Biomedical subjects

I Muñoz

Publications and source records attributed to I Muñoz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Spinal intraosseous arteriovenous malformation as a cause of juvenile scoliosis. A case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report. OBJECTIVES: To report and discuss an unusual case of scoliosis resulting from an arterial malformation of the spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: This is a report of clinical manifestation, physical findings, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, bone scan, and results after surgery in an 8-year-old boy with a painful scoliosis resulting from an intraosseous arteriovenous malformation of the spine. METHODS: Radiographs, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and bone scans were studied and oriented us to the diagnosis of scoliotic attitude secondary to a benign-appearing tumor in the right lamina of L4. Surgery was performed through a posterior midline approach to remove the lesion en bloc. Postoperative treatment was performed with a Boston orthosis. RESULTS: Final pathology reports diagnosed an intraosseous arteriovenous malformation. After 32 months, the boy had no pain, and scoliotic attitude diminished despite radiographs still showing a single 10 degrees right lumbar curve. CONCLUSIONS: Primary intraosseous arteriovenous malformations are rare. This case shows the scarce specificity of clinical findings, radiology, and bone scan in the diagnosis of these lesions when they are localized in vertebral territory. Surgical excision of the lesion relieves pain but does not completely correct the scoliotic attitude.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

PubMed1997

Vitamin D receptor gene expression in human pituitary gland.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 has important physiological effects such as calcium transport and cell growth and differentiation. These biological effects are mediated by their binding to specific intracellular receptor termed vitamin D receptor (VDR). VDR mRNA expression has been demonstrated in several tissues, but to date, there is no information about its presence in the human pituitary gland. In this report, we demonstrate VDR mRNA expression using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), as well as the cellular expression of VDR by immunohistochemistry, both in the human pituitary gland. These results suggest the possibility that, like in the rat pituitary, VDR may regulate the human pituitary gene expression and hormone secretion.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Distribution of the AMPFLPs YNZ22, 3'Apob and COL2A1 in the population of Galicia (NW Spain).

Two different electrophoretic methods were used for typing three amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AMPFLPs), (3'ApoB, YNZ22 and COL2A1) in a Galician (NW Spain) population sample. Because of the problems of anomalous mobility for the 3'ApoB system and the intermediate alleles found in the COL2A1 system, the use of automated sequencers and denaturing conditions is recommended for typing these two systems. Nevertheless, simple electrophoretic methods, such as the PhastSystem, can be used for YNZ22 typing. Although intermediate COL2A1 alleles can be distinguished with the sequencers, a binning approach was adopted for comparison purposes. The population sampled was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the three systems using an exact test. This type of statistical analysis is more appropriate when the number of alleles in a system is high. No significant differences with other Caucasian populations were found for the three systems studied. The characteristics of the polymorphisms, shown by 3'ApoB, YNZ22 and COL2A1, reflected in the statistical parameters studied, demonstrate that these AMPFLPs are of considerable interest for forensic purposes.

Alleles↗

PubMed1996

Effect of environmental factors on PCR-DNA analysis from dental pulp.

This study was designed to observe the results of DNA typing on teeth subjected to aging, different temperatures and various environmental factors. A total of 570 teeth were studied. The study included the analysis of the PCR-based polymorphisms HLA DQA1, D1S80, HUMTH01, HUMFES/FPS and the XY homologous gene amelogenin. In general the best results were obtained with the XY homologous gene amelogenin, followed by the two STRs studied (HUMTH01 and HUMFES/FPS). The small fragment sizes and the method of detection used after PCR amplification are the main factors explaining this fact. In general, teeth submerged in water gave the poorest results. Teeth exposed to outdoor conditions provided better results than teeth buried in sand or soil, but even in these cases good results were obtained. Up to 4 degree C, temperature had only a slight influence on the results. Positive results were obtained in most cases at high temperatures (400 degrees C for 2 min) which are rarely reached in practical casework. Positive typing results for the XY homologous gene amelogenin and the STRs were obtained from teeth 10-30 years old. The usefulness of dental pulp for identification purposes is exemplified in some actual cases.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

PubMed1995

The use of the STRs HUMTH01, HUMVWA31/A, HUMF13A1, HUMFES/FPS, HUMLPL in forensic application: validation studies and population data for Galicia (NW Spain).

