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T Serrano

Publications and source records attributed to T Serrano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Analysis of 500 liver transplantations at Bellvitge Hospital, Spain].

BACKGROUND: We present the experience of the liver transplantation program at the Hospital of Bellvitge with 500 transplantations performed during 15 years, to describe changes in liver transplantation observed throughout the time and to analyze the long term results. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Five groups each one including 100 consecutive transplantations are studied. RESULTS: The main indications were hepatocellular carcinoma (23%), alcoholic cirrhosis (22.8%), and post-hepatitis C cirrhosis (18.8%). Sixty-five retransplantations were performed in 59 patients (13%), being the more frequent indications arterial thrombosis (13 patients) and primary nonfunction of graft (10 patients). In 10 patients a hepatorenal transplantation was performed. In group I, the most frequent donor cause of death was cranial traumatism (80%), while in group V it was the vascular pathology (52%). There were other significative differences between these groups of patients (I vs V): patients with stage 2 or 3 from UNOS status (45 vs 19%), blood use (29.6 [26] vs 4.6 [5.3] PRBC), ICU stay (13 [13] vs 7.4 [11] days), hospital stay (40 [52] vs 23.7 [17] days), rejection rate (46 vs 20%) and primary graft nonfunction (9 vs 3%). However, the infection rates (48 vs 54.5%) and biliary tract complications (26 vs 20%) have not shown statistically significant differences. Actuarial one and 5-year survival are 83 and 70% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An important and progressive improvement of liver transplantation results has been observed. However, de novo tumours, hepatitis C virus recurrence and chronic rejection can limit long term results.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

The use of two species of crayfish as environmental quality sentinels: the relationship between heavy metal content, cell and tissue biomarkers and physico-chemical characteristics of the environment.

In systems as heavily disturbed as rivers, the use of biological sentinels is a most interesting way of obtaining continuous assessment of environmental quality. This study seeks to establish the value of such sentinels of two species of crayfish: the native crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes, Lereboullet 1858) and an introduced species, signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus, Dana 1852), by comparing the habitat quality (water and sediments) and heavy metal contents in crayfish with the degree of stress manifested by the animals, measured by cell and tissue biomarkers. For this purpose a histological study of the digestive gland was carried out together with measurements of heavy metal contents in samples from various points of the river network of Bizkaia (Spain), selected on the basis of their degree of disturbance. The results establish a positive correlation between these environmental conditions, the cell and tissue biomarkers of the digestive gland (thinning of the digestive epithelium, enlargement of digestive lysosomes) and the heavy metal contents of the animals (converted to an index of pollutant load).

