Biomedical subjects

A Ramírez

Publications and source records attributed to A Ramírez.

149 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Fasting glucose/insulin ratio. An index to differentiate normo from hyperinsulinemic women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a simple laboratory index useful to differentiate normo from hyperinsulinemic women with polycystic ovary syndrome. DESIGN: Open and prospective study. SETTING: Outpatient infertility clinic of a third level medical institution. PATIENTS: Twenty five women 27.8 +/- 3.4 years of age with chronic anovulation, hirsutism and hyperandrogenemia (free testosterone [free-T] > 3.4 pg/mL) but no acanthosis nigricans (group 1) were compared with ten healthy women 27.5 +/- 1.5 years of age (group 2). INTERVENTIONS: Three fasting blood samples were obtained followed by a 100-g, 2-hours oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Glucose, insulin, FSH, LH, E2, free-T, androstenedione (A), DHEAS and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) were measured in the three fasting samples. Glucose and insulin were also determined in the OGTT samples. The fasting glucose/insulin (G/I) ratio was calculated. RESULTS: In group 2 the fasting insulin was < 16.8 microU/mL, the sum of serum insulin (sigma INS) during the OGTT was < 385 microU/mL (mean + 3SD) and the fasting G/I ratio was > 4.5. The fasting LH, FSH, free-T, cortisol, and insulin were higher in group 1 than in group 2. In group 1, eleven women had a sigma INS below and fourteen above 385 microU/mL. Fasting insulin had a linear correlation with sigma INS (r = 0.780) while the fasting G/I ratio had an exponential correlation with sigma INS (r = -0.699). Fasting insulin versus the G/I ratio best fitted a reciprocal regression model (r = 0.912). For screening of hyperinsulinemia during OGTT, fasting insulin had a 75% sensitivity and 62% specificity while for the G/I ratio it was 79% and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both fasting hyperinsulinemia (> 16.8 microU/mL) and a fasting G/I ratio < or = 4.5 can satisfactorily differentiate women with hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia from those with normoinsulinemia. However, the ratio does not require a previous definition of a normal value as for fasting or post-oral glucose insulin levels, and thus, it can be easily calculated in daily clinical practice to establish specific therapeutic maneuvers at an early stage of the evaluation of such patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Presence of antibodies against Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus subtype VI in patients with acute febrile illness].

In Argentina, there is no record of human cases produced by Dengue virus (Flavivirus), but Paraguay and Brasil (neighbouring countries) have notified human outbreaks of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever. In this report, we inform the serological results of a limited human outbreak of a Dengue-like acute illness that occurred in General Belgrano Island, Formosa, Argentina in April 1989. This island is 35 km far from Clorinda city of Paraguay river, with a human population of 150 inhabitants. The weather of this area is humid with abundant rainfall, favouring mosquitoes proliferation. Two samples of serum from 28 human notified cases were studied using hemagglutination inhibition test (HI), complement fixation (CF), and plaque reduction neutralization (NT) test in Vero cell cultures. All tested sera were negative to Dengue, St. Louis encephalitis, Yellow Fever, Bussuquara, Rocio, Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis arboviruses as well as Influenza and Rubella viruses. By contrast, infection with Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE), subtype VI-AG80-663 strain was demonstrated (34.5% positive by HI, 39.1% by CF and 51.6% by NT). Seroconversion was detected by NT in six cases and only five were positive by CF. The 26.8% of the sera reacted also with VEE subtype I AB by NT. Considering that no cross reaction were detected in NT with these two subtypes, our results suggest that both viruses are concomitantly circulating in the studied area. Furthermore, the seroconversions detected with AG80-663 strain firmly indicate that during the outbreak this virus subtype was circulating in the island, although we could not assure that it was the causal agent of the acute disease.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Beta-hemolytic streptococci in tonsil hypertrophy and recurrent tonsillitis].

BACKGROUND: The recurrence of streptococci acute tonsillitis is a complication that often motivates the tonsillectomy. We studied the colonisation of tonsils and adenoids by S. pyogenes and other beta haemolytic streptococci in both surgical indications, recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy. METHODS: We made for aerobic culture the following specimens, throat swabs, tonsils and adenoids tissue corresponding to 47 children referred for tonsillectomy. RESULTS: S. pyogenes was isolated in 11 cases (23.4%) of tonsils and other beta haemolytic non A streptococci was isolated in 11 cases, of them, group C streptococci was the most frequent with six cases. However in the recurrent tonsillitis group, S. pyogenes was isolated more significantly (47%) that other beta haemolytic streptococci (5.8%). Otherwise in the tonsilar hypertrophy group, S. pyogenes was isolated in the 10% while that other streptococci was isolated in the 33.3%. The culture of 38 adenoids yielded S. pyogenes and beta haemolytic group C streptococci in 6 cases each one (15.7%). CONCLUSIONS: S. pyogenes was isolated more frequently in recurrent tonsillitis that other micro-organisms while that in the tonsilar hypertrophy group predominated streptococci beta haemolytic non A, S. aureus and H. influenzae. Is of interest that the adenoids in our study showed an important reservoir of beta haemolytic streptococci. The throats swabs yielded less of the half of all beta haemolytic streptococci isolated in tonsilar tissue cultured.

Adenoids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Fluoxetine in the treatment of borderline personality disorder].

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the therapeutic effect of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, in borderline personality disorder. METHOD: 46 patients with borderline personality disorder according to DSM-III-R and Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB-R) criteria, were given fluoxetine 20-60 mg for seven weeks. They were evaluated each week using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and a clinical Impulsivity Scale. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in BPRS, HDRS, GAF and Impulsivity Scale from the first week of the treatment. These improvements continued until the seven week of treatment. The favourable outcome was not only due to the improvement in depression and impulsivity scores, but also to the decline of global psychopathology. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that fluoxetine is an effective pharmacologic treatment for borderline personality disorder. These findings support the hypothesis of a 5-HT dysfunction in borderline personality disorder.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Hemodynamic evaluation in acute myocardial infarct. Application to the treatment of contractile insufficiency syndromes of the left ventricle].

Even though the coronary care units have reduced to a minimum the mortality due to arrhythmias, the syndromes of left ventricular failure are responsible for the greatest part of hospital deaths in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The poor results depend upon the extensive destruction of left ventricular mass. The management in these cases should be directed to improve the performance of viable muscle as well as to preserve thejeopardized ischemic myocardium that is potentially viable. These goals may be adequately pursued by continuous hemodynamic characterization of left ventricular function. The experience of the Coronary Care Unit of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología de México in the study of 30 of these patients is presented. Hemodynamic evaluations were performed by means of a Swan-Ganz catheter and cardiac output determinations by the thermodilution technique. The studies may be performed with a minimum of risk. Central venous pressure measurements do not adequately indicate the status of the left ventricle. Its function may be evaluated by the use of end diastolic pulmonary artery pressure which reflects, quite accurately, the left ventricular filling pressure in these patients. Continuous hemodynamic monitorization facilitates the proper manipulation of the determinants of ventricular performance (preload, afterload, cardiac rate and contractility) and permits an attempt to improve the balance between available oxygen and myocardial oxygen requirements. Hemodynamic studies and ventricular function curves are presented in selected patients with acute myocardial infarction. The mortality due to left ventricular failure and cardiogenic shock in patients with acute myocardial infarction remains extremely high. However, it is only through the early recognition by continuous hemodynamic monitorization and the aggressive management of the patient with incipient left ventricular failure that the number of survivors may be increased.

Female↗