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Biomedical subjects

J Rodríguez

Publications and source records attributed to J Rodríguez.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Influence of anticoagulants on the determination of blood glutathione peroxidase activity.

The influence of lithium heparin and heparin iodoacetate on the determination of blood glutathione peroxidase activity was investigated. Samples with each anticoagulant were taken from 393 lambs. Glutathione peroxidase activity was much higher in the lithium heparin samples (109.00 +/- 3.71 U/g Hb) than in the heparin iodoacetate group (31.05 +/- 1.55 U/g Hb). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001), and it was due to inhibition of glutathione peroxidase by heparin iodoacetate. Heparin iodoacetate therefore cannot be used as an anticoagulant in the determination of glutathione peroxidase in blood.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[The treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy refractory to medical treatment by DDD pacing].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: In spite of medical treatment, 10% of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy remain symptomatic, needing surgical treatment. Recent evidence suggests that sequential atrio-ventricular pacing may improve the hemodynamic and clinical situation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 10 patients with hypertropic obstructive cardiomyopathy (6 women), aged 37-76 years (X = 62 +/- 12) with dyspnea and/or angina, in functional class IV (7) or III (3) of the New York Heart Association. Hemodynamic study was performed basaly and during atrio-ventricular pacing with atrio-ventricular intervals ranging from 75% of basal PR to 50 ms. A DDD pacemaker was implanted in 9 cases, the remainder was treated surgically. RESULTS: The pressure gradient was reduced from 105 +/- 32 to 40 +/- 35 mmHg (p < 0.001); end-diastolic left ventricular pressure fell from 22 +/- 4 to 13 +/- 8 mmHg (p < 0.01), systolic aortic pressure rose from 107 +/- 24 to 125 +/- 13 mmHg (p < 0.05) and cardiac output increased from 3.6 +/- 1.1 to 4.1 +/- 0.81/m (p < 0.05). Mitral insufficiency decreased in 5 of 6 cases, notably in 2 improving from 4+ to 1+. After 1-20 months (X = 10 +/- 6) the 9 patients treated with a permanent DDD pacemaker are in functional class I (7 cases) or II (2 cases). CONCLUSIONS: Atrio-ventricular pacing hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy reduces the systolic gradient and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure with an increase in cardiac output and aortic pressure and improves mitral insufficiency. Short-mid term follow up shows sustained clinical improvement. Optimal atrio-ventricular interval should be individualized.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Analysis of two cycloplatinated compounds derived from N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-alpha-benzoylbenzylidenamine. Comparison of the activity of these compounds with other isostructural cyclopalladated compounds.

In the present paper we report the synthesis, structural characterization, biochemical properties, and antiproliferative activity of two organo-cis-platinum cyclometalated compounds of formula [M(4-OMeC6H4N=C(COC6H5)C6H4)X]2, where M = Pt and X=Cl (4) or OAc (5). The IR and 1H and 13C NMR data of the chloro-bridged compound 4 showed that it has a planar structure. As indicated by IR and 1H and 13C NMR, the acetate-bridged compound 5 has an open-book shape structure. This structure was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The comparison of the biochemical properties and antiproliferative activity of these compounds relative to the isostructural palladium compounds [Pd(4-OMeC6H4N=C(COC6H5)C6H4)X]2 [X = AcO (1) and (2) or Cl (3)] indicated that the activity of compounds 4 and 5 is higher than that of the corresponding isostructural compounds 3 and 1-2, respectively, since their ID50 are 2-9-fold lower. It seems that there are not differences in the antiproliferative activity of all these compounds against leukemia HL-60 cells or mammary cancer MDA-MB 468 cells. Compounds 4 and 5 modify also the DNA structure of the oc and ccc forms of plasmid DNA. The acetate-bridged compound 5 showed the highest antiproliferative activity which is even higher than that of cis-DPP. Our data indicate that the Pt(II) compounds are more active than those having Pd(II) as the metal center.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1993

MEPSIM: a computational package for analysis and comparison of molecular electrostatic potentials.

MEPSIM is a computational system which allows an integrated computation, analysis, and comparison of molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) distributions. It includes several modules. Module MEPPLA supplies MEP values for the points of a grid defined on a plane which is specified by a set of three points. The results of this program can easily be converted into MEP maps using third-parties graphical software. Module MEPMIN allows to find automatically the MEP minima of a molecular system. It supplies the cartesian coordinates of these minima, their values, and all the geometrical relationships between them (distances, angles, and dihedral angles). Module MEPCOMP computes a similarity coefficient between the MEP distributions of two molecules and finds their relative position that maximizes the similarity. Module MEPCONF performs the same process as MEPCOMP, considering not only the relative position of both molecules but also a conformational degree of freedom of one of them. The most recently developed module, MEPPAR, is another modification of MEPCOMP in order to compute the MEP similarity between two molecules, but only taking into account a particular plane. The latter module is particularly useful to compare MEP distributions generated by pi systems of aromatic rings. MEPSIM can use several wavefunction computation approaches to obtain MEP distributions. MEPSIM has a menu type interface to simplify the following tasks: creation of input files from output files of external programs (GAUSSIAN and AMPAC/MOPAC), setting the parameters for the current computation, and submitting jobs to the batch queues of the computer. MEPSIM has been coded in FORTRAN and its current version runs on VMS/VAX computers.

