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Biomedical subjects

A Gil

Publications and source records attributed to A Gil.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Molecular characterization of human X/Y translocations suggests their aetiology through aberrant exchange between homologous sequences on Xp and Yq.

Several DNA sequences from two homologous regions, localized on the distal part of the human X chromosome short arm and on the long arm of the Y chromosome, have been hybridized to DNAs from seven human-rodent hybrids containing human X; Y translocation chromosomes. Molecular characterization of the translocated chromosomes has revealed, in all but one case, transfer of the Y cluster of sequences and complete deletion of the corresponding X-chromosomal sequences. The possible role of X/Y homology in the aetiology of X; Y translocations is proposed.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1989

The effects of therapist-evaluation of orders and interaction with physicians on the appropriateness of respiratory care.

UNLABELLED: Because our Respiratory Care Department resources were overburdened and many orders for medicated aerosol therapy (MAT) and lung hyperinflation therapy (LHT) seemed inappropriate, we developed ordering guidelines for MAT and LHT. We then studied the effects on numbers of inappropriate treatments when therapist-evaluators discussed questionable orders with physicians. METHODS: For 6 weeks, the physicians were divided into two groups, one interactive with therapists, the other serving as controls. The physicians then switched groups for a second 6-week period. Therapist-evaluators examined all orders for MAT and LHT and suggested therapy changes to interactive-group physicians who wrote questionable orders; they did not discuss inappropriate orders with control-group physicians. The percentages of inappropriate treatments ordered by both physician groups were recorded, and the costs of inappropriate therapy were calculated. After the 12-week study, the program continued, with evaluators interacting with all physicians when treatment was inappropriate. RESULTS: Of treatments ordered by control-group physicians, 48% were inappropriate. Of treatments ordered by physicians in the interactive groups, 35% were inappropriate. Inappropriate treatments cost $15,960 in labor and supplies and required 3.6 full-time technicians. The cost of evaluation was $1,193. By 6 months following the study, therapist-physician interaction had reduced inappropriate treatments to 11% of treatments given. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ordering guidelines and therapist-evaluators who interact with physicians can significantly reduce the number of inappropriate respiratory care treatments and reduce costs.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMed1989

[Fulminant hepatic insufficiency].

We studied the patients admitted to the Intensive Medicine Department of the "Carlos Haya" Regional Hospital of Málaga (Spain) with a diagnosis of fulminant liver failure (IHF) between 1980 and October 1986. There were 7 patients, 6 women and one man: 5 had a picture of fulminant hepatitis, one pregnant female had fatty liver, and the man had fulminant hepatitis due to accidental inhalation of carbon tetrachloride. The average age of the group was 32 years. Six patients (85%) died; their average stay was 4.6 days, ranging from 10 hours to 7 days. The woman who survived spent 17 days in the unit. Postmortem studies were made in 4 patients. In the pregnant patient with fatty liver, 36 weeks gestation, a cesarean was performed and a live female fetus of 2,720 g. weight was extracted. Some pathogenic aspects of the disease are discussed, such as the incidence of superinfection by other viruses (delta virus), the influence of immunological factors on the development of fulminant liver failure, morphological findings, therapeutic results and the need for multicenter studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Clinical study of tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients].

We have reviewed the clinical histories of 1,815 immunocompromised patients seen in "La Paz Hospital" over a period of 6 years, in order to study the incidence and clinical forms of tuberculosis (TB) in this group of patients. We have distributed the patients into three groups: Group A: 1,372 patients with neoplasia, Group B: 173 patients under immunosuppressor treatment, and Group C: 270 intravenous drug abusers (IVDA). 53 patients developed TB (2.9%): Of these, 31 belonged to group A (2.25%), 14 to group B (5.78%) and 8 to group C (2.96%), resulting in an incidence 50 to 100 times greater than the calculated for the Spanish general population (0.05%). There is a greater incidence of extrapulmonary and atypical forms in IVDA and patients under immunosuppressor treatment. Patients with neoplasia do not present differences in these aspects with regard to immunocompetent patients. If the TB is diagnosed and treated on time it is a potentially curable disease and the immunosuppressed state does not condition a worse response to treatment.

