PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Blasco

Publications and source records attributed to M Blasco.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Modification of pepsinogen I levels and their correlation with gastrointestinal injury after administration of dexibuprofen, ibuprofen or diclofenac: a randomized, open-label, controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a 2-week treatment with dexibuprofen, in comparison with ibuprofen and diclofenac, on pepsinogen plasma concentrations and gastrointestinal mucosa, as well as the correlation of these changes with gastrointestinal mucosal injury. METHODS: 60 patients with rheumatologic disease in chronic therapy with NSAID, were included. After a 7-day run-in period patients were randomly assigned to receive a 14-day treatment with dexibuprofen (Group A; Day 1 - 3 = 400 mg t.i.d; Day 4 - 14 = 400 mg b.i.d.), ibuprofen (Group B; Day 1 - 3 = 800 mg t.i.d; Day 4 -14 = 800 mg b.i.d.) or diclofenac (Group C; Day 1 - 3 = 50 mg t.i.d; Day 4 - 14 = 50 mg b.i.d.). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (Day 15), capsule-endoscopy (Day 16, 7 patients of each group) and determination of pepsinogen plasma concentrations were performed (basal and Day 15). A semiquantitative scale was designed for the assessment of the gastrointestinal mucosa. RESULTS: No differences in plasma pepsinogen were found between treatment groups or gastrointestinal injury grades or between basal and post-therapy determinations. Dexibuprofen showed gastroduodenal mucosal injury in fewer patients (42.1%) than was the case with ibuprofen (5%; p = 0.003) and diclofenac (30%; p = N.S.). Dexibuprofen administration was also associated with more patients having no intestinal mucosal damage (42.86% vs. 28.7% in the diclofenac group and 14.29% in the ibuprofen group; p = 0.0175). The rate of clinical adverse events was similar in Groups A, B and C (28%, 38% and 34%). CONCLUSIONS: Dexibuprofen showed a lower rate of gastroduodenal and intestinal mucosal injury. This effect was not mediated by modifications of plasma pepsinogen levels.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

A measles outbreak in children under 15 months of age in La Rioja, Spain, 2005-2006.

This paper describes a measles outbreak in La Rioja, Spain, which began in December 2005 and mainly affected children under 15 months of age who were not yet immunised with MMR vaccine. The measles cases were detected by the mandatory reporting system, under which laboratories must report every confirmed measles case. Cases were classified in accordance with the National Measles Elimination Plan: suspected and laboratory-confirmed. In the period 14 December 2005 to 19 February 2006, 29 suspected cases of measles were investigated, and 18 were confirmed. The mean incubation period was 13.8 days (range: 9 to 18). Of the 18 confirmed cases, only two were in adults. MMR vaccination was recommended for all household contacts, as well as for children aged 6 to 14 months who attended the daycare centres where the cases had appeared. At these centres, the second dose of MMR was administered ahead of schedule for children under three years of age. It was recommended that the first dose of MMR vaccine be administered ahead of schedule for all children aged 9 to 14 months. During an outbreak of measles, children aged 6 months or older, who have not previously been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, should receive a first dose as soon as possible, and those who have had a first dose should receive a second dose as soon as possible, provided that a minimum of one month has elapsed between the two doses.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Mass transfer enhancement in supercritical fluids extraction by means of power ultrasound.

The use of high-intensity ultrasound represents an efficient manner of producing small scale agitation, enhancing mass transfer on supercritical fluids (SF) extraction processes. In this way, a supercritical CO(2) extraction of oil from particulate almonds using power ultrasound was studied. To examine the effect of the acoustic waves all experiments were performed with and without ultrasound. A power ultrasonic transducer for a working frequency of about 20 kHz was constructed and installed inside a high-pressure 5 l SF extractor. The experimental tests were carried out with CO(2) at 280 bar and 55 degrees C. Grounded almonds with an oil content of about 55%, in an amount of 1500 g were deposited inside the SF reactor where the solvent was introduced at a flow rate of 20 kg/h. The results show that the kinetics and the extraction yield of the oil were enhanced by 30% and 20% respectively, when a power of about 50 W was applied to the transducer. The average time of each extraction process was of about 8 h and 30 min. In addition, the transducer was also used as a sensitive probe capable to detect the phase behavior of supercritical fluids when it was driven with low power signals.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Sepsis and SOFA score: related outcome for critically ill renal patients.

