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Biomedical subjects

J Mendoza

Publications and source records attributed to J Mendoza.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Outcome after vertebral fractures with neurological lesion treated either surgically or conservatively in Spain.

Out of 245 patients with spinal cord injury admitted to the Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos of Toledo (110 treated conservatively, 135 treated surgically), randomised samples of 48 cases treated conservatively and 75 treated surgically were selected for comparison. Improved neurological status according to the Frankel scale was achieved in 37.5% after conservative treatment, and in 23% after surgery. Reduction and stabilisation were achieved by both conservative and surgical methods, and the functional outcome was the same for both treatments. The mean hospitalisation time was 198 +/- 10 (mean +/- SE) days for patients treated with conservative measures, and 222 +/- 9 days for patients treated surgically. No correlation was found between the type of fracture and severity of the neurological lesion. The neurological outcome by type of fracture was also similar for both treatments. No correlation was found between the degree of vertebral wedging and neurological evolution. Patients with greater vertebral displacement showed a worse neurological outcome. Taking both groups as a whole, incomplete lesions showed improvement in 66%, and complete in 14%. Neurological improvement after incomplete lesions was found in 87.5% of patients under 25 years of age and in 47% of those over 25 years. The poorest rate of improvement was found in those with thoracic lesions (17%), while those with cervical lesions improved most (48%). Furthermore, the neurological outcome in patients who were surgically treated within the first 24 hours after the injury was not statistically different from those who were treated later.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of three rapid enzyme immunoassays and cell culture for detection of respiratory syncytial virus.

Three rapid enzyme immunoassay techniques for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus antigen (Becton Dickinson Directigen RSV, Abbott RSV Testpack and Abbott RSV EIA) and cell culture were evaluated in a total of 250 nasal washings. The sensitivity and specificity were 62% and 76% respectively for Directigen, 64% and 86% for RSV Testpack, and 76% and 81% for RSV EIA, taking cell culture as the reference method. Agreement between cell culture and EIA techniques was 79% (70 positive and 128 negative results). All three EIA techniques gave positive results in 69 samples (52 positive and 17 negative in the cell culture). In 121 samples all three EIA techniques gave negative results (103 negative and 18 positive in the cell culture). Using the cell culture technique 46 strains other than respiratory syncytial virus were isolated.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Prevalence of antibodies against CMV in Grenada].

The prevalence of anti-CMV antibodies was studied on 1,552 serum samples by means of latex passive haemagglutination method. Of all the sera studied, 1,084 were positive (69.8%). Amongst them, 523 samples came from women and 561 from men, which represent 74.7% and 65.8%, respectively. Regarding to age, 62.3% of the positive samples were from people under 30 years and 91.3% from subjects over that age. The screening of anti-CMV antibodies is especially important in blood and organ donors, where the high percentage of positivity makes it difficult to select negative blood donations. Thus, taking into account the cost-effectiveness, and the results of this study, the search for CMV-negative blood must be exerted preferentially on the group of blood donors under 30 years of age, regardless of sex.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of asthma in a tropical city of Colombia.

Four thousand subjects from Cartagena, Colombia were surveyed in order to establish the prevalence of asthma in this city. They were considered to have asthma when they had consulted their physicians for shortness of breath accompanied with wheezing during the last year and had received asthma medications. Point and cumulative prevalence were 8.8% and 12.2%, respectively. Seventy percent of the affected population was less than 15 years old. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of asthma between sexes. Forty-five percent of asthmatic subjects had family histories of asthma. The prevalence of rhinitis was 16.4% and 30.6% of the patients with asthma. The asthma prevalence of this study is high, indicating that this respiratory disease is a significant health problem in this tropical city.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Evaluation of IgG and IgA type antibodies to capsid and early antigens of the Epstein-Barr virus in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

BACKGROUND: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is related with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in that, in this neoplasm, high levels of antibodies are found vs different EBV antigens. METHODS: The determinations of IgG and IgA type antibodies were evaluated vs capsid antigens (VCA) and early antigen (EA) of the EBV by indirect immunofluorescence in 14 patients diagnosed with NPC, in 12 patients with other tumors of the head and neck and in 61 blood donors. RESULTS: The detection of IgA type antibodies with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 92% for the VCA antigen and of 86% and 100% for the EA antigen are the most useful tests in the early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The determination of IgG type antibodies were of a more limited usefulness with sensitivities and specificities of 86% and 67% for IgG anti-VCA and 100% and 83% of IgG anti-EA. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of antibodies vs VCA and EA antigens is useful in the differential diagnosis of NPC with other tumors of the head and neck.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Quantitative culture of bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with anaerobic lung abscesses.

