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J Obiols

Publications and source records attributed to J Obiols.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Neuropsychological and psychiatric complications in endoscopic third ventriculostomy: a clinical case report.

The clinical case report of a patient who underwent an endoscopic third ventriculostomy for the treatment of a slit ventricle syndrome is presented. After surgery the patient developed a severe complication consisting of an organic personality disorder, characterised by impulsiveness, physical heteroaggressiveness, binge eating, hypersomnia and impairment of memory, and frontal-executive functions.A frontal lobe lesion may explain some of the symptoms presented, such as the uncontrolled impulses, the aggressive behaviour, and even the binge eating. However, a longitudinal neuropsychological evaluation showed a severe deficit in immediate memory and difficulties in planning and consolidation of newly learned information, which may be best related to damage in the frontal basal structures of the brain: the fornix and its connection to the hippocampus and the mamillary bodies. Postoperative MR images confirmed the clinical hypothesis. The emergence of such a severe organic personality disorder and cognitive disturbances as a psychiatric complication of an endoscopic third ventriculostomy has not, it seems, been previously reported elsewhere. Clinicians should take these possible complications into account when recommending this so-called minimally invasive neuroendoscopic procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Developmental instability and schizotypy.

INTRODUCTION: It has been suggested that evidence of developmental disturbance of cognition and lateralisation in schizophrenia can be best understood from the perspective of developmental stability (DS), an indicator of the extent to which an individual develops according to a specified ontogenic programme in the presence of environmental noise. Higher levels of fluctuating asymmetry (FA; the difference between right and left side of a quantitative morphological trait such as dermatoglyphics) are thought to reflect less DS. We examined this issue for dimensions of schizotypy. METHODS: Associations between FA, measures of laterality and cognitive function on the one hand, and negative and positive dimensions of schizotypy on the other, were examined in a sample of 260 healthy adolescents aged 11.9-15.6years. FA was measured as a-b ridge count right-left differences. Neuropsychological measures yielded a general cognitive ability score and a frontal function score. Laterality was assessed with the Annett scale. RESULTS: Measures of psychosis proneness were normally distributed. Negative schizotypy was associated with more FA and lower general cognitive ability in a dose-response fashion. The association with FA was more apparent in boys. No associations existed with laterality or frontal function. CONCLUSION: The negative dimension of schizotypy may be associated with early developmental instability, resembling the pattern seen in the negative symptom dimension of schizophrenia. Measures of fluctuating asymmetry may be more sensitive with regard to the schizotypy phenotype than measures of laterality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Risk of pancreatic cancer and occupational exposures in Spain. PANKRAS II Study Group.

The objective of the study was to analyse the relationship between occupational exposures and risk of pancreatic cancer. Incident cases of pancreatic cancer and hospital controls were prospectively identified and interviewed during the hospital stay. Occupational history was obtained by direct interview with the patient, and was available for 164 (89%) of 185 pancreatic cancer cases, and 238 (90%) of 264 controls. Two industrial hygienists evaluated exposures to 22 suspected carcinogens previously associated with pancreatic cancer. Occupational exposures were also assessed using the Finnish job-exposure matrix (FINJEM). For each type of pesticide group, moderately increased odds ratios (OR) were apparent in the high-intensity category, highest for arsenical pesticides (OR=3.4; 95% CI 0.9-12.0), and 'other pesticides' (OR=3.17; 95% CI 1.1-9.2). ORs for aniline derivatives, and dyes and organic pigments, were also higher for high-intensity exposure, and increased when lagged and restricted to long duration of exposure. ORs above 3 were observed for the following agents evaluated by FINJEM: pesticides, benzo[a]pyrene, lead, volatile sulphur compounds, and sedentary work. Whilst generally negative, results lend moderate support to the hypothesis of an association between exposure to some pesticides and pancreatic cancer. Larger studies could address the potential for these compounds to modify the carcinogenic risk of other environmental exposures. Suggestive increases in risk from aniline derivatives, dyes and organic pigments, and benzo[a]pyrene may also deserve further attention.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Determination of chlorpyrifos in air, leaves and soil from a greenhouse by gas-chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection, high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis.

Chlorpyrifos was determined in air, leaves and soil in a greenhouse in order to establish performance differences between gas-chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection (GC-NPD) and high-performance liquid chromatographic and capillary electrophoretic methods and to assess the farm workers' risk of overexposure due to air exposure and/or skin contact with this compound. Results obtained indicate that the three analytical techniques, with the specific procedures described, can be used, although only GC-NPD provides an operative limit of detection in air. Chlorpyrifos levels in air are dependent on time and greenhouse ventilation, whereas it remains for a long time on leaf surfaces and soil. As a consequence, specific instructions can be established for farm workers in order to avoid skin and respiratory exposure to chlorpyrifos.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1996

Determination of DDT and related compounds in blood samples from agricultural workers.

An analytical method combining a solid-phase (C18) clean-up and GC-electron-capture detection using a capillary column, was implemented to determine p,p'-DDT and its metabolites (p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE), as well as other organochlorine pesticides in whole blood samples from 30 farmers and 24 non-occupationally exposed workers. The average concentrations for the quantified pesticides, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE, were 0.9, 1.5 and 8.0 micrograms/l whole blood for exposed workers and 0.3, 0.5 and 3.3 micrograms/l for unexposed workers, respectively. GC-MS was used to confirm the identity of the pesticides found. Solid-phase extraction and the protocol used give a cleaner analytical matrix, not only improving sensitivity and resolution, but also allowing analyses with smaller blood samples as compared to other methods.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1993

Determination of chlorinated insecticides in blood samples of agricultural workers.

Lindane, aldrin and p,p'-DDT were determined in blood samples from 71 farmers by means of an analytical method which combines a direct whole-blood extraction with n-hexane and gas chromatography (GC)-electron-capture detection (ECD), using a capillary column, applied to the organic extract. This technique allowed the determination of pesticides at levels varying from 0.1 to 180 micrograms per l of blood, the detection limit for every pesticide being 0.1 microgram/l. GC-mass spectrometry was used to confirm the identity of each pesticide. The advantage of capillary column GC-ECD for pesticide determination is its sensitivity and high resolution, which makes it possible to separate pesticides from a complex n-hexane extract obtained in a very simple pretreatment of the blood sample, which is itself a very complex matrix.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fatal hydrogen sulfide poisoning.

Two cases of fatal hydrogen sulfide poisoning are described which occurred during cleaning of a tank that had transported polysulfides. The most characteristic findings of the autopsy were: a blackish-green pigmentation at macroscopic examination; pulmonary edema, steatosis, intrahepatic cholestasis and renal tubular necrosis at microscopic examination. The blood concentration of sulfide ions exceeded 3.5 mg/l. These cases are compared to others described in the literature. The preventive measures that should be adopted to avoid this type of poisoning are stressed.

Adult↗