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Biomedical subjects

J Muñiz

Publications and source records attributed to J Muñiz.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Arterial hypertension in Spain].

This paper is the written version of the conference that under the same title was presented in the XXX Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología. In the paper, the topic of arterial hypertension (AHT) in Spain is approached from different perspectives, as well as to what extend cardiologists influence or are influenced by it. First, there is a brief overview concerning the diagnostic and therapeutic status of AHT in the population, and its evolution in the last years. The paper continues analyzing the research on AHT sponsored by the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria in recent years, and emphasizes the little participation of cardiologists as principal investigators in this area. Next, publications in Spanish and international scientific journals are assessed. To end the paper, a proposal of the possible role of the cardiologist on diagnosis, treatment, continued education and research on hypertension is presented.

Adult↗

[Controversies in the treatment of arterial hypertension: other drugs as the first step (calcium antagonists, ACE inhibitors and alpha-blockers)].

This paper is the written version of the conference that under the same title was presented in the XXX Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología. In the paper, the use of the most recent antihypertensive drugs is advocated as first line therapy. The defence is based in cardiac and non cardiac considerations. Among the former, there are certain advantages of the new drugs in areas as regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and improvement of coronary flow and coronary reserve. Among the non cardiac considerations there are some metabolic factors (non adverse effect on the lipid profile), as well as a positive effect on some endocrine-metabolic cascades like the insulin-resistance syndrome and a very important role in certain special situations as coexistence with other diseases and individual characteristics of the patient (pregnancy or elderly for example).

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

[The relationship between clinical events and the angiographic lesions in coronary atherosclerosis. Hypolipemic treatment and plaque stabilization].

Secondary prevention studies have shown that lipid-lowering therapy improve angiographic outcome and reduce mortality and incidence of ischemic clinical events in patients with coronary artery disease. The mechanism responsible for the improvement in prognosis seem to be subtle as this improvement cannot be explained by changes in the angiographic diameter of coronary arteries. Atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent thrombosis are the central features in the pathogenesis of acute coronary events: unstable angina, myocardial infarction and sudden death. Cholesterol lowering might decrease the risk of plaque rupture and its thrombogenicity, as well as normalise the impaired endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic patients. In this report, the effects of lipid-lowering therapy on angiographic outcome and incidence of clinical events, in patients suffering from coronary artery disease, are reviewed, and the mechanisms that might explain these findings are discussed.

Arteriosclerosis↗

[A case-control study of risk factors of acute cerebrovascular disease].

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the cardiovascular disease which causes the greatest number of deaths in Galicia, mortality, particularly in women, being higher than in the rest of Spain. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors of stroke and its importance in Galicia. METHODS: A hospitalary study of cases and controls was performed including 76 patients with stroke and 76 controls individually paired for age, sex, population habitat and date of admission with anamnesis, weight, height and blood pressure, analysis and electrocardiogram being carried out in all. RESULTS: An association was found between the disease and family history of stroke (odds ratio = 3.6, confidence interval 95% = 1.2-13.3), personal history of stroke (17.9; 4.0-79.1), personal history of atrial fibrillation (15.0; 3.3-68.3), high blood pressure (4.5; 1.9-11.6) and ingestion of alcohol greater than or equal to 80 g/day in comparison with abstemious patients adjusted for the effect of high blood pressure (2.5; 1.1-5.7). An association was also observed with serum cholesterol levels greater than or equal to 250 mg/dl (6.46 mmol/l) (3.3; 1.2-8.8, in comparison with cholesterol less than 200 mg/dl). No association was found with the cigarette smoking (1.2; 0.7-2.3). CONCLUSIONS: The results observed for high blood pressure and the ingestion of alcohol regardless of the same are of importance in primary prevention due to being modifiable risk factors. The association with family history of stroke and auricular fibrillation reinforce the needs for primary prevention measures in these subpopulations while having had a stroke or a transitory ischemic attack is the characteristic with the most risk reinforcing the need for secondary prevention measures which have found to be effective. The controls presented abnormally low cholesterol levels that do not reflect those of the population from which they originate, thus existing the possibility that the association observed is spurious.

Aged↗

[Brigantium study. Cardiovascular risk factors in childhood and adolescence in a rural area of Galicia].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of certain factors of cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents in rural areas of Gallicia. METHODS: One thousand eight children between the ages of 6 and 15 years selected from three primary schools were studied. Weight, height, blood pressure, serum levels of cholesterol and self admitted consumption of tobacco were determined in each participant. RESULTS: The patterns of body mass, blood pressure and total cholesterol selected to age and sex are very similar to those observed in a great deal of the Spanish and foreign studies. However, the absolute values do not necessarily coincide. The children studied were more obese than those reported in other studies carried out in the rest of Spain with similar values of systolic blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. The levels of cholesterol in this study were within the range observed in other Western countries, lower than those found in other parts of Spain but much higher than the ideal quantities recommended by the WHO. Blood pressure was similar to that of a recent meta-analysis of Spanish studies but much higher than that observed in the Second American Task Force Study. With regard to the use of tobacco, this population demonstrated lower prevalences to those of other Spanish populations. From the age of 14 the consumption of cigarettes greatly increases, especially in boys. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and blood pressure appear to be a more important potential problem than cholesterol among the cardiovascular risk factors considered in the children studied in comparison with populations of a similar age. If prevention plans on the use of tobacco are foreseen in Spain, they should be made before the age of 14 when an important number of children already smoke or have tried cigarettes.

Adolescent↗

Family history as an independent risk factor for ischaemic heart disease in a low incidence area (Galicia, Spain).

