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Biomedical subjects

P Ortega

Publications and source records attributed to P Ortega.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of bendazac lysine on lens and retina in diabetics.

The possible beneficial effects on the lens and retina which Bendazac Lysine may have in the treatment of adult diabetic patients were investigated. Twenty patients, ranging in age from 54.80 +/- 5.86 years old, were studied. The average duration of the diabetes was 11.32 +/- 4.10 years. Thirteen patients had background retinopathy. The metabolic controls carried out during the study were satisfactory (HbA1 < 11%). Bendazac Lysine (500 mg three times a day) was administered for 6 months. Blood-retinal barrier permeability (VPR and VPRt) and lens transmittance (t) were evaluated prior to and 6 months after treatment by fluorophotometry. No statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-treatment values of the retina permeability were observed, however, there was a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) (initial value: t = 0.813 +/- 0.040 and final value: t = 0.823 +/- 0.037) in the lens transmittance. The authors conclude that Bendazac Lysine has a beneficial effect on the lens in the diabetic adult although no improvement in the permeability of the blood-retinal barrier has been observed.

Administration, Oral

PAF and thrombin actions in platelets are selectively affected by a new 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative.

In the present study we described the effects of a new 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative with antithrombotic activity on phosphoinositide turnover in washed platelets stimulated by either platelet-activating factor or thrombin. In 32P-labeled rabbit platelets, both PAF and thrombin evoked a transient loss of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and, thereafter, labeling increased over the control value. Concomitantly, a progressive formation of phosphatidic acid was observed. In [3H]arachidonate labeled platelets, both agonists elicited an increase in diacylglycerol (DAG) levels and arachidonate release. Pretreatment of platelets with the new dihydropyridine derivative (PCA-4230) prevents, in a dose-dependent fashion, the PAF-evoked variations in phosphoinositide turnover and DAG production. However, thrombin-induced variations were rather enhanced by PCA-4230. With respect to arachidonate release and platelet aggregation, the drug was again selective against PAF and thrombin. Although PCA-4230 shows some PAF antagonistic activity, its effects on PAF-evoked responses did not seem only due to an antagonism at receptor level. In view of the present results, the drug is not only able to discern the pathways of platelet activation by which PAF and thrombin exert their action, but it also affects selectively the enhanced phosphoinositide turnover and arachidonate release evoked by thrombin. Thereafter, PCA-4230 is a suitable tool to explore the mechanisms of action of the natural agonists.

Animals

Adjusting risk factors in spontaneous abortion by multiple logistic regression.

A cross-sectional case-control study was performed to identify some obstetric and gynaecologic factors that can influence spontaneous abortion. Statistical and epidemiologic analyses were done by multiple logistic regression to adjust OR through the beta coefficient. A dicotomized outcome variable, representing spontaneous abortion, and different independent variables, representing distinct medical factors, were designed. The analysis was carried out with a personal computer and an appropriate statistic package. The variables representing age over 35 and previous spontaneous abortions were shown to be risk factors, adjusted for the rest of variables. The variables representing parity and late menarcheal age lost significance when they were adjusted with multiple logistic regression.

Abortion, Spontaneous

Isolation of salmonellae from dried rattlesnake preparations.

Salmonella arizonae and other Salmonella serovars were isolated from four different rattlesnake preparations which were used for self-treatment of various diseases. A case of disseminated S. arizonae infection is reported in a patient who had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and ingested dried rattlesnake.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of prostate.

A prostatic tumor removed suprapubically in a sixty-three-year-old man was found to be a malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Various aspects of prostatic sarcomas and malignant fibrous histiocytomas are considered.

Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous

Eradication of cholesteatoma.

Cholesteatoma is, among the lesions appearing in chronic otitis media, the one creating most problems. We have selected 8 clinical situations, the most significant in our practice. After a short description of each, we expose our attitudes, past and present, in regard to each. Whether to use open or close techniques seems to be today's dilemma.

Child

Perinatal nitrogen accretion in muscles and fingernails.

Paired triceps muscle and fingernail samples were obtained at autopsy from 25 normally grown (NG) and 16 intrauterine growth-retarded (IGR) neonates who died within 28 days of birth. Gestational ages ranged from 21--46 weeks and birthweights ranged from 425--3750 g. Muscle samples were desiccated, defatted and ground to powder. Nitrogen content of muscle and fingernail were determined by a modified micro-Kjeldahl technique. Muscle nitrogen (MN) content averaged 12.1 +/- 1.89 g/100 g fat-free dry solids (FFDS) (mean +/- SD) and was similar for NG and IGR neonates and, within these two groups, for premature and mature babies. Fingernail nitrogen (FN) content averaged 13.8 +/- 0.95 g/100 g and no variations with duration and quality of intrauterine growth were identified. Fingernail nitrogen content correlated linearly with muscle nitrogen content in both NG (n = 0.48, P less than 0.002) and IGR (n = 0.67, P less than 0.005) neonates. The regression equation for the entire study population was: FN = 0.31MN + 9.96, Syx = +/- 0.778, r = 0.59, P less than 0.001. These data suggest the possibility of using simple, noninvasive fingernail "biopsies" to monitor protein economy and quality of perinatal growth.

Body Composition