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Biomedical subjects

L Serrano

Publications and source records attributed to L Serrano.

197 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Sertraline for the prevention of relapse in detoxicated alcohol dependent patients with a comorbid depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of sertraline in recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients with current depressive symptoms. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the efficacy of sertraline at achieving stable abstinence, at ameliorating depressive symptoms and at improving quality of life in these patients. METHODS: The study included 83 patients, who received either sertraline (50-150 mg/day) or placebo for 24 weeks. The primary outcome criteria were the rate of relapse into alcohol consumption and the rate of response on the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). RESULTS: At the end of the treatment period, relapse rates were 23.1% in the placebo group and 31.8% in the sertraline group. Responder rates for depression were 38.5% for the placebo group and 44.2% for the sertraline group. There was no significant difference between treatment groups with either variable. However, when patients were stratified into severe (MADRS score >or=26) and moderate (MADRS score <26) depression at inclusion, a significant treatment benefit with sertraline was observed in the former group. Quality of life, determined by the SF-36, improved in both groups, with more benefit observed for the sertraline group on mental health items. Sertraline was well tolerated, and the incidence of adverse events was similar in the two treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The explanation for the overall good outcome in both treatment groups and for the inability to demonstrate a clear treatment effect may reside in the clinical features of the patients included.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of a microdiffusion method for ethanol and the Abbott TDx ethanol assay.

A simple, rapid ethanol screen based on a microdiffusion technique (Analytical Systems, Marion Laboratories) has been evaluated and compared to an established enzymatic procedure (Abbott TDx). They showed agreement in 484 of 488 biological specimens and all control specimens. They disagreed on 4 specimens--3 positive by the Marion method and negative by TDx, and 1 positive by TDx and negative by Marion. The discrepancies could not be elucidated because insufficient quantities of samples remained. The microdiffusion method was found to be a dependable, reproducible screening test for the presence of reducing volatiles in urine. There is insufficient data to evaluate its effectiveness in serum or whole blood. It is particularly suited for screening negative specimens before quantitating positive specimens by a suitable alternate quantitative method.

Chromium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypochlorite adulteration of urine causing decreased concentration of delta 9-THC-COOH by GC/MS.

Marijuana is confirmed and quantitated in urine as 11-nor-delta 9-THC-9-COOH by GC/MS in the selected ion monitoring mode after extraction from urine. The addition of varying amounts of household bleach causes significant decreases in the quantitated amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Urine samples containing various known amounts of THC (25-219 ng/mL) were spiked with increasing amounts of household bleach (0-64 microL/mL of urine). The samples were extracted using a solid-phase extraction procedure, derivatized, and analyzed by GC/MS. The area counts for the deuterated internal standard versus the native drug, as well as the quantitation for the various spiked samples, were compared with those of the non-adulterated samples. The results demonstrated that there was an inverse relationship between the amount of bleach used and the amount of THC recovered. The area counts for both the deuterated and native THC decreased as the amount of bleach increased. There appeared to be a consistent decrease in the ratio of native to deuterated THC, suggesting that the bleach affected the native drug more than the deuterated compound. The same decrease in THC concentrations were noted when the samples were assayed by an RIA methodology (Roche Abuscreen) as well as by an FPIA assay (Abbott TDx).

Dronabinol↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unusual properties of a cold-labile fraction of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) brain microtubules.

A cold-labile fraction of microtubules with unusual properties was isolated from the brain of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). The yield was low, approximately six times lower than that for bovine brain microtubules. This was mainly caused by the presence of a large amount of cold-stable microtubules, which were not broken down during the disassembly step in the temperature-dependent assembly-disassembly isolation procedure and were therefore lost. The isolated cold-labile cod microtubules contained usually only a low amount of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). Three high molecular mass proteins were found, of which one was recognized as MAP2. Cod MAP2 differed from mammalian brain MAP2; it was not heat stable and had a slightly higher molecular mass. In contrast to mammalian MAPs, MAP1 was not found in the cold-labile fraction of microtubules. A new heat-labile MAP of higher molecular mass (400 kilodaltons) was however present, as well as a heat-stable protein of slightly lower molecular mass than MAP2. These MAPs showed similar tubulin-binding characteristics as bovine brain MAPs, since they coassembled with taxol-assembled bovine brain microtubules consisting of pure bovine tubulin. In spite of the fact that Ca2+ bound equally to cod and porcine tubulins, it did not inhibit cod microtubule assembly even at high concentrations (greater than 1 mM). In contrast, rings, spirals, and macrotubules were formed. The results show that there are major differences between this fraction of cod microtubules and microtubules from mammalian brain.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Telemedicine: science or fiction?].

Telemedicine has been considered to be a scientific discipline midway between medicine and technology. Thus, over the last decade it has been largely influenced by the continuous development of computer and communications technologies. Now that the phase of its laboratory investigation has been completed, it can be considered to be a technique in a mature state. Hence, both from the point of view of technology suppliers and of the users of medicine -patients and professionals- there is a demand for a takeoff in the arena of its implantation, that is to say, the need for new health services based on telemedicine. This article offers an up-to-date view of the state of the art of telemedicine but without entering into an in-depth evaluation and description of the technology and its applications. On the contrary, our aim is to make it known to users and to the different health organisations, including their managers, that the conditions for its development are now available. Thus the success or failure of its implantation is a task for all of the actors involved. What is certain is that in the light of the experience and results of its application during the last decade, both in our surrounding geographical milieu and in the United States, there are unmistakable signs that telemedicine is here to stay.

