Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Luna

Publications and source records attributed to A Luna.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Regional study of free fatty acids and free carnitine behavior in cardiac tissue in relation to different causes of death.

The determination of free fatty acids (FFA) and free carnitine (FC) in seven different regions of the human heart has been done. The hearts used were classified into six groups according to the cause of death. The results show that these two parameters are useless in ascertaining the cause of death, although they can provide useful postmortem information about the duration of the agonal process.

Carnitine↗
PubMed1988

Regional distribution of total lipids, free fatty acids and free carnitine in human heart.

The concentration of total lipids, free fatty acids and free carnitine in seven different regions of human ventricular myocardium has been studied. Statistically significant differences were found in the concentration of these compounds in the studied regions, with a similar behaviour for free carnitine and free fatty acids (their highest concentrations were found in the lower zones of the left ventricle). The results obtained support the theory of a different metabolic requirement in relation to the intensity of muscular contractile activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Cysticercosis.

Cysticercosis is probably more common in the United States than is generally realized. The most frequent sites of involvement are the brain, the eye and the skeletal muscle. Normally, the larval stage of the pork tapeworm occurs in pig muscle. Occurrence in humans follows the ingestion of ova.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

A cytologic study of the sediments in pericardial fluid as it relates to a diagnosis of the mechanism of death.

We have studied the sediments obtained from the pericardial fluids of 70 cadavers subject to different causes of death. The fluids were taken in the course of corresponding legal autopsies. The samples were organized according to the cause of death and cellular predominance, in the following groups, respectively: hanging, multiple trauma, craniocerebral trauma, other violent deaths, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and other natural deaths. According to cell type followed these categories: Group 1 (isolated mesothelial cells), group 2 (isolated and plated mesothelial cells), group 3 (inflammatory cells and mesothelial cells, isolated and plated), and group 4 (inflammatory cells and mesothelial cells). The statistical analysis was attained through Pearson's coefficient. We have found a significant statistical relation (P less than or equal to 0.05) between the presence or lack of inflammatory cells and the mechanism of death. In those cases with a short survival period and without cardiac affectation, the presence of inflammatory cells was practically null. Furthermore, differences in the cross-sections of inflammatory cells reflected the duration of the death process, with elements characteristic of acute inflammation revealing acute cardiac process.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1987

Study of cathepsin A, B and D activities in the skin wound edges. Its application to the differential diagnosis between vital and postmortem wounds.

The aims of the authors in this paper has been to check the diagnostic ability of the Cathepsin A, B and D concentrations in the skin wound edges to the differential diagnosis between vital and postmortem wounds. We have studied 56 domestic pigs grouped in seven experimental series consisting of 8 animals in each, according to the time (0, 5, 15, 30 min and 1, 3 and 6 h) after the injury. The enzymatic activities were investigated following the methods by Bowen and Davison Biochem. J., 131 (1973) 417-419, Suhar and Marks J. Biochem., 101 (1979) 23-30 and by Anson (modified by Yamamoto, Eur. J. Biochem., 95 (1979) 459-467) for Cathepsin A, B and D, respectively. For the differential diagnosis between vital and postmortem wounds, our results showed that the most useful markers studied are the Cathepsin A and D activities, Cathepsin D that of the first one.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Mycoflora of potential sanitary interest present in illicit heroin.

The injection of heroin mixtures poses difficult problems in some cases to both pathologist and toxicologist in evaluating the cause of death. Direct heroin toxicity, allergic or idiosyncratic reactions, and bacterial and mycotic infections are different complications that can be found in these cases. The mycotic profile (mycoflora) present in illicit heroin from street samples (sachets) has been studied. The profile was obtained after incubating the samples at pH5 in 2% and 3% agar-maltose media. Only two samples (nos. 24 and 26) yielded negative results. Twenty-seven taxa were isolated. Penicillium and Aspergillus were the genera most frequently found in the samples. Other genera, such as Cladosporium, Absidia, Rhizopus and Micelia sterilia were also detected. Most of the fungi isolated presented a high allergenic potential and were liable to result in allergic reactions connected with "drug deaths". All the fungi found were commonly present in our environment.

Bacteriological Techniques↗