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Biomedical subjects

M Luis

Publications and source records attributed to M Luis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Gallic acid and tannase accumulation during fungal solid state culture of a tannin-rich desert plant (Larrea tridentata Cov.).

Larrea tridentata (Sesse & Mocino ex DC.) Coville, also known as Larrea, gobernadora, chaparral, or creosote bush, is a shrubby plant which dominates some areas of the desert southwest in the United States and Northern Mexico and its use has not been exploited and standardized. In this study, gobernadora was studied to evaluate its potential use for support of solid state culture. Influence of two minimal media added with gobernadora powder as the sole carbon source and inducer of tannin-degrading enzymes was evaluated. Cultures were initially 70% moisture, had a pH of 5.5 and were inoculated with Aspergillus niger Aa-20 at 2 x 10(7) spores per gram of media. Analysis of pH, moisture, tannin uptake, gallic acid accumulation and tannase production were evaluated. Results indicated a high content of condensed (39.4%dm) and hydrolysable (22.8%dm) tannins. Invasion capacity of fungal growth was of 0.15 mmh(-1). Tannase production reached values of 1040 Ul(-1) at 43 h of culture. During the first 48 h of culture, the concentration of gallic acid accumulation was 0.33 gl(-1). Gobernadora is a potential source of gallic acid and tannase production by solid state culture; however, further optimization of the process is needed.

Aspergillus niger↗
PubMed2004

[Incidence of pain upon injection of a new formula of propofol in a fat emulsion of medium- and long-chain triglycerides].

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of pain upon injection of 1% propofol (Propofol-Lipuro 1%, B. Braun, Melsungen, Germany) in a 10% fat emulsion containing equal proportions (50:50) of medium- and long-chain triglycerides. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 600 adult patients scheduled for elective surgery. The use of premedication was left to the discretion of the anesthesiologist. All patients received the study anesthetic injected slowly (20-40 mg per 10 seconds) at a dose of 1.5 to 2.5 mg/Kg. Variables recorded were incidence and type of pain upon administering the anesthetic, the patients' clinical characteristics, premedication administered, and method of venous puncture. Bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to determine factors associated with the appearance of pain. RESULTS: The overall incidence of pain upon administration of propofol-lipuro was 27%. Pain was moderate to intense in 9%. Premedication did not affect the incidence of pain with injection. The risk factors that predicted the appearance of pain were injection through a small-caliber catheter (> 18 G) and injection on the dorsal hand (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of pain upon injection of propofol-lipuro is low in comparison with incidence rates reported in the literature for the traditional formula, but administration of the fat emulsion formula through a vein on the dorsal side of the hand or through a venous catheter smaller than 18 G should be avoided. Double-blind randomized controlled trials should be conducted to clarify the advantages that propofol-lipuro seems to offer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Airway ignition during CO2 laser laryngeal surgery and high frequency jet ventilation.

We present a case of a patient submitted for extirpation of a neoplasm of the larynx, by means of carbon dioxide laser surgery. High frequency jet ventilation was applied by means of orotracheal intubation with two Teflon catheters, 2 mm in external diameter and 30 cm in length, attached with three equally placed strips of adhesive paper tape. One catheter was used to inject the jet volume and the other used to measure the airway pressure. The adhesive strips were moistened and FiO2 was lower than 50%. After 30 min using the laser, an airway fire was noticed. Ventilation was interrupted and the catheters were removed. The patient was reintubated with an endotracheal tube of 6 mm ID and the surgical procedure was continued until the tumour was removed. Two factors contributed to the airway fire: the ignition of the lowest adhesive strip that had dried and the use of the laser in the mode of continuous pulsation.

