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Biomedical subjects

A Bello

Publications and source records attributed to A Bello.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Use of pepper crop residues for the control of root-knot nematodes.

The biofumigant effect of pepper crop residues (PCR) for controlling Meloidogyne incognita populations was evaluated. Under laboratory conditions, 0, 5, 10 and 20 g PCR were applied to 500 g nematode infested soil, with four replicates per treatment. After 20 days at 25 degrees C, PCR reduced significantly M. incognita populations and root galling indices in susceptible tomato cv. Marmande, and increased K, N and organic C in soil. In the field, biofumigation with PCR combined with fresh animal manures (with and without plastic cover), methyl bromide, and a control were evaluated through root galling indices on a pepper crop. Each treatment, except for the control, had a grafted and non-grafted susceptible pepper sub-treatment, with three replicates. Root galling indices were lower, and yields higher, on grafted plants, biofumigation with PCR and plastic cover, with similar values as MB treatment, suggesting that biofumigation with PCR is an efficient non-chemical alternative to control M. incognita populations, especially when applied with plastic cover, nitrogen-rich organic matter and followed by grafting on resistant pepper.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Pain relief in early rehabilitation of rotator cuff tendinitis: any role for indirect suprascapular nerve block?

AIM: The purpose of the trial was to evaluate the efficacy of suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) to relieve the shoulder pain, ameliorate recovery after physiotherapy and reduce disability due to a rotator cuff tendinitis (RCT). A prospective, randomized, comparison cross over investigation was performed in the setting of a large inpatient rehabilitation unit with more than 200 admissions annually. METHODS: A total of 40 potential study subjects, who complained of shoulder pain from a RCT, were enrolled and randomly assigned to standard rehabilitation treatment plus SSNB (Group A) or to standard rehabilitation treatment alone (Group B). The UCLA shoulder rating scale was used to assess the shoulder mobility on admission and discharge, and to calculate the percentage of potential improvement achieved during rehabilitation (effectiveness). A pain visual analogic scale was used to serially assess pain. At the end of the trial, a self-report questionnaire evaluated whether patients could sleep and achieve activity of day life carry out everyday activities better than they could before treatment. RESULTS: Forty patients suffering from RCT entered the study. Those receiving nerve block from the beginning of the treatment in addition to standard rehabilitation therapy reported significantly less pain during physiotherapy and better final outcomes. During treatment with SSNBs, patients reported a more significant reduction in the intensity of pain and a better reduction of pain during sleep and rehabilitation exercises in comparison to with the standard therapy alone. A statistically significant inverse correlation was found between shoulder pain and mobility. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that combining nerve block with standard rehabilitative therapy may improve the final outcome of painful RCT. It decreased the severity and frequency of the perceived pain, improved the compliance with physiotherapy, restored more normal sleep patterns, and increased compliance with the rehabilitation program. This result proves to be an effective, safe and inexpensive therapeutic option for patients suffering from painful disabling shoulder tendinitis.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed2004

Molecular dynamics in nanophase-separated comb-like poly(alpha-n-alkyl beta-L-aspartate)s.

A series of poly(alpha-n-alkyl beta-L-aspartates) which are nanophase self-assembled comb-like polymers has been studied by dielectric spectroscopy in a broad frequency range (10(-2) < or = nu < or = 3 x 10(6) Hz), with n-alkyls side chains of various lengths, 10 < or = n < or =18. In every member of the series the same relaxations were identified after the decomposition of the experimental isothermal trace in up to three peaks with relaxation times distributions. The strength, width and average relaxation time for all the relaxation modes were determined for each material. Besides the local low temperature, Arrhenius modes, two relaxation modes, alpha and alpha(PE), present a cooperative character whose dynamics are not affected by the side chains melting. The alpha(PE) relaxation is a polyethylene-like glass transition of the amorphous side chains and its dynamics is strongly dependent on the n value due to the increasing restrictions imposed by the self-assembled confinement. The strength of the alpha(PE) relaxation mode increases as the lateral chains loose their 2D order. The restricted chopstick motion of the rigid rods is thought to be the origin of the alpha mode; this motion is hindered at temperatures where the cage size decreases as a result of the increasing disorder with temperature.

Aspartic Acid↗
PubMed2004

Lexical production in children with Williams syndrome: spontaneous use of gesture in a naming task.

