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Biomedical subjects

C Garcia

Publications and source records attributed to C Garcia.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Switch to tacrolimus for cyclosporine-induced gynecomastia in liver transplant recipients.

We report herein on two male liver transplant (LT) recipients who presented with cyclosporine (CsA)-related gynecomastia 6 and 10 months after transplantation. The clinical workup showed increased luteinizing hormone (LH), associated with a slight reduction in testosterone blood levels in one patient and increased prolactin levels in the other. After excluding concomitant primary endocrine and/or malignant disease, conversion to tacrolimus (TAC) was performed resulting in clinical improvement of gynecomastia and return of hormone blood levels to normal range within 3 months. Our report confirms a putative role of CsA in post-LT gynecomastia, reversible however upon conversion to TAC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Plasma membrane NADH oxidase is gravi-responsive.

NADH oxidase activities measured with intact tissue sections and with isolated plasma membrane vesicles from etiolated hypocotyls of soybean (Glycine max) respond to gravity and imposed centrifugal forces. The response is one of inhibition of activity with tissue sections lying flat for 20 min or less at 1 x g and one of stimulation with times of lying flat of 30 min or longer at 1 x g. Turning the tissue sections upside down resulted in stimulation of the activity with a lag of about 30 min. Returning the sections to the normal upright position resulted in a return to initial rates with a lag of less than 20 min. Both the stimulated and non-stimulated activities oscillate with a period of 24 min, precluding a more precise analyses of lag times. The activity was stimulated reversibly to a maximum of about 2-fold both in tissue sections and in isolated plasma membrane vesicles when subjected to centrifugal forces of 10 to 400 x g for 0.5 to 4 min duration. The findings are the first description of a gravi-responsive enzymatic activity related to the growth response in plants.

Cell Membrane↗

Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: influence of blood pressure and humoral and neurohormonal factors.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common finding in hypertensive autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients. There are few studies on the influence of blood pressure (BP) and nonhemodynamic factors on LVH in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between BP, humoral and neurohormonal factors and left ventricular mass (LVM) in hypertensive ADPKD patients. In 20 hypertensive ADPKD patients, ambulatory BP was monitored for 24 h, left ventricular dimensions were estimated by echocardiography, and plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma noradrenaline (NA), angiotensin II (Ang II), aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were also determined. Twenty age- and sex-matched essential hypertensive subjects served as controls. Ambulatory BP and LVM index were similar in the two groups, although male ADPKD patients had higher LVM indices than their matched controls. Eight ADPKD patients (40%) and 6 essential hypertensives (30%) showed LVH. PRA, Ang II, aldosterone, ANP and IGF-I levels were similar in the two groups, but plasma NA levels were higher in ADPKD patients than in controls (281 +/- 158 vs. 160 +/- 62 pg/ml, p = 0.004). ADPKD patients with LVH did not differ from those without LVH with regard to humoral and neurohormonal parameters, but had higher ambulatory BP levels. In ADPKD patients, correlation analysis revealed a significant association between LVM index and 24-hour systolic and diastolic BP, but not with any of the hormonal factors evaluated. On multiple regression analysis, 24-hour diastolic BP was the only independent variable linked to LVM index. In conclusion, ambulatory BP is one of the most important determinants of LVM in hypertensive ADPKD patients. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the role of nonhemodynamic factors in the pathogenesis of LVH in this population.

Adult↗

[Epidemic dermatits by Paederus irritans in Piura, Perú at 1999, related to El Niño phenomenon].

The phenomen El Niño that affected Peru at 1998, made possible the growth of copious vegetation in traditionally dry places. On this way, Paederus irritans, dipterous of the order Coleoptera that produces dermatitis when croushed on the skin, found substract that allowed the natural growth of its population. The coming of occasional rains on the months of February to April 1999, attacked the habitat of this insect, that looked for urban areas, exposing seriously the general population of Piura on north Perú to the contact. During February and May 1,451 cases of dermatitis caused by Paederus irritans, called latigazo because of its linear and eritematous characteristic lesions on the skin, were notified at Piura. The more affected body areas were head (56.6%) and neck (30.9%), but there were also cases of conjunctivitis and genital injuries, because of hands contamination.

Adolescent↗

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall: a cooperative study with review of the literature.

The clinicopathologic features of three examples of mesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall are described. The entity has been recorded under a number of names including osteochondroma, osteochondrosarcoma, benign chondroblastoma, mesenchymoma, and chondromatous hamartoma. The condition is manifest at birth or shortly thereafter with deformity of the chest wall and respiratory distress. Radiographic examination reveals a well-defined, partly calcified mass involving one or more ribs. The tumor is composed predominantly of chondroid tissue with large endothelium-lined blood spaces and immature mesenchyme with osteoclastic giant cells and osteoid. We review the literature and suggest that the lesion should be distinguished from aneurysmal bone cyst, chondroma, and other mesenchymal neoplasms. In order to avoid local recurrence the recommended treatment is complete surgical resection.

Bone Neoplasms↗

[Hepatic hydatidosis with glomerular involvement: report of a case].

