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Biomedical subjects

C Cordova

Publications and source records attributed to C Cordova.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Clotting abnormalities in chronic liver disease.

In patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), several clotting changes can be observed. The most frequent abnormality is the reduced synthesis of many clotting factors, including vitamin-K-dependent and vitamin-K-independent ones. A low platelet count is another frequent feature of patients with CLD, which, however, is not always associated with the prolongation of bleeding time. Hyperfibrinolytic syndrome is usually seen in patients with decompensated state, and may further deteriorate the clotting abnormalities and favor bleeding complications. The assessment of the clotting system may be a useful approach to evaluate liver function and predict prognosis of patients with CLD.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗
PubMed1992

1-year survey of patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. Prognostic value of clinical and laboratory indexes identified by the Cox regression model.

The relation between coagulation indexes and survival rate was studied and analyzed in 46 patients with advanced liver cirrhosis (grade B and C Child-Pugh Classification), during a follow-up of 1 year. Twenty-four patients (52%) died of liver failure or fatal haemorrhage within 12 months of follow-up. Prothrombin activity, fibrinogen, fibrin(ogen) degradation products, prekallikrein and factor VII, serum bilirubin, and the degree of liver insufficiency, scored by Child-Pugh classification, proved to be significantly correlated with survival by univariate analysis. A multivariate survival analysis (Cox regression model) disclosed two variables, prekallikrein and factor VII, that predicted survival. The rate ratios of death increased to 2.8 and 7.6 with values of prekallikrein < 26% and factor VII < 39%, respectively. This study shows that some simple laboratory tests exploring the clotting system may identify patients with poor prognosis in severe liver failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

High density lipoprotein cholesterol low serum level as the only risk factor in male patients with coronary heart disease.

Forty-three male patients with myocardial infarction, severe angiographic coronary lesions, high or normal low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol serum levels, and without other risk factors for coronary heart disease were selected. In all patients high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio were significantly lower than in the control group; in particular, the ratio was below 0.240 which was the median value of normal subjects. Six patients with total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol below 5.16 and 3.35 mmol/l respectively, had low serum levels of HDL-cholesterol; in 4 of them the value of this risk factor was below 0.9 mmol/l; 2 of 6 patients had a lipoprotein (a) serum concentration above 0.3 g/l but not a premature myocardial infarction or a clinical history of coronary heart disease. Our data confirm that HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio could be a better marker of coronary heart disease than HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol and suggest the importance to check HDL-cholesterol serum levels also in subjects without risk factors for atherosclerotic disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The efficacy of i.v. immunoglobulins at high doses in a case of thrombocytopenia with an immune pathogenesis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia].

The authors report a case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with thrombocytopenia caused by antiplatelet antibodies. The customary treatments of this condition having proved ineffective, therapy with large I.V. doses of Ig (0.4 g/kg body weight daily for five consecutive days) was started, which is believed to increase platelet count although the mechanism of this action is not yet fully understood. Interesting changes in laboratory parameters were observed, especially those concerning electroimmunophoresis and immunofixation and these might be useful for a better understanding of the various hypotheses that have been put forward to account for the mechanism(s) of action possibly at work. Treatment proved effective wherefore the authors hope that further studies will be carried out in order to increase our knowledge of the modulation and regulation of the immune response, a primary element in the management of these disorders which is at present only experimental.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1991

[Effects of simvastatin on atherogenic blood lipid pattern].

The effect of a 6-month treatment with simvastatin, an HMG CoA-reductase inhibitor, on serum lipoprotein pattern was investigated in patients affected by primary hypercholesterolemia. After 4-6 weeks of lipid lowering diet, 46 patients showing serum cholesterol greater than 250 mg/dl and triglycerides less than 200 mg/dl were included in the study and treated with simvastatin (10-30 mg/day) plus diet. Serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and triglycerides levels significantly decreased at the end of the follow-up (-27%, -33%, -22%, -26% respectively). Apolipoprotein A1 showed a significant increase as well as HDL-cholesterol, HDL3-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1/B ratio. This study provides further findings on the simvastatin efficacy to normalize the lipoprotein pattern in primary hypercholesterolemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-independent platelet aggregation by low vitamin E concentration.

Platelet aggregation induced by threshold concentrations of agonists such as collagen, PAF or epinephrine was inhibited in vitro by 100 microM aspirin but was restored by stimulating platelets with high concentrations of collagen, PAF or by a combination of epinephrine and PAF. Incubating aspirin-treated platelets with 50-100 microM vitamin E or vitamin E acetate inhibited platelet aggregation by high concentrations of collagen and PAF and by the combination of epinephrine and PAF; platelet thromboxane A2 formation was less than 10% in samples incubated with 100 microM aspirin. Apyrase, added to aspirin-treated platelet, did not influence platelet aggregation induced by epinephrine and PAF. The present study suggests that concentrations of vitamin E as low as 50-100 microM inhibit cyclooxygenase-independent platelet aggregation when combined with an inhibitor of the arachidonate pathway.

