PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Roca

Publications and source records attributed to M Roca.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

S-MRI score: A simple method for assessing bone marrow involvement in Gaucher disease.

Semi quantitative MRI is a very useful procedure for evaluating the bone marrow burden (BMB) in Gaucher disease (GD). Score systems have been applied to obtain a parameter for evaluating the severity of bone disease. Our purpose was to test a simple, reproducible and accurate score to evaluate bone marrow involvement in GD patients. MRI was performed in spine, pelvis and femora at diagnosis in 54 adult GD1 patients, 61.1% of whom were female. Three MRI patterns and punctuation in each location were defined: normal, 0; non-homogeneous infiltration subtypes reticular, 1; mottled, 2; diffuse, 3; and homogeneous infiltration, 4. This score was called Spanish-MRI (S-MRI). Two independent observers applied the S-MRI and bone marrow burden score and compared the differences using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Correlation rank test was calculated. In 46 patients (85.2%), bone involvement was observed. Thirty-nine (72.3%) had their spine affected, 35 (64.8%) pelvis and 33 (61.2%) femora. Fourteen patients had bone infarcts, 14 avascular necrosis, 2 vertebral fractures and 2 bone crises. Correlation analysis between S-MRI and BMB was (r(2)=.675; p=.0001). No evidence of correlation was observed between CT activity and S-MRI nor between CT activity and BMB. We have found a relationship between genotype and bone infiltration according to S-MRI site and complications. S-MRI is a simple method that provides useful information to evaluate bone infiltration and detect silent complications. Our results correlated with the BMB score but offer higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for classifying the extent of bone disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

The response of gastrointestinal microbiota to avilamycin, butyrate, and plant extracts in early-weaned pigs.

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of 3 different additives on the gastrointestinal microbiota of early-weaned pigs. Early-weaned (18 to 22 d; n = 32) pigs (6.0 +/- 0.10 kg of BW) from 8 litters were randomly distributed into 8 pens. Each pen was assigned 1 of 4 dietary treatments: a prestarter or control diet, the control diet with 0.04% avilamycin (AB), with 0.3% sodium butyrate, or with 0.03% plant extract mixture (XT; standardized mixture with 5% (wt/wt) carvacrol extracted from Origanum spp., 3% cinnamaldehyde extracted from Cinnamonum spp., and 2% capsicum oleoresin from Capsicum annum). At the end of the experimental period, 8 pigs per treatment were killed, and samples of their intestinal content were taken. The total bacterial load along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT; stomach, jejunum, cecum, and distal colon) and the lactobacilli and enterobacteria in the jejunum and cecum were measured by quantitative PCR. The total microbial counts along the GIT did not differ among the diets, but there was an increase in the lactobacilli:enterobacteria ratio in the cecum of the piglets on the XT diet (P = 0.003). Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the PCR-amplified V3, V4, and V5 regions of the 16S rDNA gene showed changes in the structure of the microbial community in the jejunum. Dendrograms grouped animals by diets; control with 0.3% sodium butyrate was the treatment that promoted the biggest changes in the microbial ecosystem, followed by AB and then XT. Biodiversity increased when using additives compared with the control diet (P = 0.002). Microbial metabolic activity along the hindgut was studied using the concentration of purine bases and carbohydrase activities. Different patterns for purine bases were observed between diets (diet x intestinal section, P = 0.01). The control diet reached a maximum purine base concentration at the end of the colon, whereas that of the AB diet was reached at the cecum. We could not detect any cellulase or xylanase activities in animals of this age. Appreciable amylase and amylopectinase activities were found, but they did not differ between diets. The results suggest that the effects of avilamycin, butyrate, or the plant extract would not be related to a reduction in the number of total bacteria inhabiting different sections of the GIT but rather to changes in the ecological structure and metabolic activity of the microbial community.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

Labeling of antibiotics for infection diagnosis.

UNLABELLED: The high impact of infection on daily clinical practice has promoted research into better and more accurate diagnostic and therapeutic METHODS: Localizing inflammation/infection with nuclear medicine techniques began over 40 years ago. Today, (67)Ga-scintigraphy, (99m)Tc-nanocolloid, (111)In and (99m)Tc in vitro labeled leukocytes, and monoclonal antigranulocyte antibodies are widely available for this purpose. While these methods are useful for localizing inflammation, they cannot always differentiate septic from aseptic processes. The ideal properties of an agent for diagnosing infection include: high specificity, early diagnosis, rapid blood clearance, ease of preparation, low toxicity, biodistribution appropriate for the disease under study, absence of immunologic response and low cost. A novel approach to infection diagnosis is the use of radiolabelled antibiotics. Antibiotics localize in the infectious focus, where they are frequently taken up and metabolized by microorganisms. The majority of the various antibiotics studied so far are those of the quinolones group (ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, enrofloxacin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin). More recently, the labeling of ceftizoxime, a semisynthetic third generation cephalosporin, has been reported. The relevant features of labeled antibiotics in research and/or clinical infection diagnosis are the focus of this article.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Indomethacin effect on implantation rates in oocyte recipients.