AIMS: To evaluate the influence of sepsis in critically ill patients with acute renal failure (ARF), and to analyze the value of the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score for assessing the morbidity and related mortality of these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study developed in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care university hospital. Data were collected from January 1, 2001 - July 31, 2002. The inclusion criterion was either a creatinine plasma level > or = 2 mg/dl on ICU admission or increases > or = 30% from its initial value. Sepsis was evaluated at the time of study inclusion, and patients were distributed into 2 groups (septic and nonseptic patients). RESULTS: Two hundred patients with ARF were prospectively enrolled in the study (91 (45.5%) septic and 109 (54.5%) nonseptic patients). Median age was 68 years in septic patients and 72 in nonseptic ones while the percentage of males in both groups was 66% vs 69%, respectively. Septic patients showed more organ failures and more respiratory, cardiovascular and coagulation failures at the time of study admission as well as a worse mean SOFA score during the first 4 days after inclusion (p < 0.01). Mortality rate at the ICU was significantly higher in the septic group when compared to the nonseptic one (55% vs 19.3%, OR = 2.21 (1.65 - 2.97)). Using stepwise logistic regression, acute tubular necrosis and oliguria in septic patients as well as cardiovascular failure (evaluated by SOFA score) in nonseptic patients were identified as independent risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Septic and nonseptic ICU patients with ARF have an increased risk of ICU mortality depending on the type of organ failure. Although SOFA score does not predict outcome, it is a useful tool to categorize these patients and to describe a sequence of complications in critically ill patients.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2004

[Acute renal failure in critically ill patients. A prospective epidemiological study].

AIMS: To determine factors which may predict mortality in patients admitted to intensive care unit who present acute renal failure. METHODS: Prospective observational study of the patients admitted to a multidisciplinary intensive care unit over a year. The inclusion criteria were a creatinine plasmatic value > or = 2 mg/dl (177 micromol/l) or an increase (30% or higher) of its basal value on admittance. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-seven patients (age = 65.83 +/- 15.06 years; 38% male) with acute renal failure, were prospectively enrolled in the study (13% of intensive care unit admissions). The univariate analysis showed that hospital origin, acute tubular necrosis, late ARF, oliguria, maintained hypotension, sedation or coma, oncological disease and need of mechanical ventilation were significantly associated with mortality (p < 0.05). This association was also found for sepsis (OR: 41.5), multiorganic failure (OR: 3.58) and respiratory, cardiovascular or haematological failure according to the SOFA score. The multivariate analysis found that four clinical variables had an independent predictive value for mortality risk: acute tubular necrosis [OR: 4.57 (2.32-9.00)], use of vasoactive drugs [OR: 2.32 (1.22-4.40)], oliguria [OR: 2.15 (1.12-4.13)] and the acute renal failure starting during admission [OR: 2.06 (1.09-3.88)]. CONCLUSION: Data related to renal failure have worse prognosis than other demographic or clinical data in critically ill patients with acute renal failure. Multicentric studies with unified criteria are needed to analyse the most important prognostic factors.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2001

High frequency of constitutive alkali-labile sites in mouse major satellite DNA, detected by DNA breakage detection-fluorescence in situ hybridization.

DNA breakage detection-fluorescence in situ hybridization (DBD-FISH) is a new procedure for detecting and quantifying DNA breaks and alkali-labile sites in single cells. Cells trapped within an agarose matrix are deproteinized and treated with an alkaline unwinding solution that transforms DNA breaks and alkali-labile sites into single-strand DNA (ssDNA) motifs starting from the end of the break. These ssDNA motifs are susceptible to being hybridized with whole genome or specific DNA probes, and detected using current FISH procedures. As DNA breaks increase in a target region, more ssDNA is produced and more DNA probe hybridizes, thus increasing the FISH signal, which may be captured and analyzed using a digital image analysis system. This increase can be reflected in the surface area, mean and whole fluorescence intensity of the signal. When intact mouse splenocytes were processed with this technique using a whole genome probe, a very strong background signal was evident when compared with human blood leukocytes. In fact, when using 0.03M NaOH as the alkaline unwinding solution at 22 degrees C for 2.5min, the whole fluorescence intensity from mice cells was 50 times higher than that from human cells, thus suggesting the existence of a high frequency of constitutive alkali-labile sites in the DNA from mouse cells. Furthermore, when alkaline unwound mouse cells were simultaneously hybridized with the whole genome probe (FITC-revealed, green) and a major satellite DNA probe (Cy-3-labeled, red) both signals appeared co-localized. This result demonstrates that the high frequency of constitutive alkali-labile sites detected in the mouse genome is mainly located in the major satellite DNA sequences, resembling the findings from human 5bp classical satellite DNA sequences.

Alkalies↗
PubMed2001

Effects of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) oil extraction on the cell wall composition of almond fruits.

