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J L Alonso

Publications and source records attributed to J L Alonso.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Polyneuropathy caused by parathion: clinical, electrophysiologic and histologic studies of a case].

A case of 38 year old man who worked with organochlorinated and Parathion during 5 years is reported. His follow-up was up to 2 years. The onset of the disease was characterized by cholinergic signs, headache, loss of weight, trembling, miokimias, fasciculations, ataxia, myotonic phenomena (in hands only) and motor sensitive peripheral polyneuropathy (affecting the lower limbs symmetrically). Low concentrations of blood cholinesterases confirmed the etiology. Myotonic phenomena disappeared spontaneously 6 months after the initial observation. One year later, the concentration of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase was found to be low and plasma cholinesterase was normal, suggesting that the patient was carrier of a congenital deficiency of acetylcholinesterase. In literature relationship between myotonia and intoxication due to organophosphorus was not found. The whole clinical picture, cholinergic symptoms, transitory phenomena and spontaneous motor activity could be explained by an excess of acetylcholine. Electromyography (EMG) in the first observation showed neuromuscular transmission blocking characterized by deficiency or absence of voluntary activity, unexcitability of fibular nerves, with fibrillations and positive peaks as described previously with Mipafox (another organophosphorus agent). During 2 years of observation numerous end-plates potentials of muscular fibres persisted in the EMG. A progressive increase in voluntary activity showed by unit motor potential of almost normal amplitude and very increased duration was observed. No potentials of reinnervation were noted. The results of EMG were explained as disturbances of neuromuscular transmission associated with moderate signs of denervation. The Eaton-Lambert's test and the stimulation of a single unit motor potential confirmed disorder of neuromuscular synapses. The histochemistry of brachial biceps showed scattered atrophic and angulated type I and II fibres. Teased-fibres preparations showed nerve fibres with B, C, and G alterations as defined by Dyck et al. indicating axonal degeneration. These results were according to velocity of sensitive conduction. The conduction velocity of fibular nerves was strongly delayed during all the evolution indicating serious disorders of motor nerves myelin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗

Immunochemistry of the Moloney MuLV gp71 molecule-1. Distribution of antigenic determinants on the products of digestion by Staphylococcus aureus protease.

The antigenic characterization of Moloney murine leukemia virus gp71 was carried out by cleavage with Staphylococcus aureus protease. The whole molecule and two fragments of 43,000 and 32,000 daltons were immunoprecipitated with monospecific anti-type, group and interspecies antiserum. The three native molecules were recognized by anti-type antibodies, but only the gp71 and the 32,000-dalton molecule seemed to retain group-specific antigenic determinants. No interspecies determinants were detected on the two products of digestion. A similar pattern of precipitation was found with SDS-denatured antigens. The results suggest that sequential structures contribute to the type-specific antigenic determinants, because they were not destroyed by SDS unfolding or by the change in the protein conformation that follows enzymatic cleavage. Interspecies determinants seem to be mainly conformational, since they disappeared from the whole molecule and the two peptides after the same treatment. Group-specific determinants appear to be intermediate: they disappeared after the conformational change on the native 43K but not on the 32K peptide and the monospecific anti-group antibody showed an intermediate ability to precipitate the SDS-unfolded antigens.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Boutonneuse fever.

Sixty children, aged between 2 and 10 years, had boutonneuse fever during the summer months of 1979 and 1980. They presented with fever and a generalised maculopapular rash. The tàche noire could be seen at the site of the tick bite in 38 (63%) of them. The antibody response, assayed nonspecifically, by the Weil-Felix reaction was positive in 52. A singe titre of more than 1:80 or a 4-fold increase between two paired specimens separated by a 7-day interval was considered diagnostic. Maximum titres were reached at the end of the second week of convalescence in 81% of patients. Treatment with oral oxytetracycline was effective in all cases.

Antibody Formation↗

[Myotubular myopathy: clinical, electrophysiological and histological study of a case].

