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Biomedical subjects

M Muñoz

Publications and source records attributed to M Muñoz.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Clinical and echographic findings in idiopathic orbital myositis.

We performed a retrospective chart review of 100 patients with idiopathic orbital myositis, who were of ages 9 to 84 years. Data from 75 patients gave the following results. Females were affected more than twice as often as males. Fifty-one patients (68%) had single muscle involvement, with the lateral and medial recti affected most frequently (38 cases [33%] and 33 cases [29%] of muscles, respectively). In 34 patients (45%), affected muscles functioned normally; the remaining 55% (63 muscles) were fairly equally distributed between paretic (20%), restrictive (20%), or combined paretic and restrictive (15%) myopathies. Analysis of muscle function, echographic findings, and duration of symptoms indicates that within days of onset of symptoms, the affected muscle is initially enlarged but retains normal function. Within the first two weeks, continued enlargement results in muscle paresis. The muscle may then enter a partially or completely restrictive phase, which may become permanent. Fifty-one patients (68%) responded well to systemic corticosteroids, although 11 patients (15%) had further recurrences of the disease. Seven patients (9%) later developed thyroid eye disease after initially having unimuscular orbital myositis. We advocate early institution of corticosteroids in order to avoid permanent restrictive myopathies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Spinothalamic projections in amphibians as revealed with anterograde tracing techniques.

Direct spinothalamic pathways were demonstrated in anurans (Rana ridibunda, Xenopus laevis) and in the ribbed newt, Pleurodeles waltl. With the powerful anterograde tracers Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin and biotinylated dextran amine, rather extensive spinothalamic projections were found, including the ventromedial thalamic nucleus, the dorsal thalamus and several posterior diencephalic nuclei (anurans), and the neuropil lateral to the pars ventralis thalami as well as to the anteroventral and posterodorsal zones (P. waltl), respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Stability of carboplatin in 5% glucose solution in glass, polyethylene and polypropylene containers.

The degradation of carboplatin (3.2 mg ml-1) in 5% glucose infusion solution at 25 degrees C and protected from light was investigated. The effects of the material of the container and temperature were also studied. Solutions were prepared in 5% glucose solution and stored in glass bottles, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) containers at 40, 50 and 60 degrees C and at 25 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C. Samples were assayed by an HPLC method to determine the residual carboplatin concentration at each time of sampling. Carboplatin degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and no dependence on the nature of the container was found. After 1 month at 25 degrees (+/- 1 degrees)C the change in carboplatin concentration was < 2% of the initial concentration in 5% glucose. These results are in agreement with those predicted by the application of the Arrhenius equation.

Carboplatin↗
PubMed1994

The dorsal column-medial lemniscal projection of anuran amphibians.

The efferent connections of the dorsal column nucleus (DCN) of the anuran amphibians Rana ridibunda and Xenopus laevis have been studied by means of bidirectionally transported tracers. Efferent projections from the DCN innervate the spinal cord, tegmentum of the brain stem, cerebellum, torus semicircularis and thalamus. The pattern of connectivity of the anuran DCN is largely comparable to that of amniotic vertebrates although some peculiarities are found.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

On the basal ganglia of amphibians: dopaminergic mesostriatal projections.

Recent studies have revealed a rather dense dopaminergic innervation of basal forebrain areas in anurans and urodeles. The aim of the present study is not only to extend these observations to the third order of amphibians, i.e. the Gymnophiona, but also to determine the cells of origin of the dopaminergic projection to the basal forebrain by means of combined tract-tracing/transmitter-immunohistochemical techniques. Immunohistochemistry with antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine (DA) demonstrated some remarkable differences in the distribution of DA fibers within the basal forebrain. Whereas in anurans the nucleus accumbens receives a major DA input, in urodeles the DA input to the striatum prevails. In gymnophionans, both basal forebrain structures receive an equally dense DA innervation. The double-labeling studies revealed also differences in the distribution of the cells of origin of the DA striatal input. Although in anurans and urodeles DA cells in both the posterior tubercle and the midbrain tegmentum contribute to this projection, the mesostriatal projection of urodeles is more elaborated than that of anurans.

