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Biomedical subjects

M Casal

Publications and source records attributed to M Casal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Clinical significance of a new technique of microscopic visualization in extrapulmonary tuberculosis].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was the clinical investigation of a new method of microscopy to improve the sensitivity in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in comparison with the actual conventional technique, without detriment of specificity. METHODS: A comparative study between Smithwick fluorescence technique and a new technique named big drop fluorescence has been made with a total of 185 clinical samples of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. All samples were carried in parallel with both technique, the Smithwick usually utilized in the majority of laboratories, and a new technique described recently by us, named big drop fluorescence, that use a sample with more concentration and different times of stain, with the same reagents. RESULTS: A sensitivity of 12.5% and 56.2% respectively was obtained with Smithwick and big drop fluorescence techniques. A specificity of 97.0% with big drop fluorescence and 98.2% with Smithwick was obtained. This improvement of sensibility was very important and the lost of specificity was so little that a statistic difference without both techniques was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The new technique named big drop fluorescence (BDF) shows greater sensitivity in the microscopical diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

[Dermatophytes and dermatophytosis in Córdoba (Spain)].

During a two year period all patients referred to the Dermatology Department with the diagnosis of dermatophytosis were studied. We obtained 158 dermatophyte isolated belonging to 12 species of dermatophytes. The most frequent causal agents were M. canis in 58 (36.7%), T. mentagrophytes var mentagrophytes in 36 (22.7%), E. floccosum in 29 (18.3%) and T. rubrum in 17 (10.7%). M. canis was the most prevalent causal agent of tinea capitis and tinea corporis. The most frequent species in the tinea cruris was E. floccosum. In 4 patients there were simultaneous infection by two different agents. The incidence of dermatophytosis in Córdoba is high. Due to the similarities with other diseases, the mycologic examination by culture is essential.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[CEA test in domestic animals].

In human cancer treatment, CEA (carcino embryonic antigen) testing is a routine procedure, even though the test is of low sensitivity (40%) and low specificity (70%). Since tests with polyclonal antibodies render no reproducible results with animal sera, the applicability of a recently available monoclonal CEA test designed for human sera was evaluated. We were able to show that the latter test was of supplemental diagnostic value when testing animal sera. The upper normal limit for dogs is 1.65 ng/ml, for cats 2.81 ng/ml, for cows 2.85 ng/ml, for sheep 2.85 ng/ml and for horses 1.61 ng/ml.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Use of a low dose prostaglandin F2 alpha in bitches].

The dosage of Prostaglandin F2 alpha used until the present (100, 250 and 1000 micrograms/kg bw), in order to treat pyometra in the bitch, was accompanied with side effects such as salivation, vomiting and diarrhea. In the present work, the efficiency of low dose Prostaglandin (20 micrograms/kg bw) was examined in two different groups of patients: Group 1: Included 9 bitches pregnant for a period of 5-7 weeks duration. Initially the bitches were treated 3 or 4 times per day with Prostaglandin F2 alpha. In these cases abortion took place within 4 to 11 days. Group 2: 12 dogs, suffering from pyometra, were treated 3 times per day with PGF2 alpha for 8 days. In 9 dogs the pyometra resolved and the bitches came in estrus 2-5 months after treatment. 7 bitches have been mated and 6 of these gave birth to healthy litters. During a follow-up period of at least 10 months there has not been a reoccurrence of pyometra. In 3 out of the 12 dogs the uteri were still enlarged after 8 days of treatment. These bitches underwent ovariohysterectomy and a cystic hyperplasia of the endometrium was diagnosed histologically. The low dose (20 micrograms/kg BW) Prostaglandin F2 alpha induced in all dogs the expulsion of the uterine contents. Side effects during the treatment were not observed.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1989

Treatment of urinary incontinence in dogs by endoscopic injection of Teflon.

Twenty-two dogs with urethral sphincter incompetence, nonresponsive to phenylpropanolamine administration, were treated by urethral submucosal injection of Teflon. Urinary continence was achieved in all dogs for at least 2 months. Urinary incontinence recurred in 14 dogs (64%) and was controlled by a second Teflon injection in 11 of 12 dogs (92%). Minor complications included transient stranguria, with or without hematuria, after 4 of 35 injection procedures. One dog had temporary partial urethral obstruction after treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Promising new drugs in the treatment of tuberculosis and mycobacteriosis.

The aims of this work were to investigate the possible effect of several antimicrobial agents alone and in combinations against 190 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 30 isolates of Mycobacterium avium, 30 Mycobacterium fortuitum and 30 Mycobacterium chelonei. The susceptibility was determined in Müller-Hinton agar and Middlebrook 7H 10 agar. For interpretation of the results the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined and for the combinations of antimicrobials we used the Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FIC). The possible clinical efficacy was determined by the Inhibitory Quotient. The synergistic effect of several combinations of these compounds was demonstrated.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1989

Effect of duration of PMSG treatment on induction of oestrus, pregnancy rates and the complications of hyper-oestrogenism in dogs.

