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Biomedical subjects

M Martinez

Publications and source records attributed to M Martinez.

355 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Feeding pattern of Triatoma rubrovaria (Blanchard, 1843) (Hemiptera, Triatominae) in peridomiciliary habitats, of a rural area of Uruguay].

It has been studied the feeding patterns of Triatoma rubrovaria (wild triatominae bug, and intradomiciliary secondary vector of T. cruzi) in a rural area of "La Bolsa" (Department of Artigas). Agar double diffusion test were used for analyze the blood meal, from 120 insects, which were confronted to 13 antisera. It has 251 identify blood meals, and the most frequently was mammalian host (73%), but it has a variable source of feeding (mammals, birds, reptiles and cockroach), including humans rate 8% of the total. The identify of haemolimphe as feed, place this triatominae bug as an intermediary vector between predator and haematophagous. The most usual mammals are dasypodides and bovines. The frequence of human blood meal near the dwellings, shows its potentiality as vectors. Therefore, the peridomicile is an area of interaction between, domestic, wild and sinantropic host. The trypanosomic infection's rate at peridomiciles was lesser those at wild areas.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ecology of Triatoma rubrovaria (Hemiptera, Triatominae) in wild and peridomestic environments of Uruguay.

This paper describes population structure, spatial distribution and habitat selection of wild and peridomestic populations of Triatoma rubrovaria (Blanchard, 1843). Field studies were carried out at Las Piedras and La Bolsa in the Northern Department of Artigas, Uruguay. A semicircular sampling area, divided in seven or eight triangular sectors was sequentially examined from October 1990 to November 1991. At Las Piedras (typical wild habitat) 1063 T. rubrovaria bugs were collected from 84% of the rocky outcroops ("pedregales"). Abundance varied by season peaking in October-November (spring). Throughout the year, most of the population was made up of third, fourth and fifth instar nymphs; adults were found from October to March. In the peridomestic environment of La Bolsa, however T. rubrovaria was less common and showed a more irregular instar distribution. Colonized ecotopes, were those close to houses. In both sites T. rubrovaria was mainly associated with the geckonid Homonota uruguayensis and the cockroach Blaptica dubia.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Weight gain and antipsychotic drug treatment].

Like the classical neuroleptic drugs, most of the new antipsychotic agents can cause weight gain in patients receiving long-term treatment. However, it remains difficult to rank the different compounds according to their propensity to cause this unwanted side-effect. Recent data suggest that weight gain appears to be essentially related to an increase in appetite in these patients. Thus, it is a fact that the patients' diet represents the main predictive factor for weight gain, independently of the antipsychotic compound prescribed. In contrast to the other and often more disabling side-effects of these treatments, overweight can be effectively prevented by simple hygienic and dietetic measures. It would therefore be advisable to discuss the possibility of this side-effect of antipsychotic treatment with the patient, and to suggest appropriate preventive measures, as part of the therapeutic partnership.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of chronic experimental alcoholism on the epithelium of the uterine horn of rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus).

Sixty adult rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) of the same age (3 months) and with a mean body weight of 228 g were divided into two experimental groups. The control group received solid diet (Purina rat chow) and tap water ad libitum. The other (alcoholic group), received the same solid diet and was allowed to drink only sugar cane brandy dissolved in 30 degrees Gay Lussac (v/v). At the end of periods of 90, 180 and 270 days of treatment, the animals were anaesthetized with ethyl ether during estrus, weighed and sacrificed. The final mean body weights were similar in the control and alcoholic groups. The results showed intense atrophy on the lining epithelium of the endometrium of uterine horns in the alcoholic group. Important ultrastructural epithelial alterations were also observed in the female alcoholic group, such as: intense lipid droplet accumulation, increased rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae and mitochondrial size and presence of intraepithelial neutrophils. The secretory activity of these rats was reduced. Therefore, we concluded that alcohol acts as a toxin on the epithelial layer of the rat endometrium.

Alcoholic Beverages↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Morphology of the ventral lobe of the prostate and seminal vesicles in an ethanol-drinking strain of rats (UChA and UChB).

Chronic alcoholism alters reproduction and therefore may be responsible for alterations of prostate and seminal vesicles, which are the subject of this analysis in UCh ethanol-drinking rats. The prostate and seminal vesicles of 20 animals were submitted to macroscopic, light microscopy, electron microscopy and morphometric analysis. The UCh rats showed atrophy of the epithelium and reduction of the weight of the prostate and seminal vesicle, liver hypertrophy and fat infiltration and alterations of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis. Ethanol induces changes in the weight and in the epithelium of prostate and seminal vesicles and hypothalamus-pituitary axis of UCh rats.