Drug Design↗
PubMed1993

New structures and bioactivity patterns of bengazole alkaloids from a choristid marine sponge.

New bengazoles 3-9 as inseparable mixtures are reported from the sponge Jaspis cf. coricea collected in Papua New Guinea. These compounds contain a new variation of the unusual bisoxazole core present in bengazole A [1]. The B-ring oxazole hexatetraol side chain is varyingly substituted with either myristic acid or 13-methylmyristic acid. Hydrolysis of three different bengazole mixtures each yielded an identical tetraol, bengazole Z [11].

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1993

The analgesic activity of Hedyosmum bonplandianum: flavonoid glycosides.

Kaempferol 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] and kaempferol 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranoside] were isolated from the leaves of Hedyosmum bonplandianum H.B.K. (Chloranthaceae), which is used in Colombian folk medicine as an analgesic. The n-butanol extract and the glycosyl flavonoids isolated exhibited significant analgesic activity in mice.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1993

Patients' beliefs about their lack of pain control in primary fibromyalgia syndrome.

This study had two aims, first, to determine the expectancies of control over pain experience ('pain locus of control') of patients with primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS) and to compare them with other chronic rheumatic diseases. Second, to analyse the relationships between health status and locus of control. We applied the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control-Pain and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS), by interviewing 137 out patients (32 PFS, 32 RA, 20 SLE, 22 AS and 31 OA). Data were analysed by ANOVA and partial correlation tests. PFS patients believed that their symptoms depended on uncontrollable events and that they could not influence their disease by themselves. PFS patients were the most disabled on the 'Affect' (P < or = 0.001) and 'Symptom' factors (P < or = 0.01). In the PFS group, patients who showed a 'Fate' locus of control orientation reported more disability on 'Affect' and 'Social Interaction' AIMS factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Survey for secondary dapsone and rifampicin resistance in Cuba.

A total of 1211 Cuban multibacillary leprosy patients treated for at least 5 years were clinically and bacteriologically examined. They were being treated according to a 2-phase monotherapy regimen with RMP first and DADDS afterwards. On skin-smear examination 50 patients were found positive, of which 9 showed a BI of 3+ or higher at any site. With regard to the clinical status the only cases found with clinical signs of relapse were 5 out of 7 long-standing patients with BI of 4+ and 5+. A 6th patient of this high BI group who showed a good clinical condition, except for a heavy infiltration of both earlobes, was receiving a second RMP course when examined and biopsied for this research. These 9 patients were biopsied and susceptibility tests to RMP and DDS performed. The results showed that in 1 case the Mycobacterium leprae were resistant to both drugs; the organisms from 2 other patients were susceptible to RMP but low-grade resistant to DDS. Those from another patient were susceptible to RMP and fully resistant to DDS. In 3 other cases the bacilli did not multiply in any of the mice but 1 of these strains was from the patient taking a second RMP course, therefore this strain might also be susceptible to RMP and resistant to DDS. In the last 2 cases multiplication was only observed in 2 of the controls and in 1 of the 0.0001% DDS treated mice; therefore, these experiments were not conclusive, and the AFB recovered were inoculated into fresh mice to repeat the tests but these failed to multiply.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Immunohistochemical study of intracranial cysts.

We present the immunohistochemical study of 11 cases of intracranial cysts: two extraventricular ependymal cysts, three colloid cysts of the third ventricle, four extraventricular choroidal cysts and two Rathke's cleft cysts. Antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cytokeratins (AE1, CK5D, AE3), S-100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), vimentin, neuron specific enolase (NSE), neurofilaments protein (NF) and prealbumin, were used. The epithelium of choroidal cysts, showed strong immunoreactivity for Prealbumin and cytokeratins, similar to the normal choroid plexus epithelium. The ependymal cysts showed epithelial immunoreactivity for GFAP and S-100, both glial markers expressed by the normal ependymal epithelium. On the contrary, the epithelial wall of colloid cysts and Rathke's cleft cyst, expressed epithelial markers (cytokeratins and EMA) but no neuroepithelial markers, with a immuno-phenotype similar to that of other cysts of endodermal nature. This finding supports the neuroepithelial origin for choroid and ependymal cysts, and an endodermal nature for colloid and Rathke's cleft cysts. We conclude that these immunohistochemical markers are useful in the differential diagnosis of intracranial cysts.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1993

[Serum alpha-fetoprotein in liver cirrhosis].

