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B Romero

Publications and source records attributed to B Romero.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Myocardial necrosis by electrocution: evaluation of noninvasive methods.

We present the case of a young man who suffered severe anteroapical myocardial necrosis caused by electrocution. In addition to the enzymatic and electrocardiographic changes suggesting necrosis, a clear positive segmental image on 99mTc-pyrophosphate scintigraphy and a defect on a 201Tl SPECT scan at rest were also found. Although these tests were indicative of extensive anteroapical transmural myocardial necrosis, the echocardiographic study only revealed mild anteroapical hypokinesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Interactions between metallothionein inducers in rat liver and primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

The interaction of Zn, stress and endotoxin on liver metallothionein (MT) regulation has been studied in the rat. Zn, stress and endotoxin increased liver MT levels significantly, by 12-, 5- and 8-fold, respectively. The previous administration of Zn to stress or endotoxin treatments increased MT levels by 35- and 42-fold, respectively, indicating a synergistic effect in both cases. In contrast, when liver MT was preinduced by stress, MT levels were further increased by endotoxin only in an additive manner. In another experiment where liver MT induction by stress was studied in control rats and in rats with preinduced MT by Zn, endotoxin or stress, it was found that Zn pretreated animals had higher MT-I mRNA levels than endotoxin- or stress-pretreated ones. No synergisms between dexamethasone, Zn, TNF and IFN were observed in primary culture of hepatocytes. These results suggest that the observed synergisms between Zn and other MT inducers in vivo in the liver is a consequence of increased Zn levels in the body and mobilization capacity, with concomitant MT synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele, cognitive decline, and deterioration of everyday performance in Alzheimer's disease.

Many studies have demonstrated an association between the apolipoprotein E (apoE) epsilon 4 allele and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study is concerned with the relationship between the apoE epsilon 4 allele and the progression of symptoms in AD. We determined rates of cognitive decline and deterioration in everyday performance prospectively over 3 years in 64 patients with clinically diagnosed AD using the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Dementia Scale (DS) included in the Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination (CAMDEX). Carriers and noncarriers of the epsilon 4 allele did not significantly differ in cognitive functioning and everyday performance at baseline measurements. The time that had elapsed since the estimated onset of symptoms was also not different between the two groups. This suggested that the clinical progression of AD was not associated with the epsilon 4 status before the patients entered the study. On prospective observation, the rate of cognitive decline assessed with the CAMCOG and the MMSE and the rate of deterioration in everyday performance rated with the DS were also not different between carriers and noncarriers of the epsilon 4 allele. We conclude that the clinical course of AD is independent of the apoE epsilon 4 allele.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1993

Identification of glucagon receptors in human adipocytes from a liposarcoma.

The presence of glucagon receptors on human adipocytes has not yet been described. In this work we present an exceptional case of glucagon binding to human adipocytes taken from a malignant tumor of adipose tissue of a patient with a liposarcoma. Binding analysis revealed that the total number of glucagon receptors on liposarcoma-cells was 99,000 and the apparent receptor affinity (ED:50) was 5 x 10(-9) M. Despite the presence of these specific receptors, glucagon was unable to induce a lipolytic response, or to activate the adenylate-cyclase system in these liposarcoma-cells. Whether the induction of glucagon receptors is a specific process of the tumor biology remains to be elucidated.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1993

Development of a competitive double antibody radioimmunoassay for rat metallothionein.

A competitive double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) for rat metallothionein (MT) has been developed that has a detection limit of 100 pg and a range of 100 to 100000 pg. The antibody was raised in rabbits against rat MT-2 but it crossreacts equally with MT-1 and MT-2. However, when the assay is done in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol the antibody is more specific for MT-2. Zn- and Cd- saturated MTs have similar responses in the assay. Addition of Cu(II) to Zn-MT (more than 6 mol Cu/mol MT) in non-reducing conditions modifies the response of the antibody, probably because of Cu(II) oxidation and later MT polymerization. Standard curves developed in the presence of cytosols from brain cortex, hypothalamus or liver did not differ from the standard curve, indicating the absence of interfering substances in the assay. Furthermore, serial dilutions of those cytosols paralleled the response of the standard curve, indicating that the response of the antibody was specific. For comparison, MT levels in some brain areas measured with the present RIA were compared with those measured with an established RIA. In addition, the expected effect of dexamethasone and stress on liver MT levels was clearly identified by this RIA. The results suggest that the present RIA can be used for quantitation of metallothionein.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Alzheimer's disease: identical phenotype of familial and non-familial cases.

