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Biomedical subjects

E Fernandez

Publications and source records attributed to E Fernandez.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Changes in the central representation of the extraocular muscles in the rat oculomotor nucleus after section and repair of the third cranial nerve.

The anatomical location of motoneurons controlling the extraocular muscles within the oculomotor nucleus was investigated by injecting retrograde horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into individual eye muscles in control rats and in rats submitted to intracranial section and repair of the oculomotor nerve 6 months previously. Compared to the controls, the operated animals showed marked changes in the somatotopic organization of the oculomotor subnuclei. The possible nature of this re-arrangement is discussed.

Abducens Nerve↗
PubMed1985

Structural analysis of pressure versus volume overload hypertrophy of cat right ventricle.

Pressure overload of cat right ventricle causes progressive abnormalities of in vitro contractile function at a time when in vivo contractile function is normal. In marked contrast, the same degree and duration of volume overload of cat right ventricle results in neither in vitro nor in vivo contractile dysfunction. The purpose of the present quantitative structural study was to determine whether there were any histological alterations in pressure-overloaded myocardium that might be causally related to the contractile dysfunction found only in this model. Four experimental groups of eight cats each were studied: a group with pulmonary arterial banding to create a pressure overload, sham-operated controls for this group, a group with atrial septal defects to create a volume overload, and sham-operated controls for this group. Seven to ten weeks after each operative procedure, right ventricular pressure was elevated only in the pressure-overloaded group, pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratio was increased only in the volume-overloaded group, and right ventricle-to-body weight ratio was significantly and comparably increased in both the pressure- and the volume-overloaded groups. There was a single striking histological distinction between myocardium hypertrophying in response to pressure as opposed to volume overload: the volume density of cardiocytes in papillary muscles from pressure-overloaded right ventricles was decreased significantly with a proportional increase in connective tissue. Given the critical importance of these two myocardial components to both systolic and diastolic cardiac function, these data provide a potential structural basis for at least some of the functional abnormalities observed in pressure but not in volume overload hypertrophy of the cat right ventricle.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Multiple intracranial metastases of malignant melanoma with long-term survival. Case report.

The authors present a case of multiple brain metastases and an extracranial secondary localization from malignant melanoma. The patient was operated on three times for the intracranial masses and had a 49-month survival with a good quality of life after the first of the three operations. She lived a total of 80 months from the time of diffusion of the primary tumor. The course of malignant melanoma is unpredictable, and long-term survival can be achieved in some cases, even in the presence of multiple brain metastases.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Algal culture studies related to a closed ecological life support system.

Long-term cultures of Scenedesmus obliquus were maintained in an annular air-lift column operated as a turbidostat. We observed a linear relationship between the dry weight of the cultured cells, their cell number, and their chlorophyll content over a broad range of cell density at constant illumination. Thus, the cells did not appear to be adapting to differences in growth rate or light intensity during these experiments. Productivity vs dry wt rose linearly until the cell density reached a level at which light became limiting; at this point approximately 89% of the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was being absorbed. The maximum dilution rate of the system corresponded to a doubling time of 13.8 hr, about half the maximum growth rate generally observed at this temperature. Productivity at the maximum was approximately 80% of the maximum theoretical productivity. The rather low incident intensities (approximately 10% of full sunlight) were a main contributing factor to the high light utilization efficiencies obtained in this system, since the cells were never driven into light saturation. In many respects, algae would be ideal plant components for a biologically-based closed life support system, since they are eminently suited to the closely coupled functions of food production and atmosphere regeneration. In this communication, we report some findings on the (steady-state) continuous culture of Scenedesmus obliquus, a physiologically well-characterized green alga with good growth characteristics.

Bioreactors↗
PubMed1983

Multidimensional analysis of the symptoms of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Subjective symptoms and experiences were explored within a group of 146 severe, chronic bronchitis and emphysema patients. Eighty-nine symptoms and experiences, derived from initial interviews with 29 patients, were rated according to the frequency of occurrence during breathing difficulties. Key cluster analyses were used to derive a Bronchitis-Emphysema Symptom Checklist (BESC) measuring 11 symptom categories: Helplessness-Hopelessness, Decathexis, Fatigue, Poor Memory, Peripheral-Sensory Complaints, Dyspnea, Congestion, Sleep Difficulties, Irritability, Anxiety, and Alienation. The BESC symptom categories are highly reliable and the relationships among categories are stable across two subgroups of patients. The BESC provides one way to describe how patients cope with and experience chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1983

Bronchiolitis obliterans. Report of three cases with detailed physiologic studies.

