Biomedical subjects

E Montes

Publications and source records attributed to E Montes.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Prophylactic treatment of episodic cluster headache with intravenous bolus of methylprednisolone.

We evaluated the efficacy of intravenous boluses of methylprednisolone followed by prednisone as a prophylactic treatment for episodic cluster headache. Fourteen male patients (mean age, 42.54 years) with episodic cluster headache were treated with 250-mg boluses of methylprednisolone on 3 consecutive days, followed by prednisone (90 mg/day orally) with gradual tapering in four weeks. Headache parameters of the active phases treated with methylprednisolone were compared with those of previous active phases in the same patients treated with other prophylactic medications. The primary efficacy criterion was decrease in the frequency of attacks during the first month of treatment. The statistical differences were calculated using Wilcoxon's test. The attacks were significantly less frequent in the active phases treated with methylprednisolone boluses than those treated with other medications ( p<0.05). This treatment seems to be more effective than the usual prophylactic treatments for episodic cluster headache.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Transient topographical disorientation.

Transient topographical disorientation (TTD) is a short-lasting inability to find one's way in a familiar environment, while the patient remains conscious and is able to recall what happened. We report the study of 10 patients with episodes of TTD, studied on the days following the last episode. The episodes of TTD could be separated into two types: the patients either reported difficulties in spatial orientation with preserved abilities to recognize landmarks and objects, or the difficulties appeared with the recognition of landmarks. Tests exploring spatial orientation, as well as higher visuoperceptive capacities were altered in most of the patients and brain SPECT showed hypoperfusion of the right hemisphere in all patients, which could also be demonstrated 2 years later in some cases. Altogether, our findings suggest that TTD is frequently associated with a more persistent right hemisphere dysfunction of unknown cause. This chronic alteration could represent either a sequel of the acute episode or a preexisting right hemisphere deficit, which inclined the acute insult to be manifested as TTD.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Statuslike SUNCT in two young women.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the statuslike pattern of SUNCT (short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform pain with conjunctival injection and tearing) in two young women. BACKGROUND: SUNCT syndrome is a rare condition characterized by a short-lasting periocular pain associated with marked autonomic symptoms. Twenty-five cases have been reported in the literature with a high preponderance of males and a mean age of 51 years. The frequency of episodes shows a wide variability, not just among individuals but also in the same patient, and a statuslike pattern of almost continuous attacks has been described. METHODS: We report the cases of two young women (aged 26 and 23 years) with typical SUNCT features who suffered bouts of up to 60 paroxysms of pain per hour. Paraclinical investigations showed no abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Although unusual, paroxysms in SUNCT may overlap into a clinical status. A strong relationship with hormonal changes was noted in one patient. In both cases, the pain was refractory to treatment with indomethacin, carbamazepine, and hypnotics, and only intravenous methylprednisolone with oral carbamazepine may have been partially effective in one case.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Study of the secretion of substance P, neurotensin and somatostatin in patients with cholelithiasis.

A comparative, case-control study on the pre- and postprandial release of three gastrointestinal peptides implicated in gallbladder motility has been carried out in humans in the attempt to determine their possible role in the pathogenesis of cholelithiasis. Fifty-seven adult patients (40 females and 17 males) with an ultrasound diagnosis of gallstones and 20 healthy subjects (9 females and 11 males) without cholelithiasis or other digestive pathology were studied. Plasma substance P, neurotensin and somatostatin were measured by means of RIA-I125 in basal fasting conditions and 30, 60 and 90 minutes after the oral intake of a semiliquid mixed meal. The levels of secretion of each hormone were compared in patients and healthy controls on an overall basis and in terms of sex, age and body weight. We found a basal and postprandial hypersecretion of substance P in patients with gallstones when compared with controls. Individuals with cholelithiasis showed a moderate decrease in neurotensin secretion after the oral meal. Somatostatin release was unchanged. In conclusion, patients with gallstones may present a functional disorder in the secretion of gastrointestinal hormones involved in gallbladder motility.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Epileptic syndromes which show continuous spike and wake complexes during slow wave sleep].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The association of cognitive and/or behavioral disturbances, epileptic seizures and continuous discharges spike-waves during slow sleep in the EEG, has been described in three epileptic syndromes: continuous spike-wave during slow sleep syndrome (CSWS), Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS) or acquired epileptic aphasia, and atypical benign partial epilepsy of childhood (ABPE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report 13 patients; two of these have been diagnosed of CSWS. four of LKS and seven of ABPE, according to the definition criteria. RESULTS: The main clinical features in each patient are presented here. In all patients, continuous spike-wave discharges were observed for more than > 80% of the total sleep period at some time during the course of the illness. There are many similarities at the age of onset, the occurrence of several types of seizures, the evolution and the electroencephalographic findings in awake state and sleep. CONCLUSIONS: It suggests that the CSWS, LKS and ABPE have probably the same pathophysiology and that they are the severe, moderate and benign forms of a single epileptic syndrome, age-related, with continuous spike waves and various neuropsychological and behavioral disturbances. The neuropsychological manifestations depend probably on the localization of the original epileptic focus.

