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Biomedical subjects

J Ferrer

Publications and source records attributed to J Ferrer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Molinate decontamination processes in effluent water from rice fields.

The performance of aeration, photodecomposition and biological degradation processes as methods to reduce molinate contamination levels in effluent water from rice fields was studied. Aeration produced a molinate dissipation of 84%, as against 22% without aeration. Application of UV-light to clean water solutions achieved a molinate photodecomposition of 96% in 24 h. Maximal degradation obtained in algal cultures was 55% in 20 days and 78% in 40 days. In micro-organism cultures, kept in darkness and with a continuous flow of aqueous solution of molinate and inorganic salts, a degradation of 97% was achieved.

Azepines↗
PubMed1992

Benign lymphocytic angiitis and granulomatosis: a T-cell lymphoma?

Benign lymphocytic angiitis and granulomatosis is a T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder confined to the lung and corresponding to a low-grade angiocentric immunoproliferative lesion. Controversy remains as to whether these lesions are lymphomas. We report such a case in an 8-year-old patient with Burkitt's lymphoma in remission who presented with persistent bronchopneumopathy and bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on tomodensitometry. Surgical resection revealed the histologic changes of benign lymphocytic angiitis and granulomatosis. Immunohistochemistry showed no aberrant pan T-cell marker loss. Genetic analysis of frozen tissue by Southern blot DNA hybridization with probes to T-cell receptor beta- and gamma-chain genes and to the immunoglobulin heavy chain joining region gene (JH) identified no clonal rearrangement. Search for Epstein-Barr virus-DNA sequences by in situ hybridization and Southern blot analysis provided negative results. Our data imply that lowgrade angiocentric immunoproliferative lesions are not exclusively lymphomas but might represent a borderline lymphoproliferative disease (seen in the course of many diseases), perhaps corresponding to host immune response.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗
PubMed1992

[The incidence of the inappropriate ADH secretion syndrome (SIADH) in major otorhinolaryngologic surgery].

There are few works dealing with the presentation of the inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in major ENT procedures. In this prospective study done by the AA., based in analytic data, they found out the presence of the syndrome in as many as 39 percent of those operations. Consequently the suggestion is made that major ENT-surgery must be considered among the potential factors of the syndrome.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

[Delayed nonspecific cutaneous hypersensitivity in extrinsic allergic alveolitis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].

BACKGROUND: A study of delayed nonspecific cutaneous hypersensitivity in extrinsic allergic alveolitis and in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. METHODS: 13 patients with extrinsic allergic alveolitis, 10 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 34 with sarcoidosis and a control group of 110 subjects without respiratory disease or apparent defects in cell immunity were evaluated. The skin tests of delayed hypersensitivity were carried out with five antigenic extracts (candidin, staphylococcal toxoid, tuberculin-PPD, trichophyllin, streptokinase-streptodornase). The reactions were read after 48 hours. Delayed nonspecific cutaneous hypersensitivity was globally calculated, both quantitatively (sum of the mean diameters) and quantitatively (overall average of positive reactions). RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the group of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the control group, nor between those with extrinsic allergic alveolitis and those with sarcoidosis. However, differences were found between the control group and the patients with extrinsic allergic alveolitis, both in the quantitative and the qualitative analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed nonspecific cutaneous hypersensitivity in extrinsic allergic alveolitis is depressed in a similar way as in sarcoidosis, whereas it appears to be preserved in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, extrinsic allergic alveolitis should be considered as another cause of reduction of delayed nonspecific cutaneous hypersensitivity as it is the case with sarcoidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Alternating sequential endocrine therapy: tamoxifen and medroxyprogesterone acetate versus tamoxifen in postmenopausal advanced breast cancer patients.

The effects of tamoxifen (TAM) versus the alternating sequential combination of TAM plus medroxy-progesterone acetate (MPA) has been evaluated in 20 postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer in a randomized controlled trial. In the TAM arm, patients received 20 mg b.i.d. of TAM. In the TAM-MPA arm, patients received only 20 mg b.i.d. of TAM for 7 days and, on the following 7 days. TAM plus an oral daily dose of 500 mg of MPA, in alternating sequence. Objective tumor reduction was achieved in 22 (41%) of the 54 patients in the TAM arm and in 25 (43%) of the 58 patients in the TAM-MPA arm. With regard to the stabilization of disease, a significant difference was observed between patients treated with the TAM-MPA combination and those treated with TAM alone (47% vs 22%). The percentage of nonresponders was also significantly higher in the TAM group (37%) than in the TAM-MPA group (10%). The time to progression was significantly shorter for the TAM arm than for the TAM-MPA arm (median, 7 vs 15 months), but the duration of remission was not significantly different for either treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Natural history of islet cell antibodies during the clinical period of type 1 diabetes. High titres at diagnosis are associated with longer persistence.

