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Biomedical subjects

G Gonzales

Publications and source records attributed to G Gonzales.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

AIDS-related discrimination in Asia.

The Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (APN+) conducted the first regional documentation of AIDS-related discrimination in Asia. This project was an action-based, peer-implemented study that aimed to develop an understanding of the nature, pattern and extent of AIDS-related discrimination in several Asian countries. Trained HIV-positive people interviewed 764 positive people in four countries (India 302; Indonesia 42; Thailand 338; the Philippines 82) using a structured questionnaire. Findings indicate that the major area of discrimination in each country is within the health sector, where over half of those surveyed experienced some form of discrimination. In all countries, the majority of people did not receive pre-test counselling before being tested for HIV. People who reported coerced testing were significantly more likely than other respondents to face subsequent AIDS-related discrimination. A considerable number of respondents were refused treatment after being diagnosed with HIV and many experienced delayed provision of treatment or health services. Breaches of confidentiality by health workers were common. Within the family and the community, women were significantly more likely to experience discrimination than men, including ridicule and harassment, physical assault and being forced to change their place of residence because of their HIV status. These findings have serious implications, particularly in light of the increasing trend in many countries to test all pregnant women in order to prevent transmission of HIV to their unborn children.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2002

Detection of cold-adapted vaccine-strain influenza virus using two commercial assays.

Because of the contagious nature of influenza virus it is necessary to identify infected individuals after the virus is introduced into a population. The aim of this study was to characterise influenza virus detection with commercially available assays after intranasal vaccinating horses with cold-adapted influenza virus. Seven horses were vaccinated and placed with 3 unvaccinated horses. Nasal secretion samples were evaluated using 2 antigen detection assays. All 10 horses were positive in the Flu OIA assay during the study period, but only one horse was positive on one sample using the Directigen Flu A assay. Horses were most likely to be positive during the first 3 days following vaccination, and several horses were intermittently positive for several days after this. Obtaining positive test results from nonvaccinated, incontact horses suggests they became infected with vaccine-strain virus that was shed by vaccinated horses. These results are important for the correct interpretation of influenza antigen detection tests in situations when this modified-live intranasal vaccine has been used.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed2001

Diphenhydramine as an analgesic adjuvant in refractory cancer pain.

Clinical and animal data suggest that antihistamines may have efficacy in the management of pain. While many mechanisms of action have been proposed for the analgesic action of antihistamines, the exact mechanism is unknown. Controlled clinical trials in different pain models have demonstrated that antihistamines have direct and adjuvant analgesic activity. We report three patients with advanced cancer pain refractory to adjuvants and oral, intravenous, and epidural opioids, who achieved sustained pain relief after the repeated administration of diphenhydramine. Diphenhydramine may be useful in the treatment of neuropathic and nociceptive pain that has failed to respond to treatment with opioids and adjuvant analgesics. We suggest a starting dose of 25 mg of oral or parenteral diphenhydramine every 6 to 8 hours, with titration to effect.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

alpha 1-Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency and ANCA-positive systemic vasculitis: genetic and clinical implications.

A high incidence of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency has been reported in patients with C-ANCA systemic vasculitis in association with antibodies against proteinase-3 (PR3). To clarify the role of AAT deficiency in the acute vasculitic process as well as in progression of the disease, we studied 84 patients with either C-ANCA or P-ANCA vasculitis with special reference to: (a) the AAT gene, (b) the phenotypic (Pi) variants and (c) the serum levels during both acute illness and remission. The PiZ gene was found in six patients (8% vs. 1.5% controls) irrespective of the type of autoantibodies (C-ANCA vs. P-ANCA). All PiZ patients displayed the ability to raise their AAT serum levels up to the normal range during acute illness. In contrast, 24 patients with the PiM phenotype presented low AAT serum levels during acute illness. In all these patients, the AAT levels returned to normal values during the remission. Low AAT levels were associated with low levels of C-reactive protein (PCR) (P < 0.001), with a less severe renal involvement or a minor risk of death, and, in one tested patient, with a novel point mutation (TCGA-->TCAA) at the enhancer-promoter region of the AAT gene. Low AAT serum levels did not correlate with either type/titre of autoantibody or distribution/severity of the vasculitis process. In the case-control study, high AAT levels emerged as a major determinant of progression towards end-stage renal failure [odds ratio 3 (95% CI 1.1-8.4)]. These results indicate: (a) a high incidence of the PiZ gene of AAT in systemic vasculitis irrespective of the type of autoantibodies; (b) a novel form of AAT deficiency associated with the normal PiM phenotype becoming manifest only during acute illness; (c) dysregulation of the acute-phase response affecting selectively AAT or both AAT and PCR; (d) correlation between low plasma levels of AAT and less severe renal involvement or risk of death.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Alternative health practices in ethnically diverse rural areas: a collaborative research project.

