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Biomedical subjects

M Burguera

Publications and source records attributed to M Burguera.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of dental implants as orthodontic anchorage.

Endosseous oral implants have been used as orthodontic anchorage in subjects with multiple tooth agenesis, and their application under orthodontic loading has been demonstrated clinically and experimentally. The aim of this investigation was to examine three-dimensional (3D) bone and implant finite element (FE) models. The first model assumed that there was no osseointegration and the second that full osseointegration had occurred. These models were used to determine the pattern and distribution of stresses within the ITI-Bonefit endosseous implant and its supporting tissues when used as an orthodontic anchorage unit. The study examined a threaded implant placed in an edentulous segment of a human mandible with cortical and cancellous bone. The results, using both models, indicated that the maximum stresses were always located around the neck of the implant, in the marginal bone. Thus, this area should be preserved clinically in order to maintain the bone-implant interface structurally and functionally.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed2004

[Effect of copper supplementation on lipid profile of Venezuelan hyperlipemic patients].

It has been assumed that most Western diets satisfy the requirement of copper/day because of ubiquitous presence of this element in most foods. Recent studies have shown that dietary copper (Cu) may often fall below the estimated daily requirements, what could determine a deficiency of this trace element. This deficiency is associated with hypercholesterolemia and hypertrigliceridemia, both in human and experimental animals. In the present intervention study was examined the effect of the administration of 5 mg of Cu/day in 73 patients (treated group), of both genders, with ages between 26 and 48 years, with high serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides without pharmacological treatment and compared with 73 hyperlipemic subjects non-treated with copper (control group) who were matched by gender, age, body weight, smoking habits, calories and fat intake, and physical activity. Before copper administration, a sample of blood was obtained for serum determinations of copper, zinc and lipids. At the end of the experimental period (45 days), a new sample of blood was taken for the corresponding determinations. The results suggest the existence of a marginal deficiency of the trace element in 38% of the subjects and demonstrate that copper supplementation decreases (p < 0.05) serum levels of total cholesterol (r = -0.976), triglycerides (r = -0.972), LDL-cholesterol (r = -0.961) and zinc (r = -0.980) with a slight increment (r = 0.894) of HDL-cholesterol. These findings demonstrate that copper can be used in the treatment of the patients with hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. The mechanisms by which Cu determines these changes are not known.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A three-dimensional numerical simulation of mandible fracture reduction with screwed miniplates.

A three-dimensional finite element model of a fractured human mandible treated with plating technique was developed to simulate and to study the biomechanical loads and the stress field distribution. Biomechanical properties of bone have been thoroughly investigated experimentally. In this work, using the finite element method, complete clinical conditions (after surgical reduction, post-operatory period, complete healing period) were simulated. The mandible fracture was located in the symphysis region and one or two titanium miniplates, fixed with monocortical screws, were evaluated. The behaviour of a reduced human mandible with screwed miniplates, as well as its complete healing, is investigated and described.

Bone Plates↗
PubMed2003

[Effect of cooper supplementation on blood pressure values in patients with stable moderate hypertension].

Copper (Cu) deficiency is associated with changes in arterial pressure. The effect depends of the age of initiation of the copper-deficient diet. Copper deficiency started at a young age causes hypotension. When initiated in older or adult animals, copper deficiency can cause hypertension. A case-control study was carried out to investigate the effect of administrating 5 mg Cu/d in 60 subjects, both genders, with mild stable hypertension, pharmacologically untreated (treated group) and compared with 60 hypertensives (control group) who were matched by gender, age, body weight, smoking habits, calories, fat and salt intake (NaCl), and physical activity. Hypertension was diagnosed when the blood pressure was > 150/95 mm Hg. Mean age, mean corporal weight and risk factors were similar in both groups. The results suggested the existence of a marginal deficiency of the trace element in 62% of subjects and demonstrated that Cu decreases systolic (r = -0.963) and diastolic (r = -0.981) blood pressures in treated group (p < 0.05). Control patients did not show significant changes in their arterial pressures. These findings indicate a functional alteration in human blood pressure regulation during mild copper depletion and suggest that Cu could be used in the treatment of stable moderate arterial hypertension. Further investigation is needed to determine the extent of this influence.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Relationships between heart rate variability, functional capacity, and left ventricular function following myocardial infarction: an evaluation after one week and six months.

