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Biomedical subjects

A Morales

Publications and source records attributed to A Morales.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Endoscopic management of urethral stricture: "cut to the light" procedure.

Traumatic and iatrogenic urethral strictures present serious management difficulties. Classically their repair has been done through transpubic or perineal approaches. We have investigated the endoscopic route. In this study, 6 patients with dense posterior urethral strictures were managed endoscopically. The results of this "cut to the light" technique compare favorably with the more elaborate open procedures. The operation can be performed easily and carries very low morbidity.

Adult↗

Usefulness of frozen-section examination in resected mid-rectal cancer after preoperative radiation.

The surgical treatment of rectal cancer of the middle third remains controversial. We treated 30 consecutive patients with preoperative radiotherapy (45 Gy) and low anterior resection. Anastomoses were performed with a stapler. Intraoperative frozen-section examination of the rectal margin established that it was free of tumor. Two patients died of surgery-related causes. Median follow-up of the remaining patients is now 52 months (range: 26 to 76 months). Eight patients had recurrences documented at surgical re-exploration: two local (pelvic) only, three local and distant, and two distant only. Local recurrences happened despite a frozen-section examination of the rectal margin negative for tumor. Six of the eight patients who experienced a recurrence have died of disease progression. Distant metastases were found in six other patients during follow-up; they subsequently died. Thus, our therapeutic approach was not associated with decreases in local or overall recurrences.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Topical glyceryltrinitrate causes measurable penile arterial dilation in impotent men.

The current understanding of the intracavernous changes that cause or accompany penile erections has encouraged the use of vasodilators as therapy for erectile dysfunction. An established vasodilator, glyceryltrinitrate, was selected for in vivo study because of its rapid transdermal absorption. Color coded duplex ultrasound was used to assess penile vascular response. In a large group of men with erectile dysfunction significant dilation was noted in response to a small amount of nitroglycerine paste applied to the penis. There is a measurable vasodilatory response that can be induced by synthetic nitrates in penile tissue in impotent men.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

The mechanisms of continence in the Indiana pouch: a video-urodynamic study.

The ileocecal reservoir (Indiana pouch) is a large volume, low pressure continent reservoir well suited for urinary diversion. The mechanism of continence is believed to be the result of several factors, including the natural ileocecal valve resistance, resistance produced by the plication of the ileal segment and normal peristalsis of the ileum. We report the results of a video-urodynamic study in patients with an Indiana pouch, aimed at establishing the factors that contribute to continence and their relative significance. Video-urodynamic studies clearly demonstrate that continence in this type of urinary reservoir is dependent upon a synergism of the aforementioned factors in combination with the low intraluminal pressure of the detubularized bowel. Video-urodynamic studies offer an objective demonstration of the reservoir dynamics and its continence mechanisms, and provide an insight into the possible etiology of incontinence. Such studies also offer an objective means for critical comparison of the different continent urinary reservoirs.

Contrast Media↗

Genetic relationships among phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the verrucarum species group.

Isozyme data were used to identify populations of certain Lutzomyia taxa in the verrucarum species group, mostly in the series townsendi. Lutzomyia youngi Feliciangelis and Murillo and L. spinicrassa Morales, Osorno, Osorno, and Hoyos each have diagnostic allomorphs for phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) and fumarate hydratase (FUM). The 6PGDH and FUM data and those from 6-phospho-fructokinase and phosphoglucomutase distinguish Lutzomyia sp., a new species from Columbia to be described and named later. Data from these enzymes and glucose phosphate isomerase will separate L. townsendi (Ortiz) from the others and from L. longiflocosa Osorno, Morales, Osorno, and Hoyos, L. quasitownsendi Morales, Osorno, Osorno, and Hoyos, and L. sauroida Osorno, Morales, and Osorno (three species that are inseparable using enzyme data). Three other species, L. serrana (Damasceno and Arouck) (series serrana) and L. columbiana (Ristorcelli and Van Ty) and L. andina Osorno, Osorno, and Morales (both in series verrucarum), are morphologically distinct using conventional characters and have fixed diagnostic differences at several enzyme loci. Statistical analyses of the enzyme data using genetic identities (I), differences (D), and the amount of genetic variation among these taxa indicated that such statistics can be as useful in the study of sand fly phylogeny and population genetics as they have been for other organisms. I and D values indicated that L. longiflocosa, L. quasitownsendi, and L. sauroida are very similar (I = 0.991 and D = 0.010) and possibly are populations of the same conspecific species. The levels of divergence, based on combined enzyme data for up to 21 gene loci among the taxa, are discussed, and a dendrogram based on genetic distance is presented. The genetic data confirmed established phylogenetic relationships among the sand fly taxa based on structural similarities.

