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Biomedical subjects

G Alvarez

Publications and source records attributed to G Alvarez.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

The acetylator phenotypes of Saudi Arabian diabetics.

There is a significant association between the rapid acetylator phenotype and diabetes in European populations. Diabetes is a common problem in Saudi Arabians with some clinical features differentiating it from the disorder in Europeans. A series of 100 Saudi diabetics and 100 Saudi controls has been acetylator phenotyped. The controls showed 33 rapid acetylators (R) and 67 slow acetylators (S), a result closely similar to that previously published for the Saudi population. Overall the diabetics showed 27 R and 73 S which is not significantly different from the controls. The type I diabetics, however, showed two R and 22 S which is not only significantly different from the controls and the type II diabetics, but also the reverse of the association found in European populations.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1983

Effects of material deprivation on neurological functioning.

An intellectual deficit in low socio-economic strata (S-E) of underdeveloped countries is widespread. A similar phenomenon is observed in industrialized countries and is known as socio-cultural retardation (S-CR); one theory holds that it is due to psychosensory deprivation whilst another denies that there is in fact a deficit, there being only middle class-oriented testing applied to subjects whose skills lie in another direction. Whichever theory is true, in underdeveloped countries the problem is compounded by malnutrition and perennial infection so that the intellectual deficit in these societies may be qualitatively different. This paper sets out the point of view of a clinical neurologist who believes it likely that the technological Western mode of life entails an organization of the brain which is lacking in subjects in low S-E strata of less sophisticated cultures. These will therefore evince multiple mild deficiencies in specific functions of the brain. The core is thought to be incomplete maturation of neural mechanisms. Examples are given: (1) facial dyspraxia; (2) permanence of primitive reflexes; (3) poor body image and sensory integration; and (4) tactile-perceptual functioning (which in fact showed no deficiency but is given as the type of neuropsychological factor which may show delay). Middle class life in Western society is held to be more complex in absolute terms. This is an important cause of the large number of dropouts from primary education in Latin America, whose school systems are based on middle class values, themselves tailored to the technological age.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The neurology of poverty.

An intellectual deficit is known to exist in populations where extreme poverty is rife and is thus seen extensively in the lower socio-economic strata of underdeveloped nations. Poverty is a complex entity whose sociological and economic indicators often bear little relevance to the biological agents which can affect the central nervous system. An attempt is made to express poverty in terms of identifiable defects, physiological in nature. Thus adverse socio-economic factors are converted into specific biological entities which, though necessary for adequate development of the brain, are restricted where there is poverty. A number of causative deficiencies, including nutritional, visual, auditory, tactile, vestibular, affective, and other stimuli are postulated. These interact and potentiate one another. Each is capable of an independent action on the brain and examples are given of some sensory deprivations as well as malnutrition and their possible mechanism of action. If the various deficiencies can independently harm the brain, then a number of separate specific functions should be affected; examples are offered. The nature of this intellectual deficit is probably a non-fulfillment of genetic potential of certain specific functions of the brain, which may exhibit limited variations between one community and another, depending on cultural differences. The deleterious effect of this intellectual impairment is seen most clearly in figures of school desertion, for example in Latin America. Analogous data for adults is scarce.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMed1981

Effect of the singed locus on the egg production curve of Drosophila melanogaster.

Egg production curves of virgin and mated females of several genotypes at the singed locus of Drosophila melanogaster have been studied. Fitz-Earle's theorectical model (1971) for characterizing daily egg production has been used. In general, the model gave good fit to the experimental data. A clear effect of the female genotype is detected on the following parameters and derivations of the model: alpha, rate of decrease in egg production; tq, day of cessation of egg-laying, N(tmax), maximum egg production; and T(t0,Tq), total lifetime egg production. Homozygous snqr females present higher values of alpha and lower values of tq, N(tmax), and T(t0,tq) than heterozygous and wild-type homozygous females. Egg-to-larva viability along female lifetime related with the different physiological stages of the egg-laying curve (increasing, maximum, and decreasing parts) has been also studied. Homozygous snqr females show low viability and decreasing with age compared to wildtype females. In some cases, different physiological stages of the egg production curve show characteristic egg-to-larva viability values.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Bell's phenomenon in normal adults and in Parkinson's disease.

Bell's phenomenon (upward and outward rolling of the eyeballs on forcible closure of the eyelids) was studied in normal adults and in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. Advancing age correlates with diminution of the response but this was more severe in Parkinson's disease and was thus shown to be suppressive of the normal mechanism. Asymmetrical responses, the right eye being nearly always more affected, were frequently encountered in both groups though more numerous in Parkinsonism. There was a tendency toward a lesser incidence of Bell's phenomenon in the more advanced stages of the disease but without a clearcut correlation.

Adult↗