PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Fernández

Publications and source records attributed to S Fernández.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Formulation in tablets of a cholera whole cells inactivated vaccine candidate.

Licensed as well as candidate cholera vaccines available at the present requires the dose preparation (included buffer) at the moment of application. The aim of this work was to evaluate the presentation in oral tablets of an inactivated cholera vaccine to avoid that inconveniences during application. We have therefore compared inactivated cultures of Vibrio cholerae with tablets formulation vaccine. We obtained that antigenic activity (ELISA) and immunogenicity in animal model (ELISA and vibriocidal tests) of V. cholerae inactivated cell remained unaltered in the final tablet formulation. The results suggest that the oral tablet formulation could be a useful pharmaceutical form in order to produce a new and affordable cholera vaccine.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

Allergic hypersensitivity to the lentil pest Bruchus lentis.

BACKGROUND: Lentils are the most common legume involved in allergic reactions in the Mediterranean area and India. Lentil crops could be attacked by a wide range of insect species. Occupational asthma caused by the lentil pest Bruchus lentis has been described in the present study. OBJECTIVE: We studied the possibility of immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated hypersensitivity to lentil pests in 16 patients who suffered from allergic symptoms (asthma and anaphylaxis) related to inhalation of lentil particles or ingestion of lentils, in which sensitization to legume proteins was not clear. METHODS: Extracts prepared either from noninfested and infested lentils, and from the lentil parasite B. lentis were used for skin prick testing (SPT), bronchial and oral challenges and in vitro determinations. RESULTS: Skin prick test were positive to infested lentils and B. lentis in all patients and negative to noninfested lentil extracts. Five asthmatic patients reacted in the bronchial challenge test with Bruchus extract. Oral challenges performed with boiled infested lentils were positive in six of seven patients. Immunoglobulin E immunoblotting with Bruchus and infested lentils extracts revealed protein bands that were reactive to serum IgE from six and four, respectively, out of 16 patients. These patients had no IgE to lentil-specific proteins as determined by immunoblotting and Len c 1-specific IgE test. CONCLUSIONS: Lentil pest proteins can be a cause of IgE-mediated rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma in patients eating or inhaling infested lentil particles.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Diagnostic yield and safety of capsule endoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: the capsule endoscopy (CE), from his approval, has become a first line diagnostic procedure for the study of the small bowel disease. The aim of this study is to report our experience since the implantation of this technique in our hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: retrospective review of the CE undertaken in Department of Endoscopy. There was gathered in every case the age, sex, motive of consultation, previous diagnostic procedures, capsule endoscopy findings and complication of the technique. One took to end a descriptive and analytical analysis. RESULTS: there was achieved a total of 416 explorations in 388 patients. The obscure gastrointestinal bleeding was the most frequent indication (83.30%) followed by suspected Crohn s disease (7.5%). Angiodisplasia was the endoscopic lesion more frequently detected (42.2%), especially, in patients with digestive bleeding of obscure origin (OR 3.13 p < 0.001), followed by the flebectasia (10.6%) and the ulcer suspicious of Crohn s disease (9.9%). The global diagnostic yield as for the detection of injuries was 77.34% with a case of "not defecation of the capsule" and therefore need of laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: the capsule endoscopy is a technique consolidated and as his potential is known, his indications are extended. The obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is the most frequent indication and the angiodisplasia the most identified injury. Once known his diagnostic yield, larger studies are needed that assess the influence of capsule endoscopy on clinical outcoumes.

Capsule Endoscopy↗
PubMed2005

The anxiolytic-like effects of Aloysia polystachya (Griseb.) Moldenke (Verbenaceae) in mice.

