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Biomedical subjects

M Carreras

Publications and source records attributed to M Carreras.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Evolution of salmonella aortitis towards the formation of abdominal aneurysm.

We present a case of salmonella aortitis with necrosis of the arterial wall and its evolution to the formation of an abdominal aneurysm over a 6-day period. Computed tomography was performed before and after the development of a mycotic aneurysm. Presurgical aortography was also performed. The findings obtained give a dynamic concept to this pathology and show its rapid evolution in a short period of time.

Aneurysm, Infected↗
PubMed1997

Prognosis of childhood epilepsy: a community-based study in Copparo, Italy.

We performed a community-based study among children and adolescents with idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy and onset of the seizures between 0 and 19 years of age on the prognosis of being seizure-free. The study population was recruited during a descriptive investigation in the Local Health Service of Copparo (USL 34), Ferrara, Northern Italy. We included 111 patients (61 males and 50 females). The average length of follow-up was 18.8 years (ranging from 7 to 24 years). The cumulative probability of being in remission was 81.2% at 15 years after onset and the estimated percentage of patients in remission without therapy was 56% for the same time period. At 15 years after the onset of epilepsy, approximately 20% of patients continued to have seizures; nearly 25% continued to take antiepileptic drugs but had been free of seizures for at least 5 years; nearly 56% had been without seizures and free of medication for at least 5 years. Seizure type, gender, age at onset of the illness, epileptic abnormalities on EEG, family history of convulsive disorders, number and frequency of seizures prior to the start of treatment were found not to be helpful as prognostic factors. This community study, carried out on patients without the well known factors that adversely affect prognosis, confirms that the prospect of seizure control and for withdrawal of therapy is (generally) good.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Pulpal tissue reaction to formocresol vs. ferric sulfate in pulpotomized rat teeth.

The purpose of this study was to assess histologically the pulpal healing process after pulpotomies in rat teeth were done using two different agents: 20% dilution of formocresol (FMC) and ferric sulfate (FS). Two criteria were used: degree of inflammation and extent of pulpal involvement. Zinc oxide-eugenol paste (ZOE) or polycarboxylate cement (PCX) were placed to seal the cavity preparations. The maxillary first molars of 120 Sprague-Dawley rats were treated in this study and were divided into four groups: 1) FMC + ZOE, 2) FS + PCX, 3) FMC + PCX, and 4) FS + ZOE. After treatment the animals were sacrificed at weekly intervals for four weeks and pulpal response was evaluated according to the degree of inflammation. Other criteria were also evaluated: dentinal bridge formation, reparative dentin and odontoblastic layer. A Friedman test was performed to compare the results and find out if any differences could be found. FMC + ZOE group showed the least pulpal inflammation response, and the use of FS as an alternative agent for pulpotomies did not improve pulpal response.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A prospective study on the predictive value of CSF oligoclonal bands and MRI in acute isolated neurological syndromes for subsequent progression to multiple sclerosis.

A prospective study in patients with a clinical acute isolated brainstem or spinal cord disorder was undertaken. The aim was to evaluate the predictive value of IgG intrathecal synthesis (through the detection of oligoclonal bands in CSF) and MRI lesions at presentation, for the subsequent progression to multiple sclerosis. Forty four patients took part in this study: 22 had a brainstem disorder and 22 a spinal cord disorder. After a mean period of 26 (SD 22) months, 30 patients (68.2%) developed clinically definite multiple sclerosis. The remaining 14 patients were followed up for more than seven years. Twenty six (59.1%) patients had oligoclonal bands in CSF, with a sensitivity of 80.0%, specificity of 85.7%, and a predictive value of 92.2%. Magnetic resonance imaging showed disseminated white matter lesions in 22 patients (50.0%), with a sensitivity of 60.0%, a specificity of 71.4%, and a predictive value of 81.7%. The difference between patients with multiple sclerosis and patients without the disease was statistically significant for the findings of an IgG intrathecal synthesis (P < 0.001). It was only borderline for the MRI findings (P = 0.052). Thus the detection of an intrathecal synthesis at presentation seemed to be a better prognostic indicator of the progression to multiple sclerosis in patients affected by acute isolated brainstem or spinal cord syndromes.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Multiple sclerosis: does epidemiology contribute to providing etiological clues?

