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Biomedical subjects

D Rodriguez

Publications and source records attributed to D Rodriguez.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Growth of Propionibacterium acnes strains on semisynthetic medium; antigenic polysaccharide production.

A semisynthetic medium, containing yeast extract as the only non defined component and glucose, glycerol, Tween 80 and mineral salts, has been developed to grow the strains of Propionibacterium acnes Beck 2037, Gerrath 2038 and Vogel 2039, at a rate comparable to that of complex media. An average of 10(12) cells per 1 (equivalent to approximately 1.5 g/l dry weight) was usually achieved. These yields are appropriated for biochemical and immunological studies, e.g. cell wall preparation, polysaccharides isolation, etc. In this work, some properties of the cell walls (sugar and amino acid composition) and the antigenic polysaccharides (neutral and amino sugar components) are described.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1982

Capitalism and population in Latin American agriculture: recent trends and problems.

"On the basis of a body of empirical research, the authors explore the relationship between agrarian structure and population [in Latin America]. After an introduction in which they present their theoretical and methodological orientation, they describe the current changing trends in agrarian structure, among which are the 'intensification' of the process of the penetration of capitalistic forms into agriculture." They then discuss the relationships between agrarian structure and demographic variables, particularly fertility and migration. In the final section, some guidelines for future research are presented. This paper is a revised version of an evaluation study carried out to assess the contributions of 14 research projects financed by the Programme of Social Research on Population in Latin America (PISPAL).

Agriculture↗
PubMed1980

Pseudo-mitral-valve echogram following prosthetic mitral valve replacement.

Echocardiographic recordings from a patient with a prosthetic mitral valve revealed echoes within the left ventricular cavity that mimicked the motion pattern of a "normal" anterior mitral leaflet. The echo pattern was continuous, recorded from multiple views, and by two-dimensional images it was localized to the level of the papillary muscles. Although thrombus and vegetation are possibilities, this echo probably originates from a pliable chordal structure severed but not removed at the time of surgery. The apparent responsiveness to hemodynamic influences was striking, and we suggest that the prevalence and pathophysiologic implications of such findings are of potential import.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Echocardiographic observations regarding pericardial effusions associated with cardiac disease.

Cardiac disease associated with congestive heart failure was found to be the most common cause (22 of 76) of pericardial effusion in patients referred for echocardiography. Parameters of left heart function were markedly abnormal in these patients with congestive heart failure and pericardial effusion, but were not significantly different from a group of patients with congestive heart failure without pericardial effusion. Clinical findings consistent with cardiac decompensation also failed to discern between these two groups. Nonetheless, patients with congestive heart failure with pericardial effusion had significantly larger right ventricular internal dimensions than those without effusion. Patients with pericardial effusion related to congestive heart failure (P < .01), heart disease without congestive heart failure (P < 0.001) and those patients post recent myocardial infarction (P < 0.05) had significantly larger right ventricular internal dimensions in diastole than normal subjects. Patients with pericardial effusions related to recent open heart surgery, idiopathic pericarditis or of miscellaneous causes had normal right ventricular internal dimensions. It is likely that right ventricular dilation indicates abnormal volume/pressure relationships of the right heart and that this abnormality, through alterations in venous and lymphatic drainage, underlies the accumulation of pericardial effusion in these patients with heart disease with or without congestive heart failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Antibiotic production by defective cytoplasmic membrane mutants of Bacillus subtilis.

Eleven defective cytoplasmic membrane mutants of Bacillus subtilis were isolated. Their respective protoplasts presented different lytic behaviour when exposed to decreased concentrations of sucrose. Some relationship was found between the fragility of the protoplasts and the capacity of the mutants to produce antibiotic or to sporulate. The higher the fragility the lesser the capacity to produce antibiotic. The same applies to their amino acids requirements.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1976

Development of an enterostomal therapy education program.

The establishment and conduct of an enterostomal therapy education program is predicated on the firm belief in quality care for the patient with a stoma, on utilization of the registered nurse E.T. assigned in the Department of Nursing for delivery of service to stoma patients, on professional and administrative support, and on an appropriate educational climate.

Colostomy↗
PubMed1975

Methionine hydroxy analog supplementation of low protein calf rations.

Thirty-six Holstein calves were randomly assigned at 3 days of age to one of three complete calf rations: ration A, B, C containing 0, .25, or .50% methionine hydroxy analog. All three rations were isonitrogenous at 13.5% crude protein (dry basis) and were offered adlibitum until calves were 12 wk of age. Calves were fed 3.64 kg whole milk oncedaily for 4 wk. Average daily gains (kg) and dry matter intakes (kg) from 4 to 12 wk were .88, 2.49; .77, 2.50; and .56, 1.98 for calves fed A, B, and C. Weight gains differed between all rations while intake was higher for A and B than for C. Dry matter intakes (kg per kg gain) from 4 to 12 wk were 2.85, 3.32, and 3.54. Serum amino acids for five calves on each treatment were similar for A and B. Calves fed C had lower serum values for all individual essential amino acids compared to A and B and 28% lower circulating total essential amino acids. Serum cysteine increased as dietary methionine hydroxy analog increased. Anamino acid imbalance or toxicity may have been produced which severely reduced gain, intake, and serum amino acids on ration C but only reduced gain on ration B.

