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Biomedical subjects

C Miranda

Publications and source records attributed to C Miranda.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Treatment of chronic human Chagas disease with itraconazole and allopurinol. Preliminary report].

The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy of itraconazole and allopurinol in chronic Chagas disease. Two hundred two subjects (137 infected, 59 with Chagas cardiopathy and 6 with non chagasic cardiopathy) were randomly assigned to be treated with itraconazole (87 subjects receiving 6 mg/kg/day for 120 days), allopurinol (68 subjects receiving 8.5 mg/kg/day for 60 days) or placebo (47 subjects during 60 days). Medications were well tolerated. Indirect hemagglutination test was modified in 5 subjects (3.2%) after treatment. Initially positive xenodiagnosis became negative in 34 of 36 subjects (94.4%) treated with itraconazole and 8 of 10 subjects (80%) treated with allopurinol. Initially normal EKG was not modified in 100% of patients receiving placebo, 84.9% receiving itraconazole and 86.7% receiving allopurinol. Initially abnormal EKG became normal in 10 of 31 subjects (32%) receiving itraconazole, 8 of 20 (40%) receiving allopurinol and none of 8 receiving placebo. It is concluded that xenodiagnosis and EKG improvements indicate that itraconazole and allopurinol have a role in the treatment of chronic Chagas disease. A 36 months follow up of these patients will help to confirm this conclusion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Ovarian dysplasia: nuclear texture analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian dysplasia has been defined by histologic and morphometric studies focusing on architectural and nuclear profile changes. A new technique is used to enhance the accuracy of this diagnosis by a quantitative evaluation of the nuclear texture that represents the nuclear chromatin pattern on which conventional diagnoses of malignancy are usually made. METHODS: Histologic sections from 35 ovaries classified as malignant (12), dysplastic (12), and normal (11) were evaluated by tracing boundaries of nuclear profiles and measuring "textons" (texture primitives) with a histogram analysis of three zones of gray level densities (called for simplification white, gray, and dark). The average combined area was tabulated for specimens with the same diagnosis, and linear regression plots compared the texton area with total nuclear area. RESULTS: The dimensions of textons originally hidden inside the chromatin and revealed by histograms were found to be closely clustered in normal epithelium, and increasingly dissociated from the containing nucleus as the lesion progressed from dysplastic to malignant. The statistical multivariate analysis including nine parameters correctly classified the three diagnostic categories as normal, dysplastic, and malignant. CONCLUSIONS: Computerized image analysis of nuclear texture adds accuracy to the recently elaborated morphometric methods to define ovarian dysplasia, a potential precursor of ovarian carcinoma.

Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1993

Association of generalized dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa with positive acetylcholinesterase and markedly elevated maternal serum and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein.

A case of fatal generalized dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is described in a prematurely born female whose mother had strikingly elevated mid-trimester serum and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein concentrations, a positive amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase band, and negative serial ultrasound studies. This case lends further support to an association between autosomal recessive generalized dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and increased levels of alpha-fetoprotein, positive amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase, and normal ultrasound findings.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of the NTRK1 genomic region involved in chromosomal rearrangements generating TRK oncogenes.

TRK oncogenes are created by chromosomal rearrangements linking the tyrosine-kinase domain of the NTRK1 gene (encoding one of the receptors for the nerve growth factor) to foreign activating sequences. TRK oncogenes are frequently detected in human papillary thyroid carcinoma, as result of rearrangements involving at least three different activating genes. We have found that the rearrangements creating all the TRK oncogenes so far characterized fall within a 2.9-kb XbaI/SmaI restriction fragment of the NTRK1 gene. Here we report the nucleotide sequence and the exon organization of this fragment.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Posthysterectomy wound infection. A review.

We reviewed the microorganisms isolated from gynecologic surgery wounds showing signs of infection, from January to December 1990. A total of 88 samples of abdominal wall exudates from as many patients who had undergone abdominal hysterectomy were studied. In 54 women (61.3%), cultures were positive and, in 26 specimens (48.1%), mixed aerobic-anaerobic flora were isolated. In 28 cases (51.9%), a single microorganism was isolated, the most frequent being Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Mycoplasma hominis and Escherichia coli. Mycoplasma hominis was unexpectedly frequent, appearing in five women with wall abscess and fever.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1993

Studies on the control of visceral leishmaniasis: validation of the Falcon assay screening test--enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (FAST-ELISA) for field diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis.

