Showing papers by "University of Barcelona published in 1997"
TL;DR: Based on outcomes at hospital discharge or 30 days, primary angioplasty appears to be superior to thrombolytic therapy for treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction, with the proviso that success rates for angiopLasty are as good as those achieved in these trials.
Abstract: Objective. —To provide a quantitative review of the treatment effects of primary coronary angioplasty vs intravenous thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction. Data Sources. —Ten randomized trials were identified through computerized bibliographic search of MEDLINE from January 1985 through March 1996 and by queries of principal investigators. Study Selection. —Single-center and multicenter randomized trials comparing primary angioplasty with intravenous thrombolytic therapy among 2606 patients were included. Four trials compared angioplasty with streptokinase, 3 compared angioplasty with a 3- to 4-hour infusion of tissue-type plasminogen activator, and 3 compared angioplasty with "accelerated" administration of tissue-type plasminogen activator over 90 minutes. Data Extraction. —Each investigator provided definitions and exact data for outcome events. Odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and Pvalues were calculated using exact tests for categorical data. Data Synthesis. —Mortality at 30 days or less was 4.4% for the 1290 patients treated with primary angioplasty compared with 6.5% for the 1316 patients treated with thrombolysis (34% reduction; OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46-0.94;P=.02). The effect was similar among thrombolytic regimens, and no subgroup demonstrated a significant reduction in death. The rates of death or nonfatal reinfarction were 7.2% for angioplasty and 11.9% for thrombolytic therapy (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.44-0.76;P Conclusions. —Based on outcomes at hospital discharge or 30 days, primary angioplasty appears to be superior to thrombolytic therapy for treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction, with the proviso that success rates for angioplasty are as good as those achieved in these trials. Data evaluating longer-term outcomes, operator experience, and time delay before treatment are needed before primary angioplasty can be universally recommended as the preferred treatment.
1,008 citations
905 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the magnetic coupling constants (2J) of hydroxo- and alkoxo-bridged copper binuclear compounds have been evaluated to determine the accuracy of different density functional methods and to study the magnetic behavior of these compounds.
Abstract: Magnetic coupling constants (2J) of hydroxo- and alkoxo-bridged copper binuclear compounds have been evaluated to determine the accuracy of different density functional methods and to study the magnetic behavior of these compounds. Comparison between the calculated and experimental coupling constants for the complete structures of five compounds shows that the most successful computational strategy is the combination of the B3LYP method with the broken-symmetry approach. Calculations for model compounds of both families yield reasonable approximations to the values of magnetic coupling constants calculated for the full molecular structures. Our calculations show a correlation between the magnetic coupling constant and the Cu−O−Cu bridging angle and with the out-of-plane displacement of the hydroxo or alkoxo groups, in agreement with the experimental data. The counterions of the hydroxo-bridged complexes, when hydrogen bonded to the bridging hydroxo group, determine the extent of the out-of-plane displacem...
793 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that mitochondria are a target of ceramide produced in the signaling of TNF whose effect on mitochondrial electron transport chain leads to overproduction of hydrogen peroxide and consequently this phenomena may account for the generation of reactive oxygen species during TNF cytotoxicity.
791 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that Y-STR loci are useful markers to identify males and male lineages in forensic practice and recommended for the forensic application of a basic set of 7 STRs for standard Y-haplotyping in forensic and paternity casework.
