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Biomedical subjects

A M Rodrigues

Publications and source records attributed to A M Rodrigues.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Amphipod acute and chronic sediment toxicity assessment in estuarine environmental monitoring: An example from Ria de Aveiro, NW Portugal.

This paper presents a comprehensive estuarine sediment toxicity survey, using acute and full life-cycle tests with an indigenous species, the amphipod Corophium multisetosum. In the acute test, adult specimens were exposed to sediments from 144 sites for 10 days. In the full life-cycle test, 5-7 days old specimens, obtained in laboratory cultures, were exposed during 21 days to sediments from 56 sites. Three endpoints were considered: survival, for the acute and the chronic test and fecundity (number of gravid females per replicate at the end of the exposure) and growth (weight increase), for the chronic test. In the acute tests, adult survival was high overall and almost no stressed areas could be recognized in the estuary. This image was not reflected by the chronic endpoints, in particular growth and fecundity, which, corrected for the number of survivors, was the most affected descriptor. The chronic data could not be related to the baseline sediment variables analysed (grain-size, total organic content and redox potential), suggesting that these play no part in the biological responses. Results indicate that a tiered sediment bioassessment approach including an initial comprehensive ecotoxicological screening phase should not rely solely upon acute responses, although these are obtained from simpler and more rapid laboratory testing procedures.

Amphipoda↗
PubMed2005

Validation of soft bottom benthic habitats identified by single-beam acoustics.

Acoustic diversity charts were produced for a Portuguese soft bottom mid-shelf area, depth from 30 to 90 m, using a single-beam echo sounder coupled to the acoustic systems QTC VIEW Series IV and V. A similar acoustic pattern was identified by both systems, which, after ground-truth interpretation based in available sediment and biological data, established a preliminary spatial distribution model of the benthic habitats in this coastal area. However, some of the acoustic areas were interpreted using one or very few sediment and benthic samples. A specific validation survey was conducted a posteriori, in which the positioning of the sediment and benthic community sampling sites was based on the acoustic diversity previously identified. The results clearly confirm the benthic habitats distribution model suggested by the acoustic method, indicating a high potential for the use of such approach in the identification and mapping of large-scale soft bottom coastal shelf habitat diversity.

Acoustics↗
PubMed2004

Diagnostic accuracy of fetal renal pelvis anteroposterior diameter as a predictor of uropathy: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of prenatal ultrasound measurement of anteroposterior renal pelvis diameter (APD) to discriminate between significant uropathy and idiopathic renal pelvis dilatation. METHODS: One-hundred-and-three neonates who were found to have fetal renal pelvis dilatation, defined as presence of an APD > or = 5 mm, underwent systematic investigation for uropathies and were prospectively followed. An ultrasound scan was performed after the first week of postnatal life and all infants underwent a voiding cystourethrogram. Neonates with an APD larger than 10 mm underwent renal scintigraphy. Ultrasound scans, clinical examination and laboratory reviews were scheduled at 6-month intervals. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed to determine the best cut-offs for APD to identify renal units with significant uropathy as well as those requiring surgical intervention. Significant uropathy was defined as the presence of well-established urinary tract abnormalities or when there was abnormal renal scintigraphy. RESULTS: The estimated area under the curve for APD was 0.900 (95% CI, 0.841-0.942) indicating excellent power to discriminate between idiopathic pelvis dilatation and significant uropathy. The sensitivity and specificity for the 7.5 mm cut-off point were 97.9% and 40.6%, respectively. To identify infants who required surgical intervention, the calculated area under the curve was 0.953 (95% CI, 0.908-0.980). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that measurement of APD is an excellent test to identify fetuses with significant uropathy, as well as those requiring postnatal intervention.

Area Under Curve↗
PubMed2001

The effect of transdermal nitroglycerin on spinal S(+)-ketamine antinociception following orthopedic surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine whether combination of transdermal nitroglycerine (a nitric oxide generator) would enhance analgesia from epidural S(+)-ketamine (a N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist) in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery with combined spinal anesthesia. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: Orthopedic surgery unit of a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 60 ASA physical status I and II patients scheduled for minor orthopedic knee surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to one of five groups (n = 12) to receive combined epidural/intrathecal anesthesia. A 10-mL epidural injection was first administered to all patients (study drug or normal saline). Intrathecal anesthesia consisted of 15 mg bupivacaine. Twenty to 30 minutes after the spinal puncture, a transdermal patch of either nitroglycerin 5 mg or placebo was applied. The control group (CG) received epidural saline and transdermal placebo. The nitroglycerin group (NG) received epidural saline and transdermal nitroglycerine patch. The 0.1 mg/kg S(+)-ketamine epidural group (1 KG) received 0.1 mg/kg epidural S(+)-ketamine and transdermal placebo. The 0.2 mg/kg S(+)-ketamine epidural group (2 KG) received 0.2 mg/kg epidural S(+)-ketamine and transdermal placebo. Finally, the nitroglycerin/0.1 mg/kg S(+)-ketamine epidural group (1 NKG) received 0.1 mg/kg epidural S(+)-ketamine and transdermal nitroglycerin. Pain and adverse effects were evaluated using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The groups were demographically the same. Sensory anesthetic level and VAS score for pain at the time of first rescue medication were similar among groups. The time to first rescue analgesic (min) was less in both the CG and the NG groups compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). Epidural S(+)-ketamine resulted in analgesia to both groups (1 KG < 2 KG; p < 0.05). The 1 NKG and the 2 KG displayed similar analgesia (p > 0.05). The CG required more rescue analgesics in 24 hours compared with the patients who received epidural S(+)-ketamine (p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Epidural S(+)-ketamine resulted in antinociception, which was enhanced by transdermal nitroglycerin.

