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S Solano

Publications and source records attributed to S Solano.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Automatic analysis of immunocytochemically stained tissue samples.

An automatic colour image segmentation and cell counting software system has been developed for immunocytochemical analysis of stained tissue samples. The system was designed to count the total number of positive and negative cells in tissue samples treated with cytokine DNA probes from pigs naturally parasitised with Taenia solium metacestodes, using in situ hybridisation. A reaction index was calculated as the ratio of the number of cells with a positive reaction to the total number of cells (positives plus negatives) for each of five different probes. The objectives of automatic counting were to improve the reproducibility of the analysis and reduce the processing time of large image batches. A fast KNN classifier was used for colour segmentation. Watershed segmentation combined with edge detection was used to isolate individual cells that were then automatically labelled, using the results of the corresponding colour segmented image. Validation was performed on 122 non-training digital images with a total of 1069 positive cells and 1459 negative cells, with the following results: a mean true positive rate of 90.2% for positive cells and a mean true positive rate of 85.4% for negative cells. The corresponding mean false positive rates were 9.6% and 6.6%. The mean reaction index error of the automatic analysis was 5.35%. The processing of each digital image took 10 s on a Pentium IV PC.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

A cysteine protease from Taenia solium metacestodes induce apoptosis in human CD4+ T-cells.

Here we investigated whether the depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes, observed in mononuclear cells incubated with Taenia solium metacestode E/S products or with living cysts was due to apoptosis. Using the deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL), electron microscopy and DNA gel electrophoresis, we found signs of apoptosis in these cells. Results showed that cysteine protease activity was responsible for this effect, since E-64 prevented cell death in all cases. Electron microscopy studies showed that lymphocytes exhibited features of apoptosis such as cellular membrane integrity, strangling and fragmentation of nuclei, chromatin condensation, apoptotic bodies and loss of microvilli. In contrast, lymphocytes co-cultured with living metacestodes plus E-64 exhibited integrity of their structures. DNA fragmentation was detected by TUNEL assays and DNA gel electrophoresis. The results suggested that cell death induced by the cysteine protease from the T. solium metacestode may be involved in down-regulation of cell-mediated responses in infected hosts.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Double Insertion of Coordinated Phosphanylalkyne Ligands into a Pt-C(6)F(5) Bond.

Enhanced reactivity is shown by uncoordinated C identical withC bonds in the proximity of a metal in phosphanylacetylene complexes. cis-[Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)(thf)(2)] reacts with [M(C(6)F(5))(2)(PPh(2)C identical withCPh)(2)] (M=Pt, Pd) to form binuclear complexes containing the novel 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,3-butadien-1-yl bridging ligand. Substitution of the solvent ligands with, for example, PPh(2)H (see picture) provides species that could be characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Impairment of the inflammatory reaction on implanted Taenia solium metacestodes in mice by a T. solium RNA-peptide: a scanning electron microscopy study.

Inhibition of inflammation by a Taenia solium RNA-peptide (metacestode factor, MF) was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Viable (96%) T. solium metacestodes obtained from a naturally infected pig were dissected and implanted in treated and control mice, removed at 6 and 12 days postimplantation (p.i.), and studied by SEM. At day 6, metacestodes in control mice showed vigorous inflammation, whereas in mice treated with MF they were apparently intact with exiguous inflammation. Mice immunized with T. solium metacestode antigens showed a moderate inflammation; those treated with both MF and T. solium antigens presented scanty inflammation. At day 12, metacestodes presented copious inflammation and severe damage to the sucker tissues in mice immunized with T. solium; in mice treated with either MF or MF and T. solium antigens there was only discrete inflammation. These observations illustrate the central role of MF in the inhibition of the early events leading to the parasite's destruction by means of an inflammatory response.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Field trial for reducing porcine Taenia solium cysticercosis in Mexico by systematic vaccination of pigs.

It has previously been demonstrated that immunization of pigs with a crude extract of Taenia solium metacestodes can confer a high level of protection against an egg challenge. Furthermore, vaccination of infected animals also induces an immune response against the larvae, which are either destroyed or rendered non-infectious. To assess the efficacy of immunization as a strategy for reducing the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis, a field trial of this vaccine was performed in an endemic area in the northern region of the Guerrero State, Mexico, Random samples of pigs belonging to 17 villages were examined for metacestodes by inspection of their tongues. Each animal was immunized with a dose of 150 micrograms of protein (antigenic extract from Taenia solium metacestodes) by the intramuscular route. A prevalence of 2.4% of porcine cysticercosis on average was found in these villages at the beginning of the trial (62 cysticercotic pigs out of 2650 inspected). Six of these villages were selected for the periodic vaccination of new random samples of pigs. A statistically significant decline in the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was observed at the end of the trial, decreasing from 2.4% at the beginning of vaccination to 0.45% at the end of the trial. A reduction of 82% was observed in spite of the poor living conditions in these villages. These results are consistent with previous data and suggest that it may be possible to turn a susceptible pig population into a protected one by systematic vaccination.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Smoking cessation with a 16 h nicotine patch: results in a group of hospital workers.

