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Biomedical subjects

J A Portellano

Publications and source records attributed to J A Portellano.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neuropsychological evaluation of the cognitive deficits in infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)].

INTRODUCTION: In addition to its ability to infect immune system cells, the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), possesses neurotropism, that is, the virus is able to enter the central nervous system, even in patients without opportunistic brain neoplasia or infection. DEVELOPMENT: To date, two different neurologic syndrome have been recognized: one of them being mild in nature (HIV-1 associated minor cognitive/motor disorder), the other being severe (HIV-1-associated dementia complex). These syndromes are known to cause impairment in different cognitive domains, as well as psychiatric and motor complaints. Here we review the different neuropsychologic tests, experimental computerized procedures (reaction time) and examination of the different types of ocular movements, which have been used from 1981 until now, with particular emphasis on the most commonly used neuropsychologic test batteries. Our results suggest that both neuropsychologic test batteries and reaction time procedures and ocular movement examination show that, as expected, the cognitive impairment is more commonly found in HIV-1-associated dementia complex patients as compared with those with HIV-1-associted minor cognitive/motor disorder. In the latter syndrome, cognitive impairment severity correlates well to disease stage, defined according to criteria by the Centers for Disease Control. However, there continues to be an important controversy as to the occurrence of cognitive deficit in the earliest HIV-1 infection stages (medically asymptomatic stage), probably due to lack of sensibility and specificity of neuropsychologic tests and other procedures used to detect cognitive impairment in earliest stages. CONCLUSION: There is a need for improving specificity and sensibility of neuropsychologic measurements currently used to detect cognitive impairment in HIV-1 infected patients in medically asymptomatic stage.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cognitive performance of right-handed and left-handed persons on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III)].

AIM: To contribute to the knowledge of the cognitive differences existent between right-handed and left-handed evaluating the cognitive outcome in a group of adults right-handed and another group of left-handed of similar characteristic (age, gender, cultural level) by means of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two groups were studied: one formed by 25 right-handed (RHG) and another formed by 25 left-handed (LHG). None of those subject of the study presented mental deficiency neither neurological dysfunctions. The age stocking was of 24.28 years, with a range between 20 and 28 years. RESULTS: There are not differences in the intellectual quotient (verbal and performance), among the two groups. The LHG obtains worse results that the right-handed in speed of prosecution and in the subtests of arithmetic and key, while the RHG has obtained better results in the subtest of incomplete figures. CONCLUSIONS: The LHG has a cognitive yield similar to that of the RHG, with slight deficiencies in activities of visoperceptual component. It becomes necessary to continue deepening in the neuropsychological and cognitive differences between right-handed and left-handed, since the cognitive outcome of the left-handed ones continues being a topic in discussion.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evoked potentials in a population of children below 1,500 grams at birth: a description and probabilities].

INTRODUCTION: Bioelectrical behaviour was studied in a group of low birth weight children. AIM: To evaluate whether the characteristics of the waves of the brain potentials in these children, who weighed less than 1500 g at birth and experienced anomalous circumstances and events during their perinatal period, would help reach an early diagnosis of the possible developmental disorders they might suffer later on in life. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Both visual and auditory cerebral evoked potentials were recorded in a group of children born underweight and the results were compared with the findings from another group of healthy children who were born in normal physiological conditions and were apparently free of any kind of pathology. RESULTS: In the waves and locations that were examined, the problem group displayed latencies that were longer than those of the control group; in contrast, no statistically significant differences were found in the amplitude, regardless of the location. Low gestational age and lower weight made latencies longer, but no relationship was found between latencies and the other perinatal features that were studied. CONCLUSIONS: Children with low weight at birth have slower wave latencies than normal children. This slowing, which is inversely proportional to the weight and weeks of gestation, is considered to be an anomalous sign that could be related to brain immaturity, delayed development or to disorders affecting myelination. Moreover, the amplitude, which has received far less attention from researchers, is usually shorter in these processes, although in our study we found no differences with the group of healthy children--only very slightly in the P300, in the weeks and the weight, and the N100 only in one location with respect to weight. Since these children usually have developmental disorders, the use of evoked potentials could be a very useful tool in their detection and ensuing therapy.

Birth Weight↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Brain mapping studies in dyslexia].

Brain EEG mapping has been recorded during three different conditions, rest closed eyes, rest open eyes, and reading task, in a group of 22 dyslexic children, age mean 9.3 years, range 8-11, and control group of normal readers of the same age. All the subjects were right-handed, and laterality was assessed through the Edinburgh test. The individual maps in dyslexic and controls were averaged, and mean maps of both groups were obtained for a very different experimental condition. Rest closed eyes maps of dyslexics and controls disclose a powerful and symmetric alpha over occipital areas, with higher energy peak at 8.5-9.5 Hz., without significant differences in both groups. Brain maps centered in the fast beta band, 18-25 Hz., disclose significant differences in control group versus dyslexics, with more power in control group over all areas. Our findings suggest less adequate brain activation in dyslexics during reading tasks.

Brain Mapping↗