PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Rodriguez

Publications and source records attributed to A Rodriguez.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Lymphaticovenous communication in the mammary gland of the female dog].

Lymphaticovenous Communications were searched in the mammary glands of 24 bitches. Injections of indian ink into the interstice of living animals were followed after death by the filling of the veins with latex and barium sulphate. Afterwards, the used techniques were: microdissection, angiography, clarification and histological section. The results obtained would seem to prove the existence of Lymphovenous Anastomoses. The roles of these communications in the canine mammary gland neoplasia are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Blunt traumatic rupture of the heart and pericardium: a ten-year experience (1979-1989).

Blunt traumatic rupture of the heart and pericardium, rarely diagnosed preoperatively, carries a high mortality rate. From 1979 to 1989, more than 20,000 patients were admitted to a Level I trauma center. A retrospective review identified 59 patients requiring emergency surgery for this condition. Injuries resulted from vehicular accidents (68%), motorcycle crashes (10%), pedestrians being struck by vehicles (7%), falls (5%), crushing (7%), and being struck by a horse (2%) or crane (2%). Seventeen patients (29%) had isolated rupture of the pericardium; 37 (63%) had ruptures of one or more cardiac chambers. All patients had signs of life at the scene or during transportation, but only 29 (49%) had vital signs on admission: 15 with chamber injury, 12 with pericardial rupture, and two with combined injuries. Diagnosis was established by emergency thoracotomy in the 30 patients who arrived in cardiac arrest. In the remaining 29 patients, diagnosis was made by urgent thoracotomy (41%), by subxiphoid pericardial window (34%), during laparotomy (21%), or by chest radiography (3%). The overall mortality rate was 76% (45 patients), but only 52% for those with vital signs on admission. Rapid transportation and expeditious surgical treatment can save many patients with these injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Effect of the ingestion of an extract from Bauhinia monandra seeds on rats.

Bauhinia monandra is a leguminous plant that would be used in human nutrition, however it shows a high hemagglutinating activity against trypsin-treated erythrocytes of rabbit, 2 ml of a NaCl-solution extract of the seeds was given to a group of rats for 10 days. Intestinal disaccharidase activity was determined. Histopathological and histochemical examinations were also performed. Lectins from Bauhinia monandra seeds did not cause any visible intestinal damage even when they seem to be able to bind to the enterocyte brush border. The low disaccharidase activity in the membrane and enterocyte fractions, which represent the enzyme synthesis level, indicates that lectins could reduce the synthesis of these enzymes rather than inhibit the active sites of the enzymes. This effect could be in turn related with the binding action of lectins, because no effect of the autoclaved extract on the disaccharidase activity was observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Epidermal growth factor receptor in human breast cancer: correlation with cytosolic and nuclear ER receptors and with biological and histological tumor characteristics.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) and cytosolic (cER) and nuclear (nER) estradiol receptors were quantified in 220 primary breast cancers. The EGFr was significantly more frequent (chi 2 = 5.9; P less than 0.025) and its concentration was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) among ER- tumors than in ER+ tumors. There was a significantly greater proportion (chi 2 = 6.4; P less than 0.05) of node involvement in EGFr+/ER+ tumors than in EFGr-/ER+. Increases in the proportion of EGFr+ in ER- tumors are parallel to Scarff-Bloom scores (chi 2 = 6.1; P less than 0.05) and there is a significant trend (Spearman rs = 0.25; P less than 0.05) towards increased EGFr concentrations with histologic dedifferentiation. In ER+ tumors the median concentrations of EGFr in the different age groups show a linear correlation (LCC = 0.89; P less than 0.05) and follow a parallel profile with the medians of nER. These findings support the hypothesis that EGFr is a bad prognosis factor and suggest that EGFr expression and concentration in ER+ tumors might be considered an estrogenic action mediated through the binding of ER to their nuclear acceptors.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Ocular rosacea. A histologic and immunopathologic study.