BACKGROUND: Relationships between heart rate (HR) variability and different prognostic markers such as ejection fraction, functional capacity, and patency of the infarct-related artery, as well as the comparison of their time courses are not fully elucidated. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of study was to assess prospectively the early postinfarction changes in HR variability and its evolution over a period of 6 months: the relationships between HR variability and functional capacity in exercise testing; left ventricular function in cardiac catheterization: status of the infarct-related artery; and the comparison of their time courses. METHODS: In 42 patients with anterior myocardial infarction, a study was made of the early changes in HR variability analyzed by the complex demodulation method, its evolution over a period of 6 months. and the relationships between HR variability and (1) functional capacity in exercise testing, (2) left ventricular function in cardiac catheterization, and (3) status of the infarct-related artery. RESULTS: At 1 week HR variability parameters correlated directly with functional capacity indicators such as METS, percent change in HR from rest to peak exercise (%deltaHR), difference between initial and peak HR (HR range), percent peak theoretical HR (% peak HR), left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), and, inversely, with end-systolic volume (ESV). Stepwise multiple regression analysis to establish HR variability parameters (recorded at 1 week) as related to functional capacity and left ventricular function at 1 week and 6 months postinfarction established the following variables: (1) At 1 week: standard deviation (SD) of the RR cycles in relation to %deltaHR (r = 0.60, p <0.0001), HR range (r = 0.43, p < 0.01), and EF (r = 0.79, p < 0.0001). (2) At 6 months, the sole accepted HR variability parameter was the SD in relation to %deltaHR (r = 0.38, p < 0.05) and HR range (r = 0.45, p < 0.01). No variability parameter was accepted in relation to METS, % peak HR, or ESV. Relationship between EF or ESV and HR variability parameters was not significant when both were evaluated at 6 months. At that time, there was a significant increase in all HR variability parameters among all surviving patients (n = 39), with the exception of the LF/HF ratio and mean RR cycle. The percent increase in HR variability between the first week and 6 months was greater among those patients with the lowest basal EF. No relation was established between HR variability and patency of the infarct-related artery. CONCLUSION: The decrease in HR variability observed following myocardial infarction is associated with a diminished functional capacity and an increased alteration of the EF. This does not affect the recovery of HR variability, which was observed in all surviving patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Serum trace elements and fat-soluble vitamins A and E in healthy pre-school children from a Venezuelan rural community.

Zn (SZn), Cu (SCu), Fe (SFe), vitamin A (SVA) and vitamin E (SVE) were measured in blood serum samples of 85 healthy pre-school children aged 2-6 yr. from the rural community of Canaguá, Mérida State, Venezuela. The relationship between these biochemical indexes was also investigated. The mean serum concentrations of zinc, copper, iron, vitamin A and vitamin E were 0.74 +/- 0.25, 1.18 +/- 0.30, 0.76 +/- 0.20, 0.30 +/- 0.15 and 5.87 +/- 0.43 mg/L, respectively. There was a tendency for SZn to increase with age, whereas SCu and SVA decreased. There was no significant difference in serum trace elements and fat-soluble vitamin concentration between males and females in the different age groups. SFe tended to be lower than that reported in the literature. However, the age groups studied showed no statistically significant sex- and age-related differences. The present study shows that there is a complex interaction between SZn, SCu, SFe, SVA, SVE and age of the children. Multiple regression analysis showed serum zinc was strongly related to serum copper, and serum iron. Serum vitamin A was strongly related to serum zinc and serum vitamin E, whereas serum vitamin E was strongly related to serum zinc, serum copper, and serum vitamin A. On the other hand, our observations also suggest that more detailed studies of these metals and fat-soluble vitamins should be carried out, and that the study should include nutritional surveys, metabolic balances and associations between SZn, SCu, SFe, SVA and SVE and anthropometric variables (height, weight, body mass index and skinfold thickness).

Aging↗
PubMed1999

The use of emulsions for the determination of methylmercury and inorganic mercury in fish-eggs oil by cold vapor generation in a flow injection system with atomic absorption spectrometric detection.