The 5 tetranucleotide short tandem repeats, HUMTH01, HUMVWA31/A, HUMF13A1, HUMFES/FPS and HUMLPL were studied using different electrophoretic methods and PCR amplification conditions in order to optimize the typing conditions. A genetic population study in the population of Galicia was carried out and the allele and genotype frequencies are given. Compliance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested using different statistical parameters, with clear advantages resulting in favor of using the exact test (Guo-Thompson method) instead of conventional chi-square methods. Some statistical parameters of forensic interest (PD, CE, h) were also calculated. There were no mutations found in a total of 73 paternal meioses and 101 maternal meioses. Abnormal electrophoretic mobility was found in the AT-rich STR HUMF13A1 under non-denaturing conditions and, therefore, the use of denaturing conditions is absolutely necessary. No "stutter" bands were found, although double peaks in the HUMFES/FPS system were observed in some samples. The advantage of using automated sequencers with fluorescent technology is also reported.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Use of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to increase the in vitro fertilization (IVF) efficiency of mice.

PURPOSE: The possibility of increasing the efficiency of an in vitro fertilization system (IVF) for Swiss OF1 mice was studied. The experimental protocol proposed analyzed the use of FSH as a superovulatory inducing hormone in comparison to traditional PMSG treatment. At the same time, the quality of IVF-derived embryos was evaluated both in vitro, with culture in CZB medium and fixation in advanced stages of development, and in vivo, by transfer to female recipients. RESULTS: Treatment with FSH induced a much higher ovulation number compared PMSG (64.26 vs 33.85; P < 0.01). With this gonadotropin, IVF provided a positive tendency to normal fecundation (67.76 vs 64.72; P < 0.1) and a much lower index of abnormal division in embryos (10.57 vs 15.11; P < 0.05). The viability of embryos obtained from donors treated with hormones was similar, although differences did exist regarding embryo origin: those obtained following natural fertilization showed a higher developmental capacity from in vivo (P < 0.05) and in vivo (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that FSH is an improved superovulation alternative treatment in comparison to PMSG for IVF. It provides a higher number of embryos with the same in vitro and in vivo viability as those obtained from PMSG.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Genetic markers: association study in migraine.

Eleven genetic markers were typed in 112 unrelated patients with migraine (50 with aura, 62 without aura) and compared with a random sample of healthy individuals. No significant differences were found for the ABO and Rh systems, acid phosphatase 1, phosphoglucomutase 1, adenosine deaminase, haptoglobin, transferrin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and D1S80. Strong associations between the group of patients with migraine and group-specific component GC 1F-1F and esterase-D ESD 2-2 phenotypes were observed. These associations raise the possibility that a molecular genetic factor for migraine may exist in or near the Group Component (chromosome 4) and Esterase D (chromosome 13) loci, and represent a first comprehensive step in the eventual localization and isolation of the migraine genes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Biomechanical effects of different surgical procedures on the extensor mechanism of the patellofemoral joint.

Loadbearing stresses in the patellofemoral joint were studied at different degrees of flexion before and after various surgical techniques recommended to treat knee disorders. Surgical procedures intended to reduce the intensity of stress were analyzed experimentally. The study was done using different experimental methods on whole knee specimens from fresh human cadavers that were not treated with formaldehyde. The results indicate that the most predictable procedure for increasing surface area and decreasing patellar stress is a combined procedure of anterior displacement of the anterior tibial tubercle by 1 cm while displacing it 0.5 to 1 cm medially.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1994

Comparison of superovulatory response of mature outbred mice treated with FSH or PMSG and developmental potential of embryos produced.