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been determined in 86 cirrhotic patients who simultaneously underwent a complete clinical and analytical evaluation. 25.6% of patients had increased levels (19.1% of Child A, 21.9% of B and 33.3% of C) without any significative differences between Child groups. A correlation between AFP and some analytical findings has been found, being GPT included among the latter (r = 0.24, p = 0.023). No correlation has been found with different laboratory and clinical data. Our data suggest that hepatocyte lesion and/or regeneration play a role in the raise of AFP, although other mechanisms must be implied. Extremely high values, especially with a non active cirrhosis, hardly could be attribute to it, that is why AFP is still a good marker of malignant degeneration in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Biochemical markers of bone remodeling and bone density in healthy postmenopausal women].

The aim of this study was to study bone turnover and density in postmenopausal women. One hundred healthy postmenopausal women aged 45 to 86 years, in whom menopause occurred between 3 months and 33 years before and were not receiving medications that could alter bone metabolism, were studied. Measurements performed were serum alkaline phosphatases, urine hydroxyproline/creatinine and calcium/creatinine excretion ratios and lumbar spine and femoral bone densities. Mean urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine excretion ratio was 39.5 +/- 11.9 (over 45 in 26% of women) and calcium/creatinine ratio was 0.11 +/- 0.08 (over 0.12 in 29% of women). At least one of these measurements were increased in 39% of women and no relationship of these values with age or length of postmenopausal period was found. Alkaline phosphatases were elevated in 9.6% of women. Twenty six percent of women had lumbar spine osteopenia and 10% femoral neck osteopenia. There was an inverse relationship between the length of hypoestrogenism and bone density. It is concluded that more than one third of studied women had biochemical evidences of bone resorption and that these women had a higher frequency of osteopenia than the general population. A decrease in bone density and an increase in bone resorption indices identify women with higher risk of osteoporosis that could be benefitted with an opportune treatment.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1993

[Prevalence of fascioliasis in humans, horses, pigs, and wild rabbits in 3 Chilean provinces].

This study sought to estimate for the first time the prevalence of fascioliasis among the rural population in the Chilean provinces of Curico, Talca, and Linares, while also determining the disease's prevalence among horses and wild rabbits in Curico and Talca and among pigs in Talca. From January 1986 to December 1990 a randomly selected sample of 5,861 persons in the three provinces was given intradermal, complement-fixation, double-diffusion, and immunoelectrophoresis tests to detect antibody to Fasciola hepatica. In addition, the ELISA test was used in Talca and Linares. Fecal specimens from horses and pigs were inspected for eggs, and the liver and bile ducts of rabbits were examined histopathologically. The overall prevalence of infection among the human subjects was 0.70%, with rates of 0.6% in Curico, 0.75% in Talca, and 0.71% in Linares. The prevalences of infection in horses, rabbits, and pigs were 13.5%, 6.1%, and 20.6%, respectively. It is estimated that some 2,000 people are infected in the study area. It is recommended that rabbits be taken into account in all control programs for this zoonosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Cellular proliferation and/or differentiation can condition modifications in the expression of AgNORs in rat anterior pituitary cells during growth.

The expression of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) was studied in the anterior lobe of the hypophysis of 1-, 7-, 14-, 28- and 80-day-old rats. Mean area and numbers of AgNORs per nucleus decreased during this period with a simultaneous increase of both nuclear area and mean AgNOR-particle area. Comparison of our data on AgNOR expression with previously reported data on the proliferative activity and cell maturation and differentiation of anterior pituitary cells during a similar period led us to conclude that, at least in our experimental model, variations in the expression of AgNORs are more related to phenomena of cellular maturation than to proliferative activity.

Aging↗
PubMed1992

[The toxic shock syndrome versus the adult Kawasaki syndrome. The diagnostic difficulties].

The case of a 18-year-old woman with the toxic shock syndrome (TSS) associated to a staphylococcal infection in the maxillary sinus is presented. The initial course of the disease was clinically superposed to a Kawasaki syndrome (KS). Both entities, of purely clinical diagnosis, possess many common elements occasionally making differentiation extremely difficult. The clinical data that may orient diagnosis to one of the processes was analyzed. Finally, it is emphasized that the paranasal sinus must be considered as an occult foci in those cases of TSS in which there is no apparent foci of infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Determination of ascorbic acid in pharmaceuticals and urine by reverse flow injection.

Two reverse flow injection (FI) methods, using spectrophotometric detection, are proposed for the determination of ascorbic acid. Both methods are based on its reaction with the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-CoIII complex in a medium of 5% diethylamine. In the first method, using the peak-height FI technique, ascorbic acid is determined over the range from 2 x 10(-4) to 5 x 10(-3) mol dm-3 and in the second, using the peak-width FI method, the working range is extended (2 x 10(-3)-5 x 10(-2) mol dm-3). Both FI methods were applied to the determination of ascorbic acid in pharmaceuticals while the peak-height FI technique was also used to determine ascorbic acid in urine.

Ascorbic Acid↗