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Biomedical subjects

S Serra

Publications and source records attributed to S Serra.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Interictal EEG pattern in rabbit penicillin epilepsy.

The effects of Na-penicillin G (1,000,000 I.U./kg i.v.) were studied in 28 rabbits implanted with surface and deep electrodes in the medial (mT) and lateral (lT) nuclei of the thalamus and in the cornu Ammonis dorsalis (CAd). Attention was focused on interictal spike activity, cortical spindle activity and spikes-spindles relationship. A multifocal interictal EEG pattern, represented by cortical and thalamic spikes, was observed in 20 animals. A clear association between cortical spikes and spindles occurred almost constantly. Moreover a statistically significant increase in the average duration of spindles without changes in the average frequency was noticed. Seizure discharges had always a focal start and secondary generalization. The EEG features of parenteral penicillin epilepsy in the rabbit appeared to be more similar to those of the rat than to those of the cat. The spindle activity changes and the paroxysmal spike activity can be interpreted as two independent penicillin induced features appearing during raised cortical excitability periods.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1986

Amyotrophic choreoacanthocytosis: is it really a very rare disease?

Amyotrophic choreoacanthocytosis (ACA) is a hereditary disease characterized by adult onset, hyperkinesias (with tongue and/or lip biting), neurogenic muscular atrophies, acanthocytosis and normal blood lipoprotein pattern. In this paper we cite 8 patients belonging to three families, describing 6 patients of two of the families. We query the supposed rarity of the disease.

Acanthocytes↗
PubMed1986

Amyotrophic choreo-acanthocytosis: a new observation in southern Europe.

Amyotrophic choreo-acanthocytosis is a rare disease of adult onset characterized by dyskinesias, neurogenic muscular atrophy, erythrocytary acanthocytosis with normal serum lipoproteins and elevated levels of serum CPK. Presumably, this disorder is an autosomal recessively inherited trait. This disease has been described in Japanese, English, Finnish and Puerto Rican people. This is the first observation in the southern countries of Europe, in two members of a Calabrian family. The authors point out that amyotrophic features can occur several years before the appearance of the extrapyramidal disorders.

Acanthocytes↗
PubMed1986

[Bacterial fluctuations in the recreational waters of the Mar del Plata area].

In the period comprised between 1981 and 1983, a study was carried out in relation with the bacteriological quality of the sea water used for recreational purposes. Beaches are situated along 35 km of coast, including Mar Chiquita and Gral. Pueyrredón Departments. The principal pollution focus is the city of Mar del Plata which, like many other big cities, overturns its industrial, rainy and urban sewer liquids to the sea, with no previous treatment, in most of the cases. The effluent open sewer, situated in the north suburban district, drives into the sea the content of three maximum sewers that recollect domiciliary branches. To determine quali and quantitatively heterotrophic aerobic mesophilic, psicrophilic, marine and E. coli bacteria, water samples were taken at 0.30 m depth, behind the shoal, in each of the 17 determined stations (Figure 1), and an enumeration of colonies in agar plate was carried out in duplicate. E. coli was used as indicator of fecal contamination and served to establish the quality of the water used in bath and other recreational functions. The quantification was done by recounts in plates or membrane filter methods, in duplicate, with previous revivification. Serology of strains isolated from marine medium by polyvalent sera was done. Independently of the recount obtained, the distribution of serological groups was rather uniform along all the coast. Colony-forming units (CFU) did not exceed values of 240/100 ml, except in the beach situated at 0.5 km of the effluent, which always gave values above those accepted internationally for bathing waters or other recreational uses (Figure 2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Argentina↗
PubMed1985

A case of Kufs disease with abnormal pallidonigral iron deposit.

The clinical, neuropathological and ultrastructural features of a case of Kufs disease (Meyer basal ganglia form) are reported. In the present case, besides the typical lesions of Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinosis, and increased iron reaction at pallidonigral level was detected histochemically. The significance of the last finding is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Biopsychosocial characteristics of children who later murder: a prospective study.

