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Biomedical subjects

H M Oliveira

Publications and source records attributed to H M Oliveira.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Ghrelin improves burn-induced delayed gastrointestinal transit in rats.

Delayed gastrointestinal transit is common in patients with severe burn. Ghrelin is a potent prokinetic peptide. We aimed at testing the effect of ghrelin on burn-induced delayed gastrointestinal transit in rats. Gastric emptying (GE), intestinal transit (IT), and colonic transit (CT) studies were performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were randomized into two main groups as follows: sham injury and ghrelin-treated burn injury with doses of 0, 2, 5, and 10 nmol/rat ip 6 h after burn. Sham/burn injury was induced under anesthesia. Rats received a phenol red meal 20 min following ghrelin injection. Based on the most effective ghrelin dose, 1 mg/kg sc atropine was given 30 min before the ghrelin in one group of rats for each study. The rats in each group were killed 30-90 min later; their stomachs, intestines, and colons were harvested immediately, and the amount of phenol red recovered was measured. Percentage of gastric emptying (GE%) and geometric center for IT and CT were calculated. We found 1) severe cutaneous burn injury significantly delayed GE, IT, and CT compared with sham injury (P < 0.05); 2) ghrelin normalized both GE and IT, but not the CT; 3) the most effective dose of ghrelin was 2 nmol/rat; and 4) atropine blocked the prokinetic effects of ghrelin on GE% and IT. In conclusion, ghrelin normalizes burn-induced delayed GE and IT but has no effect on CT in rats. The prokinetic effects of ghrelin are exerted via the cholinergic pathway. Ghrelin may have a therapeutic potential for burn patients with delayed upper gastrointestinal transit.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy in postmenopausal bleeding: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy in patients with postmenopausal bleeding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 1, 1998 and June 30, 1999, 88 outpatient women with postmenopausal bleeding were enrolled in a prospective study. They underwent transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy, and were submitted to directed biopsy during hysteroscopy. Findings were classified as normal endometrium, suggestive of atrophy, focal abnormality (benign or suspicious), and diffuse thickness (benign or suspicious). Data was compared with the final diagnosis, established by histological examination, as atrophy, benign pathology, atypical hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma. RESULTS: Among 88 women enrolled, 15 were excluded because hysteroscopy was impossible, and four had abandoned the study. The histological findings were scanty material in 12 (17.4%), atrophy in 24 (34.8%), cystic atrophy in one (1.4%), normal endometrium in five (7.2%), tuberculous endometritis in one (1.4%), polyps in 12 (17.4%), leiomyoma in one (1.4%), non-atypical hyperplasia in three (4.3%), atypical hyperplasia in one (1.4%) and endometrial carcinoma in nine cases (13.0%). For the assessment of endometrial carcinoma, ultrasonography revealed sensitivity 77.8%, specificity 93.3%, positive predictive value 63.6%, negative predictive value 96.6%; and hysteroscopy revealed sensitivity of 88.9%, specificity 98.3%, positive predictive value 88.9%, negative predictive value 98.3%. The combined use of both methods revealed sensitivity 100%, specificity 91.7%, positive predictive value 64.3%, negative predictive value 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Both imagiological methods were found to be useful screening tests for endometrial carcinoma. Hysteroscopy was a superior diagnostic procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Effect of combined conjugated estrogen-medrogestone replacement therapy on lipid profiles, climacteric symptoms and the endometrium].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of continuous administration of conjugated estrogen combined with sequential administration of medrogestone on lipid profiles, climateric symptoms and endometrial tolerance. METHODS: This multicenter open study was conducted for one year to assess the effects of a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) regimen using Premarin (0.625 mg/day 28d/28) combined with medrogestone 5mg for 12 days (d17-d28 of each 28-day cycle) on lipid profiles, climateric symptoms and cycle control in 228 post menopausal women with an intact uterus. The subjects were recruited in 23 centers in 7 countries in Europe and Asia. Serum lipid/lipoprotein levels were determined at baseline and at cycles 3, 6, 13; endometrium biopsies were performed at screening then at cycle 13. Climateric symptoms and bleeding patterns were recorded by the patients from daily diaries cards collected at baseline and at visits during cycle 3, 6, 9, and 13. RESULTS: By cycle 3, the conjugated estrogen-medrogestone combination induced significant modifications of the lipid profile which were judged favorable. These modifications were maintained throughout treatment. All the baseline values were within normal limits. Mean variations compared with baseline values (expressed in mmol/l) after cycles 3, 6, and 13 were -0.46, -0.54, and -0.46 for total cholesterol (p<0.05), + 0.053, + 0.057, and + 0.078 for HDL-cholesterol (p<0.05) and -0.556, -0. 542, and -0.493 for LDL-cholesterol (p<0.001) respectively. VLDL-cholesterol levels were unchanged. Triglycerides increased significantly though moderately: + 0.12, + 0.15, and + 0.15 mmol/l at cycles 3, 6, and 13 respectively. Endometrial biopsies obtained at cycle 13 (n=195) did not reveal any endometrial hyperplasia. Withdrowal bleeding was predictable for a 6 to 7.4 day interval. The incidence of irregular bleeding varied from 7 to 33% and decreased progressively over the 13-cycle treatment. The incidence of amenorrhea increased from 14 to 52% over the 12 months studied. Finally, at each cycle, menopausal symptoms (mean number of hot flushes/day and Küpperman score) were significantly improved compared with the baseline. As expected, modifications were more pronounced after cycle 1, but improvements were maintained throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Continuous administration of Premarin in combination with sequential administration of medrogestone was found to be an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms. It was associated with favorable modifications of the lipid profile and was safe for the endometrium.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Malnutrition as a prognostic factor in lymphoblastic leukaemia: a multivariate analysis.

One hundred and twenty eight Brazilian children with lymphoblastic leukaemia were intensively treated with a Berlin-Frankfurt-Munich based protocol. More children had a white cell count above 50 x 10(9)/l (31%) then observed in developed countries. After a median follow up of 31 months (11-58 months), the estimated probability of relapse free survival was 41% (7%) for the whole group. After adjustment in the Cox's multivariate model, malnutrition was the most significant adverse factor affecting duration of complete remission. Age above 8 years and high peripheral white cell count were also significant adverse factors. Among the nutritional indices, the height for age and weight for age z scores were both significant, whether the cut off points of z-2 or z = -1.28 were chosen to define malnutrition. A strong statistical association between the two indices was found; the contribution of height for age z score to the prediction of relapse free survival was more significant. Children with height for age z score < -2 had a relapse risk of 8.2 (95% confidence interval 3.1 to 21.9) relative to children with z score > -2. The results of this study suggest that socioeconomic and nutritional factors should be considered in the prognostic evaluation of children with leukaemia in developing countries.

Adolescent↗