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Biomedical subjects

E Blanco

Publications and source records attributed to E Blanco.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Study of h-TSH immunoreactive adenohypophyseal cells following treatment with methymazole.

The TSH-producing adenohypohyseal cells of Wistar rats were studied after treatment with orally administered methymazole by the PAP immunocytochemical method. These cells were compared with those of normal animals. The effects of methymazole were different in the females to those observed in males. In both sexes, the numerical density (number of TSH cells per 1000 microns 2) increased after treatment. The cellular and cytoplasmic areas increased in the females while they decreased in the males. The nuclear area and the nuclear area/cytoplasmic area ratio increased in the males and decreased in the females following treatment with methymazole. This treatment caused the appearance of large, intensely stained cells, with an eccentric nucleus and cytoplasmic processes accompanied by weakly stained cells that were situated close to blood vessels.

Animals↗

Three dimensional study of the rat urinary bladder in states of contraction and distension.

A qualitative and quantitative study of the apical surface of the superficial cells of the rat urinary bladder was made when the bladder was in states of contraction and distension. The study was performed with the scanning electron microscope. Qualitatively, no significant changes were observed with respect to the regional cell topography analyzed (fundus, body and neck of bladder) and only a progressive disappearance of folds and grooves with a more pronounced flattening of the poligonal luminal cell surface was apparent as distension increased. The quantitative data found point to significant differences between the cell populations analyzed, in particular the hexagonal cells, both at regional level and with respect to the state of contraction-distension of the urinary bladder. Isolated immature cells can be seen occupying the area left by desquamated cells that have different shapes, sizes and morphological characteristics to the mature cells.

Animals↗

The elastic modulus of central and perilimbal bovine cornea.

Data on the elastic properties of corneal tissue are needed to define the parameters involved in a model for radial keratotomy. Using bovine corneal tissue, we measured stress-strain relationships of tissue at different locations in the cornea. From this data we calculated Young's modulus of elasticity of five specimens at peripheral and central corneal locations. Increasing levels of stress produced increased resistance to stretch, a property typical of soft biologic materials such as cornea. Linear regression analysis of the data showed that the elastic modulus of the peripheral tissue was greater than that of central tissue at all values of applied stress. These linear relationships were statistically different, using an analysis of covariance, indicating that peripheral corneal tissue is stiffer than central corneal tissue. This information supports the suggestion that a peripheral circular ligament of corneal tissue exists and helps to maintain the curvature of the cornea. It is the disruption of this ligament that is believed to cause some of the change in corneal curvature when radial keratotomy is done.

Animals↗

Annular gap junctions in cuboidal ependymocytes of the median eminence of the rat after intraventricular administration of methysergide and thyrotropin releasing hormone.

The annular gap junctions in the cuboidal ependymocytes of the median eminence of rats were studied after intraventricular administration (3rd ventricle) of methysergide and thyrotropin releasing hormone. Isolated annular gap junctions were found in the ependymocytes of normal animals. In experimental rats an increase was observed in the number of annular gap junctions at 5 min after administration of the drugs; the increase was more apparent at 10 min postadministration. Likewise, the ependymocytes showed a clear development of the Golgi complex and an increase in the number of vesicles close to the lateral membranes. Accordingly, the increase observed in annular gap junctions could be interpreted as a sign of cellular activity indicative of a greater exchange of substances through the ependymocytes.

Animals↗

Carcinoid syndrome and intravenous cyproheptadine.

The anaesthetic management of a patient with the carcinoid syndrome is reported. Important cardiovascular complications occurred immediately after tracheal intubation and during manipulation of metastases. Hypertensive crises were controlled with intravenous cyproheptadine, although hypotension and drowsiness were observed due to its use.

Aged↗

Morphology of the neural lobe of the hypophysis in rats treated with furosemide. II. Pituicytes.

Following three days of furosemide administration, the characteristics of the pituicytes in the neural lobe of the rat hypophysis were studied. The pituicytes of the animals which were treated with furosemide and had access to water during the treatment showed scarce cytoplasm organelles, conferring them with a clear appearance (light pituicytes), and a frequent finding was neurosecretory axons enclosed in their own cytoplasm. In the animals deprived of water during treatment, the pituicytes were dense (dark pituicytes) elongated, with a well-developed Golgi apparatus, numerous profiles of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and frequent annular gap junctions. It is concluded that the dehydration induced by the diuretic agent is the cause of the prevalence of the dark pituicytes.

Animals↗

Epidural analgesia for post-caesarean pain relief: a comparison between morphine and fentanyl.

In 20 post-operative patients who had undergone caesarean section, morphine 2 mg or fentanyl 75 micrograms in 0.9% saline were given epidurally in a randomized study, to compare their effectiveness in providing post-operative pain relief and the incidence of untoward reaction. There was a faster onset of action (P less than 0.01) and the quality of pain relief was substantially better after epidural fentanyl (P less than 0.01). However, the duration of action was markedly longer after epidural morphine (P less than 0.01). There was a significantly greater incidence of urinary retention after morphine administration (P less than 0.05). It is suggested that fentanyl gives better relief of pain than morphine when given epidurally.

Analgesia↗

The Meckel cave: computed tomographic study. Part I: Normal anatomy; Part II: Pathology.

