Characterization of immune cell phenotypes in adults with autism spectrum disorders.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in verbal and non-verbal communication, impaired social interactions and repetitive behaviors. There is evidence of a link between ASD symptoms and immune dysfunction, but few studies have been performed in adult patients to confirm this. In this work, we used flow cytometry to study immunological differences in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 59 adult patients and 26 healthy control subjects to identify possible immune cell profiles related with this group of disorders.

Association of immunological cell profiles with specific clinical phenotypes of scleroderma disease.

This study aimed to search the correlation among immunological profiles and clinical phenotypes of scleroderma in well-characterized groups of scleroderma patients, comparing forty-nine scleroderma patients stratified according to specific clinical phenotypes with forty-nine healthy controls. Five immunological cell subpopulations (B, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells, NK, and monocytes) and their respective stages of apoptosis and activation were analyzed by flow cytometry, in samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Analyses of results were stratified according to disease stage, time since the diagnosis, and visceral damage (pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiac affliction) and by time of treatment with corticosteroids.

Long-term outcome of a phase II study of weekly docetaxel with a short course of estramustine and enoxaparine in hormone-resistant prostate cancer patients.

Objective: The objective was to define the toxicity and activity of weekly docetaxel administered with a short course of estramustine and enoxaparine in patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer (HRPC).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-four patients were treated with the next regimen: weekly docetaxel 36 mg/m(2) iv for three consecutive weeks every 28 days, and estramustine 280 mg three times a day for three consecutive days beginning the day before docetaxel (days 1-3, 8-10 and 15-17). In order to prevent thromboembolic events, 40 mg of subcutaneous enoxaparine was administered daily sc on the same days as estramustine.

[Diagnostic yield of Echo-Doppler in dysfunction of the grafted kidney].

The study's goal is to analyze the usefulness of Eco-Doppler in the knowledge of renal graft hemodynamics and the description of its dysfunction. 234 examinations were performed in 110 patients. Acceleration, mean rate (MR), maximum systolic rate (MXSR) and minimal diastolic rate (MNDR), as well as resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were determined in the external iliac, renal, segmentary, interlobular and arcuate arteries.

[Extracorporeal lithofragmentation and of direct contact. Development of mathematical models for calculating the energy and predicting the fragmentation].

The present experimental 'in vitro' study pursues the development of mathematical equations which, prior to lithofragmentation, would allow to estimate the amount of energy required and to predict the degree of fragmentation for each of the different sources of energy. A total of 114 calculi with 6 different compositions were analyzed by conventional X-rays (Rx), computerized axial tomography (CT) and dual X-ray densitometry (DO). Calculi were then fragmented using 4 different types of energy: electrohydraulic (LEH), piezoelectric (LEP), ultrasounds (US) and pulse laser (LAS).