PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Cerda

Publications and source records attributed to M Cerda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Hepatitis C virus infection presenting as a polyarthritis: report of 2 cases].

Several disease have been associated with hepatitis C virus infections, including rheumatologic, hematologic and neoplastic disorders. We report two women, aged 57 and 39 years old whom the initial presentation of hepatitis C virus infection was an arthritis resembling rheumatoid arthritis. Laboratory work up revealed abnormal liver function tests, stimulating the search for hepatitis C virus infection, having both patients positive ELISA tests. Detection of this agent is extremely important when selecting a therapy for the articular disease, since several drugs used in the treatment of rheumatic disorders are potentially hepatotoxic and immunosuppression is risky in the setting of a viral hepatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Species-Specific Detection of Vibrio anguillarum in Marine Aquaculture Environments by Selective Culture and DNA Hybridization.

Methods for specific detection of Vibrio anguillarum in complex microbial communities within diverse marine aquaculture environments were evaluated. A system for the detection of culturable cells based on the combined use of a selective medium and a nonradioactively labeled oligodeoxynucleotide complementary to 16S rRNA was developed. Four hundred fourteen bacterial cultures were evaluated in order to assess the specificity of the method. When both the selective medium and the specific probe gave positive results, the cultures were always identified as V. anguillarum. The selectivity for colony hybridization was 1 V. anguillarum cell in 10,000 total bacterial cells in environmental samples. The utility of the method was also compared with detection by dot blot hybridization of either raw DNA purified from environmental samples or PCR-amplified DNA of 16S rRNA genes, using universal eubacterial primers. The post-PCR hybridization was more sensitive (8 x 10(sup2) cells) than direct hybridization of the whole purified DNA (10(sup6) cells). However, the selective medium-probe combined method was as sensitive as post-PCR hybridization, albeit more specific.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Correlations of female steroid hormone receptors with histologic features in meningiomas.

A series of 39 samples were obtained from meningiomas in 28 patients in order to investigate the relationships of the oestrogen receptor (OER) and progesterone receptor (PR) with the tumoural subtype and some histological features. Twenty-one samples were positive (greater than 10 fmole/mg protein), 7 were OER-PR-negative, and 1 was positive in both receptors. Twenty-two samples were considered as syncitial, 7 transitional, 7 fibroblastic and 3 angioblastic. The histological subtype was not found to be significantly related to the presence or absence of PR. Relations were not observed between the progestin receptor and the following histological parameters: cellular pattern, cell density, nuclear polymorphism, mitosis, lymphoplasmacellular infiltrates, degree of vascularization, psammoma bodies and interstitial fibrosis. Only the presence of intratumoural necrosis was significantly related with a low PR levels. However, progesterone binding activity was lower in tumours with numerous psammomas, fibroblastic cell pattern and interstitial fibrosis. The clinical and biological significance of these results is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Closed chest radiofrequency ablation of the sinoatrial node in dogs.

UNLABELLED: Transcatheter ablation of the sinoatrial node with radiofrequency energy (0.6 MHZ, 2.5-5 watts) was performed in 10 dogs under fluoroscopic monitoring and autonomic blockade. Sinus function was previously studied in terms of cycle length, recovery time and atrial activation pattern by catheter mapping. Several discharges (8-22) were applied for variable periods of time (maximum 1 minute). Sinus tachycardia and/or sinus arrest during ablation confirmed correct catheter position. Sinus rhythm was abolished in eight dogs. The ectopic rhythm was atrial in six and AV nodal in two dogs. Ectopic atrial cycle length and recovery time were longer than the baseline sinus values: 724 +/- 321 versus 509 +/- 147, P less than 0.05; 1103 +/- 775 versus 618 +/- 151, P less than 0.05 (values in msec). The study was repeated 10-14 days later in six dogs; three maintained the same atrial rhythm, one persisted in sinus rhythm, and one dog changed from atrial to sinus rhythm, whereas another changed from sinus to atrial rhythm. Gross findings revealed transmural lesions in all dogs, without perforation. Histology in chronic dogs showed sinus cell necrosis and its replacement by granulation tissue. IN CONCLUSION: sinus function may be abolished by closed chest radiofrequency ablation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Total necrosis of the colon as a complication of the hemolytic-uremic syndrome].

Two cases of hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) with colonic gangrene are analyzed. Colonic gangrene is an uncommonly reported complication, and it determines a greater severity of the disease, and consequently additional therapeutic measures should be taken. One of the patients died and the survivor needed colonic resection, external ileostomy, and arteriovenous hemofiltration to overcome his renal failure. In the long term follow up this patient recovered uneventfully. The initial features were similar for most of the patients with this disease. The sudden decompensation with hypotension, toxic aspect, bulged and painful abdomen, with blood stools, could indicate this complication. The patient that was undertaken to an aggressive surgical approach had a favorable outcome. In the other patient, complications such as sepsis and septic shock were present with fatal outcome. We believe that this was in part due to the delayed surgical treatment. Reports in the literature suggest a poor prognosis in the presence of this complication, because of protracted renal damage and chronic renal failure.

Colon↗
PubMed1988

An enzyme immunoassay for the quantitation of rat liver carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase I.

An indirect, competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantitation of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase I (ammonia) in rat liver has been developed. Homogenization of the liver in 1% sodium deoxycholate is used for complete solubilization of the enzyme. The detergent does not interfere with the method if diluted to a concentration of 0.01% or lower. The assay is applied to determine the amount of enzyme in control rats and in rats fed "cafeteria" or high-protein diets. Changes in the amount of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase I (ammonia) paralleled changes in enzymatic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Electrolyte levels in the CSF of children with nontumoral hydrocephalus. Relation to clinical parameters.

