Biomedical subjects

R Jiménez

Publications and source records attributed to R Jiménez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Regression of papilloma high-grade lesions (CIN 2 and CIN 3) is stimulated by therapeutic vaccination with MVA E2 recombinant vaccine.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the etiologic agent for cervical cancer. In Mexico, a women dies every 2 h, and since 1990 the statistics have shown that the numbers of deaths are increasing. We conducted a phase II clinical trial to evaluate the potential use of the MVA E2 recombinant vaccinia virus in treating high-grade lesions (CIN 2 and CIN 3) associated with oncogenic papillomavirus. Fifty-four female patients with high degree lesions were treated either with an MVA E2 therapeutic vaccine or with conization. Thirty-four women received the therapeutic vaccine, at a total of 10(7) virus particles per dose injected directly into the uterus once every week over a 6-week period. Twenty control patients were treated with conization. By colposcopy, 19 patients out of 34 showed no lesion, in three patients the lesions were reduced by 85-90%, in eight other lesions had reduced by 60%, and in four more patients, they were reduced by 25%. Histological analysis showed total elimination of high-grade lesions in 20 out of 34 patients after treatment with MVA E2. Eleven patients had a 50% reduction in lesion size. In two other patients, the lesion was reduced to CIN 2 and in one more patient the lesion was reduced to low grade (CIN 1). All patients developed antibodies against the MVA E2 vaccine, and generated a specific cytotoxic response against papilloma-transformed cells. DNA viral load was significantly reduced in MVA E2-treated patients. Conization eliminated the lesions in 80% of the patients, but patients did not develop cytotoxic activity specific against cancer cells and did not eliminate the papillomavirus. In addition, three patients treated with conization had recurrence of lesions 1 year later. These results show that therapeutic vaccination with MVA E2 proved to be very effective in stimulating the immune system against papillomavirus, and in generating regression of high-grade lesion.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Efficacy and safety of amlodipine: a comparative study of hypertensive patients treated at primary- and specialised-care centres.

BACKGROUND: This study set out to assess the safety and efficacy of amlodipine in two cohorts of patients who were attended in primary- and specialised-care centres, respectively. METHODS: Prospective, observational, multicentre pharmacovigilance study including patients aged >18 years who presented with a diagnosis of hypertension (systolic blood pressure [SBP] >or=140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure [DBP] >or=90 mm Hg) of >6 months' duration, which was either untreated or uncontrolled, and who were followed up by general practitioners and specialists over a period of 4-6 months. RESULTS: Of the total of 4277 patients included in the study, 2520 (58.9%) were attended in primary care and 1757 (41.1%) in specialised care. 2982 patients (69.7%) were receiving monotherapy, the rest were receiving combined therapy. Over the course of the study, 308 patients (7.2%) experienced adverse events related to the study drug, mostly mild to moderate in nature. There were 20 serious events, although none was related to the study drug. By the end of the study, 1617 patients (37.8%) had achieved the therapeutic goal (SBP <140 mm Hg and DBP <90 mm Hg), with the greatest degree of control being registered among patients receiving combined therapy compared with monotherapy (38.7% vs 35.7%), and in those treated in a specialised-care setting versus a primary-care setting (43.5% vs 33.8%; p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Amlodipine was shown to be a well tolerated and effective drug in one in three patients, and achieved the therapeutic goal in a higher proportion of patients at specialised-care centres compared with those in primary care, and in those receiving combined therapy compared with monotherapy.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Acute rejection of kidney transplant is associated with induction of replicative senescence in CD8+ T lymphocytes].

Acute renal rejection repeatedly activates immunocompromised CD8 + T cells. Maintained activation of CD8 + T cells can induce a process of replicative senescence. In the present study, we will evaluate in CD8 lymphocytes from patients undergoing acute renal rejection characteristics of replicative senescence such as: a) low expression of CD28 molecule; b) telomere shortening and c) increase production of proinflammatory cytokines. The study was carried out in CD8 + T cells from 14 patients transplanted without clinical evidences of acute renal rejection, 14 patients kidney transplanted with clinical and anatomopathological evidences of acute renal rejection, 8 healthy controls. The results shown that in peripheral blood and renal biopsy of patients with acute renal rejection there is a significant increment of the population of T cells CD28-CD8+, with short telomere length, as compared with healthy controls and patients without acute renal rejection. The presence of senescent cells was associated with high levels of IL-10 and IFN-Y in plasma and urine. In conclusion our study suggest that the CD8 + T cells of patients with acute renal rejection suffer a process of replicative senescence.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

BW284c51 blocks nicotinic acetylcholine receptors transplanted to Xenopus oocytes.