A superovulatory treatment for mice based on FSH administration was compared with a standard one based on PMSG. Our aim was to determine if a mean number of embryos recovered per donor could be increased and if in vitro or in vivo viability was affected by the hormonal treatment used. Thus, female Swiss mice were subjected to 2 superovulatory treatments, and the 1-cell and 2-cell stage embryos were cultured in 2 different media to the blastocyst stage or were transferred to pseudopregnant recipients. The data show that despite a lower mating percentage (52% with FSH vs 66% with PMSG), the FSH-treated mice provided twice the number of total embryos (53.4 vs 24.5) with a similar percentage of morphologically normal embryos (74% for FSH vs 69% for PMSG). We also found that in vitro culture results can be influenced by the source of gonadotropins depending on the culture medium used. A culture medium such as CZB which prevents the 2-cell block, provided the same developmental rates regardless of hormonal treatment used. However, with M-16 medium, which does not prevent this blockage, only 39% of the 2-cell FSH-derived embryos and 49% of the PMSG-derived 2-cell embryos developed into blastocysts (P<0.05). FSH-derived embryos resulted in a higher percentage of pregnant recipients (73 vs 56%) than PMSG-derived embryos, but the number of alive fetuses and the number of implantations per pregnant recipient was affected only by the kind of culture system used before transfer. The results show that FSH can provide very good superovulatory response in mice, thus reducing the number of donors needed for a given experiment and providing embryos of at least the same quality as those derived from the standard PMSG treatment.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Comparative evaluation of pentoxifylline, buflomedil, and nifedipine in the treatment of intermittent claudication of the lower limbs.

In the light of the current controversy surrounding the use of hemorheologic and vasodilator drugs in the treatment of peripheral arteriosclerosis, a comparative study was designed in order to evaluate the efficacy of pentoxifylline, buflomedil, and nifedipine in 45 patients with peripheral arterial disease (Fontaine stage II). The patients in this prospective randomized study were divided into three groups: 15 patients received pentoxifylline treatment (1,200 mg/day), 15 were treated with buflomedil (600 mg/day), and 15 with nifedipine (60 mg/day). Response to treatment was assessed at the start of the study and after forty-five and ninety days, by clinical examination, Doppler test, strain test, and digital occlusion plethysmography using a strain gauge ring. Pentoxifylline was significantly more effective (P < 0.05) than buflomedil and nifedipine at ninety days in improving walking performance, resting toe pressure, resting and postexercise ankle/brachial pressure ratio, and basal/postischemic toe-pulse ratio. Significant differences within groups were also noted for initial claudication, toe peak-flow time, pulse reappearance time (PRT/2), and maximum postischemic flow time, together with significant intergroup variables. In conclusion, pentoxifylline proved more effective than the other drugs tested in: 1. improving distal pressure and resting microcirculatory blood flow; 2. increasing postexercise distal flow, ratios, and pressures and enabling faster recuperation of basal pulse rates; 3. increasing initial claudication distance in the strain test within the test group and achieving a greater absolute subjective claudication distance than that obtained using the other treatments.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Sources of lead exposure in Mexico City.

Many countries, including Mexico, are facing a largely unrecognized epidemic of low-level lead poisoning. Mexico is the sixth largest lead-producing country in the world, and 40% of its production is used locally in different industrial processes that cause lead contamination of the environment. The major sources and pathways of lead exposure among the Mexican population are gasoline emissions, lead-glazed ceramics, leaded paint, and lead in canned foods and beverages. In this paper we present evidence for the presence of lead in different environmental media and its impact on blood lead levels of the Mexican population. Although during the last few years important measures have been implemented to decrease lead exposure, our findings suggest that lead poisoning is still an important problem in Mexico. There is an urgent need for regulatory policies that implement stricter control to protect the Mexican population. There is also a need to develop adequate programs to reduce the lead burden and the associated health effects in the population that has been chronically exposed.