The levels of calcium and magnesium (by atomic absorption spectrophotometry), sodium and potassium (by flame photometry), inorganic phosphate and proteins (by spectrophotometry) were measured in the CSF of 27 children with hydrocephalus and compared with the CSF data on 10 controls, so as to study the effect of the blood-brain and blood-CSF barrier alterations observed in hydrocephalus, on the CSF electrolytes. Ca (P less than 0.001), Mg (P less than 0.01) and phosphate (P less than 0.05) were found to be increased, K (P less than 0.01) decreased, and Na levels not significantly altered. Linear regression analysis of hydrocephalic patients showed a linear correlation (r = +0.62) between phosphate and proteins (P less than 0.01) and (r = +0.66) between phosphate and Ca (P less than 0.001). Comparison of control CSF electrolyte levels with those found in the CSF of hydrocephalic patients were grouped according to clinical variables: sex (F, M), age (less than or equal to 1.5 months, greater than 1.5 months), etiological variants (congenital, acquired), treated infection (no, yes), surgical treatment (no, yes), time of onset (less than or equal to 1 month, greater than 1 month), ventricular dilation (mild, severe) and intracranial hypertension (mild or severe). These comparisons showed specific increases of Mg for males (P less than 0.05), acquired hydrocephalus (P less than 0.05) and severe intracranial hypertension (ICH) (P less than 0.001), moderate decrease in the Na levels in acquired hydrocephalus (P less than 0.05) and mild ICH (P less than 0.05), specific increases of phosphate in females (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid proteins in children with nontumoral hydrocephalus.

The changes occurring in the electrophoretic pattern of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins in 37 children with nontumoral hydrocephalus, and the protein pattern of 12 children without organic neurological disease, were studied with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In nontumoral hydrocephalus protein was frequently increased in lumbar and ventricular fluid, in this condition, in intraventricular obstruction, the protein fractions showed a decrease in the prealbumin and an increase in the gamma-globulin fractions, and in extraventricular obstruction, the protein fractions showed a decrease in the prealbumin and an increase in the gamma-globulin and alpha 2-globulin fractions. With CSF proteins within normal ranges we found that in intraventricular obstruction, the proteins of the ventricular-CSF showed an increase in the prealbumin and/or albumin fractions, and in extraventricular obstruction, the proteins of the ventricular CSF showed an increase in the prealbumin and beta-globulin fractions, and the proteins of the lumbar CSF showed an increase in the prealbumin fraction. The diagnostic implications of these findings are discussed.

Albumins↗
PubMed1980

Isoelectric focusing of cerebrospinal fluid proteins in children with nontumoral hydrocephalus. A preliminary report.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein patterns of 42 children with nontumoral hydrocephalus, 33% with associated congenital malformations (meningocele, myelomeningocele, spina bifida, monoventricular prosencephalon) were determined by isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 50% of the patients showed a barrier damage pattern, 19% showed a degenerative pattern, a block pattern or a normal pattern were less frequently found. 14 children presented hydrocephalus associated with other malformations, 44% of these cases showed a degenerative pattern. Combining results from quantitative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and qualitative isoelectric focusing, resulted in better characterization of CSF protein abnormalities, the high resolution capacity of these techniques may give a new approach to the evaluation of the blood CSF barrier in the management of hydrocephalus.

Brain↗
PubMed1979

Electroencephalography in brain edema (127 cases of brain tumor investigated by cranial computerized tomography).

Cranial computerized tomography (CCT) in permitting visualization of cerebral edema in live patients, allows for the first time valid studies concerning the role of reactional edema in the generation of EEG abnormalities related to expanding processes. The authors analyze the results of EEG and CCT in 127 patients presenting cerebral tumor(s), 84 of which were accompanied by reactional edema. The study leads to the conclusion (also demonstrated by certain animal work) that edema per se is only rarely responsible (9.5%) for the EEG abnormalities.

Brain Edema↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Possible late-onset secondary generalized epilepsy. contribution of computed tomography (author's transl)].

Generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizures appearing in elderly subjects have been recognized for a long time. The E.E.G. was able to distinguish two types: primary generalized epilepsy, and a secondary type of late onset which can be definitely separated from the group of partial epilepsies with generalized secondary fits by means of scanography. In fact, 60% of generalized attacks in the elderly are due to cerebral involution only. The authors suggest, therefore, that the group of secondary generalized epilepsies be enlarged to include this variety of late-onset generalized epilepsy, which appears to be related to the existence of diffuse cerebral lesions as shown by the cerebral atrophy demonstrated by the use of C.T. scan.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Application of a physiologic stability index at a pediatric intensive care unit].

This study was conducted to evaluate usefulness of the physiologic stability index (PSI) in a pediatric intensive care Unit (PICU) of a University based hospital at Santiago, Chile. Subjects include all patients (n = 152) consecutively admitted to our PICU between april 1987 and august 1988. The PSI system was applied during the first four days from admission. The age of the patients ranged from 10 days to 15 years. Scores obtained from survivors and non survivors were compared using an analysis of variance. For maximum PSI, survivors had significantly lower scores (9.39 points) that non survivors (21.71 points). Multiple logistic regression was used to display associations between mean obtained scores and probability of death and a curve was plotted which is similar to that obtained in previous experiences from other countries.

Adolescent↗