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Biomedical subjects

J J Faintuch

Publications and source records attributed to J J Faintuch.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Cardiovascular effects of arginine and nitric oxide].

Amino acids are an unusual chemical category because they are endowed with alimentary properties, but at the same time they may determine typical pharmacologic responses in some circumstances. These facts were responsible for the origin of modern pharmaconutrition, which has been using arginine for some time because of its beneficial impact on immune function, nitrogen anabolism and wound healing. The recent identification of its metabolite NO (nitric oxide), a powerful mediator related to a large number of physiologic and pathophysiologic phenomenons, has augmented the interest for this amino acid.

Animals↗

[Pericarditis in a general hospital].

The authors studied 57 patients with pericarditis in the Ward of Internal Medicine of the University of São Paulo from January 1993 through May 1995. A comparison was made with the results of a similar study performed in the same hospital in 1989. Increasing frequency of pericarditis was verified. Tuberculosis, formerly the most frequent etiologic agent, decreased while neoplastic diseases became more common.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Hematologic aspects of the national hockey team athletes].

Athletes tend to have lower hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations than sedentary counterparts. Sports anemia is used to describe both pseudodilutional anemia and the true anemia of athletes. Pseudodilutional anemia is a beneficial adaptation to endurance training; the two most common causes of true anemia are iron deficiency and intravascular hemolysis. We used questionnaires, physical examination and laboratory investigation to study 19 highly trained hockey athletes and laboratory investigation to study 32 outpatients without hematological diseases. One athlete had anemia (Hb 10.5 g/ dL; 5.44 million red cells/mL; serum iron-13 micrograms/dL; without parasites in the stools); the athletes had Hb = 14.88 +/- 1.33 g/dL and the outpatients had 15.24 +/- 0.74 g/dL; the maximal oxygen uptake of the athletes was 54.0 +/- 6.03 ml/kg/min (112.15 +/- 14.35% of the predicted values). The maximal oxygen uptake of the anemic athlete was 86% of the predicted value. The three athletes with the best maximal uptake had a mean Hb = 15.8 g/dL. In São Paulo-Brazil anemia is uncommon among males but elite athletes are in a borderline anemic state, that may impair the physical fitness.

Anemia↗

[Magnesium and myocardial infarction. Brazilian aspects].

Most of the brazilian's territory is poor in magnesium (Mg) and an evaluation of urinary Mg indicated very low concentration of this cation in a normal population sample. The study of the behavior of plasmatic Mg in the acute phase of uncomplicated myocardial infarction permitted the following conclusions; a) during the first three days of the clinical course there is significant hypomagnesemia; b) magnesemia rises progressively during the three days of infarction, without however reaching normal levels. The lymphocytic magnesium also show the same behavior. Mg infusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (four grams of MgSO4 during the first three days) reduced the incidences of arrhythmias, death and the size of infarction, in São Paulo. Another study in Bahia also showed reduction of mortality with infusion of 10 grams of MgSO4 in 24 hours. These studies about the protective role of Mg show potential limitations because the samples were small.

Brazil↗

[Iron deficiency in female athletes].

Iron deficiency and anemia have been reported frequently in athletes. In São Paulo-Brazil among elite athletes overt anemia is uncommon, but our studies showed that they were in a borderline anemic state. Sports anemia is used to describe both pseudodilutional anemia and the true anemia of athletes. We studied 12 female young athletes, all with normal hemoglobin. Four athletes had laboratory features (serum ferritin, red cell volume, and/or transferrin saturation) suggestive of iron deficiency. There are association of high iron body stores with cardiac arrhythmia, carotid atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, liver and colorectal cancer but minor iron deficiency may impair the physical fitness.

Adolescent↗