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Biomedical subjects

L Rojas

Publications and source records attributed to L Rojas.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1970

Insulin and non-esterified fatty acid metabolism in asymptomatic diabetics and atherosclerotic subjects.

Glucose, insulin and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) metabolism was studied in 18 patients (mean age 49) with ischemic heart disease (IHD) who did not have any concurrent disorder known to affect glucose tolerance.Significant hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia were observed in the IHD patients after oral glucose. The serum NEFA declined to a lower level in IHD patients than in normal subjects who received glucose.In response to hypoglycemia following the oral administration of sodium tolbutamide the serum NEFA in IHD patients rose to a higher level in the rebound phase than in normal subjects. This rise was preceded by a sharp decline in the concentration of circulating insulin.In 72% of the patients (IHD sub-group) the blood glucose values after oral glucose satisfied the criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The metabolic changes following oral glucose in the IHD sub-group and in asymptomatic diabetics (AD), free of clinical atherosclerosis and with similar impairment in glucose tolerance, were compared. Despite insignificantly lower insulin concentrations, the AD showed a significantly lesser fall in circulating NEFA than did the patients in the IHD sub-group. After oral sodium tolbutamide the IHD sub-group patients showed a greater insulin response and a greater rebound increase in circulating NEFA than did the AD.These differences in response to oral glucose and to sodium tolbutamide suggest that the pathogenesis of the impaired glucose tolerance in IHD may be different from that responsible for abnormal carbohydrate tolerance in asymptomatic diabetics without evident atherosclerosis. The abnormalities demonstrated in glucose, insulin and NEFA metabolism may play a role in the genesis of the hyperlipoproteinemia and atherosclerosis of IHD. One possible mechanism leading to hyperlipoproteinemia in ischemic heart disease compatible with the data is discussed.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Technique for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii antigens in mouse urine.

A simple and rapid staphylococcal coagglutination test for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii antigens in mice urine is described. A suspension of protein-A containing Staphylococcus aureus coated with rabbit hyperimmune serum was used as reagent. The sensitivity of the antigen assay was found to be at least 118 ng of the antigen protein per ml. No coagglutination was observed when the reagent was challenged against antigenic solutions of other parasites. The suitability of the method for detecting antigens of T. gondii in urine samples was studied by experimental toxoplasma infection in mice. Before the staphylococcal test, the urine samples were double serially diluted in 0.1 M PBS. From the second day on all samples from infected mice were positive at 1/16 dilution. At this dilution, all samples from non infected mice were negative or did not produce coagglutination. This method might be used in the rapid etiological diagnosis also in human cases of acute toxoplasmosis.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A survey of homopteran species (Auchenorrhyncha) from coffee shrubs and poró and laurel trees in shaded coffee plantations, in Turrialba, Costa Rica.

A survey of homopteran species (Auchenorryncha) was conducted in coffee plantations with no shade (C), and in those with shade of either poró (Erythrina poeppigiana) (CP) or poró plus laurel (Cordia alliodora) (CPL), in Turrialba, Costa Rica. A total of 130 species in ten families were collected, dominated by Cicadellidae (82 species). Species richness was highest in the CP system (88), followed by CPL (74) and C systems (60). Five most common species for all systems were Fusigonalia lativittata, Hebralebra nicaraguensis, Neocoelidia sp., Oliarus sp. and Clastoptera sp. Diversification of the coffee agroecosystem favors some species while limiting others, and have no effect on the majority of species. Thus, only F. lativittata, Neocoelidia sp. and Scaphytopius ca. latidens were well represented in all systems, but were more abundant in coffee shrubs. Additionally, the following were the dominant species in each system: Graphocephala sp. 1 (C), F. lativittata (CP) and H. nicaraguensis (CPL). Four species abundant on laurel trees, including H. nicaraguensis, appeared almost exclusively on these tree species. Species similarity was highest on the CP and CPL systems (51% of the species in common), followed by the C and CP (39%) and the C and CPL systems (38%). These findings show that even disturbed systems can harbor many insect species, so that they deserve attention from conservation advocates and biologists.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Alternating hemiplegia of childhood treated as epilepsy. Two new cases].

INTRODUCTION: Alternating hemiplegia (AH) of childhood is a rare disease that gives rise to transient attacks of hemiplegia that may affect either side of the body indistinctly, or even both sides at the same time. Onset occurs before the age of 18 months and in some cases there are neonatal symptoms such as abnormal eye movements, especially nystagmus, and dystonic or tonic seizures. Attacks of hemiplegia, which disappear during sleep, begin before the age of one year. These symptoms can initially be taken for an epileptic disorder. CASE REPORTS: We describe the study of two male patients whose clinical symptoms appeared at the age of 6 months, with tonic seizures, upward deviation of gaze, without loss of consciousness, which occurred with a recurrence rate of between one and two attacks a week or several times a day. They were initially treated with antiepileptic drugs (AED), although the complementary tests, including electroencephalogram (EEG), computerised axial tomography (TAC), magnetic resonance (MR) scans and metabolic tests, were all normal. CONCLUSIONS: Since, to date, no specific test has been confirmed for the disease, diagnosis is essentially clinical and by exclusion. Treatment is symptomatic using flunarizine. In one of our cases, administration of a single 10 mg/day dose this drug at night lowered the frequency of the attacks of hemiplegia. The possibility of treating a patient who is a carrier of an AH with AED makes early knowledge and identification of this disease necessary in order to be able to improve the patient's prognosis.

Diagnostic Errors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Application of an alternative method to counting in Neubauer chamber to determine Trichomonas vaginalis concentrations].

It was demonstrated that there is a relation of cell concentration with the parasite reading in an ELISA reader. It was determined that absorbance showed significant values in wavelengths of visible range and the possible minimum wavelength (450 nm)was chosen to guarantee the maximum sensitivity. Likewise, it was confirmed that absorbance significantly increased (p < 0.001) after the plate was filled up, it stabilized in the 40m-2h time interval when applying 100, 150, 200 or 300 ml per well of the various cell concentrations, it was proved that the optimum volume was 150 ml, a r2 = 0,9986 was reached, and the coefficient of correction(p < 0,001) and the gradient(p < 0,001)were highly significant. In the 5 x 10(4) to 1.5 x 10(7) cell/mL interval, there was an average variation coefficient of 1.75% (0.25-3.17%). Under these conditions, the quantification limit was 5,14 x 10(4) cell/mL. Finally, it was shown that the correlation of counting in Neubauer chamber and optical density was significant.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The effectiveness of surgical compared to nonsurgical treatment of periodontal disease. 1. Molar surfaces. 24-month study].

The response to the treatment and periodontal maintenance during a period of 24 month, was investigated in 17 patients with periodontal disease by comparing root debridement alone versus root debridement plus surgery, in the molar flat surfaces sites. A total of 443 sites were controlled every 3 month and recorded every 6 month in regard to plaque indice bleeding frequency, probing pocket depth and changes of probing attachment level. The results analysed using linear regression, demonstrated that in sites with initial probing depth 0-3 mm or 4-6 mm. at 24 th months there was an evident improvement in the clinical conditions of the periodontal tissues, independent in the treatment modality. Sites with initial probing depth of 7 or more mm., however, showed a different result. In this sites, the plaque indice and the probing pocket depth were considerable reduced, but the frequency of bleeding and the clinical attachment level showed a negative result, in those sites treated by root debridement alone compared with root debridement plus surgery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Uterine rupture].

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Adult↗