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A Figuerola

Publications and source records attributed to A Figuerola.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Mannose-binding lectin polymorphisms in a Canary Islands (Spain) population.

We have compared the structural and promoter variants of the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene in a population from Gran Canaria with that from other populations previously reported. The observed frequencies of the seven alleles of the MBL gene in our population were: HYPA, 0.24; LYQA, 0.22; LYPA, 0.08; LXPA, 0.19; LYPB, 0.17; LYQC, 0.03 and HYPD, 0.07. The frequency of non-producer alleles and of MBL-deficient individuals in our population is higher than in other European and Asian population.

Atlantic Islands↗
PubMed1999

[Normal values for transcranial doppler studies in our medium].

OBJECTIVE: Transcranial Doppler is a technique which is being used ever more frequently in the study of intracranial arteries and is very useful in the study of cerebrovascular disease. The typical values of a healthy population in our country are unknown. The aim of this study was determine mean velocity and pulsatility index reference values in a healthy population. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Transcranial Doppler basal examination was carried out on 118 healthy volunteers without prior haematological or cerebrovascular conditions. Those found to have extracranial arterial stenoses were excluded as were those in whom bilateral temporal bone hyperostosis did not permit insonation in either middle cerebral arteries. The nine intracranial arteries were sounded systematically at fixed depths. The mean and standard deviations of each variable were calculated for side, age group and sex. RESULTS: 49% were males and average age was of 56 years (range, 21-87 years). A sufficient signal to determine the parameters of the study was obtained in 89% of middle cerebral arteries. Statistically significant differences in mean velocity and pulsatility index were found between age groups and sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Sex and age must be taken into account in establishing typical patterns in transcranial Doppler examination. Our results enable parameters of typical values to be established for the adult population in Spain.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Record of neurological emergencies at a tertiary care hospital].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: There is a progressive increase in the demand for multidisciplinary attention from the Emergency Medical Services. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of neurological conditions in the total hospital emergency workload, their demographic composition and medical needs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present an observational study of a cohort of histories of neurological emergencies at a tertiary hospital during a period of one year. RESULTS: On analysis of all emergencies, 1,592 were neurological conditions. The duty neurologist was consulted in 87.9% of the cases. The average age was 59, and the majority were women (56.3%). Maximum demand was between 14.00 and 19.59 hours. Monday was the day of the week when most were seen. The commonest causes of consultation were change in strength or language, headache and epileptic crises. The complementary investigation done most frequently was a blood test. Cerebral CT scan were done in 31.9% of the patients. The diagnoses most often made, as a group, were cerebrovascular disease followed by epilepsy and headache. The majority of the patients were referred to Primary Care Centres or for neurological consultation. When the patients were grouped according to the specialties with doctors on duty, the second largest group were seen by the emergency neurologist at our hospital. CONCLUSION: In view of the above results, we consider the presence of a neurologist in the Emergency Department to be fully justified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors), cholesterol and stroke].

The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (known as statins) have been shown to reduce morbi-mortality of vascular origin, including transitory ischemic accidents and cerebral infarcts, in a large group of patients. The implications, both clinical and of costs, oblige us to consider analysis of the existing evidence and the answers to a number of questions arising in a field which has not yet received much attention from neurologists.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Subarachnoid hemorrhage as a form of onset of systemic lupus erythematosus].

INTRODUCTION: The most frequent cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is rupture of intracranial arterial aneurysms (> 70%). The remainder are due to many different aetiologies. Although SAH is a relatively common neuropathological finding in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), it is normally due to the extent of the intercerebral hemorrhage and not to its isolated presentation. CLINICAL CASE: We report the case of a 34 year old woman who presented with non-traumatic SAH at the onset of her lupus disorder. The patient was attended for SAH and at the same time a multisystemic disorder and severe thrombocytopenia were found, leading to a diagnosis of SLE. The neuroimaging techniques, selective cerebral arteriography, cerebral and spinal magnetic resonance, and magnetic resonance angiography did not show any vascular malformations. The patient was treated with immunosuppressive therapy, nimodipine, and following angiographic tests, with antiaggregants and anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS: The greater frequency of SAH in patients with lupus, as compared to the general population, has been attributed to the presence of intracranial vasculitis. However, neuropathological studies have shown that true vasculitis is very infrequent in the central nervous system of SLE patients. In the case we describe, the first in which SAH appeared at the onset of the disease, we consider that the origin of the hemorrhage was her high arterial blood pressure and thrombopenia.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intrathecal synthesis of IgG evaluated using different formulas: importance of multivariate analysis in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis].

INTRODUCTION: Synthesis of IgG is useful data for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and different formulas, both direct and indirect, are used to quantify this. We analyze these formulas with the objective of finding whether certain combinations of them would give better results than the individual formulas on their own. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied the cerebrospinal fluid of 45 patients with neurological disorders and determined the results of the two formulas which are most effective, according to some studies (Reiber's formula and IgG index) together with a direct formula (IgG ratio) and another indirect formula (the 'classical' formula of Tourtellotte). RESULTS: The IgG index was, in general, the formula which best differentiated between patients with multiple sclerosis and persons with other neurological disorders. CONCLUSIONS: We found a tendency which supported the original hypothesis that it is possible to use combinations of formulas to obtain better results than individual formulas. This fact may serve as a basis for further studies in which different combinations are tested, including analytical and clinical data, and this may be of use in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Biomarkers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Serotonin syndrome: report of two cases and review of the literature].

INTRODUCTION: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter synthesized from tryptophan. It is implied in the regulation of mood, cognition, sleep cycle, synthesis of cerebrospinal fluid, and other processes. Generally, it is implied in human pathology by hypofunction. However, there is a complication of unknown incidence related to treatment with drugs that increase the stimulation of 5-HT1A serotonin receptors, called serotonin syndrome (SS). Clinically, it is characterised by the presence of a triad of mental and autonomic disorders, and motor hyperactivity. This entity has not biological markers and its diagnosis could be done verifying the proposed criteria. CASE REPORTS: Two cases of SS are presented, one of them related to the combination of risperidone and sertraline, as first report in the literature. Both cases had a favourable outcome employing support measures. CONCLUSIONS: The physiopathology, the diagnosis, the differential diagnosis, and the treatment are reviewed. We emphasize the potentially high frequency of this disorder, given the growing use of serotonin activity modifying drugs, and the typically benign course of the SS once the support measures are started.

Aged↗