A formalin-fixed cadaver head with air filling the cisternal and ventricular spaces was scanned by high-resolution computed tomography (CT) in multiple planes (axial, coronal, and sagittal) through the Meckel cave. Correlation of the CT appearance of the Meckel cave was made with an anatomic dissection and whole-head band saw cross-sections. The appearance of the Meckel caves in normal patients was defined using similar high-resolution CT technique with intravenous and intrathecal contrast enhancement. CT techniques allowed consistent and accurate definition of the Meckel cave, the fifth cranial nerve, and adjacent anatomic structures. CT findings of 13 patients with lesions of the Meckel cave are also reviewed, including six trigeminal schwannomas, three meningiomas, two secondary tumors, one glioma, and one congenital fatty tumor. Surgical confirmation was present in 11 cases. Diagnosis and determination of the extent of Meckel cave lesions is possible with the use of high-resolution CT.

Carotid Artery, Internal↗

Duodenal intubation with secretin stimulus for diagnosis of giardiasis.

The use of secretin to facilitate the demonstration of Giardia lamblia in duodenal juice was studied in children under investigation for chronic diarrhoea. 30 children aged 3 months to 13 years, whose stools were negative for G. lamblia, were studied. G. lamblia was demonstrable in a sample of duodenal juice in 1 of the 30 children before an intravenous injection of secretin (1 or 2 mg/kg), but in 9 of the 30 children after secretin. It is concluded that examination of duodenal juice after secretin stimulus is an effective method of showing giardial infestation.

Adolescent↗

Sex-specific effects of met-enkephalin treatment on vasopressin immunoreactivity in the rat supraoptic nucleus.

The supraoptic nucleus of male and female rats treated with met-enkephalin or naloxone and met-enkephalin was examined with light microscopical immunocytochemistry for Arginine-vasopressin. Both genders exhibited the same distribution of immunostained magnocellular neurons. Met-enkephalin treatment caused an increase in number of immunostained vasopressin neurons. This effect was more pronounced in females than in males. Naloxone treatment diminished immunoreactive cytoplasmic vasopressin in males more effectively than in females. In enkephalin-treated animals numerous vasopressin immunoreactive varicosities appeared within the supraoptic nucleus, but were mostly absent in naloxone-treated animals and in controls. Our results indicate that met-enkephalin treatment either stimulates vasopressin synthesis or inhibits secretion. It is likely that steroid hormones mediate the action of enkephalin on vasopressin secretion in a specific manner.

Animals↗

Expression of the mu-opioid receptor in the anterior pituitary gland is influenced by age and sex.

To analyze whether opioids are able to modulate endocrine regulation by acting directly on rat pituitary cells, an immunohistochemical study of micro-opioid receptor expression in these cells was performed, with attention given to the analysis of potential age- and sex-related variations in receptor expression patterns. In both sexes, the micro-opioid receptor was detected in the pituitary pars distalis. However, significant age-related differences were observed. Both in male and female rats, the percentage of micro-opioid receptor-expressing cells decreased significantly from postnatal week one through the 24 months of our study. Interestingly, pituitary cells containing the micro-opioid receptor were significantly more numerous in male than in female, with exception of the pre-pubertal phase and old rats. According to two-way analysis of variance, the gender-related differences in micro-receptor expression were independent of age-related variations. Thus, without excluding hypothalamic actions, our results suggest that opioids may exert their endocrine function by acting directly on pituitary cells.

Age Factors↗

Evaluation of increased aqueous outflow after radial keratotomy in enucleated bovine eyes.

PURPOSE: We studied the efficacy of using radial keratotomy incisions as a surgical method of increasing outflow facility in enucleated bovine eyes. METHODS: Each freshly enucleated bovine eye (n = 23) was cannulated to a system measuring the rate of flow into the eyes. Preoperatively, corneal thickness measurements were determined for all treated eyes. Radial keratotomy was performed in 13 eyes and a control set of eyes (n = 10) had no surgical manipulation. The intraocular pressure was set at 16.9 mm Hg. A clear zone of 10 mm was used for each eye with the incision depth set at 100% of the pachymetric reading. One set of experimental eyes had incisions that remained in the clear cornea, and the other set had incisions that reached 2 mm beyond the limbus into sclera. Preoperative outflow measurements were performed on each eye. Postoperative measurements were made after 10 incisions and 20 incisions. All eyes were checked for perforation after surgery and discarded if a perforation was found. RESULTS: No eye included in the analysis was perforated. The preoperative (baseline) total flow rate was 27.90 +/- 3.72 mu 1/min at 16.9 mmHg. The flow rate increased by 23.5% (over baseline) with 20 radial keratotomy incisions. A paired t-test was used to statistically compare the outflow measurements before radial keratotomy and after the first and second set of radial incisions. The increases in flow were found to be statistically significant (P < .005) for both 10 and 20 radial incisions. CONCLUSION: Assuming the flow measurements (flow rate) in these experiments parallel outflow facility, radial keratotomy increases the outflow facility in enucleated bovine eyes.

Animals↗

[The CADASIL syndrome: a model of subcortical-cortical disconnection].

INTRODUCTION: CADASIL syndrome (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarts and Leukoencephalopathy) includes some neurological signs and symptoms (gait disturbances, epileptic seizures, pseudobulbar palsy, migraines, etc.), as well as neuropsychological dysfunctions (cognitive and executive impairment, emotional disorders and, frequently, dementia). This syndrome is a good model of white matter damage and potential disconnection syndromes. CLINICAL CASE: In this article, the neuropsychological profile of a 47 year-old woman diagnosed of CADASIL is investigated and thoroughly discussed. Results show the presence of a moderate cognitive and executive impairment, specially of memory, psychomotor abilities, executive functions and verbal fluency, but not dementia, overall suggesting the presence of a temporal-frontal-subcortical disfunction. CONCLUSION: This clinical pattern is an illuminating example of the neuropsychological consequences of the partial disconnection of prefrontal cortex from the thalamus and basal ganglia.

Brain↗