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Biomedical subjects

M Marquez

Publications and source records attributed to M Marquez.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Efficacy and safety of ebrotidine compared with ranitidine in patients with duodenal ulcer.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of ebrotidine and ranitidine administered once daily in equimolar doses of 800 and 300 mg, respectively. PATIENTS: A total of 298 duodenal ulcer patients were studied. DESIGN: A multicentre, parallel, randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Of the 298 patients studied, 150 were randomly assigned to ebrotidine and 148 to ranitidine treatment. Digestive endoscopy was performed at enrolment and at weeks 4, 6 and 8 unless the ulcer had healed before. Endoscopic findings were the main parameter for the assessment of treatment efficacy. Plasma gastrin and pancreatic polypeptide concentrations were also measured before and after termination of the therapy. RESULTS: Ebrotidine achieved a duodenal ulcer healing rate comparable to that of ranitidine, and no statistically significant difference was found between the two drugs. The drugs were equally effective in improving ulcerous dyspeptic symptoms and in relieving gastric pain. Both tobacco and ethanol consumption influenced ulcer healing adversely, but healing in smokers was more pronounced in patients treated with ebrotidine, possibly because of its cytoprotective activity. CONCLUSIONS: Ebrotidine 800 mg is as effective and safe as ranitidine 300 mg in healing duodenal ulcer, but ebrotidine appears to be superior in promoting the healing of duodenal ulceration in smokers.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Heavy metals in the hair of opossum from Palo Verde, Costa Rica.

Levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, and manganese were measured in the hair of opossum (Didelphis virginiana) from Palo Verde, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. This area has some agriculture, but is slated for extensive water development that will increase ecosystem exposure to a variety of agricultural chemicals. Metal levels were generally not intercorrelated except for chromium and lead, chromium and cadmium, and cadmium and lead. There were significant gender differences only for lead and chromium, with the significantly smaller females having higher levels. It is suggested that hair from mammals, particularly abundant ominivores may be useful, bioindicators of environmental quality over a long time period.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Positive versus negative symptoms in schizophrenia: response to haloperidol.

1. Clinical response to treatment with haloperidol was studied in 20 schizophrenic inpatients with acute exacerbation (DSM-IIIR). 2. Patients were assigned to fixed doses of haloperidol (10, 20 or 30 mg/day) for three weeks. Clinical assessment was made using scales SAPS, SANS, BPRS and Simpson-Angus Scale for rating of extrapyramidal side effects. 3. Sixteen patients showed forty per cent or more decrease in positive symptoms assessed by SAPS, being considered the group of responders. Six out of the twenty patients showed improvement in negative symptoms assessed by SANS (improvement above 30%). 4. Clinical predictors of response were only identified for SAPS. The group of responders showed higher basal scores in total scale and formal thought disorder. 5. Negative symptoms responsive to treatment were affective flattening and alogia. Improvement in negative symptoms was independent from that in positive ones. 6. Socio-demographic predictors of clinical response were not found. No differences in clinical response were found in relation to the dose administered. 7. The results of our study suggest that negative symptomatology improves in a scheduled treatment with haloperidol. Assessment of negative symptoms may be useful in the evaluation of treatment of acute schizophrenia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Effects of prenatal alcohol on gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in various brain regions.

Prenatal exposure of rats to alcohol produces morphological, biochemical, behavioral and physiological abnormalities. The enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity is increased when an animal is exposed to alcohol chronically. We examined the effect of the in utero exposure to alcohol on the regional brain distribution of gamma-GTP. Pregnant rats were placed into the following treatment groups: LC (ad lib lab chow and water), PF (pair-fed), 10% EDC (ethanol derived calories), 20% EDC and 35% EDC. The LC group was fed lab chow and water ad lib, the PF, 10% EDC, 20% EDC and 35% EDC groups were fed a liquid diet containing either 0%, 2%, 4% or 6.7% v/v ethanol, respectively. All the treatment groups received the same volume of an isocaloric diet as was consumed by the 35% EDC group. At birth, litters were culled to six and cross fostered to untreated surrogate mothers. Pups were sacrificed at 30 days of age and brains dissected into 8 regions. Each brain region was homogenized and divided into soluble and membrane bound fractions by centrifugation and digestion with deoxycholic acid. gamma-GTP activity was then measured. It was determined that the in utero exposure to alcohol produces an increase in brain gamma-GTP activity. The increase in gamma-GTP activity in some areas of brain is maintained at least until the animals are 30 days old. Alcohol treatment had no effect on the activity associated with the soluble form of enzyme. However, the activity associated with the membrane bound form of the enzyme was increased in several brain regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Blunted LH surge after HCG administration in cycles superovulated for in-vitro fertilization.

The preovulatory pattern of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) was investigated in cycles superovulated for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The method used was immunoradiometric assay which shows no cross-reactivity with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) at concentrations usually found after HCG administration. Of the 245 cycles stimulated by clomiphene citrate + human menopausal gonadotrophin, an endogenous LH surge was observed in 29.8% of the patients shortly prior to the HCG injection. In the post-HCG period, 49.4% of the cycles exhibited a blunted LH rise, whereas in the remaining 20.8% the LH level did not exceed twice the mean preovulatory value. According to the oestradiol-17 beta (E2) and progesterone concentrations, different hormonal patterns were found in patients with pre-HCG and post-HCG elevation of LH. However, the occurrence of a blunted LH surge following HCG administration cannot be attributed to different, HCG-induced secretory patterns of progesterone. There were no significant differences in clinical parameters, the pregnancy rate was slightly but not significantly higher (19.0%) in the post-HCG LH surge group than in the two other groups (13.7%). It is presumed that various factors may contribute to the suspension of preovulatory LH suppression. The possible beneficial influence of a post-HCG surge of LH requires further investigation.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed1989

