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Biomedical subjects

M García

Publications and source records attributed to M García.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Cross-reactivity of stimulants found in sports drug testing by two fluorescence polarization immunoassays.

We investigated the usefulness of immunological methods for presumptive detection of stimulants found in sports drug testing. The ingestion of substances that show no cross-reactivity in tests commercially available for the detection of amphetamines can produce positive results in the urine. Human metabolism contributes to the positive results of some urine samples when the parent compound does not cross-react with the antibodies of the assay. Urine samples from healthy volunteers given stimulants were tested by chromatographic methods and by two different fluorescence polarization immunoassays (FPIA) from Abbott Laboratories for the analysis of amphetamines. According to the results obtained, we classified stimulants into four groups: detectable stimulants that gave rise to amphetamine by human metabolism (group 1); detectable ephedrines and related compounds, appearing in the urine either as parent compounds or originated by metabolism (group 2); detectable stimulants that displayed actual cross-reactivity with amphetamine tests (group 3); and stimulants not detected by FPIA (group 4). Most of the true doping cases due to the ingestion of stimulants may be detected by FPIA. The specificity of the results may be increased by combining immunological assays with different antibodies.

Amphetamine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Isolation and characterization of a 6/85-like Mycoplasma gallisepticum from commercial laying hens.

Eighty-three-week-old table egg layers with swollen sinuses were presented with a history of increased mortality. Serology revealed positive titers to Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). The birds were part of a flock in which some birds had been vaccinated with 6/85 live MG vaccine at 18 wk of age. Tracheal cultures were obtained from both vaccinated and unvaccinated birds within the flock. The cultures were indistinguishable from 6/85 vaccine by both random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and DNA sequence analysis. Challenge studies were performed to compare the field isolates with 6/85 vaccine and the R strain of MG. The field isolates produced a greater antibody response by serum plate agglutination than did the 6/85 vaccine. The isolates effectively colonized the trachea without increasing the tracheal mucosal thickness; however, they did not extensively colonize the air sacs or cause airsacculitis in the experimental birds.

Air Sacs↗
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[Genetic alterations in hematological neoplasias of lymphoid origin: implications for clinical practice].

The improvement of the conventional cytogenetic techniques, the development of molecular cytogenetics and the application of techniques of molecular biology to genetic analysis have led to an authentic revolution in the knowledge of the processes implied in the development and progression of lymphoid neoplasias. In this way, a great part of the alterations present in malign cells have been characterised, and the genes involved in the transformative process have been established. This has important consequences for the clinical handling of this type of disease and makes possible a more exact diagnosis through a systematisation of the different entities based on their biological characteristics. On the other hand, the introduction of new techniques of analysis, such as real time PCR, will make it possible to monitor the disease quantitatively, making it possible to evaluate response to the different treatments and to establish predictive values for relapses. In the future, all of this knowledge will make it possible to establish genotype-specific therapies and to develop new medicines aimed at the alteration responsible for the malignant process and with less undesired collateral effects.

English Abstract↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of hyaluronic acid on corneal haze in a photorefractive keratectomy experimental model.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of topical hyaluronic acid to decrease corneal opacity after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in hens. METHODS: Twenty-four white hens underwent bilateral 193-nm excimer laser PRK to correct -9.00 D of myopia. One eye received postoperative treatment with topical 1% hyaluronic acid six times daily for 3 days; the other eye received phosphate buffered saline. Slit-lamp evaluation by a masked observer was performed for 6 months after PRK, and electron microscopy was carried out at the end of the study. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in postoperative haze between the eyes treated with hyaluronic acid and those treated with phosphate buffered saline. CONCLUSION: Topical administration of hyaluronic acid had no effect on the development of corneal haze following PRK in hens.

Administration, Topical↗
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[A system of multidimensional behavior assessment. A scale for parents of children from 6 to 11 years of age. Colombian version].

INTRODUCTION: Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC) has demonstrated to be useful in the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized sample of 120 children, 6 to 11-year-old, participants from the school of the city of Medellín, Colombia, was selected. The sample was stratified by sex and two socioeconomic status (SES). Parents were asked to answer the BASC Parent Rating Scale (PRS) 6-11, authorized Spanish version. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.85 for the clinical scale (9 items). It was 0.75 for the Adaptive Scale (3 items). A scale designed with 4 items to assess ADD (hyperactivity, attention problems, aggression, and conduct problems) showed an alpha coefficient of 0.82. Male children scored significantly higher than female (ANOVA, p < 0.05) in hyperactivity, conduct problems, and atypicality. Children from low SES scored significantly higher than children of high SES on the most of clinical measures (p < 0.05) and lower on the three adaptive measures. Cluster analysis selecting six clusters found a prevalence of 61.6% for normal male children. In the total sample there were a 4% at risk of DDA type II (inattentive) and 14% at risk of DDA type I (combined). CONCLUSIONS: BASC PRS (6-11) showed reliability and validity to assessing the behavior in Spanish speaking Colombian children.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Use of multidimensional scale for parents of children aged 6 to 11 for the diagnosis of attention deficit with hyperactivity].