Animals↗

Characterization and reactivity of monoclonal antibodies to the Miller strain of transmissible gastroenteritis virus of swine.

Hybridomas secreting monoclonal (MAB) to transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) were produced by fusion of SP2/0 myeloma cells and splenic lymphocytes of BALB/c mice immunized with the virulent cell-passaged Miller strain of TGEV. The MAB secreted by these hybridomas were partially characterized; 4 of them (MA4, MA5, MH11, MB2) had high-neutralization titer for TGEV. The remaining 7 (MC6, MD9, ME5, MG5, MF2, ME9, MG7) did not neutralize TGEV at 1:25 dilution. All 4 neutralizing and 2 of the nonneutralizing MAB reacted with the E2 protein of TGEV in a radioimmunoprecipitation assay. The remaining 5 MAB reacted with the E1 protein of TGEV. Reactivity of the MAB was tested in an indirect immunofluorescent assay with 3 cell culture-adapted strains of TGEV (Miller, Purdue, and Illinois) and 13 wild-type isolates of TGEV. Neutralizing MAB reacted with all 13 wild-type isolates and the 3 cell culture-adapted strains of TGEV. In contrast, nonneutralizing MAB that reacted with the Miller strain of TGEV varied in their reactivity with the wild-type TGEV isolates. Reactivity of neutralizing MAB was also tested, using plaque-reduction neutralization assays with Miller, Purdue, and Illinois strains and 5 wild-type isolates. All 4 neutralizing MAB neutralized the 8 virus isolates, but the neutralization titer was higher with the homologous virus than with the heterologous virus isolates. However, neutralization titers of the 4 neutralizing MAB were 4 to 16 times higher for the homologous Miller strain of TGEV than for the heterologous Illinois and Purdue strains, and were 4 to 1,000 times higher than for the wild-type isolates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

[Pneumothorax, Pneumocystis carinii, and AIDS].

Spontaneous pneumothorax can be a complication of several pulmonary diseases, such as pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis and interstitial pulmonary disease. Nevertheless, it is a rare complication of any pneumonia, there is no description of necrosis or abscess caused by Pneumocystis Carinii pneumonia. We present a case of spontaneous pneumothorax (which was not resolved), being a reason for admission, of a patient with AIDS who developed Pneumocystis Carinii pneumonia during the stay in hospital. We think that spontaneous pneumothorax can register bad evolution in patients with AIDS and pulmonary symptoms.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the Mexican state of Guerrero: a seroepidemiological (ELISA) survey of 20 communities.

The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyse 4372 blood samples from residents of 978 households in 20 representative communities in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Seventy-five individuals had very high titres of antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi. Samples with intermediate optical density values, despite overlapping values with several control positives on a single-well test, did not sustain their positivity at high dilutions. 'Intermediate positives' had a different distribution among the 20 communities to samples sustaining reactivity at high dilutions, indicating possible cross-reactivity with another infectious agent. The finding of seropositive children under the age of 10 years in the Costa Chica, Acapulco and the Tierra Caliente regions, with family clustering of putative cases, indicates that recent transmission must be considered. Very few people interviewed in the 20 communities knew the triatomine bug could transmit a disease.

Age Factors↗

[Treatment of chronic renal failure: effects of a supplemented diet with essential amino acids].