We describe three patients with bronchiolitis obliterans seen at our hospital during the last two years. Their ages were 25, 49 and 69 years. One developed the disease secondary to a probable viral infection, another inhaled fumes, and the third was exposed to unknown precipitating factors. Lung biopsy showed changes compatible with bronchiolitis obliterans in the first two, while in the third, changes were compatible with bronchiolitis obliterans and interstitial pneumonitis. Pulmonary function tests of patient 1 showed severe airflow limitation, increased total lung capacity, a shift of the pressure-volume curve upward with a normal slope, and an elevation of upstream resistance. In patient 3 (bronchiolitis obliterans with interstitial pneumonitis) total lung capacity was normal, the pressure volume curve was shifted slightly to the right and upstream resistance was increased. After treatment with steroids, clinical improvement was observed along with normalization of the pressure-volume curve and a decline in the upstream resistance.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Symptoms and experiences in chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

A heterogeneous group of 146 patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema were asked to rate the frequency with which 89 symptoms and experiences occurred during their breathing difficulties. Normative values and the reported frequency of occurrence for the 11 symptom categories are presented. As expected, symptoms of dyspnea were the most frequently reported during breathing difficulties. In decreasing order, symptoms of dyspnea were followed by symptoms of fatigue, sleep disturbance, congestion, irritability, anxiety, decathexis, helplessness-hopelessness, poor memory, alienation. Separation of the patients into subgroups revealed that women reported more anxiety and helplessness-hopelessness than men. Younger patients reported more irritability and anxiety than older patients. Patients with mixed disease reported more dyspnea than those with chronic bronchitis or emphysema, although patients with emphysema reported more loss of interest in life than patients with chronic bronchitis. Self-ratings of functional incapacitation were clearly related to the symptom reports. Relationships among the symptom categories were discussed, as was the potential usefulness of symptom patterns in exploring coping styles in respiratory disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Biogenic amines and beta-endorphin responses in the rat vas deferens.

1. Recent studies have demonstrated that activation of opioid peptide receptor by beta-endorphin results in a change of bioamines in peripheral tissues. 2. The present results could be interpreted assuming that the action of beta-endorphin, on the smooth muscle of the isolated rat vas deferens, is independent of catecholaminergic, cholinergic and tryptaminergic neurotransmission. 3. There is evidence that it is through a specific opioid 'epsilon-receptor' which have been shown a high degree of affinity for beta-endorphin.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Postural drainage: variability of patients' responses.

Assessing the benefit of postural drainage (PD) by pulmonary function (PF) tests is complicated by variable responses of patients. Examples of subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are presented to emphasize: (1) the need for knowing whether a patient is already receiving PD treatment prior to pulmonary function testing (PFT), (2) measuring PF for several days concurrently with PD, and (3) the pitfalls of conclusions reached with a single-day assessment of PF before and after PD. Patients requiring substantially higher doses of medication were also those whose PF deteriorated with PD. Serial opinions of patients as to whether PD affected their ease of breathing proved a valuable indicator of actual PF changes. However, single-day determinations may give spuriously positive results.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Postural drainage effect after bronchodilator inhalation in patients with chronic airway obstruction.

To determine the effect of postural drainage (PD) on pulmonary functions and sputum volume in patients with partially reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, comparisons were made between days with and without PD in 13 such patients. Pulmonary function tests were done 3 times a day over a 12-day period. Medications remained unchanged during this time. PD had no significant effect on either individual pulmonary function tests or 24-hour spectrum volumes. The function tests done at 9:30 AM showed some improvement over those obtained at 8:00 AM without regard to PD, indicating the beneficial effects of bronchodilators inhaled 15 to 20 minutes before PD. Patients were classified as PD responders, nonresponders and negative responders on the basis of concurrent consideration of forced expiratory volume in 1 second, mid-forced expiratory flow and airway resistance. Although the 24-hour sputum volumes did not change, the amount associated with PD was greater. It is suggested that PD is helpful for some patients but detrimental to others. Single pulmonary function tests and single day measurements are insufficient to determine the effects of PD.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Plasma cell granuloma of the lung: endobronchial presentation and absence of response to radiation therapy.

Plasma cell granuloma of the lung is an uncommon, slow-growing, benign "pseudotumor" morphologically and clinically distinct from malignant plasma cell tumor (plasmacytoma). Its histopathology is distinct from sclerosing hemangioma and pseudolymphoma. Most are located in lung parenchyma, but a few present as endobronchial lesions. Patients are usually less than 30 years of age. Surgical excision is the preferred treatment and the prognosis is very good. Experience with radiation therapy is limited to one previously reported case. We report a case of plasma cell granuloma of the lung which is unusual because of the patient's age (71 years), endobronchial location, recurrence after local resection, and absence of response to radiation therapy. Ultrastructural features of the lesion are also described.

Aged↗