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Biomedical subjects

J Otero

Publications and source records attributed to J Otero.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Prognostic factors for survival and tumor control in cervical lymph node metastases from head and neck cancer. A multivariate study of 492 cases.

A multivariate analysis was carried out in 492 patients with metastatic neck disease from squamous cell carcinoma to determine the influence of clinical and therapeutic factors on survival, local and regional control, and distant metastases. After radiation treatment with radical intent, recurrence at the primary site was the most frequent site of treatment failure (20% of cases), followed by distant metastases (14% of the cases), whereas isolated neck recurrences occurred in only 7% of the patients. The most significant factors influencing survival were primary tumor site, node fixation, N-stage, T-stage, and number of lymphatic chains. The most significant factors influencing local control were primary site, T-stage, and node fixation. Significant factors influencing regional control were radiation therapy volume, primary tumor site, node fixation, and node location (upper and lower neck). Significant factors influencing distant control were N-stage, number of nodes, and number of involved lymphatic chains.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Longitudinal study of bone metabolism after ethanol withdrawal in alcoholic patients.

The pathogenesis of osteopenia in chronic alcoholism remains unclear, and many ethanol-related abnormalities have been advocated to explain bone loss. A direct inhibitory effect of ethanol on osteoblast function was suggested by in vivo and in vitro studies. We measured biochemical markers of bone turnover in 12 alcoholic men before and during a 2 week period of alcohol withdrawal, and we compared the results with those obtained in 15 nonalcoholic men. Our alcoholic patients presented with (1) decreased serum concentrations of bone gla protein (BGP), suggesting decreased bone formation; (2) increased urinary excretion of hydroxyproline, suggesting increased bone resorption; (3) increased renal threshold of phosphate excretion without modification of serum PTH concentration, suggesting a direct effect of ethanol on the renal handling of phosphate. The rapid increase in serum BGP concentrations following ethanol withdrawal suggests that low serum BGP concentrations in alcoholics may result from a direct toxic effect of ethanol on osteoblast function and/or numbers.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Adenovirus infections in an emergency department].

We have reviewed 108 emergency ward reports of patients with adenoviral positive cultures in "Doce de Octubre" Hospital in Madrid. Our aim was to know the most frequent symptoms of the infection so that identification and treatment could be managed more efficiently in our department. Cellular cultures were negative for other viruses such as CMV, enterovirus and herpesvirus. No bacteria were found in the throat cultures. Of the children who were evaluated, 78% were younger than 3 years old. The most frequent symptom was high fever with an otherwise good state of health. During the physical examination, a reddened throat with an exudate was found in half of the patients. A white blood cell count of over 15,000 was found in 33% of the patients with a left shift in 20%. The clinical findings overlapped with throat bacterial infections in 66%, lower respiratory infections in 14%, and more unusual, gastroenteritis, hematuria, intestinal invagination or exanthemas. Only 15% were not given antibiotic therapy.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed1991

Biosynthesis of bacterial glycogen. Mutagenesis of a catalytic site residue of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Escherichia coli.

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to explore the role of Lys-195 in ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Escherichia coli. This residue, which is conserved in every bacterial and plant source sequenced to date, was originally identified as a potential catalytic site residue by covalent modification studies. Mutation of Lys-195 to glutamine produces an enzyme whose Km for glucose 1-phosphate is 600-fold greater than that measured for the wild-type enzyme. The effect on glucose 1-phosphate is very specific since kinetic constants measured for ATP, Mg2+, and the allosteric activator, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, are unchanged relative to those measured for the wild-type enzyme. Furthermore, the catalytic rate constant, Kcat, for the glutamine mutant is similar to that of the wild-type enzyme. Taken together, the results suggest a role for Lys-195 in binding of glucose 1-phosphate and exclude its role as a participant in the rate-determining step(s) in the catalytic reaction mechanism. To further study the effect of charge, shape, size, and hydrophobicity of the amino acid residue at position 195, a series of mutants were prepared including arginine, histidine, isoleucine, and glutamic acid. In every case, the kinetic constants measured for ATP, Mg2+, and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate were similar to wild-type constants, reinforcing the notion that this residue is responsible for a highly localized effect at the glucose 1-phosphate-binding site and also suggesting that the protein can accommodate a wide range of substitutions at this position without losing its global folding properties. Thermal stability measurements corroborate this finding. The mutations did, however, produce a range of glucose 1-phosphate Km values from 100- to 10,000-fold greater than wild-type, which indicate that both size and charge properties of lysine are essential for proper binding of glucose 1-phosphate at the catalytic site. AMP binding was also affected by the nature of the mutation at position 195. A model for glucose 1-phosphate, ATP, and AMP binding is presented.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Two-parameter mobile phase optimization for the simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of dopamine, serotonin and related compounds in microdissected rat brain nuclei.

