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C Olmedo

Publications and source records attributed to C Olmedo.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Time course of intraoperative cytokine levels in liver transplant recipients.

We evaluated the levels of several cytokines (interleukin [IL]-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, and interferon [IFN]-gamma) in plasma samples obtained before surgical intervention (T0) and during intraoperative liver transplantation: after induction of anesthesia (I-1), 15 minutes of anhepatic phase (I-2), 5 minutes before reperfusion (I-3), 10 minutes after reperfusion (I-4), 20 minutes after reperfusion (I-5), 60 minutes after reperfusion (I-6), and 1 hour after liver transplantation (I-7). Cytokine levels were determined using a technique which combines ELISA technique and flow cytometry. The study was approved by the local clinical research (ethics) committee. Written informed consent was obtained from patients' relatives. Twenty patients (14 men, 6 women) aged 23 to 61 years, recipients of a liver transplantation were studied. The cytokine IL-2 plasma values were maintained during the whole study period, with a slight increase at 15 minutes of anhepatic phase (I-2). IL-4 showed a peak value 20 minutes after reperfusion (I-5). IL-6 increased its plasma value starting at 15 minutes of anhepatic phase (I-2), maintaining high concentrations during the whole intraoperative period. IL-10 increased progressively, reaching a maximum 1 hour after transplantation (I-7). TNF-alpha reached maximum plasma levels 20 minutes after reperfusion (I-5), whereas IFN-gamma showed a peak at 15 minutes of anhepatic phase (I-2). Our results indicate that the anhepatic phase (I-2) is the earliest phase during which proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-10, respectively, are involved during liver transplantation. We conclude that IL-6 is the first cytokine involved in the inflammatory response during liver transplantation.

Adult↗

Rapid surveys for program evaluation: design and implementation of an experiment in Ecuador.

This paper presents details from the field test of two rapid surveys in Ecuador in 1995. It focuses on how the surveys were designed and implemented, including descriptions of the sampling procedures, the preparation and use of preprogrammed palmtop computers for data entry, the selection criteria for the interviewing team, and how the training was designed. Lessons are drawn that will assist health professionals plan and carry out better rapid data collection in the future. The objective of the study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of data gathered during the rapid surveys as compared with a recent "gold standard" national survey. A two-way factorial design was used to control for differences in sampling (probability versus quasi-probability) and methods of data collection (paper versus palmtop computer). Few differences were detected between the surveys done on palmtops as compared to paper ones, but urban and rural differentials in contraceptive use were less pronounced in the rapid surveys than in the earlier, national survey. This suggests that caution should be exercised in interpreting the disaggregated data in these rapid surveys. In-depth interviews revealed two features of the rapid surveys that were especially popular: the palmtops for their speed of data entry, and the short questionnaire for its "low impact" on a respondent's time. The common belief that computers would disturb respondents was not found to be the case. Even with no computer experience, the interviewers rapidly mastered the new technology.

Adult↗

Oestrogen receptor in the baboon endometrium: cytosolic receptor, detection, characterization and variation of its concentration during the menstrual cycle.

A cytosolic oestrogen receptor from baboon endometria was detected and partially characterized. The apparent dissociation constant for oestradiol was 1.5 x 10(-10)--4 x 10(-10) mol/l. Steroids that competed with the [3H]oestradiol binding to the receptor were oestradiol and ethynyloestradiol greater than oestriol greater than oestrone; progesterone, testosterone and corticosterone were not competitors. The [3H]oestradiol-receptor complexes migrated as a 3-3.5S peak during sucrose density-gradient centrifugation when endometrial samples were taken during either the proliferative or the secretory phase. A 7S peak was observed for samples taken at the period of ovulation. A [3H]oestradiol exchange technique was used to detect changes in the receptor concentration during the menstrual cycle. This concentration which was high during the early follicular phase fell sharply before the ovulatory peak of ovarian oestrogens. It remained at a base level during the early secretory phase and then rose during the last days of the cycle to the same concentration as that measured at the beginning of the cycle.

Animals↗