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Biomedical subjects

M Villagrasa

Publications and source records attributed to M Villagrasa.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Development of a liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous analysis of benzoxazolinones and their degradation products.

A new method for the simultaneous analysis of some benzoxazolinones, aminophenoxazinones and malonamic acids was developed based on liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS), using electrospray ionization (ESI) and operating in positive mode. Different ESI-MS parameters, such as fragmentor voltage, capillary voltage, drying gas flow, nebulizer gas pressure and drying gas temperature, were optimized in order to obtain structural information and to achieve maximum sensitivity. Chromatographic separation was performed by a reversed-phase LC column using a linear gradient of water and methanol. Quality assurance of the developed method was assessed by measuring parameters as linearity, sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility. Quantification method based on the use of internal standard was developed, selecting synthetic 2-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one as internal standard. Good correlations were obtained for all analytes relative to this compound in the range of 0.05-1.5 ng/microL. Instrumental detection limits were between 0.02 and 0.2 ng/microL. Repeatability and reproducibility studies showed acceptable coefficient of variation values.

Benzoxazoles↗

Giant cell myocarditis: monocytic immunophenotype of giant cells in a case associated with ulcerative colitis.

Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) is a rare condition whose histologic hallmark, the multinucleate giant cell, is of debated origin (monocytic v myogenic). We report the case of a 46-year-old woman with a previous diagnosis of ulcerative colitis who rapidly deteriorated and died as the result of refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Postmortem examination showed a diffuse infiltration of the myocardium by round cells and multinucleate giant cells. Immunohistochemically, round cells were demonstrated to be T lymphocytes admixed with monocytes. Multinucleate giant cells expressed monocytic markers (MAC 387, lysozyme) and were negative for muscle markers (actin, desmin, myoglobin). This case illustrates the monocytic and macrophagic nature of multinucleate giant cells and lends support to the autoimmune hypothesis of GCM by the concurrence of the latter with ulcerative colitis.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗

Aleatory clinical study comparing otilonium bromide with a fiber-rich diet in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

We studied 114 patients affected by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (group A = 53 patients, group B = 61). Group A received diet with high content of roughage (20 g of fibers) and 10 g of bran, group B received otilonium bromide (OB) 40mg tid and normal diet (10-15 g of fibers). Abdominal pain, abdominal distension, bowel movements were evaluated before treatment (T0) at the end (T24) and after 12 months (T12). In group B otilonium bromide induced a significant improvement (p less than 0.01) of abdominal pain and distension when comparing T0 with T24. In group A diet produced an improvement, albeit not significant, of the aforementioned parameters at T24. On the basis of our data OB seems to be more effective than a high-fiber diet in the treatment of IBS.

Abdominal Pain↗

[Usefulness of microscopic study of the duodenal bile in the diagnosis of pancreatitis of unknown cause].

In spite of the numerous causes of acute pancreatitis reported, among which the most frequent are biliary lithiasis and alcoholism, the etiology remains obscure in many patients, being termed idiopathic in these cases. The presence of microcalculi in the bile juice has been described as a cause of some pancreatitis initially labeled as of unknown cause. We studied the duodenal bile juice of 22 patients who were admitted on various occasions for acute pancreatitis, in whom the etiology could not be clarified in spite of the anamnesis and explorations. Microscopic study of the bile juice showed the presence of microlithiasis in 36.3% of cases. We conclude that microscopic study of the bile juice is a risk-free technique that should be included systematically in the investigation of the etiology of idiopathic pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

Hepatocellular carcinoma presenting with bleeding due to duodenal perforation by the tumor.

A 70-year-old man was admitted with upper GI bleeding. Endoscopy showed a large duodenal bleeding mass. The aspect of the tumor was macroscopically similar to the liver surface. The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was made by aspiration cytology guided by abdominal computed tomographic scan. The postmortem examination revealed an extensive primary hepatic tumor which caused an ulcer in the first part of the duodenum and protruded into the lumen. This unusual presentation of a hepatocellular carcinoma has not been previously reported.

Aged↗

Endoscopic hemostasis by injection therapy and electro-hydro-coagulation in high-risk patients with active gastroduodenal bleeding ulcer.

For the purpose of arresting hemorrhage from bleeding gastric or duodenal ulcers we developed, in 28 high-risk patients, a new method of endoscopic local injection of epinephrine (1:10,000) followed by electro-hydro monopolar coagulation and injection of Polidocanol (1%). Nine patients had signs of shock at the time of admission. The average blood requirements were 3.9 units in the first 24 hours. All patients had important factors militating against surgery, namely age and serious primary disease. In 26 out of 28 patients (92.8%) hemostasis was accomplished during endoscopy. Three patients (10.7%) rebled within the first 36 hours, requiring emergency surgery. Thus definitive hemostasis was achieved in 23 patients (82.1%). There were no complications as a result of endoscopic treatment.

Aged↗

[Panniculitis in pancreatic diseases].

A case of panniculitis in a patient with a pancreatic pseudocyst is described. Etiologic possibilities of the dermic lesions are analized, pointing out the role of the antiproteolytic enzymes and immunologic factors. In our patient neither immunologic or alpha-1-antitrypsin anomalies were detected. The skin lesions are probably related to the release of the pancreatic enzymes into the blood.

Adult↗

[Clinical study of gastric lymphomas and pseudolymphomas (author's transl)].

The differentiation between gastric lymphomas and pseudolymphomas represents a clinical, surgical, and pathologic problem affecting both prognosis and therapy. Twenty patients were diagnosed for gastric lymphomas or gastric pseudolymphomas. Only those in stages IE or IIE were included in the first group (13 patients). Pseudolymphomas were diagnosed in seven patients on the basis of histopathologic criteria; all seven had peptic ulcers. Survival among the 13 patients diagnosed for lymphomas was low; six of them died within the first year. The seven cases diagnosed as pseudolymphoma progressed favorably over periods between 2 months and 5 years. The histologic parameters on which the differentiation of the two conditions was based included: a) cell type; b) distribution and limits of infiltration; c) presence of peptic ulcers in pseudolymphomas; and c) characteristics of the regional lymph nodes. The various possible mechanisms of pseudolymphomatous reaction are discussed. It is suggested that the relatively good prognosis reported in some series of gastric lymphomas may be due to the inclusion of pseudolymphomas. There is obvious justification for distinguishing between this two conditions.

Adult↗

Orbital meningioma with a granular cell component in a dog, with extracranial metastasis.

A meningioma with a significant component of granular cells is described in the left ocular orbit of a 5-year-old male Golden retriever dog that presented with exophthalmos. The neoplastic mass surrounded the optic nerve. Microscopically, the tumour was characterized by nests of large, round to polygonal cells, variable in size, with eccentric nuclei and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, containing PAS-positive granules. In focal areas, cells were smaller and occasionally formed whorl-like structures. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that neoplastic cells reacted positively for vimentin and, with less intensity, for neuron specific enolase and S-100, whereas they were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein and cytokeratins. Metastatic growths, formed by similar cells, were seen in the lung and heart.

Animals↗