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Biomedical subjects

O Gómez

Publications and source records attributed to O Gómez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Serum antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein in pregnant women with preeclampsia and chronic hypertension: lack of correlation with lipid peroxides.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the circulating levels of antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and their correlation with the lipid peroxide/vitamin E ratio in pregnant women with preeclampsia and chronic hypertension. METHODS: Antibodies to oxidized LDL were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay, lipid peroxides (malondialdehyde), and vitamin E were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Patients were 25 healthy pregnant women, 20 previously nonhypertensive women diagnosed with preeclampsia, and 20 women with uncomplicated chronic hypertension. RESULTS: Serum levels of antibodies to LDL in preeclamptic patients were similar to controls, whereas women with chronic hypertension showed a trend for increased mean levels. Lipid peroxides in serum were significantly increased and vitamin E levels were significantly decreased in preeclampsia with respect to nonhypertensive pregnancy, but no differences were observed for chronic hypertensive women. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that preeclampsia is not accompanied by increased levels of antibodies to oxidized LDL. By contrast, and according to previous studies in nonpregnant patients, chronic hypertensive patients showed a trend for elevated levels.

Antibodies↗

Survival of AIDS according to injecting drug use among Puerto Rican AIDS patients.

This paper aims to: 1/ describe IDU's and non-IDU's according to age, gender, AIDS criteria and antiretroviral therapy; and 2/ assess survival differences between IDU's and non-IDU's according to age, gender, AIDS diagnosis criteria and antiretroviral therapy. This study is a survival study of a longitudinal cohort. The sample was composed of 1,258 AIDS patients of a cohort of HIV-infected adults who sought medical care at either the Immunology clinic of Bayamon or the Ramon Ruiz Arnau University Hospital between 1992 and 1999. The variables studied were: survival time of AIDS, intravenous drug use, age, gender, AIDS defining criteria and antiretroviral therapy (yes/no). The results have been that IDU's had lower survival than non-IDU's. Significant differences in the survival functions (IDU's vs non-IDU's) were found among male patients, older patients, patients with immunological criteria and patients with antiretroviral therapy. The survival among these variables was lower in IDU's than non-IDU's. This study suggested that decreased survival of IDU's may be related to later diagnosis and decreased access to drug therapy. Clinical endeavors should take into consideration the variables related to IDU's survival to develop health programs in order to enhance the quality of life and the survival of the AIDS patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Inhibin A serum levels in proteinuric and nonproteinuric pregnancy-induced hypertension: evidence for placental involvement in gestational hypertension?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the serum levels of inhibin A in pregnant women with different types of hypertension. METHODS: A case-control study, including 60 cases (20 women with preeclampsia, 20 with mild gestational hypertension, and 20 with chronic hypertension), and 60 gestational-age- and parity-matched controls. Inhibin A was measured in duplicate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples frozen at -80 degrees C. RESULTS: As compared to controls, inhibin A levels were significantly elevated in women with preeclampsia ¿2.32 standard deviation (SD) 1.4¿ versus 0.50 (0.29) ng/mL, p < 0.001) and gestational hypertension [1.09 (0.73) versus 0.55 (0.29) ng/mL, p < 0.05], but not in the group of chronic hypertension [0.88 (0.69) versus 0.54 (0.39) ng/mL, p = 0.08]. Overlap in inhibin A values between cases and controls was observed in 20% (4/20) of women with preeclampsia and 55% (11/20) with gestational hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum inhibin A may indicate that a proportion of mild nonproteinuric hypertension cases are associated with placental involvement.

Adult↗

Serum and placental lipid peroxides in chronic hypertension during pregnancy with and without superimposed preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the circulating levels of lipid peroxides and vitamin E, and the placental levels of lipid peroxides in chronic hypertensive pregnant women, with and without superimposed preeclampsia, as compared to controls and women with primary preeclampsia. METHODS: Lipid peroxides were measured in serum and placenta by the thiobarbituric acid method and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and vitamin E by HPLC. Patients were 36 healthy pregnant women, 34 previously nonhypertensive women diagnosed with preeclampsia, 20 women with uncomplicated chronic hypertension, and 11 women with chronic hypertension complicated by superimposed preeclampsia. RESULTS: Lipid peroxides in serum and placental tissue were significantly increased, and vitamin E levels in serum were significantly decreased in women with primary preeclampsia and superimposed preeclampsia, as compared to controls. The group of uncomplicated chronic hypertension presented with similar values of lipid peroxides and vitamin E to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the clinical assumption that chronic hypertension aggravated by the development of proteinuria represents a superimposed condition associated with placental disease. The data further support the concept that increased lipid peroxides are not merely associated with the presence of hypertension in pregnancy, but they are implicated in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.

Case-Control Studies↗

[Hypertriglyceridemia following treatment with interferon alpha in essential thrombocythemia].

A case of essential thrombocytemia treated with alpha interferon is reported, with hematological remission, but as a side effect hypertriglyceridemia is relevant. It was normalized when alpha interferon was stopped. This is the first case of essential thrombocythemia in Venezuela treated with biological modifiers, with hematological remission, but with hypertriglyceridemia as side effect.

