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Biomedical subjects

L Dominguez

Publications and source records attributed to L Dominguez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Treatment of silica effluents: ultrafiltration or coagulation-decantation.

In the electronics industry, the preparation of silicon plates generates effluents that contain a great amount of colloidal silica. Two processes--decantation and ultrafiltration--are studied with in view the treatment of the effluents released by the firm Rockwood Electronic Materials. The feasibility of each of the two processes is studied separately and their operating parameters optimized. Both processes allow the recovery of a great proportion of the initial effluent (over 89%) as transparent and colorless water that can be reused at the start of a line. In view of the results and of the compared advantages and disadvantages of the two processes, ultrafiltration will be selected for the industrial unit.

Colloids↗
PubMed2001

Molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of Spanish animal and human Listeria monocytogenes isolates.

A total of 153 strains of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from different sources (72 from sheep, 12 from cattle, 18 from feedstuffs, and 51 from humans) in Spain from 1989 to 2000 were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The strains of L. monocytogenes displayed 55 pulsotypes. The 84 animal, 51 human, and 18 feedstuff strains displayed 31, 29, and 7 different pulsotypes, respectively, indicating a great genetic diversity among the Spanish L. monocytogenes isolates studied. L. monocytogenes isolates from clinical samples and feedstuffs consumed by the diseased animals were analyzed in 21 flocks. In most cases, clinical strains from different animals of the same flock had identical pulsotypes, confirming the existence of a listeriosis outbreak. L. monocytogenes strains with pulsotypes identical to those of clinical strains were isolated from silage, potatoes, and maize stalks. This is the first study wherein potatoes and maize stalks are epidemiologically linked with clinical listeriosis.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

"Be smart, be safe, be sure". The revised Pregnancy Prevention Program for women on isotretinoin.

OBJECTIVES: After studying the information in this article, the reader should be able to: 1. Describe the purpose of the pregnancy prevention program. 2. Discuss the five most common reasons for unintended pregnancy. 3. List the components of the expanded pregnancy prevention program. Preventing unintended pregnancy is currently an unsolved problem in the United States, especially among teens. However, successful programs to minimize unintended pregnancy do exist and can serve as a model for other efforts. One such program is the Pregnancy Prevention Program, for use when prescribing isotretinoin to women with childbearing potential. Isotretinoin is a known teratogen and is prescribed disproportionately to teens, who are at higher risk of unintended pregnancy. The program has shown impressive effectiveness despite these handicaps, but since exposure to isotretinoin is so harmful to the fetus and some women still become pregnant while taking the drug, the program has been revised to reduce the failure rate further.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed2000

The "boom and bust phenomenon": the hopes, dreams, and broken promises of the contraceptive revolution.

The "boom and bust phenomenon" is a pattern that has emerged in the development, introduction, and delivery of a number of significant new contraceptive products in the United States. When a new contraceptive product is introduced with great promise and publicity, it usually experiences a "boom" during which sales, demand, and expectations are high. This boom is often followed by a "bust" phase during which a product does not live up to expectations, initial excitement falls off, and a drop in sales and use ensues. The boom and bust phenomenon goes to the heart of what some have referred to as the failed promise of the contraception revolution by creating obstacles to significant expansion of contraceptive choice in the United States. Case studies of oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, and Norplant(R) are used to illustrate the boom and bust phenomenon and the effect it has had in shaping the direction of advances in contraceptive technology.

Consumer Behavior↗
PubMed2000

Epidemiology and ecology of enterococci, with special reference to antibiotic resistant strains, in animals, humans and the environment. Example of an ongoing project within the European research programme.

The objectives of the present study are to generate knowledge of the ecology and epidemiology of enterococci in the food chain by studying the following: (1) the population structure (in measures of abundance, number of vancomycin resistant strains, antibiotic resistance patterns, diversity, and stability) among enterococcal populations in different geographical regions and in different links of the food chain (2) possible transmission of strains through the food chain and between hospital environments and the food chain (3) the association between vancomycin resistance and individual strains of enterococci and (4) the diversity of the drug resistance genes in enterococci. So far, 1578 samples have been collected from different countries within the EU (Sweden, Denmark, UK and Spain), and from different habitats (pig farms, carcasses in slaughter houses, soil, manure, water, sewage, and humans). Total and vancomycin resistant enterococcal populations in each sample have been enumerated and more than 12000 isolates have been characterised by phenotyping. Representative isolates are further species identified and characterised by genotyping and MIC determination and from antibiotic resistant isolates the resistance genes are characterised.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