A new high-pressure liquid chromatography method with electrochemical detection is described that allows the simultaneous determination of dopamine, serotonin, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 5-hydroxytryptophan and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in microdissected nuclei from individual rat brains. No sample pre-treatment steps are required. Resolution and analysis time were optimized by a simple limited optimization procedure, involving two-parameter factorial design.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1990

Conjunctival intraepithelial and invasive squamous cell carcinomas treated with strontium-90.

Twenty-seven patients with malignant epithelial tumors of the conjunctiva were treated between 1967 and 1987. Histological diagnosis was intraepithelial epithelioma in 15 cases (56%) and squamous cell carcinoma in 12 (44%). All patients were treated with a strontium-90 source on cup-shaped applicators of different sizes according to the extension of the tumor. Surface dose ranged from 60 Gy in a single treatment to 140 Gy in 7 fractions, depending on the thickness of the lesion. Fifteen patients were previously untreated, 7 were irradiated after some type of surgical treatment and 5 were treated for recurrence after multiple surgical excisions. Follow-up period ranged from 2 to 15 years. No patient died of his tumor. There were four local recurrences, three of them in patients with intraepithelial carcinoma. Two of the recurrences were salvaged with a new beta-ray treatment and the other two with enucleation. Since 1981, standard policy was to irradiate the entire conjunctiva in patients with diagnosis of intraepithelial epithelioma. Five patients developed cataracts. Considering the high primary control rate and minimal morbidity, strontium irradiation should be considered as a first-choice treatment for conjunctival tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The Fuenlabrada study: relationship between anthropometric variables and cardiovascular risk factors].

Anthropometric variables were studied in 2,153 healthy children, 1,115 males and 1,038 females, aged 0 to 18 years, of the Fuenlabrada population, Madrid. Height was measured by an anthropometer and weight by a weighting scale. Tricipital and subscapular skinfold thickness were measured by Holtain caliper. Body mass index (kg/m2) and ponderal index (kg/m3) were calculated from weight and height. In the total population skinfold thickness had the highest correlation with total body fat. But, when only obese children (greater than 95 p) were analyzed, other variables like body mass index and ponderal index had also high correlation. Different fatness trends were observed between sexes, although females always were the fattest. In our population the correlation of skinfold thickness, body mass index and ponderal index with lipids, blood pressure, glycemia and uric acid were significant. Obese children and adolescents had nearly a twofold increase in relative risk of arterial hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia and low C-HDL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Individual risk of abdominal disease in patients with stages I and II supradiaphragmatic Hodgkin's disease. A rule index based on 341 laparotomized patients.

A multivariate analysis of the prognostic factors for clinical Stages I and II supradiaphragmatic Hodgkin's disease was carried out with a logistic regression model in 341 patients. The proportion of patients with positive staging laparotomy was greater in males, in individuals with several sites involved, mixed cellularity (MC) or lymphocyte depletion (LD) histologic types, systemic symptoms, or in patients with lower cervical involvement and higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum copper, and LDH levels. Histology, presence of systemic symptoms (fever and sweats), and number of involved nodal regions were independent predictors of positive laparotomy. Mediastinal involvement is correlated to a significantly lower risk of positive laparotomy. Based on these observations, the individual risk for each patient of occult abdominal disease has been defined.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1989

Hypoglycemic activity of several seaweed extracts.

The hypoglycemic activity of several seaweed extracts on rabbits was studied. Ethanol extracts of Laminaria ochroleuca, Saccorhiza polyschides and Fucus vesiculosus were administered orally to normal animals and their effects on glycemia and triglyceridemia evaluated. Crude polysaccharides and protein solutions from Himanthalia elongata and Codium tomentosum were also assayed. Polysaccharides and proteins from H. elongata caused a significant reduction in blood glucose 8 h after intravenous administration. A case of 5 mg/kg of crude polysaccharide lowered glycemia about 18% in normal rabbits and by about 50% in alloxan-diabetic animals, while the protein solution lowered glycemia in diabetic rabbits by about 30%.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Combined chemotherapy with the FEM protocol in advanced gastric cancer].