Early pregnancy wastage following late implantation of embryos after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Serial plasma concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), progesterone and oestradiol were measured in pregnancies after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The first detection day of HCG after embryo transfer (8.4 +/- 1.1) and the HCG doubling time (DT) of 64 normal singleton pregnancies were compared to those of 14 first-trimester miscarriages. The same parameters were evaluated in nine late-implanted conceptions, seven of which resulted in early pregnancy wastage. The HCG DT of late-implanted pregnancies was consistent with that of singleton term pregnancies in the first 12 days, while first-trimester miscarriages which had implanted at the usual time had a significantly longer DT from implantation onwards. The reduced trophoblastic secretory rate suggests poor embryo quality in these cases. A decreased progesterone/oestradiol ratio was observed in late-implanted pregnancies but because of the small number of individuals, no definite conclusion can be drawn. More patients with delayed implantation should be tested to justify this observation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Intraarterial infusion chemotherapy as a primary treatment in cancer of uterine cervix limited to the pelvis.

Percutaneous intraarterial infusion chemotherapy via the internal iliac arteries was performed as a primary treatment in 14 patients with invasive cancer of the uterine cervix. The drugs used were Mitomycin-C, Bleomycin and Cis-Platinum in cycles of 52 hours which were repeated, in some cases, 21 days apart. Complete responses were observed in two patients. Partial responses were seen in 10 patients and no response in two patients. 5 patients were treated surgically and 8 patients received radiotherapy after the infusion. The effect of chemotherapy was more evident in exophytic tumors with less effect on the parametria. Tumor masses can be reduced and patients can then be treated by surgery or radiotherapy. 6 patients died from sepsis.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of CIN with the CO2 laser vaporization.

A group of two hundred and sixty women, most of them young, with histologic diagnosis of CIN located at the exocervix, has been treated by means of CO2 laser vaporization. The entire transformation zone and a minimum of 10 mm at the base of cervical canal was vaporized to a depth of 6-7 mm. Of the treated group, 239 patients (114 CIN I, 78 SIN II and 47 CIN III), were followed for a mean of 19 months. The failure rate of a single treatment was 8.8% for CIN I, 11.5% for CIN II and 12.7% for CIN III. These results are in agreement with world Literature The majority of failures, diagnosed within the first year of follow-up were small areas of CIN I-II located around the squamo-columnar junction, and only two CIN III were detected. No evidence of CIN was observed after a second treatment. No case of invasive cancer has been detected. Fertility was not affected by the treatment. It is concluded that CO2 laser vaporization is a safe and effective method for treatment of CIN. Patient selection, proper technique, close follow-up and adequate treatment of failures are essential to this end.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Bilateral optic nerve meningioma. Case report.

A case of bilateral optic nerve meningioma is reported. The onset of the clinical symptoms, at age 27, resembled unilateral optic neuritis with papilledema, leading to bilateral amaurosis with optic atrophy 4 years later. Skull X-ray revealed a "blistering' type of bone reaction. In the carotid angiogram, the ophthalmic artery appeared quite enlarged and displaced. The CT scan showed a fusiform enlargement of both optic nerves. Pathological diagnosis was based upon an optic nerve biopsy. Including the present case, only 12 instances of bilateral optic nerve meningioma have been reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Qualitative radionuclide angiocardiography in the diagnosis of corrected transposition.

Seven patients with corrected transposition were studied by qualitative radionuclide angiocardiography. In four patients with situs solitus with apex on the left, the pulmonary artery was in a medial and posterior position, to the right of the aorta, with its root attached to the morphological left ventricle positioned on the right. The aorta arose from the ventricle placed on the left and had an anterior position. The ventricle located on the right has a triangular shape. In the case of situs solitus with dextroversion, the pulmonary artery was to the right of the aorta and had a right-to-left direction. The ventricle placed on the right was ovoid. In one single case of situs inversus with levoversion, the pulmonary artery was on the left, emerging from the morphological left ventricle placed on the left, and was ovoid in shape, while the aorta was on the right arising from the morphological right ventricle. In one case of situs inversus with dextrocardia, atrioventricular relationships were the same as in levoversion but the apex was on the right and the morphological left ventricle was triangular. Qualitative radionuclide angiocardiography is a simple and non-invasive method for obtaining morphological data for the precise diagnosis of corrected transposition.

Aorta↗
PubMed1976

[Potential anti-inflammatory agents II. 7-Methyl-s-triazo(4,3-a)pyridines].

A synthesis of eight derivatives of 7-methyl-s-triazo-[4,3-a]pyridine substituted in position 3, has been made with a view to studying their possible antiinflammatory and analgesic action. Among the obtained compounds only the 3-(alpha-hydroxyethyl)-7-methyl-s-triazo[4,3-a]pyridine presents an activity similar to aspirin.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1976

[Middle-level medical training in Cuba].

The background, evolution, and prospects for training middle-level medical technicians in Cuba are reviewed, with emphasis on the relationships existing among socioeconomic structures, the education sector, and the health sector. Developments since the revolution of 1959 may be divided into three periods--1959-1964, 1965-1969, and 1970-1975--which reflect a clear policy progressing from the quantitative to the qualitative. A description is given of the health and education systems and subsystems that have emerged as a result of changes in the social, political, and economic system and have made it possible to develop new approaches to teaching, including work-study programs and integrated training.

Allied Health Personnel↗