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Biomedical subjects

C Serrano

Publications and source records attributed to C Serrano.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Effect of diabetic hyperglycemia and other sugars on plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity.

The plasma glycoprotein, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH), is present in markedly increased amounts in experimental, streptozocin (STZ)-diabetic rats, reaching a maximum at about the first week and maintaining a plateau for several months afterward. High glycemia values are observed simultaneously. Insulin treatment is observed to keep the glycemia and plasma DBH activity values at levels seen in control rats. The heterologous half-life of DBH in STZ-diabetic rats is significantly increased compared with that of control animals. The glucose analogue, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, has a similar effect on plasma DBH activity levels, eliciting high glycemia values. In STZ-diabetic animals, this increase is more significant, as if it were the additive effect of the two sugars. Other sugars that can compete for glycoprotein catabolic receptors can also modulate the plasma DBH activity levels. The lack of effect of galactose on DBH levels, together with the induced increase of DBH by alpha-methyl-D-mannoside and, to a lesser extent, by inulin, suggest an important rate for the mannose/glucose/N-acetyl glucosamine/fructose receptor in the catabolic clearance of DBH from plasma and explain the abnormal values seen for DBH in diabetes mellitus.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Factors associated to non-attendance to psychiatric first visit].

INTRODUCTION: The failure to the first regular appointments in Mental Health Centres represent a problem in economic terms for the institution, a waste of time for the professional person and an increase in the waiting list in the centre with the subsequent prejudice for the patient. METHODOLOGY: In this investigation we study the influence of some sociodemographic (sex and age) and referral variables (geographic area, previous contact in the centre, referral reason and diagnostic by the family physician) in a group of 235 failing subjects compared with a group of 300 attending subjects. RESULTS: Results show that there's no relationship between the variables in terms of sex or age; that there are differences related to the geographic area from where they are referred and that the patients with a previous contact in the centre (more than one year) fail less than those who never attended.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A shortened form of the Spanish Boston naming test: a useful tool for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease].

INTRODUCTION: The Boston Naming Test (BNT) is the most frequently used test of confrontation naming. Due to its length, several abbreviated forms have been proposed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to develop a short form for the Spanish version of the BNT that could detect early semantic changes in Alzheimer s disease (AD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and three patients with diagnosis of probable AD (NINCDS ADRDA criteria), with GDS< 5 and 143 normal subjects, matched for age and education, were studied. Subjects with <4 years of education were excluded. No subject had any history of neurological of psychiatric disorders or alcohol abuse. All participants underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment which included the 60 item Spanish version of the BNT. The sensibility and specificity of each item and demographic effect s variability were calculated (ANOVA). Those 12 figures with the highest sensibility and specificity which showed no significant educational or age variation were administered to all participants. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used. RESULTS: Mean score for the control group was 11 (standard deviation: 1.16). No significant effects for age (r= 0.14574) or education (r= 0.101293) were found. The sensibility and specificity for correctly diagnosing AD was 85% and 94% respectively, similar to the longest version. CONCLUSION: This 12 item version of the BNT can be a useful instrument for a rapid screening of AD, as it is as sensible and specific as the 60 item version, and it is not influenced by age or education.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Disordered breathing patterns during bicarbonate hemodialysis in COPD. Effect of cuprophane versus polysulfone membranes.

This study explored the breathing patterns and arterial blood gases before and during cuprophane (CU) bicarbonate and polysulfone (PS) bicarbonate dialysis in six chronic dialysis patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The studies were performed in random order during two consecutive dialyses. Breathing patterns were monitored by respiratory impedance plethysmography. Apneic episodes, defined as a decrease in tidal volume of 75% lasting 10 sec, were present before and during hemodialysis. In these patients with COPD a high number of apneic episodes (17 +/- 6 [SE]) were observed during CU bicarbonate hemodialysis. Most of these episodes were central rather than obstructive in character. There were fewer events when the same patients were dialyzed with PS membranes (10 +/- 5; p = 0.05). The decrement in PO2 (baseline to 60 min) was 17 +/- 7 during CU and 4 +/- 5 mmHg during PS dialysis (p = 0.10). Minute ventilation decreased in four of six patients on CU bicarbonate and increased in all six patients on PS bicarbonate. It was concluded that bicarbonate hemodialysis does not completely prevent hypoxemia or apnea during dialysis in patients with COPD. Apneic episodes and hypoxemia appear to be less severe during PS bicarbonate than during CU bicarbonate hemodialysis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Musical memory preserved in an amnesic syndrome].