Many alternative health practices are gaining popularity in traditional medical centers throughout the country. However, social workers and allied health professionals are rarely educated in these practices. The collaborative pilot research project discussed in this article involved community health providers and a state university department of social work. The project, conducted in rural health clinics, introduced an approach to skillful, safe, and appropriate use of touch synthesized with an awareness of the breath for giver and receiver to a group of Mexican Americans diagnosed with diabetes and their families. This alternative health practice holds promise for reducing stress, promoting health and well-being, and building relationships and warrants further study.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

A radiation hybrid map of human chromosome 5 with integration of cytogenetic, genetic, and transcript maps.

One of the major goals of the human genome project is to establish a physical map of each human chromosome with a density of sequence-tagged site (STS) markers exceeding one every 100 kb. We report here the generation of a human chromosome 5-specific radiation hybrid (RH) map that includes 556 markers. Of these markers, 132 loci are ordered with a maximum likelihood ratio of >1000:1 compared with the next most likely order. An additional 113 loci were ordered relative to these backbone markers with a maximum likelihood ratio of >10:1 but <1000:1. Together, these 245 loci form an ordered framework map for the chromosome. Using this framework, >300 more markers were localized based on two-point analysis with the ordered set. On average, there are 50 markers in common with the RH map presented here and other chromosome 5 maps included in the current whole genome cytogenetic, genetic, and physical maps. The accuracy of all the maps is evident in that there are no more than two discrepancies between any one of them and these data. All of the maps encompassing chromosome 5 complement each other providing excellent STS coverage with >2200 loci combined. The chromosome 5-specific RH map contains 20% of these independent loci. In addition, our RH map contains STSs derived from clones suitable for fluorescent in situ hybridization, allowing alignment to the cytogenetic map. Together, these maps will assist in the assembly of sequence-ready contigs and will aid in the identification of disease loci on chromosome 5 by positional cloning and positional candidate approaches.

Centromere↗
PubMed1996

Randomized phase III trial of liposomal daunorubicin versus doxorubicin, bleomycin, and vincristine in AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and efficacy of liposomal daunorubicin (DaunoXome; NeXstar Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Boulder, CO) with a reference regimen of doxorubicin, bleomycin, and vincristine (ABV) in advanced AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective randomized phase III trial, 232 patients were randomized to receive DaunoXome 40 mg/m2 or a combination regimen of doxorubicin 10 mg/m2, bleomycin 15 U, and vincristine 1 mg, administered intravenously every 2 weeks. Treatment was continued until complete response (CR), disease progression, or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: Of 232 patients randomized, 227 were treated: 116 with DaunoXome and 111 with ABV. The overall response rate (CR or partial response [PR]) was 25% (three CRs and 26 PRs) for DaunoXome and 28% (one CR and 30 PRs) for ABV. The difference in response rates was not statistically significant. The median survival time was 369 days for DaunoXome patients and 342 days for ABV patients (P = .19). The median time to treatment failure was 115 days for DaunoXome and 99 days for ABV (P = .13). ABV patients experienced significantly more alopecia and neuropathy (P < .0001). DaunoXome patients experienced more grade 4 neutropenia (P = .021). Cardiac function remained stable, with no instances of congestive heart failure on either treatment arm. CONCLUSION: In this large phase III trial, the efficacy of DaunoXome was comparable to that of ABV. Response rates, time to treatment failure, and overall survival were similar on both treatment arms. DaunoXome is a safe and effective primary therapy for advanced AIDS-related KS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Acute and short-term actions of serotonin administration on the pituitary-testicular axis in the adult rat.

