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L Gonzalez

Publications and source records attributed to L Gonzalez.

105 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Computed tomography of the pancreas.

Computed tomography (CT) has proven useful in diagnosing inflammatory and neoplastic disease of the pancreas. Neoplasms of the pancreas produce enlargement of the gland and loss of surrounding fat planes. Acute pancreatitis also produces enlargement but correct diagnosis can be made with the clinical correlation. The usefulness of CT in chronic pancreatitis depends upon the state of the disease. Distinction between an inflammatory and a neoplastic mass is not possible on the basis of a CT scan alone. CT is also useful for needle guidance for aspiration biopsy of the pancreas.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen; a preliminary report.

The utility of computed tomography (CT) in the study of the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the human body has been the subject of considerable interest since the introduction of CT scanning. The advent of a new prototype scanning device has made it possible to examine a variety of abnormalities in the abdomen and thorax in a manner not previously possible. This development permits a remarkable insight into the study of human disease in vivo.

Aortography↗

Preformed cytotoxic antibody in patients subjected to thoracic duct drainage.

1. Patients subjected to TDD prior to transplantation had a 4-yr graft survival rate of 65% compared to a comparably HL-A-matched group in which the survival rate was 35%9 2. Patients classified as non-responders to tissue antigens have a much higher graft retention rate than responders. Responders subjected to TDD have a 1 yr graft survival rate of 62% compared to a comparably HL-A-matched group with a survival rate of 28%. 3. Individuals with a positive crossmatch or receiving second or third transplants and subjected to TDD do much better than such individuals not subjected to TDD.

Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic↗

Analgesic effects of oral propiram fumarate, codeine sulfate and placebo in postoperative pain.

Our purpose was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of single oral doses of propiram fumarate 50 mg, codeine sulfate 60 mg and placebo in the relief of moderate to severe postoperative pain. One hundred and twenty patients completed a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, stratified, parallel-groups trial and were observed for either 4 or 6 hours. Based upon each of the summary efficacy measures--SPID, % SPID and TOTAL--propiram and codeine were approximately equally effective and both were statistically superior to placebo. Propiram was significantly more effective than codeine at hour 5 for Pain Intensity Difference. Two adverse effects were attributed to propiram. Propiram fumarate 50 mg is an effective oral analgesic similar to codeine sulfate 60 mg, with the possibility of a longer duration of action.

Adolescent↗

The effect of commercial processing on the paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) content of naturally-contaminated Acanthocardia tuberculatum L.

A study was undertaken to determine if any reduction in contamination of Acanthocardia tuberculatum L. (Mediterranean cockle) by paralytic shellfish poisons (PSP) could be enhanced by operations carried out during the industrial canning process, allowing contaminated raw material to be commercially marketed in safe conditions for edible purposes. A general decrease in PSP levels was consistently observed when comparing raw materials and their corresponding final products, these dropping to acceptable levels. PSP levels were determined by mouse bioassay and a fluorometric method, and saxitoxin was determined by HPLC. The detoxifying effects averaged over 71.7% and 81.8% (mouse bioassay), 70.6% and 90.9% (fluorometric method), 77.9% and 83.5% (HPLC), for boiling and sterilizing operations respectively. The highest level detected in raw material was 800 micrograms/100 g by mouse bioassay.

Animals↗

Reduction of neutrophil margination by L-arginine during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in a pig model.

Nitric oxide generation by L-arginine (2 mg/kg/min) infusion during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) increases blood flow to all organs and reduces cytokine induced organ damage by reducing the level of marginating neutrophils (Ns). The N-trapping in the oxygenator (OX), arterial filter (AF), cardiotomy reservoir (CR), and N-margination were quantified with indium 111 labeled autologous neutrophils (INN) in nine groups of 40 Yorkshire pigs (30-35 kg). Cardiopulmonary bypass (180 min or 90 min CPB, 90 min reperfusion) was carried out at 2.5-3.5 L/min and at two temperatures (18 degrees C, 28 degrees C). The INN (650-780 microCi) was administered intravenously 15 mins before CPB. All pigs received heparin systemically (activated coagulation time > 400 secs); CPB was instituted with a roller pump, OX (Univox 1.8 m2), AF (0.25 m2), and CR (BCR-3500, Bentley Lab, Irvine, CA). The INN distribution in the device (OX, AF, CR) and organs was imaged with a gamma camera and measured with an ion chamber and a gamma counter. The LA infusion decreased N-trapping, estimated as the percent of injected INN (mean +/- standard deviation), in OX from control (2.7 +/- 2.02)% to (0.94 +/- 0.29)%, and margination in lung from control (48 +/- 4)% to minimal levels (23 +/- 2)% (p < 0.01). In the CPB reperfusion group, a beneficial effect was observed at LA low dose and toxicity of higher N-margination at 15 mg/ kg/min. Neither CPB temperature nor Leumedin affected N-margination significantly.