Ceramics↗

PubMed1994

Clinical significance of exit-site infections due to Xanthomonas in CAPD patients: a comparison with Pseudomonas infection.

We have assessed the clinical significance of exit-site infections secondary to Xanthomonas maltophilia in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, and compared them with episodes due to Pseudomonas. The study was a retrospective survey of all episodes of Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas-related exit-site infections (ESI) in all patients treated in our unit between 1984 and 1992. Thirteen episodes of Xanthomonas-related ESI were observed in eight patients and 17 episodes of Pseudomonas-related ESI were seen in 15 patients. Xanthomonas-related ESI was frequently associated with other microorganisms, while Pseudomonas-related ESI was not (66% versus 5%, P < 0.02). Only one episode of Xanthomonas-related ESI resulted in peritonitis and subsequent catheter removal, after 15 months of resistant colonization. Another case was considered to be chronic and indolent, as the Xanthomonas-related ESI continued after 23 months of local treatment. The other 11 episodes were resolved either without treatment or with an antibiotic cream after 7-120 days. However, all but two episodes of Pseudomonas-related ESI required intravenous antibiotics (usually ceftazidime); seven patients developed peritonitis, and 11 required surgical catheter manipulation (five external cuff extrusion, and six catheter removal) (1/13 Xanthomonas-related versus 11/17 Pseudomonas-related ESI, P < 0.03). Most Xanthomonas-related ESI do not lead to peritonitis, and constitute a mild condition, easily treatable without parenteral antibiotics or catheter replacement. The appearance of other associated organisms and the favourable evolution with local treatment suggest a saprophytic behaviour for Xanthomonas in our CAPD patients. On the contrary, Pseudomonas-related ESI is usually severe, requires parenteral antibiotics, frequently leads to peritonitis, and requires catheter replacement.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Human dirofilariasis: identification of a 44kD antigen recognized by IgM against Dirofilaria immitis].

BACKGROUND: Dirofilaria immitis is a nematode parasite of canids that, in endemic areas, can infect humans. The use of adult somatic antigens for the diagnosis of human dirofilariasis has the disadvantage of a low sensibility because of cross-reactivity with other helminths, specially with IgM antibodies. We describe in this work proteins of the adult somatic antigenic complex that are specifically recognized by human IgM. METHODS: Human sera with different characteristics were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of anti-D. immitis IgM seropositive individuals. Moreover, an enzyme-linked immuno-electro-transfer blot (EITB) was performed for the detection of polypeptides that specifically react with IgM anti-D. immitis. RESULTS: EITB analysis shows that 2 proteins of 44 and 18 kD are recognized by IgM in human sera from an endemic area with a high antibody titer against D. immitis measured by ELISA. Sera from a non-endemic area and from patients suffering from other parasitic and non-parasitic diseases did not recognize these antigens. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the 44 kD protein could be a good marker of recent D. immitis infection.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Seven Chinchorro mummies and the prehistory of northern Chile.

The mummification methods of an ancient maritime population on the northern coast of Chile are reviewed and the findings in an additional seven individuals are reported. Members of this cultural group, Chinchorro, practiced a selective, elaborate form of artificial mummification which persisted more than 4,000 years. Its complexity diminished with time, gradually disappearing after 2,000 B.C. One of the seven individuals herein reported is a rather poorly but spontaneously ("naturally") preserved body that may represent the oldest mummy reported to date--about 9,000 years old. Chemical reconstruction of their diet demonstrates that the principal component was derived from marine resources with only minor supplementation from terrestrial hunting as well as food gathering from river mouth vegetal sources, confirming the marine dependence of their adaptational strategy.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

The distribution of HLA DQA1 and D1S80 (pMCT118) alleles and genotypes in the populations of Galicia and central Portugal.

