1H magnetic resonance in the study of hepatic encephalopathy in humans.

1H magnetic resonance (1H MR) studies of the brain in patients with liver diseases have shown several abnormalities that may be relevant for the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. 1H magnetic resonance imaging shows a typical pallidal hyperintensity on T1-weighted images. This abnormality appears to be secondary to the accumulation of manganese in basal ganglia because of portal-systemic shunting.

Acute meningitis due to Toscana virus infection among patients from both the Spanish Mediterranean region and the region of Madrid.

Toscana virus (TOSV) is a member of the genus Phlebovirus that is transmitted to humans by two different species of sand fly and causes acute aseptic meningitis (AAM) and meningoencephalitis in Central Italy. Fifteen cases of AAM due to TOSV have been found at the Spanish province of Granada, but no data regarding the presence of TOSV-related disease in other regions of Spain have been still reported. A collection of 88 serum and 53 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples taken from 81 selected patients with AAM of unknown aetiology, residing at Madrid or at the southern Mediterranean coast of Spain, was retrospectively studied for presence of TOSV-specific antibodies from both IgG and IgM classes.

[ROC curve analysis of factors predictive of response to treatment with interferon plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C relapse after previous interferon treatment].

This study aimed to identify the factors predictive of response before the initiation of treatment and throughout the treatment period in patients with chronic hepatitis C relapse after treatment with interferon-a who were retreated with a standard regimen of interferon-a plus ribavirine and followed up for 40 months. Forty-four patients (40 with genotype 1, four without genotype 1) were included in the study. Four patients (genotype 1) were excluded because of adverse effects.

[Study of the betalactam resistance of Haemophilus influenzae conferred by the bla(ROB-1) gene].

Given the lack of information on the resistance to betalactams conferred by the bla(ROB-1) gene in our area, we decided to undertake a study to determine if and how often it appears in our isolates. We analyzed the presence of the gene in 177 strains of Haemophilus influenzae and compared the results with those from the biochemical tests (nitrocefin). Sixty-three strains tested positive in the nitrocefin test (35.

[Retreatment with interferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1 who had no response or a relapse with a previous interferon treatment. Long term follow-up].

The aims of this study were twofold: i) to evaluate the sustained response rate at 6 months, at 12 months and at the end of the follow-up [(46.39 +/- 9.74 months) (range: 6-60 months)] in patients with chronic hepatitis C retreated with interferon-a (IFN-a) plus ribavirin for 6 months (group A), 12 months (group B), in patients with relapse and those with no response to a previous course of monotherapy with IFN-a; and ii) to evaluate changes in the histological liver lesion.

Effect of protease EPg222 obtained from Penicillium chrysogenum isolated from dry-cured ham in pieces of pork loins.

The fungal protease EPg222 obtained from Penicillium chrysogenum Pg222 isolated from dry-cured ham, was assayed for proteolytic activity in a meat model system based on sterile pieces of pork loins for 32 days. Treated samples showed a significative reduction of total high ionic strength-soluble proteins during the incubation period, as compared with a control incubated without enzyme, both on the surface and in the depth. SDS-PAGE analysis of this protein fraction showed higher hydrolysis of the main myofibrillar proteins H-meromyosin, actin, and tropomyosin in treated samples.

Magnetic resonance imaging measurement of brain edema in patients with liver disease: resolution after transplantation.

Purpose Of Review: Results from experimental studies indicate that widespread osmotic disturbance induced by astrocytic accumulation of glutamine as a result of ammonia detoxification may lead to brain edema, not only in cases of fulminant hepatic failure, but in the entire spectrum of liver disease. This review summarizes recent magnetic resonance imaging data obtained in patients with chronic liver failure before and after liver transplantation that support the hypothesis that mild brain edema exists in these patients in the absence of clinical hepatic encephalopathy.

Recent Findings: Diffuse white matter abnormalities have been detected with several magnetic resonance imaging techniques such as magnetization transfer ratio measurements, which show significantly low values in otherwise normal appearing brain white matter, and fast-Flair sequences, which show abnormal high-signal intensity of the hemispheric white matter tracts.

Proteolytic activity of Penicillium chrysogenum and Debaryomyces hansenii during controlled ripening of pork loins.

The role of micro-organisms on the ripening process of dry-cured ham, particularly with respect to proteolysis, is not clear. This is partially due to the lack of an adequate system to study changes on a sterile control meat product for long ripening times. Using a meat system based on sterile pork loins ripened under aseptic conditions for 106 days, the contribution to the proteolysis of two micro-organisms isolated from dry-cured ham has been established.