A cases of myotubular myopathy in a 10 years old girl is reported. Clinically, palpebral ptosis, ocular movements limitation, facial diplegia, positivity of Gower's test, muscular hypotrophy distal, foot drop and deep absent reflexes were found. These signals were described by most of authors, besides symptoms referred, like partial urinary incontinency and frequent vomits. Reflexes H absents and teary in our patient were observed but were not described in the other cases of the literature. Routine laboratory tests were within normal limits; only aldolase was lightly elevated. In all muscles examined it was noted a spontaneous electromyographic activity with +- of 2,64 +/- 1,33 ms, 36,87 +/- 30,87 microV and 88,13 +/- 24,82 /s of frequency without characteristics of desenervation potentials of myoneural plates. The voluntary electromyographic activity was of myopathic pattern. A curve I/D made in the motor point of braquial biceps muscle was normal. The biopsy was made in the motor point of this muscle for histochemical, electron immunofluorescence and vital stain microscopy. The biopsy showed 35% of fibras with central nuclei, predominance and hypotrophy of type I fibres, in some of them there were not myofibrils in the central zone, and poor differentiation between the fibre types in oxidative enzymes reactions. The electron microscopy confirmed the histochemical studies. The direct immunofluorescence was positive in some fibres. The vital stain showed beaded subterminal motor fibres. The clinical, electromyographic and principally histological findings suggest a innervation congenital disorder of muscle fibres.

Child↗

Direct detection of thermotolerant campylobacters in chicken products by PCR and in situ hybridization.

We have evaluated the use of PCR and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques for the detection of thermotolerant campylobacters in naturally contaminated chicken products. 16S rRNA sequence data was used to design two specific primers and an oligonucleotide probe for PCR and FISH analyses, respectively. The PCR protocol amplified a 439-bp fragment corresponding to a portion of specific 16S RNA gene from thermotolerant campylobacters. The detection range of the PCR assay varied between 10 cells (after enrichment) to 10(2) cells per mL (without enrichment). FISH probes were able to identify thermotolerant Campylobacter species in 'spiked' and 'unspiked' naturally contaminated samples. PCR and FISH were performed on naturally contaminated samples and compared with the isolation of cells on selective media. The in situ hybridization technique was less sensitive than PCR, although its sensitivity of detection was increased considerably after 22 h of enrichment. These results confirm the usefulness of 16S rRNA-based techniques for the direct detection of campylobacters in food samples.

Animals↗

[Primary thymic lymphomas].

INTRODUCTION: Primary thymic lymphomas (PTLs) are uncommon, and their prognosis is linked with early treatment. A review is carried out of this disease in our hospital in order to determine the best diagnostic-therapeutic management for these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten LPTs--four Hodgkin's and six non-Hodgkin's (4 primary mediastinal B lymphomas [PMBLs] and 2 lymphoblastic T lymphomas [LTLs]--were reviewed. Most of the patients were females, with a mean age of 23 +/- 10 years. RESULTS: The initial diagnostic suspicion in the Hodgkin's lymphomas was thymoma in two cases and lymphoma in the other 2. All of them underwent surgery, including an intra-operative biopsy, which was completed with a thymectomy in the two in which thymoma was reported. They were treated with radio and chemotherapy. The response was partial in two cases, and treatment was completed with a bone marrow transplant (BMT) (one died and the other had active disease). The non-Hodgkin's lymphomas had large tumors and short evolution. All of them received surgery, with an intra-operative biopsy in four and a thymectomy in two. They were treated with chemotherapy, with associated radiotherapy in two. The response was total in three, with two recurring, who are in complete remission after a BMT. In the other three the response was partial. CONCLUSIONS: In a patient with thymic tumour with a preoperative or intraoperative study suspected of having a lymphoma, it is necessary to do a biopsy and not resective surgery, to avoid unnecessary resections and morbidity. PTLs are uncommon but aggressive, principally the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The main treatment is radio and chemotherapy, with associated bone marrow transplantation in selected cases.

Adolescent↗