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Biomedical subjects

I Alvarez

Publications and source records attributed to I Alvarez.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Effects of chronic alcoholism on the amygdaloid complex. A study in human and rats.

The effect of chronic alcoholism on the amygdaloid complex was studied in 16 humans and 10 rats. Eighteen patients whose death was due to extraneural causes were selected as controls with 3 rats. The alcoholic cases, in addition to the data collected in their clinical history, showed, microscopically confirmed, liver cirrhosis or steatosis. The alcoholics and controls were divided into 4 groups: 35-44 years old (4 cases), 45-54 (5 cases), 55-64 (5 cases) over 65 (2 alcoholics and 4 controls). The alcoholic ingestion in the rats (Wistar, 10 weeks old) was 3 ml at a concentration of 30% in water solution administered by esophagic intubation, for 48 (5 rats) or 58 weeks (5 rats). To judge the state of the amygdaloid nuclei, a neuronal count and caryometry were carried out. The numerical data obtained in this study were analyzed statistically. The results in humans have paralleled those obtained in rats and the behaviour of the different nuclei of the amygdala was uniform and can be summarized as follows: 1) ethanol provoked a prominent and early loss of neurons, and 2) the remainder of non-affected neurons did not react in order to compensate for this neuronal loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Factors underlying infertility in the alcoholic.

In an effort to identify the factor(s) contributing to loss in sexual competence in alcoholics, a pilot study was made of the interrelationships of hepatic disease, plasma hormone levels and importnce in 35 male patients in an alcohol unit. Contrary to previous reports, impotence was not a direct concomitant of hepatic disease, elevated sex hormone-binding globulin capacity or hyperestrinism. The most significant aberration found was a nearly 30% lower mean free testosterone concentration which appeared to be secondary to a mean total testosterone concentration 20% below that of the subjects with normal sexual function. We conclude from this that impotence results from testicular secretion impaired by the action of alcohol or its metabolite, acetaldehyde.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1978

Neutrophil chemotaxis and serum chemotactic activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Neutrophil chemotaxis, random motility, serum chemotactic activity derived from complement activation by classical or alternative pathways, and the presence of serum inhibitors of chemotaxis were all studied in 24 patients affected by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and in an equal number of healthy control subjects. Statistical comparison between patients and controls indicated lower chemotactic activity in patient's serum when activated by the classical pathway, and the presence in some SLE patients of a heat-labile inhibitor of the chemoattractants. Low "classical pathway" chemotactic indexes were correlated with low C4 values, active nephritis and recurrent infections. The presence of heat-labile inhibitor was correlated with low values of C3. Our data suggest that defective neutrophil chemotaxis could be one of the mechanisms contributing to the high incidence of infections suffered by SLE patients. The importance of conducting separate studies on cell movement and on generation of serum chemotactic activities by classical and alternative pathways in SLE patients is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

[Complement system in disseminated lupus erythematosus].

The levels of C3, C4 and CH50 in patients with lupus erythematosus disseminatus (LED) were lower than in the controls. However, although in many patients these levels were below the normal values, there was no statistically significant difference between the two group. The levels are reduced during the acute phases and in some patients they remain high. On the whole, C3 was lower in patients with nephropathy (p less than 0,025) than in patients presenting with clinical activity (p less than 0,02). The positive relationship existing between C3 and C4 (r = 0,641, p less than 0,01) suggests activation of the complement system in LED via the classic route. In cases with concurrent lupus nephropathy a relationship between C3 and C3PA was seen, suggesting that in this case the alternative route is involved.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic factors in paranasal sinus cancer.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the influence of several different prognostic factors in determining both local recurrence rates and survival in patients treated for carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients treated between January, 1975 and December, 1991 was undertaken. Hospital charts were reviewed collecting demographic, clinical, and radiographic findings, which were correlated with treatment and subsequent follow-up. RESULTS: Carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses was identified in 129 patients. This included 95 men and 34 women with an average of 59 years. The ethmoid sinus was primarily involved in 50 patients, the maxillary sinus and 49, the nasal sinus and 25, sphenoid sinus in three in the frontal sinus and two patients. Advanced stage (T3/T4) was diagnosed in 60% of patients at presentation. The most commonly encountered histologies were squamous-cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The most accurate predictors of poor prognosis were advanced T stage and involvement of the anterior skill base. Involvement of the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus, infratemporal fossa, and erosion of the orbital wall was not associated with the worst prognosis. CONCLUSION: In spite of advances in imaging technique and surgical therapy, the primary cause of death is inability to control local disease. Diagnosis at an earlier stage is associated with improved outcome.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Brain death: epidemiology and quality control of solid organ donor generation.