INTRODUCTION: The BASC is a multidimensional approach to evaluate the child behavior and it has been validated on the diagnosis of ADD/+H in North American children. OBJECTIVE: Validating BASC-PRS 6-11 on the diagnosis of ADD/+H. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We selected 25 male DSM IV-ADD/+H (combined type), 6 to 11-years-old children, and 25 age, gender, and socioeconomic status matched controls. Mean ages of both groups 8.16 (1.5), schooling of controls 2.64 (1.4), and cases 2.6 (1.9). RESULTS: On the Clinical Scale ADD/+H children had significant (Anova p < 0.01) higher scores in hyperactivity, conduct problems, and attention problems. On the Adaptive Scale only significant differences on social skills and leadership were found, with lower score in the ADD/+H group. A crosstab analysis between group code and each rating variable transformed into categorical (0 and 1) variable, cut-off point = 85 percentile, found that the case children's parents qualified as clinically in higher risk the variables attention problems (OR = 24.4; 95% CI = 4.5-130), conduct problems (OR = 9.0; 95% CI = 1.7-46.9) and hyperactivity (OR = 6.8; 95% CI = 1.6-28.5) (p < 0.01). A discriminant analysis selected attention problems as discriminant function (p < 0.0001). Classification capability 84% for each group. CONCLUSION: Our results proved the validity of the BASC-PRS 6-11 questionnaire for the screening diagnosis of ADD/+H children in a Spanish speaking population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Severe polyneuropathy after using nitrous oxide as an anesthetic. A preventable disease?].

INTRODUCTION: Nitrous oxide is a commonly used anaesthetic agent. One complication of this is due to its capacity to inactivate cobalamin. Therefore, in patients with poor reserves of vitamin B12, neurological and hematological alterations may be induced after a short period of exposure to nitrous oxide. CLINICAL CASE: A 69 year old man was anesthetized for three hours with 50% nitrous oxide during a surgical operation. Two weeks later he complained of severe mixed, mainly sensory polyneuropathy and was unable to walk. On diagnostic studies, vitamin B12 levels were found to be 18 pg/ml. The Shilling test confirmed that there was lack of intrinsic factor. In the preoperative studies a striking increase in motor conduction velocity was observed. Neurophysiological studies showed that there was mixed polyneuropathy, predominantly axonal. After starting treatment with hydroxycobalamin there was marked improvement and the patient became able to walk unaided. CONCLUSION: Since nitrous oxide may cause serious neurological alterations in patients with subclinical deficits of cobalamin, which may not always be accompanied by hematological changes, we consider the need for determination of plasma levels of vitamin B12 and if possible, of methylmalonic acid and homocysteine in elderly patients who are to have general anesthetics involving nitrous oxide.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychometric characteristics of the psychotropic-related sexual dysfunction questionnaire. Spanish work group for the study of psychotropic-related sexual dysfunctions].

BACKGROUND: The presence of sexual function impairment in patients with psychiatric disorders is very common and could be an effect of the medication (mainly antidepressant and neuroleptics). The patient frequently has difficulties to communicate this adverse effect and the assessment of these changes by the physician should be encouraged. The real SD incidence is underestimated and the use of a specific questionnaire is needed. METHODS: The authors analyse psychometric characteristics of the Psychotropic-Related Sexual Dysfunction Questionnaire (PRSexDQ) that includes questions about libido, orgasm, ejaculation, erectile function and general sexual satisfaction. The questionnaire was applied to 62 patients who were taking nefazodone "de novo" (n = 18) or were switched to nefazodone (n = 44) due to bad tolerated sexual dysfunction secondary to other antidepressant. RESULTS: The PRSexDQ has shown an excellent feasibility with nil percentage of patients with missing responses on all items except on items 1 and 2 (1.7% and 15.5% of patients with missing response). Cronbach's alpha value was 0.93, which indicates adequate reliability. The PRSexDQ also showed adequate construct validity. As it may be expected, the PRSexDQ showed a high correlation with a Clinical Global Impression scores on Sexual Dysfunction (r = 0.79) and moderate correlation with Hamilton Depression scores (r = 0.63). PRSexDQ also showed good discrimination between naive and pretreated depressed or dysthymic patients, with statistically significant differences between those groups of patients. Finally, the instrument showed adequate sensitivity for detecting clinical changes on sexual dysfunction with greater changes in the patients treated previously with antidepressants and who were switched to nefazodone than in naive patients (SES = -3.77 in patients switching to nefazodone; SES = -0.64 in naive patients).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of 5 questionnaires for the evaluation of post-traumatic stress syndrome].