We have studied the effects of BW284c51 on the function of Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine (Ach) receptors (nAchRs) transplanted to Xenopus laevis oocytes. BW284c51 reversible inhibited Ach-elicited currents (IAch) in a concentration-dependent manner, increased IAch desensitisation and changed the Ach concentration-dependence of the IAch from a two-site to a single-site Hill equation, without affecting the EC50. These effects were only present at hyperpolarising potentials, suggesting that nAchR blockade by BW284c51 is non-competitive and likely due to an open channel block as the principal mechanism.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Effects of capsule endoscopy on cardiac pacemakers.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Capsule endoscopy is a new, noninvasive diagnostic technique which enables visualization of the mucosa of the small intestine in physiological conditions and without the need to subject the patient to external radiation. Wireless capsule video endoscopy is contraindicated in patients with a cardiac pacemaker. However, on the basis of the characteristics of the radiofrequency band used by the endoscopic capsule, together with a series of other factors, it is possible that the patient's use of a pacemaker should not be a contraindication to capsule endoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This work had two phases: an in vitro study, using an interference detector, and an in vivo study involving 20 patients with cardiac pacemakers who showed symptoms or signs that justified a capsule endoscopy investigation. RESULTS: No interference was observed during the first, in vitro, phase of the study. In the second phase, patients wore a Holter recorder for a mean time of 10 hours, during which the average number of recorded QRS complexes exceeded 30,000. All the pacemakers functioned normally. Interference due only to myopotentials was detected in a single patient in whom modification of the pacemaker programming was necessary. In the other 19 patients, neither sensing nor stimulation failures were observed. CONCLUSIONS: No interference between the pacemaker and the endoscopic capsule was observed. All the pacemakers functioned normally, and no increased incidence of adverse effects was observed. Neither was any pacemaker-induced interference observed on the capsule endoscopy images.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Burden of hospitalizations attributable to rotavirus infection in children in Spain, period 1999-2000.

The aim of this study is to provide estimates on the incidence of rotavirus infection requiring hospitalization in children <or=5 years of age during the 1999-2000 period in Spain and the associated direct cost of these hospitalizations. Hospital admissions attributable to rotavirus were estimated by using data on confirmed laboratory reports of rotavirus and hospital admissions due to acute gastroenteritis. During the study period a total of 32541 cases of pathogens responsible for acute gastroenteritis were reported to the microbiological information national system (SIM) and 14.0% were rotavirus. The proportion of laboratory-confirmed rotavirus cases was extrapolated to the total number of hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis in children <or=5 years of age. An annual incidence of 1.0 hospital admissions attributable to rotavirus per 1000 persons <or=5 years of age was found, although during the winter season it reached 2.5 hospitalizations per 1000. Overall, the estimated annual number of days of hospitalization attributable to rotavirus was 8742 days that results in a cost of 3.6 million per year.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2004

Evaluation of the BCR sequential extraction procedure applied for two unpolluted Spanish soils.

The procedure of BCR sequential extraction has been applied to five samples from two unpolluted soils in southern Spain. Total concentrations of different elements have been calculated as the sum of the three fractions of BCR and the residue has been measured for each. Also, a total analysis based on INAA or total-digestion techniques has been performed for the same samples. BCR and total analysis closely agreed for As, Pb and Cd. For Cu, Co, Cr and Zn the comparison of the results did not provide definitive conclusions concerning the capability of BCR in measuring total concentrations. On the other hand, in these cases, a certain correlation was found between the concentrations measured and some soil characteristics, especially the clay, organic-matter and CaCO(3) contents. BCR proved incapable of providing accurate measurements for Ni.

Chemical Fractionation↗

PubMed2004

Minimum inhibitory concentrations for 25 selected antimicrobial agents against Dichelobacter nodosus and Fusobacterium strains isolated from footrot in sheep of Portugal and Spain.