In this study, adult male rats were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT; 10 mg kg-1 bodyweight) for 2 h or 18 h, or daily with graded doses of 5HT (0.1-10 mg kg-1) for four days before being killed. Serum and testicular interstitial fluid (IF) concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and immunoreactive-inhibin were measured by radioimmunoassay, and one testis was removed for histological examination. At 2 h after a single injection, 5HT caused a significant inhibition of serum concentrations of LH and inhibin, recovered IF volume and intratesticular testosterone concentrations; testis weight and serum concentrations of testosterone and FSH were unaffected. At 18 h after injection, all parameters had returned to normal, with the exception of intratesticular testosterone concentration which remained lower than normal. The lowest 5HT dose (0.1 mg kg-1) had no effect on any parameter following four daily injections. At a dose of 1.0 mg kg-1 5HT, there was a four-fold increase in the concentration of serum LH, but testis weight, recovered IF volume, testosterone and inhibin concentrations and serum concentrations of FSH were not significantly affected. At the highest dose of 5HT (10 mg kg-1) after four daily injections, testis weight decreased, and IF volume increased nearly three-fold. Testis concentrations of inhibin and serum testosterone were reduced, whereas serum concentrations of both LH and FSH were elevated; intratesticular testosterone concentrations did not differ from controls. Only at the highest dose of 5HT was disruption to the seminiferous epithelium observed, with focal damage ranging in severity from increased degeneration of spermatogenic cell profiles, to complete loss of the germinal epithelium; however, many tubule profiles displayed completely normal spermatogenesis. The acute IF volume reduction and spermatogenic disruption in 5HT-treated rats were consistent with localized ischaemia due to constriction of the testicular arterial supply. The eventual increase in IF volume observed after 5HT treatment appeared to be secondary to the loss of germ cells. Although 5HT also inhibited pituitary LH release and Leydig cell steroidogenesis, these effects appeared to play only a minor role in the induction of spermatogenic damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Migration, marriage, and family in the valley of the Senegal River].

"In 1993, out migration from five villages in the upper valley of the Senegal river appears to be as intensive as it was ten years ago, but with the difference that new social groups are now concerned: children, women, and older men. Migration of family groups is essentially characteristic of international migrants, although all the members of the family do not always move to the same place. Besides pendular and incomplete migrations, settlement in Dakar can be observed, probably corresponding to a progressive [severance] from the village of origin. Exogamy and nonresidential polygamy also contribute to a multilocalization of the family and of the community of origin, thus strengthening the flows of migrants, especially to Dakar." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

Africa↗
PubMed1992

Diffuse small cleaved-cell lymphoma: a heterogeneous disease with distinct immunobiologic subsets.

PURPOSE AND METHODS: Diffuse small cleaved-cell lymphoma (DSCL) is a relatively uncommon non-hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the United States and has not been the subject of recent in-depth study of factors predictive of outcome. It is unique among the NHL of intermediate grade because there is no evidence of a curable subset of patients. To investigate whether any laboratory data might predict outcome, we studied 33 cases collected during a 12-year period and correlated morphology, immunohistochemistry, and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) with clinical data and outcome. RESULTS: We found that proliferative rate (Ki-67), cell lineage (T v B cell), and serum LDH were associated with significant differences in survival. A Ki-67 value greater than or equal to 20% was associated with a median survival of 20 months compared with 80 months for lower values (P = .0002); patients with tumors of T-cell lineage had a median survival of 20 months compared with 40 months for those with B-cell neoplasms (P = .0143); and a serum LDH greater than 225 IU/L was associated with a median survival of 8 months compared with 40 months for lower LDH levels (P = .0004). Blastoid morphology was also linked to a trend toward poor outcome (P = .08). Neither a history of low-grade lymphoma nor the presence of residual immunologically detectable follicles influenced outcome (P = .93 and .97, respectively). CONCLUSION: We conclude that high Ki-67, high LDH, and T-cell lineage each identify DSCL patients with poor outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Effect of testosterone on serum immunoactive inhibin concentrations in intact and hypophysectomized male rats.

Intact and hypophysectomized rats were treated with graded doses of testosterone via subcutaneous Silastic implants over a 13-week period. Serum inhibin concentrations fell 50% (P less than 0.001) after 2 weeks of hypophysectomy, remaining suppressed at this level for 13 weeks. The administration of testosterone to hypophysectomized rats (serum testosterone values 2-12 ng/ml; control values 5.5 ng/ml) was without effect on serum inhibin values. In contrast, administration of testosterone to intact animals for 7 weeks resulted in an initial fall (P less than 0.05) in inhibin levels to 50-70% of controls then increasing to reach control levels at higher doses. Serum FSH concentrations were similarly biphasic with increasing dose of testosterone and values for these two hormones were significantly correlated (r = 0.44, P less than 0.01). Segments of seminiferous tubules in culture from rats after various times of hypophysectomy showed a partly suppressed secretion of inhibin. The administration of testosterone did not modify inhibin production although inhibin production was sensitive to FSH. It is concluded that (1) serum inhibin concentrations are partly suppressed after hypophysectomy and testosterone has no effect on serum inhibin values; and (2) the suppression of serum inhibin in intact rats treated with increasing doses of testosterone is attributable to the concomitant fall in serum FSH concentrations.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Acetylcholinesterase of Schistosoma mansoni. Molecular forms of the solubilized enzyme.

