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Biomedical subjects

F Martinez

Publications and source records attributed to F Martinez.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Ovarian function during hormonal replacement therapy in perimenopausal women.

To determine the need for contraception during Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) in perimenopausal women, ultrasound monitoring of ovarian function was performed on 10 perimenopausal women in the second month of treatment. All patients were not at risk of unwanted pregnancy during the study period and had last regular menses at least three months before starting HRT. All of them received transdermal implants of 50 mg of estrogen, twice per week, and 10 mg of oral dydrogesterone on the fourth week. Ultrasound performed at treatment days 7, 14 and 21 of the second month revealed follicular development and rupture in 5 out of the 10 patients. Contraceptive implications are discussed.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Malignant hypertension secondary to pheochromocytoma in a hemodialyzed patient.

Resistant hypertension and paroxystic hemodynamic changes are common features in patients on regular hemodialysis. We describe a hemodialyzed patient who developed malignant hypertension. The finding of elevated plasma catecholamines suggested the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, which was confirmed by surgical removal of the tumor.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Platelet-rich plasma serotonin levels in tension-type headache and depression.

We measured platelet-rich plasma (PRP) serotonin in patients suffering from tension-type headache, before and after treatment with amitriptyline, comparing them with a healthy control group and patients with untreated depression. We evaluated the severity of headache and depression in each group. PRP serotonin levels were higher in patients with headache than in controls and depressed patients. We observed a fall of PRP serotonin in patients with tension-type headache to similar levels after treatment as the depressed group. This fall was correlated with the improvement of headache but not with depression scales. Our data suggest that the rise of platelet serotonin levels in tension-type headache is related to pain and not depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A clinical prediction rule for American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia.

Neither parasitological nor molecular diagnosis of leishmaniasis is widely available in clinical settings where American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is endemic. Therefore four clinical prediction rules for ACL were developed which incorporated physical examination findings (clinical rule), physical examination and leishmanin skin test (LST) (clinical-LST rule), physical examination and historical information (clinical-historical rule), or physical examination, historical information and LST (clinical-historical-LST rule). One hundred parasitologically diagnosed ACL cases and 38 cases of chronic skin lesions of other aetiologies comprised the derivation set. The validation set consisted of 124 ACL cases and 35 patients with lesions of other aetiologies. Components of each rule were selected by bivariate analysis, then step-wise logistic regression. Sensitivity, specificity and efficiency were calculated for each score threshold; the threshold achieving greatest efficiency was selected for each rule. When these rules were applied to the validity set the sensitivity, specificity and efficiency were respectively: clinical 93%, 31%, 79%; clinical-LST 90%, 73%, 85.9%; clinical-historical 97%, 51%, 87%; clinical-historical-LST 92%, 70%, 87%. Inclusion of LST skin test consistently improved the specificity of the rules. Should a given clinical setting warrant optimizing either sensitivity or specificity alone, the rule thresholds can be adjusted. These and other prediction rules, once evaluated in other settings, should be incorporated into leishmaniasis control programmes.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia: a longitudinal study of the natural history, prevalence, and incidence of infection and clinical manifestations.

This prospective study measured the incidence of Leishmania infection, by Leishmanin skin test (LST) conversion, and leishmaniasis, by new acquisition of lesions, in a Leishmania braziliensis endemic area of Colombia, during 7243 person-years. The incidence rate of infection and leishmaniasis varied greatly by village, ranging from 2.8 to 23.0/100 person-years and 0.0 to 20.4/1000 person-years, respectively. Adult males experienced greater rates of both infection and leishmaniasis. Most primary infections (91%) were subclinical initially. Typical scars were predictive of subsequent leishmaniases both for persons initially LST-reactive (risk ratio = 11.3, P = .003) and for those initially nonreactive (risk ratio = 3.2, P = .02). Only one-third of the diagnosed leishmaniasis cases (24/77) were due to newly acquired infections in naive hosts. The relative contribution of existing lesions, recurrences, and new infections to the burden of disease should be considered in the planning of leishmaniasis control programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia: environmental and behavioral risk factors for infection, clinical manifestations, and pathogenicity.

Through a longitudinal, active surveillance for Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis infection and lesions on the Pacific Coast of Colombia, risk factors for infection (leishmanin skin test conversion), leishmanial lesions, and pathogenicity were examined. Risk factor information was obtained prior to and independently of case ascertainment. Similar factors were associated with acquisition of infection and of leishmaniasis, including male sex, age > 10 years, and farming occupation. The behaviors of entering the forest after sunset, hunting, and lumbering were most strongly associated with Leishmania infection independently of age, sex, and farming occupation. Environmental conditions associated with infection, including tall trees near the home, home located > 15 m from the nearest neighbor, and floor and roof made of open material, were less strong predictors of risk. Pathogenicity, the risk of lesion given a new infection, was reduced in those > 30 years of age and those entering the forest frequently.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Inadvertent gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) administration in the luteal phase may improve fecundity in in-vitro fertilization patients.

