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Biomedical subjects

J Morales

Publications and source records attributed to J Morales.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

[Parasitic infections in renal transplantation patients].

We performed indirect hemagglutination tests for toxoplasmosis and Chagas disease, complement fixation test for toxoplasmosis, stool examination for parasites and Graham test for enteroparasites in 51 patients before and after renal transplant. Post transplant surveys were performed at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. 18 patients who were positive for toxoplasmosis remained so and 5 new asymptomatic cases were detected in the post transplant period (15%). Two patients who were positive for Chagas disease remained positive and asymptomatic. One patient receiving a kidney from a Chagas positive donor remains negative. Asymptomatic enteric infection was detected in 45% of patients at some time during follow up: amebic infection (25%), giardiasis (14%) and oxyuriasis (24%). Two patients showed asymptomatic cryptosporidiasis.

Chagas Disease↗

The value of visual evoked potential as a screening test in neurofibromatosis.

Pattern reversal visual evoked potential (VEP) test was performed in 30 asymptomatic patients with neurofibromatosis (NF). All patients had normal visual acuity, visual fields, and ophthalmoscopic examination results. Pattern reversal VEP was abnormal in eight patients (26%). Seven of these patients had computed tomographic scans with reformated orbital views. Orbital computed tomographic scans were abnormal in six patients and in each case showed enlargement of the optic nerve on the side of VEP abnormality. Our data indicate that pattern reversal VEP is a valuable screening test in asymptomatic patients with NF. Because of the high incidence of VEP abnormality in such patients, VEP abnormality must be interpreted cautiously when a patient with NF is suspected of having other diseases or disorders that potentially affect the visual pathways.

Adolescent↗

Influence of the mother's weight and socioeconomic status on the fatty acid composition of human milk.

The influences of the maternal diet and of the mothers' nutritional and socioeconomic status on the fatty acid composition of human milk have not yet been fully elucidated. Fatty acids from capric (8:0) to docosahexaenoic (22:6w3) acids were determined in 209 samples of human milk obtained from voluntary donors. Samples were classified according to the time of lactation and in relation to the socioeconomic status and to the weight of the lactating women. Capric and lauric acid increased in mature milk while palmitic and stearic acids decreased. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the w6 and w3 series with more than 18 carbon atoms also decreased from colostrum to mature milk. However, the ratio w3 PUFA/w6 PUFA remained unaltered. Oleic acid decreased in milk from mothers of a medium and low socioeconomic status who consumed almost exclusively seed vegetable oils. The mother's weight did not influence the fatty acid composition of her milk.

Body Weight↗

Altered anion handling by choroid plexus in renal insufficiency.

Abnormal localization of 99mTc pertechnetate was detected in the choroid plexus of patients with renal insufficiency despite the administration of potassium perchlorate. This was found in 8 of 21 studies on patients on conservative medical treatment, in 35 of 41 studies in patients on hemodialysis, in 12 of 22 studies in renal transplant recipients, and in 1 of 5 with acute renal insufficiency, but not in any of 33 persons free of renal disease. Abnormal retention of pertechnetate was also observed in the salivary glands of 21 renal patients. The increased localization of 99mTc pertechnetate could not be related to high blood levels of radioactivity, altered protein binding, increased erythrocyte labeling or to impaired gastrointestinal absorption of potassium perchlorate. It is proposed that this finding represents a manifestation of choroid plexus dysfunction resulting in altered handling of anions by this organ. A possible relation to neurological disease in chronic renal insufficiency is suggested.

Choroid Plexus↗

Amikacin sulfate levels in human serum and bile.

Amikacin levels in blood and bile were measured in 10 patients who underwent cholecystectomy and T-tube drainage. Each patient received 500 mg of amikacin intravenously 12 h preoperatively, during surgery, and every 12 h thereafter for four more doses. Average levels of amikacin in bile were 8.3 micrograms/ml at 1 h after the intraoperative dose, with a bile/serum ratio of 0.44. Postoperative doses at 1 h produced levels in bile of 3.8 to 4.2 micrograms/ml, with a bile/serum ratio of 0.15 to 0.22. Levels in bile decreased at a rate lower than levels in blood, and bile/serum ratios increased from 0.54 at 2 h to 0.93 at 12 h. Amikacin accumulated in bile at 6 h after the intravenous dose.

Adult↗