HIV↗
PubMed1989

Effects of postnatal age and diet on the fatty acid composition of plasma lipid fractions in preterm infants.

Diet and postnatal age effect the fatty acid composition of plasma and tissue lipids. This work was designed as a transversal study to evaluate the changes in the fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids, cholesteryl esters, triglycerides and free fatty acids in preterm infants (28-35 weeks gestational age), fed human milk (HM) and milk formula (MF) from birth to 1 month of life. Sixteen blood samples were obtained from cord, and 19 at 6-8 h after birth, 14 at 1 week and 9 at 4 weeks from HM-fed infants and 18 at 1 week and 14 at 4 weeks from MF-fed ones. Groups had similar mean birth weight, gestational age and sex ratio. The MF provided 69 kcal/dl and contained 16% of linoleic acid and 1.3% of alpha-linolenic acid on the total fat. Plasma lipid fractions were extracted and separated by thin-layer chromatography and fatty acid methyl esters were quantitated by gas liquid chromatography. In plasma phospholipids, linoleic acid (18:2 omega 6) continuously increased from birth to 1 month of age, but no changes were seen as related to type of diet; polyunsaturated fatty acids greater than 18 carbon atoms of both the omega 6 and omega 3 series (PUFA omega 6 greater than 18 C and omega 3 greater than 18 C) dropped from birth to 1 week and continued to decrease in MF-fed infants until 1 month; eicosatrienoic (20:3 omega 6), arachidonic (20:4 omega 6) and docosahexaenoic (22:6 omega 3) were the fatty acids implicated. In cholesteryl esters palmitoleic (16:1 omega 7) and oleic (18:1 omega 9) acids decreased from birth to 1 month and linoleic acid increased and arachidonic acid dropped, especially in MF fed infants. In triglycerides, palmitic, palmitoleic and stearic acid (18:0) decreased during the first month of life; oleic acid remained constant and linoleic acid increased in all infants, but arachidonic acid decreased only in those fed formula. Free fatty acids showed a similar behavior in fatty acids and in plasma triglycerides. Preterm neonates seem to have special requirements of long-chain PUFA and adapted MF should contain these fatty acids in similar amounts to those of HM to allow the maintenance of an adequate tissue structure and physiology.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Lipid composition of liver microsomes in rats fed a high monounsaturated fatty acid diet.

The fatty acid and cholesterol contents of tissue membranes are the determinants of membrane stability and functionality. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of a high monounsaturated fatty acid diet on the fatty acid composition of rat liver microsomes and on their cholesterol and lipid phosphorus content. Weanling animals were fed for 5 weeks with high fat diets containing olive oil or corn oil. Saturated fatty acids were increased and oleic acid decreased in microsomal total phospholipids and in the three major phosphoglycerides, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (PI), of rats fed corn oil as compared to the olive oil group. The percentage of linoleic acid was higher in the corn oil group, but only for total phospholipids and PC. Linoleic and alpha-linolenic metabolites were significantly increased in total phospholipids of olive oil-fed animals with respect to those fed corn oil. These changes were responsible for the low unsaturation index found in microsomal phospholipids of the corn oil group. The diet did not affect the microsome cholesterol or the lipid phosphorus content. These results show that, in olive oil-fed rats, the cholesterol content and the degree of unsaturation of liver microsomes was similar to that observed in weanling animals; this probably suggests an adequate maintenance of functionality of membranes in olive oil-fed animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Immune mediated mechanism for thrombosis: antiphospholipid antibody binding to platelet membranes.