Abstract: A multicenter study has been carried out to characterize 13 polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) systems located on the male specific part of the human Y chromosome (DYS19, DYS288, DYS385, DYS388, DYS389I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, YCAI, YCAII, YCAIII, DXYS156Y). Amplification parameters and electrophoresis protocols including multiplex approaches were compiled. The typing of non-recombining Y loci with uniparental inheritance requires special attention to population substructuring due to prevalent male lineages. To assess the extent of these subheterogeneities up to 3825 unrelated males were typed in up to 48 population samples for the respective loci. A consistent repeat based nomenclature for most of the loci has been introduced. Moreover we have estimated the average mutation rate for DYS19 in 626 confirmed father-son pairs as 3.2 × 10–3 (95% confidence interval limits of 0.00041–0.00677), a value which can also be expected for other Y-STR loci with similar repeat structure. Recommendations are given for the forensic application of a basic set of 7 STRs (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393) for standard Y-haplotyping in forensic and paternity casework. We recommend further the inclusion of the highly polymorphic bilocal Y-STRs DYS385, YCAII, YCAIII for a nearly complete individualisation of almost any given unrelated male individual. Together, these results suggest that Y-STR loci are useful markers to identify males and male lineages in forensic practice.
766 citations
TL;DR: Inequalities in health favoured the higher income groups and were statistically significant in all countries, and were particularly high in the United States and the United Kingdom.
702 citations
TL;DR: Identification of the gene for familial atrial fibrillation will help to elucidate the molecular basis of the disease and provide insights into acquired forms and should accelerate the process of gene mapping in the future.
Abstract: Background Atrial fibrillation, the most common sustained cardiac-rhythm disturbance, affects over 2 million Americans and accounts for one third of all strokes in patients over 65 years of age. The molecular basis for atrial fibrillation is unknown, and palliative therapy is used to control the ventricular rate and prevent systemic emboli. We identified a family of 26 members of whom 10 had atrial fibrillation that segregated as an autosomal dominant disease. We subsequently identified two additional families in which the disease was linked to the same locus. Methods We screened the human genome with 300 polymorphic dinucleotide-repeat markers using an unconventional strategy of pooling the DNA samples into two groups (affected and unaffected), which reduced the sample size by approximately 90 percent, before performing linkage analysis to map the locus. This made it possible to identify potential loci within a few weeks. Results The lod scores for markers D10S569 and D10S607, located at 10q22–q24, were ...
548 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the s-wave meson-nucleon interaction in the s = -1$ sector is studied by means of coupled-channel Lippmann Schwinger equations, using the lowest order chiral Lagrangian and a cut off to regularize the loop integrals.
Abstract: The s-wave meson-nucleon interaction in the $S = -1$ sector is studied by means of coupled-channel Lippmann Schwinger equations, using the lowest order chiral Lagrangian and a cut off to regularize the loop integrals. The method reproduces succesfully the $\Lambda (1405)$ resonance and the $K^- p \to K^- p, \bar{K}^0 n, \pi^0 \Lambda, \pi^0 \Sigma, \pi^+ \Sigma^-, \pi^- \Sigma^+$ cross sections at low energies. The inclusion of the $\eta \Lambda, \eta \Sigma^0$ channels in the coupled system is found very important and allows a solution in terms of only the lowest order Lagrangian.
498 citations
TL;DR: It is reported that ablation of Cajal–Retzius cells in organotypic slice cultures of hippocampus prevented the ingrowth of entorhinal but not of commissural afferents, and reelin is essential for the formation of layer-specific hippocampal connections.
Abstract: DURING development of the nervous system, specific recognition molecules provide the cues necessary for the formation of neural connections. In some regions, guiding cues for axonal pathfinding and target selection are provided by specific cells that exist only transiently during development, such as the floorplate or the cortical subplate1–4. In the hippocampus, distinct groups of fibres innervate different layers5. We have tested the hypothesis that transient neurons in the hippocampus6,7 provide positional information for the targeting of these fibres. Here we report that ablation of Cajal–Retzius cells in organotypic slice cultures of hippocampus prevented the ingrowth of entorhinal but not of commissural afferents. Experiments inhibiting Reelin (an extracellular matrix protein expressed by Cajal–Retzius cells) and analysis of reeler mutant mice showed dramatic abnormalities in the development of entorhinal afferents. Thus Cajal–Retzius cells and reelin are essential for the formation of layer-specific hippocampal connections.
479 citations
TL;DR: There is an urgent need for a standardized terminology within the HRQOL field, by offering a standard definition of conceptual equivalence, and by suggesting that the adoption of a universalist orientation would require substantial changes to guidelines and more empirical work on the conceptualization ofHRQOL in different cultures.
