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Biomedical subjects

C Oliveira

Publications and source records attributed to C Oliveira.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Synaptonemal complex analysis in spermatocytes and oocytes of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Pisces, Salmonidae): the process of autosome and sex chromosome synapsis.

The surface-spreading synaptonemal complex (SC) technique was employed to analyze spermatocytes and oocytes of rainbow trout in order to visualize the process of autosome and sex chromosome synapsis in this species. The structure of lateral elements (LEs) of the SC and the chromosome synapsis process at the stages of leptotene, zygotene and pachytene are described. Comparative analysis of SCs of spermatocytes and oocytes showed a difference in the synaptic process, i.e. in spermatocytes all LEs were synapsed before the appearance of centromeric regions in the biarmed elements, while in the oocytes some fully synapsed LEs, including the centromeric region of the biarmed elements, were found together with fully or partially unsynapsed LEs. In males the sex chromosome synapsis starts only after all autosomes have synapsed. Irregular synapses involving three or four LEs were found in 3.4% of the cells analyzed in mid or late zygotene. Multivalents were found in males and females. Some aspects of initial meiotic development and their implications in rainbow trout cytogenetics, genetics and evolution are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Hospital prevalence of kidney failure. Consequences and reflections for the planning of nephrology services].

A prospective prevalence study of Renal Failure (RF) in inhospital patients (creatinine > = 1.7 mg/dl) was carried out during March 1994, in two hospitals covering well defined and mutually exclusive populations. Cases were selected by screening all urea and creatinine blood tests performed in both laboratories, and registered in an individual form for daily follow-up of their nephrologic outcome. We registered 242 RF cases among 3525 patients admitted (6.8%), with an A.R.F. prevalence of 5.2%, 46% of all patients had a serum creatinine > 3 mg/dl and 71% were older than 65 years. In 55% RF was acquired inside the hospital. The most frequent cause of A.R.F. was pre-renal failure with 37%, followed by 32% of ischemic acute tubular necrosis and 13% toxic ATN. Nephrology was consulted in only 29% of all hospital RF cases. Only 17% of the RF patients were submitted to dialysis procedures, overall mortality was 31%, and 30% had normal renal function at discharge. Our results provide a data base to rethink the organization, staffing and role of nephrology departments inside general hospitals.

Female↗
PubMed1994

Persistence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in a chronic hemodialysis population.

In order to evaluate the persistence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a chronic hemodialysis population, we studied 151 HBsAg-negative patients. Anti-HCV titers were evaluated every 3 months over 1 year, and the serum alanine aminotransferase/serum aspartate aminotransferase ratio monthly from the start of hemodialysis. The anti-HCV titers (ELISA C100-3) remained stable in 127 patients and fluctuated in 24, without an evident correlation with hepatic function. Using our criteria, we found 85 patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis, 57 of them with biochemical criteria of chronic hepatic disease. There was a strong correlation between antibodies to HCV and non-A, non-B hepatitis (chi 2; p < 0.05) which was more marked in those patients with biochemical criteria of chronic hepatic disease (chi 2; p < 0.001). We concluded that the anti-HCV titer is reliable as a long-term marker of hepatitis C virus infection.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of non-A non-B hepatitis and anti-HCV antibodies in a Portuguese dialysis population.

Non-A Non-B hepatitis (NANBH) is nowadays one of the most common causes of hepatic dysfunction in dialysis patients. We reviewed the records of 231 HBsAg-negative patients in our unit and found 119 patients with biochemical criteria of NANBH (51.5%), 88 of them (68.9%) with circulating antibodies against HCV (chi 2 P less than 0.0001). Such high prevalence of NANBH was due to an outbreak of NANBH in the late 70s and early 80s. Time on haemodialysis (HD) was the major risk factor of NANBH in this population, and no other risk factors were identified. Prevalence of anti-HCV was similar to reports from non-uraemic populations. Anti-HCV seems to be a reliable test to confirm NANBH, but not better than using common biochemical criteria of NANBH to manage these patients in dialysis units.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Prevention of thrombogenesis in the extracorporeal circuit of hemodialysis with a low molecular heparin: standardization of the dosage with a better hemorrhagic risk/effectiveness ratio].