Fires↗
PubMed1999

Comparison of two schedules for administering oral low-dose methotrexate (weekly versus every-other-week) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in remission: a twenty-four week, single blind, randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of 2 low-dose oral methotrexate (MTX) schedules in maintaining remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Patients with RA were included if they were receiving treatment with weekly MTX for at least 9 months and the RA was in remission (defined by American College of Rheumatology [ACR] criteria) for at least 6 months. Patients were stratified by treatment and randomly assigned to weekly or every-other-weekly (EOW; reducing their monthly dose by half) treatment with MTX. Patients were evaluated by a rheumatologist (blinded to the treatment schedule) at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 weeks. The evaluations included joint counts, Ritchie Articular Index, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, physician's and patient's global health assessments, visual analog scale for pain, and incidence of adverse effects. Laboratory evaluations were done at baseline and at week 24. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were included (26 taking weekly MTX, 25 taking EOW MTX). Baseline comparisons showed no differences between the groups. The mean duration of RA was <3 years in both groups, and they had been started on weekly MTX treatment early after diagnosis. After 24 weeks, >90% of the patients in both groups continued in remission. Evaluations of disease activity at 6 and 12 weeks showed no between-group differences. EOW MTX patients who experienced relapse were switched back to weekly MTX, and after a few weeks, their RA was again controlled. The incidence of adverse effects was slightly higher in the weekly MTX group, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. The observed laboratory values were very similar for both groups, except for the serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, which decreased in the EOW MTX group and were statistically significant at week 24 (P = 0.04 and P = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSION: EOW MTX represents a valid therapeutic alternative for a specific subgroup of RA patients, as outlined by the ACR remission criteria. Patients with a short disease duration who were treated early after disease onset with weekly MTX and who achieve sustained remission have a higher probability of success with the EOW MTX schedule.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

Intraoperative respiratory failure in a patient after treatment with bleomycin: previous and current intraoperative exposure to 50% oxygen.

Patients treated with bleomycin (BLM) are at risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) post-operatively, and this has been associated with high intraoperative concentrations of oxygen. We report progressive arterial desaturation noticeable 2 h after the start of a 4-h radical neck dissection for which the anaesthesia included 50% O2 in N2O. The patient had received two courses of bleomycin within the previous 2 months and had undergone an uneventful right hemiglossectomy under shorter but otherwise similar anaesthesia 4 weeks previously. His pulmonary function tests before the second procedure showed a slight depression of diffusing capacity (DLco) to 80% of predicted and minimal airway obstruction consistent with his history of smoking. The pulse oximetric reading during his second procedure reached 75%, but rose to 95% after treatment with methylprednisolone salbutamol and inspired O2 concentrations between 80% and 100%. By the end of the procedure, he satisfied the criteria for ARDS and was transferred to the ICU, where he developed bilateral pneumonia, deteriorated and died of multiple organ failure. This case suggests that the risk of hyperoxic pulmonary damage in patients exposed to bleomycin may increase not only with the degree and duration of hyperoxia in a given exposure, but also with the latent effects of recent previous exposure. Near normality of pulmonary function tests cannot be taken as reassurance, and small changes may have more adverse prognostic significance than in patients who have not been exposed to bleomycin.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed1997

Effects of anesthetic technique on the hemodynamic response to microlaryngeal surgery.

Our aim was to study the attenuation of the hemodynamic response to microlaryngeal surgery by beta-blocking agents used as support drugs to the anesthetic technique. The study was carried out in 30 patients randomly allocated to one of three groups. The control group received only anesthetic drugs. The second group received labetalol hydrochloride 0.3 mg/kg 3 minutes before induction and 0.15 mg/ kg 2 minutes prior to the start of suspension of the larynx. The third group received esmolol hydrochloride 500 micrograms/kg 3 minutes prior to induction and a continuous infusion of 300 micrograms/kg during the surgical procedure. Hemodynamic data in the three groups were compared by analysis of variance. A statistically significant difference (p < .05) was found in hemodynamic data among the two groups treated with blocking agents and the control group. The addition of beta-blocking agents to the anesthetic technique attenuates the hemodynamic response to suspension laryngoscopy.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1997

[Comparative study of high-frequency jet ventilation in 4 types of patients undergoing laryngeal microsurgery].