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Liver xenotransplantation: changes in lipid and lipoprotein concentration after long-term graft survival.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Today, scientists devote considerable effort to the study of mechanisms of xenograft rejection, but with liver xenotransplantation (XTx) researchers face the added problem of metabolic incompatibility between species. To date, there have been few studies of molecular xenogeneic interactions, perhaps because little progress has been made in solving immunological problems. This study is an initial analysis of lipoprotein metabolism in a hamster-to-rat hepatic xenotransplantation model. METHODS: There were 6 experimental groups (n=8): (1) male Sprague-Dawley (S.D.) rats (220-280 g); (2) male Golden Syrian hamsters (100-150 g); (3) S.D. rats, "sham" operation with immunosuppression; (4) S.D. rat-to-S.D. rat alloTx; (5) S.D. rat-to-S.D. rat alloTx with immunosuppression; (6) XTx hamster G.S-to-S.D. rat with immunosuppression. Mofetil mycophenolate (25 mg/kg/d) was administered for 14 days and FK506 (0.2 mg/kg/d) for 45 days (groups 3, 5 and 6). After 24 h fasting, animals were sacrificed (day +50 postransplantation) and a complete lipoprotein profile was determined. Serum lipoproteins were subfractioned by ultracentrifugation in density gradient. RESULTS: There was a large increase in serum lipid levels in xenografted rats compared with control rats and allografted rats. Xenografted rats presented a severely altered lipoprotein profile compared with normal rats. Surprisingly, the characterisation of lipoproteins in xenografted rats displayed the same composition as donor animals. Histological study did not show signs of alteration of the hepatic architecture. CONCLUSIONS: Since the liver is the main solid organ co-ordinator of metabolic pathways, such as lipid metabolism, hepatic xenotransplantation makes changes in lipid concentrations in the recipient and also changes in lipid compositions of lipoproteins. Hepatic xenotransplantation is not a feasible solution given the organ's metabolic complexity.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Resection or transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients: outcomes based on indicated treatment strategy.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection has been the treatment of choice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the resection rate remains low in cirrhotic patients and recurrence is common. Unfavorable results compared with benign disease and the shortage of organ donors have led to a restricted indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for HCC. STUDY DESIGN: The aim of this study was to analyze the results of our surgical approach to HCC in patients with cirrhosis. The first treatment strategy indicated in these patients was OLT. From January 1990 to May 1999, 85 patients underwent OLT and the remaining 35 had surgical resection. RESULTS: One-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 84%, 74%, and 60% versus 83%, 57%, and 51%, respectively, in the OLT and resection groups (p = 0.34). Hepatic tumor recurrence was much less frequent in the OLT group than in the resection group. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 83%, 72%, and 60% versus 70%, 44%, and 31%, respectively (p = 0.027). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, macroscopic vascular invasion was the only factor independently associated with death or recurrence after OLT (p = 0.006). After partial liver resection, the tumors significantly associated with mortality and recurrence in the multivariate analysis were solitary or multiple tumors greater than 2cm with microscopic vascular invasion (pathologic pT3) (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that in cirrhotic patients, OLT may provide better outcomes than liver resection in carefully selected HCC and that longterm survival is similar to the results of OLT in cirrhotic patients without tumors.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Changing strategies in diagnosis and management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is one of the most difficult tumors to stage and treat. This study aims to evaluate (1) the best diagnostic imaging, (2) the usefulness of preoperative biliary drainage, (3) the resectability rate, and (4) the results of palliative treatments and surgical resection. Seventy-six patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma with a mean age of 64 +/- 11 years were treated at our institution from 1989 to 1999. Patients were studied preoperatively using ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and percutaneous cholangiography or magnetic resonance cholangiography. Forty-eight patients (63%) underwent palliative treatment. Twenty-eight patients underwent surgical curative therapy; 20 resections and 8 orthotopic liver transplantations (OLTs). Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography was performed in 18 of 28 patients (64%), and magnetic resonance cholangiography in 5 patients; both methods were equally effective in establishing tumoral invasion of the biliary ducts. Five patients did not undergo either diagnostic modality. Excluding the patients who underwent OLT, no significant differences were found in surgical mortality (1 v 2 patients) or postoperative morbidity (100% v 66%) for patients with and without preoperative biliary drainage. The postoperative mortality rate was 11% (3 of 28 patients). The overall resectability rate was 37%. Mean survival in the surgical and palliative groups was 35 and 6 months, respectively (P <.0001). Patients who underwent OLT had a better 5-year survival rate than those treated by tumor resection (36% v 21%; P =.02). Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy apparently did not provide a significant survival benefit. Helical CT and magnetic resonance cholangiography are useful techniques to delineate tumor extent and rule out vascular invasion and lymph node or liver metastases. No clear conclusions regarding preoperative drainage can be drawn from this study. A high resectability rate (37%) is feasible with major hepatectomy.

Bile Duct Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Cardiac involvement and molecular staging in a fatal case of mycosis fungoides.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of T-cell receptor-gamma gene rearrangement was used for molecular staging in a case of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) with fatal evolution. Although initial evaluation was negative for systemic involvement, the patient died due to heart failure. Autopsy findings revealed lymphomatous myocardial infiltration, but other tissues and organs examined, including lymph nodes, liver, spleen, lung and bone marrow, appeared to be free of disease. Molecular analysis from frozen samples obtained during the initial evaluation, as well as paraffin-embedded material obtained during autopsy, revealed the presence of clonal rearranged bands in all tissues examined except the bone marrow. Subsequent hybridization of PCR products with a tumour-specific oligoprobe confirmed the PCR results, suggesting widespread dissemination of the lymphomatous process. The use of molecular analysis can add significant information about the extent of disease in patients with CTCL and may be helpful in the establishment of therapeutic options.

Fatal Outcome↗
PubMed1998

[Nerve growth factor and neurological diseases].

