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Biomedical subjects

J Serra

Publications and source records attributed to J Serra.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Experimental study of the efficacy of the endoluminal prosthesis in colonic anastomoses.

Colorectal surgery is still associated with a significant morbidity and mortality rate, mostly related to suture failure. We have carried out a randomized experimental study in dogs on colonic anastomoses exposed to a number of anastomotic risk situations. A total of 42 dogs was used. They were divided into three study groups (control, occlusion and diverticulitis), with and without an endoluminal tube. The aim was to assess the efficacy of the endoluminal prosthesis using clinical and radiological assessment of anastomotic healing. Pre- and post-anastomotic intraluminal pressures were also measured to determine whether these might be a factor in suture failure. There were significant differences in suture failure in animals in which the endoluminal tube was used. Mean duration of placement was 10.5 days. In the colon healing study, no significant differences were found between the groups in the pathological examination or in the assay of hydroxyproline content. The presence of the endoluminal tube may increase the maximum pressure applied on the colon wall. No significant differences were found in the intracolonic pressure differentials between the different groups or after the inclusion of the endoluminal prosthesis. The results obtained establish the efficacy of the endoluminal prosthesis in protecting the colonic anastomosis, and could be a valuable technique in colonic anastomoses with a high risk of suture dehiscence.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1992

Coronariographic significance of heart rate variation related to ischemic episodes in patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the characteristics of myocardial ischemia during daily life and their coronariographic significance in a group of patients with proven coronary artery disease undergoing peripheral vascular surgery. SETTING: Department of Cardiology--Central Hospital--Lisbon. METHODS: In 14 patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery and in whom coronariography revealed coronary significative lesions, Holter monitoring was performed during a 24-hour period. Two groups of ischemic episodes were considered: Group A constituted by 44 episodes detected in patients with left main or three vessel disease and group B by 12 episodes detected in patients with one ot two vessel disease. In each group the ischemic parameters were studied. RESULT: The incidence of myocardial ischemia was 64%. Statistically significant differences were observed between group A and B concerning the mean heart rate variation from two minutes before the onset of ST-segment depression to its onset (2.39 bpm vs 8.75 bpm; p < 0.05), from the onset of ST-segment depression to its maximal depression (4.43 bpm vs 16.67 bpm; p < 0.001) and from two minutes before St-segment depression to its maximal depression (6.82 bpm vs 25.4 bpm; p < 0.00001). No differences were found in duration and maximal ST-segment depression. CONCLUSION: Particular characteristics of heart rate variation related to the ischemic episodes seem to have a relation with the severity of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Functional significance of premature ventricular complex morphology evaluated during treadmill exercise stress test in patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relation between premature ventricular complexes morphology and left ventricular myocardial systolic function in patients with proved coronary artery disease. SETTING: Department of Cardiology at General Hospital. METHODS: From 112 patients (pts) with proved coronary artery disease, thirty-three pts with premature ventricular complexes (PVC) detected during treadmill exercise stress test were selected. Two groups of pts were considered: group I-20 pts with regular contour or with a narrow notching (< 40 ms; type I PVC) and group II-13 patients with wide notching (> 40 ms; type II PVC). In each group the following parameters were studied: ejection fraction, QRS duration, duration of exercise, number of metabolic units and the prevalence of ventricular aneurysm and mitral regurgitation. RESULTS: Statistical significant differences were found between group I and II concerning the mean ejection fraction (59.2% vs 48.6%; p < 0.05). The prevalence of ventricular aneurysm and mitral regurgitation was higher in patients with type II ventricular premature complexes (10% vs 30%). CONCLUSION: Particular characteristics of premature ventricular complexes detected during treadmill exercise stress test, in patients with proved coronary artery disease, suggest the presence of left ventricular myocardial systolic dysfunction.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1992

[Shigellosis in children of the IX region of Chile: clinical and epidemiologic aspects and antibiotic sensitivity].

Ninety four children with diarrhea and a positive stool culture for Shigella, hospitalized at the Hospital Regional de Temuco, were studied. Forty six percent of patients were less than two years old. Forty two percent of microorganisms were resistant to Ampicillin, 45% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, 8% to tetracycline and none to chloramphenicol. Isolated species were Shigella flexneri 83% and Shigella sonnei 17%. Seventy nine percent of patients had fever, 60% dysentery and 21.3% seizures. Ninety two percent of symptomatic family contacts had a positive stool culture for Shigella. Due to the high incidence of resistance to ampicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, these antimicrobials are not recommended as the first choice treatment of Shigellosis in the Ninth region of Chile.