This study investigates lexical organization and lexical retrieval in children with Williams syndrome (WS), by examining both naming accuracy and accompanying use of gestures in a picture-naming task. Ten children with the genetic disorder of Williams syndrome (age range: 9.5-12.9) were compared with 20 typically developing children, 10 matched for chronological age (CA) and 10 for mental-age (MA). Lexical production was measured by administering the Boston Naming test (BNT). Older typically developing children performed significantly better than the other two groups. No differences in accuracy were found between the children with WS and the typically developing children matched for mental-age. The overall distribution of error types displayed by children with WS indicate that the lexical-semantic organization is similar to that of typically developing children. However, compared to controls, the WS group produced more iconic gestures during the task, in patterns that suggest the existence of specific word-finding difficulties in these children. Results are discussed within the framework of recent theories on the role of gesture in speech production.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Concentrations of garenoxacin in plasma, bronchial mucosa, alveolar macrophages and epithelial lining fluid following a single oral 600 mg dose in healthy adult subjects.

A microbiological assay was used to measure concentrations of garenoxacin (BMS-284756) in plasma, bronchial mucosa (BM), alveolar macrophages (AM) and epithelial lining fluid (ELF), following a single 600 mg oral dose. Twenty-four healthy subjects were allocated into four nominal time intervals after the dose, 2.5-3.5, 4.5-5.5, 10.5-11.5 and 23.5-24.5 h. Mean concentrations in plasma, BM, AM and ELF, respectively, for the four nominal time windows were for 2.5-3.5 h 10.0 mg/L (S.D. 2.8), 7.0 mg/kg (S.D. 1.3), 106.1 mg/L (S.D. 60.3) and 9.2 mg/L (S.D. 3.6); 4.5-5.5 h 8.7 mg/L (S.D. 2.2), 6.0 mg/kg (S.D. 1.9), 158.6 mg/L (S.D. 137.4) and 14.3 mg/L (S.D. 8.2); 10.5-11.5 h 6.1 mg/L (S.D. 1.9), 4.0 mg/kg (S.D. 1.4), 76.0 mg/L (S.D. 47.7) and 7.9 mg/L (S.D. 4.6); and 23.5-24.5 h 2.1 mg/L (S.D. 0.5), 1.7 mg/kg (S.D. 0.7), 30.7 mg/L (S.D. 12.9) and 3.3 mg/L (S.D. 2.3). Concentrations at all sites exceeded MIC(90)s for the common respiratory pathogens Haemophilus influenzae (0.03 mg/L), Moraxella catarrhalis (0.015 mg/L) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (0.06 mg/L). These data suggest that garenoxacin should be effective in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Multiple-dose safety and pharmacokinetics of oral garenoxacin in healthy subjects.

Garenoxacin (T-3811ME, BMS-284756) is a novel des-F(6) quinolone that has been shown to be effective in vitro against a wide range of clinically important pathogens, including gram-positive and gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes. This study was conducted to evaluate the safety and tolerability of multiple oral doses (100 to 1200 mg/day) of garenoxacin in healthy subjects and to determine its multiple-dose pharmacokinetics. Forty healthy male and female subjects (18 to 45 years of age) were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, sequential, multiple- and ascending-dose study. Each subject received a once-daily oral dose of garenoxacin (100, 200, 400, 800, or 1200 mg) or a placebo for 14 days. Blood and urine samples were collected for measurements of garenoxacin by validated liquid chromatography with dual mass spectrometry, and plasma garenoxacin concentration-time data were analyzed by noncompartmental methods. The effects of garenoxacin on Helicobacter pylori, psychometric test performance, and electrocardiograms were assessed, as was drug safety. Over the 14 days of dosing, geometric mean peak concentrations of garenoxacin in plasma (C(max)) at the 100- and 1200-mg doses were within the ranges of 1.2 to 1.6 and 16.3 to 24 microg/ml, respectively. The corresponding values for the geometric mean area under the concentration-time curve over the dosing interval (AUC(tau)) for garenoxacin in plasma at the 100- and 1200-mg doses were within the ranges of 11.5 to 15.7 and 180 to 307 microg. h/ml, respectively. Increases in systemic exposure to garenoxacin in terms of AUC and C(max) were approximately dose proportional over the 100- to 400-mg dose range but demonstrated increases that were somewhat greater than the dose increments at the 800- and 1200-mg doses. Median values for the time to achieve C(max) were in the range of 1.13 to 2.50 h for all doses. The mean elimination half-life for garenoxacin in plasma appeared to be independent of dose and ranged from 13.3 to 17.8 h (day 14). Approximately 30 to 50% of an administered garenoxacin dose was excreted unchanged in the urine. At doses of 100 to 400 mg, steady-state concentrations of garenoxacin in plasma appeared to be attained by the fourth dose. Multiple oral doses of garenoxacin were well tolerated and did not demonstrate clinically significant effects on QT(c) or psychometric test results. Garenoxacin administered alone for 14 days at doses of >or=400 mg demonstrated activity against H. pylori. These results suggest that multiple once-daily oral doses of garenoxacin of up to 1200 mg are safe and well tolerated and that the pharmacokinetics of garenoxacin support once-daily administration.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Effect of garenoxacin on eubacteria in the normal intestinal microflora when administered concomitantly with digoxin.

