing the highest levels. Cross-blocking studies showed that these antibodies recognize different epitopes on porcine LFA-1. Both anti-LFA-1 mAbs strongly inhibited the mitogenic response of PBMC to ConA, whereas the anti-CD18 mAb had no effect. These anti-LFA-1 mAbs also inhibited the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and the NK cell-mediated lysis of K-562 cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Congruence between allozyme and cytochrome b gene sequence data in assessing genetic differentiation within the Iberian endemic Chondrostoma lemmingii (Pisces: cyprinidae).

To understand further the fragmentation of the hydrographical basins and the processes of divergence and speciation of freshwater fishes of the Iberian Peninsula, 10 populations of the Iberian endemic cyprinid Chondrostoma lemmingii were studied using 26 loci encoding 19 enzymes and the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers showed complete congruence in assessing the genetic differentiation among the samples analysed. This congruence was supported by a Mantel test in which a significant correlation (r=0.89) between Nei's genetic distances and sequence divergence (uncorrected p distances) was obtained. Diagnostic loci, Nei's genetic distances, and FST values, as well as the percentage of sequence divergence indicate that the Duero basin population accumulates the highest level of genetic differentiation. A moderate divergence was also observed among populations of the rest of the basins. Phenetic and phylogenetic relationships support the hypothesis that the differentiation process was not only due to hydrographical basin isolation but also due to an ancient endorrheism event, previous to hydrographical configuration, that could explain the marked differentiation of the Duero basin population.

Animals↗