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Biomedical subjects

F Caballero

Publications and source records attributed to F Caballero.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Preventive aspirin treatment of streptozotocin induced diabetes: blockage of oxidative status and revertion of heme enzymes inhibition.

Some late complications of diabetes are associated with alterations in the structure and function of proteins due to glycation and free radicals generation. Aspirin inhibits protein glycation by acetylation of free amino groups. In the diabetic status, it was demonstrated that several enzymes of heme pathway were diminished. The aim of this work has been to investigate the in vivo effect of short and long term treatment with acetylsalicylic acid in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice. In both treatments, the acetylsalicylic acid prevented delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase and porphobilinogen deaminase inactivation in diabetic mice and blocked the accumulation of lipoperoxidative aldehydes. Catalase activity was significantly augmented in diabetic mice and the long term treatment with aspirin partially reverted it. We propose that oxidative stress might play an important role in streptozotocin induced diabetes. Our results suggest that aspirin can prevent some of the late complications of diabetes, lowering glucose concentration and probably inhibiting glycation by acetylation of protein amino groups.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Decerebrate-like posturing with mechanical ventilation in brain death.

Complex spinal cord, spontaneous, or upper limb reflexes are rarely observed in brain death. The authors describe two brain-dead heart-beating cadavers (out of 400 consecutive cases in their hospital in the past 9 years) that, immediately after brain-death diagnosis, exhibited symmetric upper limb movements resembling decerebrate posture that were triggered by each mechanical pulmonary insufflation, and also by superficial pressure and noxious stimuli applied to the arms, thorax, or abdomen. These movements persisted until disconnection from mechanical ventilation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effects of a self-management educational program for the control of childhood asthma.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a self-management educational program on 29 children between 6 and 14 years old and their parents implemented in an office setting in Venezuela. Children were randomly assigned to experimental and control group. Children's asthma knowledge, self-management abilities, index morbidity, parents' asthma knowledge and management abilities were measured. The program consisted of six sessions of information giving and cognitive-behavioral strategies for the children, and two talks and an informative brochure for the parents. Results of t tests indicate that the experimental group experienced a statistical significant effects on children's asthma knowledge (P < 0.001) and practice of self-management abilities (P < 0.000) and in parents' knowledge (P < 0.008) compared to the control group. The educational Self-management program had a significant impact on the Morbidity Index of the study group at post-test (P < 0.05). Younger children benefited more from the program compared to older ones (P < 0.09). Children's age is highlighted as a critical variable in designing asthma educational programs. Results suggest the effectiveness on these programs independently of the cultural context.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Value of the nuclear magnetic cholangio resonance in the study of the patient with jaundice].

This report analyse the results about forty three (43) patients, thirty six (36) of which showed an extrahepatic obstructive biliary Syndrome was made evident by ultrasonography, five (5) with a cholecistolithiasis and doubtful history of jaundice were evaluated to carry out a video-surgery procedure and two (2) patients whom hepatic-yeyunostomy had been practiced, a control of anastomosis in postoperative period was required. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Operative Cholangiography findings were correlated and afterward with the anatomopathological studies when they arrived. In all cases the Nuclear Magnetic Cholangio Resonance (NMCR) let us prove the diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary obstruction determining with precision furthermore the topographical site of the lesion. Respecting the aetiology of obstruction, NMCR was accurate in 34 out of 36 cases (94.4%). In conclusion Cholangio-Resonance is an excellent diagnostic method to evaluate biliary ductal system including anatomic changes. However, there are some limitations yet in order to determine the aetiology of lesions about extrahepatic biliary via extremes. We emphasize its features such as non-invasive, little operating dependent, and without morbimortality that become it as a method of choice to study the biliary via from a diagnostic viewpoint.

Cholangiography↗
PubMed1999

Drug metabolizing enzyme system and heme pathway in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Chemically induced and spontaneous liver tumors share some metabolic alterations. The decline in hemoprotein levels during hepatocarcinogenesis may result from a diminution of the intracellular heme pool. To elucidate if the onset of the pre-initiation stage alters the natural regulation mechanism of heme pathway, animals were fed with p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) and treated or not with 2-allylisopropylacetamide (AIA). The induction of 6-Aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALA-S) activity and the diminution in microsomal heme oxygenase (MHO) did not change when DAB fed animals were treated with AIA. Cytochrome P-450 (P-450) levels and glutathione S-transferase activity were increased in all the groups tested. Tryptophan pyrrolase, sulphatase and beta-glucuronidase activities were altered in DAB fed animals but AIA treatment did not produce any effect. Changes in drug metabolizing enzymes in livers of DAB fed animals could be the result of a primary deregulation of heme metabolism. These results give additional support to our hypothesis about a mechanism for the onset of hepatocarcinogenesis.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗
PubMed1999

Application of the amniotic membrane in ocular surface pathology.

