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Biomedical subjects

J Sanchez

Publications and source records attributed to J Sanchez.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

A simple biochemical method in the search for bioactive polypeptides in a sea anemone (Anemonia sulcata).

The sea anemone Anemonia sulcata is a well-known natural source of supply of biologically active polypeptides. So far, five toxins, ATX I, II, III, IV and AS V, several polyvalent protease inhibitors, an elastase inhibitor, two blood pressure-depressive polypeptides and very recently peptides that inhibit competitively the binding of 125I-dendrotoxin to rat brain membranes and block the voltage-sensitive K+ channels, have been isolated from it. The sea anemone toxins (especially toxin II of A. sulcata, ATX II) are very important tools in neurophysiological and pharmacological research, and their structure-function relationship has been investigated. Because of the great scientific value of the sea anemone toxins a simplification of their purification procedure was elaborated.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of aging on thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin levels in rat hippocampal brain slices.

We have investigated the influence of age (3, 18, 24 months) on Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and Prostacyclin (PGI2) levels in hippocampal slices from F344/NHSD rats. A significant increase in TXA2 and PGI2 levels was observed in 18 and 24 months old compared to 3 months old animals. A significant reduction in the ratio TXA2/PGI2 produced by a higher increase in PGI2 was observed in 24 month old animals. The reduction in the TXA2/PGI2 ratio has been related to vasodilatory and antiaggregating effects that may contribute to protect the brain against neuronal damage.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Primary preventive health care among injection drug users, other sustained drug users, and non-users.

The primary objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between sustained illicit drug use and the utilization of primary preventive health care. Data from 1254 African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and non-Hispanic/Latino white men and women collected in 1996-1997 were analyzed to determine independent risk factors for the utilization of primary preventive health care that was not received as a result of seeking treatment for a specific health condition. When several demographic, health, and drug use variables were assessed in a logistic regression model, gender, ethnicity, health insurance status, drug use, and alcohol use were independently associated with primary preventive care. Women, Hispanic/Latinos, and persons who had health insurance were more likely to have received primary preventive health care while injection drug users, other sustained drug users, and "heavy" alcohol users were less likely to have used primary preventive health care services in the past year.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quality of life outcomes in left ventricular assist system inpatients and outpatients.

This study empirically evaluates the quality of life (QOL) effects associated with hospital discharge among heart transplant candidates whose lives are maintained by left ventricular support systems (LVAS). Thirty-five LVAS inpatients (18 Novacor, 17 Thoratec) received structured QOL assessments approximately 1 month after device implant. Ten of the patients (8 Novacor, 2 Thoratec) were subsequently discharged to either home or a home-like outpatient facility where their QOL was reassessed. The QOL of LVAS patients, before and after discharge, was compared with that of demographically similar nonhospitalized heart transplant candidates (n = 55) and recipients (n = 97). Their caregivers' QOL was also assessed. The QOL of LVAS outpatients showed statistically significant (p<0.05) advantages over remaining LVAS inpatients and nonhospitalized heart candidates. Advantages appeared in physical, emotional, and social functioning domains. The QOL of LVAS outpatients also improved (p<0.05) over their own QOL before discharge, with the greatest change in physical functional and emotional status. The QOL of LVAS outpatients most closely resembled QOL in the transplant recipients. Family caregivers to LVAS outpatients reported some increases in caregiving burden after patient discharge, but their overall well being was not adversely affected. These data provide an empiric basis for the provision of outpatient programs as appropriate care for eligible LVAS patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy of ajoene, an organosulphur derived from garlic, in the short-term therapy of tinea pedis.

The present report shows the efficacy of ajoene, a garlic-derived organic trisulphur, for short-term therapy of tinea pedis. The use of ajoene as a 0.4% (w/w) cream resulted in complete clinical and mycological cure in 27 of 34 patients (79%) after 7 days of treatment. The remaining seven patients (21%) achieved complete cure after seven additional days of treatment. All patients were evaluated for recurrence of mycotic infections 90 days after the end of treatment, yielding negative cultures for fungus. These results show that ajoene is an alternative, efficient and low-cost antimycotic drug for short-term therapy of tinea pedis. The fact that ajoene can be easily prepared from an alcoholic extract of garlic may make it suitable for Third World public health care.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Knitted dacron grafts used for abdominal aortic reconstruction: sizing references.