INTRODUCTION: The effects of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) within and outside the nervous system have been amply discussed in recent decades. Recently clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of this growth factor in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. This clinical use makes it necessary to have sensitive, specific methods available to permit measurement of the level of this protein and to determine how it behaves during the course of treatment. OBJECTIVE: To describe the measurement of NGF levels in human serum using an immunoenzymatic method and evaluating the levels of this protein in some neurological disorders. Materials and methods. NGF levels were measured in the serum of healthy persons and in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS) and Huntington's chorea (HC) using a double site immune-enzymatic assay. Murine 27/21 anti-beta-NGF monoclonal antibody was used as the antibody to cover the plate and as conjugate. RESULTS: Adding a block pass to the method, in which the sample was incubated with an excess of 27/21 antibody effectively reduced the signal observed in the immuno-enzymatic assay. A moderate reduction in beta-NGF levels was seen in the serum of patients with ALS and MS. There was a statistically significant reduction in the patients who were carriers of PD and HC. CONCLUSIONS: The significant reduction in NGF levels in patients with PD and HC may be associated with a disorder in the use of this protein in central and peripheral tissues.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Neuronal toxicity of human recombinant interleukin-2 in rats. Morphological and behavioral validation].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The memory impairment which accompanies the aging process is a manifestation of diminished cognitive function. This is intimately related to neuropathological and biochemical changes in cholinergic areas of central nervous system (CNS). Cytokines, first described as immunoregulators, are also implied in defense reactions of the brain. Some studies on the action of IL-2 on the CNS suggest an action blocking the release of acetylcholine in the hippocampus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have studied the possible central neurotoxic effect of this soluble factor using the chronic intraperitoneal infusion of human recombinant IL-2 (hr-IL 2) to young and old Sprague Dawley rats. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results do not show an in vivo action of IL-2 on the cholinergic function but are consistent with the probable role of this cytokine in the senescent cognitive impairment, in particular the age-related loss of spatial memory and/or during the evolution of neurodegenerative related process.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1996

Nerve growth factor levels in normal human sera.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the best characterized of the neurotrophic factors, but there is incomplete information concerning its levels in body fluids. Normal values of NGF in serum from 157 normal subjects were determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A mean NGF level of 194 +/- 25 pg ml-1 was obtained. There were no statistically significant variations with age, but the NGF level was significantly lower in females (112 +/- 31 pg ml-1) than in males (243 +/- 35 pg ml-1).

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Early graft failure after heart transplantation due to coronary artery embolization with myocardial tissue.

Myocardial infarction due to myocardial tissue embolism of the right coronary is a rare cause of early graft failure. We report one case with such a complication, in a 44-year-old man who was transplanted with a graft from a 32-year-old male donor. Prolonged refractory cardiogenic shock developed after orthotopic heart transplantation. A right coronary artery bypass graft was performed and the patient was supported with a biventricular assist device for 69 h. Despite that, no improvement of the graft contractility was observed and the patient could not recover from shock. Pathologic examination showed inferior and septal acute infarction. An embolus of myocardial tissue was completely occluding the first portion of the right coronary artery. The tissue probably came from suture lines of the left atrium.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Differential diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction caused by electrocution].

Electrical injury can affect many organ systems, it seems that the damage results from the conversion of electrical energy into heat. Electrical injuries to the heart are far less frequent and thus, less known. Additionally, it is very difficult to interpret electrocardiographic and enzymatic changes, which are, in other situations, diagnostic of a myocardial infarction. We report two cases of young men without coronary risk factors. They present a rise in enzyme levels and electrocardiographic changes suggestive of acute myocardial infarction after alternating current electrocution. The difficulties in evaluating the myocardial damage in these situations are also discussed. We recommend ECG monitoring and long-term cardiac evaluation of these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Options in the surgical treatment of diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectum].

Cavernous haemangioma of the rectum is an unusual hamartomatous malformation. Patients usually present with painless massive rectal bleeding that generally begins at an early age and frequently surgery is necessary. To avoid abdominoperineal resection of the rectum in these patients, a procedure of colo-anal sleeve anastomosis, that includes a large rectal mucosectomy, has been described. However, in our opinion, if affectation of other pelvic organs can been excluded by MRI, it is easier to do a conservative proctectomy with colo-anal anastomosis. We present a case in a seventeen years old patient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Both apoptosis and necrosis occur following intrastriatal administration of excitotoxins.

To learn about the mechanisms of excitotoxic cell death in vivo, three different excitatory amino acid receptor agonists (kainic acid, quinolinic acid or quisqualic acid) were injected in the left striatum of adult rats. Brains were examined at 24 and 48 h after injection. Morphological and biochemical studies were performed using conventional stains, histochemistry, in situ labelling of nuclear DNA fragmentation, and agarose gel electrophoresis of extracted DNA. Large numbers of cells with cytoplasmic shrinkage and nuclear condensation or granular degeneration of the chromatin, and fewer cells with apoptotic morphology were distributed at random in the injured areas of the three groups of treated animals but not in rats injected with vehicle alone. A ladder pattern, typical of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, was observed 24 h after treatment. This was replaced by a smear pattern, consistent with random DNA breakdown, at 48 h. These morphological and biochemical results suggest that prevailing necrosis together with apoptosis occur following intrastriatal injection of different excitotoxins.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Naturally occurring cell death in the developing cerebral cortex of the rat. Evidence of apoptosis-associated internucleosomal DNA fragmentation.

