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Biomedical subjects

M E Sanchís

Publications and source records attributed to M E Sanchís.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Allergy to the pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa).

BACKGROUND: The contact with the pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) induces dermatitis and ocular lesions by a mechanic and toxic mechanism. However, IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to this caterpillar has been demonstrated in two recent studies. OBJECTIVE: To find if an IgE-mediated mechanism was operative among patients with suspected previous reactions to processionary caterpillars, particularly exposed workers. METHODS: Fifty-five patients were studied by skin prick test (SPT), and specific IgE detection by immunoblotting. RESULTS: A total of 58.18% patients had a positive SPT for caterpillar extract. Positive SPT patients had more generalized cutaneous reactions (47%) and oedema (50%) as well as a shorter latency period (mean, 36 min) and duration of cutaneous lesions (mean, 26 h) than the patients with negative SPT. A total of 60% of the positive SPT patients had occupational exposure to the processionary caterpillar. The occupationally exposed workers showed significant symptoms from October to December. The anaphylactic reactions only appeared in allergic patients with occupational exposure and were also more frequent from October to December. These patients with anaphylactic reactions had a major size of SPT and the exercise was found in them to be a variable that increased the symptoms. The IgE immunoblot detected in the caterpillar extract several reactive bands with apparent molecular weights from to 35-4 kDa in 72% of the cases with positive SPT. CONCLUSIONS: Allergic reactions to T. pityocampa urticating hairs have different clinical characteristics than those induced by a toxic-irritative mechanism and are more frequent than suspected. Allergic reactions to this caterpillar among occasional visitors to pine-wood areas, and particularly in pine-forest workers, should be taken into consideration by allergists.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Delayed-type hypersensitivity to subcutaneous enoxaparin.

BACKGROUND: Enoxaparin and other low-molecular-weight heparins are widely used to prevent and treat thromboembolic disorders. Cutaneous reactions secondary to enoxaparin injections include delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions described as erythematous, infiltrated plaques at injection sites. We studied three cases of erythematous infiltrated plaques after enoxaparin injection in order to establish the allergenic importance of this low-molecular-weight heparin. METHODS: Patch tests were performed with sodium heparin, calcium heparin, calcium enoxaparin, and calcium nadroparin. A subcutaneous test with calcium heparin and an intravenous challenge test with sodium heparin were done. A punch biopsy was obtained from an erythematous plaque in one patient. RESULTS: Patch tests were negative to calcium heparin in all patients, positive to enoxaparin and nadroparin in two patients, and positive to sodium heparin in one patient. In two patients, the subcutaneous challenge test was positive, the intravenous challenge test was negative, and the histopathologic appearance of the biopsy resembled a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. CONCLUSIONS: These cases provide evidence of type IV hypersensitivity and the possibility of crossed-allergenicity among unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparins. We show that the subcutaneous challenge test is the most reliable diagnostic measure.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Application of Mossbauer spectroscopy to the study of hemoglobinopathies. Preliminary experience].

37Fe Moessbauer spectroscopy has been applied to the study of iron deposits in patients with altered iron metabolism. Haematological parameters were also studied in order to analyse their relationship with Moessbauer results. Within the aim of this research, 12 samples of packed red blood cells were analysed: 6 with beta-thalassaemia major, 2 with S-beta-thalassaemia, 1 with sickle cell anaemia and 3 from normal subjects used as control for Moessbauer spectroscopy. Moessbauer spectra of 6 red blood cells samples showed that besides the two components, i.e., oxy and deoxy haemoglobin present in samples of normal subjects, appears a third component with Moessbauer parameters corresponding to ferritin-like iron. Correlation of % transferrin saturation (TS %) with ferritin-like iron (r = 0.90, p less than 0.05) as well as between TS % and the ratio ferritin-like iron/Hb iron (r = 0.91, p less than 0.05) was found. A tendency to correlation of serum ferritin (SF) with ferritin-like iron (r = 0.90, p less than 0.05) as well as between TS % and the ratio ferritin-like iron/Hb iron (r = 0.91, p less than 0.05) was found. A tendency to correlation of SF with ferritin-like iron (r = 0.78) and with the ratio ferritin-like iron/Hb iron, was also observed. It can be concluded that Moessbauer spectroscopy could be a useful technique in the study of this kind of pathology.

Adolescent↗