Biomedical subjects

J D Luna

Publications and source records attributed to J D Luna.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

The usefulness of lung surfactant phospholipids (LSPs) in the diagnosis of drowning.

The authors have studied the usefulness of some lung surfactant phospholipids (LSPs) isolated from lung tissues as markers of drowning. Two different groups of rabbits were sacrificed by drowning in fresh and salt water, and their phospholipid compositions were compared with those of a non-drowned control series. For the phospholipids studied in lung lavages (phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and phosphatidyl glycerol) the proportions differed between the control group and the drowned group, and between the fresh-water and salt-water drowned animals. According to these results, the lipids we have analyzed can be employed as markers in forensic autopsies, where it is necessary to differentiate between death by drowning and postmortem immersion and between fresh-water and salt-water drowning. In lung tissue, only phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl inositol showed significative differences. These results also confirm that LSPs are strongly affected in drowning.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Studies on thyroid activity in deoxycorticosterone-salt and Goldblatt two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rats.

In this paper we studied the role of thyroid gland function in two experimental hypertension models with different pathophysiological mechanisms: deoxycorticosterone-salt (DOCA-salt, volume dependent) and Goldblatt 2-kidney, 1-clip (2K1C, renin dependent). DOCA-salt hypertensive rats showed lower T3 and T4 serum levels by the third week of induced hypertension. Goldblatt 2K1C hypertensive rats, however, exhibited normal values for both hormones. Treatment with thyroxine accelerated the evolution of hypertension and did not affect the PRA of DOCA-salt rats. Radiothyroidectomy inhibited DOCA-salt and Goldblatt 2K1C hypertension, and prevented the suppression of PRA in DOCA-salt rats, without altering PRA or serum aldosterone in Goldblatt 2K1C rats. These results suggest that: a) a thyroid depressing factor is not activated in Goldblatt 2K1C rats; b) thyroidectomy interferes with the suppressor effect of mineralocorticoid on renin secretion; and c) normal thyroid activity is required for the hypertensive effect of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in Goldblatt 2K1C rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

The handling of NaCl load in rats during DOCA-salt and Goldblatt 2 kidney-1 clip hypertension development.

The handling of an intraperitoneal NaCl load (2% body weight, 0.9% NaCl) administered twice a week during DOCA-salt and Goldblatt 2K-1C hypertension development has been evaluated. An exaggerated natriuresis was observed in DS-hypertensive rats since blood pressure became higher with respect to normal (C), Doca (D) and uninephrectomized-salt (NS) rats that served as controls. However, this phenomenon was not observed in Goldblatt 2K-1C hypertensive rats (2K-1C) when compared to the response obtained in sham-operated (SO) rats. These results suggest that: 1) An increased blood pressure, per se, is not a determinating factor for exaggerated natriuresis. 2) Rise in blood pressure and exaggerated natriuresis may be related through a common mechanism in Doca-salt hypertension.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

[Behavior of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in relation to agonized suffering (I)].

The authors have studied the levels of 5-HT and 5-HIA,--in serum, CSP fluid and pericardial fluid of cadavers at the Forensic Anatomic Institute of Granada and its relations with the length of agonized suffering. The results showed us that the study of 5-HT and its main metabolite, the 5-HIAA, may be useful for the exact evaluation of agonized suffering, and the pericardial fluid is most suited for the analysis of 5-HT and 5-HIAA. We found that there was a significant correlation between the 5-HT and 5-HIAA and the agonized suffering. When the agonized sufferings of a moderate length (10 min-6h) were compared with the slow and long processes of death, the correlation was highly significant (P less than 0.001).

Forensic Medicine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anomalous intraocular pressure changes in Chagas' disease elicited by postural test.

We compared the effects of postural changes on intraocular pressure, systemic blood pressure, and pupil size with and without induced mydriasis in 15 chronic chagasic patients and 20 healthy age-matched controls. The chagasic patients showed a marked fall in intraocular pressure on rising. However, systemic systolic blood pressure changes and pupil size in patients did not differ from those measured in controls. Our findings may be explained by an alteration in the autonomic ocular system that regulates homeostasis of ocular pressure and the probable existence of a baroreceptor arc-reflex that restores the equilibrium of sudden changes in the intraocular pressure.