Amphibians↗
PubMed1994

Primary afferents and second order projections of the trigeminal system in a frog (Rana ridibunda).

The trigeminal primary afferents and the projections from the sensory trigeminal nuclei were studied in a frog (Rana ridibunda) by means of tract-tracing techniques. Primary fibers from separate ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular trigeminal branches form short ascending and long descending tracts. Ascending fibers innervate the principal trigeminal nucleus, a field just dorsal to the trigeminal motor nucleus, and the supratrigeminal nucleus. Descending fibers terminate separately in the descending trigeminal nucleus, depending on their branch of origin. Other primary targets are the rhombencephalic reticular nuclei, the ventral and caudal octaval nuclei, the nucleus of the solitary tract and the spinal cord. Ipsilateral intranuclear connections are accompanied by extratrigeminal projections that reach, among others, the thalamus, the mesencephalic tectum and the cerebellum. It is concluded that many amniotic features are shared by the anuran trigeminal system.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1993

High-level expression in Escherichia coli of the gene coding for the major structural protein (p72) of African swine fever virus.

The gene encoding the major structural protein (p72) of African swine fever virus (ASFV) has been expressed in Escherichia coli using a T7 RNA polymerase system. The use of a recombinant plasmid which contains the entire gene inserted between the T7 promoter and the transcription terminator of the expression vector allowed us to obtain a high expression level of the intact viral protein. This polypeptide, which appears in the insoluble fraction of the bacterial extracts, showed an intense reaction with the antibodies present in the sera of ASFV-infected animals, as demonstrated by Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The recombinant protein was purified by size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography and used to develop a serological test of the disease.

African Swine Fever↗
PubMed1993

Strabismus following implantation of Baerveldt drainage devices.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features of strabismus following implantation of a Baerveldt glaucoma seton. DESIGN: Case series of four patients with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. SETTING: Specialized glaucoma referral center at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute/Ann Bates Leach Eye Hospital, Miami, Fla. PATIENTS: Consecutive sample of four patients with persistent binocular diplopia following implantation of a 350-mm2 Baerveldt glaucoma seton in the superotemporal quadrant. RESULTS: Each patient presented with a characteristic pattern of either exotropia or hypertropia, or both. The deviation increased with gaze opposite the ipsilateral superior and lateral muscles and decreased in the field of action of the involved muscles. All patients demonstrated a convergence insufficiency type of exotropia. CONCLUSION: These patients presented with a similar type of restrictive strabismus. Proposed mechanisms include an increase in the length-tension curve of the muscle induced by the underlying bleb and a posterior fixation effect as a result of scarring behind the implant.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Trigeminal primary afferent projections to the spinal cord of the frog, Rana ridibunda.

The distribution in the spinal cord of the trigeminal primary projections in the frog Rana ridibunda was studied by means of the anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Upon entering the medulla via the single trigeminal root, a conspicuous descending tract that reaches the cervical spinal cord segments is established. This projection arises in the ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), and mandibular (V3) trigeminal nerve subdivisions. In the spinal cord, only a minor somatotopic arrangement of the trigeminal fibers was observed, with the fibers arising in V3 terminating somewhat more medially than those from V1 and V2. A dense projection to the medial aspect of the spinal cord, above the central canal, primarily involves V3. Each trigeminal branch sends projections at cervical levels to the contralateral dorsal field, and those from V2 are most abundant. Bilateral experiments with HRP application show convergence of primary trigeminal and spinal afferents within the dorsal field of the spinal cord. The pattern of arrangement of the trigeminal primary afferent fibers in the spinal cord of this frog largely resembles that of amniotes. However, the organization seems simpler and the slight somatotopic distribution of V1, V2, and V3 fibers is similar to the condition in other anamniotes.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1993

Structure and expression in E. coli of the gene coding for protein p10 of African swine fever virus.