As part of a programme for the implementation of a Smoking Control Policy in our hospital, an open study, without randomization, of 65 hospital workers, who wanted to give up smoking, was carried out. The characteristics of smoking in each subject were recorded. The Fagerstrom Questionnaire was used to measure the degree of dependence on nicotine. The treatment consisted of the daily use of 16 h nicotine patches for 12 weeks. During the first 4 weeks, the patches contained 15 mg of nicotine, for the second 4 weeks, 10 mg, and for the last 4 weeks 5 mg (per patch and day). Five visits were scheduled during the 26 week study period: at the start of the study and after 4, 8, 12 and 26 weeks. The abstinence was checked by measuring carbon monoxide in end-expiratory air. The success rate was 31% after 12 weeks, and decreased to 29% after 26 weeks. In conclusion, the nicotine patches appeared safe and effective in this study.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1996

Immunosuppression and inhibition of inflammation in mice induced by a small Taenia solium RNA-peptide to implanted T. solium metacestodes.

Subcutaneous implantation of Taenia solium metacestodes in mice induces an inflammatory reaction made up mainly of neutrophils and eosinophils after 12 days. Administration of a small RNA-peptide (metacestode factor, MF) purified from T. solium metacestodes significantly reduces the inflammatory site in both size and composition, yielding a very low number of eosinophils. The metacestodes implanted in control mice were completely destroyed and their remnants were surrounded by an intense inflammation predominantly made up of neutrophils and eosinophils. In contrast, metacestodes implanted in mice treated with MF showed apparently intact suckers, rostellum, hooks, and tegument. Inhibition of inflammation around the parasites was also observed in mice immunized with T. solium metacestode antigens and inoculated simultaneously with MF. Mice immunized only with T. solium metacestode antigens produced a granulomatous process around metacestodes that destroyed most of the large metacestode structures: suckers, rostellum, hooks, and tegument-wall tissues. Furthermore, treatment of mice with MF or implanted metacestodes decreased the antibody (P < 0.05) and cellular responses (P < 0.05) to metacestode antigens. The antibody responses was even lower when both of these treatments were given simultaneously. These findings support the idea that MF plays a key role in the down-regulation of the host immune response, contributing to the parasite's survival.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Results of a smoking cessation program among Spanish pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons].

We evaluated the efficacy of a smoking cessation program using 16-hours nicotine patches offered by mail to physicians belonging to the Spanish Pneumological and Thoracic Surgery Society. Fifty-five subjects (21 women) with a mean age of 40 underwent treatment with 16-hours nicotine patches with different dose-time applications dependent on Fagerstrom test scores. Abstinence, which was verified by measuring carbon monoxide in expired air, was 23.6% after 6 months of follow-up. We observed a low rate of mild side effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Psychosocial intervention in hospitalization due to alcoholism].

This paper presents a descriptive-type research on the findings of a 1-year follow-up experiment on a 72-inpatient at the Instituto sobre Alcoholismo y Fármacodependencia of the city of San José, Costa Rica. Information wa obtained from a 59-question instrument aimed at exploring: Sociodemographic aspects, alcohol ingestion-abstention patterns; interpersonal, family and labor relationships, autodiagnosis, and evaluation of the treatment program. During the 3-week inpatient treatment, a psychosocial treatment was administered to all subjects. Owing to the substantial changes patients evidenced in the above mentioned areas, findings suggest that the objectives were fulfilled satisfactorily enough.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bronchoalveolar lavage in smokers: quantification of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils as markers of bronchial obstruction.

Increased concentrations of neutrophils and alveolar macrophages are recovered in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of smokers compared with non-smokers. We designed a study to determine the relationship between neutrophils and alveolar macrophages recovered by BAL and the degree of air-flow obstruction, measured by spirometry (chronic air-flow obstruction was defined as: FEV1 < 80% of predicted and FEV1/FVC ratio < 70% of predicted) in healthy smokers. We found a significant correlation between spirometric values and the number of neutrophils and alveolar macrophages in BAL fluid obtained from healthy smokers. Our findings suggest that counts of 13-15x1000 neutrophils/ml and/or 430-450x1000 alveolar macrophages/ml in BAL fluid could be used as markers of air-flow obstruction in smokers.

Adult↗