Blood Pressure↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Experimental retinopathy of prematurity: angiostatic inhibition by nimodipine, ginkgo-biloba, and dipyridamole, and response to different growth factors.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether commonly used vasodilating drugs ameliorate angiogenesis in experimental retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and to study the response of these drugs to different growth factors. METHODS: We used a rat and mouse model of oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy. Animals were treated with nimodipine, gingko-biloba and dipyridamole intraperitoneally starting the day before exposure to room air (day 1). Controls were injected with vehicle solution only. Eyes were processed histopathologically with serial sections and neovascularization was measured by counting the nuclei within the retinal internal limiting membrane, by a masked observer. Retinal and vitreous tissues were assayed by ELISA for VEGF, PDGF and TGFbeta2. RESULTS: Nimodipine significantly inhibited the growth of new vessels in rats. The number of nuclei was 310 +/- 69 in the control group (n:14) and 121 +/- 53 in the treated ones (n:14), (p<0.0005). Similar results were found with ginkgo-biloba extracts: 344 +/- 53 (n:15) in controls, and 136 +/- 29 (n:11) in treated ones (p<0.0005), and with dipyridamole: 303 +/- 69 (n:13) in controls, and 131 +/- 48.5 in treated rats (p<0.0005). Results were similar in mice. 186 +/- 45 (n:7) nuclei counted in controls against 90 +/- 25 (n:6) for dipyridamole treated (p<0.0005); and 81 +/- 21 for ginkgo-biloba treated animals (p<0.0005). A gradual, very significant increase in VEGF values in response to relative hypoxia (room air) contrasted with the significant inhibition noted both with ginkgo-biloba extracts and dipyridamole. TGFbeta2 and PDGF both showed a gradual increase in relative hypoxia at days 2 and 4 of room air (p<0.0005). Treated animals showed marked inhibition of the three growth factors. CONCLUSIONS: All three drugs markedly inhibited angiogenesis in experimental ROP. Growth factors were elevated in hypoxic conditions. Treated animals showed significant decreases of PDGF, VEGF, and TGFbeta2 in retinal and vitreous tissues.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mycobacterium chelonae keratitis following laser in situ keratomileusis.