Abstract: The increasing use of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires in multinational studies has resulted in the translation of many existing measures Guidelines for translation have been published, and there has been some discussion of how to achieve and assess equivalence between source and target questionnaires Our reading in this area had led us, however, to the conclusion that different types of equivalence were not clearly defined, and that a theoretical framework for equivalence was lacking To confirm this we reviewed definitions of equivalence in the HRQOL literature on the use of generic questionnaires in multicultural settings The literature review revealed: definitions of 19 different types of equivalence; vague or conflicting definitions, particularly in the case of conceptual equivalence; and the use of many redundant terms We discuss these findings in the light of a framework adapted from cross-cultural psychology for describing three different orientations to cross-cultural research: absolutism, universalism and relativism We suggest that the HRQOL field has generally adopted an absolutist approach and that this may account for some of the confusion in this area We conclude by suggesting that there is an urgent need for a standardized terminology within the HRQOL field, by offering a standard definition of conceptual equivalence, and by suggesting that the adoption of a universalist orientation would require substantial changes to guidelines and more empirical work on the conceptualization of HRQOL in different cultures
474 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the correlation between ENSO and Iberian rainfall has increased towards the end of the present century, with strong positive signals spanning over half of the area studied.
Abstract: Analysis of data from seventeen rainfall stations in the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands and Northern Africa has revealed significant El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signals in Europe. Both North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Southern Oscillation (SO) exert an influence on Iberian climate, but at different temporal and spatial scales. Though most of the peninsula is under NAO influence in winter, some stations in the eastern region show no connection with this phenomenon. The same is found for ENSO, with a positively correlated region appearing in the eastern part of Spain, while the rest of the peninsula remains insensitive. The correlation between ENSO and Iberian rainfall has increased towards the end of the present century, with strong positive signals spanning over half of the area studied. The percentage of springtime variability due to ENSO has similarly increased, reaching up to 50% in certain areas. We also show how there are outstanding climatic sensors of these phenomena such as Lake Gallocanta, which manifests a positive response to ENSO while appears insensitive to NAO. Common long-term patterns are observed between SOI and an inferred lake level series, suggesting a constant influence of the low-frequency component of ENSO throughout the period considered. Lake drying phases every 14 years reflect the impact of this signal, approximately every four ENSO events.
TL;DR: This article found that Spanish but not French uses accent to distinguish between words (e.g., topo vs topo) and that accent has an impact on the perceptual capacities of listeners.
TL;DR: Experiments in which the synthesis of polyamines has been perturbed have clearly shown that these compounds are essential for normal growth and development, supported by recent genetic analyses of polyamine synthesis mutants of Arabidopsis.
TL;DR: In this paper, a certification campaign of extractable trace element contents in a sediment reference material, following a three-step sequential extraction procedure duly tested and adopted by a group of 18 EU laboratories is presented.
TL;DR: The influence of the simplifications introduced by modeling a molecular structure on the exchange coupling constant is studied for hydroxo-bridged Cu(II) binuclear complexes and the role of the terminal ligands and the counterions is focused on.
Abstract: The influence of the simplifications introduced by modeling a molecular structure on the exchange coupling constant is studied for hydroxo-bridged Cu(II) binuclear complexes. This study focuses on the role of the terminal ligands and the counterions. The terminal ligands are responsible for marked changes in the exchange coupling constant, depending on their donor properties, while the counterions have an effect only when directly coordinated to the copper atoms. The study of the magneto−structural correlations for the hydroxo-bridged Cu(II) binuclear complexes has been extended by analyzing the influence of the Cu−O distance, the effect of the asymmetry at the bridging backbone, and the hinge distortion of the bridge. The increase in the Cu−O distance and the absence of the hinge distortion of the Cu2O2 ring substantially enhance the antiferromagnetic interaction.