Garenoxacin is a new des-F(6)-quinolone with a broad antimicrobial spectrum. It has been reported that antibiotics may raise digoxin concentrations in the plasma of patients who are taking these agents concurrently, possibly due to the effect on the digoxin-metabolizing intestinal microflora. Sixteen healthy subjects were given a loading dose of digoxin (0.25 mg orally, q 6 h) on Day 1 followed by once-daily doses of 0.25 mg on Days 2 through 14. The subjects also received garenoxacin 600 mg orally, q 24 h, on Days 8 through 14. The number of enterococci, bacilli, corynebacteria, enterobacteria, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, clostridia and bacteroides decreased whereas the number of eubacteria increased in the intestinal microflora. Eubacterium lentum strains increased during the administration of garenoxacin and returned towards normal levels within 14 days after the last dose of garenoxacin. The fecal concentrations of garenoxacin varied between 14.0-310.0 mg/kg. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of garenoxacin against the isolated E. lentum strains were >64 mg/L. There was no degradation of digoxin by the E. lentum strains.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2002

Local and segmental dynamics in homopolymer and triblock copolymers with one semicrystalline block.

Thermally stimulated depolarization currents, TSDC, experiments have been performed on a series of poly(styrene)-b-poly(butadiene)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) triblock copolymers SBC with different proportions of the poly(epsilon-caprolactone) crystallizable block, PCL. The morphology of the segregated microphases varies with the PCL content and has been observed by transmission electron microscopy. The crystallinity of the PCL block is estimated by wide angle x-ray scattering, WAXS. The relaxation times distribution is extracted by a numerical decomposition of the TSDC spectra and it is shown that this distribution is not significantly changed on going from the homopolymer to the triblock copolymer with 16 wt % to 77 wt % of PCL in the original samples. Better segregation of the mesophase structure is reached when the samples are annealed at 413 K and important variations in the TSDC and WAXS spectra are observed as a result of the thermal treatment. For the S09B14C77 triblock copolymer the results obtained can be explained by postulating the existence of a rigid amorphous phase in the PCL block. Such rigid amorphous phase is located between the core-shell cylinders formed by the other blocks [with poly(styrene)(PS) as core and poly(butadiene)(PB) as shell] and is constrained by undulated lamellae of crystalline PCL material. In the case of S35B15C50 triblock copolymer, an important amount of diffuse PS-PCL interphase where the homopolymers are mixed must be present before annealing. The results for the material with the less abundant PCL block are explained as a result of the confinement in nanotubes of PCL surrounded by PB embedded in a vitreous PS matrix. Broadband dielectric experiments on these same materials confirm the results obtained by TSDC spectroscopy.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Characterization of the atherosclerotic plaque in the internal mammary artery.