Thirty one patients with diagnosis of Gastric Cancer were admitted in this study. Median age was 71 years (range 24-82). Twenty two were male. No one had previous chemotherapy. Functional capacity was 0-1 in 26/31 (60.6%). More common symptoms were: loss of weight 21/31 (75.1%) and abdominal pain in 13/31 (40.3%). Ten patients were Borrmann III and nine Borrmann IV. Twenty one had surgery: 12 palliative gastrectomy and 9 exploratory laparatomy. Twenty three cases were adenocarcinoma and 8 undifferentiated carcinoma. FEM regimen was administered (5 Fluoruracil 600 mg/m2/day 1 and 8, Epidoxorubicin 30 mg/m2/day 1 and Mitomycin 10 mg/m2/day 1). Ten of 24 patients (41.7%) achieved partial remission with a median survival of 10.5 months. Three patients achieved subjective response with a median survival of 6 months. Median survival for the non response was 3 months (range 2-7 months). Survival difference between responders and no responders was statistically significant. Survival among the adjuvent group was 5.7 months (range 2-16 months). One out of three patients survived without evidence of disease at the end of this study. Twenty three patients died and 5 were lost to follow up. Alopecia was the most common secondary effect in 74%, nausea and vomiting in 60% and leukopenia below 3000 x mm3 in 54%. Cardiotoxicity was not documented in any case.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[The Fuenlabrada study: a familial aggregation of ischemic cardiopathy and cardiovascular risk factors].

UNLABELLED: Familial aggregation of coronary heart disease (CHD) and coronary risk factors (CRF) were evaluated by clinical history in adult relatives of children surveyed for CRF. Population was divided into two groups: Group I included 2,153 children without parental history of CHD. Group II included 266 children of 112 families with parental history of early CHD (before 56 years). In 105 cases the patients were the fathers and in 7 cases the mothers. All the patients were admitted to a coronary care unit. Familial aggregation of CHD was 9.7 times more frequent in paternal families of group II (p less than or equal to 0.0001) than in group I; there was no differences in maternal families. Higher prevalence of hyperlipidaemia, blood pressure hypertension, smoking habits, diabetes and obesity in fathers of group II was observed. Children in group II showed increased levels of C-LDL and decreased levels of C-HDL compared with those of group I. The prevalence of CRF was also significantly higher in children of group II, although in the 33% of the children of group II no CRF was detected. CONCLUSION: a substantial proportion, but not all cases, of familial aggregation of CHD could be explained by known CRF.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[The Fuenlabrada study: arterial pressure in children and adolescents].

Blood pressure was studied in 2,153 healthy children of both sexes, from 0 to 18 years of age; 1,115 were males and 1,038 females. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured in the sitting position by the auscultatory method on the right arm with a mercury sphygmomanometer using an appropriate cuff size. Systolic blood pressure was measured on the first sound and diastolic blood pressure in the fourth phase of Korotkoff. In children younger than 3 years blood pressure was measured in the decubitus supine position using the Doppler technique. There were no significant differences in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both sexes. But the percentage of systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 130 mmHg was higher in males than females (p less than or equal to 0.01). 8.4% of the total population had systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 130 mmHg, and 1.3% had diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg. The annual increase rates of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 2.31/0.94 mmHg in males and 2/0.97 mmHg in females. Children with blood pressure greater than or equal to the 95th percentile had a higher prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and obesity. 54% of the variation in systolic blood pressure was explained by the association of weight, subscapular skinfold, body mass index and C-HDL. 30% of the variation in diastolic blood pressure was explained by the association of weight, obesity index, subscapular skinfold and C-HDL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents in Fuenlabrada: objectives, features of the population, design, participation, equipment, laboratory technics, and quality control].

Fuenlabrada is at the present time the most industrialized town placed at the south are of Madrid. This population has some peculiar attractive characteristics from the epidemiologic point of view. Perhaps the most important is that the majority of its inhabitants are immigrant from other depressed rural areas of the country, with a low socio-economic and cultural level. The new conditions of life could have changed the life expectation and the causes of morbidity and mortality of this population. Between 1981 and 1984 we have studied the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents of its population, the relationships with cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease of the family and type of lactancy of the newborn. The variables studied were: height, weight, skin fold, blood pressure, lipids, lipoproteins, glycemia, uric acid and tobacco habit. The laboratory technics were standardized with serums of reference. The index of participation in the study of the required population was approximately of 80%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Treatment of malignant tumors of the conjunctiva with strontium-90 (author's transl)].

Although there are relatively few cases in our series of tumor of the conjunctiva, they represent most frequent histopathologic varieties for this localization. It is difficult to treat these patients in such a way as to cure the tumor while preserving intact the eye and vision. Surgery is recommended only in well differentiated cases that are diagnosed early. The excellent physical properties of strontium-90 make it particularly useful for this type of localization. High doses of radiation can be applied to the tumors with little danger to the deep and sensitive structures of the eye. With fractional doses we have been able to control conjunctival tumors of considerable size and thickness which would not normally have been considered tributary to this type of therapy.

Conjunctiva↗