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Biomedical subjects

F Cuesta

Publications and source records attributed to F Cuesta.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Polymorphic variants of the beta2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene and ADRB2-related propanolol-induced dyslipidemia in the Colombian population.

Different polymorphisms of the ADRB2 gene encoding the beta-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) are associated with changes in a variety of responses of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). In this study, we have investigated the distribution of frequencies of ADRB2-related allelic variants (Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu, Thr164Ile) in the Colombian population, as well as the influence of the Gln27Glu polymorphism as a risk factor for the development of dyslipidemia following propranolol administration. Genotyping was performed in unrelated Colombian volunteers, using PCR-RFLP methods. To examine the association between the Gln27Glu polymorphism of the ADRB2 gene and dyslipidemia induced by propranolol, we recruited 19 healthy individuals who were homozygous for either the Gln27 (wild-type, N = 11) or the Glu27 (homozygous mutant, N = 8) genotype. Electrocardiography (ECG), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), serum lipid levels (T-CHO, HDL-CHO, TG), and fibrinogen were determined before and after propranolol administration. The distribution of genotypes was as follows: Arg16Arg 46%, Arg16Gly 47.4%, Gly16Gly 6.6%, Gln27Gln 44.7%, Gln27Glu 48.2%, and Glu27Glu 7.1%, with allelic frequencies of 69.7% for Arg16, 30.3% for Gly16, 68.8% for Gln27, and 31.2% for Glu27. The Thr164Ile polymorphism was found only in one subject, who was heterozygous for the isoleucine variant. Significant changes in physiological parameters (HR, SBP, DBP) have been found in association with ADRB2 variants in both native and mutant subgroups after propranolol intake. HDL-CHO levels diminished (p = 0.005) in native homozygous individuals (Gln27Gln), whereas TG levels were found increased (p = 0.012) in the mutant homozygous individuals (Glu27Glu). T-CHO levels and serum fibrinogen levels remained unaltered in both subgroups. The evidence that subjects homozygous for Gln27 in the ADRB2 gene show a significant reduction of HDL-CHO levels, as well as the increased TG levels in subjects homozygous for Glu27 after propranolol administration, suggest that the Gln27Glu polymorphism represents a risk factor for dyslipidemia induced by propranolol. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying dyslipidemia induced by ADRB2 antagonists.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Stroke in rural Ecuador: a three-phase, door-to-door survey.

The authors carried out a three-phase door-to-door survey in Atahualpa, Ecuador to assess epidemiologic and pathogenetic mechanisms of stroke. They found 10 stroke patients among 1,568 individuals aged > or =15 years (crude prevalence, 638 per 100,000). There was only one incident case (incidence, 64 per 100,000). Six of the 10 patients had hypertensive arteriolopathy (five with ischemic and one with hemorrhagic stroke). Additional work is needed to increase knowledge on stroke in developing countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Analysis of adiabatic coupling between photonic crystal single-line-defect and coupled-resonator optical waveguides.

A detailed analysis of adiabatic coupling between conventional photonic crystal single-line-defect and coupled-resonator optical waveguides is reported. Adiabatic coupling by progressive variation of the radii of the spacing defects between cavities is investigated. Flat transmission spectra with coupling efficiencies greater than 90% are achieved in a broad frequency range with short coupling lengths. Moreover, we find that flat transmission at low frequencies requires longer coupling lengths partly because the requirements imposed for adiabatic transmission in photonic crystals are violated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

[Quality of life, psychological and social aspects in patients with advanced HIV disease].

OBJECTIVE: The advanced HIV infection carries an important physical, psychological and quality of life deterioration for patients. The introduction of new treatment strategies probably implies a global benefit for HIV patients. We carried out this study in order to know in HIV advanced patients; the clinical situation, the prevalence of psychological alterations (anxiety and depression), the quality of life and the impact of the introduction of new antiretroviral drugs about these variables. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study carried out between January of 1996 and June of 1997 with 52 advanced HIV patients (CD4 cells less than 200/microliter). We carried out 2 clinical interviews with an interval of 12 months being introduced after the first one a change of strategy of antiretroviral treatment. For evaluating the quality of life, the MOS SF-36 was used. The valuation of the anxiety and depression were carried out with the instruments STAI and Beck respectively. RESULTS: An important physical deterioration was found at the beginning of the study with 84.6% of polisymptomatic patients. We found a high prevalence of anxiety (76.9%) and depression (86.6%) that reaches criteria of graveness respectively in 75% and 25% of the cases. The quality of life was severely affected involving most of the dimensions of the SF-36 scale preserving the social function. The introduction of the change of therapeutic strategy produces a reduction of polisymptomtics patients to 54.8% (p = 0.05), of the graveness of the anxiety (p = 0.009) and depression (p = 0.05) and improving in the perception of general health (p = 0.03) and alterations of physical role (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The advanced HIV infection carries a high symptomatic load with a high prevalence of psychological dysfunctions and deterioration of the quality of life. The new strategies of HIV treatment induce a global improvement to the patients, but it makes necessary a better management of the psychological dysfunctions.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