01 Nov 1997-Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B-beam Interactions With Materials and Atoms
TL;DR: In this paper, an algorithm for Monte Carlo simulation of coupled electron-photon transport is described, where electron and positron tracks are generated by means of PENELOPE, a mixed procedure developed by Baro et al.
Abstract: An algorithm for Monte Carlo simulation of coupled electron-photon transport is described. Electron and positron tracks are generated by means of PENELOPE, a mixed procedure developed by Baro et al. [Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B 100 (1995) 31]. The simulation of photon transport follows the conventional, detailed method. Photons are assumed to interact via coherent and incoherent scattering, photoelectric absorption and electron-positron pair production. Photon interactions are simulated through analytical differential cross sections, derived from simple physical models and renormalized to reproduce accurate attenuation coefficients available from the literature. The combined algorithm has been implemented in a FORTRAN 77 computer code that generates electron-photon showers in arbitrary materials for the energy range from ∼1 GeV down to 1 keV or the binding energy of the L-shell of the heaviest element in the medium, whichever is the largest. The code is capable of following secondary particles that are generated within this energy range. The reliability of the algorithm and computer code is demonstrated by comparing simulation results with experimental data and with results from other Monte Carlo codes.
TL;DR: In this article, the utilization of mechanical milling for the preparation of catalysts based on ceria structurally modified with zirconia is presented, and it is shown that room-temperature high-energy ball milling is an effective tool for the synthesis of nanophase CeO2−ZrO2solid solution in a wide composition range.
TL;DR: The chromosome Y STRs seem to be very useful in comparing closely related populations which cannot probably be separated by e.g. autosomal STRs, but in order to be used in an evolutionary context they need to be combined with more stable Y-polymorphisms e.
Abstract: By means of a multicenter study, a large number of males have been characterized for Y-chromosome specific short tandem repeats (STRs) or microsatellites. A complete summary of the allele frequency distributions for these Y-STRs is presented in the Appendix. This manuscript describes in more detail some of the population genetic and evolutionary aspects for a restricted set of seven chromosome Y STRs in a selected number of population samples. For all the chromosome Y STRs markedly different region-specific allele frequency distributions were observed, also when closely related populations were compared. Haplotype analyses using AMOVA showed that when four different European male groups (Germans, Dutch, Swiss, Italians) were compared, less than 10% of the total genetic variability was due to differences between these populations. Nevertheless, these pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences between most population pairs. Assuming a step-wise mutation model and a mutation frequency of 0.21%, it was estimated that chromosome Y STR-based evolutionary lines of descent can be reliably inferred over a time-span of only 1950 generations (or about 49000 years). This reduces the reliability of the inference of population affinities to a historical, rather than evolutionary time scale. This is best illustrated by the construction of a human evolutionary tree based on chromosome Y STRs in which most of the branches connect in a markedly different way compared with trees based on classical protein polymorphisms and/or mtDNA sequence variation. Thus, the chromosome Y STRs seem to be very useful in comparing closely related populations which cannot probably be separated by e.g. autosomal STRs. However, in order to be used in an evolutionary context they need to be combined with more stable Y-polymorphisms e.g. base-substitutions.
TL;DR: In this paper, the spin response function for electrons confined in a quantum dot is studied within the time-dependent local spin density approximation (TDLSDA) of density functional theory.
Abstract: The spin response function for electrons confined in a quantum dot is studied within the time-dependent local spin density approximation (TDLSDA) of density functional theory. In the long-wavelength regime we predict the existence of a low-energy collective dipole (l = 1) spin mode. The evolution with electron number of the spin response is studied and compared with that of the density response. Predictions for the static dipole polarizability are given.
TL;DR: Limiting the mitochondrial GSH pool represents a critical contributory factor that sensitizes alcoholic hepatocytes to the prooxidant effects of cytokines and prooxids generated by oxidative metabolism of ethanol, and S-adenosyl-L-methionine prevents development of the ethanol-induced defect.
