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Biomedical subjects

C Ramos

Publications and source records attributed to C Ramos.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[The influence of a prior appointment on primary care consultations in the Murcia region].

AIM: Analysis of how the prior appointment system affects various indicators of attendance. DESIGN: A multi-centered intervention study. SITE. Faculty of Medicine. Department of Social-Health Sciences. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Patients seen in the general consulting-rooms of urban and rural Health Centres during the same months in two successive years, i.e. before and after setting up the prior appointment system. INTERVENTIONS: Introduction of the prior appointment programme (a consultation, with the hour and date arranged beforehand). Questionnaire given to the patient at the end of the consultation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN FINDINGS: The personal variations of age and sex, and also of those relating to the medical side were compared by means of the questionnaire, before and after the introduction of the prior appointment system. Significant differences were only seen in relation to hospital referral, which tripled; and to the number of prescriptions per person, which increased. CONCLUSIONS: The prior appointment system has meant less waiting-time for patients and a rationalisation of consultation time; but it has not substantially altered the content of the consultation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[William Harvey: his life and his works (Part I)].

William Harvey's biography is briefly summarized in this essay. The author shows a bird's-eye view of the 16th and the 17th centuries, with regard to the transformations which occurred in science, and narrates Harvey's life. A short description is given of his precursors and their ideas. His most important works are analysed, as well as contemporary scientists' reactions to them. Special emphasis was laid on the discovery of the blood circulation.

Cardiology↗
PubMed1992

[William Harvey: his life and work (2)].

William Harvey's biography is briefly summarized in this essay. The author shows a bird's-eye view of the 16th and the 17th centuries, with regard to the transformations which occurred in science, and narrates Harvey's life. A short description is given of his precursors and their ideas. His most important works are analysed, as well as contemporary scientists' reactions to them. Special emphasis was laid on the discovery of the blood circulation.

Cardiology↗
PubMed1992

[Sclerosing cholangitis and AIDS].

Bile tract pathology in AIDS has been described as an incomplete biliary obstructive syndrome and acalculous cholecystitis. Most reported cases have been associated to bile ducts infection by Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and/or Cryptosporidium. We present a case of sclerosing cholangitis and acalculous cholecystitis in an AIDS patient in whom Cryptosporidium was identified in the cholecystectomy sample and this same agent together with Candida Albicans in bile. We highlight the need to suspect this pathology in HIV infected patients who present a bile obstruction picture and/or cholecystitis, the possible etiological role of Candida Albicans, which has not been previously described, as well as the increasing association of bile pathology and AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition by different amino acids of the aspartate kinase and the homoserine kinase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In this paper, we describe a simple method to measure the yeast homoserine kinase and aspartate kinase activities, independently but in the same extract. With this method, we have determined some kinetic parameters for the physiological substrates of both enzymes, and investigated the inhibition exerted by different amino acids on these activities. Of all natural amino acids tested, only threonine inhibits effectively both enzymatic activities, although to a different degree. We did not find the reported inhibition by L-homoserine over the aspartate kinase. Altogether the data point to the aspartate kinase and to the threonine as the key factors in the regulation of this route.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1991

Postantibiotic effect of ciprofloxacin compared with that of five other quinolones.

The antimicrobial activity (minimal inhibitory concentration, MIC, and killing kinetics) and postantibiotic effect (PAE) of different concentrations (MIC and 6 mg/1) of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, fleroxacin and lomefloxacin on pure cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were compared in vitro. The MIC, killing kinetics and PAE were determined by standard methods. Ciprofloxacin displayed the lowest MICs, while the highest were those of norfloxacin against S. aureus and lomefloxacin against E. coli. The killing curves showed ciprofloxacin to be the most and norfloxacin the least active. The bactericidal power was dependent on the concentration. At MIC, the fluoroquinolones, with the exception of norfloxacin, induced PAEs of 1-2 h. The effect was, in all cases, greater against E. coli. When assayed at 6 mg/l the PAEs were increased to 2-5 h, the best results being obtained by ciprofloxacin followed by ofloxacin. Norfloxacin produced no PAE on S. aureus and scarcely reached 1.3 h against E. coli. There was a close relationship between bactericidal power and PAE.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1991

Collagenase and collagenase inhibitors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids.