BACKGROUND: Implantation failure is the main limiting factor for success of IVF. Even when transfer techniques are carried out extremely carefully, embryo transfer may produce an endometrial and cervical reaction that may result in an inflammatory response and impaired implantation. There are no formal specifications on the use of indomethacin in reproductive cycles and there are no studies published in the scientific literature on its effect on embryo implantation. Oocyte donation is the best model to evaluate the determinants of implantation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential benefit of indomethacin administered at embryo transfer. METHODS: A randomized pilot trial of 136 oocyte recipients was carried out. Seventy-two women received standard specifications plus 100 mg of indomethacin rectally given as three doses every 12 h starting on the night prior to transfer. RESULTS: Positive HCG (>= 6 mUI/ml) occurred in 59.7% of treated women and in 59.4% of women in the control group. Implantation rates were 27.8% in the indomethacin group and 26.4% in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The indomenthacin group did not show significantly higher implantation rates. A larger study exploring alternative treatment protocols might be appropriate.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

In vitro and in vivo characterization of an infectious clone of a European strain of porcine circovirus type 2.

The aim of this study was to describe the generation of a PCV2 (porcine circovirus type 2) infectious clone (pIC-PCV2) and its infectivity under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The constructed pIC-PCV2 contained the whole PCV2 genome from a German isolate together with a partial duplication of 467 bp. PK-15 cells were transfected with pIC-PCV2 and an indirect immune fluorescence assay (IFA) was performed 7 days post-transfection. The PCV2 Cap gene was expressed in approximately 20 % of the cultured cells, and only the recombination product, and not pIC-PCV2, was subsequently detected by PCR and Southern blot. This result indicated that infection by pIC-PCV2 delivered genomic PCV2 DNA specifically into susceptible cells and led to the expression of a functional virus genome. Eighteen 30- to 40-day-old conventional pigs were distributed into three groups. Group 1 pigs (n=6) were inoculated intranasally (i.n.) with a Spanish isolate of PCV2 propagated in cell culture; pigs from group 2 (n=6) were inoculated with pIC-PCV2 intramuscularly (i.m.), and the last group of pigs (n=6) was inoculated with pIC-PCV2 intraperitoneally (i.p.). All pigs remained clinically healthy during the whole experimental period (35 days). Pigs that received pIC-PCV2 i.p. and i.m., as well as those PCV2 i.n. inoculated, became infected based on an in situ hybridization (ISH), PCR, TaqMan PCR and serological results. The results of this study confirm that cloned PCV2 genomic DNA is infectious both in vitro and in vivo, and is able to cause PMWS-like lesions in i.p. and i.m. experimentally inoculated pigs.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Successful treatment of a high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia with imiquimod, with vulvar pemphigus as a side effect.

Imiquimod modulates the immune response, and is a new approach for treatment of papillomavirus-associated lesions, although it has not been approved for the treatment of intraepithelial neoplasia. We present a case of a patient treated with imiquimod on account of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in the vulva and other locations. The posterior biopsies confirm the absence of lesions but show drug-induced pemphigus as a side effect.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2003

[Neuroactivation of the Tower of Hanoi in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and healthy volunteers].

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients and healthy controls during performance of Tower of Hanoi (TOH) test (cognitive task). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared TOH test performance in 30 OCD patients and 30 individually matched healthy volunteers. Intelligence and anxiety measurements were taken into account for all participants. Within the patient group, factors such as duration and severity of symptoms and low mood were considered. rCBF was estimated through the uptake of 99mTc-hexamethylpropylamine-oxime (HMPAO) on single photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT). Regional values were quantified as ratios of cortical blood flow. RESULTS: OCD patients and volunteers differed significantly in terms of subjective anxiety during procedures. TOH test performance was significantly impaired in OCD patients when compared with matched controls. 2-tailed t tests for repeated measures suggested that there were overall significant differences (p = 0.039) between both groups (OCD patients and controls) confined to left caudate activation. There was increased activity after activation in control subjects, but not in OCD patients. No differences in other regions were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a modification of the activating systems of basal ganglia functions in OCD compared with normal subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Value of magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis and follow-up of haemophilic arthropathy.

