Allergy to Alternaria. II. Diagnostic comparison of skin-tests and RAST.

The diagnosis of Alternaria allergy is difficult and tests in vivo and in vitro usually do not give results as satisfactory as those obtained with other allergens. We studied 33 patients with a cutaneous response of 2 mm2 or more to skin-prick tests for Alternaria (extract containing 104 micrograms/ml of Alt-1). Results were compared with those of RAST.

[Development of a feeding formula from a protein concentrate of chick-pea (Cicer arietinum)].

A medical formula was developed from a chick-pea (Cicer arietinum) protein concentrate obtained by ultrafiltration (67.8% of protein). Additionally sucrose, methionine, milk flavor, and mixtures of corn and coconut oils, vitamins and minerals were used, to perform FAO/WHO standards.

Effect of diet composition on protein requirements of children and adults in northern Mexico.

The overall vegetable and animal protein combinations of the diet in Northern Mexico were determined through a dietary population survey. Vegetable sources made up 45% and animal protein was 55% (45V/55A). Further combinations of up to 100% vegetable protein dietary mixtures (100V) were studied to test the sensibility of the variations on protein requirements of pre-school, school children and adults.

Diagnosis of allergy to cat epithelium in clinical practice. I. Value of skin tests.

Seventy atopic patients were studied. Pin-prick skin tests with cat epithelium extract (Ifidesa-Aríste-gui) were made. The results were compared by dividing the patients into a group with clinical manifestations of contact with cats and a group without clinical manifestations of contact with cats.

Allergy to Alternaria. I. Clinical aspects.

We studied 66 patients allergic to mould Alternaria. 53% males and 47% females, with 60% diagnosed as having asthma versus 40% rhinitis, only 29% had allergy to Alternaria without any other cutaneous reactivity while 71% were polisensitized, more frequently to D. pteronyssinus, grass pollen, Cladosporium and cat epithelium.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus: study of eight cases.

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors and the natural history of spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV).

Methods: We studied eight HIV infected patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. Variables assessed included sex, age, risk factor for HIV infection, use of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis, total and CD4 positive lymphocyte count, previous history of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia or pulmonary tuberculosis, chest X-ray film, presence of simultaneous opportunistic infection, partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood gas determination and clinical outcome.

[Nutritional quality of a protein concentrate of chick-peas (Cicer arietinum) obtained by ultrafiltration].

The nutritive quality of a protein concentrate from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) obtained by ultrafiltration was evaluated. Three biological assays and the apparent protein digestibility (APD) were utilized. In addition, the effect of the supplementation with methionine to protein concentrate was observed.

Serum erythropoietin levels in anaemic patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection.

This study attempts to evaluate the adequacy of the erythropoietin (EPO) response in 42 anaemic patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection [30 with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 12 with AIDS-related conditions] by comparing their serum EPO levels with those found in a non-HIV reference population consisting of 36 patients with anaemia of chronic disorders (ACD) and 57 with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). Although the average Hb concentration was similar in the three groups, the EPO level for HIV patients (mean +/- SEM, 64.3 +/- 7.

The effect of environmental temperature and humidity on 24 h energy expenditure in men.

The effects of environmental temperature and humidity and their interaction on 24 h energy expenditure were measured using whole-body indirect calorimetry in eight normal-weight young men who wore standardized light clothing and followed a controlled activity regimen. A randomized-block experimental design was used, with temperature effects assessed by measurements at 20, 23, 26 and 30 degrees, while humidity was altered from ambient (50-65% relative humidity) to high (80-93% relative humidity) at 20 and 30 degrees only. There was no significant effect of humidity on 24 h energy expenditure at the two extreme temperatures in this range, though when periods of sleep and exercise were excluded the energy expenditure at high humidity was significantly higher than that ambient humidity (P < 0.

Studies of nonsedative antihistamines. II. Assessment of its antihistaminic potency.