Abstract: Mitochondria generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) as byproducts of molecular oxygen consumption in the electron transport chain. Most cellular oxygen is consumed in the cytochrome-c oxidase complex of the respiratory chain, which does not generate reactive species. The ubiquinone pool of complex III of respiration is the major site within the respiratory chain that generates superoxide anion as a result of a single electron transfer to molecular oxygen. Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, derived from the former by superoxide dismutase, are precursor of hydroxyl radical through the participation of transition metals. Glutathione (GSH) in mitochondria is the only defense available to metabolize hydrogen peroxide. A small fraction of the total cellular GSH pool is sequestered in mitochondria by the action of a carrier that transports GSH from the cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix. Mitochondria are not only one of the main cellular sources of ROS, they also are a key target of ROS. Mitochondria are subcellular targets of cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor (TNF); depletion of GSH in this organelle renders the cell more susceptible to oxidative stress originating in mitochondria. Ceramide generated during TNF signaling leads to increased production of ROS in mitochondria. Chronic ethanol-fed hepatocytes are selectively depleted of GSH in mitochondria due to a defective operation of the carrier responsible for transport of GSH from the cytosol into the mitochondrial matrix. Under these conditions, limitation of the mitochondrial GSH pool represents a critical contributory factor that sensitizes alcoholic hepatocytes to the prooxidant effects of cytokines and prooxidants generated by oxidative metabolism of ethanol. S-adenosyl-L-methionine prevents development of the ethanol-induced defect. The mitochondrial GSH carrier has been functionally expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes microinjected with mRNA from rat liver. This critical carrier displays functional characteristics distinct from other plasma membrane GSH carriers, such as its ATP dependency, inhibitor specificity, and the size class of mRNA that encode the corresponding carrier, suggesting that the mitochondrial carrier of GSH is a gene product distinct from the plasma membrane transporters.
TL;DR: The present European Respiratory Society (ERS) position document reflects the views on the topic shared by the members of the Task Force and can be either read as a whole or used alone, as a frame of reference to clarify specific points of the document.
TL;DR: For the infants growing up in bilingual environments no preference for either of the familiar languages was found, and when their maternal language was contrasted either with English or with Italian, the bilingual group showed a similar pattern, consisting of significantly longer latencies for the familiar language.
TL;DR: In this paper, Radiocarbon dating of samples yielded a range of 0-3370 years before present, and it was concluded that accretion rates are mainly controlled by local factors.
Abstract: The Mediterranean seagrassPosidonia oceanicaaccumulates large quantities of organic debris as roots, rhizomes and leaf sheaths are progressively buried forming a bioconstruction called ‘ matte ’. The organic material remains with little morphological alteration for millennia. Several strata from these accumulations in variousP. oceanicameadows were sampled. Radiocarbon dating of samples yielded a range of 0–3370 years before present. From these data, accretion rates averaging 0·175 cm year−1(range: 0·061–0·414) were inferred. Significant differences between sites were found. Accretion rates showed significant differences between matte strata (i.e. with time), but no defined patterns were appreciated. Such differences were not coherent across sites. It is concluded that accretion rates are mainly controlled by local factors. Analysis of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous in the organic debris showed that there was not a net release during the process of matte construction; in some sites, nitrogen and phosphorus concentration remained constant throughout the matte profile, while in the other sites, their concentration increased significantly with age. This confirms the role ofP. oceanicameadows as sinks for biogenic elements.
TL;DR: A striking lack of behavioral plasticity is demonstrated: early and extensive exposure to a second language is not sufficient to attain the ultimate phonological competence of native speakers.
TL;DR: In this article, a finite-range density functional was used to investigate the energy and structural properties of mixed helium clusters and the possibility of doping the cluster with a molecule of sulfur hexafluoride is also considered.
