Worsening of pulmonary gas exchange with nitric oxide inhalation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Inhalation of nitric oxide (NO) causes selective pulmonary vasodilation and improves arterial oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome. But some patients do not respond or gas exchange worsens when inhaling NO. We hypothesised that this detrimental effect might be related to the reversion of hypoxic vasoconstriction in those patients where this mechanism contributes to ventilation-perfusion (V(A)/Q) matching.

Genotype determination of hepatitis C virus from northern India: identification of a new subtype.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) shows substantial nucleotide sequence diversity distributed throughout the viral genome, with many variants showing only 68-79% overall sequence homology. This has led to problems in diagnosis of HCV using commercial immunoassays. Based on clustering of homologous sequences, various genotypes and subtypes of HCV have been described from different geographical regions.

Effect of nitric oxide inhalation on respiratory system resistance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been identified as a neurotransmitter of nonadrenergic noncholinergic bronchodilator nerves. To investigate whether inhaled NO exerts a bronchodilator effect in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we measured the resistance of the respiratory system, using the forced oscillation technique, while breathing NO. Eight patients with COPD (7 men and 1 woman; aged 66 +/- 7 yrs (mean +/- SD); forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 37 +/- 17% of predicted) and eight healthy subjects (7 men and 1 woman; 33 +/- 4 yrs; FEV1 108 +/- 14% pred) were studied.

[Rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in intravenous drug addicts from the Barcelona area, according to sex and age of drug consumption onset].

Background: The differences in the rates of HIV infection in intravenous drug addicts according to the age of onset of drug consumption, sex and length of intake were evaluated.

Methods: The study sample was made up of 650 intravenous drug addicts (535 males and 115 females) admitted to a Hospital Detoxication Unit over 7 years (1987-1993). Of all these patients HIV serology and a questionnaire related to sociodemographic variables and drug consumption (age, sex, year of onset of intravenous drug intake, length of addiction and year of admission) were obtained.

The probabilities of supercoil removal and decatenation by yeast DNA topoisomerase II.

Background: In yeast a single type II DNA topoisomerase is involved in both the removal of DNA supercoils and the unlinking of intertwined pairs of newly replicated chromosomes or plasmids; in bacteria, two type II enzymes, DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV, function separately in the passage of DNA segments in cis and in trans. To deduce the molecular characteristics of these enzyme-mediated reactions, the efficiencies of supercoil removal and decatenation by the yeast enzyme upon the addition of a nonhydrolysable ATP analogue were determined.

Results: The probability that a bound enzyme transports a DNA segment in cis increases with positive or negative supercoiling of the DNA, and transport is nearly quantitative at high degrees of supercoiling.

Lectin histochemistry during in vitro capacitation and acrosome reaction in boar spermatozoa: new lectins for evaluating acrosomal status of boar spermatozoa.

Six peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated lectins have been used to analyze the distribution of carbohydrates in ejaculated boar spermatozoa during in vitro capacitation and acrosome reaction in air-dried preparations. The membranes of boar spermatozoa were positive to WGA and Con-A in the acrosome, middle piece and principal piece. PNA labelled the acrosomal region.

Association of quantitative cytomegalovirus antigenemia with symptomatic infection in solid organ transplant patients.

A prospective virologic follow-up of solid organ transplant patients was designed to determine the usefulness of antigenemia and viremia as virologic markers for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, and also for monitoring CMV disease and therapy control. A total of 629 blood samples from 127 patients (60 liver, 47 kidney, and 20 heart transplant recipients) were studied by tube and shell vial cultures, and by antigenemia assay. This later was carried out by an indirect immunofluorescent assay method for formalin-fixed cytospin slides containing 2 x 10(5) leukocytes, using a monoclonal antibody directed against the CMV pp65 antigen.

[Evaluation of the cephalometric structure of the upper airway on the configuration of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

Thirty aleatory patients polysomnographically diagnosed as sleep apnea syndrome (SAOS) with an apnea-hypoapnea index (AHI) accounting for 61.3 +/- 31.1 were, bipedal and in decubitus, cephalometrically explored, aiming at establish the correlation between the cephalometric quantum of the upper airway and the anthropomorphic and polysomnographic parameters clearly establishing the syndrome.

Prevalence of dementia in a semi-rural population of Catalunya, Spain.

This study was to investigate the prevalence of dementia in an aging population. A two-phase model was used to obtain information on the socio-demographic, medical and cognitive status of subjects over 65 years of age (n = 516), resident on December 31, 1990, within the general population (n = 3,457) of La Selva del Camp. A diagnostic protocol, following the criteria of DSM-III, was designed for application to all subjects.

[Anatomical alterations of the upper airway in the sleeping apnea syndrome. Diagnostical and therapeutic implications].

In this paper are assessed through ENT-exam, rhinomanometry and cephalometry both bipedal and in dorsal decubitus, the anatomical alterations occurring in the upper airways in 100 consecutive patients, polysomnographically diagnosed of SAOS. The patients were classified in 4 groups (after Fujita's modified classification): 2 having oropharyngeal obstruction (I and IIa) and other 2 with hypopharyngeal obstruction (IIb and III), which were subdivided in its time with nasal obstruction present (N+) or absent (N-). Group I and IIa (68 %) -theoretical candidates to an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, UPPP-showed its predominance, followed by a high incidence of nasal obstruction (N+, 48 %) and a non negligeable number of hypopharyngeal alterations (32 %).