The gene encoding protein p10, a structural protein of African swine fever (ASF) virus, has been mapped, sequenced and expressed in E. coli. Protein p10 was purified from dissociated virus by reverse-phase HPLC, and its NH2-terminal end identified by automated Edman degradation. To map the gene encoding protein p10, a mixture of 20-mer oligonucleotides based upon a part of the amino acid sequence was hybridized to cloned ASF virus restriction fragments. This allowed the localization of the gene in fragment Eco RI K of the ASF virus genome. The nucleotide sequence obtained from this region revealed an open reading frame encoding 78 amino acids, with a high content of Ser and Lys residues. Several of the Ser residues are found in Ser-rich regions, which are also found in some nucleic acid-binding proteins. The gene coding for protein p10 has been inserted in an expression vector which contains the promoter for T7 RNA polymerase. The recombinant plasmid was used to produce the ASF virus protein in E. coli. The bacterially produced p10 protein shows a strong DNA binding activity with similar affinity for both double-stranded and single-stranded DNA.

African Swine Fever Virus↗
PubMed1993

Histological outcome of chronic hepatitis C treated with a 12-month course of lymphoblastoid alfa interferon.

To assess the effect of long-term alfa interferon therapy (12 months) on liver histology of chronic hepatitis C, we studied 61 treated patients, and compared their outcome with 28 untreated cases followed as controls. A liver biopsy was taken from all patients, before (month 0) and after the completion of the treatment or the control period (month 12). A third liver specimen taken at month 24 was available in 29 treated cases. Liver biopsies were blindly graded following Knodell's method. In 33 out of the 61 treated patients (54.1%), aminotransferase levels became normal shortly after starting therapy and remained within normal values until the end of treatment (sustained response). Nine (27%) sustained responders relapsed after interferon discontinuation, while the remaining 24 (73%) continued with normal aminotransferase values during follow-up (16.8 +/- 9.9 months). All histological parameters, except fibrosis, improved significantly after 12 months of therapy (periportal necrosis, month 0: 2.7 +/- 1.0, month 12: 1.6 +/- 1.1, p < 0.0001; lobular damage, month 0: 2.5 +/- 1.1, month 12: 1.4 +/- 0.9, p < 0.0001; portal inflammation, month 0: 3.6 +/- 0.5, month 12: 3.0 +/- 0.9, p < 0.0001). Histological improvement was especially marked in patients who did not relapse, although those who relapsed and partial responders also improved. Overall histological diagnoses improved in most patients. A sustained response to interferon was predicted by high periportal and lobular scores, and by a low fibrosis score on the pretreatment liver biopsy. At 24 months, histological improvement persisted in patients without posttreatment relapse, while liver inflammation had returned to pretreatment levels in the remaining cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of a monoclonal antibody capture ELISA (MACELISA) to indirect ELISA and virus neutralization test for the serodiagnosis of transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in which the antigen is captured to the plate by monoclonal antibodies (MACELISA) was developed for the detection of antibodies to transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV). The viral antigen was semipurified from TGEV-infected cells by simple ultracentrifugation. MACELISA results with 258 field sera were compared with those of a standard indirect ELISA and with the virus neutralization test (VNT). Sensitivity, specificity, and kappa values of MACELISA indicated a strong correlation with VNT results, whereas an indirect ELISA was less sensitive and much less specific than VNT. The serologic response of 4 pigs orally inoculated and intraperitoneally boostered with TGEV was compared using the 3 tests. Its sensitivity, specificity, and ability to use unpurified antigen make the MACELISA the advisable first step in TGEV serodiagnosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Modifications of the distribution of substance P-like immunoreactivity in the cerebral basal nuclei of the cat after electroacupuncture.