Adult↗

Phorbol ester or cAMP enhance thyrotropin-releasing hormone mRNA in primary cultures of hypothalamic cells.

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) biosynthesis is subject to a multifactorial control. TRH mRNA levels are negatively regulated by thyroid hormones in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, and positively in cold exposure or suckling. Effect of second messenger pathways stimulation, a known response to membrane receptors, was studied in vitro; cultures of rat embryonic hypothalami (18 day gestation) were treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 100 nM) or dibutiryl cAMP (dBcAMP, 1 mM) for various times. Levels of TRH mRNA were raised after the first hour of dBcAMP or 2 h of TPA treatment and were still increased at 24 h. These results suggest a neural regulation of TRH biosynthesis.

Animals↗

[CD10(CALLA)-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A group with a bad prognosis].

The results of 188 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, studied between 1985 and 1990, showed that 8 cases were CD10 negative, Dr, and CD19 positive. These findings indicate cell dedifferentiation and poor prognosis. The patients age ranged from 2 to 30 years, with a mean of 11 years. The male/female ratio was 5/3. Lymph node enlargement and splenomegaly were found in the 8 patients. With the exception of one patient in whom leucopenia was present, the white cell counts were always higher than 30,000/dl. The karyotype was studied in four cases, and all of them were hyperdiploid. This is the first report in Venezuela of cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia - CD 10 negative.

Adolescent↗

[Epidemiology of von Willebrand's disease in the state of Zulia, Venezuela].

The prevalence of von Willebrand's disease (vWd) in Zulia State, Venezuela, was studied among patients referred because of hemorrhagic symptoms. Ninety six cases out of 684 patients aged six months to fifty years, were diagnosed as vWd by measuring FvW, FVIII and Ristocetin cofactor in plasma, along with determinations of the bleeding time and platelet aggregation with ristocetin. Crossed immune electrophoresis and determination of FvW concentration in platelets were also carried out in several patients. The prevalence of the disease in Zulia State was 42.9/10(6) inhabitants and in the metropolitan area of Maracaibo (capital city of Zulia State) was 73/10(6) inhabitants. Eighty eight per cent of the patients were classified as vWd Type I, 2% as vWd Type IIb and 4.1% as Type III. Five cases were not classified. Three patients with Type I vWd also suffered from Autoimmune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, one had a SC hemoglobinopathy and in one patient the disease coexisted with mitral valve prolapse. The need for a proper attention to the patients with vWd is emphasized, as its prevalence in the region is similar to that found in european countries, where a great effort is applied to assure the adequate therapy and social support.

Adolescent↗

[Post-transfusional hepatitis. Preliminary study].

In Venezuela post-transfusional hepatitis (PTH) data is unknown. We studied, prospectively, 147 patients who received blood transfusions (1 to 48 different blood components). They were screened for HBsAg (Ortho HBsAg Elisa Test System), anti HBc (Ortho HBc Elisa Test System and CORZYME, Abbott Laboratories) and amino-transferases (Doles), before and after transfusions. Only the last 36 patients were tested for anti HCV (Ortho HCV antibody Elisa Test)R from the beginning. The test were performed at 2, 7, 12 and 24 weeks subsequently in the negative recipients. PTH for type B virus was 3.8% (5/131), and for NANBH 2.7% (3/110). In both groups those recipients who had more transfusions had the greatest incidence of PTH. We conclude that anti HBc and ALT must be done in all blood donors to prevent the occurrence of PTH either B virus or NANBH. We suggest also, to include anti HCV screening in blood donors as a mean to make blood transfusion safer.

Adolescent↗

Prothrombin Perija: a new congenital dysprothrombinemia in an Indian family.

A Western Venezuelan indigenous Yukpa(Irapa) family with moderate bleeding and discrepancy in the prothrombin values by biological and immunological methods is described. The propositus presented biological activity of 2% by the methods in one-stage including Staphylocoagulase and Echis carinatus. Electrophoretic migration of the prothrombin in plasma was normal, while the serum only showed one precipitation arc instead of the three of normal serum. The propositus appeared to be homozygous for the abnormal prothrombin which we have denominated Prothrombin Perijá.

Adolescent↗

[Pacemaker implants in children].

Complications and lethality related to pacemaker implants performed to 32 infants and children at a public cardiovascular center of Santiago, Chile, from december 1979 throughout december 1989 were retrospectively assessed. Indications for pacemaker implants were complete congenital atrioventricular block (n = 22; 69%), and post-surgical arrhythmias (n = 10; 31%). Replacement of pulse generator was necessary in 9 children after an average time of 5.5/12 years from the initial implant. Electrode fractures were detected in 4 cases of pacemaker's failure and raised stimulation threshold in one of such patients. Four patients of this series died along follow-up, only one death occurred in the immediate post-operatory period. The other 3 cases died several months after surgery due to causes not related to the pacemakers. The remaining 28 children are in good physical and emotional conditions.

Adolescent↗