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Biomedical subjects

E Rodríguez

Publications and source records attributed to E Rodríguez.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Clostridium botulinum in Costa Rica soils].

Thirty soil samples from the Pacific Dry Forest, the Caribbean lowlands and the Central Plateau of Costa Rica yielded seven cases with botulinal toxins. Of these, five were type C, one A and one B. Type C samples were from the Dry Pacific coastal area, others from the Caribbean lowlands. C. botulinum was isolated from three out of seven positive soil samples. The main reason for the poor recovery of C. botulinum from toxigenic samples is attributable to a low concentration of spores in the samples, because the toxin detection method required ten bacterial spores. An association was found between the presence of C. botulinum and low contents of organic matter (p < 0.05), but not with pH or soil type (p > 0.05).

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Mesophilic clostridia from soil of the Central Plateau of Costa Rica].

Thirty soil samples from the Central Plateau of Costa Rica yielded 710 isolates of 34 clostridia species. These were Clostridium lituseburense, C. oceanicum and C. sardiniense (100, 73, and 60%, respectively). The toxigenic species of the genus were present in at least one sample, except for C. botulinum, C. chauvoei and C. spiroforme. Diversity per sample (4-12 species) exceeded what has been reported in similar studies. No correlation has been found between the presence of a species and soil characteristics (organic matter, type of soil, pH, precipitation, altitude).

Altitude↗
PubMed1993

[DNA probe for the detection of uropathogenic strains of P-fimbriated Escherichia coli].

BACKGROUND: P fimbria is one of the main factors of virulence of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains thus developing methods for its detection is of interest. P fimbriation may manifest through associated characteristic hemagglutination patterns. Another way of directly detecting its expression is by the PF test consisting in a specific agglutination test with latex particles which have the specific receptor of the fimbria incorporated. METHODS: The two phenotypic techniques (hemagglutination pattern using human, bovine, and sheep erythrocytes, and the PF test) were compared with colony hybridization with a specific DNA probe (pap1) in 35 strains of uropathogenic E. coli. RESULTS: Eight of the 35 strains studied were positive for the PF test with 7 strains presenting mannose-resistant agglutination to human erythrocytes without agglutinating the other erythrocytes tried. However, with hybridization with the DNA probe the number of positives was higher (25/35). CONCLUSIONS: The difference found in the number of positive strains may be due to the probe used corresponding to cluster pap, thus the use of a smaller more specific probe for fimbrial expression obtained from pap should be used given that the hybridization technique is easy to perform and is carried out in less time than phenotypic detection which requires long periods of culture prior to the test.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[The protection of an internal mammary artery graft with a tubular prosthesis made of polytetrafluoroethylene].

A polytetrafluoroethylene tubular prosthesis was used to protect an internal mammary artery graft in a patient with high risk of reoperation. This technique was used to avoid the risk of damage of the graft and to reduce the difficulties of the injection of cardioplegia during the reoperation procedure. The usefulness of this technique is discussed in the article.

Angina, Unstable↗
PubMed1993

[Malignant pleural mesothelioma. A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge].

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a tumor very difficult to diagnose and with a very controversial therapy. We describe an illustrative case with development of pleural overflow and detection of high adenosine-deaminase levels. Surgical resection combined with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy is the current therapeutics. We describe the state-of-the-art advances in the immunohistochemical diagnosis and therapeutics and we stress the need to conduct cooperative studies in order to achieve a better knowledge of the prognosis factors, an effective step-by-step approach and innovative therapy strategies.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1992

[Thoracic radiography in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS patients. Presentation forms and clinical course].

BACKGROUND: We intend to determine the frequency of the different radiographic findings of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with AIDS. METHODS: We retrospectively review the chest roentgenograms of 30 patients at admission to the hospital (group I [n = 30]), at follow-up (group II [n = 30]) and after clinical recovery (group III [n = 15]). RESULTS: Diffuse bilateral interstitial disease was the most frequent radiographic finding at admission (76.6%) and at follow-up (60%). Atypical radiographic findings were: normal chest radiograph (group I [n = 3]), nodules (group I [n = 2], group II [n = 2], group III [n = 1]), thin wall cysts (group II [n = 1], group III [n = 1]), cavitated lesion (group II [n = 1], group III [n = 1]), pneumothorax (group II [n = 2], group III [n = 1]), pleural effusion (group III [n = 2]), asymmetrical distribution of the pulmonary lesion (group I [n = 2], group II [n = 3]) and predominant upper lobe involvement (group II [n = 1], group III [n = 1]). The atypical findings were greater during follow-up (group II [n = 33.3%], group III (46.6%) than at admission (group I [n = 23.4%]). CONCLUSIONS: It is important to know the frequency and multiplicity of the radiographic findings of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in order to establish the diagnosis and differentiation from other infectious diseases or other causes of pulmonary disease in patients with AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Patterns of contrast enhancement of tuberculous lymph nodes demonstrated by computed tomography.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contrast-enhanced CT characteristics of pathologic thoraco-abdominal lymph nodes in 38 patients infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (30 without AIDS and eight with AIDS). Unenhanced scans of chest, abdomen and pelvis were also done in all cases. The CT attenuation values and the enhancement characteristics of the largest node or group of lymph nodes were evaluated in a dynamic sequence over a period of 10 min. On unenhanced CT the nodes were of low attenuation (less than 30 HU) in 18 cases and of soft tissue attenuation (greater than 35 HU) in 20 cases. Four post-contrast patterns of enhancement were found: (i) peripheral rim enhancement (n = 22); (ii) inhomogeneous enhancement (n = 8); (iii) homogeneous enhancement (n = 6); and (iv) homogeneous nonenhancing nodes (n = 2). Increase of attenuation and obliteration of perinodal fat was found in 13 cases, most of them with the peripheral rim enhancement pattern. Seven cases had a combination of enhancing patterns in the same nodal group. The central enhancement was usually moderate (mean, 30 HU) but was marked (greater than 60 HU) in three patients with the homogeneous enhancement pattern. Neither the nodal attenuation values nor the patterns of enhancement are characteristic of tuberculosis, however adenopathy showing peripheral rim-enhancement with relative low attenuation centres can suggest a diagnosis of tuberculosis in the appropriate clinical setting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Development of a program of behavior modification directed to the rehabilitation of drug-dependent patients: treatment and follow-up of 223 cases.

The study reports treatment and follow-up of compulsive drug-consuming patients (mainly of coca paste). The program used was based on a behavioral cognitive and instructional model. The traditional functional analysis was modified to include the therapeutical work in seven behavioral areas: (1) drug use; (2) behavior during free time; (3) behavior at work; (4) social behavior; (5) self- and environmental management behaviors; (6) problem solving and decision-making behaviors; (7) recognition, evaluation, and modification of irrational beliefs. For each area objectives, therapeutical procedures, control and evaluation methods, and termination criteria were determined. Patients engaged in a multiple activity program and received individual and group therapy. Out of 223 male patients, 130 were discharged (that is, they fulfilled all the conditions stated by the program) and 93 patients abandoned treatment. For evaluation purposes a test was used to determine the accomplishment of the behavioral objectives. Follow-up interviews after 6 to 72 months showed that although 24 patients relapsed to drug use, 106 (81.48%) of the patients who had finished the program restrained from using drugs and obtained high scores in all seven behavioral areas.

Adolescent↗