This study was undertaken to analyze immediate and mid-term knitted Dacron graft dilation and to establish which parameters should be taken as a reference when aortic graft dilation is evaluated. A Dacron knitted microvel double velour vascular graft (Hemashield Gold) was implanted in 30 patients with aneurysmal (19 cases, 63%) or occlusive (11 cases, 37%) aortic disease. The stems of bifurcated prostheses (27 patients, 90%) and tube grafts (3 patients, 10%) were measured. The package sizing (labelled size) was compared with the external diameter measured intraoperatively with a slide caliper, prior to implantation and after complete clamp release. Additional measurements were obtained by ultrasound 1 and 6 months after implantation, and in 16 cases (53% of the patients) ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) were performed at the end of the first year. The means of the measurements were compared using Student's t test for matched pairs. The statistical significance level was set at p values < 0.05. There was a statistically significant difference between the package sizing (15.3 +/- 1.1 mm) and the external diameter measured prior to implantation (18.7 +/- 1.3 mm); and with the external diameter following implantation (19.6 +/- 1.4 mm), (p < 0.01). External diameters measured prior to grafting and following implantation (after complete clamp release), when compared with the manufacturer's size, showed a mean increase in graft diameter of 3.4 mm (22%) and 4.3 mm (28%), respectively. There were no statistical differences between the external diameter measured after clamp release (19.6 +/- 1.4 mm) and the size determined by ultrasound 4 weeks (19.3 +/- 1.2 mm) and 6 months (19.8 +/- 1.5 mm) following surgery (p values 0.11 and 0.56, respectively). Considering size after clamp release as a reference (19.6 +/- 1.4 mm), an almost significant (p = 0.08) increase in the diameter (0.7 +/- 1.5 mm) was obtained at the end of the first year when the measurement was performed with ultrasound. However, when the measurement was performed by CT at the end of the first year, the differences (0.9 +/- 1.6 mm) revealed statistical relevance (p = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference between the sizes obtained by ultrasound (20.3 +/- 2.1 mm) and by CT (20.5 +/- 2.2 mm) at the end of the first year (p values 0.07). The package sizing is not a reliable parameter for choosing the size of knitted Dacron grafts. Immediate increase in diameter noted in Dacron grafts is caused by discrepancies between the package sizing and the measured diameter after clamp release during implantation, and by an initial adaptation of the textile structure. This must be taken into account for an accurate investigation of the immediate graft dilation rate, and if further follow-up is contemplated, a measurement to be taken as a reference should be performed by ultrasound or CT in the immediate postoperative period.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Self-expandable endovascular stent for treatment of venous stenoses.

The increase in survival among patients undergoing haemodialysis, the non-limitation of patient age regarding the start of renal substitution treatment, and the high incidence of vascular problems--particularly in diabetics--have caused the positioning of percutaneous catheters in central vessels to become a common practice in haemodialysis.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cervical epidural abscess: approaches to diagnosis.

We report on two cases of cervical epidural abscess (CEA). Their clinical presentation included fever, neck pain and symptoms of neural compression, and the presence of epidural abscess was documented by surgery. Several imaging methods were used to establish a prompt diagnosis of CEA in both patients. Magnetic Resonance image provided a noninvasive means of visualize both extent in the spinal canal and paravertebral locations. None of the other currently used imaging modalities could provide the same information alone. The role of these techniques in diagnosing this condition is discussed.

Abscess↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparability of the data presented in the medical death certificate and the death rate statistics index].

It having been impossible to use the Death Rate Statistics Index for analyzing the death rate in the city of Seville for 1985 and this Index having been substituted by the Medical Death Certificate has lead us to carry out this study to compare the data reflected in these two documents and determine the extent to which the Medical Death Certificate conforms to the Death Rate Statistics Index, used officially, and its validity. The results show that both documents tally to a great degree, the DRSI providing somewhat more information with regard to the process leading up to the deaths, this having led us to decide to make the death rate analysis for 1985 in Seville by using the Medical Death Certificate as the document on which the information will be based.

Cause of Death↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Typology of the respiratory muscles in normal men and in patients with moderate chronic respiratory diseases.

Histochemical muscle fibre composition was studied in biopsies from the diaphragm, the external and internal intercostal muscles in the fifth intercostal space and horizontal and vertical parts of the serratus in 8 subjects with normal lung function and in 18 patients with abnormal lung function (6 restrictive and 12 obstructive). Muscle fibres were classified as type I (slow twitch) or type II (fast twitch) on the basis of their myofibrillar ATPase pH lability. All the muscles studied showed a mosaic pattern with the two fibre types. In every respiratory muscle, the percentage of type I fibres was higher than 50%. There was no significant difference between the three groups (normal, restrictive and obstructive) for each of the six muscles studied. The fibre diameters were similar for all types and muscles (range of means: 41-63 micron), except for the diaphragm in which the diameters of type I and type II fibres were significantly higher in the normal subjects as compared to the obstructive and restrictive patients. Moreover, there was a significant linear correlation between the diameter of the diaphragmatic fibres and vital capacity and FEV1. A low "atrophy factor" was found for each muscle studied with a large intra-individual variation. The results support the idea that the increased respiratory loading due to disease do not hypertrophy the respiratory muscles and suggest that the effect of the disease on the respiratory muscles is more related to the increased mechanical impedance of the respiratory system rather than to the changes in thoracic configuration.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