Collagenase, collagenolytic activity and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases were evaluated in bronchoalveolar lavage from 25 patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis and four control subjects. Patients were followed between two and three years, after which they were classified as "healed," "improved," or "worsened." In control samples, immunoreactive collagenase was not detected. The enzyme was present in four of seven patients who healed, six of ten patients who improved, and four of eight patients who worsened. There was no relationship between the presence or absence of BAL collagenase or its concentration and the evolution of the disease. Latent collagenolytic activity was detected only in 5 of the 14 patients who displayed immunoreactive collagenase. Regarding collagenase inhibitor, TIMP was present in BAL fluid from all patients and normal subjects. Although the highest values were found in two cases who healed or improved, there was not a statistically significant difference among the three groups of patients, neither between patients nor control subjects. These findings suggest that at least in HP, the presence of collagenase, collagenolytic activity, or TIMP in BAL fluid is not associated with the prognosis of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Infant malnutrition, development rate and its relation to the environment: a pilot study].

The socio-cultural factors that might be influencing the normal psychomotor development of the undernourished infant are studied. The sample consisted of 32 mother-infant dyads: 16 having normal DQ (Group A) and 16 having a below normal DQ (Group B) according to Bailey's Test applied to infants who entered a Nutritional Recuperation Center. Results showed that there were some differences in the infants' backgrounds: infants of Group A were the product of a wished-for pregnancy (p less than .05), and were separated less from their mother's side (p less than .007) than was the case in Group B. No differences were found in the socio-cultural and demographic background of the mothers. The infants' external environment was different in aspects observed within the neighborhood: there were fewer negative aspects in Group A than in Group B (p less than .003) and more positive in Group A than in B (p less than .001). The infant's internal environment as related to the mother was also different. Mothers of Group A perceived more affection from their partner (p less than .008), were more sensitive (to feelings of joy and suffering) (p less than .003) and stimulated their infant (p less than .004) more than those of Group B. These results show that the internal and external environments in which the infant with normal and below normal DQ evolves were different between the two groups. This could explain the differences in psychomotor development among undernourished infants belonging to the lower socioeconomic strata.

Child Development↗
PubMed1990

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactivity during reproduction in doves: influence of experience and number of offspring.

To assess the possibility that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) plays a role in naturally occurring changes in prolactin secretion in ring doves, we used immunohistochemical techniques to measure VIP-like immunoreactivity in the brain as a function of stage of the reproductive cycle. Differences between parental and nonparental birds in VIP profiles were detected in the ventral portion of the infundibular region. More specifically, there is an increase in cell size and staining intensity in the ventral infundibulum of breeding birds compared to simultaneously processed tissue taken from control animals. In both sexes, an increase in size of VIP-like immunoreactive cells is detectable during courtship and early incubation, anticipating the increase in plasma prolactin levels. VIP cell size remains elevated from about Incubation Day 14 to Brooding Day 14, and a steady decrease is observed during the remaining posthatching period, as squab begin to feed independently. Compared to parents rearing one squab, those with two young have a prolonged interval of increased infundibular VIP immunoreactivity. Furthermore, doves with no previous experience of a breeding cycle exhibit prolonged VIP-like immunoreactivity compared to experienced parents, paralleling previously described differences between these groups in parental behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effect of lung T lymphocytes on fibroblasts in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

