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Biomedical subjects

J Pascual

Publications and source records attributed to J Pascual.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Evaluation of synthetic novel ether aminophosphoglycerides for glucocorticoid-receptor complex modulator activity.

Modulator is an endogenous low-mol wt regulator of the glucocorticoid-receptor complex. Structural analysis of purified modulator suggested that it was a novel ether aminophosphoglyceride (Bodine and Litwack 1988b). Analogs of the putative modulator structure have now been synthesized. The synthetic compounds are 1-O-(6-carboxylhexyl)-glycero-3-phosphoserine and the sn-2-methoxy and sn-1-ethylester derivatives. Like modulator, these novel synthetic compounds are water soluble. However, thin-layer chromatography and spectroscopic analysis of these phosphoglycerides indicated significant structural differences between modulator and the synthetic analogs. In particular, the chromatographic behavior of the compounds suggests that modulator is more highly charged than the synthetic derivatives. The synthetic compounds, as well as lysophosphatidylserine, were also tested for in vitro modulator activity using the glucocorticoid-receptor complex activation inhibition and steroid-binding stabilization assays. None of the analogs exhibited modulator activity in these assays. However, the synthetic compounds were generally less detrimental to receptor steroid-binding than lysophosphatidylserine. From this work, we conclude that although modulator is not mimicked by one of these synthetic phosphoglycerides, a starting point for future structure-function studies has nonetheless been established.

Amines↗
PubMed1991

[A new demographic classification of the family for the use in primary health care].

The approach to the health-disease problem in the family requires a knowledge of demographic features. We propose a demographic classification based on the nuclear family. In addition to the extensive and single-parent families, the lack of family and the familial equivalents we subdivide the nuclear family depending on whether it has close relatives or not, the number of children, the existence of extended family or not, with relatives or aggregates, and the binuclear families or those of divorced people. On this basis, we have evaluated the demographic distribution of 917 families from the basic health areas of Albaicín and Cartuja in Granada, the Valle de Jaén, and Telde in Las Palmas. We have found the predominance of the nuclear family (76.8%) over the extensive (5.2%), as well as the relevance of the single-parent (8.9%) and the lack of family (7.7%) types. Among nuclear families, those with relatives in near areas come first (62.2%), followed by the extended type (19.6%). There is a remarkably low rate of numerous families (9.3%), while binuclear families are exceptional. As familial demography is a factor to be considered in clinical practice owing to its influence in the familial function and resources, we propose the routine use of this classification in the family history.

Demography↗
PubMed1990

Autoradiographic studies of neurotransmitter receptors in the brain of newborn infants with Down syndrome.

The autoradiographic pattern of cholinergic muscarinic receptors in the brain of two newborn infants with Down syndrome (DS) (stillbirths, 31 and 39 gestational weeks), were compared with that of age-matched control fetuses. Densities and distribution patterns of muscarinic receptors in the forebrain were similar in both groups. However, a marked receptor reduction was found in the midbrain (superior colliculus, substantia nigra) of DS brains compared to control brains. The results indicate the existence of deficient prenatal development of cholinergic transmission in DS that may be responsible for the occurrence of specific difficulties in early postnatal life.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1990

Rat kidney transplantation update with special reference to vesical calculi.

A technical update on rat kidney transplantation is given. In this study, the bladder-bladder union was made using silk, polyglycolic acid (Dexon), polyglactin (Vicryl), and chromic catgut. The propensity of these sutures to form vesical calculi was investigated in both first and second generation transplants. The results of our study indicate that there is no significant difference (P greater than 0.01) in their calculogenic ability. Special problems attendant with first and second generation kidney transplants are described. The concept and technique of second generation kidney transplants are also described.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Isolated primary aldosteronism in a patient with adrenal carcinoma and XY/XXY mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome.

Although breast cancer, germ cell tumors and other neoplasms are known to occur in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome, adrenal carcinoma has not yet been reported in such patients. We describe a rare case of severe primary aldosteronism as the unique manifestation of a large adrenocortical carcinoma in a patient with Klinefelter's syndrome. Complete biological and hormonal evaluation was performed. Surgical treatment was successful and the patient remained asymptomatic with normal biological and hormonal values after 1 year of followup.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding sites in human brain membranes: a marker for presynaptic cholinergic nerve terminals.

We report here on the binding properties of [3H]hemicholinium-3, a selective inhibitor of the high-affinity choline uptake process, to human brain membranes. Under the assay conditions described, the binding of [3H]hemicholinium-3 exhibited a dependency of physiological conditions on pH, temperature, and NaCl concentrations. Striatal binding proved to be specific, to a single site, saturable, and reversible, with an apparent KD of 10 nM and a Bmax of 82 fmol/mg of protein. [3H]Hemicholinium-3 specific binding exhibited a pharmacological profile and an ionic dependency suggestive of physiologically relevant interactions and comparable with those reported for the high-affinity choline uptake. Moreover, specific [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding exhibited an uneven regional distribution: striatum much greater than nucleus basalis greater than spinal cord much greater than midbrain = cerebellum greater than or equal to hippocampus greater than neocortex = anterior thalamus greater than posterior thalamus much much greater than white matter. This distribution closely corresponds to the reported activity of both enzymatic cholinergic presynaptic markers and high-affinity choline uptake in mammalian brain. There are no significant differences between these results and those previously found in the rat brain using this radioligand. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the presence of [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding sites in human brain and strongly support the proposal that this radioligand binds to the carrier site mediating the high-affinity choline uptake process on cholinergic neurons. Thus, [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding may be used in postmortem human brain as a selective and quantifiable marker of the presynaptic cholinergic terminals.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Serious migraine: a study of some epidemiological aspects.