Animals↗

Emboli from an extraluminal blood flow hollow fiber oxygenator with and without an arterial filter during cardiopulmonary bypass in a pig model.

The effect of an arterial filter on visceral emboli was quantified with autologous indium-111 labeled platelets (INPLT) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in Yorkshire pigs. Biodistribution of INPLT was determined in 12 control pigs (30-35 kg, unoperated control [n = 6] and sham operated control [n = 6]). CPB was carried out with (n = 6) and without (n = 6) an arterial filter in 12 pigs at a flow rate of 2.5-3.5 L/min. Platelets labeled with In-111 tropolone (650-780 microCi) were injected intravenously 24 hr before CPB. All pigs were systemically heparinized (activated coagulation time > 400 sec); CPB was instituted with a roller pump, an extraluminal blood flow oxygenator (Bentley Univox, 1.8 m2), and an arterial filter (0.25 m2) and continued for 3 hr. Platelet kinetics, pooling, and counts were monitored by a Geiger probe and a Coulter counter. The thrombi in the oxygenator and arterial filter and emboli in viscera and brain were imaged with a gamma camera and measured with an ion chamber and gamma counter. Percentage of INPLT (mean +/- SD) in organs, tissues, and components of the circuit in four groups of pigs was calculated. Flow cytometry with antibodies to CD61 (GPIIIa) and CD62P (GMP-140: control) of porcine platelets was carried out with blood samples taken before, during, and after CPB for estimation of circulating platelet aggregates and platelet microparticles. Pulmonary, renal, cardiac, and cerebral emboli in pigs undergoing CPB with and without a filter were similar (p < 0.1). The amount of filter adherent thrombi was small (0.04 +/- 0.01%); oxygenator adherent thrombus in both groups was similar (p < 0.1). Emboli were found in the cerebral medulla, hippocampus, and posterior cerebral cortex in both groups. During CPB, the arterial filter functioned minimally as a trap for platelet thrombi detached from the oxygenator and circulating emboli. Flow cytometry of blood demonstrated the shift of equilibria from single platelets to platelet aggregates and microparticles during CPB and their gradual reversal to single platelets after CPB; the loosely adherent emboli disaggregated and further shifted these equilibria to single platelets and smaller aggregates, probably through the action of endogenous nitric oxide and prostacyclin. The emboli were trapped in organs and tissues and microparticles were sequestered by the reticuloendothelial system.

Animals↗

Clinical significance of cathepsin D concentration in tumor cytosol of primary breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cathepsin D is the proteolytic enzyme most frequently implicated as a prognostic factor in primary breast cancer. In the present study we evaluated by means of an immunoradiometric assay the tumor content of this protease in primary breast cancer, its relationship with tumor-related clinical and pathological parameters, and its prognostic significance in a large series of breast cancer patients. METHOD: The study comprised 1033 women with histologically established invasive breast cancer. Cathepsin D was measured in cytosol samples by means of an immunoradiometric assay to determine the total amount of cathepsin D (52 kDa, 48 kDa and 34 kDa). Evaluation of relapse-free survival and cause-specific survival was performed in the group of 1003 patients without evidence of metastasis at the time of initial diagnosis. The median follow-up of the patients who were free of recurrence was 54 months. RESULTS: Cathepsin D levels showed a wide range among the studied tumors (n = 1033; median (range) 41 (0.9-2504) pmol/mg protein). Statistical analysis showed that the median cathepsin D levels were considerably higher in large tumors (T2-4) than in smaller ones (T1) (p = 0.017), as well as in node-positive than in node-negative tumors (p = 0.004). Cathepsin D levels were also higher in ductal tumors than in the other histological types (p = 0.001), as well as in moderately or poorly differentiated tumors (p < 0.001). Likewise, the median value of the protease was significantly higher in ER or PgR-positive tumors than in hormone receptor-negative ones (p = 0.011 and p = 0.004, respectively), as well as in aneuploid tumors than in diploid tumors (p = 0.029). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that elevated cathepsin D levels (> 59 pmol/mg protein) were notably associated with a shorter cause-specific survival in the whole group of patients with breast cancer, as well as in the subgroup of node-positive patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that elevated intratumoral cathepsin D levels may identify a subset of node-positive breast cancer patients showing a high probability of earlier death.

Adult↗