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Biomedical subjects

P Barranco

Publications and source records attributed to P Barranco.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Digestive proteases during development of larvae of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The evolution of digestive proteases during larval development of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790) has been studied. A progressive increase of protease activity has been found. The optimum pH for proteolytic activity against azocasein was determined. Caseinograms revealed an active complex of alkaline proteases from the early stages of the development. From the apparent molecular masses, three groups of proteases have been found - high molecular-mass proteases, medium molecular-mass proteases, and low molecular-mass proteases. Studies using specific protease inhibitors showed the major presence of serine proteases in gut extracts. The results obtained from larvae reared on different substrates have made possible a comparative assessment of the influence of diet on the development of the digestive enzymatic system. Larvae fed on an artificial diet showed a complete pattern of digestive proteases. Data suggest that this diet seems to be suitable for future research with this insect pest.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Gastroallergic anisakiasis: findings in 22 patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ingestion of Anisakidae larvae in raw seafood may cause anisakiasis. However, despite the high level of consumption of seafood in Spain, only a few cases of anisakiasis have been reported until now. Anisakis simplex can cause allergic reactions in sensitized patients as a result of its parasitism in the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to analyse the clinical findings in 22 patients with gastroallergic anisakiasis. METHODS: Patients with allergic and/or gastric symptoms after seafood ingestion were evaluated in the emergency room of the La Paz General University Hospital. Skin testing for Anisakis simplex and tests on the implicated seafood were performed and amounts of serum-specific immunoglobulin E were assessed. A gastroscopy was performed in those patients with severe allergic or/and persistent gastric symptoms after ingestion of raw or undercooked seafood. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were diagnosed with gastroallergic anisakiasis in 1 year. Most patients presented to the emergency room of our hospital with allergic symptoms. Gastric symptoms were usually moderate. Gastroscopy revealed local mucosal oedema and gastric erosion at the point of fixation. Two or more worms were detected in three patients. The mean time of latency of allergic symptoms was 5 h, while the mean time for gastric symptoms was 3 h. CONCLUSION: Anisakis simplex parasitism was the causative agent of allergic and gastric symptoms. Gastroallergic anisakiasis appears to be a relatively common disease, that may have been underdiagnosed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Gastric anisakiasis: an underestimated cause of acute urticaria and angio-oedema?

Acute urticaria and angio-oedema are common in primary care and in the emergency unit. Food allergy is one possible cause. We describe gastric anisakiasis, in which symptoms are often not obviously related to eating raw fish. A study was made of patients presenting at the emergency department who had allergic symptoms such as urticaria or angio-oedema and had recently eaten raw or undercooked fish. They were divided into two groups. Patients in group A (n = 13) also had abdominal symptoms and were diagnosed as having gastric anisakiasis by fibre-optic gastroscopy where third-stage larvae of Anisakis simplex were visualized and extracted. Skin prick tests and specific IgE to A. simplex were positive. Patients in group B (n = 13) had only allergic symptoms after eating raw fish. Eleven of 13 patients had positive skin prick tests and specific IgE to A. simplex. Three of 15 control subjects had positive skin prick tests and specific IgE to A. simplex. Allergic symptoms appeared from 2 to 20 h (mean 5.0) after ingestion in group A and from 20 min to 23 h (mean 4.3 h) in group B. Gastric symptoms in group A disappeared rapidly after extraction of the larvae. Allergic symptoms disappeared in most cases within the first 24 h. We suggest that the allergic symptoms in group A as well as in group B were mainly due to parasitization by A. simplex in sensitized patients. Gastric anisakiasis may be a widely underdiagnosed clinical entity.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Exposure to parakeets and bronchiolitis obliterans.

Case report of a 64-year-old woman with increasing dyspnea and cough. She cared at home for 8 parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus). Subsequent studies revealed a restrictive pulmonary defect and transbronchial biopsy, a histological bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). No significant elevated anti-avian IgG could be detected, probably because of a transient hypogammaglobulinaemia. The implication of antigenic exposure to avian antigens in the pathogenesis of BO is discussed.

Agammaglobulinemia↗
PubMed1997

Allergic reactions to anisakis simplex parasitizing seafood.

