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Biomedical subjects

M Vives

Publications and source records attributed to M Vives.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

[Diarrhea caused by Campylobacter fetus jejuni and other infective agents in children of the rural area of Puriscal, Costa Rica].

Between September 1979 and September 1981 a field study was conducted on the etiology of diarrheal disease in the area of Puriscal, Costa Rica. The presence of enteric pathogens was investigated in the stools of 267 diarrheic children and 190 healthy controls. Both groups belong to yearly cohorts recruited at birth as part of a longitudinal multidisciplinary study of mothers and children. Campylobacter fetus jejuni was identified as the only pathogen in the stools of 24 diarrheic children (9%) and in four healthy controls (2%), a significant difference (p less than 0,05). The clinical features of the episodes were: irritability (77%), blood in stools (35%), anorexia (38,5%), and fever and vomiting (36%). Dehydration was not important among infected children (only one with 5% dehydration). All children received oral salt solutions and only two were treated with antibiotics. Rotaviruses were the main etiologic agents (17%) and Campylobacter ranked second (10,5%). The frequency of enterotoxigenic Enterobacteriaceae was similar in sick children and in controls (10% and 12% respectively).

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1984

[Cryptosporidiosis in children of Costa Rica: a cross section and longitudinal study].

The present report is a systematic study of children, with and without diarrhea from Costa Rican metropolitan areas and southern rural higlands. Children were observed, respectively, at emergencies, Hospital Nacional de Niños, and in a field station in Puriscal; urban children were studied vertically, rural children were observed prospectively (cohort study). Cryptosporidium sp. was found in 4.3% of the cases of diarrhea; diarrhea was generally severe in urban children, but mild in the rural. Infection was detected in urban children less than one year of age: contrasting, no rural infants were found infected, which might be related to breast-feeding, since Puriscal infants were intensively breast-fed for several months, while many urban infants were not breast-fed or were weaned earlier. Cryptosporidium sp. appeared during the warm, rainy and humid months of May through August, when the coccidium was associated with 14.8% of the urban and 15.4% of the rural diarrheas. All urban cases presented dehydration which was corrected with oral rehydration salt therapy, and occasionally with intravenous fluids; dehydration was not common in the rural cases.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Myths about the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Latin America].

Given the increase of the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD) and the possibility to avoid it, it is urgent to implement or strengthen NCD preventive programs in Latin America. However, many myths hinder the implementation of NCD programs. Myths on NCD include: a) NCD are degenerative and incurable; b) they are diseases of the elderly; c) they are diseases of the rich. Like wise there are myths about NCD preventive programs are: a) difficult to implement, b) expensive, and c) ineffective. We present data that demonstrate how these myths are untrue and discuss the challenges to find a balanced health policy that emphasizes the importance of NCD without overlooking other diseases.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Functional properties of isolated human pancreatic islets beneficial effects of culture and exposure to high glucose concentrations.

In order to assess the functional properties of human pancreatic islets we have evaluated insulin secretion, glucose metabolism and insulin mRNA synthesis. Particular attention was given to evaluate how culture and exposure to high glucose concentrations "in-vitro" influence the subsequent function of these cells. Islets were cultured for 1 and 7 days at 5.5 or 16.7 mM glucose concentrations. Insulin response to glucose, glucose+forskolin and leucine+glutamine was evaluated in freshly isolated and cultured islets. Catabolism of D-glucose was studied measuring D-(6-14C) glucose oxidation and D-(5-3H) glucose utilization. Northern blot analysis was performed to measure insulin mRNA levels. In freshly isolated islets there a low insulin response to all stimulus, but especially to nutrient secretagogues. Total glucose utilization was also lower than expected, with preferential disturbances in mitochondrial oxidative events. Independently of glucose concentration, culture improved insulin release, glucose catabolism and especially glucose oxidation, and insulin mRNA synthesis. After 7-days culture, high glucose concentration in the medium exerted beneficial effects on the overall functional activities of human pancreatic islets. Our study, 1) indicates that functional properties, initially impaired in freshly isolated human islets, improve after culture and become comparable to those previously proposed for rodent islets; and 2) argues against high glucose concentrations producing a deleterious effect on human beta-cell function. Rather they point to the concept that high glucose levels are beneficial for human islets function after long-term exposure in-vitro.

Adult↗