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Biomedical subjects

J Gómez

Publications and source records attributed to J Gómez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) circulates as a population of different but closely related genomes: quasispecies nature of HCV genome distribution.

Sequencing of multiple recombinant clones generated from polymerase chain reaction-amplified products demonstrated that the degree of heterogeneity of two well-conserved regions of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome within individual plasma samples from a single patient was consistent with a quasispecies structure of HCV genomic RNA. About half of circulating RNA molecules were identical, while the remaining consisted of a spectrum of mutants differing from each other in one to four nucleotides. Mutant sequence diversity ranged from silent mutations to appearance of in-frame stop codons and included both conservative and nonconservative amino acid substitutions. From the relative proportion of essentially defective sequences, we estimated that most circulating particles should contain defective genomes. These observations might have important implications in the physiopathology of HCV infection and underline the need for a population-based approach when one is analyzing HCV genomes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

RNA binding characteristics of a 16 kDa glycine-rich protein from maize.

We have previously described a developmentally regulated mRNA in maize that accumulates in mature embryos and is involved in a variety of stress responses in the plant. The sequence of the encoded 16 kDa protein (MA16) predicts that it is an RNA-binding protein, since it possesses a ribonucleoprotein consensus sequence-type RNA-binding domain (CS-RBD). To assess the predicted RNA binding property of the protein and as a starting point to characterize its function we have used ribohomopolymer-binding assays. Here we show that the MA16-encoded protein binds preferentially to uridine- and guanosine-rich RNAs. In light of these results a likely role for this protein in RNA metabolism during late embryogenesis and in the stress response is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

[Treatment with somatostatin of pancreatic ascites].

Pancreatic ascites is an entity defined as amylase levels up to 1.000 U/l in ascitic liquid. Frequently, it is secondary to a rupture of pancreatic ductus or pseudocyst and foreward communication to peritoneal space. We present a male diagnosed of calcified alcoholic chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic ascites secondary to a pseudocyst. Combination of parenteral nutrition and sintetic cyclic somatostatin was efficient. It would act by reducing pancreatic secretion in a long-term manner, which is the final purpose of the treatment. This association would be considered as a former tool in ascitic pancreatic patients, evacuatory punction or delayed surgery been relegated to a conservatory treatment failure or when primary pathology indicate it.

Ascites↗
PubMed1992

[Infections in the diabetic. Comparative study of infections in the foot and other locations].

Given the high morbi-mortality of foot infections among the diabetics and the poor knowledge of their predictive, clinical and evolutive factors, we have retrospectively studied a group of patients with these characteristics, comparing them with infections among diabetics affecting other locations. We studied 66 infections among diabetics: 34 patients with diabetic's foot and 32 with infections at other locations: 20 pyelonephritis and 12 pneumonias. Medical records were obtained in all cases and all patients underwent a complete physical exploration in order to assess their risk factors. We observed as a significant predictive factor of diabetic's foot, diabetes type I, with an evolution longer than 10 years, neuropathy, vasculopathy or retinopathy. From the clinical point of view and compared with the other infections, these patients showed longer hospitalization, greater initial clinical severity, glucemias higher than 200 mgr/l., anemia and high GSR. Ethiologically, the infection of diabetic's foot was polymicrobian in 42.3% of all cases, being S. aureus the microorganism more frequently isolated. On the contrary, in infections at other locations, monomicrobian flora was more frequent, being E. coli the most frequent in pyelonephritis and S. pneumoniae in pneumonias. The evolution was satisfactory in all cases, with a close medical and surgical combined treatment and the appropriate use of antibiotic combinations, mainly clindamicine + tobramicine in the diabetic's foot and cefuroxime in the other locations.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1992

[The suicide phenomenon and fermentative metabolic activity in strains of the Aeromonas group isolated from feces].

We study the "suicide" phenomena as well as metabolic pathways of mixed acids (methyl red test, MR) and butylene glycol (Voges-Proskauer, VP), in 107 strains belonging to mesophilic Aeromonas group, isolated from stools. The strains have been identified as A. hydrophila, 28 cases (26.1%), A. sobria 26 cases (24.3%) and A. caviae 53 cases (49.6%). All A. caviae strains behave homogeneously as F+, RM+ and VP-, independently of temperature (30 or 37 degrees C). A. hydrophila strains only showed their trend to "suicide" at 37 degrees C, being this behavior linked to RM test positivity. At 30 degrees C all strains were NS and RM-, keeping always positive the VP test (both temperatures). In A. sobria we have recorded changes in their behavior related to the temperature of incubation. At 37 degrees C, 57.7% were NS, whereas at 30 degrees C, 69.2% showed the same phenotype. The metabolic activity had remained stable, therefore F+ strains were VP and RM+, and NS strains were VP+ and RM-. It seems that FS is a phenotypic behavior of this bacterial group species and temperature-dependent, and also is related to a fermentative metabolic activity modulation of each of them.