BACKGROUND: The ingestion of Anisakidae ssp larvae parasitized fish can cause anisakiasis. Allergic reactions after ingestion of safely cooked but parasitized fish have been reported. METHODS: Twenty-three patients who suffered allergic reactions after seafood ingestion, with negative skin tests were studied. Anisakis simplex sensitization was assessed by skin prick test and/or specific serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE). Total serum IgE and specific IgE against the implicated seafood and Ascaris lumbricoides were also determined. RESULTS: Manifestations of Anisakis simplex allergy were urticaria/angioedema (18/23) patients and anaphylaxis (5/23). Gastric symptoms were also observed (3/23). Sea fish and shellfish were implicated. Raw and cooked seafood ingestion caused reactions. Total serum IgE ranged from 13 to 7200 KU/L. Specific IgE to Anisakis simplex was positive (> 0.35 KU/L) in all patients, and skin tests were positive in 20. Serum-specific IgE and skin tests to the involved seafoods were negative in every patient. Serum-specific IgE to Ascaris lumbricoides was negative in 13 patients. No association between total IgE and the eosinophil count (r < 0.1) was observed, but there was some association between total IgE and specific IgE to Anisakis simplex (r = 0.58). CONCLUSION: Anisakis simplex sensitization is the cause of allergic reactions after seafood ingestion. It is important to pay attention to this new "food allergy" to diagnose correctly the etiology of adverse food reactions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Allergic contact reactions due to phenylephrine hydrochloride in eyedrops.

BACKGROUND: Dermatitis of and around the eye is common. Allergic contact reactions from phenylephrine are rare despite extensive use by ophthalmologists. Previous reports do not indicate crossreactivity between phenylephrine and other sympathomimetic drugs in patch testing. METHODS: We report three cases of allergic contact reactions (dermato-conjunctivitis) after eyedrops. Skin prick tests, epicutaneous testing with the implicated drugs, additives, and a complete patch test battery, TRUE test (Upjohn-Pharmacia, Sweden), were performed in each patient. RESULTS: All skin prick tests were negative. The three patients showed positive patch tests to phenylephrine and one of them also to ephedrine. Tolerance of the other eyedrops without phenylephrine was verified by challenge. CONCLUSION: Phenylephrine was the responsible agent for the reactions in our patients as confirmed by clinical findings and positive patch tests. Our findings suggest the central structure as the sensitizing part of drug in the second patient. Patch testing is essential for diagnosis of allergic contact reactions of and around the eye.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis related to a covered and heated swimming pool environment.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) or extrinsic allergic alveolitis is a lung disease caused by a large group of inhaled antigens of various sources. The most common HP occurring in the farm environment is classically caused by exposure to various thermophilic actinomycetes and fungi that can grow in the farm environment. Pullularia species and thermophilic actinomycetes have been involved in HP related to humidifier water and saunas. Our case illustrates the value of a site visit in the diagnosis of HP. During a visit to the covered and heated swimming-pool where our patient used to swim we could see that favourable conditions to fungal growth existed. To determine the possible aetiological agents of a suspected HP, cultures from several parts of the swimming-pool were taken. These cultures showed an intense growth of thermophilic actinomycetes, Neurospora and Aspergillus species. Precipitating antibodies against Neurospora species and Mycropolyspora faeni were detected. A case of HP related to a covered and heated swimming-pool environment is reported. Thermophilic actinomycetes and Neurospora species may be the causing agents.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1995

Robotics in the hematology laboratory. An evaluation of the productivity of the Sysmex HS-330.

The productivity of a robotic hematology system (Sysmex HS-330) was compared with that of existing automated, semi-automated, and manual systems (Coulter Counter-Model STKS; Sysmex R-1000 reticulocyte counter. Geometric Data Miniprep slide maker, respectively) in the clinical hematology laboratory of a large hospital. On average, for a batch of 50 samples, the HS-330 performed a blood count with a 5-part differential, a reticulocyte count, and prepare a blood smear 23 minutes faster than could trained technologists using existing equipment. An estimated 1.8 medical technologists could be assigned to other tasks; however, because of the equipment's high cost, in a laboratory processing 1,000 samples per day, 4.6 years would be needed before any actual cost savings were experienced.

Efficiency↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Delayed hypersensitivity to enoxaparin.

A 65-year-old woman experienced immediate itchy erythematous patches at the subcutaneous injection sites of sodium enoxaparin. An erythematous and infiltrated 40 x 20 mm lesion on the abdominal wall could be observed at the site of enoxaparin injection when she was referred to our clinic 48 h after injection. Lesions subsided spontaneously within 1 week. She had been on this treatment 1 and 3 years before without any adverse reaction. To clarify the nature of the reaction, epicutaneous tests with sodium enoxaparin, calcium nadroparin and calcium heparin were performed, all with negative results. Skin prick test with sodium enoxaparin was also negative. Biopsy of the cutaneous lesion showed spongiotic dermatitis, strongly suggesting a delayed hypersensitivity mechanism. We report here on a new case of delayed hypersensitivity to enoxaparin. Being female, overweight and having prolonged application of the drug were suggested risk factors present in our patient. Biopsy was essential for diagnosis. Although type IV hypersensitivity reactions to enoxaparin are rare, we should start to suspect this condition in order not to underdiagnose it.

Aged↗