An evaluation of the impact of training Honduran health care providers in interpersonal communication.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of interpersonal communication (IPC) training on practice and patient satisfaction and to determine the acceptability of this training to providers in a developing country. DESIGN: The study used a pre-post design with treatment and control groups. Data collection methods included interaction analysis of audio-taped clinical encounters, patient exit interviews, and a self-administered questionnaire for health providers. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Interaction analysis was based on an experimental group of 24 doctors and a control group of eight with multiple observations for each provider). Exit interviews were carried out with 220 pre-test patients and 218 post-test patients. All 87 health providers who received training responded to the self-administered questionnaire. INTERVENTION: A brief in-service training programme on interpersonal communications was presented in three half-day sessions; these focused on overall socio-emotional communication, problem solving skills and counselling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: The IPC intervention was associated with more communication by trained providers (mean scores of 136.6 versus 94.4; P = 0.001), more positive talk (15.93 versus 7.99; P = 0.001), less negative talk (0.11 versus 0.59; P = 0.018), more emotional talk (15.7 versus 5.5; P = 0.021), and more medical counselling (17.3 versus 11.3; P = 0.026). Patients responded by communicating more (mean scores of 113.8 versus 79.6; P = 0.011) and disclosing more medical information (54.7 versus 41.7; P = 0.002). Patient satisfaction ratings were higher for providers who had received the training and providers reported training to be relevant and useful. CONCLUSIONS: Further validation of IPC skills and simplification of assessment methods are needed if IPC is to be an area for routine monitoring and quality improvement.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1999

Helcococcus ovis sp. nov., a gram-positive organism from sheep.

Two strains of a hitherto undescribed Gram-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic coccus isolated from sheep were characterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that the unknown strains were genealogically highly related and constitute a new line close to, but distinct from, Helcococcus kunzii. The unknown bacterium was readily distinguished from H. kunzii by biochemical tests and electrophoretic analysis of whole-cell proteins. Based on phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified as Helcococcus ovis sp. nov. The type strain of Helcococcus ovis is CCUG 37441T.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Treating vaginitis.

Vaginitis resulting from bacterial, fungal, or protozoal infections can be associated with altered vaginal discharge, odor, pruritus, vulvovaginal irritation, dysuria, or dyspareunia, depending on the type of infection. Bacterial vaginosis, which is primarily characterized by a malodorous discharge, is common in women with multiple sex partners and is caused by the overgrowth of several facultative and anaerobic bacterial species. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is characterized by pruritus and a cottage cheese-like discharge. Vaginal trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease caused by an anaerobic protozoan parasite, is associated with a copious yellow or green, sometimes frothy, discharge. Differential diagnosis of these infections requires a thorough history, vulvovaginal examination, and simple laboratory tests, including microscopy of the vaginal discharge. The information obtained from this workup should enable an accurate diagnosis. Topical or oral metronidazole is the treatment of choice for bacterial vaginosis; terconazole, or other antifungals, for vulvovaginal candidiasis; and oral metronidazole for trichomoniasis.

Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal↗
PubMed1998

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase regulation of T cell receptor-mediated interleukin-2 gene expression in normal T cells.

Phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase has been implicated in T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, either as a positive or a negative regulatory molecule. Here, we show that for normal mouse lymph node T cells, PI 3-kinase activity is required for interleukin-2 (IL-2) production following TCR-mediated activation. Furthermore, in normal T cells, inhibition of PI 3-kinase prevented activation of enzymes in the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling pathway (MEK-1 and ERK-2). Overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of PI 3-kinase and pharmacological inhibitors of PI 3-kinase prevented transcriptional activation of AP-1 and NF-AT, transcription factors regulated by ERK-2 and pivotal for IL-2 gene expression. Although a constitutively active form of Akt kinase, a downstream mediator of PI 3-kinase function, enhanced TCR-induced IL-2 gene transcription, it could not bypass the requirement for PI 3-kinase activity. Therefore, PI 3-kinase is likely to be involved in signaling for IL-2 production in at least two steps in the TCR-initiated signaling pathway.

Androstadienes↗
PubMed1998

Ribotyping and plasmid profiling of Yersinia ruckeri.

A total of 183 strains of Yersinia ruckeri, isolated from a wide variety of sources, were studied with respect to their plasmid profile and ribotype patterns. Eight plasmid profiles and 11 ribotypes were demonstrated, with one profile being predominant by both typing methods. The results suggest a clonal structure for this species, with a predominant clone being responsible for most of the outbreaks worldwide. The results of a long-time survey in several fish farms in Spain and Denmark seem to support this idea.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1997

Penetration of Listeria monocytogenes in mice infected by the oral route.

