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Biomedical subjects

J R Hernandez

Publications and source records attributed to J R Hernandez.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

The genome sequence of Drosophila melanogaster.

The fly Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most intensively studied organisms in biology and serves as a model system for the investigation of many developmental and cellular processes common to higher eukaryotes, including humans. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of nearly all of the approximately 120-megabase euchromatic portion of the Drosophila genome using a whole-genome shotgun sequencing strategy supported by extensive clone-based sequence and a high-quality bacterial artificial chromosome physical map. Efforts are under way to close the remaining gaps; however, the sequence is of sufficient accuracy and contiguity to be declared substantially complete and to support an initial analysis of genome structure and preliminary gene annotation and interpretation. The genome encodes approximately 13,600 genes, somewhat fewer than the smaller Caenorhabditis elegans genome, but with comparable functional diversity.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Improving vaccination coverage in urban areas through a health communication campaign: the 1990 Philippine experience.

From March to September 1990 the Philippine Department of Health, with the assistance of the HEALTHCOM Project, carried out a national mass-media communication campaign to support routine vaccination services. The essential elements of the campaign strategy were as follows: focusing on measles as a way to get mothers to bring their children to the health centre; emphasizing logistic knowledge in the mass-media messages, in particular popularizing a single day of the week as "vaccination day" and giving clear information about the age for measles vaccination; and focusing on urban areas, which had lower vaccination rates than rural areas. Evaluation of the effects of the campaign indicates an increase in vaccination coverage and a substantial increase in the timeliness of vaccination that can be attributed to improvement in carers' knowledge about vaccination. Furthermore, most of the observed increase in knowledge was related to exposure to the mass-media campaign. There was no evidence of any programmatic change that could account for the increase in vaccination or evidence that increased health education efforts at health centres could account for the change in knowledge. These results indicate that when countries meet certain conditions--a high level of access to the media, sufficient expertise and funds available to develop and produce high-quality radio and television advertisements, and a routine system that is able to serve the increased demand--a mass communication campaign can significantly improve vaccination coverage.

Communication↗
PubMed1994

Polyethylene wear in uncemented acetabular components.

We measured polyethylene wear in 231 porous-coated uncemented acetabular cups. We divided the hips into two groups according to the fixation of the femoral component, by cementing (n = 97) or press-fit (n = 134). Follow-up was from three to five years. The patients in two sub-groups were matched for weight, diagnosis, sex, age and length of follow-up. The linear wear rate of cups articulated with uncemented femoral components (0.22 mm/year) was significantly higher than the wear rate (0.15 mm/year) of cups articulated within cemented femoral components (p < 0.05). These results can be compared with previously reported wear rates of 0.08 mm/year for cemented all-polyethylene cups and 0.11 mm/year for cemented metal-backed cups. The higher wear rates of uncemented arthroplasties could jeopardize the long-term results of this type of hip replacement.

Acetabulum↗
PubMed1992

Superficial nasal mucosal blood flow and nasal patency following topical oxymetazoline hydrochloride.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 60 micrograms oxymetazoline on nasal mucosal blood flow (NMBF) measured by laser Doppler velocimetry. Nasal airflow (measured by anterior rhinomanometry) and subjectively perceived airflow (measured by visual analog scales) were also evaluated. A reduction of NMBF (mL/100 g tissue/min) was observed following local application of 60 micrograms oxymetazoline that was not observed after the vehicle was applied. For example, NMBF at baseline was measured at 78.8 +/- 10.3 mL/100 g tissue/min (mean +/- SEM). During the five minutes following vehicle application, mean values remained at 81.8 +/- 8.8 mL/100 g tissue/min. Five minutes after topical oxymetazoline treatment, NMBF was reduced 49% to 38.3 +/- 10.2 mL/100 g tissue/min. Nasal airflow (mL/sec), which was measured before and after LDV probe placement, was not significantly increased in either the ipsilateral (281.4 +/- 33.1 to 314.3 +/- 31.6) or contralateral nostril (335.7 +/- 26.9 to 262.1 +/- 36.4), probably due to the limited surface application of drug. Subjective assessments of congestion by both the investigator and the subject showed significant improvements in the ipsilateral nostril. We conclude that, under the conditions of our study, localized application of 60 micrograms oxymetazoline significantly reduces superficial nasal blood flow and provides subjectively perceived improvements in nasal stuffiness.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1983

Serum changes and histologic liver lesions due to experimental ingestion of ragwort (Senecio erraticus) in sheep.

Eight 1-year-old Romney-Marsh female sheep were used to test the effect of Senecio erraticus (ragwort). Animals were fed for 60 days on a standard diet incorporating 20% dried ground ragwort. Morphology of the livers was studied by serial biopsy and function by changes in plasma bilirubin concentration, the half-life of bromosulphthalein (BSP), and by the activity of glutamate dehydrogenasa (GD) in plasma during and after Senecio ingestion. All sheep had an increase in bilirubin concentration and GD activity in their plasma and in BSP half-life. These values returned to normal 30 days after ragwort ingestion ceased. Histological studies showed Kupffer cell hypertrophy, fatty degeneration and megalocytosis. These lesions almost disappeared 60 days after stopping Senecio ingestion.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dilator naris muscle.

The human nose is an important organ of respiration which by virtue of its valvular influence becomes a significant effector of respiratory resistance over a wide range of ventilatory requirements. In man its effectiveness in this regard is related to its flow limiting segment (FLS) located at the limen nasi. Its passive valvular effect is additionally modified by active respiratory contractions of the dilator naris muscle (DNM) controlled through the VII cranial nerve by the brain stem respiratory center. Its behavior, quantitatively determined in human beings and experimental animals, is summarized. 1) In man, phasic DNM activity operates during eupneic nasal breathing and varies directly with ventilatory resistance. 2) The elimination of all measurable ventilatory resistance results in complete cessation of DNM activity. 3) Over time, reduced resistance produces difficulty in reestablishing dilator function once it is physiologically lost. 4) DNM respiratory activity is modified by pulmonary mechano- and pressure-receptors via afferent vagal pathways. The response of nasal dilators in valvular control, therefore, appears dependent on the physiologic integrity of the vagus nerves. It is our belief that nasal valvular control has not previously been appreciated in this context.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidence of malnutrition in a surgery department].

Presentation of a description of the initial results obtained in nutritional evaluation of patients admitted for elective surgery during a 6-month period. A total of 212 patients were studied, recording malnutrition in 25%. This was severe in half of the cases. As a result of the malnutrition, a significant reduction was observed in the number of positive responses to the Multitest and the total count of lymphocytes.

Adult↗