Epidermal dysplasia and neoplasia in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Established data confirm an increased incidence of skin cancer, mainly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), in long-term kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate prospectively the type and frequency of neoplastic and preneoplastic skin lesions in KTRs during the first 3 years of immunosuppression, as well as the influence of potential risk factors.

Methods: Eighty-one consecutive KTRs were examined every 6 months during the first 3 years after transplantation.

Constrictive pericarditis after heart transplantation: report of two cases.

We report two cases of constrictive pericarditis after heart transplantation. It is noteworthy that constriction developed after a healed intrathoracic infection in the two patients. Unlike previous reported experiences, pericardiectomy was uneventful and successfully performed, although incomplete improvement was achieved in one case.

[Adaptable and portable cephalometric devices: a new method in obtaining cephalometrics].

Cephalometric radiographic explorations are widely recommended in the diagnosis of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In order to improve their diagnostic value, its practice in the upright and supine position has been proposed. A rigorous practice of cephalometric requires the employment of cephalometric devices in order to assure a correct positioning of the head and provide reliable X-ray pictures, comparable within reasonable accuracy over a period of time.

Salbutamol inhibits pulmonary effects of platelet activating factor in man.

Inhaled platelet-activating factor (PAF) provokes considerable pulmonary gas exchange disturbances in normal man and in patients with mild asthma, similar to those observed in acute severe asthma. To further examine the mechanisms involved in PAF-induced ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) mismatch, eight healthy, non-atopic, nonsmoking subjects were studied after administration of PAF aerosol (24 micrograms). They had been previously treated with inhaled salbutamol (300 micrograms) in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled design.

[Hepatitis C virus in plasmapheresis donors].

Unlabelled: The high prevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among plasmapheresis donors has been reported in several countries and Cuba. We have studied the possible relationship between the laboratory results and the real infectious state of the anti-HCV positive individuals, as well as the possible routes of infection in this population.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective data were analyzed and a prospective monthly serologic (anti-HCV) and biochemical (alanine aminotransferase) follow-up was established to 61 regular plasmapheresis donors, negative to hepatitis B markers, of a unit, which showed a prevalence of 48.

The mechanisms of DNA topoisomerases.

Recent structural and mechanistic studies, as well as the discovery of new enzymes in the DNA topoisomerase family, allow these enzymes to be classified into three groups. Each group reflects the evolution of three different mechanistic strategies to manipulate DNA topology.

Relationship between serum IgE and airway responsiveness in adults with asthma.

Background: General population studies have shown a relationship between total serum IgE levels and airway responsiveness, but this association has not been documented in patients with asthma.

Objective: The study assesses the cross-sectional relationship between IgE levels and airway responsiveness in 208 subjects who had had emergency department treatment for asthma at least 2 years earlier.

Methods: All participants completed a standardized respiratory questionnaire and underwent spirometry, allergy skin testing, and a dose-response methacholine challenge test.

Platelet count, antiplatelet therapy and pulmonary embolism--a prospective study in patients with hip surgery.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious complication following hip surgery. Trials of antiplatelet thromboprophylaxis indicated a substantial reduction in PE rate, and we prospectively studied the effect of a combination of low-dose heparin and two different antiplatelets. Furthermore, our experience in previous studies suggested that platelet count (PC) levels could be useful to reliably suspect PE at a very early stage, and we prospectively tried to confirm our previous findings.

Prospective study of drug-resistant tuberculosis in a Spanish urban population including patients at risk for HIV infection.

From January 1988 to October 1992, the primary resistance to first-line antituberculous drugs in 501 tuberculous patients was evaluated prospectively. Three-hundred and seventeen patients were HIV-negative and 184 were HIV-positive; these patients had several different clinical forms of tuberculosis. Moreover, the acquired resistance to antituberculous drugs was studied in 295 non-AIDS patients and in 42 AIDS patients with evidence of antecedent tuberculosis treatment.

Opiates or cocaine: mortality from acute reactions in six major Spanish cities. State Information System on Drug Abuse (SEIT) Working Group.

Study Objective: To describe temporal and geographical variations in mortality from acute reactions to opiates or cocaine and the demographic and toxicological characteristics of persons who died from these in major Spanish cities between 1983 and 1991.

Design: Descriptive study. Data were obtained retrospectively from pathologists' reports.

Motility, acrosome integrity and fertility of frozen ram spermatozoa treated with caffeine, pentoxifylline, cAMP, 2-deoxyadenosine and kallikrein.

The motility, acrosome integrity and fertility of ram spermatozoa were examined after treatment with five compounds (caffeine, pentoxifylline, cAMP, 2-deoxyadenosine and kallikrein). Semen was extended with a Tris-based medium and frozen in pellet form. The compounds were added at various concentrations to the semen before freezing or after thawing.