Biomedical subjects

R Lucena

Publications and source records attributed to R Lucena.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Cefetamet pivoxil in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea.

We studied the efficacy and safety of cefetamet pivoxil (CAT), an oral aminothiazolyl cephalosporin, in a series of open, comparative multicenter studies in 207 women (four study centers) with uncomplicated gonorrhea, and summarized and pooled the results with those of earlier open dose-finding trials (360 men; six study centers). We compared single-dose treatment regimen of CAT--over the range of 400-1500 mg--with spectinomycin, thiamphenicol, ampicillin, or amoxicillin plus probenecid. The overall cure rates were 100% in 88 women treated with 1500 mg CAT and in 137 men treated with 1200 or 1500 mg CAT, 98% (114 of 116 men) in those treated with 800 or 1000 mg CAT, and 93% (42 of 45 men) in those treated with 400 or 500 mg CAT; the composite cure rate of the comparators was 97%. The tolerability of CAT (n = 428) compared favorably (1.8% adverse events) with that of the standard drugs (n = 139) (4.3% adverse events). Single-dose treatment with 1500 mg CAT is effective and safe in adults with uncomplicated gonorrhea.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

alpha-Amylase hypersensitivity in non-exposed millers.

Occupational hypersensitivity to alpha-amylase among bakers and workers in the pharmaceutical industry has been described. We present the results of skin tests and in vitro methods used to assess alpha-amylase sensitivity in 259 millers. There was no occupational contact with the enzyme in this population. Positive skin tests to this allergen were obtained in 16 subjects (6.18 per cent), specific IgE values were found in seven subjects (2.7 per cent), specific IgG was detected on 45 workers (17.37 per cent) and high values for IgG (> 2.5 absorbance units) were found in 12 subjects (4.63 per cent). Furthermore, specific IgE and IgG could be determined in several sera by immunoblotting. All these facts suggested that millers were sensitized to Aspergillus oryzae alpha-amylase, although the allergen was not used by these workers. A cross-reaction cannot be excluded; however, it is the authors' opinion that wheat or wheat flour is a natural substrate for fungi and that the moulds that grow on cereals or cereal-derived by-products need to secrete amylases to support their own development. Hence the workers may be indirectly sensitized to amylases.

Aspergillus oryzae↗

PubMed1994

Third component of complement serum levels in dogs with leishmaniasis.

Radial immunodiffusion was used to determine the concentration of the third component of complement (C3) in the serum of 51 adult dogs with leishmaniasis and, for comparative purposes, in a control group of 30 healthy dogs. Animals in both groups were of different age, sex and breed. The mean concentration in healthy dogs was 93.3 +/- 6.6 (mean +/- SD), and in sick dogs 131.4 +/- 7.1, both expressed as a percentage of a reference standard. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.0004) were found between serum C3 concentrations in leishmania-infected and control groups, but no significant difference was recorded between males and females in either group.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Effect of age on serum concentrations of the third component of complement in dogs.

Single radial immunodiffusion was used to determine the concentration of the third component of complement (C3) in canine sera from 48 normal dogs in the following age groups: < 12 months, 12 to 24 months, and > 24 months. Mean serum C3 concentrations, expressed as the percentage of pooled reference sera from 20 dogs, showed a significant (P < 0.017) correlation with age in dogs less than 12 months old, while the character of this correlation was negative for dogs more than 24 months old (P < 0.056). Two-way analysis of variance, for age and sex, revealed significant differences between C3 values from this two groups that were not present when compared with dogs aged between 12 and 24 months old. Sex had no effect on serum C3 concentrations.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunoglobulin isotype distribution of antinuclear antibodies in dogs with leishmaniasis.

A modified indirect immunofluorescence method, using rat liver as substrate, was developed to determine the immunoglobulin isotypes forming antinuclear antibodies in sera from 12 antinuclear antibody-positive dogs out of 121 dogs with natural Leishmania infection. Immunoglobulin M was found to be the most frequent component of antinuclear antibodies (91.7 per cent), followed by IgG (41.7 per cent) and IgA (33.2 per cent). When these immunoglobulin isotypes were titrated, IgG antinuclear antibodies showed higher titres (1:200) than IgM and IgA antinuclear antibodies (1:50 and 1:20 respectively). Most of the antinuclear antibody-positive dogs simultaneously had two immunoglobulin isotypes, whereas none had all three immunoglobulin isotypes at the same time. Spearman rank correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between antinuclear antibody titres and circulating immune complexes or immunoglobulin levels. The low incidence of antinuclear antibodies and the absence of a clear relationship between isotype titres and clinical signs suggest a minor pathogenic role of antinuclear antibodies in canine leishmaniasis.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Cisapride related movement disorders]

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of movement disorder associated with cisapride use. METHOD: Case report.RESULTS: This is the case of a male eight months old child who began to use cisapride, 0,2 mg/kg tid to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. One month after beginning with the drug, he started to present repetitive movements of the hands characterized by opening and closing hands with flexion and extension of the wrists. According to the mother, these movements became more evident as the dose of the medication was increased, and, thereafter, started to happen also on the feet. When the child was six months old, time of the first neurological evaluation, he presented normal neurological development, except for the Parachute reflex, which was absent. After excluding metabolic, toxic and infectious diseases, the drug was withdrew. The child evolution was benign, with gradual disappearance of the movements, and he was completely normal 30 days after.CONCLUSIONS: The authors stress the need suspending the use of cisapride in any case of neurologic symptoms as seizures, somnolence, malaise or involuntary movements in previously normal patients.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The clinical laboratory characteristics of 104 cases of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis].

With the purpose of describing the clinical and laboratory characteristics of cryptococcus meningoencephalitis, we reviewed the records of 104 patients admitted with this diagnosis at Couto Maia Hospital, reference for patients with infectious diseases in Salvador-BA Northeastern Brazil, from 1972 to 1996. The patients' age varied from 8 months to 79 years. Sixty-four (61.5%) patients were male. The duration of the disease varied from 2 to 150 days, average 27.7 days. The most common signs and symptoms were headache (92.7%), fever (84.4%) and neck stiffness (83.2%). The cell number in cerebrospinal fluid was greater than 4/mm > or = in 95.8% of the patients with lymphocyte predominance in 86.3% of the cases. The lethality rate was 42.7%.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