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Biomedical subjects

J R Medina

Publications and source records attributed to J R Medina.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Very low frequency of latex and fruit allergy in patients with spina bifida from Venezuela: influence of socioeconomic factors.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of latex allergy appears to be substantially higher in certain high risk groups, particularly in children with spina bifida. The source of this increase is presently unknown and may be due either to increased infantile exposure or to an intrinsic predilection for atopy in this condition. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to ascertain the prevalence of latex and tropical fruit allergy in children of lower socioeconomic strata with spina bifida from Caracas, Venezuela, who have limited operative and other medical exposure to latex. METHODS: Ninety-three unselected patients with spina bifida from clinic and hospital populations were prick tested with commercial (Stallergenes-Pasteur) latex extract and crude glove (Baxter-Triflex, 1/5 wt/vol) latex extract as well as with standardized mite and cockroach, 1/10 wt/vol, extracts (Hollister-Stier). An array of tropical fruits were also included in the battery of skin test materials, using the prick by prick method. Careful family and personal history for allergy as well as any reactions to rubber products were noted, placing emphasis on intraoperative anaphylaxis, number of operations and use of bladder catheters. RESULTS: Only four patients of the 93 skin tested (4.3%) were positive to latex. Atopy was not a predisposing factor for latex allergy and neither was the number of surgical interventions. No fruit allergy was found in this population and three of the four skin test-positive patients had facial angioedema when exposed to balloons. CONCLUSIONS: The very low incidence of latex allergy found in our patients with spina bifida could very well be due to a low level of rubber exposure as best exemplified in the use of nonlatex bladder catheters, frequently washed and resterilized surgeon's gloves, and low number of operations per patient. The fact that atopy was no more prevalent in children with spina bifida than in the general population in Venezuela strongly supports exposure level as the major factor determining latex sensitization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The general stochastic model of nucleotide substitution.

DNA sequence evolution through nucleotide substitution may be assimilated to a stationary Markov process. The fundamental equations of the general model, with 12 independent substitution parameters, are used to obtain a formula which corrects the effect of multiple and parallel substitutions on the measure of evolutionary divergence between two homologous sequences. We show that only reversible models, with six independent parameters, allow the calculation of the substitution rates. Simulation experiments on DNA sequence evolution through nucleotide substitution call into question the effectiveness of the general model (and of any other more detailed description); nevertheless, the general model results are slightly superior to any of its particular cases.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A chromosomal linkage map of Azotobacter vinelandii.

A chromosomal map of Azotobacter vinelandii strain UW was constructed. The map was based on measures of cotransfer of various markers mediated by plasmids R68.45 and pJB3JI, on results obtained from conjugal experiments with R-primes, and on recombinants obtained by chromosomal transfer mediated by RP4/Tn5-Mob.

Azotobacter↗
PubMed1989

Variation in G + C-content and codon choice: differences among synonymous codon groups in vertebrate genes.

The relationship between G + C-content and codon usage in genes of human, mus, rat, bovine and chicken nuclear genomes was investigated. Correlation and lineal regression analyses were carried out on plots that related the frequency of each codon within each synonymous codon group to the G + C-content of the coding sequence as a whole. Under GC pressure, in most of the quartet codon groups there is a preferential choice of the C-ending codon, except in leucine and valine codon groups where the choice of the G-ending codon is preferred. Among ducts, the choice of codons specifying phenylalanine and glutamate shows the strongest dependence on G + C-content. The relationship found between G + C-content and codon usage in these genomes correlate with taxonomic distance.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

SDSE: a software package to simulate the evolution of a pair of DNA sequences.