Acne rosacea is an idiopathic dermatologic disease that frequently produces conjunctival inflammation. The authors studied the histology and immunopathology of epibulbar conjunctival biopsy specimens from eight patients with ocular rosacea and compared the findings with those from conjunctiva from 13 normal individuals. The conjunctival epithelium in ocular rosacea was attenuated and infiltrated by inflammatory cells, mainly T-helper/inducer (CD4) cells, phagocytic cells, and antigen-presenting (CD14, Mac-1) cells. The difference between the normal control group and the rosacea group in the number of mononuclear cells forming these populations was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). The substantia propria of the rosacea specimens contained large subepithelial infiltrates of chronic inflammatory cells, and in some cases frank granuloma formation was evident. There was an overall mean increase of nearly all cell types, but especially of T-helper cells in the rosacea specimens compared with the controls. Interestingly, T-helper/inducer (CD4) cells, which were outnumbered by the T-suppressor (CD8) cells in the normal conjunctival epithelium (CD4/CD8 = 0.85), outnumbered the CD8-positive cells in the rosacea specimens (CD4/CD8 = 1.6). There also was a 3.5-fold increase of the CD4/CD8 ratio in the rosacea conjunctival stroma compared with the normal specimens. The mechanism involved in rosacea conjunctival inflammation resembles a type IV hypersensitivity reaction.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Intra-abdominal abscess after blunt abdominal trauma.

The relationship between blunt abdominal trauma and intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) is discussed infrequently; therefore we conducted a retrospective review of 4050 multiple blunt trauma admissions from January 1986 to July 1988. Of 325 patients who had a laparotomy for blunt abdominal trauma, we identified 15 (4.6%) who had 40 IAAs. The most common intra-abdominal injuries involved the spleen and liver. Splenectomy increased the risk for IAA in contrast to splenic salvage. Blunt injuries to the kidney and pancreas, when occurring in multiple trauma patients, carried a significant risk of IAA. Associated multiple extra-abdominal injuries and high transfusion requirements increased the risk for IAA formation. Most of the IAAs were located in the upper quadrants. There was a 46% incidence of multiple IAA, which in turn had an 80% chance of recurrence after initial drainage. Enterobacter species played an important role in the formation of IAA in our trauma patients. Three patients (20%) died. Poor prognostic indicators included a high injury severity score, high transfusion requirements, the presence of pelvic fracture, positive blood cultures, multiple organisms per abscess, and multiple-organ system failure.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1990

Blunt traumatic cardiac rupture. A 5-year experience.

Blunt traumatic cardiac rupture is associated with a high rate of mortality. A review of the computerized trauma registry (1983 to 1988) identified 32 patients with this injury (ages 19 to 65 years; mean age, 39.5 years; 21 men and 11 women). Twenty-one patients (65.6%) were injured in vehicular crashes, 3 (9.4%) in pedestrian accidents, 3 (9.4%) in motorcycle accidents; 3 (9.4%) sustained crush injury; 1 (3.1%) was injured by a fall; and 1 (3.1%) was kicked in the chest by a horse. Anatomic injuries included right atrial rupture (13[40.6%]), left atrial rupture (8 [25%]), right ventricular rupture (10[31.3%]), left ventricular rupture (4[12.5%]), and rupture of two cardiac chambers (3 [9.4%]). Diagnosis was made by thoracotomy in all 20 patients presenting in cardiac arrest. In the remaining 12 patients, the diagnosis was established in seven by emergency left anterolateral thoracotomy and in five by subxyphoid pericardial window. Seven of these 12 patients (58.3%) had clinical cardiac tamponade and significant upper torso cyanosis. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS), Trauma Score (TS), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score were 33.8, 13.2, and 14.3, respectively, among survivors and 51.5, 8.3, and 7.0 for nonsurvivors. The overall mortality rate was 81.3% (26 of 32 patients), the only survivors being those presenting with vital signs (6 of 12 patients [50%]). All patients with rupture of two cardiac chambers or with ventricular rupture died. The mortality rate from myocardial rupture is very high. Rapid prehospital transportation, a high index of suspicion, and prompt surgical intervention contribute to survival in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Peritoneal lavage white count: a reassessment.

Of 29 blunt trauma victims with a diagnostic peritoneal lavage white blood cell count (DPL:WBC) greater than or equal to 500/mm3 as the sole positive lavage criterion, only four underwent laparotomy at admission, and only one of these had sustained intestinal perforation. Two of the remaining 25 succumbed to extra-abdominal injuries within 24 hours, leaving 23 patients, who were followed clinically for an average of 34.7 days. None was ever discovered to have sustained intestinal perforation. Throughout the study period, 27 patients were seen who had sustained intestinal perforation from blunt abdominal trauma. Nine were explored based upon an initial physical examination suggestive of peritonitis. The remaining 18 underwent DPL: 17 demonstrated gross blood, and only one patient was diagnosed solely by an elevated DPL:WBC. We conclude that DPL:WBC is a nonspecific indicator of intestinal perforation from blunt abdominal trauma, and prospective studies are needed to properly define its role. Sequential determinations of DPL:WBC may be useful in the diagnosis of intestinal perforation.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1990

[Topography of the lymphatic collecting ducts of the mammary glands of the dog].

