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Biomedical subjects

M Navarro

Publications and source records attributed to M Navarro.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Dynamics and size polymorphisms of minichromosomes in Leishmania major LV-561 cloned lines.

Various lines and cloned lines of Leishmania major of varying degrees of virulence in BALB/c mice possessed size polymorphic multicopy minichromosomes related to previously described LD1/CD1 and 715-class DNAs of Leishmania. The minichromosomes were not necessary for virulence. Two of these DNAs (M180 and M210), coexisting in a single cloned line, showed remarkable dynamics in terms of loss or gain when followed through multiple transfers during in vitro culture and in vivo passage in BALB/c mice. Although there was significant sequence heterogeneity among minichromosomes, M180 sequences were present within large (megabase) and in intermediate (550-760 kb) chromosomes in the L. major lines analysed. M180 related small DNAs were also detected in Leishmania mexicana and Leishmania donovani isolates, suggesting that the generation of these molecules involves a common, probably functional basic mechanism widespread in Leishmania.

Animals↗

Systemic lupus erythematosus in men: clinical and immunological characteristics.

Although systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has traditionally been considered a disease of women, men may also be affected. Thirty of 261 patients (12%) with SLE seen in this hospital were men. Arthritis was less common as a first symptom in the men, although this group of patients had discoid lesions and serositis more often than the women. During the follow up a lower incidence of arthritis and malar rash and a higher incidence of other skin complications including discoid lesions and subcutaneous lupus erythematosus was found in the men. The incidence of nephropathy, neurological disease, thrombocytopenia, vasculitis, and serositis, was similar in the two groups. No significant immunological differences were found between men and women. These features indicate that several gender associated clinical differences may be present in patients with SLE.

Adolescent↗

[Dissection of the ascending aorta (type A): diagnostic aspects, surgical treatment and long-term follow-up].

Aortic replacement is the treatment of choice and improves the natural history of dissections involving the ascending aorta. Forty patients (23 male), aged 49.4 years, have been operated at the hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica. Twenty six presented with acute dissections. Angiography conformed the dissection in 63.3% and computed axial tomography in 84.6% of patients; lately, transesophageal echocardiography has become the most sensitive diagnostic method. Twenty three patients (57.5%) were subjected to emergency operations and 17 to semielective procedures. In 24 patients (60%) ascending aorta was replaced and in 16 a composite graft was used. Operative mortality was 27.5%. Univariate analysis showed that the period in which the operation was performed and the presence of limb ischemia were the only independent predictors of operative mortality. Long term follow up was achieved in 26 patients (89.6%). Actuarial 5 year survival without considering operative mortality was 87.9%. It is concluded that patients with acute dissections involving the ascending aorta should be operated as soon as the imaging diagnosis is complete and, since this is a palliative procedure, a close follow up is required for early detection of complications.

Adult↗

[Interventricular rupture following myocardial infarction. Surgical treatment and long-term follow-up].

The natural course of post myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect is towards cardiogenic shock and death. 50% in the first week, over 90% a year latter. Between 1973-1989, 28 patients where operated on. Before surgery 14 patients (53%) where in Killip IV, 5 patients (19%) in III, 5 patients (19%) in II and 2 patients in I. The repair was accomplished under hypothermia and cardioplegia, with the insertion of a Teflon patch to close the defect in 20 patients (70%). Complementary procedures (CABG, Pacemaker, repair of dissections) were performed in 12 patients (47%). Three patients (10%) could not be weaned from the pump; another 10 (36%) died before discharge: 2 with multisystem failure and sepsis, the other 8 with cardiogenic shock (4 with residual VSD). The only independent predictor of operative mortality, by univariate analysis, was preoperatory cardiogenic shock. All 15 survivors (100%) where followed between 5 months and 14.5 years (mean 104.5 months). Two patients died at 4 years, one at 10, another at 10.5 years. The actuarial probability of being alive after discharge was 100% at 4 years, 75% at 5, and 50% at 10 years. At last follow up only 2 patients had mild dyspnea, the remaining where asymptomatic. Surgical treatment provides an opportunity to improve this otherwise dismal survival and offers a surprising good long term result. An early diagnosis and efficient repair, before the onset of cardiogenic shock, should provide better results.