Ninety outpatients with Alzheimer's disease according to ICD-10 diagnostic draft criteria were studied to test the hypothesis that cases with a familial aggregation are different from cases without such an aggregation with respect to cognitive impairment. In all cases the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease was confirmed by prospective observation within 12 months of initial evaluation. Patients were divided into two groups: one consisting of 23 patients with a familial aggregation, the other consisting of 67 patients without secondary cases among first-degree relatives. By means of t-tests differences in impairment of cognitive functions between the groups were calculated. The results did not yield statistically significant differences between the groups for any of the neuropsychologically investigated cognitive deficits. Thus the hypothesis that the presence of a familial aggregation may lead to a distinct phenotype in Alzheimer's disease was not confirmed.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Psychopathologic disorders at the onset of Alzheimer's disease].

The investigation of patients with Alzheimer's disease was based on the following questions: which symptoms occur at onset, which cognitive, non cognitive and neurological symptoms already appear in early stages of the disease and how frequent are they? Memory impairment was the most frequent symptom at onset. However apathy and deficits in word finding did also occur at the beginning of the disease' clinical manifestation. It is generally suggested that symptoms in mild Alzheimer's disease are confined to impairment of memory, orientation, and language. In contrast to that our results suggest that psychopathological symptoms in mild Alzheimer's disease may cover a wide range of cognitive and non cognitive deficits.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

[Symptom severity and symptom progression in Alzheimer's disease-- comparison between two cases with early and late onset].

Since the first description of Alzheimer's disease rapid symptom progression and relatively severe cognitive symptoms have been frequently associated with early onset age, while slow symptom progression and relatively mild cognitive symptoms were often related to late onset age. In a longitudinal study of 90 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease we investigated these hypotheses. We found that neither severity of cognitive symptoms nor symptom progression in Alzheimer's disease were associated with onset age. In addition, a comparison of extreme groups (group 1: less than 60 years of age; group 2: greater than 75 years of age), taken from the study sample, showed similar results with respect to the independent variables. The results of this study suggest that the interindividual variability of cognitive impairment as well as the large variation of symptom progression in Alzheimer's disease cannot be explained by onset age.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

[Changes in the mechanism of action of insulin on fatty tissue accumulations in lipomas, Madelung's lipomatosis and liposarcoma].

In this paper, the preliminary results regarding the alterations of the biological action mechanism of insulin in several types of pathological accumulations of fat, i.e. lipomas, Madelung's Lipomatosis and liposarcoma, are presented. The results indicate significant alterations both at the insulin receptor and post-receptor levels, with reduced biological activity of this hormone, which could have and inductive role in the pathogenesis of such entities.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1991

[Manifestations of Alzheimer's disease in daily living].

From the perspective offered by diagnostic criteria, cognitive rating scales and psychometric tests, Alzheimer's disease appears to be primarily a continuous decline of memory and intelligence. Changes in other areas of behaviour often go unrecognized at examination or are considered insignificant. A completely different view is offered by the reports of care-givers. Here, impairment of everyday activities, abnormal emotional and social behaviours are the most important features. To examine the everyday manifestation of Alzheimer's disease at greater detail, a questionnaire for care-givers was developed. Observations of patients' behaviours as recorded on this instrument demonstrate the presence of significant changes of affect and drive even in mild stages of the disorder. They show only weak associations with cognitive symptoms and cannot be explained as psychological reactions. The non-cognitive aspects of Alzheimer's disease deserve particular diagnostic and therapeutic interest.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1990

The onset of Alzheimer's disease. A longitudinal case study and a trial of new diagnostic criteria.

We had the opportunity to document the onset of presenile Alzheimer's disease in a female patient who presented at a very early stage and was followed for 18 months at close intervals. Disturbances of memory, of intellectual abilities, and of language were the initial symptoms, which caused significant impairment of working performance several months before becoming apparent at home. The clinically evident progression of the disease was confirmed by psychometric tests but was overlooked by cognitive screening batteries and by global severity ratings. In the absence of any signs of brain atrophy, even on repeated X-ray computed tomography, a severe temporoparietal reduction of glucose metabolism was disclosed by positron emission tomography. The typical case demonstrated several imperfections of newly introduced diagnostic criteria in their ability to identify early Alzheimer's disease. Improvements for some of these deficiencies are suggested.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Delayed gastric emptying following subtotal gastrectomy].

A case of prolonged gastric retention, after truncal vagotomy and antrectomy, is reported. The clinical picture was initially thought to be due to an organic obstruction. The patient was reoperated, having a Billroth-II anastomosis converted into a Roux--en--Y. The gastric retention reappeared soon after the reoperation. After a long period on nutritional support, the patient resumed tolerance first to a solid food and then to liquids. Later a bezoar of Candida albicans was discovered in the gastric stump. After gastric lavage, the patient remained free of symptoms. The importance on the assessment by gastroscopy as well as the conservative treatment in case of postoperative gastric retention is emphasized in this paper.

Aged↗