The topography of the lymph drainage was examined by in vivo injections of india ink into the mammary parenchyma of 73 female dogs. Only one gland was injected at a time on each side. Only the cranial abdominal mammary gland had direct drainage to the axillary as well as to the superficial inguinal nodes. The principal routes of drainage differ for each gland. The glands on each side are completely independent as regards their lymph drainage. The cranial thoracic mammary glands on each side had their own collecting duct which led to the sternal lymph nodes. The results of this study suggest to develop a new model for the surgical extirpation of mammary tumors in the bitch.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Rupture of thoracic aorta caused by blunt trauma. A fifteen-year experience.

During the 15 years from 1971 through 1985, 114 patients with rupture of the thoracic aorta caused by blunt trauma were admitted to the Shock Trauma Center of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. Mean age was 31.3 years (range, 15 to 80). Ninety were male and 24 were female, a 3.75:1 ratio. Of the 114, 89 (78.1%) survived initial resuscitation in the admitting area. Twenty five of the 89 initial survivors (28.1%) died during or after surgical repair. Paraplegia occurred in 11 of the 78 operating room survivors (14.1%). Further analysis was done of the 83 patients admitted in the 10-year period from 1976 through 1985. Mean Injury Severity Score, excluding aortic injury, was 18.2. Twenty-five of the 83 (30.1%) died during resuscitation in the admitting area or operating room. Seven others died during surgical repair and 12 died postoperatively, leaving 39 survivors (39/83 [47%] of total admissions and 39/58 [67.2%] of survivors of resuscitation). Paraplegia/paresis developed postoperatively in six of 34 (17.6%) cases involving shunt and four of 17 (23.5%) without shunt. Other major complications occurred in 21 of the operating room survivors. Statistically significant risk of death or major complication was associated with female sex, higher Injury Severity Score, lower admission blood pressure, larger hemothorax on admission, less qualified surgeon, major operation before aortic repair, use of shunt, and transfer directly from scene of injury. There was no advantage in this series to using or not using a shunt in preventing paraplegia. Mortality rates are realistic for a highly developed trauma system. Better techniques are needed to manage exsanguination and prevent paraplegia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Differential repair of potentially lethal damage in exponentially growing and quiescent 9L cells.

The alteration of potentially lethal damage repair by postirradiation treatment with hypertonic saline (0.5 M PBS) was investigated in exponentially growing and quiescent 9L cells in vitro. A single dose of X rays (8.5 Gy) immediately followed by a 30-min treatment with hypertonic PBS at 37 degrees C reduced the survival of exponentially growing 9L cells by a factor of 13-18 compared to survival of irradiated immediately and delayed-plated cells, while the survival of quiescent cells was reduced by only a factor of 5-8. Survival curves confirmed the relative resistance of the quiescent 9L cells versus exponentially growing 9L cells to X rays plus hypertonic treatment. Both the slope and the shoulder of the survival curve were reduced to a greater extent in exponentially growing cells than in the quiescent cells by hypertonic treatment. The response of quiescent cells cannot be explained by either the duration of hypertonic treatment or the redistribution of the cells into G1 phase. We show that quiescent 9L cells can recover from hypertonically induced potentially lethal damage when incubated under conditions which have been found to delay progression through the cell cycle, and postulate that an altered chromatin structure or an enhanced repair capacity of quiescent 9L cells may be responsible for their resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Salivary corticosteroids in the study of adrenal function.

Salivary corticosteroids (SCC) and plasma corticosteroids (PCC) were studied under basal conditions, after dexamethasone (DXM) and in the ACTH stimulation test in a reference group (RG) of 33 adults, in three groups with non-adrenal pathology and in a group of 4 patients with hypercortisolaemia. SCC and PCC were measured using a non-extraction RIA method using [3H]cortisol. The results for SCC in the RG and in the groups with non-adrenal pathology were similar to those obtained for PCC in terms of percentage of decrease in the circadian rhythm or DXM suppression. However, the responsiveness to ACTH in saliva was twice that obtained in plasma. In patients with hypercortisolism, SCC were in closer agreement with the adrenal hyperfunction than PCC. From the previous results the following conclusions may be drawn: (a) SCC differentiate adrenal gland normal function from hyperfunction as clearly or even better than PCC does; (b) SCC were in a closer agreement with the symptomatology of adrenal hyperfunction than were PCC; and (c) the responses to ACTH obtained with SCC were clearly higher than those obtained with PCC.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1989

Plasma sex steroids and SHBG in patients with breast cancer and their relation to tumor oestrogen-dependency.

