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F Morales

Publications and source records attributed to F Morales.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1966

Plaque enhancement of enteroviruses by magnesium chloride, cysteine, and pancreatin.

Wallis, Craig (Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.), Fred Morales, Joycelyn Powell, and Joseph L. Melnick. Plaque enhancement of enteroviruses by magnesium chloride, cysteine, and pancreatin. J. Bacteriol. 91:1932-1935. 1966.-Plaque formation of 21 echoviruses (types 1-6, 9, 13, 15-19, 23-26, 29-32) and 8 coxsackieviruses (B1-6, A7, and A9) was enhanced by increased concentrations of MgCl(2), l-cysteine, and pancreatin in agar overlay medium. In most cases, cationic and anionic polymers (diethylaminoethyl dextran, dextran sulfate, or protamine sulfate) were ineffective. All strains of poliovirus and group B coxsackieviruses were enhanced under agar by MgCl(2). Five of the eight coxsackieviruses tested were also enhanced by cysteine or pancreatin. Certain enteroviruses, which have been difficult to assay by plaque method, can now be quantified effectively by incorporation of additives such as MgCl(2), cysteine, or pancreatin into the overlay medium.

Chlorides↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enteric bacterial catalysts for fuel ethanol production.

The technology is available to produce fuel ethanol from renewable lignocellulosic biomass. The current challenge is to assemble the various process options into a commercial venture and begin the task of incremental improvement. Current process designs for lignocellulose are far more complex than grain to ethanol processes. This complexity results in part from the complexity of the substrate and the biological limitations of the catalyst. Our work at the University of Florida has focused primarily on the genetic engineering of Enteric bacteria using genes encoding Zymomonas mobilis pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase. These two genes have been assembled into a portable ethanol production cassette, the PET operon, and integrated into the chromosome of Escherichia coli B for use with hemicellulose-derived syrups. The resulting strain, KO11, produces ethanol efficiently from all hexose and pentose sugars present in the polymers of hemicellulose. By using the same approach, we integrated the PET operon into the chromosome of Klebsiella oxytoca to produce strain P2 for use in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process for cellulose. Strain P2 has the native ability to ferment cellobiose and cellotriose, eliminating the need for one class of cellulase enzymes. Recently, the ability to produce and secrete high levels of endoglucanase has also been added to strain P2, further reducing the requirement for fungal cellulase. The general approach for the genetic engineering of new biocatalysts using the PET operon has been most successful with Enteric bacteria but was also extended to Gram positive bacteria, which have other useful traits for lignocellulose conversion. Many opportunities remain for further improvements in these biocatalysts as we proceed toward the development of single organisms that can be used for the efficient fermentation of both hemicellulosic and cellulosic substrates.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Symptomatic epilepsy: review of 208 patients].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the main etiological mechanisms of symptomatic epilepsy and its frequency according to age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We made a retrospective analysis of 208 patients admitted during a period of four and a half years, studying the variables: age, sex and type of seizures: simple partial, secondarily generalized partial, complex partial, tonic-clonic, generalized tonic, and also EEG and neuroimaging. RESULTS: The main etiological mechanisms found were: vascular (31.25%), alcoholic (12.01%), intracranial disorders (9.61%), traumatic (5.28%), degenerative (5.28%), infectious (2.88%) and cryptogenic (33.65%). In the last group there was an outstandingly large proportion of patients with silent infarcts. When considering vascular epilepsy, those seizures occurring during the acute phase of the stroke (24/65) are differentiated from those of late onset (41/65). In the latter there was a marked predominance of ischemic etiology (48.78% corresponded to extensive infarcts in the territory of the middle cerebral artery; 36.58% were associated with partial infarcts) probably because of the greater frequency of ischemic stroke as compared with hemorrhagic stroke. After the acute phase, the latency was of 10.68 +/- 0.43 months and the most frequent seizures were tonic-clonic (48.78%). CONCLUSION: In persons under 30 years of age, etiology is multifactorial; between 30 and 50 years of age alcoholic epilepsy (39.53%) and traumatic epilepsy (11.62%) predominate; over the age of 50 years the cause was vascular in 43.5%. In the latter age group there was a high proportion of patients with heraldic seizures.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diagnostic decision tree for the correct use of neuropsychological evaluation in head injury].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: We present a diagnostic decision tree for the correct use of neuropsychological evaluation techniques in head injury. Our aim is to avoid extensive, intensive use of unnecessary tests and measurements or lapses into diagnostic error which often accompany cognitive dysfunction when 'superficial' 'undirected' studies are done. DEVELOPMENT: It is essential to select the neuropsychological, neuroconductal and psychosocial evaluation tests which are most suitable in each case and establish a reliable diagnosis of the functional, cognitive, emotional and psychosocial conditions of the patient. The decision tree for neuropsychological evaluation is a guide to assist professionals so that they may adequately examine the functional changes which can occur as a consequence of traumatic brain damage, adapted to each point in its evolution and taking into account factors which may influence neuropsychological evaluation. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of consequences of trauma includes evaluation of the gravity of the head injury, and the neuropsychological, neuroconductal and functional evaluation of the patient.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Functional prognosis of stroke patients after 3 months: determining factors].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors involved in the functional prognosis of stroke patients three months after onset. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We made a prospective study of 288 patients with non-transient strokes who had been admitted consecutively to our hospital. Data was collected on a standardized questionnaire: age, sex, risk factors, latency of admission, interval of neurological attention (INA), severity of defect (classified on the Scandinavian scale: slight-moderate: SSS > 30/serious: SSS < or = 30), stay in hospital, development of complications and previous quality of life, after seven and ninety days. Two groups were considered according to Barthel's index (BI): acceptable recuperation: BI > 60 and poor recuperation BI < or = 60. RESULTS: The average age was 70.72 years and the latency of admission was 9.71 hours. After three months the functional prognosis was good in 145 patients. On bivariate analysis the latency of admission, severity of the stroke, age, development of complications, INA and BI, one week later were significant. Multivariate analysis confirmed as independent indicators of poor prognosis after 90 days: advanced age of the patient (p = 0.006), the development of complications (p = 0.0235), serious neurological defect (p = 0.0274) and the BI after seven days (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age of the patient, the extent of the defect and appearance of complications whilst in hospital were associated with poorer quality of life after three months. The INA > 6 hours also had a negative influence, although it was not confirmed to be an independent variable.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Predictive value of rapid tests of cognitive condition in traumatic head injury].