Extraction of oil from almond fruits using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) was carried out at 50 degrees C and 330 bar on three sets of almonds: raw almond seeds, raw almond kernels, and toasted almond seeds. Three different oil extraction percentages were applied on each set ranging from approximately 15 to 16%, from approximately 27 to 33%, and from approximately 49 to 64%. Although no major changes were detected in the fatty acid composition between fresh and partially defatted samples, carbohydrate analysis of partially defatted materials revealed important changes in cell wall polysaccharides from almond tissues. Thus, at low extraction percentages (up to approximately 33%), pectic polysaccharides and hemicellulosic xyloglucans were the main type of polymers affected, suggesting the modification of the cell wall matrix, although without breakage of the walls. Then, as supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) continues and higher extraction rates are achieved (up to approximately 64%), a major disruption of the cell wall occurred as indicated by the losses of all major types of cell wall polysaccharides, including cellulose. These results suggest that, under the conditions used for oil extraction using SC-CO(2), fatty acid chains are able to exit the cells through nonbroken walls; the modification of the pectin-hemicellulose network might have increased the porosity of the wall. However, as high pressure is being applied, there is a progressive breakage of the cell walls allowing the free transfer of the fatty acid chains from inside the cells. These findings might contribute to providing the basis for the optimization of SCFE procedures based on plant food sources.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed2000

Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Mycoplasma hominis.

Mycoplasma hominis endocarditis is extremely uncommon and difficult to diagnose. Atypical growth characteristics in routine bacterial culture and an inability to demonstrate the organism using Gram staining can lead to a delayed diagnosis of Mycoplasma hominis infections, and the organism is often missed. This report describes a patient with Mycoplasma hominis prosthetic valve endocarditis. The microorganism was recovered from the mitral prosthesis but was missed in blood cultures. This finding suggests that Mycoplasma hominis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of culture-negative endocarditis.

Endocarditis, Bacterial↗
PubMed1999

Longevity, stress response, and cancer in aging telomerase-deficient mice.

Telomere maintenance is thought to play a role in signaling cellular senescence; however, a link with organismal aging processes has not been established. The telomerase null mouse provides an opportunity to understand the effects associated with critical telomere shortening at the organismal level. We studied a variety of physiological processes in an aging cohort of mTR-/- mice. Loss of telomere function did not elicit a full spectrum of classical pathophysiological symptoms of aging. However, age-dependent telomere shortening and accompanying genetic instability were associated with shortened life span as well as a reduced capacity to respond to stresses such as wound healing and hematopoietic ablation. In addition, we found an increased incidence of spontaneous malignancies. These findings demonstrate a critical role for telomere length in the overall fitness, reserve, and well being of the aging organism.

Aging↗
PubMed1999

[UTIscreen versus UROQUICK: two semiautomatic systems for bacteriuria detection].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to find a rapid and reliable method for urine screen. With this purpose two semiautomatic systems have been evaluated: UTIscreen and UROQUICK. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have carried out a prospective study of a total 1,070 urine specimens from patients with suspected urinary infection. Each sample has been inoculated in the two semiautomatic systems and compared with the semiquantitative plate culture as the reference method. RESULTS: Both semiautomatic systems showed similar specificity and sensitivity at an interpretative breakpoint of 30,000 CFU/ml, with a low number of false positives. Uninfected specimens can be reported the same day of reception. CONCLUSIONS: Both UTIscreen and UROQUICK systems seem to be adequate for urinary tract infection screening. They are reliable and easy to perform, but in our particular case we find advantage in using UTIscreen because the faster reading of this system makes posible to report the negative results in the same morning of reception of the specimen and do the culture of all the positive samples during our usual working schedule.

Bacteriuria↗
PubMed1996

[Survival in patients with sick sinus syndrome and artificial pacemaker. Determining clinical factors].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis that ventricular pacing is the most important factor in the survival of patients with Sick Sinus Syndrome remains controversial. The aim of this report was to determine independent clinical variables to predict survival in paced SSS patients. METHODS: Retrospective, nonrandomized study of 153 patients with a mean age of 69 +/- 11 years, who received an initial pacemaker for Sick Sinus Syndrome between 1980 and 1994: 65 physiologic pacing (32 dual chamber, 33 atrial) and 88 ventricular pacing mode. After a maximum follow up of 177 months (median 57 months) the end point was total mortality. RESULTS: Total mortality was 21%. Using univariate analysis, single chamber ventricular pacing, age > or = 70 years and NYHA > or = 2, was associated with a higher risk for total mortality (4 times increased risk for ventricular pacing compared to other pacing modalities). Independent predictors using multivariate analysis were: 1) NYHA > or = 2 (p < 0.05). 2) Coronary artery disease (p < 0.01). 3) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p < 0.05) and 4) Gender (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality in patients with the Sick Sinus Syndrome is strongly predicted by preimplant baseline clinical variables. Our data indicate that the role of ventricular pacing mode remains inconclusive. A large, randomized study is necessary to confirm these results.

Age Factors↗