Normalization of T2 signal abnormalities in hemispheric white matter with liver transplant.

Objective: To determine whether edema can be assessed by MRI using T2-weighted signal intensity of hemispheric white matter in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: Fast-FLAIR and magnetization transfer images were obtained before (24) and after (11) liver transplantation. T2-weighted abnormalities on baseline scans and their time-course changes were analyzed and compared with MT ratios (MTR).

Production of cyclopiazonic acid by Penicillium commune isolated from dry-cured ham on a meat extract-based substrate.

Penicillium commune, a mold frequently found on dry-cured meat products, is able to synthesize the mycotoxin cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). To evaluate the hazard due to CPA on such foods, the ability of P. commune to grow and produce CPA at water activities (a(w)) in the range of 0.

Purification and characterization of an extracellular protease from Penicillium chrysogenum Pg222 active against meat proteins.

An extracellular protease from Penicillium chrysogenum (Pg222) isolated from dry-cured ham has been purified. The purification procedure involved several steps: ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, filtration, and separation by high-performance liquid chromatography. Based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis and gel filtration, the purified fraction showed a molecular mass of about 35 kDa.

[Factors associated with resistance to human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitors].

Background: To assess the risk factors associated with genotypic resistance to protease inhibitors (PI) in HIV-infected subjects with virologic failure despite highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART).

Patients And Method: Retrospective chart review including 47 consecutive patients with virologic failure despite PI-based HAART who had undergone a genotypic HIV-1 testing. The prevalence of genotypic resistance to PI was determined and several demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were compared between patients with and without genotypic resistance to those drugs.

Molecular cloning of verrucosidin-producing Penicillium polonicum genes by differential screening to obtain a DNA probe.

A differential molecular screening procedure was developed to obtain DNA clones enriched for verrucosidin-related genes that could be used as DNA probes to detect verrucosidin-producing Penicillium polonicum. Permissive and nonpermissive conditions for verrucosidin production were selected to obtain differentiated poly (A)+ RNA for the cloning strategy. P.

Free amino acids and other non-volatile compounds formed during processing of Iberian ham.

Fifty-five legs from Iberian pigs were traditionally processed into dry cured hams. Free amino acids and other non-volatile compounds in the water-soluble fraction from the biceps femoris muscle were analyzed by HPLC. At the drying stage and in the last months in the cellar the largest increases in these water-soluble compounds took place.

Usefulness of magnetic resonance spectroscopy for diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy in a patient with relapsing confusional syndrome.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy allows the assessment of several metabolites in brain tissue. In patients with hepatic encephalopathy, this technique shows a rise in glutamine and a decrease in myoinositol in brain tissue. However, the role of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy is not known.

The development of low-grade cerebral edema in cirrhosis is supported by the evolution of (1)H-magnetic resonance abnormalities after liver transplantation.

Background/aims: Liver failure may cause brain edema through an increase in brain glutamine. However, usually standard neuroimaging techniques do not detect brain edema in cirrhosis. We assessed magnetization transfer ratio and (1)H-magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy before and after liver transplantation to investigate changes in brain water content in cirrhosis.

Hepatic Encephalopathy.

1. Acute Encephalopathy in Cirrhosis A. GENERAL MEASURES.

Altered content and modulation of soluble guanylate cyclase in the cerebellum of rats with portacaval anastomosis.

It is shown that the glutamate-NO-cGMP pathway is impaired in cerebellum of rats with portacaval anastomosis in vivo as assessed by in vivo brain microdialysis in freely moving rats. NMDA-induced increase in extracellular cGMP in the cerebellum was significantly reduced (by 27%) in rats with portacaval anastomosis. Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by the NO-generating agent S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine and by the NO-independent activator YC-1 was also significantly reduced (by 35-40%), indicating that portacaval anastomosis leads to remarkable alterations in the modulation of guanylate cyclase in cerebellum.

Exposures and cancer incidence near oil fields in the Amazon basin of Ecuador.

Objectives: To examine environmental exposure and incidence and mortality of cancer in the village of San Carlos surrounded by oil fields in the Amazon basin of Ecuador.

Methods: Water samples of the local streams were analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs). A preliminary list of potential cancer cases from 1989 to 1998 was prepared.