Chile↗
PubMed1991

In vivo release of 15-HETE and other arachidonic acid metabolites in nasal secretions during early allergic reactions.

The purpose of this study is to examine the "in vivo" release of 15-HETE and other arachidonic acid metabolites in nasal secretions following a challenge with "Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus" in patients with allergic rhinitis and non-allergic controls. In addition, we examine the effects of a membrane stabilizer, such as sodium cromoglycate, on these metabolites. Thirteen allergic subjects and seven healthy controls are studied. 15-HETE, peptide leukotrienes, LTB4, PGD2, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha levels are evaluated before and after nasal challenge in sodium cromoglycate treated and untreated subjects. This study provides "in vivo" evidence that the pathophysiological responses to nasal antigen challenge could be related to the release of 15-HETE as well as other arachidonic acid metabolites, mainly arising from the lipoxygenase pathway.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Antibodies to single stranded DNA: a diagnostic aid in chronic hepatitis B virus infections.

Serial determinations of titers of binding antibodies to single stranded DNA were performed over a period of three years in 43 type B hepatitis patients with persisting HBsAg who had either developed chronic hepatitis or were asymptomatic carriers. Patients with histopathological diagnosis of chronic active or chronic persistent hepatitis, with or without clinical symptoms, showed high titers of anti-DNA throughout the course of the disease, whereas in most of these patients the serum alanine transaminase and bilirubin levels fluctuated widely and were often normal; in such cases the elevation of anti-DNA was frequently the only positive sign present. On the other hand anti-DNA titers were within the normal range in chronic asymptomatic HBsAg carriers who showed no histopathological or biochemical changes. Anti-DNA determinations are proposed as a reliable diagnostic aid to supplement current procedures for assessment of the disease status during the course of chronic hepatitis B virus infections.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1979

[Biomedical image analysis by mathematical morphology (author's transl)].

There coexist two types of biomedical image analysers, namely the specialized and the universal ones. This distinction corresponds to the one separating pattern recognition from structural analysis. Only specialized devices can give rise to full automation. Mathematical morphology turns out to be a common theoretical background for both kinds of analysers. It defines the logical conditions according to which quantization is possible, and provides a comprehensive class of algorithms.

Cytological Techniques↗
PubMed1979

Quantitative image analysis: applications using sequential transformations.

The theoretical foundations of quantitative image analysis and its implementation in the Leitz T.A.S. have been discussed in the preceeding paper [4]. Especially the Mathematical Morphology and its recent developments have been pointed out. Sequential image transformations are a new approach of morphological analysis. Elementary transform steps, which are hardwired in the device, performed in specific sequences, which are implemented as macroinstructions in the programming language have proven to be a very useful tool in image analysis. A specific sequence of elementary steps will be referred to as morphological function. This new approach will be illustrated by four general examples: analysis of fibers, computing the number of edges for metallic grains, separation of overlapping cells, analysis of minerals which occur free and locked to another one.

Cell Separation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Endemoepidemic non-parenteral type B hepatitis in Costa Rica.

In an endemic area of Costa Rica nonparenteral type B hepatitis occurs at a yearly rate of 160/100,000, in an endemoepidemic pattern with periodic localized outbreaks. In a recent episode in the village of San Rafael, 23 clinical and 67 subclinical cases, all subtype adw, originated from two carriers living in opposite ends of the village. Contact transmission was identified as the mode of spread. In a coincidental outbreak in another village, San Juan, 17 clinical and 40 subclinical cases were observed. Thirty-seven cases of HBs Ag/ayw positive hepatitis occurred in the Western sector of the village, apparently originating from contact with three HBs Ag/ayw carriers found in that area. There were also 20 cases of HBs Ag/adw positive hepatitis, but these occurred almost exclusively in the Eastern sector, where subtype adw disease has been prevalent in previous years. The geographic distribution of antibody subtypes found in the two separated sectors of the village coincided fully with that of the antigen subtypes. These observations show that personal contact is definitely a mode of transmission of hepatitis B.

Costa Rica↗