OBJECTIVE: To study high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are obese or who have tracheal or laryngeal stenosis, conditions which are often found in patients undergoing microsurgery of the larynx (MSL), comparing the results with those for a group of controls, patients with no stenosis who were also undergoing MSL. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Eighty patients were distributed in four groups as follows: those meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of COPD (n = 20), those who were overweight (n = 24), those with stenosis over 50% of the laryngeal opening (stenosis group, n = 10) and those with no associated pathology (control group, n = 26). HFJV was administered through a 2.2 mm internal diameter orotracheal injection catheter, using an Ergojet CVT (Temel, S.A.). The ventilatory protocol was as follows: rate 100 breaths/min, inspiratory time 30%, generator pressure (GP) 2.2 to 3.3 kg/cm2 and FiO2 70% to 90%. We analyzed the GP administered, jet volume (Vjet) delivered, maximum (PAWmax) and minimum (PAWmin) airway pressures, oxygen hemoglobin saturation (SpO2), partial pressures of O2 (pO2) and CO2 (pCO2) in arterial blood, and end-tidal pressure of CO2 (PETCO2) at baseline and 10 and 20 min after the start of HFJV. Because monitoring was invasive, the study was designed for a small series of patients and we believe it should not be generalized to include all patients undergoing MSL under normal conditions. RESULTS: HFJV had to be abandoned and conventional ventilation used in 4 patients (2 in the COPD group and 2 in the obese group). Ventilation was judged adequate in the remaining patients, with the observations that in the COPD group, pO2 levels were lower than in the control group at the 10 min readings and pCO2 levels were higher at both the 10 and 20 min readings. PAW levels were higher throughout the procedure in both the COPD and stenosis groups. In the obese patients, pCO2 was higher at both the 10 and 20 min recordings. CONCLUSION: HFJV provides effective ventilation for most patients undergoing MSL, even if they are obese or have COPD or laryngeal stenosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The effect of ketanserin on post-anaesthetic vasoconstriction and shivering.

Two homogeneous groups of 20 healthy women submitted to elective gynaecological surgery, who presented after anaesthesia with peripheral vasoconstriction and shivering, were included in a randomized, double-blind study. The first group received 10 mg ketanserin, a new pure antagonist of serotoninergic S2 receptors. The second group received 10 ml saline as placebo. Blood pressure, heart rate, pulse wave amplitude, and rectal and cutaneous temperatures were measured before and 5, 15 and 30 min after treatment. Vasoconstriction, shivering and discomfort were classified as intense, moderate or absent at these times. Venous and arterial blood gases were determined before and 15 min after treatment. Blood pressure and heart rate decreased slightly after ketanserin administration and this decrease was statistically significant. Increases in rectal temperature were similar in both groups. Peripheral temperature, measured in the big toe, significantly decreased in the placebo group but did not change after ketanserin. Vasoconstriction, shivering, discomfort and pulse wave amplitude improved significantly following ketanserin. We conclude that ketanserin may be effective in treating this post-operative complication, the possible mechanism being the vasodilatation it causes; a central serotoninergic blockade could also be implied.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Sacro-iliitis in a heroin addict. A contra-indication to spinal anaesthesia.

A case is presented of a pregnant heroin addict patient, with a septic sacro-iliitis due to Staphylococcus aureus. The incidence of joint infections in heroin addicts and the difficulty of diagnosis is discussed with the potential risks of spinal or extradural anaesthesia when there is infection in joints close to the needle site. Caution is advised with patients addicted to heroin who have low back pain and may have infectious sacro-iliitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1969

Fermentation of philippine vegetable blends.

Seven blends of Philipphine vegetables, two of which contained soybeans and one mongo bean sprouts, were prepared for fermentation and study of microbiological and chemical changes. The fermentations were typical lactic acid bacterial fermentations, initiated by Leuconostoc mesenteroides and continued by Lactobacillus brevis, Pediococcus cerevisiae, and L. plantarum. The combination of high acidity and low pH resembled other vegetable fermentations, such as sauerkraut. The procedure offers a method of preserving surplus vegetables, and, in addition, a method for incorporating and preserving the high-protein-containing soybeans.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Profile of the patient who drops out of neuropediatric follow-up].

INTRODUCTION: Patients who drop out of programmed follow-up cause adverse effects to both themselves and the running of the medical. OBJECTIVE: To obtain information which would permit us to modify guidelines for medical care in cases with particular diagnoses, so as to avoid interrupting follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We selected all the patients who attended during 1995, and on 31 December 1995 had not been discharged or died. We considered a patient to have dropped out of follow-up when there was failure to attend the centre during two consecutive years without a justifiable reason. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the profile of the patients who dropped out of follow-up. RESULTS: Of the patients attended during one year and whose treatment should have been continued, 16% dropped out; 70% of those who dropped out of their follow-up treatment were somewhat older than the rest and came in particular from two of the five health districts of the province. They had tics, tension headaches and migraine. Only three independent factors are associated with dropping out: absence of complementary tests, which is favorable, and epilepsy or previous long-term follow-up which is unfavorable. CONCLUSION: Reduction in the programmed follow-up of patients with conditions which do not require complementary tests may reduce the drop out rate and improve the functioning of the Neuropaediatric Clinic.

Adolescent↗