We evaluated the results of essential amino acids supplementation added to a protein restricted diet (0.6 g/kg/day) in patients with advanced renal failure (creatinine clearance under 20 ml/min). A diet containing food with high biologic value was used as control. Diets were tested during 7 months. Anthropometric and nutritional (serum albumin and transferrin) values were normal in both groups both at the beginning and at the end of the treatment period. A slight increase in weight in the natural diet group and in serum phosphorus level in the amino acid supplemented group was observed. Two patients in each group required chronic dialysis, renal function remaining stable in the rest. We conclude that both forms of diet supplementation were effective in preserving nutritional status possibly in delaying deterioration of renal function in patients with advanced renal failure.

Amino Acids, Essential↗

Mammillary polydipsia and diabetes insipidus: a study of the rhythmicity of water intake.

Rats with polydipsia induced by electrolytic mammillary lesions show a normal daily rhythmicity of water intake compared with sham lesioned animals, when kept in a 12:12 hours light-dark cycle of illumination. Water is mainly consumed during the dark phase (approximately 80-90% of the total amount). On the other hand, rats with centrally induced diabetes insipidus by means of electrolytic lesions in the median eminence show a clear-cut alteration in this rhythmicity, drinking only 67% of the total amount during the dark phase. This effect could be due to the continuous necessity of these animals to drink water in order to maintain fluid homeostasis, and is not related to food rhythmicity alterations. Taken together, and on the basis of the daily rhythmicity of water intake, these results suggest that mammillary polydipsia may be different from that observed when diabetes insipidus is present.

Animals↗

Hyperprolactinemia and impotence: why, when and how to investigate.

The contribution of hyperprolactinemia to erectile disorders has not been clarified. Modest elevations of serum prolactin occur after administration of drugs that by themselves affect erectile function. Prolactinomas produce marked elevations of the hormone and invariably are accompanied by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Among 1,236 consecutive impotent patients investigated at our center 5.3% had serum levels of prolactin greater than normal. Only 34 of the 66 hyperprolactinemic patients were available for analysis. The etiology of the hyperprolactinemia in this group was pituitary adenoma in 14.7%, drug-induced in 29%, chronic renal failure in 6%, laboratory error in 2.9% and idiopathic in 47.1%. Medical management has a high degree of success but simply lowering the levels of prolactin is not invariably accompanied by restoration of function.

Adenoma↗

Topical nitroglycerin: a potential treatment for impotence.

The effect of 2 per cent nitroglycerin paste applied to the penile shaft of impotent subjects was evaluated in a placebo controlled double-blind study under laboratory conditions. After application of nitroglycerin paste or a placebo ointment base, penile tumescence was recorded through a strain gauge transducer while subjects viewed an erotic video presentation. Relative to the placebo paste the number of subjects demonstrating an increase in penile circumference after nitroglycerin (18 of 26) was significantly different than all other outcome possibilities (p less than 0.05). Noninvasive vascular assessment by ultrasonography demonstrated an increase in diameter and blood flow in the cavernous arteries after application of nitroglycerin paste. Nitroglycerin paste increases blood flow in the cavernous arteries and improves tumescence after erotic stimulation. This agent may represent a new therapy for impotence.

Administration, Topical↗

Biliary excretion and choleretic effect of cefmetazole in rats.

The effect of cefmetazole, a broad-spectrum cephalosporin, on bile flow and composition in rats was studied. Intravenous injection of cefmetazole at doses ranging from 40 to 400 mumol/kg of body weight led to an increase in its biliary concentration and excretion rate, with a maximum at 30 min after injection. Excretion of cefmetazole into bile was associated with a marked choleresis. The magnitude of the increase in bile flow was dose dependent, with a maximal increase at a dose of 200 mumol/kg. Cefmetazole administration did not affect the secretion of bile acids or their osmotic activities, whereas the bile acid-independent bile flow increased by 49% at a dose of 200 mumol/kg. Cefmetazole administration at a dose of 200 mumol/kg significantly increased the biliary outputs of sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate (+36, +56, +28, and +31%, respectively) compared with outputs of controls. A linear relationship was observed between bile flow and cefmetazole excretion, 44 microliters of bile being produced per mumol of cefmetazole excreted into bile. Our results demonstrate that cefmetazole induces choleresis by stimulating bile acid-independent bile flow. This effect appears to be partly due to the osmotic properties of cefmetazole transported into bile.

Animals↗