PURPOSE: To test the efficacy and safety of a low molecular. Weight heparin (LMWH)--Fraxiparine, for hemodialysis (HD) anticoagulation, compared with conventional heparin (H) or serum lavage without other anticoagulation (L). DESIGN: Prospective controlled study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine consecutive patients referred for dialysis in a tertiary care hospital were divided in 3 groups A, B and C, each group A and B patient submitted to 2 dialysis, AI and AII, BI and BII. Group A--n = 10, no bleeding risk, single needle technique, blood flow (Qb) less than 200 ml/min. HD-AI used LMWH 10,000 U pre-HD, HD-AII used H for an ACT 1.5 to 2 times baseline; group B--n = 10, high bleeding risk, double needle dialysis, Qb--200 to 300 ml/min. HD-BI used LMWH 5000 U pre-HD, and HD-BII used only L; Group C--n = 9, no bleeding risk, Qb less than 200 ml/min, all received LMWH 5000 U pre-HD. A semiquantitative screening was done in each dialysis for the presence of dialyser or venous chamber clots, APTT and Anti Xa activity were measured every 30 min., as well as pre and post-dialysis Hb, Htc, and platelets. RESULTS: APTT didn't rise significantly during HD with LMWH in contrast with the AII group with H (32.2 +/- 7.1 vs 63 +/- 25.8, p less than 0.05). The APTT levels in all dialysis with LMWH were identical to BII dialysis With L. Anti xa activity had an early peak at 30 to 60 min. With LMWH (0.62 +/- 0.45 em AI) and a late one at 180 min with H (0.39 +/- 0.2). There was no significant differences between pre and post-dialysis corrected platelet counts, but the lavage group showed the greater decrements (-20% +/- 24). In all the 49 dialysis we had 5 cases of complete clotting of the blood circuit, all of them in the lavage group C. No patients with high risk of hemorrhage had any bleeding increment. CONCLUSION: LMWH prevents clotting as effectively as H, in low doses of 5000 anti Xa units it doesn't interfere with PTT and is far more effective than HD with serum lavage in patients with bleeding risk and/or low blood flow in the dialysis circuit.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Assessment of iron requirements during treatment of anemia with recombinant human erythropoietin in patients with chronic renal insufficiency under hemodialysis].

Iron deficiency occurs often in patients with recombinant human Erythropoietin (rhEPO) therapy in chronic renal failure (CRF) associated anemia. We have studied 10 patients with CRF on regular hemodialysis (HD), female = 8, male = 2, average age = 49 [32 to 72], time on HD 44.2 +/- 25.0 months. Before starting rhEPO, the mean hemoglobin value was 7.36 +/- 1.29 gr/dl, the mean ferritin 695.4 +/- 276.0 ng/ml, the mean serum iron 160.3 +/- 49.5 micrograms/dl and the mean transferrin saturation 55.3 +/- 12.6%. Transfusional requirements in the 12 months Pré-rhEPO were 10.9 +/- 3.2 units. The rhEPO dose level was 80 U/kg body weight (3 times a week, after HD) in the Correction Period (mean time = 46.7 +/- 18.6 days), being reduced afterwards in order to remain target Hb stable between 10 and 11 gr/dl. Iron deficiency was detected (transferrin iron saturation less than 16% or serum ferritin less than 30 ng/ml) in 5 of the 10 patients. Patients have been divided into two Groups (GI--patients which developed iron deficiency; GII--patients which remained iron replete). There were no significant differences between GI and GII in the serum iron, transferrin and transferrin saturation values of the Pré-rhEPO. Serum ferritin in the Pré-rhEPO was lower in GI than GII (GI = 489.2 +/- 23.6 ng/ml; GII = 901.6 +/- 96.4 ng/ml; p less than 0.01). Falls in the transferrin iron saturation during the Correction Period and 3, 6 and 12 months and in the serum ferritin at 3, 6 and 12 months versus Pré-rhEPO have occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Significance of digestive hemorrhage in patients with chronic renal insufficiency in hemodialysis].

Gastrointestinal Bleeding (GIB) is a complication in patients with Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) on regular hemodialysis (HD). To analyse the importance of GIB we studied, retrospectively, the causes of hospitalization in 301 patients, all on HD in the same Unit in January 1990. The average age was 57.4 +/- 14.2 years (17 to 87), time on HD 58.3 +/- 44.9 months, male = 166, female = 135. Of a total of 169 hospitalizations, the infectious disease were the most frequent cause with 37 admissions (21.9%), followed by gastrointestinal diseases with 34 admissions (21.1%). Of these, 23 (13.6%) were due to GIB (Upper GIB = 19, Lower GIB = 4). The etiologies of Upper GIB were: Peptic Ulcer = 9, erosive Gastritis/Duodenitis = 7. Angiodysplasia = 1, Mallory Weiss = 1 and unknown = 1. The etiologies of Lower GIB were: Angiodysplasia of the colon = 3, Cancer of the colon = 1. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) had a positive correlation (p less than 0.01) with Upper GIB due to erosive Gastritis/Duodenitis. Surgery was necessary in a 8 cases of GIB, 7 of them due to Peptic Ulcer. GIB is an important cause of morbidity in patients with CRF on HD. Peptic Ulcer and erosive Gastritis/Duodenitis were the most frequent causes of GIB in the population studied. Angiodysplasia of the colon was the most important cause of Lower GIB. NSAID appear to be a risk factor for GIB from erosive Gastritis and or Duodenitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Identification of a period of renal ischemic vulnerability studying the changes in the indicators of acute renal insufficiency after heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation].

