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Biomedical subjects

F M Kovacs

Publications and source records attributed to F M Kovacs.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Migration pathways of hypodermically injected technetium-99m in dogs.

Hypodermic injection of technetium-99m (99mTc-pertechnetate) at points of low electrical resistance give rise to rapid, longitudinal, and progressive diffusion of the radioactive tracer. We assessed the effect of cutaneous incisions that did not intersect the migration trajectory of 99mTc-pertechnetate and the re-establishment of pathways after the suture of incisions that intersected the migration trajectory. Linear and rapid migration of 99mTc-pertechnetate was not altered or prevented by incisions that did not intersect the migration pathway. Different patterns of 99mTc-pertechnetate spread were found when incisions intersected the radioactive pathways until restoration of the normal migration pathway observed in undamaged skin occurred. In all experiments in which migration of 99mTc-pertechnetate was observed, lavage of surgical wounds was followed by disappearance of the 99mTc-pertechnetate migration observed around the suture. Linear migration of the tracer was not observed when the incision was left uncovered, filled with petroleum jelly, or with a solid silicone sheet, but it was seen when non-sutured incisions were filled with transonic or silicone gel or covered with a solid silicone sheet parallel to the cutaneous plane. These data show that after a cutaneous incision that intersected the diffusion trajectory of the radioactive tracer, linear migration of 99mTc-pertechnetate hypodermically injected at points of low electrical resistance was restored before healing of the cutaneous incision and was independent of incisions made on the skin not overlying the radioactive pathway. A mechanism similar to that of capillary electrophoresis is suggested to explain the hypodermic diffusion of inert particles through specific and constant linear pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Local and remote sustained trigger point therapy for exacerbations of chronic low back pain. A randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicenter trial.

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicenter trial was conducted. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of neuroreflexotherapy in the management of low back pain. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA: Neuroreflexotherapy consists of temporary implantation of epidermal devices in trigger points in the back and referred tender points in the ear. METHODS: The rheumatology and rehabilitation departments of three teaching hospitals in Madrid recruited 78 patients with chronic low back pain. These patients were randomly assigned to the control group (37 patients) or to the treatment group (41 patients). Patients in the treatment group underwent one neuroreflexotherapeutic intervention. The control group received sham treatment consisting of placement of the same number of epidermal devices within a 5-cm radius of the target zones. Patients from both groups were allowed to continue drug treatment as previously prescribed. The use of medications during the trial was recorded. RESULTS: Patients underwent clinical evaluations on three occasions: within 5 minutes before intervention, within 5 minutes after intervention, and 45 days later. The preintervention assessment was carried out by the physician from each hospital department who included the patient in the study. Each of the two follow-up assessments were carried out independently by two of three physicians who had no connection with the research team. Patients in the treatment group showed immediate lessening of pain compared with the results in patients in the control group. The pain relief was clinically relevant and statistically significant, and it persisted up to the end of the trial. CONCLUSIONS: Neuroreflexotherapy intervention seems to be a simple and effective treatment for rapid amelioration of pain episodes in patients with chronic low back pain. At this time, the duration of pain relief beyond 45 days has not been evaluated.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Neuro-reflexotherapy intervention in the treatment of non specified low back pain: a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial].

BACKGROUND: Nonspecific low back pain is a very common disorder for which no completely satisfactory treatment has been established. A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was design to assess the efficacy of neuro-reflexotherapic intervention in the treatment of this condition. METHODS: Ninety-one patients with a confirmed diagnosis of nonspecific low back pain were referred for treatment from primary health care facilities in the Spanish National Health System. A total of 43 patients were assigned to the control group and 48 to the treatment group. Patients in the treatment group received a single neuro-reflexotherapic intervention. Patients in the control group underwent a similar procedure, although inappropriate zones were stimulated. Patients in both groups were allowed to continue drug and physiotherapy treatments prescribed by their general practitioners. According to the design the study was ended when statistically significant and clinically evaluable results were obtained in an analysis carried out half way through the study. RESULTS: Participants underwent clinical evaluations on three occasions: immediately prior to intervention, immediately after and on day 30 afterwards. Patients in the treatment group showed immediate clinically and statistically significant improvements (p < 0.0001) in pain, muscular contracture and mobility, allowing them to discontinue pharmacological treatment and keeping them free of symptoms during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: According to results of this study, neuro-reflexotherapic intervention has proved to be an effective method for treating low back pain.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Kinetics of hypodermically injected technetium-99m and correlation with cutaneous structures: an experimental study in dogs.

We investigated the involvement of cutaneous structures in specific linear migration pathways of technetium-99m pertechnetate hypodermically injected at points of low electrical resistance in the metacarpus of male beagles. Skin-deep incisions were made in the front or back legs on either the same side as the 99mTc injection or on the opposite side. Incisions in the back legs did not affect the migration pattern. Incisions in the front legs before the injection of 99mTc prevented tracer migration. After the injection of 99mTc, incisions in the front contralateral leg caused sudden cessation of the migration, while incisions in the ipsilateral leg caused immediate disappearance of the pathway previously observed. Radioactivity was not detected in flaps obtained from the skin overlying the migration pathway or from the corresponding area of the contralateral leg. In conclusion, the specific linear migration pathways of 99mTc hypodermically injected at points of low electrical resistance cannot be explained by any known biological function. Although the migration of 99mTc does not seem to be strongly linked to any cutaneous structure, the skin overlying the radioactive pathway and the corresponding area of the contralateral leg must be intact if tracer migration is to take place.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Experimental study on radioactive pathways of hypodermically injected technetium-99m.

The objective of this study was to investigate the biological substrate of radioactive pathways of migration of hypodermically injected 99mTc into points of low electrical resistance. Sixteen anesthetized adult male beagles were used. Control and test points were defined by comparing their electrical resistance to that of the pinna. Seventy-three experiments of three different types were performed: (1) separate hypodermic injections of [99mTc] sodium pertechnetate, 201Tl-chloride, 131INa and 99mTc-rhenium sulfide into control and test points; (2) simultaneous injections of [99mTc]sodium pertechnetate and 201Tl chloride into control and test points; and (3) intravascular injections of 99mTcO4 into blood vessels underlying test points. Only the hypodermic injection of 99mTc into points of low electrical resistance gave rise to a specific radioactive pathway characterized by rapid and longitudinal migration, clearly independent of background activity. The specific radioactive pathway detected is not the result of diffusion of the radiotracer through nerves, veins or lymphatic vessels, but its trajectory coincides with that described for one of the acupuncture meridians in the dog.

Animals↗