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Biomedical subjects

M Barranco

Publications and source records attributed to M Barranco.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Pinning of quantized vortices in helium drops by dopant atoms and molecules

Using a density functional method, we investigate the properties of liquid 4He droplets doped with atoms (Ne and Xe) and molecules ( SF6 and hydrogen cyanide). We consider the case of droplets having a quantized vortex pinned to the dopant. A liquid-drop formula is proposed that accurately describes the total energy of the complex and allows one to extrapolate the density functional results to large N. For a given impurity, we find that the formation of a dopant+vortex+(4)He(N) complex is energetically favored below a critical size N(cr). Our results support the possibility to observe quantized vortices in helium droplets by means of spectroscopic techniques.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and correlation of clinical to Gram stain diagnostic criteria in low risk pregnant women.

The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, and the correlation of clinical Amsel criteria with Gram Nugent criteria for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis in a low risk population of pregnant women. Pregnant women under 28 weeks of gestation who were followed in the low risk clinics at two centers were evaluated for the presence of bacterial vaginosis using the Amsel clinical criteria, and underwent vaginal samples for Gram staining. Gram smears were examined for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis on the basis of Nugent's criteria. A total of 492 women were included in the study. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 1.6% (8/492) women on the basis of clinical criteria, and in 4.5% (22/492) according to Gram stain. The sensitivity and specificity of Amsel criteria compared with Gram stain were 35% and 99%, respectively. In accordance with other recent reports, the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis appears to be much lower in certain areas than figures previously suggested. In these populations, the correlation of composite clinical criteria defined in groups with high prevalence of bacterial vaginosis appears to be also poor.

Coloring Agents↗
PubMed1999

Arterial oxygenation during one-lung ventilation: combined versus general anesthesia.

UNLABELLED: The optimal anesthetic management of patients undergoing thoracotomy for pulmonary resection has not been definitely determined. We evaluated whether general i.v. anesthesia (propofol-fentanyl) provides superior PaO2 during one-lung ventilation (OLV) compared with thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) with supplemental local and general anesthetics. We studied 60 patients who had prolonged periods of OLV for elective thoracic surgery for lung cancer and who were prospectively randomized into two groups. In 30 patients (GA group), fentanyl/propofol/rocuronium anesthesia was used. Another 30 patients (TEA group) were anesthetized with propofol/rocuronium/epidural thoracic bupivacaine 0.5%. A double-lumen endotracheal tube was inserted, and mechanical ventilation with 100% oxygen was used during the entire study. Arterial and venous blood gases were recorded before surgery in a lateral position with two-lung ventilation, 15 and 30 min after OLV (OLV + 15 and OLV + 30, respectively) in all patients. We measured PaO2, venous central oxygen tension, arterial and central venous oxygen saturation, venous admixture percentage (Qs/Qt%), and arterial and central venous oxygen content. The mean values for PaO2 during OLV in the GA group after 15 min (175 mm Hg) and 30 min (182 mm Hg) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared with the TEA group (120 and 118 mm Hg, respectively). Furthermore, Qs/Qt% was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the TEA group during OLV. There were no other significant differences. We conclude that using the TEA regimen is associated with a lower PaO2 and a larger intrapulmonary shunt during OLV than with total i.v. anesthesia alone. IMPLICATIONS: Sixty patients undergoing elective lung surgery during a prolonged period of intraoperative one-lung ventilation were studied and randomized to receive general i.v. anesthesia or general i.v. anesthesia combined with thoracic epidural anesthesia. The arterial oxygenation in the first group was better than that in the second group during one-lung ventilation.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Spontaneous recovery of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is not associated with an improved perinatal outcome.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women is an established risk factor for premature labor, rupture of membranes, and preterm delivery, but information on its natural history during pregnancy is limited. METHOD AND MATERIAL: In this study, 635 pregnant women at less than 35 weeks' gestation were screened for bacterial vaginosis. RESULTS: The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, as assessed by Gram stain examination of vaginal smears, was 19.7% (125/635). Ninety-two women were retested 4 to 8 weeks later, and bacterial vaginosis persisted in 51.1% (47/92). The incidence of preterm delivery was significantly increased in women with bacterial vaginosis at enrollment (RR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.8-5.4). However, the risk of prematurity was similar in women with or without a persistence of bacterial vaginosis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis at any point during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of perinatal complications in spite of spontaneous recovery in subsequent examinations.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1995

[Relationship between Epstein-Barr virus and lymphoproliferative syndromes in patients without immunodeficiency].

PURPOSE: The relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and infectious mononucleosis, pharyngeal carcinoma and Burkitt's lymphoma is well known. Further relationship seems to exist between EBV and the lymphoproliferative syndromes appearing in immunodeficient subjects. The present work is aimed to study the possible relationship between the virus and the lymphoproliferative syndromes presented by people without any apparent immunodeficiency. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The presence of antibodies against different antigens of the virus was analysed. Antibodies against the viral capsid antigen were studied along with those against the early antigen and the viral core antigen in 55 patients with lymphoproliferative syndromes, of whom 38 had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 17 had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and none of them had immunodeficiency. RESULTS: Significantly higher geometric means of the titres against capsid antigen and of the prevalence of antibodies against early antigen were seen in the patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with respect to the control group. On the contrary, patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia showed lower immunologic response than the control group, although the difference was not significant for any of the antibodies under study. CONCLUSIONS: The higher immunologic response against EBV and its reactivation in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma would suggest that such agent could play a role favouring the onset of the disease, if not as a direct aetiological factor.

Adolescent↗