An on-line time based injection system used in conjunction with cold vapor generation atomic absorption spectrometry and microwave-aided oxidation with potassium persulfate has been developed for the determination of the different mercury species in fish-eggs oil samples. A three-phase surfactant-oil-water emulsion produced an advantageous flow when a peristaltic pump was used to introduce the highly viscous sample into the system. The optimum proportion of the oil-water mixture ratio was 2:3 v/v with a Tween 20 surfactant concentration in the emulsion of 0.008% v/v. Inorganic mercury was determined after reduction with sodium borohydride while total mercury was determined after an oxidation step with persulfate prior to the reduction step to elemental mercury with the same reducing agent. The difference between total and inorganic mercury determined the organomercury content in samples. A linear calibration graph was obtained in the range 0.1-20 micrograms l-1 of Hg2+ by injecting 0.7 ml of samples. The detection limits based on 3 sigma of the blank signals were 0.11 and 0.12 microgram l-1 for total and inorganic mercury, respectively. The relative standard deviation of ten independent measurements were 2.8 and 2.2% for 10 micrograms l-1 and 8.8 and 9.0% for 0.1 microgram l-1 amounts of total and inorganic mercury, respectively. The recoveries of 0.3, 0.6 and 8 micrograms l-1 of inorganic and organic mercury added to fish-eggs oil samples ranged from 93.0 to 94.8% and from 100 to 106%, respectively. Good agreement with those values obtained for total mercury content in real samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was also obtained, differences between mean values were < 7%. With the proposed procedure, 22 proteropterous catfish-eggs oil samples from the northwestern coast of Venezuela were measured; while the organic mercury lay in the range 2.0 and 3.3 micrograms l-1, inorganic mercury was not detected.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Determination of methylmercury and inorganic mercury in whole blood by headspace, cryofocusing gas chromatography and atomic absorption spectrometry.

A method for the determination of different mercury species in whole blood is described. Inorganic mercury (InHg) was determined in 2 ml of standard solutions or blood samples using head space (HS) injection coupled to atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) after treatment with concentrated sulfuric and tin(II) chloride as a reductant agent in a closed HS vial. After stirring, the InHg was converted to elementary mercury and carried with a nitrogen flow through a quartz cell heated at 200 degrees C and the absorbance signal was evaluated by AAS. For the determination of methylmercury (MeHg), 2 ml of a standard solution or a blood sample were treated with 10 mg of iodoacetic acid and 0.4 ml of concentrated H2SO4. Then, the MeHg species were HS-injected into a gas chromatograph (GC), separated on a semicapillary column (AT-1000) with a flow of helium, then carried to the quartz cell heated at 1000 degrees C and detected by AAS. The high content of salts in blood samples, where sodium chloride is the major component (0.14 mol l-1), affected the gas-liquid distribution coefficient of both mercury species in the HS vial. A linear calibration graph was obtained in the ranges 1-20 and 1-125 micrograms Hg l-1 added as InHg and MeHg, respectively. The detection limits for InHg and MeHg were 0.6 and 0.2 microgram Hg l-1, respectively. The relative standard deviations for eleven independent measurements were 5% for both mercury species. Recovery values ranging from 98 to 106% for InHg and from 95 to 105% for MeHg and from 93 to 95% for ethylmercury (EtHg) were obtained. The accuracy of the proposed method was also established by the analysis of certified whole blood samples for InHg and MeHg. No difference between the sum of these two species determined by our procedure and the recommended total mercury concentrations in the certified samples was observed. Results for the determination of MeHg and InHg in 30 controls and 30 dentists are presented to illustrate the practical utility of the proposed method.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1998

Determination of nickel in saliva by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using various chemical modifiers with Zeeman-effect background correction.

The profile of nickel signal using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with deuterium and Zeeman-effect background correction is presented. The Zeeman effect system of background correction offered definitive advantages and therefore was used for the determination of nickel in saliva in the presence of various isomorphous metals. The highest nickel absorbance values corresponded at 200, 300, 300, 300, 600, and 200 ng of Tb, Mg, Sm, Lu, Tm, and Pd, respectively. On the other hand, the addition of Eu, Er, and Ho decreased the nickel signal. The presence on each modifier alone does not eliminate the matrix interference. However, the use of 200 ng of Pd in conjuction with 300 ng of Lu has a higher sensitivity, offers an advantage against interference from the background of saliva matrix and produces good recoveries (98 to 102% from unspiked and spiked saliva samples). The limit of detection was 0.11 micrograms/L for a characteristic mass of 16.6 pg of nickel using Pd-Lu as modifier. The within-batch precision varied between 0.8 and 1.5% relative standard deviations. The analysis of thirty samples of whole saliva gave an average of 0.81 +/- 0.30 of micrograms/L of Ni (range from 0.5 to 2.0 micrograms/L of Ni). The agreement between the observed and certified values obtained from a Seronorm Blood Serum Standard Reference Material was good.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Biochemical characterization of myocardial damage in chronic Chagas' disease.