The authors document the childhood neuropsychiatric and family characteristics of nine male subjects who were clinically evaluated as adolescents and were later arrested for murder. Those subjects are compared with 24 incarcerated delinquents who did not go on to commit violent offenses. The future murderers displayed a constellation of biopsychosocial characteristics that included psychotic symptoms, major neurological impairment, a psychotic first-degree relative, violent acts during childhood, and severe physical abuse. The authors relate this combination of factors to prediction of violence and discuss ethical issues that are involved in intervention to prevent violence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Oxmetidine (SK&F 92994): pharmacokinetic study in patients with in patients with liver cirrhosis.

The pharmacokinetics of oxmetidine (SK&F 92994) were investigated in nine cirrhotic patients and compared with ten control subjects with gastroduodenal ulcers, but without any symptoms of hepatic pathology. On two separate occasions each patient received 200 mg oxmetidine as a single oral dose and 100 mg as a single intravenous dose. In the cirrhotics, the bioavailability of the oral dose and the plasma elimination half-life after both oral and intravenous administration were significantly higher than in the controls. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the plasma elimination half-lives and the biochemical parameters of cholestasis. Such findings indicate that in severe liver disease and in cholestasis the accumulation of oxmetidine in the circulation may limit the use of this drug.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

[Influence of anti-epileptic drugs on blood lipid parameters: preliminary data].

Total cholesterol, free cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides have been assayed in serum of 42 epileptic patients in chronic therapy (21 in monotherapy and 21 in polytherapy) in comparison with 21 normal controls. Free cholesterol showed an highly significant increase in epileptics, in whom triglycerides appeared very reduced. In contrast to previous reports of a large increase of HDL cholesterol in phenitoin treated patients, only a not significant increase was found. The other parameters appeared unchanged. No differencies could be detected among monotherapy and polytherapy or among the singles monotherapies (phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin and carbamazepine).

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1980

[Determination of proteins with the Coomassie brilliant blue G 250 method. III. Behavior of various pure proteins and comparative analysis with the biuret and Lowry methods].

Some proteins were tested by the Bradford's method with Coomassie Brilliant Blue G 250. The findings were compared to those obtained by the Lowry's and the biuret methods. Coomassie, as the other methods, has the inconvenient of giving different absorbaces according to the nature of single protein. The use of standards of analogous composition in assaying proteins by the Bradford's method is suggested.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

[Determination of proteins with the Coomassie brilliant blue G 250 method. IV. Use with cerebrospinal fluid proteins and comparative analysis with the biuret and Lowry methods].

The method of Bradford with Coomassie Brillant Blue G 250 for protein assay has been applyed to CSF in comparison with biuret and Lowry's methods. The results of Coomassie method closely agree with Lowry, and are similar to those of biuret. It is suggested to replace the previously used methods for CSF protein assay by the Bradford's method, because it keeps the sensitivity of Lowry and the simplicity of biuret. It adds too the advantage of requiring less time.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins↗
PubMed1980

[Method of determination of proteins with Coomassie brilliant blue G 250. I. General characteristics and comparative analysis with the biuret method and Lowry's method].

Bradford (1977) described a new sensitive easy rapid method for protein assay, depending on colour change of the stain Coomassie Brilliant Blue G 250. In this study Bradford's method was compared with the Lowry et al. 91951) and biuret methods. Coomassie method appears to be as sensitive as Lowry, as simple as biuret. Another advantage is a very short time of performing.

Methods↗
PubMed1980

[Method of determination of proteins with Coomassie brilliant blue G 250. II. Influence of pH and inorganic ions].

The influences of pH and inorganic ions on the protein assay method of Bradford were investigated. Absorbance of bovine serum albumine appears to be increasing with the increase of pH. This effect is consistent with the hypothesis of Reissner et al. (1975), that colour change of the stain is a function of hydrogen ion concentration, but acquires statistical significance only for extreme basic pH. Among the tested inorganic ions, only Fe++ and NH4+ shows some interference. These dysadvantages could be corrected by appropriate blanks.

Hydrogen-Ion Concentration↗