Because thrombocytopenia occurs frequently in patients with anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies and thrombosis, some investigators have proposed that aCL antibodies may play a direct part in thrombosis by binding and activating platelets. To test this proposal experiments were performed to determine whether aCL antibodies can bind platelets. Preincubation of aCL positive sera with freeze-thawed platelets caused significant inhibition of aCL activity in four serum samples tested. Antibodies with cardiolipin binding activity were subsequently eluted from these platelets. Total phospholipids extracted from platelets inhibited aCL activity, and the specific phospholipids bound were shown to be phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol. It is concluded that aCL antibodies can bind phospholipids in platelet membranes but pertubation of the membrane must first occur.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1988

Serum zinc binding capacity in pregnant women.

Zinc is an important element during the prenatal period. Since plasma zinc levels are not directly related to the nutritional status of this metal in pregnant women, we designed this study to find out if plasma protein zinc binding capacity is a more reliable parameter than total serum zinc to establish zinc nutritional status during pregnancy. We analyzed total serum zinc and zinc binding capacity in 84 normal pregnant women and in 14 nonpregnant women. Within pregnant women, samples were classified according to the gestational age. Total zinc serum was significantly decreased in pregnant women as compared to control ones. The decrease in zinc occurred slowly during the whole period of pregnancy; a negative correlation was found between serum zinc and gestational time. Protein zinc binding capacity was found to be significantly higher in pregnant women than in the control ones. This parameter was positively correlated to total serum zinc in pregnancy. We conclude that since the protein zinc binding capacity increases with advancing gestation, pregnant women take advantage of this to maintain the levels of serum-free zinc, transferable to the fetus.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Influences of diet and postnatal age on the lipid composition of red blood cell membrane in newborn infants.

The fatty acid and cholesterol contents of tissue membranes are determinants of their stability and functionality. This study was designed to evaluate the influences of diet and postnatal age on the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of erythrocyte membrane phospholipid fractions and on the red blood cell membrane cholesterol and phosphorus contents in newborn infants during the 1st month of life. A group of infants was fed on human milk and another group on adapted milk formula. Blood samples were obtained at birth, from cord blood, and at 7 and 30 days of age. Long-chain w6 PUFA declined with advancing age in all membrane phosphoglycerides and sphingomyelin (SM) in those infants fed formula. w6 PUFA also decreased in phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylserine (PS) in infants fed human milk and were maintained constant in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and SM. w3 PUFA were less affected by postnatal age. PE and SM showed significantly higher percentages of w6 and w3 long-chain PUFA in infants fed human milk than in those fed formula. Membrane cholesterol content increased in all infants from birth to 1 month of life but phosphorus levels were unaffected by diet and postnatal age. These results suggest that diets with a low content of long-chain PUFA, such as adapted cow's milk formulas, may induce changes in membrane functionality and that incorporation of PUFA to the diet in amounts similar to those found in human milk should be considered at least in early life.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Undifferentiated epithelial-rich invasive malignant thymoma: complete response to cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin therapy.

Two cases of complete remission plus one almost complete and another partial response of undifferentiated, invasive epithelial malignant thymoma using the combination of cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin (PVB), are reported in four patients treated with this combination. Radiotherapy was instituted after completing the fourth course of chemotherapy in three patients. One patient died from intercurrent infection after the fourth cycle of combination chemotherapy. Three patients remain free of disease at the end of the treatment program. PVB appears to be highly active in this disease and deserves more extensive evaluation in multicenter clinical trials.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Apparent nitrogen balance and 3-methylhistidine urinary excretion in intravenously fed children with trauma and infection.

This study was designed to compare and evaluate the effects of two isocaloric parenteral nutrition infusions, FreAmine and F080, differing in their amino acid composition, on the apparent nitrogen balance and urinary excretion of 3-methylhistidine in children with trauma (n = 27) or grave infection (n = 24). Trauma patients at the beginning of parenteral nutrition showed a more negative nitrogen balance than infected children, but in all children the apparent nitrogen balance increased to become positive and the 3-methylhistidine urinary excretion dropped. No differences related to the amino acid composition of the parenteral nutrition solutions were found. Apparent nitrogen balance and 3-methylhistidine excretion were correlated in all study groups irrespective of urine sample time. The enriched branched chain amino acid solution used for parenteral nutrition of trauma and infected children did not show a better effect than the non-enriched one in terms of muscle catabolism and nitrogen balance. The use of adequate nutritional support including both amino acids and energy source is of major importance in children recovering from trauma and infection.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1988

Polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency in liver cirrhosis: its relation to associated protein-energy malnutrition (preliminary report).