An orthopaedic assessment of the joint status of seven severe haemophiliacs (mean age 12.5 y - range 8.9-15.5) on prophylactic treatment (PT) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and physical examination was carried out. Median duration of PT of these patients was 84 months (range 32-107). A locally designed MRI joint score considering seven parameters (1 - joint effusion, 2 - synovial membrane thickening, 3 - haemosiderin deposits, 4 - joint cartilage injury, 5 - subchondral bone erosion, 6 - subchondral bone cysts, 7 - osteonecrosis) was used (maximum score = 13 points). MRI scans were performed in 17 joints (nine ankles, seven knees and one elbow): mean MRI scores for the affected joints was 5.1. A poor consistency between physical examination and MRI findings or the real extent of joint damage was found (Cohen kappa index 0.320). MRI is a precise non-invasive tool for the assessment of early joint cartilage and synovium pathological changes still undetectable by physical examination or conventional X-rays in the haemophilic setting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[No influence of propanolol, cyclosporine, adriamycin, and nifedipine on the in vitro labelling of erythrocytes].

UNLABELLED: The objective of this work was to study the potential interference of propanolol, cyclosporine, adriamycin, and nifedipine with the in vitro labelling of erythrocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20-ml blood specimens were collected from 40 healthy volunteers who had not taken any drug in the week before collection. 2.0-ml alliquots were incubated at 37 C with different concentrations of the drugs for 30 minutes. In all cases, a control group was incubated with saline (0.9%). Two labelling methods were used: 1) EDTA method, in which 60 l of SnCl2 (10.2 g/ml), 2.0 ml of saline, 0.2 ml EDTA 2.2%, and 7.4 MBq of Na99mTcO4 were added, and the mix was incubated for 5 minutes. 2) The hypochlorite method, in which specimens were initially incubated with SnCl2 (10.2 g/ml) for 5 minutes. Then, 40 l of 1% hypochlorite and all the reagents described in the previous method were added. With both methods, erythrocytes were separated by centrifugation and the labelling yield was estimated. RESULTS: RESULTS did not show significant differences between the yield of the control group labelling and the yield of the different concentrations of the tested drugs. Also, significant differences were not observed the two labelling methods used. CONCLUSION: Both labelling methods are useful for the in vitro preparation of 99mTc-erythrocytes. The absence of significant differences in the labelling yield indicates that in vitro interferences observed by some investigators are associated with concentrations exceeding therapeutic plasma levels. On the other hand, the reported in vivo interferences might be due to the presence of active catabolites and/or interference between different drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Assessment of inflammatory bowel disease by using two different (99m)Tc leucocyte labelling methods.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare the diagnostic accuracy of (99m)Tc hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) white blood cell scintigraphy in patients with a suspicion of active inflammatory bowel disease by using two different cell suspension media: leukocyte poor plasma (LPP) and Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS). Leukocytes from 30 patients were labelled using LPP and in 28 cases using HBSS. In the LPP method the leukocytes were resuspended in 0.5 ml cell-free plasma while in the HBSS method the cells were resuspended in 0.5 ml HBSS. Scintigraphic images were obtained at 30 min and 2 h after injection of 185-200 MBq (99m)Tc-HMPAO leukocytes. The leukocyte labelling efficiency was 65.5% and 89.0%, respectively, for the LPP and HBSS methods. There were 22 true positive, seven true negative and one false negative result in the LPP group, while in the HBSS group results were 18, nine and one, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy was similar with both methods although sensitivity was slightly higher in the HBSS group. In summary, these date indicate that leukocyte scintigraphy labelling using HBSS as the resuspension medium should be used as a first option for white blood cell labelling and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Isotopic renal study in diabetic nephropathy].

