Distribution of the D17S5 alleles in South-East Spain (Murcia Region).
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DNA Fingerprinting↗
Biomedical subjects
A Luna
Publications and source records attributed to A Luna.
STR data for the AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus loci from Murcia region (SE Spain).
Frequency data of the nine STRs included in the AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus Kit were determined in a sample of 114 unrelated individuals from Murcia region (SE Spain).
Gene Frequency↗
Islet transplantation in seminal vesicles restores glycemia in diabetic rats: a preliminary study.
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Animals↗
Air reduction of intussusception.
AIM: To show that intussusception in children is reducible in most cases, using air. METHODS: Initially we used a barium enema to treat paediatric intussusception. Now we use an air enema. We consider the latter reduction technique to be the method of choice in the treatment of intussusception in childhood. RESULTS: Over a period of 21 years, we have treated 151 patients presenting with intussusception. In a group of 130 children treated with barium enema we managed to reduce the intussusception in 110 cases (84.6 %). We used air pressure to treat a second group of 21 children; the success rate in this group was 100 %. CONCLUSIONS: In order to avoid a surgical operation this technique must become more generally known. We are of the opinion that if the method is applied correctly, it is almost always possible to correct intussusception using air.
Air↗
Informed consent of the minor. Implications of present day Spanish law.
In Spain, any person under the age of 18 is a minor. Generally, minors lack the legal capacity to take legally binding actions because they are deemed incapable of legally binding consent. Spanish civil law recognises, however, that the child, in accordance with the law and being sufficiently mature, may act for himself. It stands, then, that consent, as expressed by the "sufficiently mature" minor, should be legally valid.
Child↗
Reports of medical experts in cases of drug addiction and assessment of mitigating circumstances by the court.
In Spain, as the law stands, an accused person wishing to cite drug addiction as a mitigating circumstance in sentencing must demonstrate this addiction. Expert evidence therefore acquires great importance for an eventual sentence. The aim of this study is to analyse the sentencing process in cases in which the relevance of drug addiction as a mitigating circumstance in criminal responsibility is sought. Of a total of 261 sentences handed down in the Criminal Court of Murcia, we studied 139 sentences that cited drug addiction as one of the mitigating circumstances in criminal responsibility. A forensic report was presented in only 36 cases (25.9%) and in most of these cases (61.1%) the individual's drug addiction was assumed from observing signs of recent venous punctures. There were no objective data (blood and urine analysis) in 128 cases (92.1%). However, mitigating circumstances as regards criminal responsibility were considered and accepted by the Court in 130 cases (93.4%). We should emphasise the limited, not to say total absence of, clinical data in the submitted reports, which implies the impossibility of scientifically testing the disputed circumstances.
Adolescent↗
Mortality in maximum security psychiatric hospital patients.
Numerous studies have mentioned to the high percentage of violent deaths in prison psychiatric hospitals, with suicide being the principal cause. The aim of this study was to analyze the circumstances related with the deaths recorded in a high security institution. Postmortem reports on all the deaths at the Alicante Psychiatric Prison between 1984 and 1997 were studied (36 cases of unnatural death and 28 of natural death). Of the violent deaths recorded 34 (94.4%) were suicides. Demographic, clinical and interpersonal variables factors were registered. In the cases of suicides, the method used, the place of death, season, month and time of suicide were analyzed. In our study, 64.7% of suicides were schizophrenic and 32.4% had inflicted self-harm previously. We found a statistically significant association between the cause of death (natural, suicide or homicide) and age, 47.1% of suicides being between the ages of 18 and 30 and 29.4% between the ages of 30 and 45. Natural causes predominated in older subjects. The prison population studied showed grave negative traits, mental illness and criminal behavior having forced them to the very edge of society. Our results were compared with the death and suicide rates of the general Spanish population.
Adult↗
An initial study on the succession of sarcosaprophagous Diptera (Insecta) on carrion in the southeastern Iberian peninsula.
We present the results of the first study concerning Diptera carried out on the sarcosaprophagous fauna of southeastern Spain. This work represents the first attempt to describe dipteran sarcosaprophagous fauna in the Iberian peninsula, the seasonal succession, main features of the population dynamics and the main taxa useful for estimation of the post-mortem interval. The results of this study could be very useful for further forensic case work in the west Mediterranean area.