Forecasting↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Gastroduodenitis and Helicobacter pylori in uremic patients].

We studied 26 patients (p) with end stage renal failure (RF) and 26 healthy volunteers (HV) to investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and its relation with chronic gastritis (CG) and chronic duodenitis (CD). We analyzed 312 gastric and duodenal mucosal biopsies stained with H & E and Giemsa. Categorical data were assessed by the X2 and Fisher's exact test. Probability values of p < 0.05 were considered significant. Endoscopic lesions correlated with histological gastritis and duodenitis and Hp was positive in antrum of 6/8p (75%) (p < 0.05). The prevalence of Hp was 54.5% (15/26p) in RF and 47.2% (12/26s) in HV. Hp was found more frequently in pathological mucosa (p < 005.). CG of the antrum and CD were more commonly in RF (88.5% vs 69.5% and 42.3% vs 23.1% respectively). HP was more frequently located in the antrum than in body and duodenum in both groups (p < 0.05). Chronic gastritis of the body was more frequently in HV (p < 0.05). Active chronic antral gastritis and superficial gastritis were more frequently associated to Hp. Hp was associated to chronic inflammatory gastroduodenal diseases in both groups and may be a cofactor in its pathogenesis. We recommended Hp treatment before renal transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Antibodies against hepatitis C virus. Experience with a second generation test].

A second generation recombinant immunoblot assay to detect antibodies against Hepatitis C virus (RIBA II, Ortho Diagnostic Systems) was applied to 30 serum samples repeatedly reactive to ELISA anti-HCV c100-3, 11 from hemodialysis patients, 11 from patients with chronic hepatitis and 8 from patients with cirrhosis. The assay detects individual antibodies directed to 4 antigenic components of the C virus, 2 antigens, c100 and 5-1-1 contained in the original ELISA assay and 2 new antigens, c33c and c22-3 the latter structural in nature. From the total of 30 samples, 23 (77%) were reactive, 4 (13%) indeterminate and 3 (10%) non reactive to the RIBA II assay. Much variation was observed regarding the response to each individual antigen. c22-3 was the most frequently reactive with the highest intensity. RIBA II assay confirmed a high percentage of the reactive results with the ELISA c-100-3, serum samples that were non reactive to RIBA showed a low optical density with ELISA. c22-3 was the most sensitive antigenic component.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Antibodies against hepatitis C virus in patients with liver diseases and in risk subjects. Preliminary report].

The recent discovery of an antigenic component of the causative agent of Non-A, Non-B hepatitis, has led to the characterization of this virus--Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)--and to the identification of an antibody present in infected subjects (anti-HCV) detected by means of the C-100 antigen derived from a nonstructural region of the viral genome. Using a commercial Kit (Ortho Diagnostic Inc.), the incidence of anti-HCV antibody was studied in the Military Hospital "Dr. Carlos Arvelo" of Caracas, Venezuela with the following results: Health personnel (doctors, nurses, laboratory staff): 102 persons studied, 2 positives (1.96%); 16 patients in chronic hemodialysis: 6 positives (33%); 20 subjects with antibodies against HIV virus, confirmed by Western Blot: 7 positives (35.4%). Of 10 patients with Surface Antigen negative Chronic Hepatitis, 7 (70%) positive for anti-HCV, of 25 patients with cirrhosis: 12 positive (48%), 2 patients with hepatocarcinoma 1 positive (50%). There was also a high incidence of total anti-core antibodies in the patients studied. The results suggest that the hepatitis C virus could be playing an important role as a causative factor of liver diseases in our Country.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Benign intracranial hypertension in childhood (author's transl)].

Eight patients with clinic manifestations of benign intracranial hypertension are reported. Every patient was studied to the point where all other causes were ruled out. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture and complementary studies are analysed. Finally, authors examine management and prognosis of the syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The relation between the viscosity of enteral nutrition products and delays or interruptions in the infusion rate selected].

Enteral nutrition infusion systems block or suffer alterations to the infusion rate selected at the pump, creating significant problems in the clinic. The manufacturers insist on the important of not using fine-bore catheters when products are viscous, but they provide no specific data correlating bore with maximum advisable viscosity. Experimental work was carried out in order to relate these variable and fix a pattern for selection of nutrients according to their physical properties and a particular catheter bore. The results of our study indicate that none of the products currently of the market for enteral nutrition creates problems with the selected infusion rate, nor blocking of a probe of minimum bore (6 CH). Thus the complications attributed to catheter bore or the physical characteristics of a product are attributable to the poor preparation of the product or improper handling or care of catheters and infusion systems.

Catheterization, Peripheral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Severe allergic conjunctivitis and chemosis caused by disodium cromoglycate.

A 63-year-old man with chronic, nonallergic rhinoconjunctivitis presented immediate adverse reactions, such as intense itching, burning, redness and severe swelling of both conjunctivae after using disodium cromoglycate eye drops. Skin prick tests and conjunctival provocation tests were positive with pure disodium cromoglycate. Circulating IgE-specific antibodies to disodium cromoglycate in serum were demonstrated by RAST. We suggest that the acute ocular reaction was caused by disodium cromoglycate and that the underlying mechanism was probably an IgE-mediated immunological reaction.

Conjunctivitis, Allergic↗