It has been suggested that a family history positive for coronary heart disease (CHD) increases the risk of CHD. We studied this association to determine the degree of risk, the independence of this association and the presence of interaction of a family history of CHD with the major known risk factors in a low incidence area. One hundred and six hospital cases (85 males and 21 females) of CHD and 106 hospital controls individually matched with each case for sex, age and place of residence (rural-urban) were studied. From every participant, information was collected on their personal and family history of cardiovascular disease and risk factors; height, weight, lipid profile and blood pressure were measured, and an electrocardiogram was recorded. Conditional logistic regression was used in the analysis. The observed odds ratio of patients suffering from CHD among those with, compared to those without, a positive family history of CHD was 4.95 (95% confidence interval = 1.27-19.28) after adjusting for the major known risk factors in each individual and their families (no interaction term remained in the model). The results support the hypothesis that a family history of CHD, acting through mechanisms other than known risk factors or their familial aggregation, is an independent risk factor for CHD even in a low incidence area. No interaction effect was observed between family history and the presence of the three major risk factors of CHD. This should help to identify individuals at greater risk of CHD.

Case-Control Studies↗

Caffeine and theophylline contractures in tonic skeletal muscle fibers of the frog.

Caffeine and theophylline evoke maintained tension in tonic skeletal muscle fibers of the frog. Their effects depended upon concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 14 mM. The resting potential of tonic skeletal fiber was unaffected by caffeine or theophylline (4 mM). Caffeine and theophylline contractures have a peak tension followed by a sustained tension, which recovered spontaneously when returned to normal solution. The peak tension and total tension (the area under tension-time curve) were reduced when the fibers were soaked in calcium-free solution. In addition the tension was reduced by calcium channel blockers (cadmium). The sustained tension was increased when external calcium was raised. These results suggest that caffeine and theophylline promote the calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum and probably the entry of calcium from external medium.

Animals↗

Adrenergic modulation of the K+ contractures in tonic skeletal muscle fibers of the frog.

The effects of adrenaline and isoprenaline on K+ contractures of curarized tonic skeletal fibers were investigated. The K+ contractures of tonic fibers have a peak tension followed by a sustained tension. The peak tension and total tension (the tension-time integral--area--of K+ contractures) were increased by adrenaline and isoprenaline. The resting potential of tonic skeletal fibers were unaffected by adrenaline. The calcium channel blocker (cadmium and nifedipine) greatly blocked the effects of adrenaline on the peak and total tension of K+ contractures. On the other hand, the peak and sustained tensions of K+ contractures were greatly reduced in Ca(2+)-free solution, but, the peak tension recovered when the fibers were pre-incubated in adrenaline. It is proposed that adrenergic modulation of tension in tonic skeletal muscle fibers could be related with the modulation of Ca2+ channels and/or Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Animals↗

Sodium/calcium exchange in tonic skeletal muscle fibers of the frog.

The Na/Ca exchange system was investigated by contractile response to alteration of the extracellular sodium concentration in tonic skeletal muscle fibers of the frog. Contractures were evoked when the extracellular sodium was reduced or withdrawn in the normal solution. This effect was not associated with membrane depolarizations. In the presence of d-tubocurarine, the amplitude and time course of sodium withdrawal contractures were modified, except when sodium was replaced by TEA. When external calcium was omitted from the solution, the tension of sodium withdrawal contracture was greatly reduced. This effect was reversible. These results suggest that Na/Ca exchange is present in the membrane of tonic skeletal muscle fibers of the frog. This conclusion is further supported by the effect of veratridine and strophantidin, which increase the tension of the low-sodium contractures.

Animals↗

Further analysis of the molecular jet hypothesis during muscle contraction.

We analyse the Molecular Jet-hypothesis proposed by Morel & Bachouchi (1988, J. theor. Biol. 132, 83.). This hypothesis attempts to explain the movement of covaspheres that contain myosin heads attached to actin filaments. This movement occurs during muscle contraction. However, the hypothesis does not predict the velocity of covaspheres correctly. Therefore, we are studying additional aspects of the hypothesis.

Actins↗

[Situation and new aspects in arterial hypertension in Spain].

This paper briefly presents the situation of high blood pressure in Spain, both its prevalence in different parts of the country and its relevance as a cardiovascular risk factor and its relationship with demographic characteristics and other not removable risk factors. The association high blood pressure/hypercholesterolemia is discussed in greater detail, offering a multifactorial and quantitative approach of risk factors in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Age Factors↗

[Infectious food poisoning in the Autonomous Basque Community (1984-1986)].

The results of the study of 117 outbreaks of food poisoning in the Basque Autonomous Community during 1984-1986 are reported. In 76% of these outbreaks the causative agent could be isolated. Bacteria of the genus Salmonella accounted for 86.5% of the outbreaks with a known etiology, S. enteritidis being the most commonly found serotype. In 90% of the outbreaks caused by Salmonella, the transmission was by eggs or egg containing products. The features of food poisoning in the Basque Autonomous Community are discussed.

Animals↗

Pulmonary artery obstruction due to giant cell arteritis.

Giant cell arteritis is often referred to in the context of polymyalgia rheumatica with temporal artery involvement. There are, however, more malignant forms of presentation of this necrotizing arteritis involving either the great vessels of the aorta or, occasionally, the pulmonary arteries. Our case relates to giant cell arteritis presenting as pulmonary artery obstruction in a patient without polymyalgia rheumatica or extensive aortic or proximal great vessel involvement.

Aged↗