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Biomedical subjects

A Valverde

Publications and source records attributed to A Valverde.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Intraosseous cannulation and drug administration for induction of anesthesia in chickens.

Twenty-four chickens were randomly assigned to one of three treatments (ketamine, 30 mg/kg; thiopental, 20 mg/kg; saline, 0.8 mL). Baseline data (heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, and cloacal temperature) were recorded before ulnar intraosseous cannulation and administration of drug treatment and for 30 minutes after administration. One investigator, unaware of the treatment administered, assessed the reaction to cannulation, number of attempts per cannulation, reaction to injection, time to induction and recovery, and quality of induction and recovery. Respiratory rate increased significantly (p < .05) from baseline after thiopental. Other parameters did not vary within groups or between groups. Most birds did not react or had a mild reaction to cannulation and injection, and on average fewer than two attempts were necessary. Quality of recovery was significantly (p < .05) better after thiopental. Time to recovery was significantly (p < .05) shorter after thiopental. No major histopathologic changes were noted in bone marrow samples from the injection site. This study demonstrates that the intraosseous route may be used to induce anesthesia in chickens, and that minimal changes in the variables studied were produced by ketamine and thiopental.

Anesthesia↗

In vitro susceptibility of Candida dubliniensis to current and new antifungal agents.

BACKGROUND: Candida dubliniensis is a recently described Candida species closely related to Candida albicans, which has been associated with oral candidiasis in HIV-infected patients. Fluconazole-resistant strains of C. dubliniensis are easily obtained in vitro and this fact could be a complication if this resistance develops during treatment with this drug. METHODS: In the present study, the in vitro antifungal susceptibilities of 36 C. dubliniensis clinical isolates and culture strains to current and new antifungal agents, such as amphotericin B (AMB), amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC), amphotericin B colloidal dispersion (ABCD), 5-fluorocytosine (5FC), fluconazole (FLC), itraconazole (ITC), ketoconazole (KTC), liposomal amphoteri- cin B (LAMB), liposomal nystatin (LNYT), LY303366 (LY), SCH56592 (SCH), and voriconazole (VRC), were determined according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards M27-A broth microdilution method for yeasts. RESULTS: Most isolates of C. dubliniensis were susceptible to both new and current antifungal drugs, with 75.9% isolates susceptible to KTC, 86.2% to FLC and to ITC, and approximately 100% to the other antifungal agents tested. The cross-resistance phenotypes are detailed. Four isolates were resistant (MIC > or =64 microg/ml) to FLC. These 4 isolates were also resistant to KTC, and 3 of them were also resistant to ITC (MIC > or =1 microg/ml for both agents). However, these isolates were highly susceptible to 5FC and all polyene formulations (AMB, ABLC, ABCD, LAMB, and LNYT), triazole (SCH and VRC) and echinocandin (LY) antifungal agents. CONCLUSION: The new liposomal and lipidic formulations of AMB, LNYT, and the new triazoles and echinocandins may provide new alternatives to FLC for the treatment of infections by C. dubliniensis.

Amphotericin B↗

CA 549 and SP2 in postoperative breast cancer patients. Comparison with CA 15.3, CEA and TPA.

The levels of CA 549 and SP2 were measured in 430 subjects: 100 healthy blood donors, 130 patients with benign diseases and 200 postoperative breast cancer patients. In the latter group, the serum levels of CA 15.3, CEA and TPA were also measured. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann Whitney and McNemar tests were used for statistical analysis. The upper normal limits were established on the basis of the values obtained in the healthy blood donors group, the benign diseases group and R.O.C. analysis of the breast cancer group. They were: CA 549 = 13 U/ml, SP2 = 14 U/ml, CA 15.3 = 35 U/ml, CEA = 5 ng/ml and TPA = 110 U/ml. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the breast cancer group were, respectively: CA 549 = 78.1%, 97.1% and 88%; SP2 = 21.9%, 90.4% and 57.5%; CEA = 66.7%, 95.2% and 81.5%; CA 15.3% = 80.2%, 98.1% and 89.5%, and TPA = 73.9%, 78.8% and 76.5%. Statistical analysis showed significant differences only between CA 15.3, the marker which gave the best results, and SP2 (p < 0.001). There was no significant differences with the association of two or three tumor markers.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗

[Fascioliasis of the common bile duct: endoscopic ultrasonographic diagnosis and endoscopic sphincterotomy].

Two cases of biliary fasciolasis are reported. The patients presented with biliary pain and/or acute pancreatitis. Pre-operative ultrasound endoscopy showed main bile duct dilation and linear elongated echogenic structures in the common bile duct lumen. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and endoscopic sphincterotomy were performed. Parasites were endoscopically removed resulting in disappearance of symptoms and biological abnormalities. Serological tests and pathological examination confirmed the presence of Fasciola hepatica. During follow-up, stool examination failed to show any Fasciola hepatica eggs, and in one case, serology became negative. This report emphasizes the value of ultrasound endoscopy in the diagnosis of unsuspected biliary fasciolasis. This report also confirms the therapeutic role of endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with obstructive biliary fasciolasis.

