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Biomedical subjects

I Fábregues

Publications and source records attributed to I Fábregues.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Effects of chronic ethanol consumption beginning at adolescence: increased numbers of dendritic spines on cortical pyramidal cells in the adulthood.

To increase our understanding of the effects of chronic ethanol consumption beginning at adolescence, 25% ethanol in drinking water (v/v) was administered daily to young rats aged 45-50 days for 5 months. Increased numbers of dendritic spines on the apical dendrite of layer V pyramidal neurons of the somatosensory cortex (U-Mann-Whitney test, P less than 0.01-0.05) were found in almost every 50-micron-long segment over a distance of 500 microns from the cell body in ethanol-treated rats at the age of 195-200 days when compared with age-matched controls. Although the mechanisms leading to this unusual finding are not know, it is suggested that impairment of the naturally occurring elimination of redundant synapses can not be ruled out.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Decreased numbers of dendritic spines on cortical pyramidal neurons in dementia. A quantitative Golgi study on biopsy samples.

The number of dendritic spines on the apical dendrites of layer III pyramidal cells was counted in cerebral biopsies, processed in part according to the rapid Golgi method, which had been performed for diagnostic purposes on patients suffering from dementia of different origins. The samples were from cases affected by Alzheimer's disease (3 patients), Parkinson's disease and dementia (1 patient), Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (4 patients), Pick's disease (1 patient) and dementia paralytica (1 patient). Spines were counted on consecutive segments of the apical dendrite along the 500-microns proximal region from the cell body. A significant decrease in the number of spines was observed in almost every segment of the apical dendrite in demented patients when compared with similar measurements carried out in age-matched controls (p less than 0.01-0.001); Mann-Whitney U-test. Decreased numbers of dendritic spines may result in reduced inputs on cortical neurons and may be a consistent morphological substrate for the impaired mental status in cortical dementia.

Cerebral Cortex↗
PubMed1987

Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on dendritic spines of layer V pyramidal neurons in the somatosensory cortex of the rat.

The number of dendritic spines on consecutive segments from the cell body along the 400-600 micron proximal region of the apical dendrites of layer V pyramidal neurons, impregnated with the rapid Golgi method, in the somatosensory cortex was counted in ethanol-treated rats during gestation (25% ethanol in drinking water representing 30-35% of the total caloric intake) and in age-matched controls at postnatal ages 4, 15, 30 and 90 days. Although the mean values were lower in ethanol-treated rats than in controls during the first fortnight of postnatal life, significantly lower numbers of spines were observed only in the 15-day-old rat (Student's t-test, P less than 0.01-0.001). Spines with long, thin pedicles were characteristically encountered in ethanol-treated and controls aged 4 days; this sort of spine also predominated in ethanol-treated rats aged 15 days, but not in age-matched controls. The decrease in number and the abnormal morphology of spines was no longer present in ethanol-treated rats aged 30 and 90 days. These data suggest that impaired maturation of dendritic spines on cortical pyramidal cells, followed by recovery of the altered parameters at the end of the first postnatal month, occurs in the offspring of ethanol-treated rats during gestation.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

A Golgi study of the sixth layer of the cerebral cortex. III. Neuronal changes during normal and abnormal cortical folding.

During normal development in the cat Layer VI cortical neurons, including pyramidal cells, fusiform neurons, inverted pyramidal cells and bipolar neurons located in the gyral regions retain the vertical orientation characteristic of earlier developmental stages. However, Layer VI pyramidal neurons and the subtypes in the sulcal zones develop long horizontal basilar dendrites which seem to form dendritic bundles with those of neighbouring pyramidal cells; in addition, fusiform neurons and bipolar cells are tangentially orientated and horizontal pyramidal neurons appear in place of inverted pyramidal cells in the gyral and intermediate regions. In human cortical malformations, neurons of the external cellular layer (Layers V and VI) in lissencephaly are vertically arranged, but Layer VI neurons in polymicrogyria are tangentially orientated when located in microsulci. These features suggest that neuronal changes occur in Layer VI neurons as a consequence of cortical folding and that cortical folding determines the cellular shape of Layer VI neurons in normal as well as in abnormal development of the cerebral cortex.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Decreased numbers of dendritic spines on cortical pyramidal neurons in human chronic alcoholism.