The amnion is a fine semi-transparent membrane that has been used in clinical practice to encourage epithelization in burns, in skin ulcers, or as a skin graft. Application in ocular surface disorders first took place in 1940. We carried out the membrane amniotic implantation on 11 patients with different pathologies: three cases of limbal stem cell deficiency (caustication with failure of prior keratoplasty, congenital aniridia and post-radiotherapy keratopathy), one case with persistent neurotrophic corneal ulcer after prior keratoplasty, four cases with epithelial defect of long evolution, one case of extensive Salzmann's degeneration of the cornea, and two cases after the resection of conjunctival tumour. The follow-up period varied between 2 and 6.5 months (mean = 4 months). Amniotic membrane was obtained by elective Caesarean, and it was preserved at -80 degrees C. In all transplanted patients the reabsorption of the amniotic membrane took place between the third and the fifth week. In the cases of resection of conjunctival tumour the epithelialization was completed between the first and the second post-operative week, with minimal residual scarring. In the other cases, with affliction of the corneal epithelium, the complete epithelialization, together with a marked reduction in the inflammatory response, occurred in all except 2 cases. In conclusion, the implantation of preserved human amniotic membrane can favour the recovery of a normal ocular surface in different pathologies, both in corneal and conjunctival lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Renal transplantation with limit donors: to what should the good results obtained be attributed?

BACKGROUND: With the aim of offsetting the reduction in donors of kidneys for transplantation, we extended the acceptance criteria, considering donors over 60 years old. METHODS: The results obtained in 84 transplants carried out with this type of donor (group A) was compared with those of a control group of 125 transplants carried out with kidneys from donors under 60 years old (group B). The protocol for selection of donors was appropriate creatinine clearance, minimum proteinuria, and normal renal scan. The histological study was not included because it was not considered appropriate to assess the extent of the possible glomerulosclerosis, as this has a focal, segmented distribution. There were no significant differences between the recipients except for age (57.8 years old in group A vs. 39.2 years in group B). RESULTS: After the transplantation, there were significant differences in the duration of hospitalization (26.8 days vs. 21.8 days, P<0.009), annual plasma creatinemia (177, 225, 233, 235, and 205 micromol/L vs. 136, 150, 121, 111, and 133 micromol/L, P<0.0002/0.0004), graft survival (87%, 85%, 81%, 81%, and 81% vs. 89%, 88%, 86%, 86%, and 85%, P<0.03), and patient survival (92%, 89%, 85%, 85%, and 85% vs. 99%, 99%, 97%, 96%, and 95%, P<0.0004). Death of the patient was the only significantly more frequent cause of graft loss among group A patients (7 vs. 1 death, P<0.004). No kidney was "never working" and none were lost because of chronic rejection. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that elderly donors should be considered as suitable for transplantation irrespective of their chronological age, provided that they fulfill the acceptance criteria. The quality of life achieved was comparable in both groups. Despite the lower renal function in group A, this remained constant during the follow-up period.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

Successful transplantation of organs retrieved from a donor with enterococcal endocarditis.

We report on a patient with an extensive cerebral infarction secondary to enterococcal endocarditis that, in spite of adequate antibiotic treatment, evolved to brain death. The patient was evaluated as a potential organ donor; renal and liver function were normal and both liver and kidneys appeared normal on ultrasonographic examination. When negativity of serial blood and urine cultures was ascertained, liver and kidneys were retrieved for transplantation. The organs were transplanted into three recipients with good results after 14 months of follow-up. All of the recipients received antibiotic prophylaxis against Enterococcus faecalis. None of them has presented infectious complications to date. This case emphasizes that patients with enterococcal endocarditis may be potential organ donors provided both donor and recipients are adequately treated. This is especially important when organs are urgently needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Non-operative management of traumatic pancreatic pseudocysts associated with pancreatic duct laceration in children.

Objective. To assess the successful non-operative management in traumatic pancreatic pseudocysts (TPP) associated with duct laceration in children. Surgical therapy (cystogastrostomy or distal pancreatectomy with splenic salvage) has been classically considered the treatment of choice for those pseudocysts. Materials and methods. This report presents the clinical and imaging findings in two children with TPP and pancreatic duct disruption observed either on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or injection via catheter drainage. Results. Both children responded to long-term cyst drainage. Conclusion. Although the experience is limited, the authors suggest that pancreatic injury associated with duct laceration can respond to non-operative management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Kinetics of W3/25 anti-rat CD4 monoclonal antibody. Studies on optimal doses and time-related effects.

Although anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) have been proven successful in preventing or treating adjuvant arthritis, little is known about the duration of the effects of these MoAb and their pharmacokinetics. In this work, we report the effects of a mouse anti-rat CD4 MoAb, named W3/25, on peripheral blood lymphocytes from female Wistar rats. Animals received a single dose of W3/25, from 1 to 3 mg, and blood was sampled at different time points from 0 h to 15 days after MoAb administration. After erythrocyte lysis, samples were stained by indirect immunofluorescence and analyzed by flow cytometry. Pharmacokinetic data were studied by assessing plasma levels of mouse IgG1 by ELISA-sandwich. W3/25 produced the down-regulation of surface CD4 molecule as early as 20 min after its administration at doses of 2 and 3 mg. The same effect was seen 30 min after a dose of 1 mg. The recovery of lymphocytes with normal expression of CD4 also depended of the dose administered. Thus, CD4+ lymphocytes were recovered at 48, 72 and 96 h in rats treated with 1, 2 or 3 mg of W3/25, respectively. Plasma levels of free antibody were detectable from 20 min to 72 h, 60 min to 48 h and 60 min to 24 h after administration of 3, 2 and 1 mg, respectively, of W3/25. The mouse IgG1 MoAb used in this study followed a two-compartment model and its behavior was linear.

Animals↗