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Biomedical subjects

J Blanch

Publications and source records attributed to J Blanch.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Physical and psychosocial functioning of 117 survivors of bone marrow transplantation.

All surviving patients receiving a BMT at our center since 1976 were surveyed. Among 163 eligible patients, 145 were contacted and 117 (81%) responded. Their median follow-up was 55 months (range 6-154). The research instruments consisted of a demographic questionnaire, a current medical status form, a quality of life questionnaire (Nottingham Health Profile), and a screening instrument for psychiatric morbidity (the 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire). Current functioning varied considerably across patients. They reported a high use of medical services (37%) and varied ongoing medical problems within the last 6 months. Most of them (93%) received Karnofsky ratings of 80 or above. Eight percent had current chronic GVHD. Comparing our patients' quality of life with a British reference population, most important differences were found for physical mobility, work, and sex life. Psychiatric morbidity in BMT survivors was higher than in a Spanish general population. Multivariate analyses revealed that a higher systemic symptomatology score, a lower educational level, an older age at BMT, a shorter time post-BMT, a female gender, and impotence were significant predictors of an impaired overall quality of life. Similarly, a higher systemic symptomatology score, a shorter time post-BMT, a higher number of major infections, and a lower educational level were predictive factors of a higher psychosocial distress. No differences in quality of life or psychosocial status between allogeneic and autologous transplants were found. Quality of life and psychosocial distress improved with the passage of time, specially within the first 3 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis: report of two cases with long-term bone density follow-up.

Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis is a rare and poorly characterized clinical entity. We describe two women, aged 28 and 31 yr, who developed vertebral osteopaenia with non-traumatic compression fractures within a few months after delivery. In both women secondary causes of osteoporosis were excluded and routine laboratory data including indices of calcium metabolism were normal. In one patient (Patient 1) spontaneous secretion of IL-1 by cultured blood monocytes was elevated 6 months after delivery and a bone biopsy revealed histomorphometric indices consistent with accelerated bone remodelling. BMD was measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and/or dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In Patient 1, BMD, measured with QCT, 6 months after delivery was 3.32 Z-score units below the predicted value for age and sex-matched subjects. At that time treatment (phosphate followed by sodium etidronate) was instituted, and QCT measurements obtained 24 and 30 months after delivery revealed a BMD of -2.98 and -2.67 Z-score units, respectively. The treatment was discontinued just before she became pregnant again, and 3 months after the second delivery QCT showed a BMD of -3.06 Z-score units. Further BMD assessments were obtained with DXA at 15 and 18 months after the second delivery, and the BMD values were -1.41 and -1.08, respectively. In Patient 2, spine BMD, measured with QCT, 4 and 10 months after delivery were -1.68 and -1.59 Z-score units, respectively. At 10, 16 and 22 months after delivery, BMD was assessed with DXA. The initial measurement with this technique disclosed a BMD of 0.52 Z-score units.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1990

[Syphilitic arthro-osteitis].

We report a black female with past history of sexual promiscuity who developed arthroosteitis of clavicula and sternoclavicular joint and cranial osteitis during secondary syphilis. Spirochaeta were identified in the material from osteoarticular biopsy. The patient was treated with benzathine penicillin, 2,400,000 U weekly for three weeks. There was a complete clinical recovery. We emphasize the uncommon occurrence of osteoarticular involvement in secondary syphilis and the exceptional character, according to the literature, of the finding of spirochaeta in the biopsy material. We discuss the differential diagnosis and we review the literature on secondary syphilis. We suggest that syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any acute arthritis or osteitis, particularly when the involved joint is the sternoclavicular and the patient is sexually promiscuous.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Determination of succinyldicholine in different tissue samples from guinea pigs after injection of a single intravenous dose.

The distribution and postmortem stability of succinyldicholine in different tissues and urine from guinea-pigs has been studied. Succinyldicholine was extracted from tissue homogenates and urine samples from animals sacrificed by intravenous injections of succinyldicholine hydrochloride (40 mg/kg). The bis-quaternary ammonium compound was demethylated and the tertiary amine was analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The concentrations found in muscle, kidney and urine were often low; in muscle below 5 pmol/g, in kidney from 5 to 1500 pmol/g and in urine from 5 to 650 pmol/ml. The eye proved to be the best tissue sample, with a rather high and constant concentration (280 +/- 36 pmol/g) of succinyldicholine. The postmortem stability was studied by storing the bodies at 4 degrees C. After 6 days storage the drug concentrations in the eyes started to decline. Four weeks after death it was not possible to detect any succinyldicholine in this tissue.

Animals↗