Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Pina

Publications and source records attributed to J Pina.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

[Multisensory stimulation].

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis in early care (EC) involves a global study that covers the child's development, their personal history, family and surroundings. The specific aims of an intervention programme in EC could be summed up in four areas: the prevention of deficits or difficulties, the detection of problems linked with a socio-family deficiency or shortages, the stimulation of development, and help and assistance for families. Multisensory stimulation (MSS) of small children is essential for their future existence. The presentation of stimuli must follow a strict schedule; indeed, this observation is so important that if the critical moment for incorporating a stimulus is missed, providing the stimulus at another time will not have the same effect. METHOD: Intellectual development during early childhood was taken into account when defining the fundamental aims of a therapeutic intervention programme in EC. To develop suitable therapy according to these concepts, an EMS (Snoezelen) room with certain special characteristics is required. This room must allow the stimuli offered in each moment and under each sensory modality to be controlled. CONCLUSION: Applying intervention programmes in a proper, specific and timely manner will enable us to accompany each child, as far as is possible in each case, in the development of his or her abilities and capabilities.

Child↗

[Sjögren's syndrome and multiple sclerosis].

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) usually follows a relapsing-remitting course and attacks multiple areas of the central nervous system (CNS). Certain rheumatic diseases, including Sjögren's syndrome (SS), can present with a similar clinical picture. RESULTS: Two patients out 67 of 100 with MS exhibited xerophthalmia and xerostomia and positive Ro antibodies, thus fulfilling 55 diagnostic criteria. Case 1. A 62-year-old woman developed several episodes of numbress and weakness in her left extremity and ataxia. MRI demonstrated a high-intensity areas in periventricular white matter. Initial laboratory studies failure to demonstrate antinuclear antibodies. Xerostomia and xerophthalmia were apparent. Follow-up laboratory examinations showed elevated ANA, Anti-SSA and anti-SSB. Case 2. A 58-year-old woman was diagnosed as having MS at the age of 53 years. Several high-signal foci on MRI were demonstrated in the white matter. Initial serum findings including autoantibodies were unremarkable. Sicca syndrome was present. Laboratory investigations included elevated anti-SSA, anti-SSARo52 and ANA while anti-SSB was within normal limits. DISCUSSION: Primary SS is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. The CNS symptoms are present in 20-25% of the patients with SS. Some patients have a relapsing-remitting course mimicking MS. Focal brain lesions in SS can occur in the cerebral white matter. The features of our patients sufficiently mimicked those of MS and this disorder was the diagnosis in each patient at the time of initial evaluation. SS should be considered in th

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Goodpasture's syndrome: a case of delayed appearance of autoantibodies and renal disease.

Goodpasture's syndrome, or anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease, is a rare pulmonary-renal syndrome that results from autoantibody-mediated destruction of alveolar and glomerular basement membranes. It is defined by the triad of pulmonary hemorrhage (hemoptysis), glomerulonephritis (hematuria), and circulating anti-GBM antibodies. Although kidney disease can occur with or without lung involvement, isolated alveolar hemorrhage as an incipient manifestation of the syndrome is rare. We report the case of a patient with anti-GBM disease who initially presented with seronegative hemoptysis and normal urine. It was not until relapse of his condition that we found acute glomerulonephritis and circulating antibodies. In this report, we briefly review the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of anti-GBM disease and discuss the relevance of isolated alveolar hemorrhage.

Adult↗

Levels of serum cathepsin L and several glycosidases in patients operated for colorectal cancer.

The activities of several glycosidases and cathepsin L were determined in the blood serum of a control group of ten healthy humans in comparison with a group (group I: 32 subjects) of preoperative colorectal cancer patients (1 week before surgical exeresis) and with another two groups: group II, comprising 18 operated subjects (1 week after surgery), and group III, of 15 operated subjects (4 months after surgery). All subjects were 48-88 years old. Both 'enzyme activity' and 'specific activity' determinations of serum beta-galactosidase, alpha-L-fucosidase and cathepsin L revealed peculiar profiles that differed from one another. Control values differed from those of some stages of the pathological groups, but not of others. These values were compared also with the levels of total, lipid- and glycoprotein-associated serum sialic acid. The usefulness of some assays (especially cathepsin L activity measurement) in the follow-up of the health status of humans operated for colorectal cancer is discussed.

Aged↗

Internal jugular catheterisation. Blood reflux is not a reliable sign in patients with thoracic trauma.

An internal jugular catheter, which was inserted into a patient with a traumatic haemopneumothorax, accidentally entered the pleural cavity. This was initially undetected because the two signs most frequently used to confirm correct placement, those of blood reflux and fluctuation of central venous pressure with respiration, were positive. A number of precautions are suggested which should be taken when central venous catheters are inserted in patients with thoracic trauma.

Adult↗

[Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in patients with AIDS].

Rhodococus equi infection is frequent in animals, but rare in humans. It usually appears as an opportunistic infection, occurring in clinical settings where a compromise of cellular immunity exists, such as in leukemia, neoplastic or transplanted patients. It is currently considered, as another opportunistic AIDS infection. Sixty six cases of Rhodococus equi pneumonia have been published until March 1996. The differential diagnosis includes TB and Staphyloccocal Pneumonia and is generally an infection which is difficult to treat, often resistant to Betalactamic drugs. Therapeutic options include an association of intracellular active antibiotics. The authors report the first Rhodococus equi pneumonia diagnosed in their Hospital and discuss the main difficulties in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes two entities, Chronic Bronchitis (C.B.) and Emphysema (E.), assembled by their common physiopathological feature, a progressive expiratory airflow obstruction. The presence of hyperreactivity is common and partial reversibility may be observed. The coexistence of CB and E. is largely the most prevalent. Cigarette smoking is the main risk factor per se or associated with other urban or occupational air pollutants. Therefore epidemiological COPD rats follow the prevalence of smoking habits in the population. The main goal of the strategy against the disease are preventive decisions and measures, as far as smoking is concerned. FEV1 values lower than 75% of FVC and a decline of FEV1 higher than 30 ml/year indicate a high risk of COPD among smokers. The assessment of FEV1 is important for monitoring and guiding treatment and is valid for grading the severity of COPD. Once the disease is confirmed the therapeutic skills are the following: to reduce the symptoms; to prevent and treat the exacerbations; to attenuate the functional impairment, both short and long term; to achieve better performance in daily activities and quality of life; to avoid and minimise the adverse effects of medication. The increase in life expectancy and the reduction of mortality are tangible goals related to a global and multidisciplinary approach. They mainly depend on smoking cessation, reducing the bronchial obstruction, and correcting chronic hypoxemia.

Clinical Protocols↗