An analysis is made of the effectiveness of terfenadine at dosages of 60 and 120 mg, of cetirizine at a dose of 10 mg, and of loratadine and ebastine at a dose of 10 mg in inhibiting the papule induced by 20 mcg of intradermal histamine. Although all produced significant inhibition, cetirizine and terfenadine 120 mg showed a significantly greater inhibition coefficient than loratadine.

Comparison between cetirizine and terfenadine: time-response study.

Six young healthy volunteers were used as experimental models to study the efficacy of cetirizine 10 mg and terfenadine 60 mg with regard to the onset of action and duration of the peripheral antihistaminic effect (cutaneous activity). For this purpose, 10 micrograms of histamine were used administered as intradermal injection at the internal border of the forearm at times 0', 30', 60', 90', 120', 180', 240', 360', 480' and 24 h after the intake of the drug, with a minimum interval of 7 days between one drug and the other. The inhibition of the cutaneous activity of histamine was assessed by planimetry of the papule transferred to adhesive paper.

[Substance P: immuno-allergic implications].

Substance P is a decapeptide which forms part of the group known as neuropeptides, that is, peptides released by some neurones such as the slow-conducting C fibres and the rapid-conducting A-delta fibres. These neurones belong to the category of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic nerves (NANC), which perform their action through a mechanism known as "axonic reflex". This mechanism is an antidromic stimulation which produces a secretion of neuropeptides, especially substance P.

[Obtention of a protein concentrate of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) by ultrafiltration].

A protein concentrate was obtained from chick-pea (Cicer arietinum) flour aqueous extract. The factor involved in the recovery of protein were the flour: water ratio, and the pH. The best aqueous extract was subjected to infiltration in a Romicon HF1/2SSS unit equipped with hollow fiber membranes cartridges with a nominal molecular-weight cut-off point of 50,000 daltons.

[Rhino-cerebral mucormycosis and hematological neoplasia].

Mucormycosis is a rare infection that occurs in immunocompromised patients. The rhinocerebral form presents in diabetics as a severe necrotizing sinusitis and is not frequent in patients with haematologic malignancies. Diagnosis requires direct examination and culture of biopsy specimens.

[Angiothrombotic pulmonary granulomatosis in intravenous drug addicts].

Two cases of angio-thrombotic lung granulomatosis in intravenous drug addicts are described. This entity has been previously described in drug addicts who inject oral drugs intravenously. Talc, which is used in the preparation of several drugs, cotton and other substances provoke at lung vessels level, thrombotic phenomena with strange body granuloma formations.

[Drug surveillance for adverse reactions in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection].

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) carrier patients experience several secondary effects with drugs, being mainly skin reactions and myelosuppression. Owing to this, close observation of patients is necessary with regard to therapeutic and prophylactic schedules. In this paper, we describe the secondary effects of zidovudine in 60 patients of groups III and IV from CDC.

[Sodium, potassium and calcium content in regional dishes consumed in Sonora, Mexico].

The content of sodium, potassium and calcium was determined in 15 regional dishes, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The Na:K ratio was high in most of the dishes due to the high sodium content and low content of potassium found. The higher sources of the studied minerals were "tortilla de harina" with 1,372.

[Effect of home-processing in the preparation of pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on the tannin content and nutritive value of proteins].

A 3(2) factor design was carried out in order to investigate the different home-cooking treatments applied in the preparation of pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on the nutritive value of their protein. The factors studied were previous soaking, type of cooking and addition of cooking broth.

Use of absorbable sutures in canine carotid arteries.

To study the functional and microstructural characteristics of polydioxanone sutures in vascular surgery, we created 48 vascular anastomoses in the right and left common carotid arteries of 24 mongrel dogs. In each animal, polydioxanone sutures were used in 1 carotid artery, and polypropylene sutures were used in the contralateral carotid artery. Twelve groups of 2 animals each were then formed.

[The rupture of surgical gloves in a general hospital].

We studied the incidence of rupture of surgical gloves used at a general hospital: A) new gloves (n = 114); B) gloves used at a major general, gynecological or urological operation (n = 258), and C) recirculating surgical gloves (n = 86). A special techniques based on transmission of an electrical signal through the rupture was used to identify rupture. Rupture was present in 8.