UNLABELLED: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the kidney split function (KSF), the effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GF) in the evolution of diabetic nephropathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 125 patients (IDDM:10, NIDDM:115), including 62 men, ages 18-84 years, were studied. In all cases GF (Cr 51 EDTA), ERPF (131I-hippuran), kidney split function (obtained from the 99mTc-MAG3 renogram) and basal serum creatinine (SC) were evaluated at the beginning of the study and patients were clinically followed up for 5 years by SC. Ultrasound and/or intravenous digital angiography were performed in 120 patients. RESULTS: In patients with decreased ERPF (76 patients) the SC increased progresively during the 5 years, in both those with elevated PC (N = 54) as well as in those with normal baseline SC (n = 22). In patients with normal ERPF the SC did not change significantly during the study. An asymethric split function (KSF < 40% in one kidney) was found in the renogram of 42 patients; in 32 of them the ERPF was decreased. Of these, ulttrasonography was normal in 9, and vascular and/or obstructive pathology was demonstrated by ultrasonography or digital angiography in only 6 patients. CONCLUSION: The ERPF becomes altered earlier than serum creatinine in patients with diabetic nephropaty. ERPF and split function calculation, and FG seems to have higher prognostic value than ultrasounds in the management of diabetic nephropathy. Radionuclides seems to be an accurate test than the ultrasonography to detect renal function abnormalities in patients with diabetic and thus can be an examination of choice in these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Study of renal transplant by deconvoluted renogram with 99m Tc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (Mag3)].

AIM: To evaluate the usefulness of the 99mTc-MAG3 renogram deconvolution and its derived parameters in kidney graft function monitoring. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 221 renograms were studied: 64 were diagnosed as functioning graft (FG), 37 as functioning graft with elevated serum creatinine (FG2), 59 as acute tubular necrosis (ATN), 30 as acute rejection (AR), 20 as urinary tract obstruction (OBS) and 11 as cyclosporine nephrotoxicity (TNX). The parameters evaluated were: maximal activity of conventional renogram and mean transit time (MTT), time to reach 20% (T20) and 80% (T80) of the height of the RRF and initial uptake (IU) from the deconvoluted renal retention function (RRF). RESULTS: MTT and T20 were significantly longer and IU significantly lower in non-functioning grafts. However, MTT and T20 became shorter than in FG when graft function is severely impaired. CONCLUSION: IU, MTT and T20 are more useful than maxim activity of renogram in monitoring kidney graft function and in evaluating renal dysfunction severity. IU is a very sensitive and early parameter.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Changes in chloroplast pigments of olive varieties during fruit ripening.

Changes in chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments of five olive (Olea europaea L.) varieties destined for milling were investigated at six consecutive ripening stages. There was a manifest dependence between olive variety, moment of picking, and chloroplast pigment composition of the fruits. Although the content of chlorophylls and carotenoids differed with fruit variety, ripening always involved their gradual loss, which becames more pronounced with increased presence of anthocyanin compounds. The relative rates of disappearance of chlorophylls and carotenoids were markedly different between varieties, implying that the catabolism of these pigments takes place at a relative rate inherent to each variety. The varieties less rich in pigments showed the most extreme behavior. The highest relative rate of disappearance was observed in fruits of the Blanqueta variety, and the lowest was observed in those of Arbequina. The chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratio remained practically constant during ripening, with a value very similar for Hojiblanca, Picual, Cornicabra, and Blanqueta, but much higher for Arbequina, implying that the structure of the photosynthetic apparatus is different in the latter variety. In the five varieties studied, lutein was the slowest carotenoid to be degraded, so that its percentage in the fruits increased with ripening, whereas beta-carotene was the fastest to disappear. In ripe fruits covered with anthocyanins, chloroplast pigments were retained in both skin and pulp, with the rate of disappearance being much higher in the latter.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed2001

Unusual carotenogenesis in fruits with pronounced anthocyanic ripening (Olea europaea Var. Arbequina).

Fruits of the Olea europaea Arbequina variety showed a carotenogenic stage overlapping the biosynthesis of anthocyanins. At the start of ripening, the carotenoid concentration increases (20%) or is maintained (besides the esterification of xanthophylls found in this variety), compared with a decrease (30%) found in the same period in the Picual variety (used as a control that was representative of the rest of the varieties). Both the beta,beta and beta,epsilon carotenoid series were found to be implicated in this carotenogenic process. Differences in both varieties for the chlorophyll a/b ratio, chlorophylls/carotenoids ratio, and relative carotenoid composition may indicate the existence of a different metabolism of chloroplast pigments, but also indicates a different structure and function of the photosynthetic apparatus. This fact shows that the photosynthetic behavior in the Picual variety is similar to that of shaded leaves, and in the Arbequina variety is similar to that of sun leaves.

Anthocyanins↗
PubMed2001

Validation of the preparation of individual doses of (131)I-sodium o-iodohippurate ((131)I-hippuran).