Adjuvants, Anesthesia↗
PubMed1995

[Histology and histochemistry of the kidney and ureters of the Caiman crocodilus yacare (Daudin, 1802)--Crocodilia Reptilia)].

The elongated kidneys of Caiman crocodilus yacare are found in pairs and have two lobes. Each lobe is crossed lengthwise down the middle by the renal vein and artery along which there are the renal corpuscules in groups of two or four which delimit the medullar renal region. These corpuscules are generally poorly developed and there is a center of connective tissue with few capillary loops. The Bowman capsule is of pavement or cubic epithelium and leads into a narrow, short, non-secretory neck segment composed of cubical cells followed by tubulus contortus with brush borders against the lumen and the distal tubule with cubic epithelium brush borders. In the renal cortical region are the median tubulus with cylindrical and granular epithelium and the smaller collecting canals which flow into larger collecting canals which flow along the renal border. Among the various tubular parenchyma segments there is a network of blood vessels which lead into the renal vein and into a renal afferent vein. Abundant fat granular bodies and lipid droplets are observed in the proximal and median tubules. The collecting canals and ureters show PAS positive granules in their cells.

Alligators and Crocodiles↗
PubMed1994

[Development of data bases for various nursing activities].

The purpose of this study is to discuss the utilization of informatics in nursing and the construction of computerized data bases by nursing professionals that have no previous experience with computers. Three data bases developed during the pos graduate nursing course are described.

Computer User Training↗
PubMed1991

The production of extracellular and intracellular free amino acids during aerated fermentation of glucose by baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

During a study of the effects of a high level of NaCl on the content of free intracellular amino acids in baker's yeast grown in aerated fermentation of glucose it was found (Malaney et al. 1988, 1989; Malaney and Tanner 1988) that 0.6 mol/L exogenous NaCl significantly increased the content of free intracellular citrulline, glutamine, ornithine, arginine and lysine (all basic amino acids) over that observed at zero mol/L exogenous NaCl. (Exogenous is defined as salt added beyond that present in the mineral salts in the culture medium.) This paper describes the production and relative relationships of both extracellular and free intracellular amino acids by S. cerevisiae under conditions of high NaCl content in the growth medium at pH 5 and 32 degrees C. For early culture times (6 h), the production of glutamine, citrulline, valine, isoleucine, ornithine, lysine and histidine were all enhanced by the addition of NaCl. For late times (24 h), except for ornithine, the early-time-enhanced amino acids continued to be enhanced by the addition of NaCl. In addition, the yields of several other amino acids also were increased by exogenous salt at this late time. These include aspartic acid, threonine, glutamic acid, cystine, methionine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and arginine.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1987

Calcium ionophore (A23187)- and arachidonic acid-stimulated prostaglandin release from microvascular endothelial cells: effects of calcium antagonists and calmodulin inhibitors.