Naturally occurring dead cells in the developing rat neocortex, subcortical white matter and hippocampus, which increase in number during the first postnatal week and decrease thereafter to disappear by the end of the first month, were examined by in situ labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation. These cells showed peripheral chromatin condensation or extremely dark, often fragmented, nuclei. Southern hybridization following agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA extracted from the developing cortex, but not from adult brain, showed a 'ladder' pattern which is typical of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Taken together these results show that naturally occurring cell death (programmed cell death) in the developing cerebral cortex has the morphology of apoptosis and is associated with endonuclease activation.

Aging↗
PubMed1994

The Purkinje cell in olivopontocerebellar atrophy. A Golgi and immunocytochemical study.

Purkinje cells were examined in three familial cases of olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) by means of the Golgi method, and neurofilament and calcium-binding protein immunocytochemistry. Reduced dendritic arborizations, as seen with different techniques, early formation of axonal spheroids, and abnormal accumulation of phosphorylated neurofilament epitopes in dendrites, somata and axonal spheroids, together with limited formation of proximal spine-like protrusions were the main changes in Purkinje cells. These lesions are unlikely to be the consequence of anterograde degeneration secondary to olivary atrophy, as postulated by some investigators, but probably represent primary damage to Purkinje cells in patients with OPCA. Reduced dendritic arborizations result in a decrease of receptor sites for parallel fibres and deprive granule cells of their main targets. Abnormal accumulation of neurofilaments in somata, dendrites and axonal spheroids may contribute to an abnormal transport and may impair protein turnover in the distal regions of Purkinje cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Effects of blood volume expansion on atrial natriuretic factor and the renin-aldosterone axis in experimental cirrhosis].

Serum concentrations of ANF, Renin and Aldosterone were measured in animals with experimental cirrhosis and volume overload. We studied 75 Wistar rats divided in five groups. Group I: rats with hepatic cirrhosis induced by CCl4; Group II: Control rats; Group III: rats with hepatic cirrhosis and continuous infusion of saline serum; Group IV: control rats with continuous infusion and Group V: cirrhotic rats and bolus infusion of saline. There were no statistical differences in serum concentrations of ANF (232 +/- 75 vs 195 +/- 42 pg/ml) and Renin concentration (182 +/- 24 vs 171 +/- 34 ng/ml/hour) between controls and rats with cirrhosis. However, Aldosterone levels were elevated in cirrhotic rats in basal conditions as compared to controls (1197 +/- 287 vs 475 +/- 88 pg/ml; p < 0.001). The volume overload caused a paradoxical decrease of ANF in cirrhotic rats (124 +/- 15 and 122 +/- 17; p < 0.001). On the other hand, no changes were observed in Renin and Aldosterone after volume expansion. These results suggest the existence of a hemodynamic response to compensate the volume overload. Other studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1993

Radiosensitive populations and recovery in X-ray-induced apoptosis in the developing cerebellum.

Sprague-Dawley rats received a single dose of 2 Gy X-rays at the age of 1 or 3 days and were killed at different intervals. Dying cells with the morphological characteristics of apoptosis appeared in the external and internal granular layers (EGL and IGL) and white matter (WM) of the cerebellum, mainly 3-6 h after irradiation, and decreased thereafter to reach normal values between 48 h and 5 days later. This process was curbed by the injection of cycloheximide at a dose of 1 microgram/g body weight. In addition, the number of mitoses in EGL rapidly decreased after irradiation and did not reach normal values until a few days later. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-immunoreactive cells, which were chiefly found in EGL but also in IGL and WM, dramatically decreased in number from 3 to 48 h after irradiation. PCNA-immunoreactive cells reappeared and reached age-matched values in the following days. Hu (considered as an early neuronal marker) and vimentin immunocytochemistry disclosed that Hu-nonreactive cells in the upper level of EGL, Hu-immunoreactive cells in the inner level of EGL, Bergmann glia and many astrocytes in WM, as well as many non-typified cells in WM, were radiosensitive populations, whereas Purkinje cells were not. The present results indicate that irradiation at P1 or P3 blocks mitosis in EGL and kills sensitive cells mainly in the late G1 and S phases of the cell cycle, probably by apoptosis through a protein synthesis-mediated process. Radiosensitive cells are germinal cells and neuroblasts in EGL, Bergmann glia, astrocytes in WM, and non-typified cells, probably glial cell precursors, in WM. Surviving cells in EGL and PCNA-immunoreactive cells in other cortical layers and white matter reconstitute the cerebellum following a single dose of X-rays.

Animals↗