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Biomedical subjects

F Navarro

Publications and source records attributed to F Navarro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Effects of diazepam and D-amphetamine on rhythmic pattern of eye movements in goldfish.

The effects of diazepam and D-amphetamine on spontaneous, vestibular- and visually-induced eye movements were studied in the restrained goldfish. These animals showed a stereotyped pattern of spontaneous eye movements that scanned the visual field in the horizontal plane. Fourier analysis of these eye movements revealed a rhythmic pattern of about 5 cycles per minute, whose frequency increased to double and decreased to half following treatment with diazepam and D-amphetamine, respectively. However, the fast and slow components of vestibulo-ocular and optokinetic reflexes, as well as peculiar blink-like movements, remained unchanged at the same drug doses. These results suggest the presence of a central pattern generator for spontaneous eye movements in the goldfish, whose oscillation frequency is pharmacologically modifiable.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Evaluation of two commercial kits for detection of Helicobacter pylori specific antibodies in patients undergoing gastroscopy. A seroprevalence study in an asymptomatic population].

BACKGROUND: We evaluate two different commercially available kits for detecting specific antibodies against Helicobacter pylori in a group of 48 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms that underwent an endoscopic procedure. We also study the seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori antibodies in asimptomatic individuals from our area. METHODS: Microbiologic and pathologic studies were performed in 48 gastric biopsies, in relation with antibodies detection using ELISA (Pylori stat test, Whittaker) and latex particles agglutination (Pyloriset, Orion). We also used ELISA tests for determining the seroprevalence of H. pylori antibodies in 139 asimptomatic individuals. RESULTS: Ninety-four percent of patients with peptic ulcer disease and 81% of patients without peptic ulcer disease but complaining of dyspepsia were infected by H. pylori. None of the patients with normal gastric mucosae was found to be infected. Sensitivity and specificity of ELISA test were 100% and 73%. Latex test sensitivity and specificity were 46% and 82%. The seroprevalence of antibodies among healthy individuals in our area increases with age (19% among children under 9 years of age) and reaches a peak at 40-49 years of age (84%), with a mean value of 60% in all ages' groups. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric mucosa alterations. The ELISA test is best correlated with other laboratory data used for defining infection. The seroprevalence of H. pylori antibodies is also high, and therefore we recommend that the use of serologic diagnostic test must be highly selective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Detection of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen in urine by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Technical features and correlation with serotype].

The effectiveness of CIE in detecting capsular polysaccharide antigen of pneumococci in urine is revised. Using CIE, we studied urine samples from 57 patients with systemic pneumococcal infections, proved bacteriologically by means of isolation of the microorganisms from sterile sites. We compare the usefulness of CIE with the microorganism isolation from organic products. We also determine the sensitivity gain after passive diffusion at 4 degrees C and bright blue Coomasie staining (CBB R-250). We correlate the CIE results with the serotype of isolated pneumococci. CIE was positive in 17 of all 35 pneumonia cases (48.6%), in 2 of all 5 bacteremias (40%), 4 of all 15 meningitis (26.7%) and in none of all two peritonitis. Direct urine examination was positive in 12 out of 23 patients with positive CIE (52.2%) and concentrated urine in 22 patients (95.6%). Passive diffusion at 4 degrees C and CBB R-250 stain increases the positive rate of the test. The correlation of serotype with our results is difficult due to the wide variety of serotypes identified. However, particular serotypes such (3, 4 or 8) had been identified with increased sensitivity. Global sensitivity of CIE in detecting capsular polysaccharide antigen in urine samples is not high enough (40.3%), even under the best circumstances. Antigen detection in urine is more sensitive than blood cultures, and therefore we believe that could be used in clinical microbiology laboratories until a more effective method is available.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1989

[Reversibility of alcoholic myocardiopathy with abstinence: presentation of 2 cases].