Calcium ionophore (A23187)-stimulated prostaglandin (PG) E2 and I2 (measured as 6-keto PGF1 alpha) release from cultured rabbit coronary microvessel endothelial (RCME) cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. A23187-stimulated PG release was reduced by the calcium channel blockers nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem and by the intracellular calcium blocker, 8-(diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate. A23187-stimulated PG release was significantly reduced by lowering the calcium concentration in the buffer to concentrations of 0.2 mM or less. A23187-stimulated 45Ca uptake was not inhibited by nifedipine (0.5 microM), diltiazem (10 micron) or verapamil (50 microM) although these same concentrations of calcium channel blockers significantly inhibited A23187-stimulated PG release. However, these concentrations of calcium blockers did inhibit K+ (10 mM)-valinomycin (5 microM)-stimulated 45Ca uptake, indicating that, although RCME cells probably have voltage-dependent calcium channels and although calcium influx via these channels is blocked by the calcium channel blockers, voltage-dependent calcium influx plays little or no role in A23187-stimulated 45Ca influx and PG release. KCl-valinomycin significantly stimulated PG release, but this increase was not significantly affected by either nifedipine (0.5 microM) or diltiazem (10 microM) despite complete inhibition of KCl-valinomycin-stimulated 45Ca influx. Verapamil (50 microM) exhibited a small but significant suppression of KCl-valinomycin-stimulated PG release. These observations most likely indicate that calcium influx by voltage-dependent calcium channels plays little or no role in the events leading to either A23187- or KCl-valinomycin-stimulated PG release. The calmodulin antagonists, trifluoperazine and calmidazolium, also reduced A23187-stimulated PG release. In vitro studies of porcine pancreatic phospholipase (PL) A2 activity suggested that the inhibitory actions of trifluoperazine, but not the calcium antagonists, may be mediated by direct inhibitory actions on PLA2. Studies with [3H]arachidonic acid (AA)- and [14C]stearic acid-prelabeled RCME cells suggested that A23187 stimulated both PLA2 and PLC activity, leading to the release of AA. Studies with exogenous AA indicated that reducing calcium availability by reducing buffer calcium concentrations resulted in an enhanced conversion of exogenous AA to PGs. RCME cells incubated in nominally calcium-free buffer exhibited a decreased rate of AA incorporation. The observed increase in AA conversion to PGs in low calcium buffer suggests that calcium may stimulate AA uptake and acylation as well as AA release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Altered aortic and cremaster muscle prostaglandin synthesis in diabetic rats.

Alterations in the synthesis and release of prostaglandins have been reported in humans and animal models of diabetes mellitus. In the present study synthesis and release of prostaglandins by thoracic aorta and cremaster muscle of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes of 8 wk duration was compared with age-matched controls. Prostaglandin synthesis was assessed by the measurement of immunoreactive prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) release and by quantifying metabolism of exogenous [1-14C]arachidonic acid by thoracic aortic rings and minced cremaster muscle. The cremaster muscles from diabetic rats released significantly greater quantities of PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2. In contrast, the aortas from diabetic rats released smaller quantities of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2 and exhibited reduced 6-[1-14C]keto-PGF1 alpha. These studies indicate that diminished prostacyclin (PGI2) and/or PGE2 production is not a general feature of all diabetic vascular tissues, suggesting that large and small blood vessels may not be similarly affected by diabetes in regard to the metabolism of exogenous arachidonic acid and the synthesis and release of prostaglandins. Furthermore, the vascular changes often observed in conjunction with diabetes, i.e., alterations in vascular reactivity and microangiopathy in small blood vessels and atherosclerosis of large blood vessels may be related in some way to the segmental differences observed in prostaglandin synthesis.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prostaglandin release from isolated rabbit cerebral cortex micro-vessels--comparison of 6-keto PGF1 alpha and PGE2 release from micro-vessels incubated in 100% O2, room air and 95% N2:5% CO2.

Prostaglandin release from microvessels isolated from the rabbit cerebral cortex was determined under three different atmospheric conditions: 100% O2 ("O2") room air, and 95% N2:5% CO2 ("N2-CO2"). Initial studies with homogenates prepared from rabbit cerebral microvessels (RCMV) indicated two pathways of enzymatic PGH2 transformation, namely PGI2 synthase and GSH-dependent PGH-PGE isomerase. We measured the release of the principal products of these pathways, 6-keto PGF1 alpha and PGE2 from freshly prepared RCMV. The release of 6-keto PGF1 alpha exceeded that of PGE2 in all three protocols. RCMV incubated in "N2-CO2" exhibited a reduction in the release of 6-keto PGF1 alpha compared to room air or "O2" incubated RCMV, evident at 30-60 min of incubation. No significant differences in the release of PGE2 were observed among the three incubation protocols. In all three incubation protocols the ratio of 6-keto PGF1 alpha to PGE2 did not differ during the initial 10 minutes of each incubation. After 30 to 60 min of incubation, this ratio did not change from the "O2" or room air treated RCMV, but decreased significantly for the "N2-CO2" treated group. To determine the reversibility of the apparent "N2-CO2" induced decline in 6-keto PGF1 alpha release, microvessels were removed from the nitrogen atmosphere and incubated in room air. Release was measured during the initial 10 min following reintroduction to room air and was compared to room air pretreated controls treated in an identical manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cephalometric evaluation of Angle Class II division 1 malocclusion cases treated with the Bimler appliance].

The purpose of this work was to evaluate cephalometric changes concerned to Bimler appliance therapy. Such changes were evaluated through the analysis of the following cephalometric factors: 1. Facial axis; 2. Mean corpus length; 3. Depth of Pogonion; 4. Depth of poit "A"; 5. Upper incisor inclination; 6. Lower incisor inclination; 7. Stetic plane.

Activator Appliances↗