The aim of the present work is to demonstrate the putative sedative and anxiolytic-like effects of a hydro-ethanolic extract obtained from the aerial parts of Aloysia polystachya (Verbenaceae) in male mice using several behavioural assays. Groups of male mice orally treated with doses of 1.0, 10.0 and 100.0 mg/kg of the extract did not show any significant alteration of their locomotor activity, body temperature or motor coordination. The same treatment increased the duration of the sleeping time induced by 30.0 mg/kg i.p. of sodium pentobarbital. However, the sleeping time induced by ethyl ether was not modified by the oral administration of the extract, not confirming the putative sedative effect of the plant. The ethanolic extract also significantly increased the percentage of both entries (1.0 and 100.0 mg/kg) and the time spent (10.0 and 100.0 mg/kg) into the open arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM). Nevertheless, the binding of (3)H-flunitrazepam ((3)H-FNZ) to the benzodiazepine binding site (BDZ-bs), in washed crude synaptosomal membranes from rat cerebral cortex, was not affected by the semi-purified components from Aloysia polystachya. These results indicate an anxiolytic-like profile of action for the extract of Aloysia polystachya without sedative side effect, being this activity probably mediated by other mechanism than BDZ-bs modulation at the GABA(A) receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

HER-2 gene amplification by chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH) compared with fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) in breast cancer-A study of two hundred cases.

The purpose of the study was to compare two methods used to analyse HER-2 gene amplification (fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH)), and determine the accuracy of the antibodies CB11 and HercepTest for immunohistochemical detection of HER-2 overexpression from archival breast cancer tissue. Additionally, interobserver variability in the interpretation of CISH and immunohistochemical tests was measured. Two hundred cases of invasive breast carcinoma diagnosed between 2000 and 2003 were selected. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed with HercepTest and CB11, and gene amplification was determined by FISH (PathVision, Vysis) and CISH (Zymed) using tissue macroarrays. An excellent concordance (94.8%) was found between CISH and FISH. Considering FISH as gold standard, sensitivity of CISH was 97.5% and specificity 94%. Overall interobserver agreement of CISH was 97.5% and of IHC 84%. Both antibodies showed a sensitivity of 95.2% and a specificity of 70.7% (CB11) and 81.2% (HercepTest). Our results show that CISH is a highly accurate, reproducible and practical technique to determine HER-2 gene amplification. CB11 and HercepTest are good screening methods with a high sensitivity. The performance of tissue macroarrays to test HER-2 status by IHC, FISH and CISH has demonstrated to be an available and effective method to study large series of tumours.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2005

Evidence of biochemical and biomagnetic interactions in Alzheimer's disease: an MEG and MR spectroscopy study.

BACKGROUND: Several neuroimaging studies have shown reliable differences between Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and age-matched controls. However, few studies have demonstrated the interactions between neuroimaging methods for the diagnoses of AD. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we try to elucidate the complementary nature of magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) examinations in the assessmentof AD. METHODS: Ten patients fulfilling the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria of probable AD, and 10 elderly individuals with no history of neurological or psychiatric illness serving as age-matched controls participated in the study. All patients and controls received an MRS, MEG and neuropsychological assessment. MEG data were obtained in the context of a working memory task, previously utilized in a similar sample of patients. RESULTS: The AD group showed a reduced number of activity sources over left temporoparietal areas during the late portion of the evoked magnetic field (between 400-800 ms), as well as a bilateral temporoparietal increase in creatine and myoinositol concentrations, and in the myoinositol/N-acetyl-aspartate ratio. The combination of the variables 'number of dipoles during the late portion of the evoked magnetic field' and 'myoinositol/N-acetyl-aspartate ratio' accounted for 65% of the variance of the Mini Mental State Examination scores. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of assessing the complex brain pathology underlying AD by utilizing multiple brain examination modalities in a coordinate approach.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Medial temporal lobe neuromagnetic hypoactivation and risk for developing cognitive decline in elderly population: a 2-year follow-up study.

Cognition declines as a function of age. However, some elders could develop more severe status such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of this study was the early detection of neurophysiological patterns of brain activity that may predict the possibility of certain subjects to develop MCI. Brain magnetic activity was recorded from 15 healthy subjects during a memory task by means of magnetoencephalography. None of the participants could be considered as MCI at the time of the first clinical evaluation. After 2-year follow-up, five subjects developed MCI and 10 maintained their cognitive status across time. The subjects who developed cognitive decline showed a lower number of activity sources in the left medial temporal lobe between 400 and 800 ms after stimulus onset, as compared to the non-cognitive decline group. These findings may help with the early identification of elderly subjects at high risk of cognitive decline, allowing the possibility of neuropsychological or pharmaceutical treatment that delay or prevent the progression of the cognitive impairment.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Double-blind and placebo-controlled study to assess efficacy and safety of a modified allergen extract of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in allergic asthma.