The epidemiological approach has undoubtedly contributed to our knowledge of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by providing some etiological hypotheses in spite of the fact that a definitive basis for the conclusive resolution of its enigma is still lacking. Epidemiological studies have indicated that MS has an uneven geographical distribution and a changing incidence over time at least in several areas of the world: this suggests an etiological role of both genetic and environmental factors. The racial difference in disease risk, the results of familial and twin studies as well as the association between MS and some HLA markers, support the great importance of genetic factors. On the other hand, the evidence of temporal trends and the data from migrant studies seem to underline the etiological contribution of environmental factors. In the light of these results much of the present views have emerged interpreting the disease as caused by multiple factors acting at a susceptible age in genetically predisposed subjects.

Demography↗
PubMed1993

[Berger's disease in children: its form of presentation, pathological anatomy and evolution in 22 cases].

We have reviewed 22 cases of Berger's disease in children (glomerular nephritis with mesangial IgA deposits), all of which were diagnosed by renal biopsy between 1976 and the present time. We describe the clinical and pathological findings in these patients. In addition, we put special emphasis on the evolution of the disease in relationship to some of the parameters that have been reported in the literature as being related to a bad prognosis of glomerular function such as, massive proteinuria at the onset of the disease, histological classification, presence of deposits of IgM or fibrinogen derivatives and glomerular sclerosis. All of the patients started with hematuria, 21 of which had gross hematuria (95%). Fourteen patients (63%) showed proteinuria (2 of which also had a temporary nephrotic syndrome). Five children showed some transient decrease in glomerular filtration rate and another patient rapidly developed renal failure and then end stage renal disease. We were able to follow 15 children for 3 years: 8 (53%) still showed outbreaks of gross hematuria, 5 (33%) only had microhematuria and 2 (14%) showed no signs of hematuria. Four children (27%) still had proteinuria. The glomerular filtration rate was still normal in all but two children (one with rapid evolution to end stage renal disease and another with a glomerular filtration decrease of 20%). Ten children were followed for 6 to 13 years. After 6 years, 2 (20%) still showed outbreaks of gross hematuria, 1 (10%) still had proteinuria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with neurological disorders.

Six patients are described who developed a wide variety of neurological manifestations heralding systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which included epileptic seizures, stroke, peripheral polyradiculoneuropathy similar to Guillain-Barré syndrome, transverse myelopathy and multifocal disorders with remitting course mimicking multiple sclerosis. The peculiarity of these cases was that the neurological disorders remained the only manifestations of SLE for many years and the nervous system appeared to be the main target even after the development of systemic SLE. In five patients the prognosis was favourable and corticosteroid treatment led to prolonged remission.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Parkinson's disease in Ferrara, Italy, 1967 through 1987.

Epidemiological surveys on Parkinson's disease that have been carried out in different parts of the world have suggested that the disease is uniformly distributed in white populations. The position with regard to the Mediterranean peoples is still controversial, because of the large variation of the frequencies observed in the different areas that have been investigated. We therefore studied the frequency of Parkinson's disease in the Local Health Service of Ferrara, northeastern Italy (mean population, 187,000). Based on 394 patients, the mean incidence per year for the period from 1967 through 1987 was 10.01/100,000. The incidence rate of Parkinson's disease among cases with early onset was found to be statistically higher in rural areas as compared with urban ones (6.32/100,000 vs 3.11/100,000). Moreover, the study revealed a significantly higher incidence rate among agricultural workers (20.6/100,000). These results would seem to give further support to the hypothesis of a possible causal role of environmental factors that are mainly linked to agriculture, most likely due to the continual exposure to toxic agents in this area. However, further studies, which are not exclusively epidemiological, are necessary before any conclusions may be drawn, because many confounding variables may account for the results from surveys of this type.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Neurophysiological study of Horner's syndrome.

