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Biomedical subjects

H Acosta

Publications and source records attributed to H Acosta.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

A alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase is present in Trypanosoma cruzi glycosomes.

alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPDH-EC.1.1.1.8) has been considered absent in Trypanosoma cruzi in contradiction with all other studied trypanosomatids. After observing that the sole malate dehydrogenase can not maintain the intraglycosomal redox balance, GPDH activity was looked for and found, although in very variable levels, in epimastigotes extracts. GPDH was shown to be exclusively located in the glycosome of T. cruzi by digitonin treatment and isopycnic centrifugation. Antibody against T. brucei GPDH showed that this enzyme seemed to be present in an essentially inactive form at the beginning of the epimastigotes growth. GPDH is apparently linked to a salicylhydroxmic-sensitive glycerophosphate reoxidizing system and plays an essential role in the glycosome redox balance.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Seroprevalence of Schistosoma mansoni in Puerto Ricans with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is unknown. These diseases have a higher incidence in industrialized countries and their pathogenesis involves an over-reaction of the immune system. A genetic factor is believed to predispose to the development of chronic inflammation in response to an unidentified stimulus. Exposure to infections in childhood may modulate future immune responses. Parasitosis, particularly Schistosomiasis, stimulate Th2 immune responses. It has been hypothesized that the absence of these parasitic infections, as seen in economically developed countries, favors a Th1 response that may result in the clinical appearance of Crohn's disease later in life. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni antibodies in Puerto Ricans with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and controls. METHODS: Serum from 92 Puerto Ricans with IBD and 106 controls was screened for S. mansoni adult microsomal antigens (MAMA) using the FAST:ELISA assay. Those positive were confirmed with an enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot test. RESULTS: Seven serum samples (3 UC and 4 controls) were positive for S. mansoni antibodies. There was no significant difference between groups in gender, municipality of origin or seroprevalence of Schistosomiasis. The control group was slightly older than the IBD group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study did not demonstrate an inverse relation between Schistosomiasis and IBD. However, the decreasing prevalence of Schistosomiasis in the general population of Puerto Rico may account for this result.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Heart rate variability in inappropriate sinus tachycardia.

Analysis of heart rate variability in patients with inappropriate sinus tachycardia showed a 24-hour decrease in all temporal and spectral indexes, even after attempted correction to a rate of 75 beats/min. This may have resulted from a global decrease in parasympathetic activity or from a rapid sinus rate produced by other ill-defined mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Sudden Wenckebach periods and their relationship to neurocardiogenic syncope.

Throughout a 9-month period during which 1,125 Holter tapes were reviewed prospectively we identified 13 nonmedicated patients with an arrhythmia, which for the purposes of this presentation was categorized, because of their mode of initiation, as sudden Wenckebach periods (WP). The episodes emerged abruptly from a normal (< or = 200 ms) PR interval with sudden prolongation of PR and PP intervals (and reversed PR-RP relationship) that took place over 1-8 cycles. The postpaced PR interval was shorter than that of the last conducted beat. The episodes were separated into two groups. Group I included 11 patients with symptoms other than syncope and Group II included 2 patients with syncope. There were 26 episodes of sudden WP in Group I. Twenty-five terminated in a single (and one in double) blocked P waves. Most episodes occurred between 10 PM and 7 AM. Symptoms did not correlate with the episodes. Mean 24-hour rates were < 90. In Group II there were 22 episodes, all occurring between 6 AM and 10 PM. The mean sinus cycle lengths before the phenomenon started to occur in Group I (861 +/- 185 ms) as well as the cycle lengths at the onset of block (1,096 +/- 215 ms) were statistically longer than those in Group II (591 +/- 40 ms and 747 +/- 63 ms, respectively, P < 0.0001). Although the mode of onset in the episodes in Group II was similar to Group I, 16 episodes terminated in 2-6 blocked P waves. Thus, the entire number of episodes could be categorized as an unusual type (because of the PR prolongation) of paroxysmal, or advanced second degree AV block. Because these patients had negative electrophysiological studies, positive tilt tests, and absent syncope after oral propranolol therapy, they were considered as having neurocardiogenic syncope. In addition, the faster than normal (> 100) mean 24-hour rates) suggested that they also had so-called inappropriate sinus tachycardia. In summary, Group I consisted of patients with a normal, benign, vagal-induced second-degree AV block, whereas the Holter findings in Group II appeared to reflect unusual (but natural, i.e., nonprovoked) electrocardiographic manifestations of certain patients with neurocardiogenic syncope.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

[Treatment with tuberculostatic drugs: compliance at a general hospital].