Samples of the cerebral cortex (left hemisphere, area 6) were collected at autopsy, between 4 and 6 h after death in order to avoid artifacts related to fixation delay, from 5 chronic alcoholic patients (in which well-defined alcoholic-malnutritional encephalopathies were excluded) and 16 controls; samples were immediately processed according to the rapid Golgi method. The curves representing the average density of dendritic spines on the apical dendrites of layer V pyramidal neurons as a function of the distance from the cell body were adjusted to a logarithmical model which was shown to be similar in controls and alcoholic groups. Significant reduced numbers of dendritic spines were observed; however, in the alcoholic patients when compared to age-matched controls (P less than 0.001; Kruskall-Wallis chi 2 test). These results demonstrate noxious effects of ethanol on cortical pyramidal neurons in human chronic alcoholism.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Multiply resistant Haemophilus influenzae type b causing meningitis: comparative clinical and laboratory study.

Thirty-five patients with meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b were admitted to our hospital from January 1981 to December 1984; 60% of the strains were resistant to ampicillin, 65.7% to chloramphenicol, and 57% to both antibiotics. No significant differences in age, sex, previous treatment, clinical symptoms, outcome, and mortality were found between the 20 patients whose strains were resistant to both ampicillin and chloramphenicol and the other 15 patients whose strains were susceptible to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, or both. Alternative therapeutic agents were a combination of carbenicillin and gentamicin and new cephalosporins. At present, cefotaxime is our treatment of choice for meningitis caused by H. influenzae type b.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1984

Fine structure based on the Golgi method of the abnormal cortex and heterotopic nodules in pachygyria.

The structure of the four-layer abnormal cerebral cortex and of the heterotopic cerebral nodules in pachygyria has been studied by means of the Golgi method. The external cellular layer is formed by neurons closely mimicking, in morphology and distribution, those observed in layers V-VI of the normal cortex, although major abnormalities in orientation of pyramidal cells are a prominent abnormal feature. The internal cortical cellular layer is composed of several neuron types in which no distinctive layered organization can be detected. Heterotopic cerebral nodules are formed by neurons of the cortical types with random orientation of their cellular processes. Some extrinsic axons have been demonstrated, thus suggesting lack of isolation of heterotopic nodules.

Cerebral Cortex↗
PubMed1982

[Therapeutic trial with allopurinol in progressive muscular dystrophy (author's transl)].

Authors present a therapeutic trial with allopurinol on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. On an initial stage of three months they compare the effect of this drug with a placebo, finding no significant results. Afterwards they compare at six weeks, three months and six months the effects on muscle power, chronometered physical exercise and values of CPK without obtaining significant results. The changes on urate serum, and relation urine urate/creatinine are significant at six weeks, three months and six months of treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Friedreich's disease. Clinical study of ten cases (author's transl)].

Clinical characteristics of ten patients with Friedreich's disease are presented. Two cases were members of the same family, another patient had a brother with the disease, and in two cases there was consanguinity. The dominant inheritance pattern was absent in all cases. Initial symptoms and clinical signs were present under 5 years of age in six cases, and in three of them under 2 years of age. As reported in other series, in our cases the disorder first appeared in the legs. Other early manifestations included skeletal deformities and dysarthria, as well as diplopia, paresthesias and dizziness. Friedreich's ataxia results from pyramidal tract degeneration and changes in the cerebellum. Babinski sign was present in nine patients. Other findings were: muscular weakness, distal amyotrophy and distal dystonia. Two patients suffered epileptic attacks with typical EEG pattern. Kyphoscoliosis and pes cavum were constant skeletal deformities. ECG revealed signs of myocardial ischemis in nine patients, although none of them had symptomatology of heart disease. Glucose tolerance test carried out in three cases showed diabetic curves. Results of nerve speed conduction were as follows: normal in one case; decreased sensitive speed conduction in four cases, and decrease of both sensitive and motor speed conduction in other four cases. EMG showed signs of chronic denervation in three cases. These results coincide with those published by other authors.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Posttraumatic cerebellar hematoma.

A posttraumatic cerebellar hematoma in a 12-year-old boy is reported. It was observed by CT scan that the hematoma is discharged incompletely into the subdural space. The surgical treatment was successful with complete recovery. It is suggested that CT scan should be performed as soon as possible in cranial trauma with cerebellar signs.

Brain Injuries↗