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Biomedical subjects

B Estañol-Vidal

Publications and source records attributed to B Estañol-Vidal.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Evidence of genetic and environmental factors in manual laterality. Study of 120 Mexican families].

Environmental factors as well as different modes of inheritance has been suggested to explain the etiology of left-handedness. In order to improve knowledge of this problem, manual skill (MS) of parents (n = 234), siblings (n = 506) and children (n = 126) of 60 right-handed (RHI) and 60 left-handed (LHI) index cases (IC), born in Mexico City, were studied. Parents and siblings of both IC had similar frequencies of left-handedness. Quite the contrary, 36.7% of children of LHI were left-handed, while 7.3% children of RHI happen to be left-handed (P < 0.00025). No differences were found in the appearance of perinatal environmental factors. These findings are explained in part according to the pressure exerted by parents and/or teachers for dextrality. The impact of this influence modifies the effect of several unknown genes (multifactorial inheritance). The understanding of the above mechanisms in the etiology of MS is relevant not only for academic purposes, but for the educational sphere as well.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Acute autonomic neuropathy.

Case report of acute autonomic neuropathy. It is the twelfth case reported in literature and the second case associated to positive serological tests for infectious mononucleosis. We are reporting for the first time plasma renin activity, decrease response to repetitive pacing of the S-A node, insulin curve with radio-immunoassay and cardiac catheterization findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Production and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid in the spinal subarachnoid space of the dog.

The formation and absorption capacity of CSF in the isolated spinal subarachnoid space was investigated in seven dogs by using a perfussion of a solution similar to the cerebrospinal fluid labeled with I 131. It was found that there was no CSF production in the spinal canal; however, there was an important absorption rate with an average of 0.2695 ml/min when the intraspinal pressure was of 10 centimeters of water. The clinical implications of this findings are discussed.

Absorption↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Peripheral neuropathy during a second cycle of treatment with high doses of interferon-alpha in a patient with hepatitis C, and a review of the literature].

INTRODUCTION: Alpha interferons (IFN a) have been shown to be effective in patients with chronic active hepatitis C. IFN a treatment may be associated with neurologic complications, including peripheral neuropathy. CASE REPORT: We describe a patient with active hepatitis C treated with IFN a, who developed peripheral neuropathy after a second cicle of treatment with interferon. He received a first cicle of treatment with IFN a during 22 weeks (6 MU/day 3 times a week). Afther that he did not received treatment during one year and then he received the second cycle (6 MU/day 3 times a week). After 3 months of therapy the patient complained about paresthesias of both legs. CONCLUSIONS: IFN a related neuropathy is probably rare; however, some cases may be misdiagnosed. Diagnosis of IFN a related neuropathy should be considered by physicians, particularly in patients given longterm treatment and high IFN a dosage. In this case we think that the patient had an acumulative efectt of interferon though he did not received treatment with interferon during one year.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Monitoring dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials at the ERB point, the cervical spinal cord and the cerebral cortex in the diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy].

INTRODUCTION: Recording at various levels of the somatosensory pathway is often used in somatosensory evoked potentials to mixed nerve stimulation (SEP), but not in dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSEP) in which only the cortical potential is usually recorded. The aim of our study was to compare the recordings of upper limb DSEP at Erb point, cervical cord, and subcortical and cortical levels with SEP recordings in healthy subjects and patients with cervical radiculopathy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 17 patients with clinical history, MRI and electromyography consistent with cervical radiculopathy and 17 healthy subjects were included. Median and ulnar nerves were stimulated at the wrist; and C6, C7 and C8 dermatomes at the 1st, 3rd and 5th fingers respectively. All the potentials obtained with SEP and DSEP were compared between controls and patients by t test for independent samples. We also used Pearson s correlation for height/latencies, weight/amplitude and age/peripheral nerve conduction velocity (PNCV). RESULTS: DSEP potentials were of similar morphology of those observed in SEP but had longer latencies and smaller amplitudes. We found a positive correlation between height and latencies, and a negative association of weight with amplitude of peripheral potential, and age/PNCV. No difference between controls and the neurological intact segments of patients was found. 13 patient had DSEP altered while only 5 of them had altered SEP recorded. The most common finding was prolongation of the conduction time of the segment N9 N13 on DSEP recordings. CONCLUSION: We found that it is possible to record and to identify all the potentials in DSEP as observed in the SEP. On cervical radiculopathy, DSEP with the present technique increase the sensitivity and give some additional and useful information regarding the extension and localization of the pathology. Besides, DSEP recording is a non invasive technique, non traumatic and well tolerated for our patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Painful neuropathies: their pathophysiology and treatment].