BACKGROUND: In the early asymptomatic stages of cardiomyopathy in chronic Chagas' disease, septal endomyocardial biopsies disclose multiple evidence of evolving myocardial damage. Detection of signs of an active myocardiopathic process may allow a better understanding of the evolution of this and other related dilated cardiomyopathies and provide a means for evaluation of the result of future therapeutic schemes. HYPOTHESIS: This study was designed to explore whether cellular damage caused by Chagas' disease is reflected by changes of certain serum electrolytes, enzymes, and glycoproteins associated with myocardial metabolism, especially in the coronary sinus into which the blood just metabolized by the heart is drained. METHODS: The study included 47 patients (35 men and 12 women, average age 40 years) with positive complement fixation reaction and hemagglutination test for Chagas' disease. The study protocol included medical records, electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings, routine laboratory analysis, chest x-rays, noninvasive cardiac examinations, and cardiac catheterization. RESULTS: In this study, we determined the concentration or activity of 9 electrolytes, 5 glycoprotein fractions, and 12 enzymes related to cardiac metabolism in blood from the coronary sinus, the superior vena cava, the pulmonary and femoral arteries, and found early release of inorganic phosphorus (p < 0.01) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (p < 0.01) from the heart and increased activity of serum alkaline phosphatase and aldolase (p < 0.05). Discriminant analysis suggested that the combination of the clinical picture, electrocardiographic findings, and peripheral activity of serum aldolase might be useful for the recognition of 86% of patients with Chagas' disease without segmental myocardial damage, 80% of those with early segmental abnormalities, and all patients with advanced myocardial damage or congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION: These results would make the application of more invasive techniques, such as left cineventriculography for detection of early myocardial compromise, unnecessary.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Levels of DDT residues in human milk of Venezuelan women from various rural populations.

The levels of DDT residues were studied in 145 breast milk samples 25 days postpartum from women living in various rural populations where DDT has been used in farming activities and to interrupt malaria transmission. All participants showed quantifiable milk levels of DDT residues in the range from 5.1 to 68.3 micrograms/l and their levels significantly increased (P < 0.05) with maternal age. The determination of DDT residues (as DDE) in human milk was performed after a saponification process by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. Confirmatory analysis was achieved using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

A factorial design to determine the effects of some variables in the long-term stability of methylmercury standard solutions in water.

A factorial composite design has been employed for a rapid exploration of the effect of some parameters on the stability of spiked methylmercury iodide solutions. The analysis has been performed by capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. The results obtained by the factorial and the univariate methods are in a good agreement. Although, the factorial design does not allow a discrimination of the significance among the same kind of factors, it greatly reduces the number of experiments when the different variables are investigated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Selective determination of antimony(III) and antimony(V) in liver tissue by microwave-assisted mineralization and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.

Antimony(III) and antimony(V) species have been selectively determined in liver tissues by optimizing the acidic conditions for the evolution of stibine using the reduction with sodium borohydride. The results show that a response for Sb(III) of 0.5 to 20 microg l(-1) was selectively obtained from samples in a 1 mol l(-1) acetic acid medium. The best response for total antimony from 1 to 20 microg l(-1) is obtained after sample treatment with a 0.5 mol l(-1) sulfuric acid and 10% w/v potassium iodide. Microwave digestion has been necessary to release quantitatively antimony species from sample slurries. The amount of Sb(V) was calculated from the difference between the value for total antimony and Sb(III) concentrations. A relative standard deviation from 2.9 to 3.1% and a detection limit of 0.15 and 0.10 microg l(-1) for Sb(III) and total Sb has been obtained. The average accuracy exceeded 95% in all cases comparing the results obtained from recovery studies, electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and the analysis of certified reference materials.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Effect of surfactants and of ultrasonic mixing in the determination of calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc in whole blood by flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

The behaviour of five non-ionic surfactants of different chain lengths was studied in relation to the improvement in sensitivity that their use affords as a sample pre-treatment procedure for the determination of calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc in real samples by flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The results show that the sensitivity changed with surfactant concentration, length of the hydrophobic chain and ultrasonic agitation time. Higher outputs were obtained with Triton X-100, which is the surfactant with the shortest chain length. In this case, the sensitivity of the atomic absorption signal increased 2.2, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.5-fold for aqueous solutions of calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc, respectively. The data also showed that ultrasonic agitation of the sample probe considerably improved the sensitivity, regardless of the element under evaluation. A relative precision between 0.6 and 3.3% was achieved with a smaller sample consumption than by the conventional atomic absorption method. The results obtained from the proposed sample pre-treatment procedure for the analysis of the elements under study were in good agreement with those obtained by microwave-assisted mineralization and flow injection AAS (for zinc and copper) and flame AAS (for calcium and magnesium).