The agar dilution method was used to determine the inhibitory activity of 25 antimicrobial agents against 69 strains of Dichelobacter nodosus and 108 strains of the genus Fusobacterium, all of which were isolated from 90 clinical cases of ovine footrot between October 1998 and November 2000. In the case of the micro-organisms belonging to the genus Fusobacterium, the six beta-lactams studied (benzyl penicillin, ampicillin, cloxacillin, cefadroxil, cefuroxime and cephalexine) proved to be, in general, the most effective antimicrobial agents. Chloramphenicol, clindamycin and doxycycline were also quite active against Fusobacterium spp. With regard to the 69 strains of D. nodosus tested, the levels of resistance remain low.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Statistical normal values of visual parameters that characterize binocular function in children.

A wide range of visual parameters used to evaluate binocular function were evaluated in a paediatric population (1056 subjects aged 6-12 years). Mean values are provided for these ages in optometric tests that directly assess the vergence system, horizontal phorias for near and far vision (measured by a modified version of the Thorington method), negative and positive vergence amplitude for near and far vision (step vergence testing), vergence facility (flippers 8 Delta BI/8 Delta BO), and near-point of convergence (penlight push-up technique and red-lens push-up technique), as well as stimulus accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio and stereoacuity (Randot test) which provide an overall evaluation of the vergence, accommodative and oculomotor systems. A statistical comparison (anova and Bonferroni post hoc test) of these values between ages was performed. The differences, although statistically significant, were not clinically meaningful, and therefore we identified two trends in the behaviour of these parameters. For all parameters, except for vergence facility, we established a single mean reference value for the age range studied. The difference between the means for vergence facility indicated the need to divide the population into two age ranges (6-8 and 8-12 years). This study establishes statistical normal values for these parameters in a paediatric population and their means are a valuable instrument for separating children with binocular anomalies from those with normal binocular vision.

Aging↗

PubMed2004

Transmission analysis of B chromosomes in Rattus rattus from Northern Africa.

Traditionally, B chromosomes have been classified as parasitic or heterotic, depending of whether or not they show selfish behaviour. Nevertheless, experimental evidence has been found supporting the idea that supernumerary chromosomes may evolve from parasitism to neutrality. In this work, B chromosome transmission in Rattus rattus has been analysed by performing several crosses between individuals carrying different numbers of supernumerary chromosomes. Our results demonstrated a Mendelian transmission rate through males, but slight accumulation of the Bs through females. This parasitic behaviour is shared in populations as distant as Asia and Africa, and even in a related species in Australia, suggesting the possibility of an ancient origin of these supernumerary chromosomes.

Africa, Northern↗

PubMed2003

Effects of aging and cyclosporin treatment on the hepatobiliary efflux of glutathione.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cyclosporin (CyA) treatment on biliary glutathione efflux in rats of different ages (1, 2, 4, and 24 months). CyA treatment reduced the liver content of total glutathione in 1-, 2- and 24 month old rats (-30%, -43% and -30%, respectively). By contrast, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentration in liver tended to increase, although non significantly, in the rats aged 4 and 24 month (+36% and +28%, respectively). The oxidized-to-reduced glutathione ratio was significantly increased in 2-, 4- and 24 month old animals (+23%, +36% and >100%, respectively). Regarding biliary glutathione, our data indicate that efflux rates of total glutathione in control (untreated) rats increased to a maximum at 4 months, and decreased (-56%) in 24 month old rats, although values were still higher than those from young animals. CyA treatment significantly reduced biliary glutathione secretion except in 24 month old rats (-98%, -66% and -32%, at 1, 2 and 4 month, respectively). In addition, following inhibition of the intrabiliary catabolism of the tripeptide by acivicin, glutathione efflux rates into bile were significantly reduced by the drug only in 1- and 2 month old rats (-29% and -55%, respectively) and even tended to increase, although non significantly, in oldest animals. Our data indicate that inhibition of biliary glutathione efflux by CyA was greater in younger rats and support the view that increased intrabiliary catabolism of the tripeptide and inhibition of its canalicular transport could contribute to the decline in biliary glutathione secretion induced by the drug.

Aging↗

PubMed2003

Diagnostic imaging in sheep hepatic fascioliasis: ultrasound, computer tomography and magnetic resonance findings.