Animals↗
Glucose and lactate in vitreous humor compared with the determination of fructosamine for the postmortem diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic illness responsible for a great number of deaths. In postmortem diagnosis, because of the difficulty involved in interpreting blood glucose levels and relatively nonspecific pathologic features, biochemical markers in vitreous humor are useful. The aim of this study was to compare the results obtained for the combined determination of lactate and glucose with fructosamine levels recorded in the vitreous humor of two diagnostic groups (one diabetic and the other nondiabetic). The authors intended to ascertain the capacity of different markers measured in vitreous humor to diagnose diabetes mellitus. Fifty-one cadavers (mean age, 58.7 years; standard deviation, 17.09) were studied. The mean postmortem interval was 16.4 hours (standard deviation, 9.05). Cases were assigned to two diagnostic groups according to whether they were previously diagnosed as either diabetic or nondiabetic. Statistically significant differences for glucose, fructosamine, and the sum values of glucose and lactate were found between the two diagnostic groups. The highest levels were obtained in the group of cases with a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. After the comparison of receiver operating characteristic curves, the sum values of glucose and lactate in vitreous humor is a better predictor of antemortem diabetes mellitus than the fructosamine.
Adult↗
Informed consent: evaluation of the information provided to elderly patients.
The doctor-patient relationship has undergone important changes in recent years. In the new concept of health care, the individual has the right to take decisions and the right to self-determination is only meaningful if the person is appropriately informed, is free to make decisions without coercion and has the ability or "capacity" to make the decision. The aims of this study is to evaluate the information received by the patients and the immediate family's provided by health. A total of 200 randomly chosen patients (109 male and 91 female), were interviewed. The mean age was 74 years (range from 65 to 102 years). In addition, the family member most frequently accompanying the patient was asked their opinion. Our study, found that the information was mainly directed to the family member/companion and that the information offered to the elderly patient was generally scant and insufficient for any consent to be based thereon. We believe that more attention should be paid to the issue of obtaining informed consent in the elderly.
Aged↗
[Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes among the hemodialysis population in the province of Alicante].
UNLABELLED: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes are irregularly distributed among the different geographic area and groups at risk. OBJECTIVE: To study the different HCV genotypes and subtypes of hemodialyzed patients from Alicante. METHODS: We studied 640 patients on haemodialysis (HD) and we determined the RNA-HCV and the genotypes in the 120 patients with antibodies against HCV (HCV-Ab). We compared the results with the genotypes of 1,370 patients from other groups at risk in the same geographic area. RESULTS: RNA-HCV was not found in the serum in 15% (18/120) of the patients on HD who were HCV-Ab positive. Prevalence of the different genotypes in the 102 patients with positive viral RNA was the following: 1b: 56.8% (58/102), 1a: 19.6% (20/102), 3: 17% (17/102), 2a-2c: 1.9 (2/102), 2b: 0.9% (1/102) 4: 2.9 (3/102), 5: 0.9% (1/102). In conclusion, the genotype 1b was the most frequent in the patients studied in all these areas, and was the same as in the rest of the country. This genotype has been associated with the most severe hepatic disease and poor response to treatment, affecting the prognosis of these patients. The most frequent genotypes in HD in Alicante were 1b, 3 and 1a. HCV genotypes distribution among the HD units was not uniform in the different geographic areas. HCV genotypes distribution in the HD population is similar to other groups at risk from the same geographic area.
Adult↗
Dietary polyenylphosphatidylcholine decreases cholesterolemia in hypercholesterolemic rabbits: role of the hepato-biliary axis.
The aim of this work was to study the cholesterol-lowering mechanisms induced by dietary soybean lecithin in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Male New Zealand white rabbits (n = 6 in each group) were fed for 10 weeks either a low-fat control C diet, containing 27 g fat/kg, or high-fat diets enriched with 2 g cholesterol/kg and 77 g fat/kg. The high-fat diets contained 50 g lard (L), 50 g soybean triacylglycerol (SO), or 50 g pure soybean phosphatidylcholine (PLE). PLE diet decreased by 30% beta-VLDL-cholesterol, compared with SO diet. HDL2-, HDL3- and LDL-lipid contents were unchanged in the L, SO and PLE groups. In gallbladder bile, amounts of phospholipids, bile salts and cholesterol were significantly increased in PLE group by respectively 45%, 11% and 44%, in comparison with SO group. Intestinal and hepatic Hydroxy Methyl Glutaryl Coenzyme A reductase activities were not increased by PLE diet. Triacylglycerol hepatic content was lower in PLE group than in L or SO groups. Compared with triacylglycerol enriched diet, phosphatidylcholine enriched diet developed significant higher cholesterol- and triacylglycerol-lowering effects by a two-step mechanism: i) by reducing the beta-VLDLs, ii) by enhancing the secretion of bile cholesterol. Such results constitute promising effects of soybean phosphatidylcholine at the hepato-biliary level, in the treatment or prevention of hyperlipidemia and related atherosclerosis.
Animals↗
Vitreous humor carbohydrate-deficient transferrin concentrations in the postmortem diagnosis of alcoholism.
