Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Caballero.
We reviewed the management of 167 patients with foreign body ingestion from 1980 to 1986. Two patients (1.1%) refused treatment. Nonoperative management was attempted in 14 (8.4%) patients. Endoscopy was performed on 117 patients with an overall success rate of 85.5% and a complication rate of 1.7%. Surgical treatment was required in 51 (30.0%) patients, 14 of whom had previous unsuccessful endoscopy.
In 19 adult patients with choledocholithiasis who were operated on, excretion of free and conjugated sulfobromophthalein (BSP) in the bile collected through a T-tube inserted in the common bile duct was determined. The transport maximum (Tm) for BSP was calculated by the constant-infusion technique after an intravenous infusion of the dye at a rate of 0.3 and 0.09 mg/kg/min for the first and second hour, respectively. Free and conjugated BSP were measured in blood samples obtained at 30, 40, and 50 min of each hourly-infusion period, and in bile collected during the first 30 min (sample A) and between 30-50 min (sample B) after starting the first BSP infusion, and during the first 30 min (sample C) and between 30-50 min (sample D) after starting the second infusion. No correlations between Tm of BSP and glutathione transferase activity and between Tm and bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase in serum were found. Although there was an overall correlation between Tm of BSP and biliary excretion of BSP after 30 min of starting the BSP infusion (samples B, C and D) (r = 0.4716; P = 0.41), Tm values were always lower than recoveries of free BSP in bile. It seems that Tm of BSP (measured with the Wheeler's method) overestimates the actual values of biliary excretion of free BSP, and that the percentage of conjugated BSP in serum is related to the degree of impairment of biliary transport of BSP.
In vivo immunization and secondary culture techniques were used to generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes against a tumour cell clone obtained from a methylcholantrene-induced fibrosarcoma. Our CTLs differed from classical CTLs (Ly2+ and MHC restricted) in that our lymphocytes exhibited a non-MHC restricted cytotoxic activity directed to the original tumour and to other MCA-induced tumours, but have failed to demonstrate any killing activity against a wide range of tumour cell lines of diverse origin (including NK sensitive targets). Depletion and phenotypic studies demonstrated that these cells bear the Thyl.2 antigen but are negative for both Ly2 and L3T4 antigens. These CTLs may belong to a double negative subset (CD4-, CD8-) involved in the anti-tumour response.
Selection and mating methods for controlling inbreeding in selection programmes are based on relationships obtained from pedigrees. The efficiency of these methods has always been tested by studies using genetic models of independent loci. However, under linkage the rate of inbreeding obtained from pedigrees can be different from the probability of identity by descent of genes. We simulated a quantitative trait under artificial selection controlled by a large number of genes spread on genome regions of different sizes. A method to control inbreeding based on minimising the average coancestry of selected individuals with a restriction in the loss of selection response, and a mating procedure to control inbreeding were applied. These methods, that use coancestry relationships, were not effective in controlling inbreeding when the genome sizes were smaller than five morgans or so. However, for larger genome sizes the methods were sufficiently efficient. For very tight linkage, methods that utilise molecular information from markers should be used. We finally discuss the effects of the selection of individual major genes on the neutral variability of adjacent genome regions.
An important limitation in the treatment of depression is the lack of reliable factors for predicting treatment response. Most of these factors have been related to biological and clinical aspects. A clinical aspect that has proved to reasonably predict long-term efficacy is early response. An adequate early response predicts a good outcome at the long term. The purpose of this study was to quantify the proportion of patients who show no response to a fixed dose of antidepressants after 2,4, and 6 weeks of treatment, and then respond by week 8. Additionally, a subgroup of patients was followed using the same methodology until 12 weeks of treatment. A lack of response by weeks 4 and 6 predicted a final lack of response both at weeks 8 and 12 of treatment. Alternatively, a robust response as early as week 2 predicted a good response by the end of the two treatment periods. These findings should help clinicians revalorate treatment when finding no response after 4 or 6 weeks of treatment.
Leptospirosis, an acute generalized infection transmitted to humans from wild or domestic mammals, is rarely found in urban areas. We report here our experience with five cases of confirmed leptospirosis in the urban area of Mexico City. All five patients had epidemiologic risk factors, fever and a multisystemic illness, and two underwent laparotomy for acute abdominal syndrome. One patient died and four recovered completely. Problems in clinical and laboratory diagnosis are discussed. Leptospirosis should be suspected in patients with fever, jaundice and multiorgan involvement, and a proper epidemiologic setting.
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