Age of Onset↗

PubMed1996

Limited education as a risk factor in cervical cancer.

The study reported here analyzes the influence of formal education on the behavior and age at onset of carcinoma of the cervix in 2204 women in Quito, Ecuador, between 1985 and 1994. The results indicate that education had a considerable degree of influence on the behavior of this neoplasia. That is, women with primary education or less were found to have almost twice the cervical cancer incidence of those with secondary or higher education, while those who were illiterate had almost six times the incidence found among university-educated women. Overall, it seems reasonable to consider women's education a key factor in defining risk groups for cervical cancer-so much so that grouping by instructional level would make it possible to improve the effectiveness of cervical cytology-based preventive measures.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

The erythrocyte density test (EDT) and erythrocyte creatine concentration (ECE) as laboratory indexes of perinatal hypoxia.

To study the influence of gestational age and asphyxia on the behaviour of EDT and ECE a group of cuban control and asphyxiated newborns was investigated. A total number of 203 newborns at the age of 0-3 days of life, all with adequate weight for gestational age, were classified into 4 groups according to their gestational age, the 1 min and 5 min Apgar score and the presence of meconium stained amniotic fluid and/or respiratory distress syndrome immediately after birth. In the group of asphyxiated newborns higher values for both parameters were found when they were compared with the respective control groups (p less than 0.05). These techniques could help the neonatologists to more precisely identify newborns with severe perinatal asphyxia and to improve the prognosis of the outcome.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

PubMed1985

[Aschoff's center of proliferation. Experience of the Gustave Roussy Institute].

"Le Centre de Prolifération d'Aschoff" (CPA) has many synonyms: radial scar, benign sclerosing ductal proliferation, non encapsulated sclerosing lesions, fibroelastic center, fibroadenosis with fibroelastic core etc... In a retrospective study from the files of the Gustave-Roussy Institute, 88 cases were found: 18 cases between 1955 and 1959 and 70 cases more recently, between 1976 and 1981. CPA is an unusual lesion, observed in 2% of benign breast lesions, and in less of 1% of malignant breast lesions. Macroscopically, when CPA is not associated to a carcinoma, it has either a pseudotumoral feature (46% of the cases), or only a microscopic appearance (54% of the cases). In these last cases, it is always found by chance at the time of the examination of specimens of fibrocystic disease. When it is associated to a carcinoma, these two features are less well individualized. Mammographically and macroscopically, they are often problematical. They cause considerable diagnostic problems because of their pseudotumoral features, being similar to small stellate carcinomas. Two cases were misinterpreted at the time of the extemporaneous examination for a carcinoma and in 36 other cases, the diagnosis was uncertain and the definitive report was delayed. For the non-pseudotumoral form, a relationship was found in this series between previous cytological aspirations and CPA. The evolution of this lesion was difficult to evaluate because of the great number of the patients lost to follow up in this series. Although a slight trend was observed for patients to subsequently develop a breast carcinoma, no statistically significant difference was observed. From this study, close follow-up of these patients is considered necessary.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Topographic disorientation associated with infarction in the territory of the right posterior cerebral artery].

INTRODUCTION: Topographic disorientation is defined as the difficulty to find one s way in familiar surroundings. It can be due to an amnesic or agnostic like defect, which is known as topographic amnesia or agnosia. This disorder can give rise to disability in the life of the patient and may well go undetected unless a suitable neuropsychological study is conducted. CASE REPORTS: We report the cases of two patients with infarction in the territory of the right posterior cerebral artery who began with hemianopsia and topographic disorientation. One of the cases was due to a disorder affecting spatial memory and the other was caused by errors in visuospatial perception. The battery of tests for studying visuospatial perception VOSP was administered. CONCLUSIONS: Occipital lesions are often associated with topographic disorientation, especially when it is the right hemisphere that is injured. It is important to detect this alteration, which makes the patient totally dependent on others even in his or her own home. The appearance of an amnesic or agnostic type disorientation can be related with a disorder affecting one of the two systems that play a part in the processing of visual data. A guided neuropsychological study can provide us with a great deal of information about the type of disorder presented by the patient.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied