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Biomedical subjects

M Segarra

Publications and source records attributed to M Segarra.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Association between increased CCL2 (MCP-1) expression in lesions and persistence of disease activity in giant-cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with giant-cell arteritis (GCA) usually respond dramatically to corticosteroid treatment. However, recurrences are frequent and corticosteroid requirements are highly variable among patients. The aim of our study was to identify genes potentially involved in disease persistence. METHODS: Gene expression was explored with cDNA arrays in temporal artery biopsies from six GCA patients with relapsing disease and six patients who easily achieved sustained remission. Differentially expressed genes of interest were subsequently analysed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry in temporal artery biopsies from 35 patients with biopsy-proven GCA and nine controls. RESULTS: CCL2 (MCP-1) was up-regulated in temporal artery samples from relapsing individuals. In the extended series of patients, CCL2 mRNA concentration in lesions was significantly higher than in controls (31 +/- 15.6 vs 0.44 +/- 0.10, P = 0.0001). In addition, CCL2 was more abundant in patients who experienced two or more relapses during the first year compared with those who endured sustained remission (127 +/- 82 vs 11 +/- 5.5, P = 0.0233) and correlated with the cumulated prednisolone dose (R = 0.533, P = 0.0024). CCL2 mRNA concentration correlated with IL-1beta (R = 0.45, P = 0.02), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (R = 0.47, P = 0.013) and IL-6 (R = 0.52, P = 0.0053) mRNA. However, circulating CCL2 determined by ELISA was decreased in patients with strong systemic inflammatory response, suggesting that reduction in circulating CCL2 may reinforce the local gradient in lesions. CONCLUSION: Increased CCL2 (MCP-1) expression in lesions is associated with persistence of disease activity in GCA.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed2004

Low-grade MgO used to stabilize heavy metals in highly contaminated soils.

Low-grade MgO may be an economically feasible alternative in the stabilization of heavy metals from heavily contaminated soils. The use of MgO is described acting as a buffering agent within the pH 9-11 range, minimizing heavy metals solubility and avoiding the redissolution that occurs when lime is used. The effectiveness of LG-MgO has been studied as stabilizer agent of heavily polluted soils mainly contaminated by the flue-dust of the pyrite roasting. The use of LG-MgO as a reactive medium ensures that significant rates of metal fixation, greater than 80%, are achieved. The heavy metals leachate from the stabilized soil samples show a concentration lower than the limit set to classify the waste as non-special residue. Regardless of the quantity of stabilizer employed (greater than 10%), LG-MgO provides an alkali reservoir that allows guaranteeing long-term stabilization without varying the pH conditions.

Environmental Pollution↗
PubMed2003

Tissue production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, TNFalpha and IL-6) correlates with the intensity of the systemic inflammatory response and with corticosteroid requirements in giant-cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate proinflammatory cytokine expression in temporal arteries from patients with giant-cell arteritis (GCA) and to analyse its relationship with the intensity of the initial systemic inflammatory reaction and response to corticosteroid therapy. METHODS: Quantification of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA by real-time quantitative PCR in temporal artery samples from 36 patients with biopsy-proven GCA and 11 controls. Immunohistochemical detection of IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and IL-6 in temporal artery sections from 74 patients with GCA and 15 controls. Clinical and biochemical parameters of inflammation as well as the time (weeks) required to reach a maintenance prednisone dose <10 mg/day were recorded. RESULTS: IL-1beta (13.8 +/- 2.5 vs 5.4 +/- 1.3 relative units, P = 0.012) and IL-6 transcripts (34 +/- 13.7 vs 7.8 +/- 4.5 relative units, P = 0.034) were significantly more abundant in patients with a strong systemic inflammatory response compared with those with no inflammatory parameters. Immunohistochemical scores for IL-1beta (2.7 +/- 0.3 vs 1.9 +/- 0.2, P = 0.018), TNFalpha (3.2 +/- 0.2 vs 2.4 +/- 0.3, P = 0.028) and IL-6 (3 +/- 0.2 vs 2.1 +/- 0.3, P = 0.023) were also significantly higher in patients with strong systemic inflammatory reaction. A significant correlation was found between the amount of tissue TNFalpha mRNA and the time required to reach a maintenance dose of prednisone <10 mg/day (r = 0.586, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: GCA patients with a strong systemic inflammatory response, who have been previously shown to be more resistant to corticosteroid therapy, have elevated tissue expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, TNFalpha and IL-6. High production of TNFalpha is associated with longer corticosteroid requirements.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed2003

Removal of ammonium and phosphates from wastewater resulting from the process of cochineal extraction using MgO-containing by-product.

The wastewater produced by the cochineal extract process to obtain the carminic acid colouring pigment (carmin red E120) has high concentrations of phosphates and ammonium. It is known that both ions can be precipitated with magnesium in the form of struvite, MgNH(4)PO(4), or ammonium magnesium phosphate (MAP) compounds. In this study, the use of an alternative MgO-containing by-product is investigated. The optimal pH, reaction time and solid/liquid ratio have been studied. It has been found that the low-grade MgO needed is greater than the stoichiometric value for the full removal of ammonium and phosphate as MAP compounds. Although the low-grade MgO (LG-MgO) reacts slower than pure MgO, it has considerable economic advantages. A batch process has been proposed for the removal of ammonium and phosphates from wastewater obtained in cochineal extracts processing, previously to biological treatment to diminish the COD.