Actuarial Analysis↗

[Correlation between dysplasia and malignization risk of Crohn disease].

The malignancy risk in Crohn's disease is less than that of ulcerative colitis, although it has not been so well studied. The possibility of an early detection of malignant changes during the long term follow-up of the patients induces to look for parameters which might be helpful in this respect. In the second surgical clinic of the Hospital Clinico in Madrid, the pathological findings of 11 patients with the diagnosis of Crohn's disease have been analyzed and correlated with the clinical findings. The evaluation of the degree of dysplasia was done on 15 samples obtained by endoscopy and compared with the findings of the surgical specimens in 6 operated patients. The degree of dysplasia increases with age of the patients and years of evolution of the disease with a significant correlation (p less than 0.001) between negative dysplasia and positive dysplasia grade I.

Adult↗

Influence of psychogenetics in opiate tolerance and abstinence in mice.

1. Four different strains of mice were used to study the influence of psychogenetics in opiate tolerance and abstinence. 2. The CD1 strain seemed to be more sensitive to naloxone administration after four days of morphine implantation, because administration of the antagonist induces a number of jumps in the withdrawal phase higher than in the case of the DBA or C3H strains. 3. DBA and C3H mice elicit analgesia before the CD1 strain, whereas the C3H mice lose body weight at a faster rate than the other strains. 4. C57 bl mice died after morphine implantation (100%). 5. These findings are discussed in relation with neurochemical and receptor variations.

Animals↗

Effects of pre- and perinatal exposure to hashish extracts on the ontogeny of brain dopaminergic neurons.

The changes induced by maternal exposure to cannabinoids in the maturation of nigrostriatal, tuberoinfundibular and mesolimbic dopaminergic activities of rat offspring 15-40 days old were studied. In the striatum, tyrosine hydroxylase activity was constantly decreased during cannabinoid exposure in males. This decrease was correlative to increased number of D1 and D2 dopaminergic receptors. Both effects were also observed after the drug withdrawal caused by weaning on day 24. In females, the most consistent effect appeared on day 20, when decreased dopamine content and number of D1 receptors were observed. Both effects disappeared after drug withdrawal, but the reduction in the number of D1 receptors was again observed 40 days after birth. In the limbic area, cannabinoid exposure caused a decrease in the number of D1 receptors in 15-day-old females, along with decreases in the content of dopamine and its metabolite, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. Changes in receptors disappeared on subsequent days, but increases in L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid content and in its ratio with dopamine (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid/dopamine) were observed on day 20 followed by a decrease in the neurotransmitter content on day 30. In males, tyrosine hydroxylase activity increased on day 30, followed by an increase in L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid content and L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid/dopamine ratio on day 40. In the hypothalamus, the cannabinoid effects were always manifested after the cessation of drug exposure. Thus, a rise in L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid/dopamine ratio was observed in 30-day-old females, and it was followed by a decrease on day 40, accompanied by a decrease in the anterior pituitary content of dopamine. Rise in prolactin release was not significant. In males, tyrosine hydroxylase activity was increased 30 days after birth, while L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid content decreased. On day 40, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid content increased, paired to a rise in L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid/dopamine ratio and anterior pituitary content of dopamine and to a decrease in the prolactin release. Perinatal exposure to cannabinoids altered the normal development of nigrostriatal, mesolimbic and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons, as reflected by changes in several indices of their activity. These changes were different regarding the sex and brain areas. Cannabinoid effects were more marked and constant in the striatum of males, while alterations in limbic neurons were mostly transient and those in hypothalamic neurons occurred after drug withdrawal. A long-term impact of these early changes on the neurological processes of adulthood is plausible.