Radiological features and biochemical changes were investigated during the parenchymal and ductal phases of chronic Fasciola hepatica infection in sheep. The activities of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), plasma levels of IgG anti- F. hepatica and serial ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were studied in eight sheep infected with 150 F. hepatica metacercariae. Experimental fluke infection provoked an increase in plasma level of IgG directed against F. hepatica and in plasma LDH and AST activities from 4 weeks after infection. Enzyme activities did not significantly differ from the baseline after 15 and 12 weeks for LDH and AST, respectively. GGT activity increased from 9 weeks postinfection and still remained significantly elevated at 18 weeks. In the parenchymal phase, both CT and MRI showed nodular lesions in five animals and MRI could also detect early tracks in the subcapsular area in three sheep. Ultrasound findings were nonspecific in this phase. Ductal dilatation was shown by ultrasound, CT and MRI in almost all animals, although MRI was inferior to CT in depicting a mild ductal dilatation. Moving echogenic forms in the dilated bile ducts were observed by ultrasound from 9 weeks postinfection in seven of the eight sheep. Moving worms were only demonstrated in four sheep at CT and in a single sheep at MRI. This study shows that radiological findings may be useful in studies of fluke-induced liver damage.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Aetiology of ovine footrot in the Portuguese region of Alto Alentejo.

In this work, we found it appropriate to carry out a study directed towards isolating and identifying the entailed microorganisms which trigger off footrot in sheep, placing special emphasis on the serotipification of the different Dichelobacter nodosus species. With this goal in mind four flocks from the Portuguese region of 'Alto Alentejo' were selected, all of them had one common feature: their main health problem was ovine footrot. We also set out to determine the elastolitic capacity of isolated strict-anaerobic bacteria, in order to be able to clarify the direct involvement of these microorganisms in the outbreak of this infectious process.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Evolution of accommodative function and development of ocular movements in children.

The evolution of the accommodative function and development of ocular movement are evaluated in a non-clinical paediatric population (1056 subjects) aged 6-12 years, providing means for each age in the optometric tests that evaluate the accommodative amplitude, accommodative facility, accommodative response (lag), and saccadic movements. A comparison of these values between ages (anova) established three distinct trends in the behaviour of these parameters. The accommodative amplitude, measured by modified dynamic retinoscopy, and the evaluation of the saccadic movements by the development of ocular movements [developmental eye movement (DEM)] test showed continuous change with age. The values for monocular and binocular accommodative facility, measured by +/-2.00 D flippers, indicated the need to divide the population into two age groups (6-7 and 8-12 years). Finally, the means of accommodative response, measured by monocular estimation model (MEM) retinoscopy, and the direct observation of saccadic movement revealed no significant differences between ages, establishing a single mean reference value for the age group studied.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

PubMed2003

Expired nitric oxide in the newborn with high risk of perinatal infection.

The objective of this study is to determine expired nitric oxide (expNO) in the first 3 days of life in relation to: hours of life, gestational age, type of labor, and risk of perinatal infection. Our hypothesis has been that expNO increases in newborns with high risk of perinatal infection. Total expNO was measured in 166 newborns: 108 healthy (63 full-term and 45 preterm), 30 with low risk of perinatal infection, and 28 with high risk of perinatal infection treated with antibiotics but without positive hemoculture. Expired gas was collected using a face mask and NO concentration was determined by chemiluminescence. Total expNO neither correlated with gestational age, birth weight or serum NOx, nor changed after cesarean section, but was related to hours of life. Total expNO in the < or = 36-hour subgroups (median, interquartile range) was higher in the high-risk perinatal infection newborns ( n = 8; 5.33 (4.5-7.2) nL/min*Kg) than in healthy newborns ( n = 59; 4.13 (3.5-4.7) nL/min*kg) or low-risk perinatal infection newborns ( n = 18; 3.99 (3.4-4.7) nL/min*kg). In the 37 to 72-hour subgroups there were also differences between healthy newborns ( n = 49; 4.68 (4.1-5.3) nL/min*kg) or low-risk perinatal infection newborns on the one hand ( n = 12, 4.55 (3.9-5.2) nL/min*kg) and high risk perinatal infection newborns on the other ( n = 20; 9.69 (7.6-11.1) nL/min*kg). Then, total expNO increased in newborns with high risk of perinatal infection, regardless of hours of life.