An algorithm to simulate DNA sequence evolution under a general stochastic model, including as particular cases all the previously used schemes of nucleotide substitution, is described. The stimulation is carried out on finite, variable length, DNA sequences through a strict stochastic process, according to the particular substitution rates imposed by each scheme. Five FORTRAN programs, running on an IBM PC and compatibles, carry out all the tasks needed for the simulation. They are menu driven and interfaced to the system through a principal menu. All sequence data files used and generated by the SDSE package conform to the standard GenBank database format, thus allowing the use of any sequence retrieved from this databank, as well as the application of other packages to analyse, manipulate or retrieve stimulated sequences.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1988

Transfer of half the calcaneal tendon to the dorsum of the foot for paralytic equinus deformity.

Transfer of half of the calcaneal tendon to the dorsum of the foot will maintain correction of a paralytic equinus deformity. We have used this procedure on 97 feet since 1967. Seventy-six were reviewed and the overall results were excellent or good in 69%. The outcome was better in children with cerebral palsy (85% excellent or good) than in those with poliomyelitis (only 13% excellent or good).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

An effective mutagenic method in Azotobacter vinelandii.

The acridine-like compound ICR-191 is an effective mutagenic agent in Azotobacter vinelandii. Selectable mutants, such as those resistant to chlorate, can be isolated without post-mutagenic segregation. Non selectable mutants, such as those unable to metabolize different sugars, can be easily isolated after twelve generations of post-mutagenic segregation.

Aminacrine↗
PubMed1986

Some comments on the variance of heterozygosity in finite populations.

A new and more accurate formula for the variance of heterozygosity under genetic drift has been obtained. The variance can be partitioned into two components; the first comes from the dispersion of the allelic frequencies among populations, and the second from the dispersion of the actual heterozygosity, h, around their expected values, 2pq. A certain generation exists where the variance reaches a maximum; thus, the genetic drift can be split into two phases by this single maximum.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed1986

Isolation of ntrA-like mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii.

A number of chlorate-resistant mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii affected in a general control of nitrogen metabolism were isolated. These mutants could not utilize dinitrogen, nitrate, or nitrite as a nitrogen source. The reason for this inability is that they were simultaneously deficient in nitrogenase and nitrate and nitrite reductase activities. They were complemented by a cosmid carrying a DNA fragment of A. vinelandii able to complement ntrA mutants of Escherichia coli, so they seemed to be ntrA-like mutants.

Azotobacter↗
PubMed1984

Epiglottitis due to ampicillin-tolerant Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Tolerance to beta-lactam antibiotics has been described with staphylococci and enterococci, but this phenomenon and its clinical significance in Haemophilus influenzae has not been reported. We have reported a case of bacteremic epiglottitis due to an ampicillin-tolerant, beta-lactamase-negative strain of Haemophilus influenzae type b which was cured with ampicillin therapy alone. The organism was not tolerant to moxalactam, cefotaxime, or rifampin. Rifampin therapy eliminated pharyngeal carriage.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1983

A new working formulation of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. A retrospective study of the new NCI classification proposal in comparison to the Rappaport and Kiel classifications.

Two hundred thirty cases of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were reclassified in a retrospective study according to the New Working Formulation for Clinical Usage of the NCI as compared to the Rappaport and Kiel classifications. The reproducibility for the individual schemes this study was 81% (Rappaport), 79% (Kiel), and 85% (New Working Formulation). In keeping with the results of the NCI international study, all lymphomas were subdivided into 3 prognostic groups: (1) low-grade malignancy (6.0 years median survival); (2) intermediate-grade malignancy (3.5 years median survival); and (3) high-grade malignancy (1.4 years median survival). The NCI-proposed New Working Formulation for Clinical Usage is thus recommended as practical and unprejudicing classification scheme for general application; however, its usefulness as tool for translating one classification scheme into another appears limited.

Europe↗
PubMed1976

Infected atrial myxoma.

A patient with an infected atrial myxoma presented with clinical findings simulating bacterial endocarditis. The diagnosis was made with echocardiography, thus demonstrating the value of this rapid, noninvasive screening test. A ruptured mycotic aneurysm in the brain precluded early surgical excision of the tumor. The rapid evolution of this case to a fatal outcome underscores the need for prompt diagnosis.

Aneurysm, Infected↗