The natural history of islet cell antibodies (ICA), using standardized Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDF) units, was studied for two years in 64 type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetic patients, aged 7-45 years prospectively from clinical onset. While ICA were present among 44/64 (68.8%) of the newly diagnosed patients, only 9.3% remained positive at 24 months. The only factor which showed significant predictive value for ICA survival was high initial JDF ICA titres: Maximal persistence of ICA was observed in patients with 80 JDF units at diagnosis (100% at 12 and 24 month). This persistence was lower in patients with 40 JDF units at diagnosis (77% at 12 month, 40% at 24 month) and the lowest for patients with 5 JDF at diagnosis (14% at 12 month, 0% at 15 month). 14/20 (70%) of patients negative for the ICA test at diagnosis became positive during follow-up, but always with a low titre (5-10 JDF units) and for a short period (3-6 months). It is concluded that initial titre is the most important variable in predicting the maintenance of ICA during the first two years of clinical type 1 diabetes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Acute water intoxication after intranasal desmopressin in a patient with primary polydispsia.

Only a few cases of severe acute water intoxication (AWI) due to intranasal desmopressin have been reported, none of which occurred in patients with primary polydipsia. We describe a case of AWI with semicoma and convulsions, due to intranasal desmopressin, in a 32-year-old patient with dipsogenic diabetes insipidus. Previous reported cases of AWI due to desmopressin are discussed. The importance of ruling out primary polydipsia when this drug is used, not only for central diabetes insipidus but also for other current indications such as classic hemophilia, is stressed.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of clinical and hormonal effects in hirsute women treated with ketoconazole.

Seven hirsute women were treated with 200 mg/12 h po of ketoconazole during 6 months. We evaluated clinical and hormonal effects during this period. Ketoconazole treatment decreased testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, while 17-alfahydroxyprogesterone increased. This finding suggests a steroidogenic blockade at the level of C17-20 lyase. We did not observe changes in LH, SHBG and cortisol values. In spite of this findings after 6 months treatment, hirsutism remained unmodified. We conclude that ketoconazole inhibits androgen synthesis in hirsute women, but the use of this drug as an alternative and effective treatment of hirsutism warrants further evaluation.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1990

Human insulin dosage and distribution at the onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The total insulin dosage and its distribution throughout the day were evaluated in newly diagnosed Spanish IDDM patients treated with semisynthetic human insulin. We assessed the insulin dosage and its distribution modifications related to an inpatient versus outpatient setting. We compared our results with classical theoretical algorithms based on patients treated with animal insulin and with alimentary habits which differ from our geographical area. The initial total daily dose (0.68 +/- 0.27 U/kg per day) did not substantially differ from the usual recommended dose (0.70-0.80 U/kg per day). A substantial decrease in total insulin dose was observed in ambulatory patients (0.55 U/kg per day). The reduction in dosage when we substituted regular insulin for intermediate acting insulin was smaller than what is commonly advised. A very low proportion of patients needed to add extra regular insulin to the pre-dinner intermediate insulin dose to achieve acceptable glucose control. Moreover, in these cases regular insulin comprised only 10% of total daily dosage, a proportion clearly inferior to that recommended. The majority of this group of patients needing regular insulin plus intermediate insulin at pre-dinner were treated with human zinc insulin. Most of our patients were acceptably controlled with a regular insulin dose before breakfast and lunch and an intermediate dose before dinner. Finally, human insulin pharmacokinetics plus our Mediterranean alimentary habits might be the explanation to our findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

A functional vagotomy induced by unilateral forced right nostril breathing decreases intraocular pressure in open and closed angle glaucoma.

There is evidence of the central regulation of intraocular pressure, and it has been suggested that vagal tone might be increased in glaucoma simplex. The nasal cycle, the simultaneous congestion-decongestion response in the nasal cavities, reflects the dynamic lateralisation of the autonomic nervous system. Since this lateralisation presents with sympathetic activity induced by left brain hemisphere stimulation and parasympathetic activity induced by right hemisphere stimulation, it was subsequently demonstrated that forced unilateral nostril breathing induces selective contralateral hemispheric stimulation as measured by relative increases in the electroencephalographic amplitude in the contralateral hemisphere as well as alternating lateralisation of plasma catecholamines. Using this functional vagotomy, we report that left hemispheric stimulation by 20 minutes of forced unilateral right nostril breathing led to a significant bilateral decrease of 4.6 mmHg (25%) in intraocular pressure in 46 patients with open and closed angle glaucoma. However, it significantly increased the IOP in three patients with neovascular, one with juvenile onset, and one with closed angle glaucoma.

Adolescent↗