The study of anaerobic infections of the lung is usually limited to the use of invasive techniques such as transtracheal aspiration (TTA) to avoid contamination by oral flora. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has been used successfully in the study of the etiology of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. This study evaluated the role of the quantitative culture of BAL in the diagnosis of lung abscess. Four episodes of lung abscess in three patients were studied, and the results of quantitative culture of BAL were compared with those of the standard technique of TTA. Nineteen anaerobic bacterial species were recovered from the BAL fluid, all but one at concentrations greater than 10(3) cfu/ml. Culture of BAL fluid yielded 18 of 22 of the isolates cultured from TTA, including 12 of 16 of the anaerobic bacteria. This study suggests that quantitative culture of BAL fluid may be useful in the bronchoscopic evaluation of lung abscess.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia in adults: usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage].

Quantitative evaluation of bacteria in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 15 patients with pneumonia was compared to that in 29 healthy controls. Aerobic and anaerobic cultures were used as well as cultures and staining for fungi and mycobacteria. A total of 1000 colony forming units per ml was considered a cutoff mark between colonization and infection. A positive result was obtained in 13 of 15 patients with pneumonia, allowing the identification of the causing agent. Counts below the indicated level were observed in 23 of 29 controls. There was no morbidity associated to the procedure. Thus, an 85% sensitivity and 87% specificity for bronchoalveolar lavage in the etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia may be estimated from this study.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Effect of the extraction of LPS (R) on the demonstration of the serological response in acute brucellosis by immunoblotting].

In order to establish the possible influence of Brucella melitensis rough strains protein extracts contamination using LPS (R) in the immunoblotting evaluation of serologic response, we have studied sera samples from 41 patients with acute brucellosis before treatment was started and also from 62 healthy individuals (control group). A whole-cell B. melitensis 115 strain extract with an without LPS (R) was used. Extraction was carried using ether-chloroform of oil-phenol. Overall, more than 50% of patients showed an antibody response (protein bands 85, 53, 50, 47, 41, 38 and 28 kD) to both antigenic products. Less than 6.4% of the control group sera showed response to any of these protein bands. There were no significant differences in the frequency of response development against these proteins using the two antigen types. However, there was some disagreement when each individual band response was compared to its homologous band.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

[Evaluation of 2 serological techniques in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis: complement fixation reaction and Western blot].