Aeromonas↗
PubMed1992

Immunogold identification of prolactin cells of goats in anoestrus, pregnancy and milk production: ultrastructural variations.

Prolactin (PRL) cells of the goat adenohypophysis have been identified by the IgG-gold procedure with anti-sheep PRL serum. The secretion of these cells show differences in size and labelling in the three reproductive stages under study. Cells containing PRL can be grouped into low secretory activity cells (PRL-I) and high secretory activity cells (PRL-II) regarding their ultrastructure and functional significance. PRL-I were the most frequent cells in animals at the anoestrus stage, presenting numerous secretory granules and scarce development of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and Golgi complex (GC). At anoestrus and pregnancy stages there are frequent granule fusions, and the hormonal content partially disappears, perhaps by digestion. PRL-II cells were the most numerous at the lactating stage, presenting a moderate number of secretory granules and well-developed GC and RER. Some PRL-II cells of lactating animals exhibiting scarce granules and numerous exocytosis suggesting a high secretory activity. In both anoestrus and pregnancy stages most granules range in diameter from 450 to 750 nm, in contrast to the lactating stage in which most granules range in diameter from 150 to 450 nm.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Cerebral abscess in a general hospital. Analysis of 66 consecutive cases].

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the epidemiologic characteristics of cerebral abscesses and comparison with 2 therapeutic schedules. METHODS: The clinical history of 66 patients with cerebral abscesses admitted over 14 years in the Neurosurgical Ward of the Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia were reviewed. Two therapeutic groups were designed of 33 and 31 patients respectively treated with classical or modern schedules and clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: Infections in the ORL area, craneoencephalic trauma, and brain surgery were the predisposing factors in 63% of the cases. The most frequent symptoms were migraine, fever, and alteration of consciousness in 75, 68 and 68% respectively. The most frequent locations were the temporal (36%), parietal (26%) and frontal lobes (23%). Microbiological studies were positive in 75% of the patients with the most frequent microorganisms being group A Streptococcus, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and anaerobes. Mortality was 14%. Twenty-two percent of the patients had neurological sequelae. The rate of mortality was significantly associated to age greater than 40 years, fatal underlying disease, coma, initial clinical criteria and inadequate antibiotic treatment. The combination of cephotaxime-metronidazole was significantly associated to greater cure in comparison with the classical antibiotic combination although no significant differences were found in either the rate of mortality or relapse. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of cephotaxime-metronidazole may constitute an interesting advance in the treatment of these processes. The epidemiological data obtained confirm those of larger series.

Abscess↗
PubMed1991

[Enterococcus faecalis bacteremia].

BACKGROUND: This study was prompted by the increasing role of E. faecalis in hospital acquired infections, their morbidity and mortality and the development of resistances. The aim of the study was to define the epidemiological features, the predictive factors of bacteremia and the mortality prognosis in a group of patients with E. faecalis bacteremia. METHODS: The clinical and epidemiological features on admission, after 3 days and one week of therapy and one month after therapy were evaluated in 57 cases of true E. faecalis bacteremia. The effectiveness of therapy was assessed by the rate of clinical and microbiological cures, deaths and survivals. RESULTS: The incidence of E. faecalis bacteremia was 5.9%. 78% of them were hospital acquired, with unknown source in 31%. Generally, they developed in surgical services and usually the patients had received antibiotic treatment or instrumentation. 63% of bacteremias were monomicrobial. Male sex, hospitalization (particularly in surgical or intensive care services), underlying disease of rapidly fatal prognosis, the previous use of third generation cephalosporins and/or ciprofloxacin, and previous instrumentation or surgery were found to be predictive factors of bacteremia. On the other hand, underlying disease with rapidly fatal prognosis, with initial poor or critical clinical condition, the previous use of wide spectrum antibiotics, polymicrobial bacteremia, and the presence of leukocytosis or complications were significantly associated with a higher mortality. The resistance rates ranged between 42% to kanamycin and 1% to amikacin. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the results, a better knowledge of the predictive and prognostic factors of E. faecalis bacteremia is required for prevention and treatment.

Enterococcus faecalis↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of the abscisic acid-responsive gene rab28 in maize viviparous mutants.