Deaths from the effects of alcohol intoxication are encountered routinely in forensic practice. In an important number of cases difficulty may arise in interpreting the significance of results obtained in the autopsy. In clinical practice biochemical markers, particularly serum gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume are used to diagnose heavy alcohol consumption. CDT is used as a reliable and specific marker. In postmortem diagnosis, because of the difficulty in interpreting blood alcohol levels and relatively non-specific pathological features, biochemical compounds have been studied for use as possible markers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the postmortem determination of CDT in vitreous humor as a confirmation of antemortem alcoholism. CDT levels were studied in 66 male cadavers with a mean age of 55.9 years (S.D. 17.0, range 22-87 years) with a mean postmortem interval of 17.9 h (S.D. 11.4, range 4-72 h). Cases were assigned to two diagnostic groups according to the antemortem diagnosis of alcoholism. Statistically significant differences were found for CDT and ALT concentrations between the two diagnostic groups. The highest vitreous humor levels of CDT and ALT were obtained in the group of cases with a previous diagnosis of alcoholism. Our results suggest that vitreous humor CDT levels are useful in cases where the postmortem diagnosis of alcoholism is hindered by the non-specificity of data.
Adult↗
The golgi-associated COPI-coated buds and vesicles contain beta/gamma -actin.
It has been shown previously that the morphology and subcellular positioning of the Golgi complex is controlled by actin microfilaments. To further characterize the association between actin microfilaments and the Golgi complex, we have used the Clostridium botulinum toxins C2 and C3, which specifically inhibit actin polymerization and cause depolymerization of F-actin in intact cells by the ADP ribosylation of G-actin monomers and the Rho small GTP-binding protein, respectively. Normal rat kidney cells treated with C2 showed that disruption of the actin and the collapse of the Golgi complex occurred concomitantly. However, when cells were treated with C3, the actin disassembly was observed without any change in the organization of the Golgi complex. The absence of the involvement of Rho was further confirmed by the treatment with lysophosphatidic acid or microinjection with the constitutively activated form of RhoA, both of which induced the stress fiber formation without affecting the Golgi complex. Immunogold electron microscopy in normal rat kidney cells revealed that beta- and gamma-actin isoforms were found in Golgi-associated COPI-coated buds and vesicles. Taken together, the results suggest that the Rho signaling pathway does not directly regulate Golgi-associated actin microfilaments, and that beta- and gamma-actins might be involved in the formation and/or transport of Golgi-derived vesicular or tubular intermediates.
ADP Ribose Transferases↗
PDMP blocks the BFA-induced ADP-ribosylation of BARS-50 in isolated Golgi membranes.
We reported that an inhibitor of sphingolipid biosynthesis, D, L-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP), blocks brefeldin A (BFA)-induced retrograde membrane transport from the Golgi complex to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (Kok et al., 1998, J. Cell Biol. 142, 25-38). We now show that PDMP partially blocks the BFA-induced ADP-ribosylation of the cytosolic protein BARS-50. Moreover, PDMP does not interfere with the BFA-induced inhibition of the binding of ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) and the coatomer component beta-coat protein to Golgi membranes. These results are consistent with a role of ADP-ribosylation in the action of BFA and with the involvement of BARS-50 in the regulation of membrane trafficking.
Adenosine Diphosphate↗
Vitreous humor fructosamine concentrations in the autopsy diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.
In clinical practice, biochemical markers, particularly serum glucose levels are used to diagnose diabetes mellitus. However, at autopsy this marker is of no value due to the substantial and capricious fluctuations in glucose levels after death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the postmortem determination of fructosamine in vitreous humor for confirming the presence of antemortem hyperglycemia. This was a study of 92 cadavers with a mean age of 60.05 years (SD 17.73) and a mean postmortem interval of 17.02 h (SD 9.76, range 2-58 h). Cases were assigned to two diagnostic groups according to the antemortem diagnosis of diabetes mellitus based on the patients' medical records. In vitreous humor statistically significant differences were found in glucose and fructosamine concentrations between the two diagnostic groups, the highest values being obtained in the group of subjects with a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.
Adult↗
Medical personnel and death.
Increased life expectancy and increases in the number of terminally ill patients, the rapid change in healthcare technology and diagnostic protocols and treatment means that we must re-examine medico-social problems and the attitude of healthcare professionals when confronted by death and terminal illnesses. The aim of this paper is to analyse the attitudes of medical personnel towards death and terminal patients. A total of 375 (168 doctors and 207 nurses) were asked about their attitudes toward death and the terminally ill. The sample comprised 165 males and 210 females aged between 20 and 64 years (mean age 34.96, SD 7.83 years). The results showed that 51.0% of the subjects interviewed were afraid of death. Although 59.4% thought that they were personally prepared to treat and help the terminally ill and 75.3% professionally prepared for such a task 42.7% of those interviewed would prefer not to work with the terminally ill.
Adult↗