Spontaneous pregnancies associated with inadvertent periconceptional administration of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) occur in approximately 1% of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. The two main issues to be considered in these circumstances are the luteolytic effect of the agonist and embryotoxicity. In addition, some authors have suggested a higher incidence of ectopic implantations. In view of these concerns, we report on 15 patients who conceived during pituitary desensitization with a GnRHa in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, and review the literature on the subject. A detailed analysis of the data available so far, which include 59 pregnancies exposed to GnRHa, shows that: (i) there is no clinical evidence for impaired luteal function, and hormonal supplementation does not improve pregnancy outcome; (ii) with only two cases of reported minor malformations among 37 deliveries, both having a genetic component, there is no evidence of teratogenic effects; and (iii) ectopic implantations in these circumstances are related to tubal disease but not to the drug. Considering the long history of infertility in these patients who had previously been treated unsuccessfully by different therapeutic modalities, it is likely that the occurrence of those pregnancies is not merely coincidental and that GnRHa might have a positive role in fecundity. The improved fecundity may be explained by the mechanisms of luteinizing hormone action in the corpus luteum.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Comparative nephrotoxicity of carboplatin and cisplatin in euvolemic and dehydrated rats.

The aim of this study was to compare the renal tolerance of cisplatin and carboplatin in euvolemic and dehydrated rats. A total of 79 euvolemic or dehydrated male rats were randomly assigned to receive cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight, i.p.), carboplatin (40 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) or vehicle. Body weight, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, fractional excretion of sodium and urinary NAG excretion were recorded on days 1 and 5. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and renal histology were determined on day 5. In the euvolemic and dehydrated control and carboplatin groups we observed no change in serum electrolytes, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, GFR and ERPF. In the euvolemic and dehydrated control groups we observed no change in urinary NAG excretion. Carboplatin induced a slight but significant increase in urinary NAG excretion. In dehydrated rats carboplatin induced a significantly higher increase in urinary NAG excretion than in euvolemic rats. Cisplatin induced a marked and significant decrease in GFR and ERPF, and a significant increase in NAG. Dehydration markedly potentiated cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Euvolemic rats treated with cisplatin exhibited slight renal lesions with a mean score which was similar to the control group. The most extensive lesions were observed in euvolemic and dehydrated cisplatin treated rats with tubular necrosis in the outer stripe of the medulla.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 production by mononuclear cells of chronic alcoholics during treatment.

Chronic alcohol consumption has been associated with suppression of a number of immune parameters. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between chronic alcohol ingestion and cessation with respect to release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) using highly specific and sensitive ELISA assays, as well as a functional assay, natural killer cell cytotoxic activity. ELISAs were developed to determine the amount of IL-6 and IL-8 release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Two groups of subjects were recruited: young (18-22 years old), nonalcoholic users (controls) and long-term alcoholics (35-55 years old). Blood samples were collected at time 0 from all subjects and from alcoholics 28 days after treatment had begun and alcohol use had ceased. Then mitogen-stimulated release of cytokines by peripheral blood cells was determined. The abstaining controls, and the alcoholics, after 30 days of abstinence, tended to produce lower amounts of IL-6 and IL-8, although these differences were not statistically significant. Natural killer cell activity was not statistically different between the young groups, yet appeared to increase once alcohol use discontinued. Some of the cells from the controls (abstainers) were incubated with ethanol (EtOH). Its content in sealed wells was measured after the time of incubation of PBMCs. When EtOH was serially diluted in plates, some well-well diffusion was noted, but the maximum concentration of EtOH never fell below 0.3% from an initial concentration of 0.5%, and at no time was the EtOH concentration gradient completely lost, even after 66 hr of incubation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Different mechanism of relaxation induced by aporphine alkaloids in rat uterus.

We have examined the uterine relaxant action of three aporphine molecules (S-glaucine, S-boldine and R-apomorphine) in two experimental conditions, with and without calcium in the bathing solution, and compared these effects with those obtained with the calcium antagonists verapamil and diltiazem. The present study shows that the alkaloids relax the uterine muscle but with different mechanisms of action. In Ca(2+)-containing solution all three alkaloids relaxed the uterus previously contracted by KCl or acetylcholine, but in Ca(2+)-free medium only R-apomorphine was able to relax oxytocin-induced contraction. The calcium antagonists, verapamil and diltiazem, relaxed KCl- or acetylcholine-induced contraction in Ca(2+)-containing solution, whereas they only relaxed oxytocin-induced contraction in Ca(2+)-free medium at much higher doses. These results suggest that glaucine and boldine behave as specific calcium entry blockers without affecting the contractile machinery or intracellular Ca2+ levels as apomorphine does. The absolute configuration (S-glaucine and S-boldine vs R-apomorphine) may account for this different action.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1993

[Renal effects of endothelins].