Abstract: Using a finite-range density functional, we have investigated the energetics and structural features of mixed helium clusters. The possibility of doping the cluster with a molecule of sulfur hexafluoride is also considered. It is seen that the repulsion introduced by the impurity strongly modifies the properties of the smallest drops. Although only a qualitative comparison is possible, the gross features displayed by our calculations are in agreement with recent experimental findings. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
TL;DR: The study demonstrated that the administration of two single high doses 1,500 mg each of cefuroxime after the intubation of patients comatose because of head injury or medical stroke is an effective prophylactic strategy to decrease the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Abstract: In comatose patients admitted to an ICU, particularly those with head injury, the incidence of early onset pneumonia is exceedingly high. We performed an open, prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical trial aiming at the reduction of the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in head-injured patients and patients with stroke requiring mechanical ventilation. One hundred patients were included because of head injury or coma caused by medical stroke and with Glasgow coma scores 72 h. Patients eligible for the study (n = 50) received cefuroxime intravenously (two 1,500-mg doses 12 h apart after intubation) (the cefuroxime group) and 50 patients not receiving cefuroxime formed the control group. In the former group patients did not receive any other antibiotics before the end-point determination, whereas in the latter, 17 patients received prophylactic antibiotics as prescribed by the attending physician. The global incidence of microbiologically confirmed pneumonia was 37% (n = 37); 12 (24%) belonged to the cefuroxime group, and 25 (50%) belonged to the control group (p = 0.007). Early-onset pneumonia accounted for 70% of all the pneumonia episodes (n = 26), eight (67%) belonging to the cefuroxime group, and 18 (72%) belonging to the control group (p = 0.02). In the control group, four of 17 (23%) patients receiving prior antibiotics developed pneumonia, whereas 21 of 33 (64%) patients who did not receive antibiotics developed pneumonia (p = 0.016). The multivariate analysis revealed that the duration of mechanical ventilation (per each day) was an independent risk factor significantly associated to the development of pneumonia. Furthermore, the use of cefuroxime and/or prior antibiotics in the control group, before the pneumonia episode, had a protective effect against its development. No differences were found with regard to mortality and morbidity when comparing the study population with the control group. Nevertheless, when comparing patients with pneumonia (from both study and control groups) with those without it, there was a decrease in total hospital stay (35 +/- 13 versus 25 +/- 14 d, p = 0.048) and ICU stay (20 +/- 11 versus 11 +/- 7 d, p = 0.001). The study demonstrated that the administration of two single high doses 1,500 mg each of cefuroxime after the intubation of patients comatose because of head injury or medical stroke is an effective prophylactic strategy to decrease the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
TL;DR: The results show that distal airway bacterial colonization is a frequent feature in stable patients with chronic lung diseases and also in patients with long-term tracheostomized patients, however, the pattern of colonization differs among groups studied.
Abstract: In contrast to the healthy population, distal airway bacterial colonization may occur in patients with chronic lung diseases, who often have altered pulmonary defences. However, the information dealing with this issue is insufficient and is based mainly on nonspecific samples, such as sputum cultures. Using quantitative cultures of bronchoscopic protected specimen brush (PSB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples, we studied the bacterial colonization of distal airways in 16 healthy subjects, 33 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, 18 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 17 with bronchiectasis, and 32 with a long-term tracheostomy due to laryngeal carcinoma. All patients were without exacerbation, and free from antibiotic treatment at least 1 month before the study protocol. Thresholds for quantitative cultures to define colonization were > or = 10(2) colony-forming units (cfu) x mL(-1) for PSB and > or = 10(3) cfu x mL(-1) for BAL. Only one healthy subject was colonized by a potential pathogenic microorganism (PPM) (Staphylococcus aureus 4x10(2) cfu x mL(-1) in a PSB culture). Colonization was observed in 14 (42%) bronchogenic carcinoma patients (19 non-PPMs, and 10 PPMs); in 15 (83%) COPD patients (22 non-PPMs and 7 PPMs); in 15 (88%) bronchiectasis patients (20 non-PPMs and 13 PPMs); and in 15 (47%) long-term tracheostomy patients (5 non-PPMs and 13 PPMs). The two most frequent non-PPMs isolated in all groups studied were Streptococcus viridans and Neisseria spp. Haemophilus spp., Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis were the most frequent PPMs isolated in bronchogenic carcinoma, COPD, bronchiectasis and long-term tracheostomized patients, respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization was infrequent in all the groups. Our results show that distal airway bacterial colonization is a frequent feature in stable patients with chronic lung diseases and also in patients with long-term tracheostomy. However, the pattern of colonization differs among groups studied. The knowledge of different colonization patterns may be important for future antibiotic prophylactic strategies and for the empirical antibiotic regimens when exacerbations occur in these patients.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors determined the presence of biogenic amines and polyamines in meat and meat products by HPLC and found that spermine and spermidine were the only amines always detected in meats.