AIM: To determine the psychometric properties of the Spanish versions of the following scales for assessing PTSD patients: TQ, CAPS-DX, DTS, TOP-8, and DGRP. METHODS: Data from 63 PTSD patients and 23 healthy subjects were analysed. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability (after 15 days) were calculated. Convergent validity was analysed by correlating subjects' scores with the number of symptoms (DSM-IV) and scores on the CGI scale. Discriminative capability was analysed by comparing TQ, CAPS-DX, DTS, TOP-8, and DGRP patients' scores with scores from healthy subjects, and between patients' subgroups according to the presence or absence of psychiatric comorbidity and to the degree of severity as determined by the CGI-S. RESULTS: CAPS-DX, DTS, TOP-8, and DGRP showed an adequate internal consistency (Cronbach alpha: 0.74-0.91) and all of them obtained ICC between 0.77 and 0.93. The five questionnaires were able to discriminate between patients and healty subjects, and between the patients' subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish versions of the TQ, CAPS-DX, DTS, TOP-8, and DGRP have shown adequate reliability and validity for assessing PTSD patients in daily clinical practice. CAPS-DX seems to be more adequate a diagnostic and DTS a severity rating scale.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the nasal vestibulum].

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a malignant epithelial tumor, with a mucosecretor component that is exceptional in the upper airways. It seems to be a kind of immunity in this area to the development of this tumors. In the review of the literature we only have found three cases in the nasal cavity. We present the case of a 18th years old woman with a tumor in the right nostril for two months. Several biopsy were required to achieve its histopathological diagnosis as a high malignant mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Radical surgery over the tumor and metastasis was performed but the case has a bad prognosis. The prognosis of the mucoepidermoid carcinoma depends on the histological grade, the early diagnosis and the surgical treatment which has to be so radical as possible to obtain free tumors limits.

Adolescent↗
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Characterization of infectious laryngotracheitis virus isolates: demonstration of viral subpopulations within vaccine preparations.

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a severe acute respiratory disease of chickens caused by ILT virus. To better understand the epidemiology of the disease, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay of the glycoprotein E gene has been developed and utilized to characterize vaccine strains and outbreak-related isolates. Enzymes EaeI and DdeI were used to differentiate the tissue culture origin (TCO) vaccine from chicken embryo origin (CEO) vaccines. Two RFLP patterns were observed with enzyme EaeI, one characteristic of the TCO vaccine and a second characteristic of all CEO vaccines. Three RFLP patterns were observed with enzyme DdeI. Patterns A and B were characterized as single patterns, whereas the type C pattern was a combination of patterns A and B. Analysis of vaccine strains showed the presence of patterns A and C. Pattern A was observed for the TCO vaccine and one CEO vaccine, whereas pattern C was observed for five of the six CEO vaccines analyzed. PCR-RFLP analysis of plaque-purified virus from pattern C CEO vaccine preparations demonstrated the presence of two populations (patterns A and B). Identification of molecularly different populations of viruses within currently used ILT vaccine is the first step to develop better molecular epidemiologic tools to track vaccine isolates in the field.

Animals↗
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[Assessment of long-term bone metabolism in patients with relative hypoparathyroidism after changing the calcium concentration of the dialyzate to 3mEq/L].