The purpose of this study was to assess the compliance with tuberculostatic drugs treatment in a public hospital from Córdoba City and to establish the causes of noncompliance. All the patients to which treatment with tuberculostatic drugs was indicated from January 1991 up to December 1994 were included. 45 patients were included: 18 females (40%) and 29 males. Sixteen (35.6%) did not complete the time of treatment indicated. Nine (56.3%) abandoned the treatment 2 months after having initiated it. In the group that did not complete the treatment there was a higher percentage of female patients (62.5%) than in the group that did complete it (27.6%), p = 0.02. There were not statistically significant differences in age, percentages of pulmonar and extrapulmonar tuberculosis and months of treatment indicated between both groups. Thirty-six percent of the patients who abandoned the treatment referred having interrupted it due to their own negligency, knowing the risk of such behavior; 36% suffered side effects and did not come back to hospital; 21% referred having consulted another physician who indicated to interrupt the treatment without performing other tests; and 7% misunderstood the indications. It is concluded that in a general hospital from Córdoba City, the percentage of patients who abandoned tuberculostatic treatment is high. In most cases the cause was related to failures in the conduct of patients, physicians or both.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed1997

[Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of acute diarrhea in adults at a hospital from Cordoba city].

The purpose of this work was to assess the clinical and epidemiologic presentation features of adult acute diarrhea in a general hospital form Córdoba City. All the patients older than 14 years old who assisted to the Hospital Nacional de Clínicas Central Guard for acute diarrhea, during the periods: A (15-12-89 to 15-03-90), B (15-12-93 to 15-03-94) and C (15-12-94 to 15-03-95), were included. 594 patients were studied: 337 female (56.7%) and 257 male, 143 in the period A, 250 in B and 201 in C. The means +/- SD age was 34.6 +/- 13.3 and stool loose per day at admission 7.3 +/- 4.7. Eighty six percent of patients presented liquid consistent stool, 89.6% abdominal pain, 44.7% vomiting and 18.8% bloody stools. The rate of patients who consulted Central Guard referring acute diarrhea increased from period A (2.4%) to B (3.61%); p = 0.002 and decreased form B to C (2.85%); p = 0.01. The mean (+/- SD) days transcurred from the beginning of diarrhea episode till consultation was 3.5 +/- 2.7; 2.7 +/- 2.3 y 2.9 +/- 3.5 in the periods A, B and C respectively, statistically significant difference between A and B, p < 0.01. Thirty six percent, 21.1% and 23.1% of patients presented mucus with their stools in the periods A, B and C (p = 0.01), and high temperature 61.1%, 48.1% and 48.5% respectively (p = 0.04). Twenty seven percent of stools samples cultures became positive in the periods A, 17.6% in B and 11.5% in C, statistically significant difference between A and C; p = 0.008. The results show that in a general hospital from Córdoba City the adult acute diarrhea is a frequent cause of consult. In the last years there were modifications in its clinical an epidemiologic presentation features.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

N-aralkyl substitution of 2-aminoindans. Synthesis and their inotropic and chronotropic activity in isolated guinea pig atria.

Amino substitution of rigid forms of dopamine 4,5-dihydroxy-2-aminoindan and 5,6-dihydroxy-2-aminoindan with aralkyl functionalities were carried out to investigate the role of such structural modifications upon cardiac inotropic-chronotropic activity. Compounds synthesized demonstrated a modest inotropic selectivity, while one of them, described as 5,6-dihydroxy-N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]-2-aminoindan hydrobromide 17, showed a marked inotropic action on isolated heart tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Prevalence of cervical dysplasia and HPV infection according to sexual behavior.

A total of 165 uterine cervix smears from Venezuelan women were examined by cytological techniques to identify malignant and pre-malignant cervical changes, as well as to identify Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33 and 35. Of these smears, 119 were from nonmonogamous women who participated in a cervical carcinoma screening program. In this group, HPV-DNA was detected by hybridization in 42 samples (35%) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in 13 (11%). Forty-six monogamous aboriginal women were similarly studied and no evidence of abnormal cytology or HPV-DNA of the types studied here was found in any of them. In the non-monogamous group, age at first sexual intercourse and index of parity were not associated with cervical HPV infection and/or CIN. The rates of HPV infection, however, were significantly different between the two populations, confirming that sexual behavior involving multiple partners is associated with HPV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Use of cyproterone acetate in the treatment of acne].

Forty two female patients with strong acne and oiliness were studied all of them were treated with a tablet daily of 2 mg. of cyprosterone Acetate and 0.05 mg of ethinyl oestradiol for 3 weeks and a week without it. We found intolerance to the treatment in 9 out of 42 patients and a high percentage of cure or marked improvement in 96.9% of patients. In conclusion this drug is a good help to the treatment of female acne with seborrheic skin.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is preoperative fasting necessary?

The effects of fasting and of histamine (H2) antagonists on gastric volume and acidity were studied in 56 baboons undergoing various surgical procedures under general anesthesia and randomly allocated into 4 groups; group A--fasted for 14 hours; group B--given 100-120 ml of water 3 hours before surgery; groups C and D--also given 100-120 ml of water 3 hours before surgery; in addition, the former received cimetidine 10 mg/kg IM and the latter ranitidine 1.5 mg/kg IM 30-40 minutes before anesthesia. There were no significant differences between groups A and B with respect to the gastric volume and pH. Both ranitidine and cimetidine significantly (P < 0.02) reduced gastric volume and increased gastric pH. Thus, prolonged withholding of oral fluids does not reduce the gastric volume or increase gastric pH. H2-antagonists are effective in reducing both gastric residual volume and pH.

Animals↗