PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Ramírez

Publications and source records attributed to C Ramírez.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hand dermatitis].

Hand dermatitis is a common skin disease that often has a chronic and relapsing course. Several subtypes of hand dermatitis have been described. In this review, we describe the clinical characteristics of each form of hand eczema, laboratory tests helpful in the diagnosis, and treatment options for this condition.

Hand Dermatoses↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intersectorial activities for traffic accident prevention].

We describe priority issues and some of the results obtained from the implementation of the Prevention and Reduction of Traffic Accident Injuries program in a health area. Since 1999 the public health center has made a priority of identifying and recruiting partners from other sectors (the local police association and the local education authority), increasing its capacity for working together, and setting up an intersectorial working group. Teaching activities and meetings were held. A network of people was created from 17 of a total of 39 town halls that participate in activities supported by the intersectorial group. Ten are involved in educational activities and a further seven focus on ensuring compliance with the law. The intersectorial group promoted their visibility through the local media. These activities are not aimed at reducing injuries from road traffic accidents, but rather at creating an action framework through which all the sectors involved can be mobilized. The aim is to strengthen commitment among political, technical and civil sectors by focussing on social values of respect for a healthier life.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MAPKs entry into the nucleus at specific interchromatin domains in plant differentiation and proliferation processes.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are involved in the signaling of extracellular stimuli in eukaryotes, including plants. Different MAPKs have recently been shown to be expressed during plant cell proliferation and developmental processes such as pollen development and embryogenesis, but the structural subdomain where these MAPKs are targeted in the nucleus has not yet been characterized. We have determined the changes in the expression and subcellular localization of ERK homologues, proteins belonging to the MAPK family, and MAPK-active forms in two plant developmental processes which involved differentiation (pollen maturation) and proliferation (the initials of pollen embryogenesis). Immunofluorescence and immunogold labeling in the species studied showed that the progression of differentiation and proliferation was accompanied by an increase in the expression of ERKs and MAPK activation together with a translocation to the nucleus. Combining ultrastructural cytochemistry and immunogold for RNA and phosphorylated proteins we have identified the nuclear sites housing these MAPKs in areas of the interchromatin region enriched in RNA and phosphoproteins that include clusters of interchromatin granules. This could suggest a role of these MAPKs in the early events of activation of the transcription and processing machinery, via phosphorylation, which subsequently would be recruited to the transcription sites. The association of the nuclear localization of MAPKs with the progression through the cell cycle and the commitment toward differentiation in the two plant developmental processes can be correlated.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of intrarenal endothelin 1, endothelin 3, and angiotensin II expression in chronic cyclosporin A nephrotoxicity in rats.

Endothelin 1 (Et1) is widely expressed in the kidney and is related to several functions and to pathological conditions with progression towards sclerosis. The function of endothelin 3 (Et3) at the renal level is debatable, but it could have an important regulatory function in the reabsorption of water through its action on tubular type B receptors. Angiotensin II has recently been implicated as the principal factor responsible for the progression of interstitial fibrosis induced by cyclosporin A (CsA). We investigated this relationship in vivo and analyzed the modifications induced by CsA toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 25 mg/kg/day of CsA for 28 and 56 days. Immunohistochemical methods and molecular analysis were used to study the expression of Et1 and Et3 and immunohistochemistry alone to determine the intrarenal expression of angiotensin II. Rats treated with CsA developed chronic nephrotoxicity lesions; semiquantitative analyses of hyaline arteriolopathy revealed that the passage of time affected the extent of this lesion and led to the diminution of the total glomerular area. Immunohistochemical results showed that chronic CsA treatment induced moderate secretion of Et1 and Et3 at tubular and glomerular levels and that the local expression of angiotensin II in the treatment groups was more evident than in control animals. Besides, the mRNA levels of preproEt3 showed a dramatic increase from 28 days after CsA treatment (control group 0.07+/-0.11 vs. CsA group 0.48+/-0.11, p<0.01), while the mRNA levels of preproEt1 increased from 56 days (control group 0.15+/-0.05 vs. CsA group 0.34+/-0.09, p< 0.05). At 28 days, renal lesions correlated strongly with the mRNA levels of Et3 (r>0.50, p<0.01). However, at 56 days, the key finding was the strong correlation of the most important analytical, histological, and immunohistochemical parameters of CsA nephrotoxicity with Et1 mRNA levels (r>0.50, p<0.01). These results support the hypothesis that the clinical and morphological phenomena linked with CsA nephrotoxicity are related to hypersecretion of endothelins and local expression of angiotensin II in the outer medulla and medullary rays; Et3 and angiotensin II are the first to act, followed subsequently by Et1.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Descriptive study of human and bovine tuberculosis in Querétaro, México.

