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J Montes

Publications and source records attributed to J Montes.

62 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Alanyl-aminopeptidase activity decrease in cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer patients.

We analyzed the amino acid concentrations and aminopeptidase activities in plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Alzheimer patients. Correlations were calculated between these parameters and the degree of cognitive impairment, duration of the disease and age. In comparison with a control group, no changes were found in the levels of amino acids in CSF or plasma of Alzheimer patients. Alanyl-aminopeptidase activity was significantly lower in the CSF of Alzheimer patients, whereas no differences in CSF were detected as regards the remaining aminopeptidases. The plasma/CSF ratio for aminopeptidase activities was higher in AD patients than in controls, although the difference was only significant for alanyl-aminopeptidase. Amino acid ratios did not show this general tendency. The correlations between plasma aspartate and glutamate concentrations and the stage of the disease, measured with the Mini Mental State Examination, were studied. Changes in aminopeptidase activities and their role in protein dysfunction underlying Alzheimer disease are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Achalasia, alacrima without adrenal insufficiency with peripheral and autonomic neurological dysfunction (Allgrove's syndrome)].

OBJECTIVE: To present a patient with Allgrove's syndrome and peripheral and autonomic neurological dysfunction. This pathological entity has not been previously reported in national medical literature. BACKGROUND: Allgrove's syndrome is comprised of achalasia, alacrima and adrenal insufficiency. It is a rare disease. Some isolated cases have been informed in the literature. The most extensive series was published by Grant et al in 1993. In this study, 20 patients from various european countries were analyzed. METHOD: We describe a patient with diagnosis suggestive of Allgrove's syndrome and expose the results of a review of the medical literature concerning this syndrome. We emphasize in neurological dysfunction of these patients. Such abnormalities are not actually well defined in this syndrome. RESULTS: A twelve-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital for dysphagia. A diagnosis of achalasia was performed with endoscopy and esophagogram and confirmed with esophageal manometry. Physical examination showed alacrima and neurological dysfunction. Stimulation of adrenal function with ACTH (Cortosin) was normal. Neurologic examination revealed: peripheral neuropathy, autonomic dysfunction; corticospinal, psychomotor and intellectual impairment. CONCLUSION: Allgrove's syndrome must be in mind in physicians who see children with achalasia. Nevertheless adrenal insufficiency is not always present in cases when diagnosis is performed. It may appear several years afterwards. Neurological dysfunction seems to be the most prominent feature.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of immunoglobulin use for hepatitis A control in New Mexico.

Community control of hepatitis A (HA) requires improvement of sanitation and timely use of immune globulin (IG) for selected contacts of ill persons. A marked increase in reported HA cases in New Mexico in late 1978 and early 1979 prompted aggressive evaluation of morbidity trends and of control efforts. This evaluation provided an opportunity to study the practices in disease reporting and IG administration in the State. In the 6-months study period January-June 1979, 596 cases of HA were reported in New Mexico (an annualized incidence rate of 95.9 cases per 100,000 population). Nearly three-fourths of the cases were reported within 14 days of onset of illness. IG was administered to the household contacts of 89 percent of the index patients; it was not indicated for the household contacts of 9 percent. Reasons for the failure to administer IG to the household contact of the other 2 percent of the index patients were not ascertained. Overall, 93 percent of the eligible household contacts received IG, and 80 percent of these contacts received it within 14 days of the onset of illness in the index patient. Differences in the relationship of physicians and health offices in the only metropolitan area in the State and in the rest of the State in respect to case reporting and IG administration were observed. The benefits from health department surveillance and control exceeded the costs by approximately fivefold. The reporting practices and the IG use of the physicians who reported HA cases were good; to improve further HA surveillance and control in the State, the focus needs to be on physicians who fail to report HA cases.

Adult↗