The preparation of low activity doses of (131)I-hippuran has a drawback due to its high radioactivity concentration. In this study we diluted the radiopharmaceutical with saline or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) in order to decrease the radioactivity concentration, facilitate the preparation of individual doses and validate these procedures. We prepared doses of approx. 1.85 MBq of (131)I-hippuran from 10 different batches the day before the calibration date: undiluted, and diluted 1:9 with saline or PBS. The radiochemical purity (RCP) was evaluated the day after the expiration date. The percentage of (131)I-hippuran retained on syringes was assessed in vitro, after emptying the syringe and washing it twice with water (n=3 x 27); and in vivo, after the endovenous administration of the dose and washing the syringe twice with the patient's blood (n=3 x 75). Sterility was assessed using fluid thyoglicolate medium (n=3 x 15). All RCP values were greater than those required by the European Pharmacopoeia (>96%) except one of the undiluted (131)I-hippuran (95.8%) doses. No statistical difference was observed among them. The mean undiluted (131)I-hippuran retained in vitro was 5.4% (SD=6.5%), statistically greater (P<0.01) than both saline diluted (mean=1.5%, SD=1.1%) and PBS diluted (mean=2.0%, SD=2.4%). The mean undiluted (131)I-hippuran retained in vivo was 6.4% (SD=5.4%), statistically greater (P<10-5) than both saline diluted (mean=3.1%, SD=2.3%) and PBS diluted (mean=3.1%, SD=3.1%). We concluded that: (1) the dilution of (131)I-hippuran with saline or PBS makes both the preparation of individual doses and its administration to the patient easier without decreasing its radiopharmaceutical quality; and (2) using saline or PBS diluted (131)I-hippuran the percentage of radiopharmaceutical retained on the syringes, after use, is minimized.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Clinical usefulness of K-ras gene mutation detection and cytology in pancreatic juice in the diagnosis and screening of pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: The significance of K-ras codon 12 mutation in pancreatic juice is still unclear. Although considerable controversy surrounds this question, the diagnostic utility of K-ras in patients with clinical suspicion of pancreatic cancer (PC) and in PC-risk patients remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To study prospectively the utility of the K-ras gene mutation and cytology in the diagnosis and screening of PC, and to assess its contribution to clinical decision making. METHODS: Pancreatic juice samples obtained from 90 patients were evaluated prospectively. Group I (n = 40) comprised patients with clinical suspicion of PC; group II (n = 50) comprised 49 patients with chronic pancreatitis and one patient proceeding from a PC family screening. The K-ras mutation was detected by means of artificial restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) in DNA after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. RESULTS: In group I, of those patients with a definitive diagnosis of PC, malignant cells were found in 27% and K-ras mutation in 44%. In five cases, molecular analysis contributed to diagnosis (4/11 with negative cytology and 1/2 with insufficient cytological material). K-ras mutation revealed an early tumour in one patient, and was the only sample available for diagnosis in another. In group II, the K-ras gene mutation was detected in 8/49 patients (16%) with chronic pancreatitis, one of whom developed PC (2%). CONCLUSIONS: K-ras mutation analysis of pancreatic juice may complement cytological evaluation in the diagnosis of PC, in spite of its limited contribution to clinical decision making. The presence of K-ras mutation in chronic pancreatitis classifies a subgroup of PC-risk patients who should be evaluated carefully by long-term follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Chemotaxis, viability, and labeling stability of leukocytes labeled with (99m)Tc-exametazime stabilized with methylene blue.

UNLABELLED: The in vitro viability, chemotaxis, and labeling stability of leukocytes labeled using (99m)Tc-exametazime stabilized with methylene blue were evaluated and compared with those obtained using nonstabilized (99m)Tc-exametazime. METHODS: Two identical leukocyte populations, from 30 healthy donors, were labeled simultaneously using freshly prepared and 2-h-old stabilized (99m)Tc-exametazime. The following quality control techniques were performed on each labeled leukocyte sample: eosin Y staining, chemotaxis radioassay, and labeling stability at 2 h after labeling. RESULTS: Eosin Y staining showed a cell viability of at least 98% in all samples, without a significant statistical difference between the populations. Chemotactic indices obtained with leukocytes labeled with freshly prepared, unstabilized (99m)Tc-exametazime were statistically greater than those obtained using (99m)Tc-exametazime stabilized with methylene blue (z = 2.41; P<0.02). Labeling stability at 2 h after labeling was the same for both populations. CONCLUSION: The use of (99m)Tc-exametazime stabilized with methylene blue for leukocyte radiolabeling does not affect either cell membrane integrity or labeling stability but can cause a decrease in the cell chemotactic capacity that discourages its clinical use.

Cell Survival↗