Acute Disease↗

Carotid surgery. Is regional anesthesia always appropriate?

We retrospectively studied a series of 385 carotid endarterectomies performed either under general anesthesia (242) or under local anesthesia (145) to compare the peri-operative mortality and morbidity rate and to identify factors which may influence the choice of anesthesia. The rate of transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), stroke, death, combined mortality, severe neurological and cardiac morbidity were not statistically different. Under general anesthesia, more shunts were inserted (17% versus 7%, p less than 0.05) and more myocardial infarctions occurred (5% versus 0%, p less than 0.05). However, more strokes due to technical imperfection were seen under regional anesthesia. We concluded that regional anesthesia is more appropriate in patients with coronary artery disease and in patients at risk of intolerance to cross clamping. General anesthesia is more appropriate in poorly cooperative patients or in those with unfavorable operative conditions.

Anesthesia, Conduction↗

[Longitudinal study of mycobacteriosis, 1983-1987].

The results obtained in the CNMVIS from 1983 to 1987 are reported for the different mycobacterial species identified, the susceptibility of M. tuberculosis to drugs, and the age and sex distribution of the infected patients, to provide additional data regarding the status of mycobacteriosis in this country. 3682 of the 4,015 isolated mycobacteria were identified as tuberculous; among these, the vast majority (99.4%) corresponded to M. tuberculosis. The other mycobacterial species amounted to 25 varieties. On the other hand, no significant changes developed during the five year period regarding predominance of the different species. Primary resistance of M. tuberculosis to chemotherapeutic agents was observed in 7.5% of instances, and acquired resistance in 25.4%; isoniazid, streptomycin and rifampin were the drugs to which resistance more commonly developed. The sex distribution of the affected individuals disclosed a mean males/females ratio of 3.7:1, as shown in similar studies. However, the age distribution did not fit with the reported pattern for other european countries, as in our study there was a greater frequency of tuberculosis in young adults aged 20-39 years.

Adult↗

Automated sample preparation for monitoring groundwater pollution by carbamate insecticides and their transformation products.

We investigated automated on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatographic (LC) techniques for monitoring carbamates and their transformation products. Analytical determinations were performed by LC with UV or postcolumn fluorescence detection (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Method 531.1 for carbamate insecticides) after preconcentration with on-line SPE using C18 Empore extraction disks. On-line SPE/LC/thermospray mass spectrometry with time-scheduled selected-ion monitoring was used as confirmatory method. The method was used to determine pesticide traces in well waters of a typical aquifer in the Almeria area (Andalucia, south of Spain) from March 1993 to February 1994. The major pollutants, found in highest amounts, were carbofuran, methiocarb, and methomyl, at levels of 0.32, 0.3, and 0.8 micrograms/L, respectively. According to results of seasonal variation studies, pollution by carbamate insecticides is sporadic and exceeds the limit of 0.5 micrograms/L for total pesticides allowed by the European Economic Community Drinking Water Directive only twice a year. 3-Hydroxycarbofuran and methiocarb sulfone also were detected, showing the importance of including the main toxic break-down products of carbamate insecticides in future monitoring programs.

Autoanalysis↗

[Palliative treatment of adenocarcinoma of the cardia: is there a role for surgery?].

OBJECTIVES: The value of palliative surgery for adenocarcinoma of the cardia (AC) is controversial, and specific studies are lacking. The aim of this study was to report the results of a palliative resection for AC in 69 patients. METHODS: From 1980 to 1993, 69 patients (mean age 59 +/- 10 years) underwent a palliative resection for AC. Palliative resection was defined by macroscopically incomplete resection, tumoral involvement of resection margins, visceral or serosal metastasis, or N3 metastatic nodes. Patients were classified according to the diagnosis of palliation established preoperatively (group A, n = 26), peroperatively (group B, n = 35), or postoperatively (group C, n = 8) respectively. RESULTS: Six patients (8.7%) died postoperatively. Mortality rates were 3.8%, 8.6% and 25% in groups A, B and C, respectively. Twenty one patients (30%) had postoperative non-fatal complications. Median global survival was 9 months (mean 11 +/- 7 months) without significant difference between groups A, B and C. Forty-four out of 51 patients (86%) followed until death did not have dysphagia. The other patients were free of dysphagia during an average of 70% of the follow-up duration. Among the 14 patients surviving postoperatively with a tumoral esophageal margin, none experienced dysphagia from anastomotic recurrence during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients with AC, a palliative resection can be achieved with an acceptable mortality and a very good functional result. This result can justify a prospective comparison between palliative surgery and alternative treatments.

Adenocarcinoma↗