The Falcon assay screening test-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (FAST-ELISA), the latest version of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, uses antigen-coated beads. A 96-well plate can be run in 20 min without electricity or expensive equipment. We compared the FAST-ELISA, a standard ELISA, and an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) for evaluation of canine leishmaniasis under field conditions using samples from 161 dogs from our longitudinal study in the endemic area of Jacobina, Bahia, Brazil. Organisms were isolated by culture (NN medium) or by inoculation of hamsters with samples from 59 of the dogs. When plasma were tested, we found a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 90% using the FAST-ELISA with a spectrophotometer. Using the same plasma samples, the IFA had a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 93%. The standard ELISA had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 85%. When whole blood was tested with the FAST-ELISA, we found a sensitivity of 85%. There was no significant difference between visual and spectrophotometric results with plasma or whole blood. The FAST-ELISA system provides a sensitive, specific, and field-adaptable test for canine visceral leishmaniasis, which can be evaluated quickly without the use of a microscope or spectrophotometer.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. Clinical analysis].

One hundred thirty six women received laparoscopy surgery. The majority were between 25 and 39 years old (86.8%) nulíparous (73.5%0). Six (4.4%) were under 19 and once over 40. The most common diagnosis (64%) and surgery (79.4%) was endometriosis. Other laparoscopic treatments were cystectomies (11.8%), ectopic pregnancy surgery (3.6%), and miomectomies (2.9%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Expression of TRK-T1 oncogene induces differentiation of PC12 cells.

The TRK-T1 oncogene, isolated from a human thyroid carcinoma, represents a rearranged form of the high affinity nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor encoded by the NTRK1 gene; it is created by an intrachromosomal rearrangement fusing the NTRK1 tyrosine kinase domain to the 5' portion of the TPR gene. We have investigated the effect of the TRK-T1 oncogene in PC12 cells, a model system for studying neuronal differentiation and the mechanism of action of NGF. Here, we report that, in PC12 cells, the TRK-T1 oncogene has a differentiating effect that resembles that of NGF and requires the phosphorylation of the oncoprotein. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that TRK-T1, as well as the original TRK oncogene, induces PC12 differentiation by mimicking the action of NGF bound to its receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Comparison of ST depression and various exercise test indices in the diagnosis of coronary stenosis].

UNLABELLED: Various modifications and refinements have been proposed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of standard ST-segment criteria for identifying coronary artery disease using exercise testing. To ascertain if the treadmill exercise score (TES), the ST integral, or the ST/HR index are significantly better markers for coronary disease the standard ST analysis, measured visually or by computer, a retrospective study of 173 male patients was performed. Exclusions were clinical or electrocardiographic evidence of prior myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy, left bundle branch block, or resting ST segment depression on their baseline electrocardiogram, digitalis, previous revascularization procedure or any significant valvular or congenital heart disease. Ninety-six patients (55.5%) had at least one epicardial coronary stenosis (more than 70% diameter stenosis). Cutpoints were chosen for each method, that maximized their best combination of sensitivity and specificity. There were no statistically significant differences between any of the five methods (TES, ST integral, ST/HR index, standard and computer ST analysis) for identifying any coronary disease. CONCLUSION: careful visual or ST-segment analysis continues to be the simplest as well most effective marker for coronary disease during exercise testing.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1992

[The gestrinone (R-2323) treatment of endometriosis].

Results of medical treatment with gestrinone are evaluated in 29 women with minimal (10), mild (9) and moderate (7) endometriosis. After a diagnostic laparoscopy, patients started gestrinone 2.5 mg/day 2 times a week per 6 months. Clinical evaluations and blood samples were performed at the end of the ist, 3rd and 6th month of treatment. A second look laparoscopy, in 26 out of the 29 patients, was performed within a month after discontinuation of the drug. Nineteen patients (73.1%) showed a diminishing in endometriosis score. Moreover, 2 of them presented with a normal pelvis at the time of the 2nd laparoscopy. Overall post treatment scores were significantly lower than pre treatment scores (6.1 +/- 6.9 versus 11.3 +/- 10.2 respectively, p < 0.025). Nineteen out of the 26 patients had amenorrhea, most of them (18) since the second month of treatment. Nineteen patients presented with dysmenorrhea at the beginning of the treatment and in 13 of them it disappeared during the first 3 months of the drug. Reversible elevation in serum transaminases was observed in 4 patients. Red blood cells count and platelet concentration increased at the end of the treatment. A clear pituitary suppression to basal levels was seen. No significant changes on androgen levels were appreciated. Seven patients achieved a spontaneous pregnancy, out of 22 that desired fertility (31.8%), all of them were clinical pregnancies.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Relationship between erythropoietic rate and iron donating capacity of the Fe/transferrin complex in mouse.

The transfer of iron from the Fe/transferrin complex to the erythroid cells was studied in in vitro system in mice in which a drastic and opposite change in their erythropoietic activity was produced by bleeding or actinomycin D administration. A reduction of iron donation in the serum of bled animals was found, whereas the aplastic condition induce in the donors of the serum by actinomycin D did not produce any change in the transfer process. It was also found that in spite of the normalization of the saturation in the serum of bled animals, the diminished donation remained unchanged. The possibility that conditions other than quantitative could produce this behavior is discussed.

Animals↗