Sympathetic skin response from the forehead and from the hand obtained by using electric, acoustic stimuli and during deep breathing was recorded in normal subjects and in patients suffering from Horner's syndrome in order to characterize this clinical picture neurophysiologically. The reliability of the method points to its possible usefulness in the pre-postganglionic differential diagnosis also.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

End-stage renal disease in systemic amyloidosis: clinical course and outcome on dialysis.

We studied a group of 48 patients with systemic amyloidosis and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with chronic dialysis to analyze the clinical course and the factors which can influence survival. This group was compared to a control group of 63 nondiabetic patients without amyloidosis with ESRD treated with hemodialysis. The median survival of the experimental group was 52 months; 1-, 2- and 6-year actuarial survival was 72, 62, and 44%, while in the control group it was 95, 91, and 81%, respectively (p less than 0.001). Survival was significantly shorter for patients with amyloidosis who rapidly (less than 3 months) progressed to ESRD or who had an acute deterioration in renal function immediately prior to the need for dialysis. The median survival in these cases was 4 and 1.5 months, respectively. Age, the presence or the degree of renal failure at the moment of diagnosis, and the type of amyloidosis did not affect the survival of these patients. Despite a shorter period of time spent on dialysis, these patients had a similar number of hospital admissions, cardiovascular and infectious events as the control patients, but more gastrointestinal disorders (bleeding and chronic diarrhea) and blood access problems. In conclusion, amyloidotic patients maintained on chronic dialysis have high morbidity and mortality rates. Nevertheless, acceptable survival is predictable in stable patients who progress slowly to ESRD.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1988

Effect of vanadate on the glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase and glucose-1,6-bisphosphatase activities of phosphoglucomutase.

Phosphoglucomutase, in addition to catalyzing the interconversion of glucose 1-P and glucose 6-P, catalyzes both the synthesis of glucose 1,6-P2 from glucose monophosphate and either fructose 1,6-P2 or glycerate 1,3-P2, and the hydrolysis of glucose 1,6-P2. Vanadate inhibits the mutase activity, activates the synthase activities, and does not affect the phosphatase activity. These effects suggest that the "exchange" step postulated for the phosphoglucomutase pathway is specifically inhibited by vanadate.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Metabolism of glucose 1,6-P2--III. Partial purification and characterization of glucose 1,6-P2 synthase from pig skeletal muscle.

1. Glycerate 1,3-P2-dependent glucose, 1,6-P2 synthase has been purified 2000-fold from pig skeletal muscle, with a yield of 75%. 2. The enzyme possesses fructose 1,6-P2-dependent glucose 1,6-P2 synthase and phosphoglucomutase activities, which represent 0.1 and 60% of the main activity, respectively. 3. Both glucose 1-P and glucose 6-P can act as acceptors of the phosphoryl group from glycerate 1,3-P2. 4. The Km values are 19 microM and 67 nM for glucose 1-P and glycerate 1,3-P2, respectively. 5. The enzyme is inhibited by glycerate 2,3-P2, fructose 1,6-P2, glycerate 3-P, phosphoenolpyruvate and lithium, the inhibition pattern varying with the compound.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Apparent recurrence of hemolytic uremic syndrome in azathioprine-treated allograft recipients.

The present study describes 3 adult patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) leading to chronic renal failure. Following renal transplantation, the 3 patients developed microangiopathic hemolytic anemia associated with acute rejection crises and graft failure. In 2 patients the renal histology of the transplanted kidney was consistent with HUS. It is concluded that, in adult patients, HUS may recur after renal transplantation and contribute to renal graft failure.

Adult↗