INTRODUCTION: Neuropsychological assessment after head injury (HI) is sometimes not possible because of the physical and/or cognitive condition of the patient, or the lack of neuropsychological specialists at the hospital. Therefore clinical scales and rapid tests are used to obtain information about the severity of the lesion and the general cognitive condition. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the rapid clinical scales used to assess the severity of HI (Glasgow Coma Scale, GCS), presence or absence of post-traumatic amnesia (Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test, GOAT) and general cognitive condition (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE, and Short Test of Mental Status, STMS) predict the cognitive condition one year after the head injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We made a prospective, longitudinal, observational study of 100 persons of both sexes with HI, assessed on admission by the Neurosurgical Department, and one year after the trauma in the Outpatient Clinic. Clinical scales were used to assess the severity of HI, cognitive screening tests, neuropsychological attention, linguistic, memory and practical constructive tests were also done. Statistical analysis was by simple regression. RESULTS: The GCS only explained a small percentage of the results obtained for immediate memory. The GOAT predicted the linguistic and verbal memory test performance. The MMSE and STMS explained a high proportion of the execution of neurophychological tasks (attention, linguistic, memory and practical construction) one year after the trauma. CONCLUSIONS: With the MMSE and STMS valid results may be obtained when it is not possible to carry out general neuropsychological assessment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Thalamic hematomas: etiology, clinical findings and prognosis].

