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Biomedical subjects

R Villaescusa

Publications and source records attributed to R Villaescusa.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Multicenter evaluation of a new 4th generation HIV screening assay Elecsys HIV combi.

Fourth-generation screening assays which permit a simultaneous detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen and antibody reduce the diagnostic window on average by four days in comparison to third-generation antibody assays. Recently, the new automated Elecsys HIV combi was compared in a multicenter study to alternative fourth- and third-generation assays, p24 antigen test and HIV-1 RNA RT-PCR. A total of 104 serocon-version panels, samples of the acute phase of infection after seroconversion (n = 33), anti-HIV-1 positive specimens (n = 572) from patients in different stages of the disease, 535 subtyped samples from different geographical locations, including group M (subtypes A-J) and group O, anti-HIV-2 positive sera (n = 364), dilutions of cell culture supernatants (n = 60) infected with different HIV-1 subtypes, selected performance panels, 8406 unselected samples from blood donors originating from different blood transfusion centers, 3810 unselected sera from daily routine and from hospitalized patients, 9927 unselected samples from South Africa and 1943 potentially interfering samples were tested with the Elecsys HIV combi. Elecsys HIV combi showed a comparable sensitivity to HIV-1 Ag stand-alone assays for early detection of HIV infection in seroconversion panels. The mean time delay of Elecsys HIV combi (last negative sample + 1 day) in comparison to HIV-1 RT-PCR for 92 panels tested with both methods was 3.23 days. The diagnostic window was reduced with Elecsys HIV combi between 1.56 and 5.32 days in comparison to third-generation assays. The specificity of Elecsys HIV combi in blood donors was 99.80% after repeated testing. Our results show that a fourth-generation assay with improved specificity and sensitivity like the Elecsys HIV combi is suitable for blood donor screening due to its low number of false positives and since it detects HIV p24 antigen with a comparable sensitivity to single antigen assays.

Early Diagnosis↗
PubMed1999

[Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in patients with sickle cell anemia].

PURPOSE: To determine whether anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA): anti myeloperoxidase (anti MPO) and anti proteinase 3 (anti PR3), are present in patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) during painful crisis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 55 patients with SCA were included in this study, 35 of them had painful crisis and the rest were in steady state. We determined levels of anti MPO and anti PR3 by two enzyme immunoassays commercially available (Progen Biotechnik GMBH). RESULTS: A significant increase of anti MPO in the group of patients with painful crisis was found in comparison with steady state patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the possibility that anti MPO interacting with MPO on primed neutrophils lead to neutrophil activation, enhanced neutrophil adhesion and amplification of endothelial cell damage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Plasma exchange for acute cholestasis in homozygous sickle cell disease.

A child with sickle cell disease presented acute chest syndrome, acute cholestasis and a neurological syndrome. Bilirubin, LDH, alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinines were markedly increased. Circulating immune complexes were slightly elevated. The patient improved dramatically after a plasma exchange.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Circulating immune complexes in sickle cell anaemia.

Circulating immune complexes were investigated in sera of 100 patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in different clinical stages, using inhibition of complement-dependent rosette formation (EAC rosette inhibition), anticomplementary activity, polyethylene glycol 6000 precipitation, immunoconglutinin titre, total haemolytic complement, C4 and C3d. A high positivity was observed in patients with hepatic crisis (75%) and cases with leg ulcers (43%) compared with painful crisis (12%) and asymptomatic (7%) patients. These results provide evidence for the presence of circulating immune complexes during leg ulcers and hepatic crisis in SCA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Dengue haemorrhagic fever in Cuba. II. Clinical investigations.

Clinical and serological studies were carried out on 114 patients admitted to hospital in Havana, Cuba with Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DHF/DSS). Serological confirmation of dengue was obtained in 90% of cases, with 5% of cases primary and 95% secondary. Fever, haemorrhagic manifestations, vomiting and headache were the most frequent signs and symptoms. Among haemorrhagic manifestations, petechiae and vaginal bleeding were reported in a larger number of patients. 21 patients presented shock and, of these, 20 were secondary infections. The disease appeared more frequently in white persons and in women. The aetiopathogenicity of the syndromes is discussed. 95% of the cases could be explained on the basis of the secondary infection hypothesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Circulating immune complexes in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Circulating immune complexes were investigated in sera of 13 patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. A significant inhibition was observed in the complement-dependent rosette formation (EAC) in 6 cases; 2 patients presented an increased anticomplementary activity; antilymphocyte antibodies were demonstrated in 2 patients. The levels of C3d and immunoconglutinins were also increased; there were no differences in the total hemolytic complement between patients and normal controls. There was a significant correlation between C3d and immunoconglutinins with the inhibition of the EAC rosette formation test. These results provide evidence for the presence of circulating immune complexes in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Adult↗