Data are scant concerning some epidemiological aspects of those severe headaches which cause serious personal and economic morbidity. Our purpose was to study the incidence and other epidemiological features of patients suffering from severe migraine exacerbations, in an unselected population. The 64 patients who suffered from severe migraine bouts represented 10.5% of all the new walk-in neurological consultations in the area covered in this study. 70% of these patients were between 10 and 39 years old. Although females clearly predominated in all ages after fifteen, below this age there was a slight male predominance. The calculated incidence of serious migraine exacerbations was 90 per 100,000 people per year, the corrected incidence for females being 143/100,000 and for males 37/100,000. The highest incidence for females was in 15-19 year-olds (377/100,000) and for males in 10-14 year-olds (166/100,000). Our data seem to confirm the periodic nature of this condition since in 80% of patients the migraine bouts (ie: groups of attacks) lasted between two and nine months. Also they support the reported existence of genetic and hormonal factors in the susceptibility to migraine exacerbations. Our results may help in planning the public health aspect of migraine and add some light to the natural history of this common condition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Incidence and prognosis of acute renal failure in older patients.

Few studies have assessed the prevalence and outcome of acute renal failure (ARF) in the elderly. Among 437 ARF cases prospectively studied during a nine-year period in a nephrology department, 152 (35%) occurred in patients over 70 years of age (Group 1). Patients over 70 account for only 10.5% of all hospital admissions in our country, and prevalence of ARF was 3.5 times higher in these patients than in younger people. Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) was diagnosed in 40% of Group 1 and 52% of the younger patients (Group 2) (P less than .05), whereas prerenal ARF was found in 47% and 32%, respectively (P less than .001). Dehydration was the most frequent cause of prerenal ARF in the elderly (51%). The etiological distribution of ATN was similar in both groups, being of multifactorial origin in most cases. Oliguria was present in 49% of ATN in Group 1 and in 66% of Group 2 (P less than .05). There were no significant differences in dialysis needs. Mortality was higher in the elderly in all types of ARF, although differences did not reach statistical significance. Need for dialysis, mechanical respiration, decreased level of consciousness, and hypotension were associated with poor prognosis in both groups. Total recovery from ARF in older persons was less frequent and slower than in younger patients. It may be concluded that patients over 70 years of age are at high risk for developing ARF; nevertheless, age should not be used as a discriminating factor in therapeutic decisions concerning ARF.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1990

Spontaneous peritonitis caused by Enterococcus faecium.

Three cases of spontaneous peritonitis caused by Enterococcus faecium are presented. The underlying condition was alcoholic cirrhosis in each case. This enterococcal species has never before been reported as a cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Two patients responded to therapy. The development of enterococcal peritonitis and the cases documented in the literature are briefly reviewed. Taxonomic problems with pathogenic, clinical, and therapeutic implications are discussed.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiology of symptomatic hypotension in hemodialysis: is cool dialysate beneficial for all patients?

A prospective study on hypotension in hemodialysis was performed in 60 nondiabetic patients at two different dialysate temperatures during 12 months. A 37 degrees C bath (3,723 sessions) was used and after the first 6 months the temperature was changed to 35 degrees C (4,019 sessions). The prevalence of symptomatic hypotension was 15.3% and it was closely correlated with the presence of other symptoms. The most affected populations were women, patients over 55 years of age, patients with low body surface area and patients with a cardiovascular disease. A slight but significant decrease of symptomatic hypotension was seen by using a 35 degrees C dialysate (16.4 vs. 14.3%, p less than 0.01). In patients with frequent hypotension (in up to 30% of sessions), cool dialysate significantly reduced the incidence of the symptom (44.2 vs. 34.1%, p less than 0.001). These results were obtained in spite of a greater interdialysis weight gain at low temperature (2 +/- 0.6 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.7 kg, p less than 0.001). We consider that low-temperature dialysis is a simple, useful and economic procedure, especially for highly symptomatic patients. The association of cooling dialysate with higher sodium concentration, bicarbonate and special membranes could reduce dialysis symptoms dramatically.

Cold Temperature↗
PubMed1990

Necrotizing myositis secondary to Serratia marcescens in a renal allograft recipient.

We describe a fatal case of spontaneous necrotizing myositis due to a highly resistant strain of Serratia marcescens in a renal transplant recipient. Though Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium are the usual agents which cause either pyomyositis or necrotizing myositis, gram-negative bacteria are a dangerous and rarely suspected possibility. Such an aggressive disease should be promptly recognized because immunosuppression in susceptible hosts makes conservative management unsuccessful. The prognosis for myositis in immunodepressed hosts is poor and wide excision of all the necrotic muscles, leaving the wound open, and intensive antibiotic therapy are required.

Adult↗