In anoestrous bitches, the use of 5 or 10 days of daily PMSG treatments (20 i.u./kg/day) before a single injection of hCG (500 i.u./dog) did not affect the timing of induced pro-oestrus (4-6 days) but did result in a greater incidence of conception (3 of 6 vs 6 of 17), a high rate of successful pregnancy (50% vs 0%), lower preovulatory oestrogen concentrations, and reduced incidence of complications due to hyper-oestrogenism such as thrombocytopenia (0% vs 29%). These results suggest an advantage of 5 over 10 days of priming with PMSG, at the doses used before hCG injection, for induction of fertile oestrus in bitches.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Endocarditis due to Corynebacterium xerosis].

Corynebacterium sp. are found as normal flora in skin and mucosal sites. They have been isolated in empyemas, brain abscesses, blood cultures and ventricular shunts. About 9-10% of early-onset and 4-5% late-onset prosthetic valve endocarditis are due to different species of the so-called "diphteroids". A 30 year-old white female was admitted after 30 days with fever of undetermined origin. A mitral prosthesis had been fitted in 1977. On physical examination a protomesosystolic mitral murmur, petechiae, retinal hemorrhages and hepatosplenomegaly were detected. Laboratory tests showed 37% hematocrit, 14,800/mm3 white blood cells, 78 mm ESR, urinary sediment: less than 30/h.p.f. red blood cells. A new first-degree A-V block was detected. Blood cultures were negative. Due to persistent fever, progressive anemia, leukocytosis and new vegetations on echocardiogram, surgery was performed. A mitral valve ring abscess was found. Corynebacterium xerosis was isolated from surgical specimens. The strain was found susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, oxacillin, ticarcillin, piperacillin, cephalotin, cefoxitin, cefoperazone, rifampin, gentamicin, amikacin, and norfloxacin. Studies with clindamycin, disclosed MIC and MBC = 0.25 mg/l. The patient received 1800 mg/day clindamycin for 4 weeks. Serum cidal studies showed a peak concentration 1/128 and a titre of trough 1/4. Negative control blood cultures were obtained. She has remained well for nine months after treatment. Corynebacterium sp. can cause "apparently" negative blood cultures. Blood samples should be incubated for more than 15 days before they can be considered negative. Almost 50% of previously described cases have been detected during the six months after cardiac surgery. Mortality has been high (48%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Urinary incontinence in spayed female dogs: frequency and breed disposition].

A follow up study was performed in 412 spayed bitches in order to determine the incidence of urinary incontinence. The period between the operation being performed and the survey being made varied between 3 and 10 years. 83 animals (20.1%) were incontinent independent of the surgical procedure (ovariectomy versus ovariohysterectomy). The onset of incontinence varied between immediately to 12 years with an average period of 2.9 years after surgery. 57 of these incontinent bitches were treated with ephedrine or estrogen. In 73.7% a good response was achieved with ephedrine and a further 23.7% showed some improvement. Generally ephedrine was more successful than estrogen in the treatment of incontinence. There appears to be a strong connection between body weight and the incidence of incontinence. Of bitches with a body weight of less than 20 kg only 9.3% were incontinent. Whereas in bitches with a body weight of more than 20 kg the incidence was 30.9%. Of the breeds Boxers showed a high incidence of incontinence (65%) while breeds such as German Shepherds (10.6%) or Dachshunds (11.1%) showed a low incidence in relation to the average incidence rate (20.1%).

Animals↗
PubMed1988

In vitro activity of antimicrobial agents against mycobacteria.

The aims of this study were to investigate the possible effects of new antimicrobial agents, the conventional antituberculosis drugs and several combinations of these agents against 190 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 30 of M. avium.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1987

In vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to a new macrolide antibiotic: RU-28965.

The in vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to a new macrolide antibiotic RU-28965, alone and in combination with rifampicin or isoniazid, was studied by the agar dilution method. At a concentration of 4 mg/l, or lower, of RU-28965, 90% of the strains were inhibited. A synergistic effect with both rifampicin and with isoniazid was demonstrated.

Antibiotics, Antitubercular↗
PubMed1987

In vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium avium to a new macrolide (RU-28965).

The in vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium avium to RU-28965 alone and in combination with rifampin, isoniazid, and sulfametoxipiridazine was studied by the agar dilution method. The synergistic effect of the RU-28965 with rifampin has been demonstrated. At a concentration of 16 micrograms/ml or lower of RU-28965, 100% of M. avium strains were inhibited. If 2 micrograms/ml of rifampin is added the MIC of RU-28965 is lowered to 0.25 microgram/ml.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1987

In vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in combination with rifampin and isoniazid.

The in vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to new quinolones, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, alone and in combination with rifampin or isoniazid, was studied by the agar dilution method. At a concentration of 1 mg/l or lower of ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, 90% of the strains were inhibited. A synergistic effect with rifampin and with isoniazid was demonstrated.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1987

In vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium chelonae and Mycobacterium avium against some quinolones.

The in vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium chelonae and Mycobacterium avium to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin was studied by the agar dilution method. All strains of Mycobacterium fortuitum were inhibited by 2 mg/ml or less of these antimicrobial agents. Concentrations higher than achievable blood levels were necessary to inhibit Mycobacterium chelonae and Mycobacterium avium.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