The sustained alcohol intake results in the development of a dilated cardiomyopathy; its pathogenesis and prognostic and evolutive factors have not yet been completely defined. It is classically considered that alcoholic cardiomyopathy has a poor prognosis, as two thirds of patients die within three years. However, in recent years some isolated cases of clinical reversibility after short abstinence periods have been reported without identification of the involved factors. Two chronic alcoholic patients are reported with congestive heart failure at admission; a diagnosis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy was made after cardiac catheterization and endomyocardial biopsy. The morphometric study of endomyocardial biopsy showed a preservation of the myofibrillary fraction with mild fibrosis. The clinical outcome was favorable: after three months of alcoholic abstinence, a complete clinical recovery with definite improvement of echocardiographic parameters and left ventricular ejection fraction in the radionuclide ventriculography were observed. Finally, the factors that appear to be involved in the presence or absence of reversibility of this type of cardiomyopathy are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A possible mechanism whereby parathyroid hormone stimulates phospholipid synthesis in canine renal tubules.

Incubation of canine renal cortical tubules with parathyroid hormone and [3H]glycerol stimulated incorporation of tracer into phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and decreased phosphatidic acid labelling but did not affect phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylglycerol, 1,2-diacyl- or triacylglycerol labelling. The hormone did not change the activity of glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase or of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase measured in tubule homogenates. However, parathyroid hormone induced a rapid increase in phosphatidylinositol kinase activity associated with a decrease in Km of the enzyme for ATP in homogenized tubules. These findings suggest a possible mechanism whereby parathyroid hormone increases phospholipid synthesis in the renal cortex.

1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase↗
PubMed1985

[Treatment of retinal detachment caused by posterior pole dehiscence].

20 eyes have been treated for a retinal detachment due to a posterior pole break. Three successive, different operative techniques were used: macular silastic sponge, vitrectomy plus internal tamponade by silicone oil, vitrectomy plus internal tamponade by air or by a mixture of air 60% and SF6 40%. Macular sponges obtained a good rate of retinal reattachment (83.3%) but fonctionnal results are poor (no measurable visual acuity in the macular break cases). Vitrectomy plus silicone oil does not yield better anatomical results than sponges (66.6% succes rate) but the visual function is better preserved (2 measureable visual acuities on 3 macular break cases). Vitrectomy plus gas gave us the best anatomical (100% success rate) and functional results (4 measurable usual acuities on 6 macular break cases). Retinopexy is not necessary when the vitrectomy-gas technique is used. On the contrary, retinopexy is recommended when the vitrectomy-silicone technique is used in order to remove the silicone oil as safely as possible: this causes a dilemma in the case of a macular break. We think at the present time that vitrectomy-gas is the best way to treat these particular retinal detachments.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hematin treatment of porphyric neuropathy].

The authors report a case of acute intermittent porphiria with peripheral motor neuropathy and a syndrome of inadequate ADH excretion in a male patient aged 36 years. Treatment with hypertonic glucose and prostigmine did not yield any beneficial results, while a subsequent treatment with hematine (4 mg/kg/day for a period of four days) produced a dramatic improvement in the clinical picture and in ALA and PGB levels. A back-to-normal shift of plasma and urinary electrolytes was also observed. It appears that there was a close relation between the administration of hematine and the clinical-biochemical remission.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the lung].

A case of small and large cells non Hodgkin lymphoma with an unusual involvement of the lung is presented. The tumor was located in the inferior lower lobe of the right lung and coincided with hemorrhagic pleural effusion. The cytopathological study of the fluid was negative for neoplastic cells, so were the aspiration biopsy of the lung and the pleural biopsy. The transmission and scanning electron microscopic study of the pleural fluid demonstrated lymphoid atypical cells. The patient was treated by resection of the lower right lobe and pleurectomy. The difficulties in the differential diagnosis of this type on non Hodgkin lymphoma are discussed. The importance of scanning and transmission electron microscopy is stressed when the light cytologic studies are negative in processes suggestive of being neoplasms. After one year of the lobectomy and treatment with vincristine-epirubicin-cyclophosphamide and methyl-prednisolone, the patient is in good condition without evidence of neoplastic activity.

Humans↗