Animals↗

Systemic lupus erythematosus in the elderly: clinical and immunological characteristics.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) predominantly affects young women in their 20s. In 40 out of 250 (16%) patients with SLE seen in our hospital disease onset occurred after the age of 50. The interval between the time of onset and diagnosis was five years in this older group compared with three years in the younger group. Arthritis, as a first symptom, was less common in the older onset group. During the follow up a lower incidence of arthritis, malar rash, photosensitivity, and nephropathy was found in the older onset group. In contrast, this group showed an increased incidence of myositis. High titres of anti-dsDNA tended to occur less often and the incidence of anti-Ro antibodies was lower in the older onset group. These features seem to distinguish patients with older onset SLE as a particular subset.

Adolescent↗

The 'primary' antiphospholipid syndrome: antiphospholipid antibody pattern and clinical features of a series of 23 patients.

Twenty-three patients with the 'primary' antiphospholipid syndrome were studied over 2-6 years. Twenty-two (96%) had antiphospholipid antibodies detected by ELISA (87% had antibodies to thromboplastin and 70% to cardiolipin), and 18 out of the 21 tested patients (86%) had lupus anticoagulant activity by coagulative assays. Mean age of the cohort was 29.9 years and the sex ratio (female:male) 4.75:1. Eleven patients presented 18 venous and/or arterial thrombosis and 13 had 25 foetal losses (84% occurred during the second and third trimester). Other clinical features were migraine, livedo reticularis, and epilepsy. Three patients had relatives with systemic lupus erythematosus. Thrombocytopaenia was seen in 33%, antinuclear antibodies in low or moderate titre in 30%, and haemolytic anaemia in 13%. During the follow-up, two patients presented recurrent thrombosis despite anticoagulant therapy, one of them dying because of recurrent pulmonary thromboembolism. Four patients achieved successful term pregnancies after treatment with aspirin and a further patient after treatment with aspirin and low dose prednisolone. No patient developed systemic lupus erythematosus or any other definable connective tissue disease. The 'primary' antiphospholipid syndrome may exist as a distinct clinical entity and all younger patients presenting with thrombotic events, foetal losses and/or thrombocytopaenia, without any evidence of a well defined disease, should be tested for antiphospholipid antibodies in order to rule out this syndrome.

Adult↗

[Alternating chemotherapeutic treatment in patients with localized undifferentiated small-cell carcinoma of the lung].

The results obtained from 23 patients suffering small cell lung carcinoma limited to the thorax, treated with 4 cycles of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine alternating with cisplatin and VP/16, followed by mediastinal and holocranial prophylactic radiotherapy in patients with a complete response (CR) are here presented. An 87% of global responses were obtained with a 64% rate of RC. The average survival rate was 12 months with an 18% of patients alive two years after treatment. The main toxicity was hematologic and neurologic. Even if this alternating regime produces a high response rate, the results are not superior to those obtained with conventional chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Anemia of chronic renal failure: treatment with erythropoietin.

Twenty-three anemic children with end-stage renal failure (ESRD), aged 0.1-19.0 years (X +/- SD, 8.3 +/- 5.7 years), were treated with intravenous recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). Eleven were on conservative treatment and their estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) was 11.8 +/- 3.8 ml/min/1.73 m2; 7 were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and 5 on chronic hemodialysis. rHuEPO was given once a week in predialysis and CAPD children and thrice weekly in patients on hemodialysis. The initial dose of 50 U/kg/week was increased gradually up to a target hemoglobin of 10-12 g/dl. After 4.3 +/- 1.3 months of treatment, hemoglobin increased from 7.4 +/- 1.3 to 10.7 +/- 1.4 g/dl (p less than 0.001). An hemoglobin concentration of 11.4 +/- 0.9 g/dl was maintained with a rHuEPO dose of 289 +/- 86 U/kg/week. The response was similar in predialysis, CAPD, and hemodialysis children. No change in renal function was observed in predialysis children, EGFR being 11.8 +/- 3.8 and 10.8 +/- 1.7 ml/min/1.73 m2, before and after rHuEPO therapy. All children improved appetite, physical activity, and the sense of well-being. Four developed mild hypertension that was easily controlled with antihypertensive therapy. Heparin dose had to be increased during the hemodialysis sessions to avoid clotting of the filter. Serum calcium increased from 9.9 +/- 0.9 to 10.5 +/- 0.9 mg/dl (p less than 0.001). Serum aluminium levels also increased from 65 +/- 17 to 100 +/- 15 micrograms/l, p less than 0.01. A linear correlation (r = 0.58, p less than 0.01) between aluminium levels and rHuEPO dose was found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anemia↗