INTRODUCTION: In amnesic syndromes, it's usually to see dissociation between episodic, semantic and procedural memory. However, a few reports have been found about musical memory's processing and the relation with classic memory systems. AIM: To describe the musical's abilities preserved in a patient with amnesic syndrome and discuss possible neuropsychological and neurobiological bases implicated. CASE REPORT: A 28-years-old woman presenting with amnesic syndrome is reported. Following a carbon monoxide encephalophaty and subsequent hypoxia she remained in coma for 10 days with evidence of bilateral temporal changes, mainly affecting basal ganglia areas. The patient showed anterograde amnesia and semantic memory impairment, with disproportionately spared musical abilities' performance, either music perception (discrimination and recognition of tonal melodies, musical sight-reading) or music production (song and instrumental performance) or musical memory. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that the music require elaborate bihemispheric processing and may implicate different forms of information processing. The neural network involved in musical memory can be different that the declarative memory systems (episodic and semantic).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Primary progressive aphasia: its clinical variability: an analysis of 15 cases].

INTRODUCTION: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) represents a clinical syndrome linked to multiple degenerative diseases. The diagnosis of PPA is made when language is the only area of salient and progressive dysfunction for at least the first two years of the disease. AIM: To evaluate the neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric and language characteristics of the PPA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 15 patients with PPA underwent language, neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography and single photon emission computerized tomography. RESULTS: We observed a clear distinction between the oral expression patterns; the patients were classificated by type of aphasia. The most common sign of PPA was a word finding deficit, also known as anomia. Seven aphasia type Broca, four sensorial transcortical aphasia, two aphasia type Wernicke and two anomic aphasia were found in our patients. Depression, apathy, anxiety and irritability were the most prevalent neuropsychiatric sign. CONCLUSIONS: PPA is a language-based syndrome, that include fluent (normal articulation, flow and number of words per utterance) and nonfluent form of aphasia. It has been considered a cognitive term, however, PPA is associated with high prevalence of psychiatric manifestations. More research it will be necessary to evaluate the prognostic value of them. The slow and progressive deterioration of language provides an interesting model to understand the mechanisms and biological bases involved in the linguistic process.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Visual art, creativity and dementia].

BACKGROUND: Visual art is an expression of neurological function and how it organizes and interprets perception. The art is predominantly in the right hemisphere, in contrast, the left side, have inhibitory effects on artistic expression. In normal subjects, inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms could interact in a complex harmony, reflecting a paradoxical functional facilitation. Brain diseases such as dementia could change this harmony and then, alter the artistic abilities. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the art expression in the degenerative diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Artistic abilities of 3 painters with degenerative diseases were assessment. RESULTS: Patient 1: A 83 - year old right handed female, diagnosis: Alzheimer's disease. Artistic description: low productivity, simplified versions of earlier and alteration of the visuospatial organization. Patient 2: A 78-year-old right handed female, diagnosis: Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA); Artistic description: oversimplified drawings which maintaining overall spatial organization, without impair artistic skills. Patient 3: A 68 year-old right handed woman, diagnosis: Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD). Artistic description: Increased artistic activity, originality, freedom, utilization of intense colours with perseverative and repetitive copying of similar paintings of her own work. CONCLUSIONS: Visual art in Alzheimer's disease is a consequence of visuospatial and constructive disabilities. In contrast, the conservation of this cognitive functions and left asymmetrical involved, in FTD and PPA respectively, suggest artistic preservation, independently of the language injury. The disproportionate functional prevalence of the right over the left could lead to a release of novelty - seeking in art and can contribute to emergent creativity. These observations suggest an organization for art in the brain and proposed bases for further investigations in dementias.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Blood copper levels in pregnant women in the first trimester as a prognostic feature of fetal wellbeing].

The authors have performed 173 assays of the serum copper in 64 pregnant women and in 109 foetal blood samples taken at the time of delivery in an attempt to define an early indicator of a pathological process affecting the foetus, the pregnancy and the delivery. They observed a significant increase in the serum copper level during the first trimester of at risk pregnancies and the increased serum copper level is maintained from the start and throughout the pregnancy, in high risk pregnancies. The serum copper level therefore appears to be a good indicator of certain foetal, placental or maternal abnormalities, especially in high risk pregnancies.

Adult↗