Evaluation of two serological techniques for diagnosis cysticercosis: complement fixation reaction and Western blot. Comparative study that includes 49 sera samples and 30 CSF samples belonging to 35 patients with clinical diagnosis of cysticercosis of the CNS. As a control group we used 10 sera samples of patients with Trichinella spiralis infection, 33 sera samples of patients with hydatid cyst disease, 9 sera samples from patients with oxyuriasis, 52 sera samples of healthy blood donors and 22 additional CSF samples from patients with different CNS disorders. Thirty-one samples were positive by Western blot technique and 21 samples by complement fixation reaction technique. Agreement between both techniques was 76%. Gathering clinical and laboratory information we believe that a total of 11 patients had cysticercosis of the CNS (33 samples), and three additional patients remain with indeterminate diagnosis. We have also detected cross-reactions with Western blot techniques (reactivity to more than one band) in 43% of patients with hydatid disease and in 20% of patients with Trichinella spiralis infection, but none in oxyuriasis patients. The CFR technique had cross-reaction with 33% of sera samples from hydatid disease patients and 20% of those from oxyuriasis patients. No cross-reactions were seen in any of control patients with both techniques. The two different techniques tested can be of help, together with clinical and radiology data, in the diagnosis of cysticercosis of the CNS. However, both techniques showed strong cross-reactions with hydatid disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension with continuous intravenous prostacyclin (epoprostenol). Results of a randomized trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of continuous intravenous infusion of prostacyclin (epoprostenol) in primary pulmonary hypertension. DESIGN: Randomized trial with 8-week treatment periods and nonrandomized treatment for up to 18 months. SETTING: Four referral centers. PATIENTS: Sequential sample of 24 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. Nineteen patients completed the study. Four patients died and one left the study because of adverse effects (pulmonary edema). INTERVENTIONS: Continuous intravenous prostacyclin administered by portable infusion pump at doses determined by acute responses during baseline catheterization in ten patients. Nine patients were treated with anticoagulants, oral vasodilators, and diuretics. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Starting with a baseline value for total pulmonary resistance of 21.6 units, there was a decrease of 7.9 units (95% CI, -13.1 to -2.2; P = 0.022) in the prostacyclin-treated group after 8 weeks; there was virtually no change in the conventional therapy group (from 20.6 to 20.4 units, not significant). Six of ten prostacyclin-treated patients who completed the 8-week study period had reductions in mean pulmonary artery pressure of greater than 10 mm Hg, whereas only one of nine in the conventional treatment group had a similar response (P = 0.057). Nine patients receiving prostacyclin for up to 18 months have persistent hemodynamic effects, although dose requirements have increased with time. Complications have been attributable to the drug delivery system. CONCLUSIONS: Prostacyclin produces substantial and sustained hemodynamic and symptomatic responses in severe primary pulmonary hypertension and may be useful in the management of some patients with this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Australia: perspectives in school health.

Australia, a predominantly industrialized, urban-based nation, has health problems similar to most developed countries. The federal and state relationship in Australia perpetuates a similarity between programs and practices across the country, especially in health and education. During the past decade, several research programs related to the primary prevention of Australia's major health issues were conducted. Determinations of program success have been established from these programs and their international counterparts. Guidelines and principles are discussed in the context of two recent health initiatives and are presented as indicative of current developments in Australia. For this article, a one-in-five sample of South Australian schools was surveyed regarding the health education programs and practices. Survey results and two initiatives are presented against a background of Australian health data.

Australia↗
PubMed1990

[Pattern of antibodies in acute human brucellosis defined by Western blotting].

We have evaluated with Western blotting the serologic response of 144 patients with acute brucellosis and 62 healthy controls to identify a useful antibody pattern to confirm the diagnosis of acute brucellosis. The antigen that we used was a protein extract of whole cells of the strain 115 (rough) of B. melitensis. Patients sera were obtained at the time of diagnosis and before the start of specific therapy. There was antibody response to 21 protein bands. The molecular weights (MW) and frequencies of the most significant bands were the following: 85 Kd (60.4%), 70 Kd (54.1%), 53 Kd (63.9%), 50 Kd (65.3%), 47 Kd (71.5%), 41 Kd (74.3%), 38 Kd (68.7%), 33 Kd (56.2%), 28 Kd (52.8%). At the time of diagnosis, 90.3% of the patients with acute brucellosis had antibody response to 2 or more protein bands of Mw of 47 Kd, 41 Kd, 38 Kd and 33 Kd. In none of the 62 negative control sera there was a response to more than one of the mentioned bands.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

[School feeding program in Guatemala: technology transfer to artisan bakers, producers of the nutritionally improved cookie].

The Ministry of Education of Guatemala requested from the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), the development of a solid food for delivery to school children who attend the official schools throughout the country. INCAP developed and transferred the processing technology to produce a nutritionally improved cookie to artisan bakers from the different regions of the country. The present paper describes the technological process, focusing on the training, supervision and quality control actions executed with approximately 100 micro baking enterprises, in 1988 and 1989. These actions have had a positive impact on the bakeries, a fact evidenced by the significant improvement of the conditions and processes of the nutritionally improved cookie production. The performance of the above-mentioned activities has allowed us to detect necessities, for the solution of which research and development of technologies are most important for their immediate transference to artisan bakers. Nevertheless, it is necessary to monitor and control the transferred technology, and efforts must continue to increase the effectiveness of the whole system which involves technology transference model, created for this project.

Child↗