In this study, it is suggested that the Peyer's patches are the most important point of entry of Listeria monocytogenes in the host after subclinical infection by the oral route. Microbiological, histopathological and ultrastructural evidence of infection was obtained in mice inoculated with a sublethal dose of 10(9) cfu. No mortality was observed. L. monocytogenes was isolated from the mesenteric lymph nodes from 6 hours post infection (hpi) through day 7 p.i. and from the liver and spleen from 24 h p.i. until days 5 and 7 p.i. respectively. Lesions were mainly restricted to the dome area of Peyer's patches and consisted of a purulent to pyogranulomatous inflammatory reaction. Scarce and minor lesions were also observed in the mesenteric lymph nodes and liver. L. monocytogenes was detected by immunohistochemistry in the Peyer's patches from 12 h p. i. to day 6 p.i. Ultrastructural study of Peyer's patches showed that the majority of Listeria cells were free within the cytoplasm of neutrophils and macrophages, not surrounded by a phagosomal membrane, and some of them were dividing.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The insertion element IS 6110 is a useful tool for DNA fingerprinting of Mycobacterium bovis isolates from cattle and goats in Spain.

A total of 129 Mycobacterium bovis strains from 5 different Spanish locations were fingerprinted using the IS6110 repetitive element. We demonstrated the presence of multiple copies (from 2 to 13) of IS6110 in a large proportion (47.4%) of the M.bovis strains isolated from cattle and we showed that these strains can be successfully differentiated by means of the RFLP with IS6110. All of the M. bovis strains isolated from goats had multiple copies of IS6110 and 4 bands of 2, 1.7, 1.4 and 1.3 kb were common in all the caprine RFLP patterns. The caprine strains formed a clearly separate cluster from the bovine strains.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Corynebacterium mastitidis sp. nov., isolated from milk of sheep with subclinical mastitis.

Fourteen strains of a hitherto unknown catalase-positive, aerobic, gram-positive coryneformlike organism were isolated from the milk of sheep with subclinical mastitis from different regions of Spain. The strains phenotypically closely resembled one another and biochemically were similar to Corynebacterium urealyticum and Corynebacterium afermentans subsp. lipophilum. The results of chemotaxonomic investigations were consistent with membership in the genus Corynebacterium, and comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies showed that the unknown bacterium from sheep was indeed a member of the genus Corynebacterium. Within the genus Corynebacterium the new bacterium formed a distinct subline that exhibited > 4% sequence divergence with other species. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic findings, a new species, Corynebacterium mastitidis, is proposed for the organisms from mastitic sheep. The type strain of C. mastitidis is CECT 4843 (= S-8).

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Lack of a role for Jun kinase and AP-1 in Fas-induced apoptosis.

Cross-linking of Fas (CD95) induces apoptosis, a response that has been reported to depend upon the Ras activation pathway. Since many examples of apoptosis have been reported to involve AP-1 and/or the AP-1-activation pathway. Since many examples of apoptosis have been reported to involve AP-1 and/or the AP-1-activating enzyme Jun kinase (JNK), downstream effectors of Ras or Ras-like small GTP-binding proteins, we evaluated the role of these molecules in Fas-mediated apoptosis. Although cross-linking of Fas on Jurkat T cells did result in JNK activation, increased activity was observed relatively late, being detectable only after 60 min of stimulation. Expression of a dominant negative form of SEK1 that blocked Fas-mediated induction of JNK activity had no effect on Fas-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, maximally effective concentrations of anti-Fas did not cause JNK activation if apoptosis was blocked by a cysteine protease inhibitor, suggesting that under these conditions, activation of JNK may be secondary to the stress of apoptosis rather than a direct result of Fas engagement. Despite the activation of JNK, there was no induction of AP-1 activity as determined by gel shift assay or induction of an AP-1-responsive reporter. The lack of a requirement for AP-1 induction in Fas-mediated death was further substantiated with Jurkat cells that were stably transfected with a dominant negative cJun, TAM-67. While TAM-67 effectively prevented AP-1-dependent transcription of both the interleukin-2 and cJun genes, it had no effect on Fas-induced cell death, even at limiting levels of Fas signaling. Thus, induction of JNK activity in Jurkat cells by ligation of Fas at levels sufficient to cause cell death is likely a result, rather than a cause, of the apoptotic response, and AP-1 function is not required for Fas-induced apoptosis.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗
PubMed1996

Sanguibacter inulinus sp. nov.

Six strains of coryneform bacteria were isolated from blood samples obtained from healthy cows. Phenotypic and molecular genetic studies showed that these isolates represent a new species of the genus Sanguibacter, for which the name Sanguibacter inulinus is proposed. The type strain of S. inulinus is strain ST-50 (= NCFB 3024).

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1996

Compartment syndrome with severe rhabdomyolysis in the postoperative period following major vascular surgery.

We report a case of compartment syndrome with marked rhabdomyolysis in the immediate postoperative period following major vascular surgery. Early and aggressive treatment, based on intravenous fluids, sodium bicarbonate, mannitol and fasciotomy, resulted in satisfactory management of the patient and prevented the onset of severe complications, such as acute renal failure in a patient who presented several factors that predisposed him to this disorder.

Compartment Syndromes↗