Corneal infection after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is rare. However, surgical trauma or breakdown of epithelium increases the risk of surface infection. We present the case of a 45 year old woman who developed keratitis due to Mycobacterium chelonae 1 month after LASIK with the Mini-Laser Sight 2000 excimer laser. After an initial improvement following antibiotic therapy the infection progressed until it was necessary to perform penetrating keratoplasty, with a successful result.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia and hyperopia using the Lasersight 200 laser in 300 consecutive eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate effectiveness, safety, predictability, and short-term stability of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using the LaserSight Compac-200 Mini excimer laser with software version 9.0, for all refractive errors. METHODS: One hundred fifty consecutive patients (300 eyes) that received bilateral LASIK for myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism were studied prospectively. A new 9.0 software version applying a modified nomogram that takes advantage of bilateral surgery was used. Follow-up at 6 months was available for 267 eyes (89%). RESULTS: Six months postoperatively, 131 eyes (96.32%) in the low to moderate myopia group (-1.00 to -5.99 D; n=136) had a spherical equivalent refraction within +/-1.00 D, and 123 eyes (90.44%) were within +/-0.50 D of emmetropia. In the high to extreme myopia group (-6.00 to -25.00 D; n=114), 97 eyes (87.08%) had a spherical equivalent refraction within +/-1.00 D and 78 eyes (68.42%) were within +/-0.50 D of emmetropia. In the hyperopia group (+1.00 to +6.00 D; n=50), 44 eyes (88%) had a postoperative spherical equivalent refraction within +/-1.00 D, and 31 eyes (62%) were within +/-0.50 D of emmetropia. Mean change in spherical equivalent refraction at 6 months was less than -0.50 D in the low to high myopia groups and -1.16 +/- 0.55 D in the extreme myopia group. At 6 months follow-up, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 73 eyes (54%) in the low to moderate myopia groups and 21 eyes (18%) in the high to extreme myopia groups. In the hyperopia group at 6 months follow-up, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 31 eyes (62%) and 20/40 or better in 41 eyes (82%). Only two eyes had a temporary loss of two or more lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity due to corneal folds that were surgically treated. Six months after LASIK, no eye had lost any lines of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Our modified LASIK nomogram with the 9.0 software of the LaserSight 200 excimer laser (with a larger and smoother ablation pattern) resulted in safe and effective outcomes for the treatment of low to high myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Bone mineral density at time of clinical diagnosis of adult-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To study bone mineral density (BMD) and bone remodeling factors at the time of diagnosis of adult-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: In 22 men and 10 women, who ranged in age from 20 to 39 years, a study was undertaken promptly after diagnosis of type 1 DM (on the basis of criteria established by the World Health Organization). Before any treatment, the clinical history, glycemia, ketonuria, basal and glucagon-stimulated C-peptide levels, islet cell antibodies (ICA), glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA), and bone remodeling variables were recorded for all the study subjects. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (Hologic QDR1000) was performed to measure BMD in the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), and Ward's triangle. RESULTS: Of the 32 patients, 24 (75%) showed positive levels of ICA or GADA (or both), whereas 8 (25%) tested negative. The BMD values-Z-scores (standard deviation [SD] adjusted for age and sex)-were lower among the patients with DM than in a matched healthy population in both the LS (-0.61 +/- 1.23 SD; P = 0.008) and the FN (-0.38 +/- 1.00 SD; P = 0.003). Twelve patients had a T-score between -2.5 SD and -1 SD in the LS, and 14 had the same scores in the FN and were classified as having osteopenia. A correlation was found between BMD values and C-peptide levels in the LS (r = 0.231; P = 0.02) and the FN (r = 0.27; P = 0.01). The BMD values did not correlate with bone remodeling markers, hemoglobin A1c, or immunologic variables. CONCLUSION: We found reduced bone mass in patients with type 1 DM at the time of the clinical diagnosis. A high percentage of patients with DM have osteopenia, which may not, therefore, be a late complication of type 1 DM. These findings need to be confirmed in larger studies.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Assessment of the functioning of the daily life in people with long term mental disorder. Adaptation and reliability of the Spanish version of the "Basic Everyday Living Skills" (BELS)].

INTRODUCTION: There is a close relationship between mental illness and the decay of global functioning. The level of support and care needed by a person will also depend closely of the level of his or her functioning. The aim of this article is to present the Spanish version of the Basic Every Day Living Schedule (BELS) and its reliability that has been studied on a sample of Spanish population. METHODOLOGY: Once the first translation into Spanish was satisfactory back translated into English, 77 residents in different sheltered homes were assessed by two pair of researchers. For the statistical analysis the Kappa coefficient was used. RESULTS: Kappa mean values for the opportunity scale was 0.791 and 0.743 for the performance scale. CONCLUSION: BELS is an assessment instrument with adequate reliability properties for the purpose for which it was conceived: to assess the basic abilities for the every day living.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection methods of the drug-addiction and alcoholism treatment programme of the Spanish National Railway Company (RENFE).

BACKGROUND: Social problems in enterprises need to be approached by all groups involved in order to achieve a satisfactory result. With regard to Occupational Health and, specifically, drug-addiction, the groups concerned are Occupational Health Services, Trade Unionists and Managers. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the involvement of the social groups (Occupational Health Service, Management and Trade Unions) in relation to the detection of workers suffering from drug-addiction and/or alcoholism. METHODS: During the first eight years of implementation (1990-1997) of the Drug-Addiction and Alcoholism Treatment Programme of the Spanish National Railway Company (RENFE), a total of 477 workers consuming alcohol and drugs were detected and treated under the Programme (1.1% prevalence), 465 men (97.5%) and 12 women (2.5%), with an average age of 39.8 years. RESULTS: The subjects were detected by occupational physicians (55.4%), occupational psychologists (2.9%), managers (11.3%), trade unionists (19.5%), via self-referral (9.4%) and by other means (1.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate the efficiency and the profitability to the company of prevention and treatment interventions and the need for the coordination of managers, trade unions and occupational health services.

Adult↗