Abstract: Biogenic amines and polyamines in meat and meat products were determined by HPLC. Spermine and spermidine were the only amines always detected in meat and meat products, ranging from 6.4 to 62.1 mg/kg for spermine and from 0.7 to 13.8 mg/kg for spermidine. Tyramine, histamine, putrescine, and cadaverine contents varied greatly, especially in ripened products and even among samples from the same commercial brand. Biogenic amines in cooked products were, in general, lower than 10 mg/kg, whereas 40% of ripened products reached levels above 300 mg/kg. Amine content in dry-cured ham was similar to those found in cooked products. High amounts of biogenic amines in some cooked products could be related to the use of low hygienic quality meat. Besides the contribution of the raw materials, amine formation can occur during the fermentative-ripening process. Adverse reactions due to interaction between monoamine oxidase inhibitors drugs and tyramine are expected in ripened products. Keywords: Biogenic amines; meat;...
TL;DR: HCC is a malignant tumor of hepatocytes arising in the setting of liver disease and cirrhosis and palliative therapies used that include chemoembolization, systemic chemotherapy, and a variety of experimental modifications of established procedures.
TL;DR: It is found that Candida colonization is uniform throughout the different lung regions, and that the presence of Candida in respiratory samples, independently of quantitative cultures, is not a good marker ofcandida pneumonia in critically ill, non-neutropenic, non -AIDS patients.
Abstract: The diagnosis of pulmonary candidiasis is still controversial. We undertook a prospective study on 25 non-neutropenic, mechanically ventilated (> 72 h) patients who died in our ICU with the aim of assessing the incidence and significance of the isolation of Candida species from quantitative cultures of immediate postmortem lung biopsies and different respiratory sampling techniques. Immediate postmortem respiratory samples (endotracheal aspirate, protected specimen brush [PSB], bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL], blind biopsies [average 14/patient], and bilateral bronchoscopically guided biopsies [two per patient]) were taken from all patients. Lung tissue specimens were histologically examined. Respiratory samples were classified as having Candida or otherwise. Ten (40%) patients had at least one pulmonary biopsy yielding Candida spp. Among these 10 patients with Candida isolates, only two had definite pulmonary candidiasis. A total of 470 microorganisms were isolated from 280 of 375 (77%) lung biopsy samples in all 25 patients. Candida species represented 9% (n = 40) of the isolates, corresponding to 10 patients (40%). In the 10 patients in whom Candida species was isolated from pulmonary biopsies, this was always associated with the isolation of the same microorganism from one of the sampling methods. Quantitative cultures of Candida species from different sampling methods correlated well among each other but could not discriminate the presence from absence of Candida pneumonia. A logistic regression model adjusted for the presence of antibiotics, days of antibiotic treatment, mechanical ventilation period, age, ARDS, parenteral nutrition, and gender did not show any independent risk factor for developing positive pulmonary samples for Candida species. The incidence of Candida isolation from pulmonary biopsies in critically ill mechanically ventilated, non-neutropenic patients who die is high (40%). However, the incidence of definite Candida pneumonia was 8%. We also found that Candida colonization is uniform throughout the different lung regions, and that the presence of Candida in respiratory samples, independently of quantitative cultures, is not a good marker of Candida pneumonia in critically ill, non-neutropenic, non-AIDS patients.