The existence of a low-bone turnover, non-aluminium related, has been more prevalent in recent years. Factors involved include the increasing number of older and diabetic patients initiating dialysis. Also higher intake of calcium salts and the widespread use of vitamin D derivates may play a role. Demonstration of low PTH secretion allows the recognition of the group of patients with special risk of adynamic bone disease. Little can be done to improve bone remodelling apart from correct management of risk factors previously mentioned. A decrease in dialysate calcium concentration can act in this way, but the long term effect of this procedure on bone mineral density has scarcely been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term effect of lowering the dialysate calcium concentration from 3.5 to 3 mEq/L on bone mass and PTH activity in patients with hypoparathyroidism. We studied 19 patients with PTH < 120 pg/ml and calcemia between 8.5 and 10.5 mg/dl, without aluminium intoxication. Blood levels of Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase, aluminium, iPTH and dialysis doses were measured every 4 months during the two years of follow-up. Phosphate binders were closely monitored. Also calcium dietary feeding was measured by a 5-day dietetic registry at the beginning and 6 and 12 months later. Bone mineral density was assessed by quantitative computed tomography of the distal radius initially and after 18 months. PTH values had significantly increased from the first measurement (from 46 +/- 33 to 97 +/- 68 four months later). At the end of follow up, 8 patients (42%) had reached the objective of maintaining a PTHi above 120 pg/ml, while 11 had not reached it (3 were previously parathyroidectomized and two were diabetic). Only one patient has developed an exaggerated PTH response that has been controlled with oral vitamin D. No bone mineral loss was observed during the follow up. In conclusion, the use of a 3 mEq/l dialysate calcium may improve hypoparathyroidism in a substantial number of patients, avoiding the untoward effect that lower calcium concentration has on bone mineralization.

Aged↗
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IgG4 levels in relation to Olea europaea immunotherapy.

We determined olive pollen-specific IgG4 levels in 100 patients, 39 of whom had been subjected to no immunotherapy (IT) for Olea (31 allergic and 8 nonallergic individuals) and 61 of whom had been administered IT as extracts, including Olea pollen (29 extracts in BUs, 24 allergenic extracts polymerized with glutaraldehyde:Allergoid and 8 extracts standardized in PNUs). IgG4 levels were correlated to the clinical picture, type of extract and average cumulative dose (ACD). We found average IgG4 levels of 0.80 +/- 0.74, 8.60 +/- 13.07 (p < 0.01) and 1.42 +/- 2.5 micrograms/ml (n.s.) for the untreated group and those treated with BU and Allergoid, respectively. The difference between the IT-BU-treated and IT-Allergoid-treated patients was significant at p < 0.01. On the other hand, we found no significant differences among the average IgG4 levels of the three groups in relation to age or sex. The group of asthmatic patients treated with BU extracts had average IgG4 levels of 16 +/- 17.34 micrograms/ml, while those of the rhinoconjunctivitic, non-asthmatic group were 5.05 +/- 6.149 micrograms/ml, with p < 0.05 (Student's "t" test). Thus, patients treated with extracts polymerized with glutaraldehyde had IgG4 levels that were similar to those of the patients subjected to no IT. Also, the group treated with IT extracts standardized in BUs had increased IgG4 levels that were correlated with the cumulative dose, particularly in asthmatic patients.

Adolescent↗
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[Veno-occlusive liver disease induced by Senecio vulgaris toxicity].

Veno-occlusive liver disease is a well-known clinico-pathological entity. Etiology is varied but the most frequent cause is toxicity. Pirrolizadimic alkaloids, which are found in a large number of vegetables and which are used as therapy, have been identified as the direct origin of this process. We report a 23-year-old woman who presented with abdominal distension. Ascites was recorded semiologically. Laboratory studies and liver biopsy were performed. Histopathology revealed alterations characteristic of veno-occlusive disease and hepatic hemodynamic studies confirmed the diagnosis. Due to chronic constipation, the patient had been taking commercial preparations of herbal infusions which contained Senecio vulgaris. Outcome was favorable and periodic clinical check-ups have been normal to date. The presentation of this case as acute veno-occlusive disease due to pirrolizidinic alkaloids as well as the clinical remission of the effects in the liver are emphasized.

Adult↗
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[Newborn infants of diabetic mothers].

Some features as well as pathological findings in 63 infants born to diabetic mothers (IDM) under control in a diabetes unit of a general hospital at metropolitan Santiago, Chile, from 1985 through 1988 are presented. Out of 63 newborns, 22 came from mothers with pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) and 41 were born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Significant differences were detected among PGDM and GDM groups of newborns in the following features: mean gestational age (GE) premature (54.5% vs. 26.8% 37 weeks GE or less), jaundice (40.9% vs. 17.1%) and congenital malformations (18.2% vs. 0%). No significant differences were found in fetal distress, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome and birth trauma although as a whole these last were more frequently recorded among infant born to insulin dependent diabetic mothers. It is concluded that in spite of an appropriate control, morbidity remains higher in IDM, particularly in IDM PGDM.

Adult↗