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to review the different studies published in the literature concerning the different physiological mechanisms involved in the genesis of painful neuropathy, as well as the diagnostic options and the different pharmacological treatments currently available. DEVELOPMENT: Distinct pathologies usually condition painful neuropathy, one of the main ones being diabetes mellitus. The triggering phenomenon is often some kind of damage to the tissues that contain nervous pain receptors, which later gives rise to a release of proinflammatory molecules, and triggers a cascade of phenomena that result in disorders in the central and peripheral nervous system (peripheral and central sensitisation). These disorders usually produce clinical manifestations, such as allodynia, paresthesias, among others, and these are sometimes the sole manifestation of painful neuropathy. Diagnosis of this syndrome is at times complicated due to the involvement of thin fibres, which cannot be identified by the conventional methods used in neurophysiological studies. There is also a broad range of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of painful neuropathy that range from tricyclic antidepressants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioid analgesics, antiarrhythmics and even agents for topical use. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of thin fibre neuropathy is usually performed by carrying out a Quantitative Sudomotor Axon Reflex Test, quantitative sensory tests and a skin biopsy. As regards the pharmacological treatment, the new generation of anticonvulsive drugs like gabapentin seems to have advantages over the traditional pharmaceuticals, although their widespread use is still largely restricted by their cost.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reversible dementias and treatable dementias].

INTRODUCTION: When studying patients with dementia the search of reversible or treatable entities has a primordial role. Many patients do not recover the previous cognitive level; however, that does not signify that the disease is not treatable with partial recovery or prevention of secondary progression. DEVELOPMENT: The prevalence of reversible dementias is around 15% in most series. Rutine studies include complete blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, electrolytes and chemistry panel, liver function tests, vitamin B12 and folate serum levels, urianalysis and syphilis serology. Special tests such as thyroid function tests, protein electrophoresis, human immunodeficiency virus serology, heavy metals serum levels, electrocardiography, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and chest roentnography should be performed according to the patient clinical profile. Neuroimaging should be done in all cases. Non-contrasted computed tomography must be performed first. Magnetic resonance imaging is most useful for searching for more subtle structure abnormalities. Electroencephalogram, positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography are not recommended as routine studies. Brain biopsy is indicated in few cases. CONCLUSION: Most common causes of reversible and treatable dementias include: medications, obstructive hydrocephalus, infectious, vascular, immunological, psychiatric, toxic and metabolic disorders, among others.

Dementia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in cardiac repolarization and ventricular conduction in a case of acute hematomyelia. Report of a case.

A twenty year old man presented an acute hematomyelia at T2-T3 level and had electrocardiographic changes suggesting subendocardial and subepicardial ischemia; he also had precordial pain and elevation of the MB fraction of creatine phosphokinase. Neurons providing heart inervation are located at the T2-T3 spinal level. The electrocardiographic changes observed were considered neurogenic in origin and were transient. Although there are experimental reports showing electrocardiographic changes associated with compression of the upper part of thoracic spinal cord, this is the first report to our knowledge, in which an acute spinal injury is shown to be associated with neurogenic changes in ventricular repolarization simulating acute myocardial ischemia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of Hallervorden-Spatz disease with magnetic resonance imaging data].

Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) is an uncommon disorder, progressive and degenerative of the basal ganglia. It begins in the first or second decade of life and is characterized by a dominant extrapiramidal signs, dystonia and progressive dementia. It is autosomic recessive, although sporadic cases are seen in 15%. There is no biological marker for the disease. The post-mortem findings include iron deposits in the globus pallidum and pars reticulata of the substantia nigra. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in T2 shows symmetric hypointense lesions in both globus pallidum with a hyperintense center: giving the "tiger's eye" sign. This is the first case reported in Mexico of sporadic HSD with typical clinical and MRI findings.

Adult↗