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Gastric tissue selenium levels in healthy persons, cancer and non-cancer patients with different kinds of mucosal damage.

The gastric tissue levels of selenium (Se) were examined in 15 healthy subjects aged 18-43 (mean 36 +/- 12) years, 17 patients with stomach cancer aged 23-79 (mean 60 +/- 17) years, 20 patients with mild gastritis aged 18-65 (mean 35 +/- 12) years, 13 patients with chronic gastritis aged 28-69 (mean 47 +/- 15) years, 33 patients with erosive gastritis aged 16-70 (mean 49 +/- 17) years and 23 patients with ulcers aged 22-76 (mean 49 +/- 17) years. The Se concentration was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) with palladium as a matrix modifier. The mean +/- the standard deviation (SD) of the gastric tissue Se levels were 473 +/- 80, 36 +/- 9.0, 355 +/- 243, 567 +/- 246, 571 +/- 241 and 813 +/- 427 micrograms/Kg in healthy subjects and in patients with cancer, ulcers, mild gastritis, chronic gastritis and erosive gastritis, respectively. The Se concentration in the biopsies of patients with gastric ulceration and cancer were significantly lower than that in patients with gastritis (p < 0.05) and the other conditions (p < 0.0001).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Continuous heart rate variability monitoring through complex demodulation implemented with the fast Fourier transform and its inverse.

UNLABELLED: A new method for the analysis of 24-hour heart rate variability (HRV) using complex demodulation (CDM) implemented with the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and its inverse is described. In a control group with palpitations and dizzy spells (n = 30, 47.2 +/- 16.7 years) the relationship between HRV parameters and subject age was investigated. CDM was used to obtain the amplitude and frequency of the low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) oscillations for 8 diurnal hours and 4 nocturnal hours. Differences between the two periods were seen in the LF/HF ratio (2.2 +/- 0.6 vs 1.5 +/- 0.6; P < 0.0001), HF amplitudes (12 +/- 6 vs 17 +/- 7 normalized units, P < 0.05), and in the mean frequency of the LF oscillations (0.078 +/- 0.008 vs 0.073 +/- 0.007 Hz, P < 0.01). During the daytime, age was inversely correlated to HF amplitude (r = -0.60), directly correlated to HF mean central frequency (r = 0.40), inversely correlated to LF amplitude (r = -0.55), and likewise inversely correlated to LF mean central frequency (r = -0.74, P < 0.001). At night, age was only inversely correlated to HF amplitude and to LF mean central frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous HRV monitoring through CDM implemented with the FFT and its inverse differentiates the periods of diurnal activity and nocturnal rest as an expression of two different activity states of the autonomic nervous system. It allows nonstationary analysis, and separately provides mean and instantaneous oscillation amplitude and frequency. Subject age is not equally related to mean amplitude and frequency of a given oscillation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Antimony determination in tissues and serum of hamsters infected with Leishmania garnhami and treated with meglumine antimoniate.

Hamsters were experimentally infected with Leishmania garnhami and then treated for 10 days with N-methyl-glucamine antimoniate (Glucantime); 60 mg/kg/day by intramuscular (im) or intralesional (il) routes. Hydride generation-atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the concentrations of SbIII and SbV in the blood serum and total Sb in the tissues of the hamsters from 1 to 30 days after initiation of the treatment. Serum concentrations of SbIII and SbV were always similar. Total Sb concentrations were significantly higher in the relatively parasite-rich spleen and lesion than in any other tissue, whether treatment had been given im or il. Reduction of SbV to SbIII is probably associated with decreasing size and healing of the leishmanial ulcers. Tissue Sb kinetics is related to Leishmania behaviour and attention is drawn to the use of antimonial pentavalent compounds for diseases, other than leishmaniasis, that can affect the heart, liver and/or spleen, such as Chagas disease.

Animals↗