INTRODUCTION: The appearance of new neuroimaging techniques has permitted study of large series of thalamic hematomas, amongst which differences have been observed according to the size and arterial territory affected. OBJECTIVE: To determine the existence or not of differences between thalamic hematomas, according to their arterial territory and size, with regard to the aetiology, clinical findings and short term prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was made of 60 patients admitted to hospital with the diagnosis of thalamic hematoma (between January 1987 and July 1997) classified according to localization as: anterior, dorsal, posterolateral, posteromedial and global, and according to size as: large (> 20 mm), and small (< 20 mm) in which we analyzed the aetiology, clinical signs and prognosis up to discharge from hospital. RESULTS: The commonest aetiology was found to be arterial hypertension (60%); with regard to the arterial territory involved we have observed different clinical and prognostic features but the number of patients in each group was too small to permit statistical analysis. Significant differences were shown with regard to the size of the hematoma: large hematomas more often extended to nearby structures, caused hydrocephalia, were associated with alteration in the level of consciousness, severe motor deficit, oculomotor changes, alteration in superior functions and hemianopsia, and had worse prognosis and increased mortality and dependence in everyday activity than small hematomas. CONCLUSION: According to their size, thalamic hematomas show statistically significant clinical and prognostic differences.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The assessment of working memory by Mini-Mental State Examination].

INTRODUCTION: Delayed recall items of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Mini Cognitive Examination are based on a simultaneous processing of the storage of the material to be remembered while other test's items are executed. This function is probably mediated by the working memory (WM) system. OBJECTIVE: A new protocol of WM assessment during the Mini Cognitive Examination application is presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The standard Mini Cognitive Examination is modified with two new items of registration and recall. Criteria to introduce three new words in registration 2 and 3 is a complete recall of the three previous words. The score of the three recall trials, until a 27 points maximum, represents WM. A sample of 44 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD), 19 with possible AD, 39 patients with cognitive impairment without dementia and 14 control subjects were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients with probable AD and possible AD showed the minimum WM scores and the greatest percentage of words repetitions (WM 3.2 +/- 3.6 and 7 +/- 6, with 91 and 83% of repetitions, respectively); control subjects scored a WM of 22 +/- 6 with 14% of repetitions; patients with cognitive impairment without dementia scored a WM of 11 +/- 4 and 50% of repetitions. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that delayed recall items of the MMSE and the Mini Cognitive Examination are an index of WM capacity. This new method reinforces the assessment of delayed recall during Mini Cognitive Examination or MMSE application, and can facilitate an early detection of anterograde amnesia.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Transient global amnesia: a review of 58 cases].

INTRODUCTION: Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a clinical condition in which the etiopathogenesis is still not clear. The most generally accepted theory is of a vascular origin, although epilepsy or migraine have also been considered to possibly be the cause. OBJECTIVE: To make a retrospective review of the risk factors, etiopathogenesis and clinical characteristics of 58 patients with TGA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The variables recorded were compared with those from two control groups: one of healthy individuals and one of patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIA). RESULTS: The average age of the patients with TGA was 66.01 years. The risk factors included: arterial hypertension (58.62%), dyslipemia (15.51%) and migraine (8.62%). In three patients the EEG showed weak bilateral frontotemporal interference. Cerebral CT scans were done in all cases and were found to be pathological in 23, with lacunar multinfarct the commonest abnormality. With regard to patients with TIA, these were older (66.01 vs 72.94), smoked more (1.72% vs 12.06%) and a previous stroke was more frequent (8.62% vs 31.03%). We did not find differences regarding dyslipemia, atrial fibrillation, arterial hypertension or cardiac ischemia. However, the prevalence of vascular risk factors was significantly higher in patients with TGA as compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the etiopathogenesis of TGA is probably a transient ischemic phenomenon triggered (or not) following an attack of migraine.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Spanish version of the new World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DAS-II): initial phase of development and pilot study. Cantabria disability work group].

The aim of the present paper is to present the initial phases of the development of the Spanish version of the "World Health Organization Disablement Assessment Schedule II" WHO-DAS-II and also to describe the quantitative and qualitative methodological strategies used in the elaboration process of an instrument: i) compatible with the new International Classification of Functioning and Disability -ICIDH-2- of the World Health Organisation; ii) with criteria of cross-cultural applicability and; iii) to allow us to assess the disability in all its dimensions.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