Alanine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Disaster coordination and management: summary and action plans.

INTRODUCTION: Disaster is a collective responsibility requiring coordinated response from all parts of society. This theme focused on coordination and management issues in a diverse range of scenarios. METHODS: Details of the methods used are provided in the preceding paper. The chairs moderated all presentations and produced a summary that was presented to an assembly of all of the delegates. Although the main points developed in Themes 1 and 4 were different from each other (as reported in the Results section), their implementation was similar. Therefore, the chairs of both groups presided over one workshop that resulted in the generation of a set of Action Plans that then were reported to the collective group of all delegates. RESULTS: The main points developed during the presentations and discussions included: (1) the need for evidence-based assessments and planning, (2) the need for a shift in focus to health-sector readiness, (3) empowerment of survivors, (4) provision of relief for the caregivers, (5) address the incentives and disincentives to attain readiness, (6) engage in joint preparation, response, and training, (7) focus on prevention and mitigation of the damage from events, and (8) improve media relations. There exists a need for institutionalization of processes for learning from experiences obtained from disasters. DISCUSSION: Action plans presented include: (1) creation of an Information and Data Clearinghouse on Disaster Management, (2) identification of incentives and disincentives for readiness and develop strategies and interventions, and (3) act on lessons learned from evidence-based research and practical experience. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need to proactively establish coordination and management procedures in advance of any crisis. A number of important insights for improvement in coordination and management during disasters emerged.

Continuity of Patient Care↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analytical detection and quantitation of strychnine in chemically fixed organ tissues.

This study reports the results of the detection and quantitation of strychnine in formalin-fixed tissues and in the formalin solutions in which the tissues were fixed. The toxicological analyses were performed on formalin-fixed liver and kidney samples and formalin solutions (10% buffered pH 7) in which the same samples from a case of acute strychnine poisoning were preserved. The analyses carried out at the time of autopsy on body fluid and tissues (bile, 2.40 mg/L; stomach contents, 14.2 mg; liver, 6.68 mg/kg; kidney, 2.68 mg/kg) allowed the identification of this substance as cause of death. The tissue samples were preserved in formalin solutions for 8 weeks. The analyses performed on formalin-fixed tissues (liver and kidney) and on formalin solutions, in which the same tissues were preserved, permitted the detection and quantitation of strychnine (liver, 1.59 mg/kg; formalin from the liver, 1.80 mg/L; kidney, 0.98 mg/kg; formalin from the kidney, 1.11 mg/L). The results indicate that this particular toxic substance also shows good stability in biological specimens subjected to chemical fixation.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Detection and quantitation of morphine in fixed tissues and formalin solutions.

The study reports the results of the detection and quantitation of morphine in tissues fixed in formalin and in the formalin solutions in which the same tissues were fixed. Toxicological analyses were performed on formalin-fixed liver and kidney samples from five cases of opiate poisoning and on the formalin solutions (10% buffered pH 7) in which the samples were preserved. Analyses carried out at the time of autopsy on body fluids and tissues allowed identification of opiate as the cause of death and its quantitation. Tissue samples were preserved in formalin solutions for 12 weeks before analysis. The mean levels of recovery of morphine in fixed tissues were 36.29% in liver, 29.41% in kidney, 74.93% in formalin from liver, and 42.17% in formalin from kidney. Results indicated that this particular toxic substance shows good stability even in biological specimens subjected to chemical fixation.

Autopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Information and competency for consent to pharmacologic clinical trials in Alzheimer disease: an empirical analysis in patients and family caregivers.

This study was undertaken to evaluate (1) what information normal and Alzheimer disease (AD) participants are able to manage; (2) the correlation between the degree of competency and age, education and dementia scores, and the ability of dementia scores to predict incompetence; and (3) the capacity to retain consent-related information. To fulfil these aims, a four-point competency rating scale (1 = incompetent, 2 = marginally competent, 3 = sufficiently competent, and 4 = completely competent) was used in 70 patients (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score >9; Global Deterioration Scale score <6) and in 40 cognitively normal caregivers. Patients were divided into two subgroups (competency ratings 1 and 2 versus 3 and 4) to calculate positive and negative predictive values of MMSE and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive (ADAScog) for absent/marginal competence. Main results were as follows: (1) 32.9% of AD patients were "incompetent" (no caregivers), 37.1% were "marginally competent" (20% caregivers), 18.6% were "sufficiently competent" (50% caregivers), and 11.4% were "completely competent" (30% caregiverss). (2) Competency ratings and age did not correlate in AD, whereas a negative correlation was significant in caregivers; competency ratings positively correlated to education in caregivers. (3) ADAScog and MMSE were the tests most significantly correlated to competency; MMSE score below 18 had a positive predictive value of 95% and a negative predictive value of 63.3%. The fact that 95% of patients with MMSE scores below 18 are incompetent or marginally competent points to an urgent need for ethical procedures capable of creating a balance between difficulties in obtaining valid consent and a patient's right to benefit from advances in clinical research.

Age Factors↗