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L Nieto

Publications and source records attributed to L Nieto.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Airway inflammation and cough sensitivity in cough-variant asthma.

BACKGROUND: Mechanisms underlying cough and bronchoconstriction in patients with cough-variant asthma (CVA) are not well established. Differences in location or degree of activation of eosinophils and allergic cytokines have been suggested as the likely causes. To address this issue, we have carried out a comparative study of airway inflammatory markers between patients with CVA and classic asthma (CA). The relationship between these markers with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and cough sensitivity has also been studied. METHODS: Twenty-seven non-smokers and steroid-naive patients with CVA (12) and CA (15) were examined. Capsaicin challenge, histamine bronchoprovocation test, nitric oxide levels in exhaled air and sputum induction were performed in all of them. Differential cell sputum recount and supernatant concentrations of eosinophil granule-derived cationic proteins (ECP), interleukin (IL)5, IL8 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were also measured. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in either the inflammatory pattern of soluble markers or differential cell counts between CA and CVA. Histamine PC20 was correlated with IL-5 in CVA, whereas it was associated with sputum eosinophilia in CA. Cough sensitivity (log C5) and histamine PC20 were inversely related in CA. CONCLUSIONS: Although the pattern of inflammatory sputum markers in patients with asthma and cough-variant asthma is similar, its relation with bronchial hyperreactivity and cough sensitivity is different in each group.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Cough reflex testing with inhaled capsaicin in the study of chronic cough.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the utility of capsaicin test in the differential diagnosis of non-productive causes of chronic cough and to examine the effects of treatment on this reflex. PARTICIPANTS: 86 healthy volunteers and 101 patients with chronic cough: asthma (n: 54) gastroesophageal reflux (n: 35) and post-nasal drip syndrome (n: 12). DESIGN: Prospective intervention trial. Spirometry, bronchoprovocation test with histamine (PC20), and cough challenge with ascending concentrations of capsaicin (0.49-500 microM) were initially performed in all subjects. Patients were treated for 3 months according to the origin of the cough. Concentrations that elicited two (C2) and five or more coughs (C5) were determined before and after treatment. RESULTS: In healthy subjects, cough sensitivity to capsaicin was not influenced by gender or smoking status; however, women with chronic cough were more sensitive to cough challenge than men. C2 and C5 were significantly lower in patients with asthma or gastroesophageal reflux than in post-nasal drip syndrome. No significant correlation was observed between the capsaicin cough threshold and PC20. Cough sensitivity did not improve significantly in most patients with asthma or gastroesophageal reflux despite adequate medical treatment during 3 months. Discriminative value of capsaicin test to differentiate healthy subjects from patients with asthma or reflux was poor. CONCLUSIONS: Cough sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin is a safe and reproducible tool in the study of chronic cough. However, its usefulness for the management and differential diagnosis is limited.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1985

Beneficial effect of vegetable protein diet supplemented with psyllium plantago in patients with hepatic encephalopathy and diabetes mellitus.

A controlled crossover study was performed in 8 diabetic patients with chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy. After a basal period the patients were treated during periods A and B. During period A, a meat protein diet (0.8 g/kg body wt, approximately 1800 kcal/day) was consumed and neomycin plus laxatives were given. During period B patients received vegetable protein (0.8 g/kg body wt, 1800 kcal/day). This diet was supplemented with psyllium fiber to reach 35 g of fiber per day. Four patients were randomly assigned to receive the treatments in the order A-B and the other 4 patients in the order B-A. At the end of the first experimental period, fasting glucose levels were 204 +/- 86 mg% in the meat protein diet group and 127 +/- 8 mg% in the vegetable protein diet group (p less than 0.014). The patients were receiving 2.5 +/- 0.2 g/day and 2.1 +/- 0.5 g/day of tolbutamide at the end of the meat protein diet and vegetable protein diet, respectively. In all cases, fasting glucose levels decreased at the end of the vegetable diet period regardless of the previous treatment. An improvement of greater than or equal to 25 mg% of fasting glucose levels was observed in 7 of the 8 patients after the vegetable protein diet and in no case after the meat protein diet (p less than 0.0078). The parameters of encephalopathy were comparable at the end of both the meat protein diet and the vegetable protein diet. A significant increase in the number of bowel movements was noticed after the vegetable diet plus fiber (p less than 0.01). We propose the use of vegetable diet plus fiber to facilitate the treatment of patients with both diabetes and hepatic encephalopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Suprahypophyseal dysfunction in a patient with asexual ateleiosis.

The neuroendocrine function of a 19 years old female dwarf with primary amenorrhoea and lack of sexual development (asexual ateleiosis) was studied. Undetectable fasting plasma levels of growth hormone (GH) and a lack of response to three different provocative stimuli was observed. Oestrogen administratin did not modify the GH response. Thyroid and adrenal function were within normal limits. Undetectable plasma levels of immunoreactive oestradiol and lack of oestrogenic activity in vaginal smears indicated absence of ovarian function. Low levels of circulating gonadotrophins with a significant rise after synthetic LH-RH administration was demonstrated, while clomiphene citrate failed to induce ovulation. Following 6 months of continuous GH administration a significant increase in the growth rate was evident, whereas no pubertal development was observed. These data are interpreted as demonstrating the suprahypophyseal origin of the sexual infantilism in a patient with inappropriate GH secretion. It is suggested that a combined deficiency of LH-RH and GH-RH may account for the aetiology of this disorder.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Percutaneous splenoportogammagraphy in the study of patients with portal hypertension].

Percutaneous esplenoportogammagraphy in 28 patients with portal hypertension, was carried out; in three patients studies were done before and after a derivative operation; in nine only after operation for portal hypertension and thirteen patients were not surgically treated. Hepatic maximal opacification was obtained in 4.35 seconds. In the operated patients the tecnesium reached right cardiac chambers in 2.91 seconds. In three of the thirteen patients with the test, there were intrahepatic circulatory pattern changes, average spleen-liver was 6 seconds and spleen-heart, 7 seconds, that is, esplenoportal perfussion was poor. In all the operated patients the decreased circulation time spleen-heart and the typical image showed anastomosis permeability.

Humans↗