The distribution of Substance P in the fibrillar structures of the basal nuclei of the cat brain, and its modification with low frequency electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation, have been studied using the indirect immunocytochemistry technique. An increase in the immunoreactivity of Substance P (IR-SP) after stimulation with EA has been observed in the nucleus caudatus and nucleus putamen, in the globus pallidus, and in the amygdaloid complex. Abundant IR-SP fibres have also been seen in some areas of the internal capsule. These observations place the said IR-SP modifications in the basal nuclei of the cat brain, when subjected to low frequency EA.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Collagenous colitis: clinicopathologic study of 6 new cases].

Collagenous colitis (CC) is a newly recognized entity characterized clinically by chronic watery diarrhoea and pathologically by epithelial inflammatory injury and the presence of a thickened collagen band beneath the surface epithelium of the colon. Clinical and pathological data of six patients (5 women and 1 man, mean age 54 years) with this diagnosis have been reviewed. Chronic watery diarrhoea was the main symptom in all cases, ranging from 2 to 12 bowel movements a day (mean +/- SD, 5.5 +/- 2.3) lasting from 8 months to 19 years (mean +/- SD, 6.6 +/- 5.9 years). Laboratory, barium and endoscopic studies showed unspecific findings. Rheumatic and thyroid diseases as well as drug allergies were found in five cases. The cause of collagenous colitis and the mechanism of diarrhoea remains undefined, being the inflammatory and autoimmune hypothesis the most likely. Diagnosis was made by multiple rectal and colonic biopsies. Pathologic findings characteristic of CC were more prominent in proximal than in distal colonic specimens. Different treatments were applied and diverse clinic responses were obtained. A review of the literature is made.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Quality of life in arterial hypertension].

BACKGROUND: Quality of life is a key issue for the consideration of hypertension therapy. However, reliable and sensitive evaluation methods are not available in Spain. To this end, a quality of life questionnaire has been elaborated, its yield has been evaluated, and the influence of hypertension and several associated variables on the quality of life has been assessed. METHODS: A questionnaire on quality of life consisting of 62 items was elaborated. Its final evaluation was divided in an overall value and in four subindexes related with anxiety, depression, side effects, and somatic complaints. It was applied to two groups of hypertensive patients, one from hospital care (n = 90) and another from primary care (n = 89), and to a control group (n = 76). RESULTS: Although both populations with hypertension were significantly different regarding age, sex, use of therapies, organic impact and blood pressure, they were overall similar in quality of life. However, quality of life was different from that in control group, which showed better indices. In the hypertensive population, sex, severity of hypertension, type of therapy or duration of the disease did not have any influence on quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The overall similar quality of life in both hypertensive groups (in spite of the many significant differences in their descriptive features) and the different quality of life between hypertensive and normotensive individuals (in spite of the similitude of their demographic parameters) suggest that the diagnosis of hypertension has by itself a greater influence on the quality of life than several hypertension-associated variables. It has also been found that the method used was sensitive and valid. Therefore, the use of the quality of life questionnaire can be a useful instrument for the monitorization of hypertensive patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Phase I study of mitonafide in solid tumors.

Mitonafide was the first synthetized compound of a new series of 3-nitronaphthalimides with intercalative properties. A phase I study with a conventional escalation scheme was developed. The schedule of drug administration was a daily x 5 days by short (1 h) intravenous (i.v.) infusion, every 21 days. Thirty evaluable patients were treated at doses from 15.4 mg/m2/d x 5 days to 138.6 mg/m2/d x 5 days. The study was interrupted due to appearance of central nervous system toxicity in 5 patients treated at doses above 118 mg/m2 x 5 days. This toxicity consisted firstly of loss of memory in all patients. It was irreversible and progressed in 3 patients to disorientation and confusion, leading to dementia in one of them. This was considered to be dose-limiting toxicity, and since it appeared to be related to the administration schedule, no further studies with short i.v. infusions of mitonafide are recommended. A phase I study utilizing a more desirable administration schedule over longer periods of time is ongoing in other centers.

Adult↗