BACKGROUND: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in patients allergic asthma sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety after 1-year of immunotherapy with a modified D. pteronyssinus extract compared with placebo. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients were randomly allocated to receive the active treatment (n = 29), or placebo (n = 26). The main outcome was the specific bronchial provocation test (BPT). Other parameters analysed were dose-response skin prick test (SPT), symptom and medication scores and asthma quality of life (AQLQ). RESULTS: At the end of the study, the active group showed a significant increase in the PD(20)FEV(1) compared with placebo (P = 0.0029). Nineteen patients of the active vs 10 of the placebo group needed more than twice the initial amount of allergen extract to have a positive BPT (P = 0.0293); seven patients in the placebo vs one in the active group needed less than half (P = 0.0137). In SPT, a significant improvement (P = 0.0049) was found in the active group. This group also had a median reduction of 91.5% in symptom scores, whereas the placebo group increased by 86%. Medication scores decreased in both groups (56% in the active and 11.4% in the placebo). In AQLQ, the differences between both groups were significant (P = 0.0234) at the end of the study. CONCLUSION: After 1 year of treatment, the modified extract of D. pteronyssinus demonstrated to be safe and efficacious to treat patients with asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis sensitized to this mite.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Influence of physicians' attitudes on under-notifying infectious diseases: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: To identify practitioners' demographic and professional characteristics associated with reporting of mandatory-reporting diseases (MRDs), and to identify attitudes associated with MRD reporting. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SETTING: Regional Health Service of Galicia (North-western Spain). SUBJECTS: Random sample of 600 physicians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A postal questionnaire was used to measure the physicians' beliefs, knowledge and attitudes regarding MRDs. Associations between the independent variables and outcomes (notification or non-notification of MRDs every week during 1998) were modelled using the Andersen-Gill proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The response rate was 60.1%. The following beliefs, knowledge and attitudes were statistically associated with a smaller probability of reporting any given MRD: (1) I would only notify an MRD after confirming diagnosis; (2) the MRD reporting system interferes with my daily clinical practice; (3) besides the legal requirements, I would have to report MRDs as a medical professional; and (4) only the reporting of relevant or severe MRDs is necessary. Under-reporting was not associated with specialization (general or paediatric) or the type of contract (fixed or temporary), but was associated with gender. CONCLUSIONS: Some physicians' beliefs, knowledge and attitudes regarding MRDs are associated with under-reporting. This suggests that modification of certain attitudes and knowledge in physicians could greatly reduce the under-reporting of MRDs.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2004

Engraftment syndrome after autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation in pediatric patients: a prospective evaluation of risk factors and outcome.

We prospectively analyzed the incidence, risk factors and outcome of engraftment syndrome (ES) in 112 patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation with different malignancies between January 1999 and December 2003. The median age was 8 years (range 1-18). There were 73 males. There were 37 hematological neoplasias and 75 solid tumors. Disease status at transplantation was early in 49, intermediate in 15 and 48 in advanced phase. The median CD34+ cells infused was 4.6 x 10(6)/kg. With a median follow-up of 23 months (1-116 months), 38 patients developed ES. The cumulative incidence of ES was 34.5 +/- 4.5% and the event-free survival was 58.3 +/- 12%. There were no differences in the causes of death between patients with or without ES. A high number of CD34+ cells/kg infused, patients transplanted in early phase, the type of malignancy (solid tumor) and conditioning regimens other than busulfan based were significantly associated with ES in a multivariate analysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Olerance of a cluster schedule with a house dust mite extract quantified in mass units: multicentre study.