We studied the pre operative status and the 1st, 4th, 12th and 24th hours of the post operative period after open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass with a crystalloid solution containing 10 gr of mannitol. We considered acute renal failure (ARF) as being any increase in plasma creatinine values of 0.25 mg/dl for the first 24 hours and 0.5 mg/dl for periods longer than 24 hours. Six patients had transitory ARF (28.5%). The maximum value of plasma creatinine was 2.3 mg/dl and no patients required renal function substitution. There were no deaths. We used as ischemia ARF indicators the urinary flow rate, urine/plasma creatinine ratio, urine/plasma osmolality ratio, sodium fractional excretion and free water reabsorption. We also measured the urinary N-A-Glucosaminidase (NAG). We found that creatinine clearance reached its lowest in the first and fourth hours. Beyond the fourth hour we observed, the urinary flow rate reduce significantly, the urine/plasma creatinine and osmolality ratios reach values traditionally associated prerenal ARF, an increase main free water reabsorption and a decrease in sodium fractional excretion with a close relationship between the less than 1 value and the increase in plasma creatinine. There was a significant NAG increase in the 24 th hour. The evidence of a vulnerability period for renal ischemic lesions between the 4 th and 12 th hour suggests a second mannitol administration during the first four hours of the post operative period.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1988

Dominantly inherited ataxias in Portugal.

We analysed the clinical features of 82 patients with dominantly inherited ataxia in a cohort survey. All patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for Machado-Joseph disease. The mean age of onset of symptoms was 39.8 (+/- 12.5) years and the duration of the disease was 9.2 (+/- 6.7) years. Ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, and fasciculation scores correlated with age of onset and duration of disease. Upper motor neuron scores failed to correlate with age of onset. In a follow-up study we analysed the clinical data of 46 patients two years after the first examination. A paired t-test was used to compare differences between observations. The results are in agreement with those of the cross-section in time, suggesting a deterioration of the symptoms with the evolution of the disease. We conclude that dynamic definition of the disease according to age of onset and duration of symptoms is preferable to subdivision into classical types.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[2 cases of stiff-man syndrome with tremor].

Clinical history, neurologic investigations, course, EMG findings, muscle biopsy and response to diazepam treatment in two patients fulfilled criteria established by Gordon, Januszko and Kaufman for the diagnosis of the stiff-man syndrome. Both patients also presented tremor, a rare finding in this affection.

Contracture↗
PubMed1980

[Effect of barbexaclone in convulsive crisis difficult to control].

A therapeutic trial using barbexaclone in uncontrolled seizures was undertaken showing favourable results. Special reference to the association of barbexaclone with acetazolamide with good results in many cases is made. Collateral effects are minimal in pacients using barbexaclone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Senile confusion: assessment with a new stimulus recognition test.

There is a need for rapid and convenient assessment instruments to test the aged for senile confusion due to organic brain syndrome (OBS). The Mental Status Questionnaire (MSQ) and the Face-Hand Test (FHT) have certain limitations. A valid instrument must measure short-term memory loss and recognition. Sixty-two patients were examined in 17 different trials of the Stimulus Recognition Test (SRT), which involves 10 items. Each item classified the patients according to staff ratings (P less than .001), MSQ MSQ scores (P less than .005), and FHT scores (P less than .005). The composite MSQ score on a scale of 0--10 also served to separate the patients according to staff ratings (P less than .005). The SRT scores correlated .81 to .67 with the MSQ and FHT scores. The SRT does not show the same false positive patterns as the MSQ and FHT. For that reason, it constitutes a useful diagnostic supplement. Suggestions for further research are made.

Humans↗
PubMed1979

Hypochondriasis and paranoia: similar delusional systems in an institutionalized geriatric population.

Hypochondriasis and paranoia are common psychopathologies of aging. The former may be secondary to depression or organic brain syndrome, whereas the latter may be secondary to sensory impairment or organic brain syndrome. Paranoid schizophrenia, with delusions of grandeur, is rare in later life. The authors classified 273 institutionalized geriatric patients by means of staff ratings into categories such as lucid and alert, confused, hypochondriacal, paranoid, etc. Among confused patients there was a correlation of .45 (p less than .001) between hypochondriasis and paranoia. Even among nonconfused patients, there was a slight positive correlation. The authors concluded that geriatric paranoia and hypochrondriasis have similar structure (delusion) and functions (safeguarding self-esteem and manipulating others). An interpersonal perspective can also provide guidelines for when to treat these conditions.

California↗
PubMed1978

Senile confusion: limitations of assessment by the face-hand test, mental status questionnaire, and staff ratings.

Three of the most common and convenient measures of senile confusion are informal staff ratings, the Face-Hand Test (FHT) and the Mental Status Questionnaire (MSQ). A group of 112 geriatric patients in two extended care facilities, and a volunteer sample of 40 community aged were examined by means of the FHT and MSQ. These instruments proved valuable in differentiating patients rated as confused from those rated as lucid and alert, and from the community subjects. However, each of these measures, as well as the staff ratings, produced false negative findings. Staff ratings incorrectly identified a hypochondriacal and paranoid patient as confused. The FHT scores of lucid and alert patients with some brain damage were low. MSQ scores of some poorly educated immigrants were very low, even though these patients were rated as lucid and alert by the staff and passed the FHT. One normally lucid and alert patient with a fever and an irregular rapid pulse failed both the FHT and the MSQ. Guidelines for further use of these instruments are presented.

Aged↗