Increased fibroblast replication and interstitial collagen accumulation occur commonly in the interstitial lung disease that progress to fibrosis. The processes controlling lung fibrogenesis are not completely understood, however. This study was designed to analyse the influence of T lymphocytes from lung tissue obtained at open lung biopsy from four patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and four patients with extrinsic allergic alveolitis on fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis in vitro. Lung T cell supernatants from patients with both diseases induced a moderate but significant inhibition of human lung fibroblast cell line growth. In contrast, there was a clear difference in the effect of T cells from the two groups of patients in relation to collagen production. Lung T lymphocytes from all four patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis produced a substantial increase in collagen synthesis (from 371% to 514% of control values), whereas T cells from three of the four patients with extrinsic allergic alveolitis induced a significant decrease in collagen production (to 35%, 36%, and 43% of control values); in the fourth case there was an increase in collagen synthesis but this was lower than that seen with T cells from any of the patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Peripheral T cells from six patients and control subjects caused a small increase in fibroblast proliferation and no change in collagen synthesis. The findings suggest that at least two types of interaction occur between lung T cells and fibroblasts in these disorders. A variable degree of inhibition of cell proliferation is observed in response to lung T cell supernatants from patients with both idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and extrinsic allergic alveolitis; a substantial increase in collagen synthesis is triggered by lymphokines from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Study of the parental origin of sexual aneuploidy in ten families using RFLPs.

We have studied 10 families with sexual aneuploidy by means of recombinant DNA techniques. The X linked probes were F814 (DXS52), FIX (FVIII gene), pert 87.15 (DXS164), L754 (DXS84) and 47Z (DXYS5). The observed banding patterns allowed us to determine the parental origin of such aneuploidy in nine of our cases. It was paternal in seven cases and maternal in two.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1990

Post-antibiotic effect of isepamicin compared to that of other aminoglycosides.

Isepamicin is a new aminoglycoside drug derived from gentamicin, which is more stable than other aminoglycosides to inactivating enzymes and experimentally is less nephrotoxic than gentamicin or amikacin. In this work a comparative study was carried out on the antibacterial activity (MIC and lethality curves) and the post-antibiotic effect (PAE) of different concentrations of isepamicin, netilmicin and gentamicin on pure cultures of S. aureus and E. coli. The MIC and curves of lethality were determined by conventional methods. The PAE was determined after exposure of the bacterial culture to the antimicrobial one for 1 h at 37 degrees C in a bath with stirring. Elimination of the drug was made by the dilution method. Isepamicin was found to have a MIC four times greater than netilmicin and gentamicin. Its activity over time was similar to that exhibited by other aminoglycosides. At concentrations higher than the MIC, a bactericidal effect was found with the three antibiotics, although isepamicin produced it at lower concentrations. The post-antibiotic effect induced by isepamicin, the same as that of netilmicin and gentamicin, was extensive and depended on the concentration and the strain used. Isepamicin shows antibiotic activity over time and a PAE similar to the other aminoglycosides tested but, unlike them, it has a faster activity, less toxicity and better resistance to inactivating enzymes. For this reason it makes a considerable contribution to antibacterial therapies in severe conditions, including immunodepressed patients who require long-term treatment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1989

DNA transfer from Agrobacterium to Zea mays or Brassica by agroinfection is dependent on bacterial virulence functions.

DNA transfer from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soil bacterium, to the non-host graminaceous monocotyle-donous plant Zea mays, was analysed using the recently developed technique of agroinfection. Agroinfection of Z. mays with maize streak virus using strains of A. tumefaciens carrying mutations in the pTiC58 virulence region showed an almost absolute dependence on the products of the bacterial virC genes. In contrast, agroinfection of the control host Brassica rapa with cauliflower mosaic virus was less dependent on the virC gene products. In other respects, the basic mechanism of the plant-bacterium interaction was found to be similar. While intact virA, B, D and G functions were absolutely necessary, mutants in virE were attenuated. Agroinfection of maize was effective in the absence of an exogenously supplied vir gene inducer, and indeed wounded Z. mays tissues were found to produce substance(s) which induced the expression of A. tumefaciens vir genes. These findings are discussed in the light of current knowledge about the function of Agrobacterium vir genes.

DNA, Bacterial↗