Successful solid organ transplant programs need effective organ procurement systems. Evaluating and maintaining the quality of an organ procurement system requires multilevel institutional coordination as well as reliable information regarding potential donors. The objective of this study was to analyze the potential to generate adult solid organ donors at a countrywide level as well as at individual hospital levels in Uruguay from 2000 to 2002. The analyzed factors included: encephalic deaths (brain deaths) officially registered by the National Bank of Organs and Tissues (BNOT), the distribution of these individuals among the intensive care units (ICUs) located at various hospitals, the number of Real Donors at each hospital, and the relation between the brain deaths and the number of ICU beds equipped with artificial respirators. The Uruguayan solid organ donation rate is relatively high among Latin American Countries, but low in relation to developed countries. The conversion of potential donors to actual donors is similar to that seen in developed countries. However, the registered incidence of brain deaths in relation to the number of ICU beds is surprisingly below the recognized standard figure. To approach the reasons for this difference, efficient quality control mechanisms are needed in the various ICUs as well as comprehensive medical case history reviews of all patient records.

Brain Death↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High prevalence of calcified silent neurocysticercosis in a rural village of Mexico.

Human neurocysticercosis (NC) is a parasitic disease caused by TAENIA SOLIUM when its larvae lodge in the central nervous system. NC prevalence estimates are obscured by the variable and often asymptomatic clinical picture. While infection depends on exposure, severity is possibly related with various host factors (immunity, genes and gender). This epidemiological study of cranial CT scans in an endemic rural community found that 9.1% of apparently healthy subjects had calcified lesions and were completely asymptomatic. Silent NC cases did not correlate with the exposure factors tested but showed family aggregation and higher rates of positive serology. Thus, NC prevalence may be higher than currently considered and host-related factors appear to be involved in infection and pathogenesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Priming with GHRH (1-29) NH2: an aid in differential diagnosis between hypothalamic and pituitary deficiencies.

More than 80% of children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) respond with a rise in growth hormone levels when given 1 microgram/kg body weight of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) in an i.v. bolus. We conducted a study to determine whether the failure of the remaining 20% to respond to GHRH is due to a pituitary deficiency or a secondary effect associated with chronically understimulated somatotrophs. We administered GHRH to "prime" 16 short-statured children (> 2 SD) presenting delayed growth (< 4 cm/year), who had not responded initially when given a single dose of GHRH. Priming consisted of administering GHRH (1-29) NH2 (5 micrograms/kg body weight, s.c.) for six consecutive days. Plasma GH response was studied again after an i.v. injection of 1 microgram/kg body weight of GHRH (1-29) NH2 on the seventh morning. On the basis of these results we were able to separate our patients into two groups: a) responders to priming (n = 8), whose GH responses to pharmacological and acute GHRH tests were < 10 ng/ml, with a 12-hour sleep secretion < 3 ng/ml/min. Priming increased the plasma GH response to acute GHRH in all the children in this group (6.0 +/- 2.1 ng/ml to 18.0 +/- 5.4 ng/ml; p < 0.001); b) non-responders to priming (n = 8), whose GH responses to pharmacological and acute GHRH tests were also < 10 ng/ml, with 12-hour sleep secretion < 3 ng/ml/min, but in whom priming with GH did not increase the plasma GH response (5.5 +/- 2.8 ng/ml to 6.2 +/- 2.9 ng/ml; p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Chronic diarrhea and intestinal cytomegalic inclusion (author's transl)].

A case of chronic diarrhea resistent to treatment is presented. At autopsy a cytomegalic inclusion disease localized only in the gastrointestinal tract was found. This case seems to be a confirmation to the hypothesis that the cytomegalovirus may be cause of gastrointestinal disturbances in infants.

Autopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The radiotherapy control of cervical adenopathies in undifferentiated epithelial tumors of the head and neck. The prognostic factors].

A total of 90 patients with undifferentiated carcinomas tumors the head and neck with clinical neck nodes who received intended radical irradiation, were studied by means of a multivariant analysis of 9 variables which defined cervical lymph node disease in oder to determine the prognostic factors for the control of the above mentioned adenopathy. The factors were as follows: lymph node response post-irradiation (p = 0.0000), condition of the primary (controlled-non controlled) (p = 0.0208).

Carcinoma↗