Several molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase were obtained from Schistosoma mansoni homogenates by extraction in either low-salt buffer, high-salt buffer or detergent buffer. The low-salt soluble form amounts to 25% of the total activity. By contrast, the extract obtained in the presence of Triton X-100 possessed almost almost 3-fold higher enzymatic activity, most of it (86%) being retained in the soluble extract (100 000 X g). High-salt concentration (1 M NaCl) also has a solubilizing effect, but to a lesser extent (50%). Acetylcholinesterase can also be solubilized by treatment with a solution of 1% methylmannoside (40%). In the presence of non-ionic detergents, the enzyme behaves as monodisperse 8 S form. In the absence of detergent the low-salt soluble extract is polydisperse: it contains a 10 S and a 32 S component, the latter could represent high polymers. The molecular form released from tissue homogenate by treatment with alpha-methylmannoside is polydisperse: it contains a major 10 S and a minor 32 S component. Differences in sedimentation coefficient were observed among the enzymes extracted with detergent from the various life cycle stages of the parasite. The enzyme from the cercarial stage sediments as a single 8 S peak. The adult worm exhibits an additional acetylcholinesterase peak of 18 S representing approx. 30% of the total enzymatic activity. The molecular weight of the major 8 S species, as determined by gel filtration, is 450 000.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1984

Alterations in high-affinity binding characteristics and levels of opioids in invertebrate ganglia during aging: evidence for an opioid compensatory mechanism.

In Mytilus and Leucophaea the high-affinity binding site density is significantly lower in old animals than in young animals, whereas the low-affinity site density remains unchanged. In Mytilus the estimated met-enkephalin and met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 levels are significantly higher in old than in young animals. In Leucophaea only the met-enkephalin level can be determined, and it is also higher in old animals. The decrease in the high-affinity binding site density and the corresponding increase in endogenous enkephalin levels suggest the existence of an opioid compensatory mechanism associated with the aging process. In Mytilus there is a demonstrated decrease with age in intraganglionic dopamine levels in response to applied opiates. In addition, the inhibition of dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by opiates also decreases in older animals. In Leucophaea the sex difference in opioid binding densities diminishes with age.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1982

A demonstration that 5-hydroxytryptamine administered peripherally can affect sexual behavior in male rats.

In the male rat, subcutaneous injections for 7 days of 20 mg/Kg B.W./day of 5-hydroxytryptamine creatinin sulphate (5-HT), caused remarkable inhibitory effects on sexual behavior. The mount and intromission latencies were increased in rats treated with 5-HT, whereas ejaculation latency in the few rats treated with 5-HT that it achieved, was similar to that obtained in control rats. The mount and intromission frequencies were decreased in the rats treated with 5-HT. The mean inter-intromission interval (MIII) and post-ejaculatory interval were prolonged in rats treated with 5-HT. These data provide evidence for the role of peripheral 5-HT in regulating sexual behavior of male rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Secular change in growth of native children and adolescents at high altitude I. Puno, Peru (3800 meters).

A cross sectional sample of 969 native males from Puno (Peru), altitude 3800 m, ranging in age from 7-20 years, and studied for body height, weight, sitting height, leg length, and chest circumference in 1980, were compared, from the point of view of secular trend, with another cross sectional sample of 992 native males from the same place, which were investigated in 1945. In addition, similar observations were carried out in 1980, in a group of 112 females. The data indicate that in Puno there has been no secular increment in the adult body size. However for all ages between 7 and 19 years, body weight and height were significantly greater in 1980 than in 1945. This may be due to earlier sexual maturation in the present generation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The effect of dehydration on the functional activity of the interrenal gland in adenohypophysectomized Rana catesbeiana frogs. A preliminary report].

A significant increase of the content of corticosterone in the blood collected from intravenous cannula or by intracardiac punction has been detected using radioimmunoassay in non-operated and adenohypophysectomized frogs Rana catesbeiana subjected to dehydration in 6.2% mannitol solution during 24 hours. The osmolality of the blood plasma of these animals also increases although less significantly than the growth of plasma corticosterone content. There is a tendency to substantial increase of plasma arginine-vasotocin level prior to the growth of corticosterone level, already after 6 hours of dehydration. Based on the present results and literature data, it is suggested that in adenohypophysectomized frogs lacking endogenous ACTH just the increase of blood arginine-vasotocin level results in a substantial activation of corticosteroid-producing cells of the interrenal gland and in the growth of plasma content of corticosterone.

Animals↗