Bacterial Infections↗

PubMed2001

Effects of aging on the susceptibility to the toxic effects of cyclosporin A in rats. Changes in liver glutathione and antioxidant enzymes.

Free radicals are involved in aging and cyclosporin A-induced toxicity. The age-related changes in the liver oxidative status of glutathione, lipid peroxidation, and the activity of the enzymatic antioxidant defense system, as well as the influence of aging on the susceptibility to the hepatotoxic effects of cyclosporin (CyA) were investigated in rats of different ages (1, 2, 4, and 24 months). The hepatic content of reduced glutathione (GSH) increased with aging, peaked at 4 months, and decreased in senescent rats. By contrast, glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) concentrations and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were higher in the oldest than in the youngest rats. CyA treatment, besides inducing the well-known cholestatic syndrome, increased liver GSSG and TBARS contents and the GSSG/GSH molar ratio, and altered the nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant defense systems. The CyA-induced cholestasis and hepatic depletion of GSH, and the increases in the GSSG/GSH ratio, and in GSSG and TBARS concentrations were higher in the older than the mature rats. Moreover, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were found to be significantly decreased only in treated senescent rats. The higher CyA-induced oxidative stress, lipoperoxidation, and decreases in the antioxidant defense systems in the aged animals render them more susceptible to the hepatotoxic effects of cyclosporin.

Aging↗

PubMed2001

[Factors related to psychotropic drugs consumption among the Spanish adult population. Data from the Spanish National Health Surveys for 1993, 1995 and 1997].

BACKGROUND: In this study, the aim is the identification of the factor associated with psychotropic drug use among the Spanish adult population. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A descriptive and cross-sectional survey is carried out using data from the Spanish National Health Surveys from 1993, 1995 and 1997. As subjects of the study we have chosen the spanish adult population (aged 16 plus). INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: socio-demographic factors and health profile. Dependent variables are the overall consumption of psychotropic drug, both prescribed and no prescribed. RESULTS: Prevalence of psychotropic drug consumption is higher among women (6.9% in 1993; 9.9% in 1995, and 9.7% in 1997) than among men (3.1% in 1993; 4.8% in 1995, and 4.7% in 1997). According to multivariance analysis, alcohol consumption have negative association, anxiety or sleep disorder and depression seem to be strongly associated (OR = 22.44; CI 95%, 13.06-38.56 women, and OR = 42.97; CI 95%, 17.69-104.40 men). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of psychotropic drug consumption is higher in women than in men. The most strongly associated variable is nervous or sleep disorder and depression.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

[Factors associated with dental enamel defects in the first molar in a population of children].

OBJECTIVES: To assess factors related to defects in the tooth enamel of the first permanent molar. Factors studied include, pediatric assistance, hospital admittance, high and low respiratory illness, varicella, gastroenteritis, ear infections, urinary tract infections, and different pharmacological treatments. DESIGN: A retrospective case control study. PARTICIPANTS: Cases and controls were selected randomly from a pool of 1382 scholars born in years 1980, 1981 and 1982. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The study was conducted in march and may of year 2000. Finally 48 cases and 148 controls were selected. A dental examination was conducted at 8 years of age using the WHO criteria. Defects in the tooth enamel were defined according to the FDI criteria. We've measured and compared the study variables along the first five years of live. The epidemiological association was quantified by means of the odds ratio (OR) an its 95% confidence interval (CI). In the first year of live we estimated for pediatric assistance an OR of 2.26 (95% CI 1.05-4.92); in the second year for Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) we obtained an OR of 25.27 (95% CI 2.98-562.2); in the third year for UTI an OR of 6.68 (95% CI 1.01-54.52); in the fourth year the OR for pneumonia was 13.45 (95% CI 1.36-324.5) and finally in the fifth year the significant OR were: 2.56 (95% CI 1.23-5.34) for ear infections, 2.28 (95% CI 1.03-5.03) for macrolides and OR of 2.20 (95% CI 1.08-4.50) for anticongestive medications. CONCLUSIONS: UTI and pneumonia show a high association with the presence of defects in the tooth enamel. Other variables such as high frequency of pediatric assistance, hospital admittance, ear infections, varicella, and pharmacological treatments with macrolides, cefolosporines, anticongestive medications and lungs medications showed a weak association.

Case-Control Studies↗