The current study examines, at both structural and ultrastructural levels, representative segments of internal mammary arteries obtained from 15 male patients, ranging in age from 45 to 75 years, with signs or symptoms of coronary heart disease. These segments were obtained at the time of coronary bypass surgery. Of the 15 segments examined, only 2 were found to have atherosclerotic plaques. In other segments, only an intimal thickening similar to that observed during aging was found. There was evidence of endothelial cell loss and defects of internal elastic lamina in the present study; however, there was no evidence of lipid accumulation in the intimal region. This observation agrees with previous findings that indicate that lipid accumulation is not a necessary factor for the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. During the study microfilament bundles, the so-called "stress fibers," were also observed in the cytoplasm of the luminal side of endothelial cells. Stress fibers are known to be present in some endothelial cells in some pathologies such as regeneration after injury or hypertension. One of the features of the atherosclerotic plaques from an internal mammary artery was the presence of cells with contractile and synthetic phenotypes (contractile and synthetic smooth muscle cells), as well as cells with intermediate features. Cells with similar characteristics have also been observed during the development of the early stages of atherosclerosis, during embryological development of vessels, after experimental excimer laser treatment, and in primary cell culture. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the ultrastructural features of the atherosclerotic plaques in the internal mammary artery.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Inhibitory and facilitatory effects of cue onset and offset.

The response speed to a visual target is modulated by the position of previous events (cues) even if their position is not predictive of the target position. The modulation has been considered biphasic, with an early facilitatory and a later inhibitory component. We conducted three experiments that investigated the importance of the onset and offset features of the cue for the facilitatory and inhibitory effects and estimated their separate and joint effects. The two possible target locations, one in the right and one in the left visual field, were indicated by two empty boxes, and the cue consisted of the onset and/or offset of an arrowhead located just under one of the two boxes. Different time intervals were used between cue and target. Subjects were instructed to ignore the cue and to respond to the target (a cross inside one of the two boxes). The data showed only consistent effects of inhibition (inhibition of return) with the long intervals, but the pattern was different depending on the cue type. The amount of inhibition was much greater when the onset of the cue was followed by its offset. Apparently, inhibition of return depended on the dynamic changes of the cue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Calcium antagonist properties of the bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid cycleanine.

The alkaloid cycleanine ([12aR-(12aR,24aR)]-2,3,12a,13,14,15,24,24a-octa hydro-5,6,17,18- tetramethoxy-1,13-dimethyl-8, 11:20,23-dietheno-1H,12H [1,10]dioxacyclooctadecino[2,3,4-ij:11,12,13-i'j']diisoquinolin e) was extracted from the bulbs of Stephania glabra (Roxb) Miers and its effects on cardiac and smooth muscle preparations were studied and compared to those of nifedipine (1,4-dihydro-2, 6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridine dicarboxylic acid dimethylesther). Cycleanine inhibited the KCl-induced contraction of rabbit aortic rings with higher potency than nifedipine. IC50s for cycleanine and nifedipine were 0.8 and 7.10(-9) M respectively. Cycleanine had minor effects on the norepinephrine-induced contraction of rabbit aortic rings. Cycleanine and nifedipine also depressed the contraction of rat ventricular preparations but with lower potency (IC50 = 3 and 0.03.10(-6) M respectively). Action potential duration of rat right ventricular strips was decreased by both compounds. L-type Ca-current (ICaL) of single rat ventricular cardiomyocytes was inhibited by cycleanine in a voltage- and frequency-dependent manner. With a higher potency nifedipine inhibited ICaL in a tonic and almost frequency-independent manner. The results suggest that cycleanine can act as a potent vascular selective Ca-antagonist.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1997

A review of esthetic alternatives for the restoration of anterior teeth.

PURPOSE: This article describes different options for the esthetic treatment of anterior teeth, starting with minimally invasive procedures, such as facial surface bleaching and bonding with composites. METHODS: The importance of metal ceramic restorations, porcelain shoulder techniques, and metal free ceramics are also emphasized. The options are carefully demonstrated to identify advantages and limitations of each technique.

Composite Resins↗
PubMed1992

[Antibiotic pretreatment of heart valve prostheses].

Bacterial endocarditis on cardiac valvular prosthesis is still a frequent and dangerous complication: septicemia, embolism, valvular dysfunction and mortality. To prevent these complications, intraoperative treatment of prosthesis, by immersion in antibiotic solution, was performed in 1262 patients. The postoperative results have been compared with results of a nontreated group. The incidence of endocarditis in the treated group was 1.3%, in non-treated cases 5.45%. The cases of early endocarditis, was 0.08% of total cases of complications in the treated patients group; and 4.54% in the nontreated patient group. This study's results, confirm the utility of valvular prosthesis antibiotic treatment in cardiac surgery.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