Plasma fatty acids (FA) from C14:0 to C22:6 omega 3 were measured in five healthy subjects and in 27 patients with liver cirrhosis. According to the assessment of triceps skinfold, mid-arm muscle circumference, and serum albumin concentration, patients were prospectively included in three groups: group A (n = 7) with acceptable nutritional status (including good nutrition and mild malnutrition), group B (n = 10) with moderate malnutrition, and group C (n = 10) with severe malnutrition. Plasma levels of total FA, saturated FA, linoleic acid, and omega 6 greater than 18C and omega 3 greater than 18 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were lower in cirrhotics than in controls. Linoleic:arachidonic ratio was increased and delta 5-desaturation precursors:products ratio did not change, suggesting a reduction in delta 6-desaturase and/or C18-C20 elongase activities. In addition, a stepwise fall in plasma levels of all but saturated FA was found as the nutritional status worsened, suggesting that, in cirrhosis, impairment in PUFA biosynthesis is related to the severity of associated malnutrition. Since PUFA have important biological functions as components of cell membranes and precursors of eicosanoids, the results reported here may open new perspectives in the understanding of the cirrhosis-malnutrition relationship.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The effect of total enteral tube feeding on the vitamin status of malnourished patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Eight malnourished patients (5 men and 3 women, mean age 26.5 +/- 0.4 years) suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease were prospectively included at admission to study the effect on protein-energy and vitamin status of a specially designed enterally tube fed formula diet. Eighty nine healthy individuals (36 men and 53 women, mean age 34 +/- 2 years) were used as controls. All but one patient were on steroids. The mean caloric supply was 58.2 +/- 2.4 kcal/kg/day with a mean nitrogen content of 0.37 +/- 0.02 gN/kg/day. The mean Total Enteral Nutrition period lasted 20.8 +/- 2.3 days (range 12 to 28 days). Fat- and water-soluble vitamins were studied at admission and after the nutritional period. Likewise both the protein-energy nutritional status and the activity of the disease were evaluated. At admission, plasma levels of folate, biotin, beta-carotene and vitamins A, C and E were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Tocopherol/cholesterol ratio, and vitamin B1, B2, B6, and B12 status were normal. At the end, plasma values of folate, biotin and vitamin C remained unchanged. However, the protein-energy nutritional status and the activity of the disease significantly improved. At admission, 4 out of 8 patients were at risk of developing hypovitaminosis for vitamins A, C, biotin, beta-carotene, and folate. At the end, a similar percentage remained at risk for these vitamins except for vitamin A. The content of some vitamins in the best designed formula diets does not meet the needs for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Changes in the fatty acid profiles of plasma lipid fractions induced by dietary nucleotides in infants born at term.

This study was designed to determine the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of plasma lipid fractions in newborn infants fed human milk (HM), milk formula (MF) or nucleotide-supplemented milk formula (NMF) during the first month of life. Linoleic acid was increased in infants fed formulas in all plasma lipid fractions with respect to those fed HM. Plasma phospholipids in MF-fed infants had lower percentages of PUFA of both omega 6 and omega 3 series, namely arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids, than those fed HM or NMF; the unsaturation index was decreased in infants fed MF as compared to those fed HM or NMF. Arachidonic acid showed a similar behaviour in plasma cholesteryl esters as in phospholipids. No changes for long chain PUFA among the groups studied were observed for plasma triglycerides and free fatty acids. These results support previous findings that dietary nucleotides are involved in the regulation of desaturation and elongation of linoleic and linolenic acid to their longer superior homologous fatty acids. We suggest that dietary nucleotides may reverse the partial inhibition of delta 5-desaturase caused by an excess of linoleic acid in the diet during early postnatal life.

Delivery, Obstetric↗