Apyrase↗
PubMed1990

Suspension mechanism of subperiosteal implants in baboons.

It has been noted that overloading of an implant can lead to the premature loss of implants (Jones et al., 1979; Travis and Jones, 1986). An understanding of the mechanism by which subperiosteal implants support masticatory loads could lead to appropriate design changes for best utilization of this mechanism and thus increase the predictability of subperiosteal implants (James, 1983). This study attempts to analyze the suspension mechanism in implants recovered from a baboon after 10 years' use.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Interrelation between factor VII, prekallikrein, and hyperfibrinolysis in advanced cirrhosis.

Factor VII and prekallikrein activities were studied in 37 patients with liver cirrhosis who were in a decompensated state. Sixteen of them died 30-70 days after admission; 21 survived and were discharged after 30-80 days. Seven who died and six survivors had signs of hyperfibrinolysis: factor VII activity differentiated the two groups independently of the presence of hyperfibrinolysis. The presence of hyperfibrinolysis significantly reduced prekallikrein activity, which did not differentiate clearly survivors from non-survivors. Long term follow up of survivors showed a good correlation between factor VII and prekallikrein activities with long term survival. Hyperfibrinolysis seemed to influence the clinical course of patients: 87% of patients with hyperfibrinolysis who died had fatal haemorrhagic episodes. Low factor VII activity may be a precursor of terminal liver insufficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Considerations on a case of hemolytic microangiopathic anemia in a patient with adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder].

The authors report a case of hemolytic microangiopathic anemia (HMA) in a patient with gallbladder carcinoma with metastases to the liver, lymph nodes of the hepatic hilum, omentum, iliac bone and its bone marrow. After an overview of the literature on HMA and particularly in the peculiar mechanism of the small vessel damage, the clinical and laboratory picture is described. It is also underlined that this is the first case described in which the association of gallbladder adenocarcinoma and HMA is present. The progressive and fatal course of the disease is tied to the severe erythrocytic lysis and mechanical damage by the massive microembolization of small vessel walls by neoplastic cells. This also explains the complete uselessness of blood-transfusion therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Influence of hydroxyl radical scavengers on platelet function.

The influence of four hydroxil radical (OH.) scavengers on platelet function was investigated. OH. scavengers inhibited ADP, collagen, arachidonic acid, PAF-induced platelet aggregation, and platelet cyclooxygenase pathway activation, which was studied by evaluating platelet malondialdehyde and serum thromboxane A2 formation. The latter was not affected by superoxide dismutase, catalase, or metal ion chelants such as desferioxamine or DETAPAC. The detection of deoxyribose degradation by stimulated platelets suggested that platelets produce OH.. This study shows that activated platelets produce free radicals and that antioxidant agents such as OH. scavengers inhibit platelet function.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of the Angelchik antireflux prosthesis using a model for esophageal reflux in rhesus monkeys.

Minimal data are available about the Angelchik antireflux prosthesis although it has been inserted in more than 14,000 patients. The present animal study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and mechanism of action of this prosthesis. A reproducible model of esophageal reflux in primates was created using a double myotomy. Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and reflux score were improved significantly in animals by insertion of an Angelchik antireflux prosthesis, a modified antireflux prosthesis, or a Nissen fundoplication. Manometrically determined LES length was increased after insertion of an Angelchik antireflux prosthesis but not by a Nissen fundoplication or sham operation. Complications after insertion of the modified prosthesis included intraluminal erosion, fibrous stricture, and slippage of the device over the stomach.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Prekallikrein and factor VII as prognostic indexes of liver failure.

Normotest, serum albumin, prekallikrein (Prekk), and Factor VII plasma activity were investigated in 64 patients with chronic liver disease--13 with type I chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 10 with type II CAH, 16 with compensated liver cirrhosis (LC), and 25 with decompensated LC--and in 20 matched-for-age healthy individuals. All of these blood parameters were reduced significantly as a result of liver damage. Patients with type II CAH and compensated LC had similar blood coagulation values. Eight decompensated LC patients, who died 30 to 45 days after the last blood coagulation parameter measurements, showed significantly low Prekk and Factor VII values compared with eight matched for sex and age survivors of decompensated LC. Prekk and Factor VII values of nonsurvivors did not overlap those of the survivors. This striking difference was not detected if Prekk and Factor VII were studied 2 to 4 months before death. These data suggest that Prekk and Factor VII are very sensitive to liver damage and could be useful prognostic indexes of liver insufficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Hageman factor, high molecular weight kininogen, and prekallikrein in chronic liver disease.

The activities of Hageman factor, high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK), and prekallikrein were studied in patients who had chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis. Serum HMWK and prekallikrein activities were decreased in chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis, but Hageman factor activity was low in cirrhosis only. The reduction of prekallikrein, HMWK, and Hageman factor was dependent on the degree of liver failure. Similar prekallikrein values were found in serum samples, activated or not, with an excess of Hageman factor and HMWK, which suggests that the decrease of prekallikrein in liver disease is not influenced by the simultaneous decrease of Hageman factor and HMWK.

Adult↗