Since the discovery of endothelin in 1988, numerous studies have been undertaken to evaluate their physiopathologic role. There is three types of endothelin ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3, which probably play an essential role in renal and cardiovascular homeostasis. Their principal actions consist in an increase of the arterial pressure, a negative inotrope and chronotrope effect, a coronary vasoconstriction, a decrease in cardiac output and a fall in the renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. An elevation of endothelin level has been reported in numerous clinical conditions. However the interest of these descriptions remains unclear. Indeed the absence of pharmacological inhibitors of the synthesis or effect of endothelin prevent the understanding of the interest of these abnormalities. Furthermore the endothelins should not be considered as a hormone but as a paracrine substance.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Ethanol and diet-induced alterations in Kupffer cell function.

The effects of 6 weeks of alcohol feeding on phagocytic, metabolic and secretory functions as well as gene expression of hepatic Kupffer cells were evaluated in vitro using cultured Kupffer cells isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were fed either Teklad pelleted rat chow or the 1982 Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet containing 6% ethanol (36% calories) or the same liquid diet with maltose-dextrin isocalorically substituted for the alcohol. Weight gain was greatest in the chow-fed animals and least in those receiving ethanol. The alcohol-containing diet stimulated Kupffer cell phagocytosis, mitochondrial reduction of MTT, secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and expression of TNF mRNA. However, each of these cell functions was also enhanced by the control Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet alone and the stimulating effect of the control diet often exceeded that induced by ethanol. The results suggest that early in chronic alcohol consumption, the immune system may be stimulated by ethanol, and that during studies of ethanol-induced changes in immune system function, close attention must be given to potentially confounding effects of the diet.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1992

In vitro multiplication of Cryptosporidium parvum in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Cryptosporidium parvum of bovine origin was developed in vitro in unsensitized mouse peritoneal macrophages. Macrophages growing in RPMI medium were infected with sporozoites or with oocysts, and after staining infections were studied by light microscopy. A high parasitic index was obtained with multiple infections occurring commonly. This is a simple method for the study of Cryptosporidium biology, and for in vitro assays of pharmacological activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effect of murine retroviral infection on hair and serum levels of cocaine and morphine.

LP-BM5 retrovirally infected female C57BL/6J mice were administered cocaine, morphine or both by daily intraperitoneal injection for 9 weeks. Drug concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in serum and in hair extracts. Hair samples obtained from all drug-treated mice were positive for the drug injected, while none of the saline-treated mice had detectable drug levels in hair or serum. The average morphine concentration obtained from non-infected mice was 11 ng/mg hair whereas the amount found in the LP-BM5-infected mice was significantly higher (20 ng/mg hair). Mice injected with both morphine and cocaine were given 50% of the regular dose of each drug and drug levels in the hair of these animals were approximately half that of mice injected with the full dose of the single drug. Non-infected mice treated with both drugs had a mean value of 7 ng morphine/mg hair and 374 ng cocaine/mg hair while retrovirus-infected mice had significantly higher concentrations, 10 ng morphine/mg hair and 1160 ng cocaine/mg hair (P less than 0.001). Serum concentrations of cocaine and morphine were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in the retrovirus-infected animals from 40 min to 1.5 h. The increased concentrations of cocaine and morphine in serum during retrovirus infection are accompanied by a significant increase in the amount of drug incorporated into the hair matrix. This change indicates that retroviral infection may influence the disposition of these drugs in the systemic circulation.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Indications for oocyte donation.

Donated oocytes were transferred on 92 occasions to 87 women without gonadal function and 5 with functional ovaries. Twenty-three pregnancies were established (25% pregnancy rate), 9 after transfer of fresh embryos in 30 synchronous donor and recipient cycles and 14 after transfers of frozen-thawed embryos in 62 asynchronous donor and recipient cycles. Twenty-two pregnancies were obtained in agonadal patients (25.3% pregnancy rate) and 1 in a gonadal woman (20% pregnancy rate). Pregnant women were younger than those who did not become pregnant, but the difference was not significant. The pregnancy rate was higher when intra-Fallopian transfer was performed (46%) as compared with intrauterine transfer (21.5%) and when micronized progesterone was given intravaginally (pregnancy rate 30.3%) as compared to intramuscularly injected natural progesterone in oil (pregnancy rate 22%). Twenty healthy infants have been born including one set of twins; four pregnancies miscarried.

Adult↗