In order to evaluate the possible role of sex steroids in breast cancer and their relation to the presence of oestradiol receptors (ER), ER were quantified in 112 breast adenocarcinomas and 14 benign tumours. The sex hormones of the patients were determined in plasma: oestradiol (E2), progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, as well as SHBG and gonadotrophins. The ER were evaluated in cytosolic and nuclear fractions. Steroids and gonadotrophins were determined by RIA. SHBG was determined by following a procedure of saturation with tritiated dihydrostestosterone. The mean levels of E2 in postmenopausal women with breast cancer was found to be significantly higher than of the control group. However, no significant variations for the rest of the steroids were seen among the patients with breast cancer and the control group or benign tumour. Nor was any relation found between the presence of ER and the hormonal steroids studied or SHBG. It is suggested that the possible influence of the sex steroids in the etiopathogenesis of breast cancer might be due to the greater production accompanied by a parallel metabolic clearance that would maintain their plasma levels.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Radiation damage to glucose concentrating capacity and cell survival in kidney tubule cells: effects of fractionation.

The glucose concentrating capacity of cultured LLC-PK1 kidney epithelial cells has been measured after single and fractionated doses of X-rays. Steady-state glucose concentrating capacity (ratio of glucose concentration inside to outside cell) can be measured using radiolabelled analogues of glucose which are actively transported but not metabolized. These cells can be stimulated to increase their glucose concentrating capacity (up-regulation) by a reduction in the glucose concentration of the growth medium. However, after X-ray irradiation the cells have a reduced capacity to respond to up-regulation. This effect can be measured 7 days after irradiation and before radiation-induced cell killing affects the cell population. The previously reported radiosensitivity of this function to single doses of X-rays (in the range 1-16 Gy) was confirmed. Surprisingly, no significant sparing of this effect could be measured by fractionation of the X-ray dose into two or four fractions. However, the cells showed a significant fractionation effect if clonogenic survival was measured using the standard cell survival assay. These early effects have different fractionation response from the later phases of tissue damage, measured months to years after irradiation, which do show sparing due to fractionation and are thought to be mainly due to changes in cell survival. The lack of sparing by fractionation to the functional damage may suggest a different target from that which determines cell survival. These results support the hypothesis that radiation damages cellular functions, separately from cell replication.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1989

Acute acalculous cholecystitis in critically injured patients. Preoperative diagnostic imaging.

The potential lethality and predisposing factors of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) are well established; however, preoperative diagnosis remains a challenge. This update of a previous report of 30 cases of AAC at a Level I trauma center describes 14 multiply injured patients who developed AAC and underwent cholecystectomy. All 14 patients had acutely inflamed gallbladders; 6 (42.8%) had areas of necrosis or gangrene. The mortality rate was 7% (1 patient). While the percentage of patients receiving prolonged intensive care (100%), narcotic analgesics (100%), and TPN (93%) correlates with the experience cited previously, the percentage undergoing preoperative diagnostic imaging is unusually high, reflecting a heightened suspicion for AAC. Computed tomographic or sonographic evidence of gallbladder wall thickness greater than or equal to 4 mm, pericholecystic fluid or subserosal edema without ascites, intramural gas, or a sloughed mucosal membrane was considered diagnostic criteria for AAC. We conclude that preoperative computed tomogram or ultrasound imaging leads to earlier recognition of this life-threatening problem.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Blunt chest trauma in the elderly.

Significant differences were identified between a group of elderly patients (65 years and older) and a nonelderly group both with blunt thoracic trauma. There was a lower incidence of elderly patients presenting in shock; however, cardiopulmonary arrest at arrival was more frequent in this group. Although the types of complications were similar in both populations, the morbidity and mortality rates were higher in the elderly. A high index of suspicion must be generated for an elderly patient who has sustained blunt chest trauma. An aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach may lead to a decrease in the high morbidity and mortality rates in the elderly.

Age Factors↗