A patient with hydatid cyst of the presented stunted growth, normal renal function and no significant proteinuria. The radiological abdominal investigation disclosed, besides the hydatid cyst, horseshoe kidneys. Renal biopsy was performed during surgery. Immunofluorescence (direct and indirect) and immunoperoxidase studies revealed glomerular deposits of hydatid antigen and its corresponding antibody. A grade I immune complex type of membranous glomerulonephritis, without significant clinical signs, was diagnosed in association with the hepatic hydatid disease.

Child↗

[A "pulseless" woman with proteinuria!].

Takayasu arteritis, also called pulseless women disease, is a chronic vasculitis of unknown aetiology, which primarily involves the aorta, its branches and coronary and pulmonary arteries. It is an uncommon disease with a variety of presentations and most frequently found in Asia than in Europe. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman, suffering from Takayasu arteritis for 19 years. She was admitted to the hospital for diffuse pain and oedema. Biological tests pointed out proteinuria with renal failure, which was confirmed by a renal biopsy. The association of Takayasu arteritis and renal failure is unusual. This review focuses on the biological manifestations of Takayasu arteritis and on the link between this disease and the renal failure observed in this case.

Biopsy↗

[A young woman with severe hyponatremia].

We report here the case of a young woman, who came by herself at the emergency department, presenting with a severe hyponatremia (106 mmol/L), as shown by her initial biological report. The biological comment leads us to review the hyponatremia considering on one hand osmolarity and on the other hand volemia. Patient's tests results showed hyponatremia with hypoosmolarity and isovolemia, due to her potomania. At last, the authors expose the main guidelines for the correction of hyponatremia.

Adult↗

[The usefulness of adenosine deaminase determination in biological fluids for tuberculosis diagnosis].

Tuberculosis may affect several organs and its prevalence is continuously increasing. Laboratory diagnosis still remains difficult. Adenosine deaminase (Ada) is an enzyme which contributes to purine metabolism and its presence in lymphocyte, monocyte and macrophage cells is associated with T cells mediated immunity. Many studies have shown the usefulness of Ada determination in various biological fluids for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. In pleural fluid, cutoff vary from 33 to 48 U/L, with sensitivity higher than 80% and specificity near 100%. In peritoneal fluid the cutoff value is 30 U/L. In cerebrospinal fluid, the value of 7 U/L can make discriminate negative and positive cases with a good sensitivity and specificity. The data from the literature show that 50 U/L in pericardic fluid is a reliable threshold for tuberculosis diagnosis. Ada determination in serum is not as relevant as in others fluids because of its low specificity. Ada measurement in biological fluids, easy and not expensive, may be add to other biological tests for tuberculosis diagnosis.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

[Influence of blood pressure level on urinary albumin excretion rate and erythropoietin production in diabetic patients].

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to investigate blood pressure variations during diabetic incipient nephropathy and to evaluate theirs consequences for erythropoietin (EPO) production. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 94 diabetic patients (mean age: 59.9 +/- 15.3 years, diabetes duration: 13.8 +/- 15.3 years). Patients were divided in two groups according to urinary albumin excretion rate (UAE): group 1: UAE <30 mg/24 hrs, N=64 and group 2: 30<UAE <300 mg/24 hrs; N=30 EPO levels and 24 hrs ABPM where compared between these two groups. RESULTS: patients' age and BMI, diabetes duration and Hb A1c levels, blood pressure and creatinine clairance did not differ from significant manner between the two groups. 24 hrs BP and daytime BP did not differ according to UAE rate. Night-time BP was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (SBP: 126 +/- 17 vs. 118 +/- 15 mmHg, p<0.04 and DBP: 71 +/- 10 vs. 67 +/- 8 mmHg, p < 0.02). UAE was positively correlated nigh-time BP (r = 0.263, p = 0.01 for SBP and r = 0.273, p = 0.008 for DBP) and negatively with the difference between daytime and night-time SBP (delta SBP) (r = -0.205, p < 0.05). Hemoglobin levels did not differ significantly between the two groups. EPO levels of group 2 were significantly lower than those of group 1 (15.1 +/- 5.6 vs. 17.7 +/- 6.2 mU/ml, p < 0.05). A negative correlation between UAE and EPO was found (r = -0.266, p < 0.01). UAE and delta SBP explained 12.2% of EPO variance. CONCLUSION: in diabetic patients, elevation of night-time BP and reduction in nightime BP fall participate to the installation of incipient nephropathy. A significant decrease in EPO production is noted in the same time.

Albuminuria↗

[Analysis of the in vitro antibacterial action of a fluoridated amalgam].

To a conventional silver amalgam alloy was added 1% of stanous fluoride, to prove in vitro, if it presents any antibacteria actions against S. mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Thirteen Petri plate were seeded with S. mutans and 12 Petri plate with Lactobacillus, in both cases, was disposited fluoride containing amalgam and conventional amalgam. The average of inhibition signs in the Petri plates with S. mutans was 1.7 mm in the Petri plates with Lactobacillus the average was 2.4 mm. Is demonstrated that the fluoride containing amalgam has in vitro antibacteria action in comparison with conventional amalgam, that has none.

Dental Amalgam↗