We have isolated a new maize gene, rab28, that responds to abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. This gene has been characterized by determining the sequence of the cDNA and corresponding genomic copy, and by mapping the start site of its transcript. The rab 28 gene encodes a protein of predicted molecular weight 27713 Da which shows strong homology with the Lea D-34 protein identified in cotton. The proximal promoter region contains the conserved ABA-response element, CACGTGG, reported in other plant genes to be responsible for ABA induction. rab 28 mRNA has been identified as ABA-inducible in embryos and young leaves. It is also induced by water-stress in leaves of wild-type plants. Regulation of the rab 28 gene was studied in maize viviparous mutants. The results obtained with the ABA-insensitive vp1 mutant show that rab 28 transcripts do not accumulate to a significant level during embryogenesis. Surprisingly, induction of rab 28 mRNA can be achieved in young embryos by exogenous ABA treatment. Moreover, water-stressed or ABA-treated seedlings of vp1 contain significant levels of rab 28 mRNA which is not detectable in well-watered seedlings. Regulation of the rab 28 gene in excised young embryos of ABA-deficient vp2 mutants, in which influences of the maternal environment are absent, closely resembles that found in non-mutant excised young embryos. The significance of these results is discussed.

Abscisic Acid↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of the efficacy of three different treatments with imipenem versus the classical clindamycin plus tobramycin in experimental peritonitis.

This study compares the efficacy of three different treatment modalities of imipenem/cilastatin and the conventional clindamycin plus tobramycin in an experimental model of intra-abdominal sepsis. 145 Wistar rats were used. 40 served as control and 105 as study groups. A capsule with 0.5 ml of inoculum was surgically implanted in the peritoneal cavity. The inoculum was prepared from human feces of healthy volunteers, with a composition of E. coli 10(6), E. faecalis 10(6), B. fragilis, Clostridium sp 10(5) to 10(6) and anaerobic streptococci 10(5) to 10(6). Eighty animals were treated with imipenem/cilastatin and divided in 3 subgroups: "short pretreatment"--29 animals treated 1 hour prior to surgery and 3 days after; "short"--26 animals starting treatment 2 hours post-surgery and continuing it for 3 days; and "long"--25 animals treated for 10 days, starting 2 hours post-surgery. 25 animals received clindamycin plus tobramycin for 10 days. Mortality and the presence of visceral and peritoneal abscesses were the endpoints of the study. The control group had 100% mortality. There were no statistically significant differences among the treated groups although lower mortality was obtained with "short pretreatment" and "long" treatment with imipenem. The presence of abscesses were statistically significant between the imipenem and the combination group. In the imipenem groups, the "short pretreatment" and the long treatment had fewer abscesses than the short one. We conclude that imipenem may be a good alternative monotherapy to conventional therapy with clindamycin plus tobramycin. The "short pretreatment" seemed as good as the long one and better than the short treatment.

Abscess↗
PubMed1991

[Teicoplanin versus cloxacillin, cloxacillin-gentamycin and vancomycin in the treatment of experimental endocarditis caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus].

Thirty-three rabbits, (12 in the control group and 21 treated, 5 with teicoplanin, vancomycin and cloxacillin-gentamycin and 6 with cloxacillin alone) with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) experimentally induced endocarditis were studied to evaluate the efficacy of teicoplanin and its comparison with cloxacillin, vancomycin and cloxacillin-gentamycin. The rabbits were treated during three days. Mortality, blood cultures at 48 and 72 hours and the number of colonies forming units per gram of vegetation were then evaluated. There was statistically significantly differences between the control group and the 4 treated groups in respect of mortality (p less than 0.001), and blood culture's negativity at 48 and 72 hours (p less than 0.001), but not among the various groups of treatments. The CFU number of the vegetations were also significantly different between control and treatment groups (p less than 0.001). Cloxacillin and the combination cloxacillin-gentamycin lowered the CFU number more than teicoplanin and vancomycin (p less than 0.005). These results, allowed us to conclude than teicoplanin may be used as an alternative of standard treatments in infective endocarditis due to MSSA.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Detection of strains of E. coli producing STa toxin in the feces of patients with diarrhea using a competitive ELISA system].

We evaluate the presence of heat-stable STa toxin producers E. coli strains from stools of patients with acute diarrhoea. As detection method, we used a commercially-available enzyme-linked competitive assay (ELISA). Over a three months period, 279 E. coli strains were analyzed. Only two (0.71%) were STa toxin producers. Both isolates are from pediatric cases (2 and 4 years of age), without any epidemiologic relationship between them. Therefore, we conclude that this infection could be considered as a non-epidemic community-acquired diarrhoeal disease.

Acute Disease↗