An original method for assessment of the jumping test.

A study was carried out in mice to evaluate jumping activity, using an original methodology which makes graphical automatization and objectivization possible. The effects of guanfacine (an adrenergic alpha 2-agonist) in morphine-dependent mice and the ability of caffeine to induce a pseudosyndrome were also studied. This new method is useful for quantifying the jumping activity while also being able to evaluate other symptoms of abstinence. Furthermore, the method avoids manipulation of the animals during the abstinence period.

Animals↗

[Serotypes of Salmonella enterica in sewage effluent from Zaragoza. Comparison with clinical isolates. 1982-1989].

Between 1982 and 1989, 560 Salmonella enterica strains belonging to 63 serovars, were isolated from Zaragoza urban sewage. During the same period of time there were 45 different serovars isolated from faeces of patients from a hospital (in the same city). Only a reduced number of serovars comprised the majority of the human and environmental isolates. An approximately rectilinear relationship is shown between the isolated strains number and the number of different serovars, in non human Salmonella strains. In clinical isolates, we have not found this relation. We have compared the local results with those reported in other different Spanish regions.

Agglutination Tests↗

Addison's disease secondary to prostatic carcinoma. A case report.

Adrenal cortical insufficiency secondary to destruction of the cortex by a metastatic tumor is a rare condition. Addison's disease is usually caused by an autoimmune process or by a tuberculous infection. We report a case of adrenal insufficiency as the first clinical manifestation of a metastatic prostate carcinoma that occurred simultaneously with an active pulmonary infection by M. tuberculosis.

Addison Disease↗

[Cardiac tamponade as the initial manifestation of a pulmonary neoplasm].

The development of cardiac tamponade as the presenting feature of neoplastic disease is extremely uncommon. We report three patients with lung adenocarcinoma clinically presenting as cardiac tamponade. The diagnosis was made by the cytological study of pericardial fluid in all three. To update the clinical aspects of this uncommon association we have reviewed the literature and we have found 52 additional patients with different types of neoplasia who presented as cardiac tamponade.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Capillary microscopy is a potentially useful method for detecting bleomycin vascular toxicity.

Capillary microscopy is an easy, noninvasive procedure to examine in vivo the dermis capillaries of the nailfold. It has demonstrated clinical use in the etiologic study of Raynaud's phenomenon. We consider a "vascular activity pattern" to be present at capillary microscopy when one of the following associations is observed: tortuous capillary vessels plus ramifications with or without loss of a moderate amount of capillaries. Capillary tortuousity alone is not considered pathologic. It is well known that bleomycin (BLEO) can occasionally induce vascular-associated diseases. To examine the vascular damage produced by BLEO, we performed capillary microscopic studies on 40 patients with neoplasia, 21 of whom had received BLEO during the previous year. The maximum accumulated doses ranged from 15 to 379 U. The other 19 patients had advanced neoplasia, and 10 of them had received antitumoral combinations that did not contain BLEO. No one had clinical signs attributable to vascular toxicity. Twenty-six patients had no pathologic patterns (11 received BLEO and 15 did not). In the group of 14 patients with activity patterns, 10 had received BLEO and 4 had not (P = 0.035). Ten of 11 patients treated with BLEO who had normal capillary microscopic studies received total doses of less than 100 U. We conclude that capillary microscopy may demonstrate the vascular damage induced by BLEO even in asymptomatic patients.

Bleomycin↗