A 5-year retrospective study (1992-1996) to look at the situation of human tuberculosis was conducted in Querétaro, México. Also, a 6-month study to determine the frequency of gross lesions in dairy cattle at slaughter, and a short experiment to evaluate the effect of sodium borate in the survival of M. bovis in lesions were carried out. The number of cases were 114 in 1992, 211 in 1995, and 174 in 1996. Possible risk factors were: overcrowding, under-nutrition, previous cases of TB in the family, concurrent Diabetes mellitus, poor personal hygiene, smoking, and alcohol abuse. Eighty percent of the cases were pulmonary. The number of cases increase with age, from 5% in patients 10-year old or younger to 42% in patients 50-year old or older. Seventy-two percent were cured, and only 6% die. Persistent coughing was by far the most observed clinical symptom. From 112 acid-fast negative samples, 8.9% were positive by culture. From 1,201 carcasses revised at slaughter, 17% presented TB-gross lesions. Ninety-six percent were localized lesions involving frequently a single organ, mostly retropharyngeal, mediastinal, mesenteric and mandibular lymph. From 102 lesions, 95% were TB-compatible, and 79% were positive to isolation of M. bovis. Most affected animals were female > 2 years old. It was observed that keeping lesions in a 6% sodium borate solution does not affect the diagnosis of M. bovis by culture after 150 days.

Abattoirs↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Equality in medical education policy in Mexico].

We compared the results of the educational policies of public versus private medical schools and traditional versus module-based medical programs. The comparison centers on the political value of equality. The hypotheses are the following: a) Public and module-based schools offer more equality of opportunities for enrollment, permanence and graduation of students than private and traditional schools; b) medical schools maintain their educational policies over time. The value of equality was operationalized with the Equality Index (EI). To test the proposed hypotheses we used Wilcoxon's rank sum test and Mann-Whitney "U" test. We studied an intentional sample of 21 medical school in Mexico. The median of the EI for public schools between 1980 to 1989 was 4; 2 for private schools, 2 for traditional schools, and 3 for module-based schools. The only significant difference found was that between public and private schools (p < 0.05). We conclude that in public schools there is more equality of opportunities than in private ones. The results are consistent during the decade of the 80's.

Education, Medical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Insomnia in asthmatic patients].

In this paper, in order to assess the prevalence and features of insomnia as a subjective complaint in a sample of asthmatic outpatients. (n = 43; mean age = 36.39 +/- 12.85), items 44, 64 and 66 (that deal with insomnia complaints) of Derogatis' SCL-90-R (Symptom Check List 90 REvised), that was applied to the patients of the sample, are studied. A high prevalence of insomnia complaints is observed in our patients; over 70% of the sample manifests complaints of some type of insomnia. Insomnia complaints were higher (p < 0.0001) than in general population. No significant differences were evidenced according to sex and no correlation with age was observed in any of the items taken into account for insomnia complaints. A high positive intercorrelation was evidenced among the three items that we considered. Various factors associated with insomnia in asthma are discussed.

Adolescent↗