Two South-West European populations (Galicia and Central Portugal) have been studied for the HLA DQA1 and D1S80 systems. The allele and genotype frequencies found have been compared with other previously published data. The distribution of the observed genotypes is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for both systems. In the D1S80 system, no significant differences were found between both populations, although in the HLA DQA1 system the allele DQA1*0301 is twice as frequent in the Galician population. Other populations that have been compared showed a certain degree of divergence for the HLA DQA1 system. The combined chance of exclusion for both systems is 0.84 in Galicia and 0.85 in Central Portugal, and the combined power of discrimination is 0.993 in the 2 populations studied.

Alleles↗

PubMed1993

In vitro survival of murine morulae after quick freezing in the presence of chemically defined macromolecules and different cryoprotectants.

We studied the ability of frozen-thawed mouse morulae to develop in vitro when the cryoprotectant proteins were substituted with one of the following nonorganic macromolecules: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and ficoll. We also determined how these agents interacted with 3 different cryoprotectants: glycerol (GLY), propylene glycol (PG), and ethylene glycol (EG). The influence of both of the above factors was measured on the basis of post-thaw morphological appearance, the percentage of development to the expanded blastocyst stage and the total cell count. Morulae (n=950) were collected from superovulated mice. Those classified as good or excellent were distributed among the 12 different freezing solutions, obtained by combining the 3 cryoprotectants with the 4 macromolecules (the 3 mentioned above, plus a control of 5% fetal calf serum) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Embryos frozen in PVA, PVP and ficoll tended to be a little difficult to recover from the straws. Development to the expanded blastocyst stage was significantly lower (P<0.05) in propylene glycol (43.6%) than in ethylene glycol (79.5%) or in glycerol (76.1%). Polyvinyl alcohol provided a higher survival rate when combined with glycerol (90.3) or ethylene glycol (95.0), but when it was combined with propylene glycol, only 56.5% of embryos survived after thawing. A positive interaction was observed between glycerol and PVA and between ethylene glycol and PVA or ficoll. The results indicate that fetal serum could be successfully substituted for any of the 3 chemically defined macromolecules. However, our findings also suggest that the use of PG as a cryoprotectant should be avoided when mouse morulae are frozen using the quick freezing method.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1992

Arginine vasopressin infusion increases plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor in humans.

Seven normal subjects underwent sequential 20-min infusion of arginine vasopressin (AVP) at 0.5 and 2 ng/(kg.min) and a complete right-side heart hemodynamic evaluation during the study to analyze the effect of this hormone on atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) secretion in humans and to elucidate whether this effect was primary or secondary to the hemodynamic or hormonal changes induced by AVP. Plasma ANF levels increased at the end of the first (P less than 0.05) and second (P less than 0.01) infusion periods. No significant changes in mean arterial, pulmonary artery, right and left atrial pressures were recorded during the study. Cardiac output (P less than 0.05) and heart rate (P less than 0.05) decreased, while total vascular resistances (P less than 0.05) increased with respect to basal values in both infusion periods. Plasma renin activity decreased (P less than 0.01) at the end of the infusion, while plasma aldosterone, epinephrine and norepinephrine showed no significant changes. We conclude that arginine vasopressin increases plasma ANF levels in humans and that this effect cannot be ascribed to hemodynamic or hormonal changes induced by this hormone, suggesting a direct effect of vasopressin on the atrial myocyte.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Isoelectric focusing of human hair keratins: correlation with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) patterns and effect of cosmetic treatments.

A new isoelectric focusing (IEF) technique in polyacrylamide gels with 6M urea and 1.5% Nonidet P40 has been developed to characterize human hair samples. The phenotypes demonstrated with this procedure has been correlated with the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) patterns described by other authors. The method described can be applied in the forensic science analysis of a single human hair. Using the same IEF technique we have studied the changes in electrophoretic patterns of cosmetically treated hair. The characteristics of the modifications observed and its utility in forensic science work are also discussed in this paper.

Detergents↗