The standardisation of allergenic extracts in micrograms of the major allergen has encouraged the search for new treatment schedules, with the purpose of shortening the number of visits and doses required to reach the maintenance dose without eliciting a greater risk of adverse reactions for the patients. With this objective, a prospective multicentre pharmacovigilance study was designed that included 200 patient with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and/or allergic asthma sensitised to mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinu and/or farinae). The dose increment period was carried out using a cluster schedule, where the optimal dose wa reached after 4 visits, administering two doses in each visit. The duration of the study was 5 months and a total o 1902 doses were administered. At the end of the trial, 31 adverse reactions in 23 patients were recorded. Six of these were systemic (0.3% of t administered doses) recorded in 6 patients (3% of the sample). One was an immediate reaction (grade 1) and delayed (4 mild and 1 moderate). Two were asthmatic exacerbations, 2 cutaneous reactions, 1 rhinitis and 1 an unspecific symptom (not IgE-mediated). Two appeared upon administration of the first vial and the remaining 4 after administration of the third cluster. Therefore, the schedule tested presents an adequate tolerance profile, suggesting savings (compared to th conventional schedule of 13 doses per patient) of 1800 visits and 1000 treatment doses in the whole study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[The specific cox-2 inhibitor valdecoxib provides effective analgesia after inguinal hernia surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To compare 3 oral analgesic doses--valdecoxib 20 mg, valdecoxib 40 mg and controlled-release diclofenac 75 mg--to placebo in the treatment of pain after inguinal herniorrhaphy. METHOD: An international multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled trial comparing parallel groups receiving oral valdecoxib 20 or 40 mg, controlled-release diclofenac 75 mg, or placebo every 12 hours over a period of 36 hours. The study enrolled 269 patients undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy with spinal anesthesia. Pain intensity difference, the sum pain intensity difference, need for rescue medication, and overall patient satisfaction were compared. RESULTS: Valdecoxib 40 mg and controlled-release diclofenac 75 mg take every 12 hours provided similar analgesia that was significantly more efficacious than placebo as shown by the sum pain intensity difference at 12 hours. Both treatments decreased pain intensity in comparison with baseline throughout the study. Differences were significant in comparison with placebo at 8-10 hours through 24 hours of administration of the first dose. No significant differences between valdecoxib 20 mg and placebo were observed. The percentage of patients needing rescue medication was significantly lower in the valdecoxib 40 mg group (30% in that group vs. 52% for placebo), and that difference was not seen for any of the other groups. All treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Valdecoxib 40 mg and diclofenac 75 mg provided similar quality of analgesia for treating pain after inguinal herniorrhaphy.

Analgesia↗
PubMed2003

Immunological properties of a DNA plasmid encoding a chimeric protein of herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein B and glycoprotein D.

A DNA plasmid containing a chimeric sequence encoding both herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein B (gB) and glycoprotein D (gD) external domains (pcgDB) was used to immunize BALB/c mice against genital HSV-2 infection. To determine the efficacy of this vaccine, groups of mice immunized with the pcgDB plasmid were compared with animals immunized with plasmids corresponding to the individual proteins (pcgBt or pcgDt), administered separately or in combination (pcgBt + pcgDt). We studied the response of the different mouse groups to viral challenge by analyzing clinical disease (vaginitis), serum antibody levels, as well as lymphoproliferative responses and cytokine production by spleen cells. Increased IFN-gamma levels correlated with prolonged survival in mice immunized with the plasmid pcgDB, relative to mice immunized with plasmids coding for the individual proteins alone or in combination. Our results show that immunization with the plasmid encoding the chimeric protein is advantageous over separate proteins. These findings may have important implications for the development of multivalent DNA vaccines against HSV and other complex pathogens.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Experimental vertical transmission of Piscirickettsia salmonis and in vitro study of attachment and mode of entrance into the fish ovum.

Piscirickettsia salmonis is a pathogenic bacterial agent causing septicaemic disease in salmon. Since its isolation in Chile in 1989, P. salmonis has continually produced high mortality rates in salmon farms. Little information exists regarding the mechanisms of vertical transmission of this pathogen. Experimental vertical transmission was established in the present study by inoculation of male and female rainbow trout broodstock with P. salmonis. The bacterium was subsequently detected using indirect immunofluorescence in milt and coelomic fluid of the majority of inoculated broodstock (14/15). Bacteria were detected in the fry when 1 or both parents were inoculated, although none of the infected fry presented signs of the disease. P. salmonis was also detected in progeny obtained through fertilisation ova from non-inoculated females incubated in a medium containing a bacterial suspension, demonstrating transmission during the process of fertilisation. Ova infected in vitro were examined at sample periods from 30 s to 60 min using scanning electron microscopy. This demonstrated that the bacterium attaches to the ova by means of membrane extensions, structures which we have called 'piscirickettsial attachment complex' (PAC) and which would allow later penetration into the ovum.

Animals↗