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Biomedical subjects

J Bravo

Publications and source records attributed to J Bravo.

84 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Subcutaneous emphysema of the lower extremity of gastrointestinal origin.

Two cases of subcutaneous emphysema of the left lower extremity secondary to perforations of the rectum ,nd sigmoid colon are presented. Although this is an extremely rare syndrome, the true incidence is probably higher, as some cases will be misdiagnosed as gas gangrene unless careful clinical and postmortem examinations are performed. Only rapid recognition of the probable origin of the gas, coupled with aggressive, definitive therapy, can prevent the usually fatal course of this condition. In the absence of trauma to the chest or infection in a previously normal leg, subcutaneous emphysema of a limb should alert the physician to the possibility of a gastrointestinal perforation as a source of the gas. Perforations of the gastrointestinal tract into the subcutaneous tissue can occur anywhere from the neck to the lower extremities.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevention of iron deficiency with carbonyl iron in female blood donors.

The effectiveness of elemental, nontoxic carbonyl iron in replacing iron lost at blood donation was examined. In a randomized double-blind design, 99 women, aged 18 to 40, were given placebo or low-dose carbonyl iron (100 mg orally) at bedtime for 56 days after phlebotomy. Compliance was equivalent for the two regimens. Mild side effects were slightly greater with carbonyl iron. At Day 56, estimated net iron absorption from therapy or diet, or both, was sufficient to replace iron in 85 percent of those receiving carbonyl iron but in only 29 percent of those taking placebo (p less than 0.001). The rates of deferral from repeat donation were 8 percent in the carbonyl iron group and 36 percent in the placebo group (p less than 0.01), and the positive predictive value of routine screening in identifying participants without iron deficiency was 83 versus 13 percent (p less than 0.01). It can be concluded that short-term carbonyl iron supplementation in female blood donors can replace the iron lost at phlebotomy, protect the women against iron deficiency, and enhance their ability to give blood.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dengue 2 virus enhancement in asthmatic and non asthmatic individual.

During the 1981 dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) Cuban epidemic, bronchial asthma (BA) was frequently found as a personal or family antecedent in dengue hemorrhagic fever patients. Considering that antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) plays an important role in the etiopathogenic mechanism of DHF/DSS, we decide to study the Dengue 2 virus (D2V) capability of replication in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from asthmatic patients and healthy persons. In 90% of asthmatic patients and 53.8% of control group it was obtained PBL with a significant D2V enhancing activity (X2 p < 0.01). Power enhancement was higher in asthmatic group. This is the first in vitro study relating BA and the dengue 2 virus immuno enhancement. The results obtained support the role of BA as a risk factor for DHF/DSS as already described on epidemiological data.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Knowledge, beliefs, and practices related to acute respiratory infections in adults over 65 years old].

Knowledge, beliefs, and practices related to acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in individuals caring for the elderly (over 65 years of age) were evaluated. Home interviews were conducted with 245 persons: 136 lived in urban areas and 109 in rural areas. Mean age was 62 years. All interviewees could read and write. Some 52% of the elderly cared for themselves. A total of 33% smoked. They were generally unaware of the severity of signs and symptoms in ARIs (37% could not mention any). Some 47% did not follow the physician's orders. Self-medication with antibiotics was commonplace. A total of 28% failed to increase liquid intake during the course of ARIs. The results demonstrated insufficient knowledge and management of ARIs in the elderly. An educational program and specific intervention were conducted to improve the situation identified by the study.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Infection/immunity by hepatitis B virus in an adult population of Havana City. Cuba 1995].

The results of a study of markers of infection/immunity by hepatitis B virus in a community of the health area in "Cristobal Labra" polyclinics, City of Habana in 1995. The studied healthy adult population was not included in any vaccination strategy with hepatitis B vaccine. Two markers were studied: Hepatitis B surface antigen and its corresponding antibody (anti-HBs). HBsAg-positivity was 1.05% and anti-HBs positivity was 13.39%. Of anti-HBs-positive cases, 13.39% had titers from 10-50 UI/L and the rest (43.68%) had titers over 50 UI/L.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rapidly recurring cortical seizures induce changes in neuronal responsiveness to acetylcholine.

The majority of mechanisms proposed to explain epileptic discharge suggest an excessive synaptic input into the cell or possible changes in cellular excitability which result in a decreased firing threshold and in the presence of self-sustained activity. It is likely that these changes are caused by modifications in the membrane receptor sensitivity to a specific neurotransmitter. In view of the above, the purpose of the present study has been to evaluate the sensitivity of the postsynaptic receptor by means of the microiontophoretic applications of substances whose pharmacological effect is known, thus determining its possible involvement in the epileptic process. Changes in cortical excitability were induced by electric stimuli in the sensorimotor cortex of rats anesthetized with urethane (1 g/kg intraperitoneally), immobilized with pancuronium bromide and kept alive with mechanical respiration. The electric stimuli consisted of trains of biphasic pulses, each lasting one millisecond, with a frequency of 100 pps and with a train duration of 1 second. The response of the neuron to acetylcholine was evaluated before and after the kindling had been established. The dosage was measured in nanoamperes of microiontophoretic ejecting current. Extracellular field potentials were recorded with the central barrel of 4-barrel micropipettes. Peripheral barrels were used for iontophoretic applications of Acetylcholine (Ach .1, 1M), Atropine (25mM). One of these barrels containing NaCl (2M) was used for the automatic passage of balancing current.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Dengue epidemic in Nicaragua, 1985].

In the second half of the year 1985, during the rainy season, an epidemic of Dengue Fever was recognized in Nicaragua. A total of 17,483 cases were reported by the health services. The highest morbidity and attack rates were reported between August and November of the same year. Regions II (Leon and Chinandega), III (Managua) and IV (Masaya, Granada, Carazo y Rivas) reported 89% of the cases; these regions are precisely the more densely populated in the country, located in the Pacific Coast. Leon and Chinandega were the more affected cities reporting 41% of the cases of the epidemic. Sixty seven percent of the cases were adults, 57% were female. The national attack rate was 55.4/10,000 inhab. An intensive campaign for the control of the vector was launched immediately after the epidemic was recognized and by the month of October 1985 morbidity decreased and an endemic situation was established. Seven fatal cases were reported in adults. They were considered as DHF/DSS cases by a multidisciplinary group of pathologists and clinicians, considering the criteria of WHO and the experience obtained during the cuban DHF/DSS epidemic, in 1981. The outbreak was considered as a Classical Dengue Fever epidemic with 7 fatalities. Dengue-1 and -2 were isolated from acute sera and Dengue-1 from one of the dead.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical and epidemiologic aspects of acute diarrhea caused by rotavirus in children. Cuba, 1982-1984].

A total of 256 infants younger than three years, hospitalized by acute diarrhea, was studied from December 1983 to May 1984. Presence of rotavirus in their feces was demonstrated in 27.7%; in 4.3% of them, rotaviruses were associated with other agents. Vomiting followed by respiratory symptoms and fever were the main clinical symptoms observed in such patients, and in most of them diarrhea was profuse and liquid. Influence on infection by rotavirus of maternal feeding, hygienic-sanitary conditions, presence of domestic animals, and so forth, could not be demonstrated.

Acute Disease↗