Alcoholism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

European genetic study on rheumatoid arthritis: is there a linkage of the interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-10 or IL-4 genes to RA?

UNLABELLED: The genetic predisposition for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is only partly explained by the HLA locus and most genetic factors involved in the susceptibility (and/or severity) of the disease await further identification. The first European genome scan in RA families provided suggestive evidence for linkage with a region (3.1/3q13) on chromosome 3, but many other potential RA susceptibility genes have yet to be analysed. AIMS: To perform a linkage analysis with microsatellite markers located in the vicinity of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene superfamily, the IL-10 gene and the IL-4 gene cluster which might be considered putative candidate loci for RA. METHODS: 107 Caucasoid European RA sibpairs from 90 nuclear families were genotyped for markers flanking the genes for the IL-1 superfamily, IL-10 and the IL-4 gene cluster. Linkage analysis based on the identity by descent (IBD) in affected siblings was analysed with the program SIBPALNA. Affected sibpairs were stratified according to the identity by state (IBS) for three markers in the HLA region (DRB1 oligotyping, D6S276 and TNFa microsatellites) and to the presence/absence of erosive disease on X-ray examination. RESULTS: Analysis of the whole family set showed an excess of allele sharing for markers of the IL-1 gene cluster (IBD 60%; P = 0.012) but not for IL-10 or IL-4. After stratification, the evidence of linkage to IL-1 was restricted to HLA concordant sibpairs (n = 32; IBD 70%; P = 0.006). Some evidence of linkage to IL-10 was also observed in HLA concordant sibpairs (IBD 66%; P = 0.03) and in sibpairs with erosive disease (n = 61; IBD 62%; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: We found suggestive evidence of linkage of RA to the IL-1 locus. The increased linkage to IL-1 and IL-10 in HLA-identical sibs suggests a possible interaction between these cytokines and the HLA loci. Moreover IL-10 could interact with HLA factors in predisposing to erosive disease. These results need to be tested in additional families for consistency and replication.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of excimer laser (308 nm) ablation of the human lens nucleus in air and saline with a fiber optic delivery system.

BACKGROUND: Photoablation with excimer lasers has demonstrated precise tissue cutting and minimal thermal damage. Potential ophthalmic applications of these lasers include remodelling of the corneal surface, glaucoma treatment, and phacoablation. Ablation of human lens with a 308 nm XeCl excimer laser light delivered through a fiber has been demonstrated in preliminary experiments. Intraocular delivery of laser light must be done in a fluid medium to preserve the integrity of ocular structures. However, little information is available on the effect of the fluid media on the ablation process. Therefore, a series of experiments was conducted to determine whether the ablation of human lens nucleus at 308 nm via a fiber differs in air and saline media. METHODS: Ablation of human lens nuclei (n = 30) was conducted with a XeCI excimer laser (308 nm) coupled to a 600 microns core size fiber. Irradiation was performed at 2.8 mJ/cm2 energy density and 20 Hz. The fiberoptic was brought to contact with the lens nucleus and remained fixed for the duration of irradiation. Variables consisted of the medium (air or saline) and number of pulses delivered (100 to 10,000). Following establishment of the tissue shrinkage ratio, the depth of each crater and the tissue volume removed were measured histologically. The histological features of nucleus ablation in air and in saline were also examined with both light and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Light microscopy revealed that the average zone of thermal damage adjacent to the crater is thinner in the presence of saline (60 microns, SD = 6 microns) than it is in air (90 microns, SD = 12 microns). In both media, the thickness of the zone of thermal damage is greater at the surface than it is at its base. Following irradiation in air, deep sharpedged craters with smooth walls are formed. Craters formed by irradiation in saline are characterized by reduced depth and irregular walls. For the same number of pulses applied (500, 1000, and 2000), the mean depth of ablation per pulse in air (8.6 to 2.7 microns/pulse) was greater by approximately a factor of two than that in saline (4.10 to 1.30 microns/pulse) at P < .01. However, the mean ablated volume removed per pulse was greater in saline (0.00250 to 0.00150 mm3/pulse) than in air (0.00120 to 0.00080 mm3/pulse), for the same number of pulses (1000, 2000) at P < .01. CONCLUSIONS: In comparing the data for the same number of pulses applied in air and in saline, it appears that the depth of crater formed by irradiation in air is deeper than that in fluid. The overall volume ablated is greater in fluid than it is in air at 1000 and 2000 pulses. Additionally, the zone of thermal damage is thinner in the presence of saline than it is in air. Smoother crater shapes were observed following irradiation in air than in saline. These results suggest that under this specific experimental setup, the ablation in saline is different from that in air.

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