Antacids↗
PubMed2003

Short-term natural weathering of MSWI bottom ash as a function of particle size.

The chemical and material composition of MSWI bottom ash depends on the particle size; this suggests that the mechanisms and kinetics of natural weathering are also a function of particle size. This paper reports the effects of short-term natural weathering on the leaching of heavy metals (mainly Pb, Cu and Zn) from MSWI bottom ash. Initial concentrations of heavy metals were higher for the smallest particle size fractions, but these levels fell dramatically during the first 50 days of weathering before levelling off. The main differences between size fractions were in the pH and the solubility of calcium and aluminium. For the initial stages of weathering and small size fractions, portlandite solubility seemed to control the pH. In contrast, for fractions bigger than 6 mm, the formation of ettringite was the reaction controlling the pH and the solubility of sulphates, aluminium and calcium.

Carbon↗
PubMed1999

Detecting anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies in routine analysis: a comparison between double immunodiffusion and immunoblotting.

The aim of this study was to assess the performance of a commercially available procedure for detecting anti-Sjögren's syndrome A (anti-SSA) and anti-Sjögren's syndrome B (anti-SSB) antibodies by immunoblotting (IB) and compare it with double immunodiffusion (DID). We also studied the clinical significance of these profiles in a series of unselected anti-SSA positive patients. Serum samples from 534 patients that were positive on an immunofluorescent screening test using HEp-2 cells were analysed for anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies by DID and IB (Biolab Anablot System II), and the results on anti-SSA antibodies were confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fifty-five serum samples were found to be positive for anti-SSA antibodies. Among these, 24 were anti-SSA negative by IB but positive by DID and ELISA ('non-blotter sera'), whereas only three serum samples were anti-SSA negative by DID but positive by IB and ELISA. Of the 18 anti-SSB positive serum samples, eight were negative by DID. All the serum samples that were anti-SSB positive by DID were also positive by IB. Anti-SSB antibodies showed a significant association with eye dryness and leucopenia. Anti-52 kDa SSA antibodies were associated with anti-SSB antibodies but showed no significant association with sicca symptoms, while anti-60 kDa SSA antibodies were associated with lower rates of leucopenia. The 'non-blotter' profile showed no significant association with any clinical parameter. IB is less sensitive than DID for detecting anti-SSA antibodies but more sensitive than DID for detecting anti-SSB antibodies. The determination of anti-SSA immunoblotting profiles in patients positive for anti-SSA antibodies by DID does not significantly improve the clinical usefulness of this test. As expected, anti-SSB antibodies were associated with clinical features of Sjögren's disease. Non-blotting (probably conformational) anti-SSA antibodies did not show any further association with clinical parameters and seem to have no clinical relevance.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1996

Electronic compliance assessment of antifungal prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus-infected women.

Several prophylactic medications for opportunistic or recurrent infections are used in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals. Essential to the efficacy evaluation of these agents is the accurate reporting of medication compliance. We hypothesized that poor patient compliance with thrice-weekly fluconazole prophylaxis would correlate with the occurrence of clinical events. Fluconazole compliance was monitored electronically by using the Medication Event Monitoring Systems with 19 women receiving fluconazole at 50 mg thrice weekly for prophylaxis of recurrent mucocutaneous candidiasis. During 202 patient-months of follow-up, eight breakthrough episodes of mucocutaneous candidiasis developed in four women; compliance data were available for seven of these episodes. At 6 months of therapy, more women with greater than or equal to 80% compliance were disease free compared with women with less than 80% compliance (P < 0.05; the Fisher exact test). These data suggest that documentation of medication compliance is essential in studies of chronic prophylaxis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients to properly evaluate drug efficacy and to avoid erroneous conclusions concerning drug failure.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1984

[Stimulation of cell division by Ehrlich carcinoma cell surface antibodies].

Some Ehrlich ascites cancer cells of the mouse show nuclear division as a response to cell surface signals. Antibodies to plasma membrane produce a membrane molecular redistribution, but only 25 per 100 proceed to nuclear division. This division is not associated to DNA synthesis, showing that the effect is produced in G0 phase cells originated from G2 phase cells.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cholestatic jaundice and constitutional syndrome as early manifestations of primary systemic amyloidosis].

We present the case of a 70-year-old woman who had been suffering from constitutional syndrome for several months, abdominal distension, and yellowish coloration of the skin for the previous few days with a rapidly fatal course. Examination revealed hepatomegaly and ascites. Laboratory investigations revealed hyperbilirubinemia with cholestasis. The remaining investigations (abdominal ultrasound, barium transit evaluation, bone marrow study, analysis of ascitic fluid and laparoscopy) did not establish the diagnosis. This was established by liver and subcutaneous fatty tissue biopsies, which revealed type AL amyloid deposits. Autopsy confirmed that the patient had primary systemic amyloidosis. This infrequent form of presentation of systemic amyloidosis and its poor prognosis are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alopecia associated with zidovudine therapy.

Alopecia has been described in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Zidovudine reportedly influences hair growth in these patients, causing regrowth or thickening. A 33-year-old HIV-infected man developed alopecia areata after beginning zidovudine therapy. The alopecia reversed after the drug was discontinued.

Adult↗