[Adrenal gland insufficiency associated with primary antiphospholipid syndrome].

A 32 year old man with previously generalized convulsive episodes developed after one acute infectious process multiple venous and arterial thrombosis and an acute adrenal insufficiency probably due to bilateral adrenal hemorrhage. The clinical picture was considered to be a primary antiphospholipid syndrome with positive IgG anticardiolipin antibodies, and was successfully managed with anticoagulants and steroids.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗
PubMed1994

Determination of pefloxacin concentration in mesenteric lymph nodes by high-performance chromatography.

Ten patients who had undergone laparotomies for different abdominal pathological conditions were studied to determine the levels of pefloxacin in mesenteric lymph nodes. Each patient was given 400 mg of oral pefloxacin every 12 h for the 3 days prior to surgery. Drug levels in tissue were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (reverse phase); the mean +/- standard deviation was 17.1 +/- 11.9 micrograms/g, with a range of 2.12 to 36.6 micrograms/g. This indicates an adequate pefloxacin concentration in lymph nodes and makes the drug a good option for the treatment of conditions in which lymph nodes act as an infection-promoting and/or relapse-favoring factor.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Carotenodermia].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Non-specific digestive ulcers and Behçet's disease].

We present a 56-year-old patient with episodes of recurrent abdominal pain and constitutional syndrome, whose evolution was complicated by mucous ulcers in mouth, esophagus, anus and ileocecal valve, as well as occasional aphthae in scrotum. All these clinical signs are compatible with a Behçet's disease with relevant digestive manifestations.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1991

[Usefulness of captopril as monotherapy and combination therapy in the treatment of arterial hypertension].

The efficacy and tolerance of captopril was prospectively studied as monotherapy for blood hypertension (BH), as well as combined modality with thiazides diuretic and nifedipine as a third drug. 95 cases of BH were followed up for a period of 6 months. 43.15% of the patients who received monotherapy with captopril were controlled (diastolic BP less than 95 mmHg). Those patients who had a diuretic added showed a response of 71.75% and those administered 3 drugs showed a response of 81.25%. The decrease of BH was significant in all groups (p less than 0.01). There was a significant correlation (p less than 0.01) between the response to monotherapy and severity of BH (mild BH 67.50% and severe BH 35.20%). 6.5% of patients abandoned the treatment because of secondary effects. No alterations were noted in the blood test. Monotherapy with captopril is effective in control of mild and moderate BH. In resistant patients, the addition of a diuretic and nifedipine retard as a third drug is useful and well-tolerated in any type of BH severity.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Validation of a screening questionnaire for stroke detection in Spanish-speaking communities].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of an screening questionnaire for stroke detection in speaking-speaking communities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a door-to-door survey in Atahualpa (a rural community in coastal Ecuador) using a modified version of the Spanish translation of the OMS questionnaire for stroke detection. Subjects suspected of having a stroke as well as a 2% sample of negative subjects were evaluated by neurologists to evaluate sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of the questionnaire and that of each of its questions. RESULTS: We found 18 possible cases among 1,568 individuals around 15 years old. Of these, 10 were confirmed stroke patients and 8 were false-positive (crude stroke prevalence of 6.38 per 1,000). We did not find false-negative cases. Sensitivity of the questionnaire was 100%, specificity was 99.5%, positive predictive value was 0.55 and negative predictive value was 1. The accuracy of each question as well as the number of questions answered as affirmative were different between patients and false-positive cases. CONCLUSIONS: The current questionnaire is highly sensitive but its positive predictive value is poor. This causes problems in large-scale studies, as the detection of many false-positives may compromise its viability. We propose a modification of the questionnaire that will turn it more accurate.

Adult↗